Chapter 3

"Why the Sigil Knights!"

"Isn't it the fault of the spirits!? The captain is a spirit..."

"Run anyway!"

While one of them was talking as they ran, he suddenly noticed me.

"Hey, if you have necromancy, you can use this girl as a sacrifice! After all, you already have another successful example secured."

"That's a good idea."

Suddenly, they started running towards me. Moreover, they just said 'sacrifice'!

I wanted to run, but all I could do was roll over. At least, I tried to spin at ultra-high speed.

...I was quickly caught.

Then, although I was released from the bind, I was made to lie face down and held down with a foot.

My back, which had been hit earlier, hurt!

"Owaaaaa! That hurts! Demon!"

I screamed, but I was scolded.

"Shut up, failure! Hurry up!"

With a roar, they began to chant in unison, their voices monotone.

Then, a faint purple light began to rise from the ground, surrounding only me and them.

I felt, without a doubt, that if I stayed like this, I would really be killed.

But I couldn't do anything.

"Someone... help me..."

That was all I could manage.

--At that moment, a sudden breeze blew, and I felt as if someone whispered, "It's okay."

I thought I was hearing things due to the extreme fear.

"Ugh!"

"Kyaaaaa!"

A scream rang out, and the foot on me was removed. I saw the people who had surrounded me fall to the ground.

One of them was bleeding from the neck.

I gasped.

Dead...? Just as I thought that, someone touched me.

"Ah!"

"Are you alive?"

As he asked, he lifted me up, and I saw his face.

He was a young man with silver hair.

His hair, which reached his collar, swayed in the gentle breeze. I thought even that was beautiful because he was so handsome.

He was probably in his early twenties.

He was tall and broad-shouldered, so I thought if there was a god of winter, he would look like this.

His eyes, covered by slightly long bangs, were a beautiful purple, like amethysts. He was a little tanned, but his white cheeks gave his face a more sculpted impression.

The reason I thought of a game might have been because of his attire. He was wearing a blue coat with silver shoulder and chest plates.

...Maybe this is just a dream. That's what I started to think.

Being kidnapped and then rescued by a handsome man seemed like a game-like dream I was having because I was tired. By this point, I was starting to accept that dreams about games were part of my memory.

"But it's too realistic, it's throwing me off."

"...Huh?"

The handsome man looked confused.

Still, he's so beautiful. I might never see someone like him again. Ah, maybe this is the welcoming from heaven I've heard about.

So, I decided to pray. Please, at least let me go to heaven...

"Why are you praying?"

"Thank you... If possible, I'd like to be reborn soon, God. Next time, I want a life without social anxiety and no involvement in accidents or incidents."

"I'm troubled by your prayers. Besides, you've been saved, haven't you?"

Confused by the handsome man's mismatched words, I thought, "Huh?" A question mark appeared in my head.

Saved... that means I'm alive. This handsome man also seems to be alive.

Then, I felt a sense of unease.

I've seen this person's clothes somewhere before... No, maybe I recognize his face too.

Hmm, as I groaned and looked at him, he said,

"It seems your memory or thoughts are confused, but you seem to be safe. And you don't seem to be one of them..."

One of them. Could he think I'm one of those people in black robes!?

I wanted to shake my head to deny it, but I suddenly felt short of breath.

Eh, what's this?

I felt like I had been in this state recently...

That's right, at the cemetery.

When I went to my grandmother's grave, I felt short of breath.

So, did I have a heart attack from overwork or something and end up in heaven?

I also feel like I've been in this state before, but I can't remember.

"Hey?"

The handsome man seemed surprised that I was in pain. But I couldn't answer, and I started to feel faint...

"Captain Lucian!"

I heard someone call someone's name, but I fainted.