At Tezette’s chilling voice, Ruel’s eyes wavered. Her heart sank.
‘How… did she know?’
Ruel quickly composed her expression and asked as if she knew nothing.
“What are you talking about? What do you mean, who am I? I’m… ha.”
But her effort to smile was meaningless—as Tezette’s grip around her neck tightened.
“Wearing someone’s skin doesn’t make you them.”
The face that had shown no emotion until now was suddenly filled with clear hostility.
Only then did Ruel realize why Tezette had played along with her and not rejected her from the beginning.
It wasn’t because she truly believed Ruel was who she claimed to be…
‘She was keeping me close to figure out if I was real or not.’
Just like a predator circling its prey, watching intently.
Feeling instinctive fear, Ruel tried to speak to escape the situation, but Tezette gave her no room to do so, tightening her grip even more.
“Ugh…”
“The Ruel I know is competitive and fearless—she never backs down, no matter the situation.”
“……”
“She’d take a hit if it meant creating an opening to strike back.”
They had trained together with swords for ten whole years.
Tezette knew not just her swordsmanship, but her behavioral patterns, too.
That’s why she had driven Ruel to her limits on purpose. Humans reveal their true nature when pushed to the edge.
You can mimic personality and sword skills, but not the instincts that come out in moments of crisis.
“But you dodged. Even though I gave you an opening.”
“Te… Tezette… ugh—”
Tezette kept squeezing Ruel’s neck, then suddenly paused when she saw her face turn red from lack of air.
Even though she knew the woman in front of her was nothing more than a spirit wearing Ruel’s skin, something about her pained expression made Tezette hesitate.
And yet, that made it all the more infuriating.
This wasn’t Ruel—but this woman had approached her, disguised in her skin, deliberately using that fact to manipulate her emotions.
“How dare you…”
How dare someone like you mimic Ruel.
Veins bulged on the back of Tezette’s hand as she gripped Ruel’s throat tightly.
Then, a sound came from the entrance of the training hall.
“Ah, um… I—I’m sorry!”
A young man, clearly a trainee knight, had entered but blushed and quickly backed out.
He had clearly misunderstood the situation, seeing Tezette and Ruel so close.
Tezette, who had been glaring coldly at Ruel as if none of that mattered, finally released her grip.
Her next words struck Ruel’s ear like ice.
“Stay out of my sight. Unless you want to die.”
With that, Tezette completely let go and stood up, leaving the training hall.
Only after Tezette’s footsteps had fully disappeared from the hall did Ruel finally exhale the breath she had been holding.
“Hahh… hah…”
Ruel touched her neck, where Tezette’s warmth still lingered.
Just remembering the heat of that hand around her throat sent shivers down her spine.
At the same time, Elsez’s voice echoed in her head.
‘Just having the memories doesn’t make you that person.’
It felt like that voice was mocking her all over again.
Ruel clenched her teeth.
‘That little girl won’t be acting so high and mighty for much longer.’
The demon’s power was growing stronger and stronger.
Once it could no longer be hidden, everyone would know that Elsez was the demon.
And when that time came, all the heroes would be forced to turn on her.
And as the one who opposes the demon, she would be revered as a hero.
But if—by some chance—the heroes found out who Elsez really was and still chose to protect her…
“…Then they’ll have to die.”
Enemies of the continent—for siding with the demon.
That’s why approaching the heroes as Ruel was the last chance she was giving them.
Their final chance to stand on the side of good—to become the heroes who saved the world.
Ruel stared at the doorway through which Tezette had left and murmured in a cold voice.
“You’d better make the choice you won’t regret.”
*****
A few days later, a meeting was held between the heroes and Dike ahead of the Founding Festival.
As always, Elsez silently stared at the empty seat that still hadn’t been filled—even as Dike took her place at the end.
‘That guy’s skipping again, huh.’
At this point, not only Dike and Astaire, but even Cassian—who had once offered to go get Tezette—seemed to have given up on her.
Elsez suddenly recalled what Tezette had said to her in the library last time:
“Because you didn’t come find me. I waited.”
She hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but looking back now… it sounded like Tezette had intentionally skipped the meeting to wait for her.
‘But… would it really be okay for me to go to her?’
She had told Tezette she would be the one to come find her. But now that Ruel—albeit a fake one—had shown up…
‘There’s no way she’d still be waiting for me.’
Pushing that thought aside, Elsez turned her attention to the meeting.
As expected, Dike brought up the upcoming Founding Festival.
“Some heroes from various nations have expressed their intent to participate in this year’s festival. They’ll also be reporting on the state of their regions.”
At that, Elsez asked with surprise,
“Isn’t it risky for heroes to leave their posts when dimensional rifts can open at any time?”
“There won’t be many attending, so it shouldn’t be an issue.”
If that was the case, there was no reason to object further.
Dike moved on.
“Also, Miss Ruel, Miss Elsez. I have a favor to ask of you two.”
Elsez looked at Dike with a puzzled expression.
“We’re thinking of holding Elsez’s official Hero Appointment Ceremony during the Founding Festival, and also announcing Ruel’s return. Would you two be willing to appear at the event?”
During special occasions like the Founding Festival or New Year’s Festival, it was customary to hold a group ceremony to appoint new heroes—only for those who wished to appear in public.
The ceremony itself wasn’t anything grand, but Ruel’s return would certainly feel more impactful to the public.
“The birth of a new hero, and the return of one who carries the will of the gods—both will give courage and hope to the many people living in fear.”
“Of course. Bringing peace to the world is important, but so is giving people emotional comfort. That’s part of what it means to be a hero, isn’t it, Miss Elsez?”
Ruel answered Dike’s request cheerfully and looked to Elsez as if seeking agreement.
The way she said it made it feel like not agreeing would be the odd thing to do.
‘Not that I was planning to refuse anyway.’
Elsez stared at Ruel—who was basically forcing her to agree—and then replied,
“Yes, of course.”
“Thank you both for being so willing. Everyone will be thrilled to see the new hero and the returning one.”
Dike smiled brightly, pleased with the answer she had hoped for.
The meeting wrapped up after a few more discussions on the Founding Festival and the Demon King.
After Dike left, Elsez was the first to step out of the meeting room.
Just then, she heard someone following behind. Astaire’s voice called out.
“My lady.”
They had agreed to strictly refer to her as “Elsez” in front of others, so the formal title remained unchanged.
“I think it would be best if you had dinner early tonight. The others are planning to eat together after training.”
Cassian, who had been following behind, gave Astaire a disapproving look.
“Is it really necessary to eat early? You could just train with us and eat a little later. Don’t you think, newbie?”
Ruel, who had come out behind them, glanced coldly at Cassian, who was trying to take care of Elsez. Then she smiled sweetly and agreed with him.
“He’s right. If you don’t mind eating a bit later, why not join us? Or even lunch, if that works better…”
“I’m sorry, but today won’t work. I need to be somewhere right after.”
“I’d really like to get closer to you, Elsez, but it seems like we never get the timing right.”
Ruel’s words sounded regretful—but subtly blamed Elsez.
‘If you really wanted to match my schedule, you shouldn’t have just decided the time yourself and expected me to fit into it. You should’ve asked me and coordinated from the start, shouldn’t you?’
Just as Elsez was about to say those words bubbling up in her throat, Astaire—sensing her mood—lightly brushed her fingers under her sleeve, gently stopping her.
Then, turning to Ruel with his usual warm smile, he defended Elsez.
“We can’t expect my lady to adjust her time to match ours all the time.”
As he said this, Elsez felt a rough texture under her sleeve where he had touched—like paper.
‘…A note?’
Catching on quickly, Elsez quietly took the note and slipped it into her palm.
“Next time, please ask me in advance. I’ll do my best to make it work.”
Astaire walked away with Cassian and Ruel, who both still seemed unwilling to let Elsez go.
Once she was alone, Elsez unfolded the note Astaire had slipped her.
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