I received a very satisfactory treatment from Karis.
It's almost time for me to return to my family, but during this short time, I am determined to do everything I can.
Resting on the soft bed, this kind of leisure was not common for me.
Perhaps even if I had possessed great strength, living a life of madness might have suited me better than grasping power and wealth.
I lived a life of constant fighting, killing, staking infinite lives.
That's why it feels more tangible now.
Now that the curses that seemed so natural have disappeared.
Every trivial thing has changed to my satisfaction.
I look at my left hand, wrapped in bandages.
Is this a coincidence?
Among the methods I used for dark magic, this was the one I used the most.
Using the ceremonial dagger to stab my hand and use dark magic.
The so-called 'self-sacrifice'.
And it was the method I, the immortal, favored the most.
Usually, when a dark magician uses self-sacrifice, the more they use it, the closer they come to death at an alarming rate.
It's the natural result of using up their lifespan.
But I contained the infinite sea of immortality within me.
There was no limit, like trying to scoop water from the boundless sea with a basket.
So, the area I stabbed with the ceremonial dagger was my left hand.
It's only natural to stab the less-used hand. If you're right-handed, you stab the left hand, and if you're left-handed, you stab the opposite side.
"How ironic."
It was familiar.
The sensation of my left hand, wrapped tightly in bandages.
The tingling feeling coming from the wound.
Coincidentally, the area pierced by the goblin was also my left hand.
Squeak.
While I was thinking such thoughts, there was a knock on the door.
Raeli.
More elegantly adorned than before, she entered hesitantly.
Unlike before, she exuded a noble lady's aura.
She still had the black ribbon tied around her waist, which didn't quite match.
"Thank you for saving me, Master Argal."
With a slight smile, Raeli expressed her gratitude to me.
It felt strange.
It wasn't something I did for her sake, but the situation where everyone in this castle was thanking me.
Whether it was the maids cleaning the windows or the servants carrying heavy loads, each one was saying something like, "Thank you for saving the young lady."
Have I ever been thanked like this in the past?
Only voices of hatred, resentment, and despair reached me.
Perhaps this tingling sensation was because it was so unfamiliar?
"As I said before, it's only natural..."
"How can that be a matter of course?"
While trying to give the same answer as always, I stopped and looked at her.
The strange ardor in Raeli's eyes.
I felt a determination to obtain not just lip service forgiveness, but genuine forgiveness.
"I have something to say."
Like a knight swearing allegiance, Raeli knelt down and spoke.
"I have committed a great wrong against you."
She confessed her wrongdoing.
"I deceived you and deliberately took you to the forest where goblins come out."
... I had anticipated it to some extent.
I knew the fact that she deliberately took me to the forest to test me.
But I didn't expect her to actually confess her guilt.
I hesitated.
There was no need to accept her apology.
In fact, if I reveal such malice, Karis Jag wanted to cover it up, she would make me pay a higher price.
... But suddenly, I remembered my past self who killed her.
It was a matter long gone, but I might have committed an even greater wrong.
After a brief deliberation, I made my decision.
"So please, forgive me..."
"Very well."
"Really?"
"I will forgive you. And it is also an unfortunate misfortune that magic clings to goblins."
She was genuinely pleased with my words of forgiveness.
"I will never forget your forgiveness and grace. I swear to repay all of this."
It seemed that her feelings had completely changed due to the series of events.
Something... a much bigger variable had emerged.
Her persistent gaze on me was not just looking at a benefactor or a gracious person.
I couldn't understand that emotion, but it was already too late to overturn it.
"Well then, until we meet again when you leave."
"...Yes, Lady Raeli."
"Just, call me comfortably."
It was a strange request, but skipping excessive formality was about the only thing I could do.
After all, we were of similar age.
So I did as she wished.
"Alright, Raeli."
"Uh, yes."
She bowed deeply and quickly left.
Raeli's face, which seemed to be visible for a moment, was slightly flushed.
I decided not to try to understand it.
I just wanted to get back as soon as possible.
**
Raeli sorted out her feelings over the short period and objectively assessed the current situation.
First, she tested her confidant.
Second, as a result, Arghal was greatly injured while trying to save her.
Thus, Arghal was proven to be a flawless fiancé.
At the same time, a perfect tragedy occurred where she became the culprit who greatly harmed Arghal.
Originally, Arghal was an excellent confidant that anyone would kneel before.
He was good-looking, had a good personality, and had no history of any incidents or accidents.
The only regret was that his family was slightly less prestigious, but it was a hundred times better than meeting a prodigal from a good family.
Karis Jag also knew that, so he didn't overreach and pushed for the confidant.
Especially since Raeli, who was both an aristocrat and a knight, had scored many points in her assessment.
During the process, the weakness she thought was a drawback, her vulnerability, was evaluated.
Since she was a noble lady, she was penalized to some extent, but if Arghal was any ordinary lady, he would definitely capture her.
In the meantime, the only thing she thought was a disadvantage was her vulnerability, so Raeli evaluated everything about Arghal differently.
She saw Arghal's every aspect in a new light.
He was originally an indisputable confidant.
He looked good, had a good personality, and didn't have any history of any incidents or accidents.
The only regret was that his family was slightly less prestigious, but it was a hundred times better than meeting a prodigal from a good family.
Karis Jag also knew that, so he didn't overreach and pushed for the confidant.
Especially since Raeli, who was both an aristocrat and a knight, had scored many points in her assessment.
During the process, the weakness she thought was a drawback, her vulnerability, was evaluated.
Since she was a noble lady, she was penalized to some extent, but if Arghal was any ordinary lady, he would definitely capture her.
In the meantime, the only thing she thought was a disadvantage was her vulnerability, so Raeli evaluated everything about Arghal differently.
She saw Arghal's every aspect in a new light.
She looked at Arghal, who was quietly reading a book in the bedroom.
Her heart beat faster just by looking at him.
"I am not an ordinary girl, but a noble lady who inherited a large estate."
However, it was difficult to accept the fact that her heart was pounding so fast, even though she was a noble lady who inherited a large estate.
The difficult reality was that her heart was racing even though she was a noble lady who inherited a large estate.
The goblin attack, Arghal's brave rescue, and his unexpected frailty.
For a moment, she imagined the moment he was pierced by the goblin's claws.
"Is it so? Would he have died for me?"
She didn't know why she was so disappointed at the thought.
"It was just a fantasy that was created because of a single event."
She felt like she was being silly, so she shook her head to come to her senses.
"Then, I should just treat him well from now on. That's what a noble lady should do."
She was determined to repay him for saving her life.
She felt like she was going crazy as she tried to figure out the best way to do it.
The fact that she felt like she was going crazy was because she didn't want to repay him just for saving her life.
She wanted to repay him for the emotion that she had never felt before, but which she had come to understand because of him.
But that was impossible.
She had no choice but to close her eyes and overcome it.
But even then, her heart raced.
It was strange.
It was so strange that she wanted to tear her own heart out.
"Was it a coincidence that I met him?"
She couldn't help but think it was fate.
"The person I was destined to meet in this world..."
Even if they didn't have any particular relationship, she couldn't help but think of it as fate.
"The person I was destined to meet in this world..."
Even if they didn't have any particular relationship, she couldn't help but think of it as fate.
And a strange sense of anxiety.
Despite that, she couldn't help but think that they were destined to meet.
And a strange sense of anxiety.
Despite that, she couldn't help but think that they were destined to meet.
End.