Chapter 97: The Sun And Stars’ Past

The Sun And Stars Past

Ughh

Its like a march of the undead.

Although these nobles were all so morally corrupt that it would be hard for me to distinguish them from rotten corpses, the sight of them approaching me like zombies instilled a peculiar feeling within me.

Kwachik!!

I kicked down the door still in the midst of my thoughts, and rushed out the room with Clana in tow.

Should I just beat them all up?

I touched my sword, contemplating whether or not I should just cut my way through as I saw the horde of nobles swarm towards me like ants. But in the end, I just let out a sigh and shook my head.

Even if the majority of them were corrupted trash, it would prove troublesome for me if I did something like that.

Although they were in the minority, there were a few good nobles among the crowd in front of me. Apart from them, there were other nobles that could still be of some value after I fixed them up. But I decided it was better to leave them be at the moment considering all the chaos that would ensue if they all suddenly died.

Hm

I slowly let go of my sword and started racking my brain as the nobles continued to fill up the premises.

Im unaffected?

It was truly a relief that I had my stellar mana, the Heros Power, and a Mental Strength of 9.3. Thanks to all of these, I was able to freely move despite the scene in front of me resembling a mental attack.

FreyLaTest novls on (n)velbi/(.)co

H-at.

Clana quietly called out to me.

Is this really a dream?

What?

Look at those nobles over there its like a march of the undead.

Am I wrong? I mean I cant think of a reason why you would help me either so, this has got to be a dream, right?

Clanas face was awash in sorrow.

Wait, you that memory from before the Stellar primrose Huk!

Sorry, Clana.

I gazed at Clana sadly and apologized. I knocked her out once again and hurried over to the room overflowing with black mana.

First things first. I need to take care of the most pressing issue.

Right now, I needed to do something about Clana.

.

.

.

.

.

It was dark all around.

Clana, who woke up to the darkness, briefly looked around to assess her situation, and then became lost in thought as she tried to remember what had happened.

F-Frey was Huh?

However, her memories were completely blank as if they didnt exist.

Meow

Kya!

Something was biting at her ankle.

Startled, Clana looked down and saw a black cat. After getting her attention,, the cat bit her ankle once again and started dragging her somewhere.

Ha seriously. This is absurd.

After being dragged off for a while, Clana spotted a young girl jotting something down as she mumbled incomprehensibly.

E-Excuse me

Clana carefully approached the young girl and called out to her, but there was no response.

What the?

Sensing that something was off, Clana reached out and tried to touch the girl, but just as she had anticipated, her hand went through the girl.

Ack.

Perplexed, Clana peered in to see what the girl was writing. After a while, Clana roughly understood the situation.

This is the memory of back then

Clana slowly began reading her diary of when she first met Frey.

==============

3rd day of Month

As expected, the ball for my debut was a nightmare. Everyone who approached me either looked at me lustfully or had other ulterior motives behind their actions. Someone even outright asked for my hand in marriage.

It was repulsive to consider that a 50-year-old would propose to me when Im not even 10 years old. However, the most revolting moment by far was when the tea party started.

No one came to have a tea party with me not a single child. But I didnt really care. After all, Im used to being alone.

I did feel slightly sad about it, though. Very slightly.

I was comforting myself with the food since the cake and tea were absolutely delicious.. In such circumstances, that boy came up to me.

Had he said his name was Frey? As the first son of the Starlight Duchy, he had a high position several times better than a mere puppet like me.

Regardless, it was obvious that everything he showed me, from his demeanor to his words, were all fake. He clearly pitied me and just wanted to manipulate me for his own benefit.

Thats why I told him that he would have to bring me the Stellar Primrose from the dangerous woods nearby if he wanted to befriend me. It was a form of retaliation for attempting to approach me with ulterior motives.

It was most likely that he would give up after searching for a few hours or even before attempting to do so. He might even cuss me out.

I know it.

After all, Im just a worthless kid.

==============

Clanas surroundings started to warp as soon as she finished reading, and the memories from the diary flowed into her.

Ah?

Confused by the vivid memories flooding into her, Clana let out a sound. Meanwhile, the younger Clana, who was still seated, appeared to be troubled as she started muttering something again.

It cant be right?

The younger Clana scribbled on her diary again with trembling hands, and Clana cautiously moved closer to read it.

==============

4th day of Month

About the boy I bullied yesterday They said Frey hadnt returned yet.

Whats going on? Is this the Starlight familys scheme to win me over? Or did he just run away from his house?

Well, one of those reasons must be the case. I mean, theres no way he would be searching for flowers all night for someone like me, right?

He couldnt be

============

Ack!

After reading to the end, Clana let out a groan and grasped her head that was hurting as if her skull was being split apart.

Regardless of her pain, the scene shifted again. This time, Clana saw her younger self anxiously scribbling in her diary, gnawing on her nails.

==============

6th day of Month

Its already been 4 days since Frey disappeared. The Duchy has been searching for him, but they havent been able to find him yet.

What should I do? What should I do? What should I do? I think he really wanted to be friends with me.

That flower is so rare that legends say it only blooms once every hundred years Theres no way that crazy kid would be able to find it

I just, I just believed that he was putting on a faade. Thats why I told him to do something so ridiculous I thought he would give up shortly

Just what have I done

To the first person who reached their hand out to me?

============

Clana stumbled backwards and looked around with uncertainty evident on her face as the scenery changed once more.

T-this place is

It was a forest she recognized.

Ah

Clana stood still in a daze before she belatedly noticed her younger self conversing with someone.

The young girls clothing was torn in numerous places from getting caught on the many branches around her. Her fair skin had traces of minor injuries, and her entire body was dirty from her struggle through the forest.

You thats

That young girl was speechless as she stared at the boy who was as dirty as she was.

Its the Stellar Primrose!

Frey extended the flower towards the young girl with a bright smile.

The silver Stellar Primrose that extremely resembled himself.

Take this too! Its the Sunrise Primrose!

Why why did you go to such lengths to get these for a worthless kid like me?

Tears began to well up in her eyes when Frey brought out the Sunrise Primrose as well.

Because I want to be your friend!

The young Clana hung her head in guilt when she saw how well Frey had preserved the flowers despite his disheveled appearance.

Why?

Because were not friends yet!

The girl asked the boy with great difficulty, and although the boy replied with an innocent smile, she couldnt understand his response. So, she pressed on with a strained voice.

I dont have anything to give you. I dont have any power, and Im just a puppet that people hate.

None of that matters to me?

Instead, Ill form a covenant with you.

Hm?

The same covenant that the Imperial princess, the Hero, and the daughter of the Moonlight family made in this forest a thousand years ago Ill make it with you.

The boy appeared puzzled. However, the girl firmly grasped his hands and began reciting the covenant.

Henceforth, I declare. The absolute covenant that remains firm between the three families.

What are you doing?

I, Clana Solar Sunrise, will forever serve Frey Raon Starlight.

Hearing the young girl form the covenant, Freys jaw dropped in surprise.

As long as you dont betray me first, I will never hate you and will follow you till the day I die.

U-uh, ah?

In case I break the covenant, my hand will shake whenever I see you, my heart will heat up and in the end, I will go insane.

Y-You shouldnt make a promise like that!

This is the greatest gift I can give you right now.

Frey quickly interjected just as the young Clana was about to finish the covenant.

I-I will also make a promise! Im going to do it too!!

Y-You! What are you doing!

The mysterious energy surrounding the young Clana shifted over to the young Frey.

Stop! This is my gift to you! This whole thing becomes meaningless if you do it as well!!

But where is there a friend who only receives one-sidedly?

The girls face contorted in anger as she tried to release herself from the boys grasp. But the boy held on firmly.

Gifts are meant to be given and received in return.

The girl could only stare in disbelief as the boy started reciting the covenant.

I, Frey Raon Starlight, will make my friend standing before me, the Empress.

You!

And if I break this promise

T-Thats impossible! Its impossible for me to become the Empress!!

Shocked by his declaration, the young Clana desperately tried to dissuade him.

Now that its come to this, make the penalty something trivial! Something like having to give me a cracker or even a coin!

I will give you my everything.

Ah

The covenant was made and the girl let out a stupefied sound.

So thats what happened Thats why Frey is

In the next moment, the surroundings began to fade.

R-Right. Thats what happened

Clana came to a realization as she found herself in the dark space once again.

Frey because of that promise

However, Clana, who was murmuring to herself, had a look of doubt on her face, as if something was still missing.

But, I feel like Im forgetting something?

.

.

.

.

.

Hah

Kania! How did it go?

Frey nervously asked Kania as she took her hand off Clana with a deep breath.

It succeeded for now but we need to wait for her to wake up to see if its effective.

Euk.

Seeing Frey so anxious, Kania tried to explain with a worried face.

I covered her memories from the Ordeal with the only other memory that was capable of suppressing it but as expected, its another risky memory.

Damn it. I dont even remember making a covenant with her Just when did that happen.

Its most likely to be another one of our memories that have been purposefully erased a memory that can only be retrieved from our subconsciousness.

Kania frowned and quietly continued.

Im saying this again, but black mana isnt omnipotent. Theres a high chance of failure in altering her subconsciousness and even if succeeds, theres a good chance for her memories of the Ordeal to resurface with the smallest trigger.

As long as were careful

No. Her memories will resurface naturally in due course. What I did is merely a stopgap.

Around how long will it last?

A minimum of a few weeks and at best, a few months.

Frey tightly clenched his fists as he watched Kania rise from her spot.

Thats why unless we find a permanent solution for it, its pretty much guaranteed at this point that youre going to suffer another penalty.

Fuck.

Frey muttered profanities and paced around the room in frustration. After a short while, he heaved a sigh and opened his mouth.

Kania, if I die by any chance, take the will from my secret pocket Kania?

However, he stopped and tilted his head.

Kania, whats going on?

He was confused because he saw Kania, who had been trying to get up, completely stiff as though she had become petrified.

Why, why are you like that?

At that moment, Serenas owl, that had been perched on Freys shoulder after flying in from the other room, helplessly fell off. After rushing to catch the owl, Frey looked at Clanas motionless body in horror.

..

Clana, who had been moving around until a moment ago, had also become frozen stiff.

Just what

Frey peered out of the window to take a look at the crazy nobles. As if to confirm his suspicions, they were also unmoving. Cold sweat ran down his body as he tried to leave the room.

Hello, Frey.

..!!!

Someone suddenly opened the door and stepped into the room. Frey fell on his butt in horror.

We finally meet.

Her crimson eyes were sparkling like rubies as she gazed at him from above.

Chapter end