Chương 76: Chapter 75

"Nina."

"Yes, System?"

"If I told them what was going to happen..." Nina paused.

"Would it actually change anything?" Instead of answering immediately, the System asked a question.

"Do you believe the Hero's Party alone can defeat five hundred monsters?" Nina remained silent.

"Not just five hundred ordinary monsters."

"Five hundred monsters arriving in waves."

"Each wave stronger than the previous one."

"I..." Just as Nina was about to answer, she suddenly felt someone bump into her. Looking down, she saw a small child. The child immediately began bowing repeatedly.

"I-I'm sorry!"

"I didn't mean to bump into you!" Nina stared at the child in confusion. Before she could respond, the System reminded her.

"Host."

"Remember your current identity." Nina froze. Right. She was currently considered a person of high nobility. If someone of that status was harmed or insulted, especially in a small town like this, society would not hesitate to punish the person responsible. The child's life could have been destroyed simply because of this accident. And nobody would have questioned it. Yet... Nina did not do that. Instead, she slowly knelt down until she was at eye level with the child.

"Hey."

"I have a question for you." The child looked at her with frightened yet innocent eyes. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

"Yes?" Nina looked at the child carefully.

"If you had the ability to see that a disaster was coming..."

"But you knew the people around you could not prepare for it."

"And you knew they could not defeat it."

"Would you tell them?" The child looked confused. The question was clearly too complicated for someone their age. However, after thinking about it for a moment, the child slowly nodded.

"Yes."

"Really?"

"What if, in order to help them..."

"You needed to ask someone you were afraid of for help?" The child continued nodding. Nina looked slightly surprised.

"What if that person was a really, really big meanie?" The child paused. They thought carefully.

"Um..."

"I don't know."

"But..."

"If I told them, would everyone survive?" Nina looked into the child's eyes. A quiet smile appeared on her face.

"I..."

"I hope so." The child smiled.

"Then yes."

"Of course I would."

"Even if that person was a really, really big meanie." Looking at that innocent smile, Nina's own smile became slightly fainter. She reached into her spatial pouch and pulled out some food.

"Here." The child's eyes widened. Inside were delicious fruits and pastries.

"Thank you so much!" The child's expression brightened with pure joy. Nina watched them quietly. Her smile slowly disappeared. Then... She gave permission. Within the depths of Nina's consciousness... A figure slowly opened her eyes. After receiving all the knowledge connected to the situation, along with the request to step forward, she remained silent for a moment. Her gaze moved beyond the subconscious state. Then, step by step, she began walking.

The boundary separating the subconscious and conscious states stood before her. A barrier that normally prevented the personas from directly interfering. But this time... She passed through it effortlessly. The figure continued forward, her presence calm and steady. Her eyes briefly landed on Nina, who remained within her own consciousness, before turning away. Then her attention shifted toward the body's control. She reached out. And gently took over. The transformation began immediately.

Nina's appearance slowly changed. The delicate features remained, but her entire presence became different. The person standing there was no longer simply Nina. Mrs. Blackmore. The identity Nina believed was the only person capable of handling a situation like this. Mrs. Blackmore looked toward the child. Her eyes were gentle. Soft. Like a calm breeze.

"Don't worry."

"The Hero's Party will protect your town." The moment those words left her mouth... A flare shot into the sky. Mrs. Blackmore slowly turned her gaze upward. The signal came from the direction of the moon. Standing there, watching from a distance, was the Crown Prince. Mrs. Blackmore looked toward him. The moment she saw the person who had fired the flare, the memories she had inherited immediately provided her with information. Ronin McCann. The Crown Prince.

A person who appeared ordinary on the surface, yet carried far more weight than he allowed others to see. Through the memories she possessed, she noticed the details that others had overlooked. His actions. His hesitation. The way he had tested the boundaries placed upon him. The way he had prepared despite having no guarantee that his efforts would succeed. Slowly, she connected the pieces. This man... He knew more than he revealed. Mrs. Blackmore continued watching the flare rise into the night sky.

The bright light scattered above them, painting the darkness with colors that resembled beautiful fireworks. Her eyes darkened slightly with understanding. Then a gentle smile appeared on her lips.

"It seems..."

"We will be fine." However, before the thought could fully settle, another memory interrupted her. Something she had overlooked. Something hidden within the information she had received. Her gaze shifted beyond the walls of the town. For a moment, her expression became thoughtful. Then... A warmer smile appeared.

"Someone is interfering with the gateway." A quiet laugh escaped her.

"Very well."

"Let the games begin."