I don't even know what I should say to the commander. These events kept happening so fast that I didn't know what's the truth anymore. Ever since I transmigrated to this world, my life has been full of action, peril, and uncertainty.
But I wouldn't say I like that he's looking at me like a traitor, even though he thanked me sincerely for saving his knights earlier.
"Your involvement against the dark forces—demonic forces as you call them, is inevitable. You must have already known you were a victim of their schemes despite losing your memories from the fall."
He stood up and looked through the window of his study room while his hands were on his back.
"By chance, you were the only one who could escape the Viscount's grasp. Regardless of your lost memories, you still managed to stay alive since Countess Vanidestine was nearby when you fell. Not only that, you willingly agreed to this dangerous plan and even devised a strategy to stop the enemies from proceeding further."
I sighed. "Stop beating around the bush, Commander. I'm certain you are not blabbering to me like this so that you could tell me how my life has been doing so far."
His wariness to me is so evident that he's not even trying to hide it!
He chuckled. "No need to be impatient, Lady Adel. I'm just curious."
He turned around and slowly walked towards me.
"How could you do these confounding actions like you were used to it? Was it just a coincidence that you were able to receive the Countess' help? You agreed to be a bait during the mini-banquet, that's one thing, but—"
I was startled when he slammed his hand on the table before me.
"You voluntarily agreed to help the Young Masters escape to the Northern Region and even saved a knight from a 'Demonic' mage. According to the knights, you ended up in the Witch's Forest and somehow escaped unscathed."
He glared at me and asked, "Now tell me, Lady Adel, what are you trying to achieve? You know what danger lies ahead if you keep associating yourself with this matter."
"You were already on the brink of death before, which you barely escaped from, and yet you keep seeking your demise even though you have plenty of chances to avoid it."
Even though I despise his criticisms for something I voluntarily do out of gratitude, what he says is right. I don't have to do any of this, and the countess kept telling me I have the right to decline her favors and offers.
She had pure intentions of saving me when I was on the verge of dying and didn't plan on using me for anything. But, I was already set on revenge against Viscount Usoro even before the Countess asked me.
Adelaide wished her death would be brought to justice, so this is my path to fulfilling it.
"Your suspicions are unnecessary, Commander. If you're asking about my intentions, I can only say it's an act of revenge. I want the nobles involved in this matter to be executed, and if acting upon the count's plan will lead to their execution, I won't hesitate to do it," I answered.
"Believe it or not, I don't remember how I left the forest. It's like I was in a trance or something, and when I snapped out of it, I was already outside the fortress."
He doesn't need to know that I was almost devoured by two wolves and fractured my ankle because it will just add to his suspicions about me since I came out without any injuries.
"If you still don't trust me, should I bang my head on the wall, hoping I could remember what happened?"
He laughed at my question. "There's no need for you to do that, Lady Adel. I wouldn't want to be known in the Empire of Tellus for forcing a young lady to recall her memories by banging her head on the wall. That would be wildly inappropriate!"
"In any case, I have my suspicions, but you haven't done anything wrong. I want to confirm if you can continue this thorny path. You're still a young lady who can have a brighter future, so it's a bit awkward for me to say this, but—"
He smiled. "I have a daughter much younger than you. I don't want her to walk the same path as me. I want her only to have great and lovely things in the world, so I have to be the one who will remove any obstacles that might harm her."
After hearing his reasons, I can feel his love and warmth toward his daughter. I appreciate his concern for me, but I'm no longer a child. I can make my own decisions and know what I can do. I already died once, so I do not need to keep hesitating.
Of course, being reckless isn't liable since I don't want to experience a 'departure from life' again and reincarnate as a cockroach.
But knowing this world and how it gave me the courage to live again, I can't just sit still while the people who helped me carry on are trying their best to survive.
"I won't delve into your decisions any longer, but I'm going to show you something," he added.
I followed him outside his study room and walked downstairs. We passed through a dim hallway, and the only thing I could see was the light from the torches hanging from the ceiling.
"Where are we going? Am I getting eliminated for being impudent or something?" I kid.
He tittered. "If that were the case, I wouldn't have waited to lure you in here and slash you with my sword at once, but I'm not that heartless."
I can't even imagine what my face looks like right now. What's wrong with the people living here? He just said those frightening words with such a grim expression!
If someone else hears what he says, they will think he is serious. I keep forgetting that joking around them will only give me headaches. Somehow, he reminds me of the countess, but the only difference is she smiles while saying something horrid.
Just recalling it gives me the shivers.
"We're here."
We stopped at the end of the hallway.
"Here? But it's a dead end," I muttered.
He grabbed one of the hanged torches and pulled it lightly. I jolted when the bricks slowly moved until it shaped like a door. Wow! I've never seen anything like this! It's like it came straight out of a harry potter movie!
"Stay close, Lady Adel. It'll be quite dangerous as we go deeper," he warned.
I heeded his warning and moved closer to him. Just from being near the entrance of this gloomy and strange room, I can feel its eeriness. While looking down as we walked the stairs, I could only hear our footsteps.
The silence makes me uncomfortable, but I hear muffled growls as we almost reach the bottom. What is going on down here? I don't feel too good about this.
As we walked further into the basement, we were greeted by two knights.
"Open the door," Commander Alberton ordered.
The knights saluted before opening the door. As we entered, I was alarmed by the two creatures snarling and drooling in front of us. These were the two wolves who attacked me in the forest!
"What is the meaning of this, Commander?"
He took something from his pocket. A rock?
He threw it at one of the wolves, and even though the rock was only the size of a pebble, the wolf whimpered in immense pain.
"It was necessary for us to determine what we were up against. It took us a long time to capture them alive, and five of our men were injured. We did everything we could to know their weaknesses."
He showed me one of the rocks, "This rock was doused by holy water from the Temple of Tellus, and it was owned by one of my knights. He broke his sword during the battle and threw this at the beast's eye as a last resort."
"That's when we discovered that these monsters aren't the ones that the House of Vanidestine has been subjugating for years."
My eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean? They came from the forest, right?"
He shrugged. "Maybe, but one thing's for certain. These beasts… are demons."
I couldn't react appropriately to what he said. I thought they only used 'demonic' to describe these monsters because they are atrocious to humanity, but I couldn't grasp that they are 'actual' demons.
"So, let me ask you, Lady Adel." He looked me straight in the eye. "Are you still willing to participate in this battle, knowing we are against Demons? These monsters are relentless, dangerous, and have regenerative abilities."
"Knowing that, are you certain that your resolve to fight them won't falter after seeing them with your own eyes?"
I stayed quiet for a moment. I'd already encountered those wolves before, but I wasn't ready for it. I was powerless and couldn't do anything to save myself other than squirming and yelling for help. I can't even recall how I managed to free myself from them!
Even if I was in good shape, I couldn't tell whether I could fight against them with all I had. I lost the artifact the countess gave me, so what could I do?
"I may not be able to wield a sword or use magic to withstand our opponent's attack, but I am confident that I can assist in coming up with a strategy that could help us before the reinforcements arrive."
I got startled when he suddenly gave me a salute.
"You may not be a knight, but I commend your unwavering resolve. Now that I have confirmed your intentions, let's plan, shall we?"
After that, we left that blood-curdling basement and returned to his study room.
I'll do whatever it takes to survive, even if it means opposing the Gods' will and turning this place upside down. Fate? Destiny? F*ck that. I'll make my path, and no one will tell me otherwise.
It's just me against this chaotic world.