Chapter 27

Omen

"-Ughhh-"

"-Gaaaargh-"

"Haaaargh-"

"……."

I did go a little overboard.

With an awkward expression, Aiden looked around at the knights groaning inhumanly.

Their limbs were bent at unnatural angles, ribs punctured lungs, and spines were twisted out of shape.

◈ Weaver of Fate

⧾ Arden Brimstone Lionel

* Malice: Stage 1

* Can mimic 1 skill.

※ This target cannot form a 'Bond'. Skill effects will differ from the original!

He was the only one openly marked with "Malice".

The attack had no goal other than to cause trouble for Aiden.

‘…If that’s the case.’

Aiden narrowed his eyes at the screen.

If the other side planned to act openly hostile, he wasn’t going to just sit back and take it.

He needed to prepare countermeasures.

Though, more urgently—there was something else coming first.

-Quest Info

♠ Main Quest

◈ Act I, <Imperial Capital Fracture>

▶ Chapter 1 will commence soon!

▶ A related event is approaching. (D-1)

◈ Fake Marriage

* You have been chosen as Sir Noel’s spouse. Maintain the contract with your partner until the end!

* A related event will occur soon. (D-1)

“-Hmm.”

Aiden’s eyes narrowed even further as he stared at the window that appeared in front of him—so much so that wrinkles began to bunch around them.

Just one day left.

The main quest had already been noted, so that wasn’t surprising. But for something related to Noel to overlap with it—what was going on?

‘I’ve prepared thoroughly.’

He had no idea what was going to happen, but he didn’t feel embarrassed saying that much.

It was disappointing that the points shop hadn’t opened yet, but he had already copied more than enough skills. Based on the difficulty level of the original story he remembered, this should be more than enough to handle whatever came next.

However, he couldn’t relax—because of one rule that had always held true until now.

‘Nothing has ever followed the original story.’

This was a world without its protagonist. Assuming everything would proceed according to the original timeline was absurd.

Something unexpected was bound to happen.

And if so, he at least needed to set up some kind of “insurance.”

Aside from conserving strength, there was at least one direct action he could take that might help with the upcoming event.

“Hmph.”

Letting out a short sigh, Aiden walked straight into the hallway.

Most people—Noel included, despite being a workaholic—had already gone home, but there was always one person who stayed later.

When Aiden arrived at his destination, he knocked on the office door.

“Come in.”

Hearing the exhausted voice, Aiden quietly opened the door and stepped inside.

Despite the heavy workload, Sir Stella was still typing away at her typewriter with mechanical precision.

“Aiden? What brings you here at this hour?”

They had almost never interacted privately, so Stella raised her eyebrows in a round arc as she asked.

It did feel strange. What he was about to say would only make it stranger. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

“Sir Stella.”

“Yes. What is it?”

“Would you like to come out with me?”

"……."

Stella frowned and looked out the window.

It had been dark for a long time. The pitch-black early morning hours.

…No matter how you looked at it, it was a strange request to make to a woman at this hour.

“…It does seem quite late for going out, doesn’t it…?”

“It does, right?”

“I’m glad you’re aware. If it’s urgent, perhaps you should report it to Sir Noel and have her assign someone appropriate—”

“No, it has to be you.”

"……."

“I’d prefer if it were just the two of us.”

Stella spat out the coffee she had been drinking in a spectacular spray.