By Zephyria 
I didn’t refuse the consideration of having restraints put on separately.
It was to avoid unnecessary suspicion. On the way back to the mansion with Nadi, who had a gag in his mouth and his hands and feet bound. He didn’t act violently or struggle. Well… he couldn’t help it.
[Nadi! Na~di. Nadi~! Na! Di!]
“…”
The spirit flying around him erratically seemed very excited.
It rubbed its face against the man’s cheek and slid down his bulging chest. It hopped and sang, flitting from shoulder to shoulder. It was very busy and chaotic, but the man seemed used to it, and seeing him ignore the spirit put my mind at ease.
Unlike Hugh’s worries, it seemed he still had his wits and reason.
I discreetly checked his pulse when I saw an opening. There were traces of contaminated mana left, but not enough to be a major concern. I liked that I wouldn’t need to go to great lengths to fix it.
Was it a poison? Or did it seep in naturally?
Since I couldn’t distinguish, I just accepted it as it was.
Outwardly, the only unusual things were his attire and the tattoo on his arm. Even that could be hidden by clothes. Was it just for this that people would talk about heterogeneous races and kidnap someone?
I knew Owen’s public safety wasn’t great, but I felt sorry for this man, thinking he must have been quite wronged. As soon as we switched to the next carriage, I removed his gag first.
He immediately opened his mouth. I felt a familiar sense of déjà vu.
The sound of the desert wind.
…That’s what Elvin uses. My gaze immediately shifted in that direction. Elvin naturally responded to the man’s words and chattered something. In an instant, several gusts of wind swirled inside the carriage. Everyone quietly listened to the sound.
Then Hugh Benson joined in, making a few whistling sounds, and freed his hands and feet. The man took a deep breath and swept his curly hair neatly back behind his head. His exposed eyes flashed with a fierce light.
And Hugh Benson asked again.
“Can you not speak the Imperial language at all?”
“…No. I can.”
“Then speak in the Imperial language. I feel a bit out of place, you see.”
“Ah.”
Only then did the man turn his gaze to our party, nod, and rub his face with his thick hands, starting with an apology. Though his attire was loose, his manners and actions showed an effort to be polite.
“I apologize. I’m a bit out of sorts right now.”
“Well, yes… You did just escape from being kidnapped, so that’s understandable. So, are you the master of that spirit?”
“Not the master, but something similar…”
Hugh Benson cut him off coldly.
“That spirit is currently insisting it needs to take you to the desert and has made a contract, which has put our party in a bit of a predicament. If it’s alright, we’d appreciate it if you could help cancel the contract first.”
“That’s…”
“You were rescued, at least. If you wish, we can even arrange a separate carriage to take you to the desert.”
“That would be a bit difficult.”
“What?”
The man swept his curly hair back once more. His gaze, which had been directed at Hugh Benson, now looked directly at me, and I felt a sense of bewilderment. The man cleared his throat once, sat up straight, and opened his mouth.
“My name is Nadish Haisan. I have come to escort ‘Jeongyeon’ to the Oasis.”
“…What?”
That name.
How did he know?
I never thought I would hear that name again from someone else’s lips. And certainly not in such an unfamiliar situation, in an unfamiliar place, from an unfamiliar person.
While I stood stiffly, unable to breathe properly as if pierced by a fierce lightning bolt, the rest of my party looked around in confusion.
“Who is that? …Michael?”
“No, what are you aiming for… You let yourself be captured on purpose? What is this?”
Ignoring the others’ words, the man looked only at me.
“Have you ever thought that something strange is happening?”
Strange things had always happened.
My being reborn on this land was itself a strange event. Though I lived each day seemingly peacefully, I often felt that this was not my place, and that Yama was coming to take me. But that was long ago.
Now, I…
“The Oasis is looking for you, ‘Jeongyeon’.”
While I couldn’t answer, the carriage went on its way and stopped where it needed to. We switched carriages again. I felt suffocated, but I couldn’t utter a single word.
How could I not have thought that past and present lives were connected?
But until now, only I knew myself. Everything that seemed connected by bizarre laws had unfolded entirely differently. Even if Divine Power and internal energy were similar, they were entirely different energies, and even if Formations and Magic seemed alike, they were entirely different things, so I had gradually let my guard down.
I thought I was the only one transplanted to a different land.
Now, I had found my rightful place.
I wanted to live as Michael Ernhardt. My beloved parents and family were here. My deeply cherished lover was here. My kind teacher and dear friends were right here. Just moments ago, I was happily contemplating Ruben’s birthday gift.
If anyone were to look for me, I wished they would look for Michael, not Jeongyeon.
But what if the strange things that man spoke of were to harm the children?
What if my children were captured along with the hundred or so Imperial Knights and hundreds of mercenaries? If my children were to suffer greatly because I didn’t do what I had to do, how could I bear that?
It’s better to know than not to know. After all I’ve been through, am I going to run away?
I forced myself to change my mind, but my heart was still pounding. I let out a long breath and finally asked,
“What must I do?”
“First…”
The man glanced around.
Everyone in the carriage was still seated. Marianne with a strangely sullen expression, Ruben holding my hand anxiously, Elvin and Hugh whispering something, and Benjamin watching me quietly. Even Tedros, who had been pushed to the very corner, was listening intently.
Nadish, after a moment of thought, asked in a slightly embarrassed voice,
“Can we talk in private?”
“…”
We returned to the mansion for now.
While Nadish Haisan was given time to change into proper clothes, Ruben followed right behind me. I couldn’t look the child in the eye. I felt I was being punished for daring to covet this child without knowing my place. My insides churned with various thoughts, making me restless.
“…Mika. Mika, look at me.”
“…”
I looked at the child who had grabbed my wrist.
The child, still wearing some of the disguise, looked like an immortal descended from heaven. Beautiful, elegant, precious. Ruben urgently asked, pressing against my chest as if pushing me away,
“Do you understand what that person said? Where are you going?”
“…I don’t know either.”
“Can’t we just listen together? Can you take me with you?”
“…”
Knowing what would come out of that mouth.
Only then did I become afraid. I didn’t know how Ruben would react if he learned of Namgung Jeong-yeon’s existence. That I am tens of years older than you… I realized now that I had never even considered revealing it, not even in my dreams. I had been deceiving the child. I had made a terrible mistake…
After hesitating for a long time, I managed to put on a gentle voice.
“I will listen and tell you. To Ruben.”
“…But.”
“I don’t want to hide anything.”
No, that’s a lie. In truth, I wanted to hide it all and live as if I knew nothing.
❖ ❖ ❖
Nadish Haisan, dressed in fine Owen attire, stood up abruptly as I entered. I saw him offer a simple bow, but I didn’t have the presence of mind to return it, so I gestured for him to sit.
We sat facing each other in the drawing-room.
There were teacups and a teapot on the table, but I didn’t have the leisure to pour tea, so I asked directly,
“Do you know who I am?”
“I don’t know you well. But the Oasis is looking for you.”
“The Oasis, you mean water, how can that be?”
“It has two meanings.”
Nadish seemed to speak the Imperial language better than Elvin. He spoke clearly with a direct gaze.
“The Oasis I speak of refers to the capricious water god, the third god.”
“…The third, god?”
“He is calling you. You must go quickly.”
“…”
I didn’t want to go.
It was natural. I was living each day faithfully, cherishing the friends I cared for, the lover I cherished, and the people I had grown fond of, looking forward to our future. How could I easily entrust myself to a stranger who suddenly appeared, speaking of gods and dragging me away?
What would happen to me if I followed and was suddenly dropped into the Central Plains?
I haven’t even been able to tell him that I love him to my heart’s content yet.
No, that’s not it. It might be better to go before that. But then again…
Confused by my thoughts, I gritted my teeth and asked again,
“Can I come back?”
“That…”
“…You don’t know?”
“Yes. I only know that I must go.”
“What if I don’t go?”
Nadish didn’t answer.
His calm gaze rested on me. Hadn’t I learned this already? It’s better to know than not to know. No matter how painful or difficult the blow, it’s right to take it head-on. Postponing it and burying it will only lead to greater losses later.
I know. I knew it. But.
Just as I was about to say something more, the door burst open.
“Where are you going, and where can’t you come back from? Whether you’re a god or a spirit, you can’t act so arbitrarily! I won’t let you go! You can’t go!”
“…”
It’s quite funny.
Ruben can’t say a word, but why does Ruben’s voice seem to be heard first?
I was desperate to stroke the child’s pale cheeks.
A whistle sounded high.
It was Elvin. Elvin Brooks was laughing joyfully.
“Don’t worry. He’s just gotten close to Hisert.”
Oasis.
…The scent of the Oasis.
Since when had Elvin Brooks been anticipating this?