CHAPTER 493: IF STORY - THE INITIAL DRAFT (1)

0% - Crackle, crackle...

The world that had been overturning settled, revealing itself once again.

“...Ugh.”

Amidst the aftermath and shock, someone clutched their head, staggering.

“Why... why did an error occur in the magic?”

The Magic Tower Master, the orchestrator of this incident, muttered through clenched teeth, unable to lift her head.

“There was only... Rifael as the royal blood at that spot. So how...?”

For her, this situation was entirely unexpected.

The Magic Tower Master’s original plan was to use Rifael as the medium to access the ‘Ancient Magic’ etched into the royal lineage.

In other words, to gain access to the system’s control.

“At this rate... success can’t be guaranteed.”

But that grand plan had just been derailed by a single girl.

“How... how did she manage to interfere?”

Gripping her pounding head, the Magic Tower Master struggled to raise her eyes.

“To reach the point I want... I need that brat’s cooperation.”

Before her lay a vast expanse.

“...Hmm.”

The Magic Tower Master, gazing into a foreboding space filled with mysterious, drifting characters and numbers on a dark background, took slow steps forward.

“Is this... where ancient magic is governed?”

Walking cautiously through the dark abyss, she muttered.

“I’ve always wondered.”

Suddenly stopping, she fixed her gaze somewhere and began to speak.

“What kind of entity exists above the gods of this world, managing its laws and enforcing its rules?”

“...”

“Who created the rule that no one can turn back time?”

Before her, a figure made of light appeared without warning.

“What should I call you, the embodiment of the World’s Law?”

Sensing her magic was halfway successful, the Magic Tower Master, eyes now darkened, reached her hand forward.

“...Call me as you always have.”

“...!!!”

But before she could touch it, she froze in shock.

“...Glare?”

“...”

The Magic Tower Master’s third disciple hovered in the air, looking down at her with cold eyes.

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“Could it be... that you are the ‘Law’?”

“......”

“Come to think of it... that inexplicable ‘power’ resembled ancient magic. I should have realized it back then...”

The Magic Tower Master stared at the floating Glare, her eyes filled with disbelief, muttering in a low voice.

“Half correct, half wrong.”

“...What?”

Glare shook her head slowly.

“The child you know is just my avatar.”

No, it was ‘something’ that contradicted the Magic Tower Master’s assumption.

“Then... who are you?”

“Well, even I don’t know that. After all, I am just the system of this world, the law itself.”

“...”

“This is my first time speaking to someone, and the first time existing in this way. This is only possible because I am temporarily borrowing this child’s body.”

“...That doesn’t matter.”

Interrupting the explanation, the Magic Tower Master, eyes still darkened, spoke firmly.

“There is a record I must verify.”

“Even knowing what consequences that will bring?”

“Yes.”

Despite the pressure exuded by the entity in Glare’s form, the Magic Tower Master did not waver.

“I’ve dedicated my life to this.”

“...”

“From the moment I took my first disciple, through the time I evaded the entity that attacked me from outside with Rifael... it was all as I had planned.”

“...Hah.”

“If it weren’t for that fool, I would have turned back time already!”

Looking at the Magic Tower Master, who raised her voice defiantly, Glare’s expression shifted slightly.

“A hacker sure talks a lot.”

“...Hacker?”

“Unfortunately, your attempt wasn’t perfect. Thanks to that, although imperfect, I was able to create a firewall.”

As those words ended, the space behind them wavered, and a shape began to appear.

“You exploited the trial, so I will use it too.”

“...”

“The condition is simple. If the unused data behind us—the dummy data—manages a happy ending, I win. If it doesn’t, you win.”

Though the terms were difficult to grasp, the Magic Tower Master was quick-witted.

“If I win?”

“As you sought, the rights to use the system, the ancient magic, will be yours.”

“And if I lose, the opposite, then.”

The Magic Tower Master nodded slowly, turning to look at the space behind her.

“There’s no turning back now.”

“...”

“Though using Rifael as the medium failed, as you said... it all comes down to luck now.”

Glare’s lips curled into a brief smirk but soon returned to a cold expression.

“Then, let’s begin... cough...!”

“Your condition seems dire, huh? I guess you used up all your remaining life force for this.”

“...Let’s start.”

“Alright. Understood.”

As Glare snapped her fingers—

- Crackle, crackle...

The small form behind them rapidly expanded, filling the darkness.

“Then, it’s in your hands now, Roswyn.”

Watching the scene unfold, the figure in Glare’s shape closed its eyes and whispered softly.

“...This time, let the Sunset shine its brightest.”

With those final words, light returned to the world.

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- Knock, knock, knock...!

“Ugh.”

At the sharp knocking on the door, Clana, curled up in bed, flinched and lifted her head.

“Princess, it is time for you to come out.”

“Ugh...”

“If you do not come out, I will be forced to open the door by force.”

Her face, pale and haggard, belied her beauty.

“...I’m coming out now.”

“Finish preparing and come out within a minute. There is no time.”

For the past few years, Clana, the lowest-ranked princess in line for succession, had been virtually imprisoned in her room in the Imperial Palace.

Today, her 14th birthday, was also, surprisingly, the day of her wedding.

“...”

Of course, this was a political marriage with a neighboring country, arranged without her consent.

Treated as less than an existence in the palace, Clana could do nothing but comply.

- Click, click...

She quietly dressed herself in her solitary room without any maids to assist her.

“...Ugh.”

A cold tear rolled down her face, which had long forgotten how to smile.

“Why... why was I even born? What did I do wrong? What will become of me?”

Pondering these grim, sorrowful thoughts, she bit her lip to stop herself from crying.

- Bang!!

“...!!!”

Her door suddenly burst open.

“I told you not to dawdle.”

“A-ah, Father.”

“Come.”

“Kyaa!?”

Clana’s father, Raikon Solar Sunrise, who looked down at her with a cold expression, grabbed her frail arm and led her down the hall.

“Even till this day, you are utterly useless.”

“Father... please. Not this marriage, I beg of you...”

As Clana, being dragged along, tried to speak in a lifeless voice, she was met with—

- Slap!!

A resounding slap echoed in the hall.

- Thud...

A small potion bottle rolled towards Clana, who had collapsed on the floor from the impact.

“Apply it to your cheek. And to the wounds on your body as well.”

“...”

“You wouldn’t want your groom to see any flaws, would you?”

Leaving those cold words behind, Raikon walked down the hall without looking back even once.

“If you’re late again, be prepared for the consequences.”

A brief silence followed.

- Shff, shff...

With her head bowed, Clana picked up the potion and applied it to her red, swollen cheek.

“...”

Someone watched her quietly from behind a distant pillar.

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The wedding proceeded without delay.

“Hehe... what a cute little bride.”

“...”

The prince of the neighboring country, her soon-to-be husband, was notorious for his despicable nature, which had chased away any potential bride.

“...Why isn’t she responding?”

“...”

“Hello? The bride seems to be broken.”

It was clear what kind of fate awaited Clana if she were to marry such a man. But the young princess kept her face blank and silent.

“Clana, make your vow.”

“...”

“Now!”

The Emperor’s angry voice boomed from behind her, but Clana remained silent.

Whether it was out of despair or sheer emotional numbness, only she knew the answer.

“What is this...?”

“...”

“I wanted an obedient girl, not a lifeless doll.”

As Clana’s silence dragged on, the Prince scratched his head in annoyance, and the Emperor’s face darkened.

“Tsk, I can’t back out now. I guess I’ll just have to...”

“What if I told you that you could back out?”

“...What?”

Just then, a voice echoed through the wedding hall.

“Who are you...?”

“”...!!!””

Eyes followed the voice, only to fall into shock at what they saw.

“Apologies, but I quite like dolls.”

The intruder standing on the platform was none other than—

“I must take this one.”

“W-what are you talking about...!”

—the infamous Frey Raon Starlight, known as the Empire’s worst scoundrel.

“Do you even know where you are...!”

“I invoke the Vow.”

“...What?”

The crowd turned pale as they realized what his words meant, murmuring in shock.

“You... what is this?”

“This... this wasn’t part of the deal!”

Amidst the chaos, the Emperor and prince protested, but Frey paid them no mind and approached Clana.

“...”

Even amidst the uproar, Clana’s expression remained unchanged.

“Shall we go?”

“Wait, what do you want?”

“W-wait!!”

Even as Frey took her by the arm and led her out of the wedding hall—

“...”

Clana maintained her doll-like expression.

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“Hmm, so this is the room prepared for the bride and groom.”

“...”

Upon reaching the room in the palace, Frey smiled at Clana.

“Now, shall we go inside, young princess?”

Frey posed the question, but Clana only lowered her head.

“Hello? Princess... if you keep this up, I’ll...”

Lowering himself to her eye level, Frey’s eyes glimmered with a chilling light as he tightened his grip on her arm—

- Slap!!!

A sharp sound resonated as Frey’s head snapped to the side.

“You bastard.”

“...Serena?”

Frey, momentarily stunned, glanced around before tilting his head with an icy expression.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“How could a human do something so vile?”

Serena looked at Frey with disgust, tears streaming down her face.

“Taking a princess who hasn’t even come of age... just for your amusement... with those filthy hands...”

“There seems to be a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding?! What misunderstanding could there be for this repulsive act?!”

Serena could no longer hold back her anger and shouted.

“She’s my bride now, you know?”

“...What?”

“Whatever I do with her... it’s none of your business.”

Frey stepped closer to Serena, whispering in a chilling voice.

“Our tiresome engagement is over.”

“Frey.”

“We’re through.”

Leaving those words, Frey pulled Clana by the arm and stepped into the room.

“With that smart mind of yours, if you understand, stay out of my business.”

“...”

“Princess? This way.”

The door shut firmly as they entered the room.

“I hope you die by tomorrow, Frey.”

Serena’s voice, full of bitterness, echoed down the hall, unable to breach the closed door.

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“Lie down here, princess.”

“...”

When he laid me down on the bed, I resolved to show no reaction.

“Take this. Slowly... breathe deeply.”

When he tried to make me drink the potion with an obvious purpose, I thought it might be for the best.

“Good... very good.”

I believed that a traumatic first night was something I could forget.

“...Shall we start now?”

Even when the potion didn’t numb me, and I felt every touch as he began to undress me, I decided to stay unresponsive.

- Slide, rustle...

Whether I screamed or cried, my life would remain the same, before or after.

- Shhh...

“...?”

But at this moment—

“Damn, this is worse than I thought.”

“...!?”

I might react involuntarily.

“Can I heal all of this today...?”

“...!?!?”

Why on earth was this scoundrel treating all the wounds on my body after stripping me down?