I heard a loud cheer from behind me but I didn’t turn to look at these players. My head was overburdened with worries. That was no simple assassination.
These players knew my true identity. There was only one person in this Empire. Even Shin didn’t know about my identity. I recalled Shin’s vague words before and that strange oath that he was determined about.
His actions seemed weird at that time, but now it made very sense. He knew about that betrayal. He tried to protect me from the clutches of that man.
Why did he want me dead? I figured out these players’ true identities. Their fighting style was very familiar to me as I face this style a lot in my old wars.
They were part of those enemies of my kingdom. They might come here and attack the large army of aristocrats but they tried to kill me right here and right now.
That was weird and I suspected there was a bounty over my head. That idiot assassin confirmed my theory. I wasn’t surprised by this bounty as I was surprised by Respon’s betrayal.
Why would he betray me? I stopped in my tracks and looked back to Shin who was also looking at me. Everyone, there was looking at me. This Shin hid many secrets and these secrets involved me.
Why was I that important to him? I suspected his behavior before and now I suspected him even more. It was logical for Respon to try and kill Shin as Shin’s identity must be very dangerous.
Why did someone nameless like me get that high position man’s attention? Was that Guild Master rank and stone very important to him? Was it more important to him than Shin?
That was weirder. I didn’t know what exactly happened while I was at the game, but this man’s personality was obvious to me. I trusted him a bit and thought he was going to help me.
Now he sent assassins to kill me and put a bounty over my head. Was I that important? I doubted that I was just a princess from a nameless kingdom.
Why would the crown prince of this Empire want me dead? Why was I that dangerous to him? Was I the key to the downfall of this Empire?
What I held deep inside me that caused this strong person to try and kill me? My head was full of a lot of questions without answers. I looked away and didn’t move anymore but just read the messages from Shin in our private chat.
“Was that explosion at your place?
Are you all alright?
I’m heading now for you.
Try to stall him and I will lead everyone to kill them.
Use your HP recovery potion NOW.
You did great in this battle.
Are you going to hide somewhere else?
Are you ok?
Please answer my above question.”
He seemed worried about me. He didn’t know that I knew everything about Respon’s betrayal. Should I face him and get answers to my questions?
When I thought about it I felt I should face him. Although he might give me mild answers, I would corner him till he gave me all. My life was on stake here.
If I didn’t know myself well I would suspect it was me who went back in time and not him. I wrote to him simply saying:
“I’m fine. Proceed with the assessment and let Goda and others manage it. Come to me right now.”
What every commander hated most was a betrayal. What I hated most was being betrayed by those who gained my trust. I wasn’t angry with them, but angry with myself.
How would I get tricked by them? Was I that naïve? The deep burning feelings of anger and the massive desire for revenge was planted inside me.
I wasn’t someone who tried to protect his life; I was someone who wanted to take their lives.
“Ok, I will handle things here and head straight to your place.”
I watched him as he instructed everyone to go back and continue their assessment. Everyone was reluctant to leave but finally, they left.
When assessment restarted again, Shin moved back to me. I noticed a burning fire in the eyes of those who applied to join my force.
I was planning to make this just a shield to protect me but now I was going to turn them into a spear to kill all my enemies with. After Shin reached me I didn’t speak with him at once but moved towards another street that was empty from anyone.
I then looked around me then said to him:
“I have discovered a betrayal.”
Every inch of Shin was under my observation, so his change of look for a second didn’t escape my eyes. I continued saying:
“So I knew who was betraying me. I also knew that you knew about this. My oath to you was your way to secure me, right?”
It was a direct question. I didn’t delve into the details of this betrayal, as I already knew the general view of it. What I lacked was the motive as it would define my response to the next wars.
I didn’t doubt my survival in the next war. The issue was about how much I should damage their army. Shin kept his silence while I added:
“I really knew his identity. I want you to send me all the info related to that matter. I don’t care about your trial, this is my life. I shape it as I like, I live as I wish, I defend myself as I want and no one has the right to tell me what I do and what I don’t!”
I didn’t know that my voice was so loud. I was really angry. I was angry with myself for trusting the wrong man.
I was angry at Shin as he decided to hide so much crucial info and was afraid to tell me. Was I that weak? Was this his impression about me?
Weak lonely girl, that wouldn’t even handle such a piece of bad news? I was angry with Respon and those bastards of noble families and their mercenaries.
I was angry at everything in this life. Shin looked at me like he was seeing a ghost. He wrote in our private chat:
“Calm down princess. I didn’t hide this info from you except for your own good. One time I told you everything and you didn’t believe me.”
“I don’t care! I’m not those weak girls you met before! I’m me and no one can replace me, not even a previous version of me. Now tell me everything you know or I swear I will kill you till you zero out.”
I typed these words and my eyes showed to him how serious I was. After a few moments of hesitation he wrote:
“I told you before that you are the key to everything. I didn’t lie to you. You got something unique that made everyone want to take your life or try desperately to keep it.”
“Don’t use this kind of speech with me. Just spill it out loud and clear.”
“Fine. You are a reincarnation of a very old powerful witch.”
His words were weird to my ears. What is reincarnation? What is the meaning of witch?
“What do you mean by reincarnation? Is witch a class like magicians and spearmen?”
“No, she was a unique existence that reigned over our whole universe before with terror. She said once that she will be reincarnated into the body of a beautiful female.
Her prediction was accurate as she specified the area which she will reincarnate at and also the time. That was why the current crown prince was desperately trying to gather all the beautiful females around Frod.”
“You mean we are in the same area and time that this witch specified?”
“Exactly.”
What he said was not logical to me. I didn’t doubt his words about this prophecy which reminded me of mine. I doubted his confirmation that I was this witch reincarnation.
“Why me? There are a lot of beautiful girls out there. Even that crown prince has a huge area filled with beauties.”
“Because of many things Agatha. First of all this witch said she will return to a different profession than a witch. She said she was tired of this dark profession and wanted some close range profession.
Everyone thought it would reincarnate into a swordsman profession. But here you are a spearman, not a swordsman.”
“You didn’t answer my question. Stop fooling around with words.”
