After the intimate moment we shared, Haniel and I mounted his horse and made way to their camp, where Princess Odette has been secretly building up her forces for the intense battle of succession.

"I'm overjoyed that you're alive," I broached the subject. "But how did you survive that night?"

I was seated sideward with Haniel caging me in between his arms. He held the reins of the horse which calmly advanced to our designated route.

"Technically, I did not survive." Haniel explained rather casually. "I truly have died back then. An instantaneous death. I couldn't even process it."

The recollection of that night sank my heart.

"However, shortly after my death, I faintly remember waking up somewhere bright."

Haniel cogitated, digging through his memory.

"To be more specific, I woke up in the arms of a faceless woman, and she told me that I am now the new protagonist of this novel." he narrated.

My eyes widened in wonder. Was it perhaps the god of this universe? What a unique experience.

I already died a few times, but I have never seen or encountered a supreme being of this world.

I guess that's what it means to be an extra. The gods probably see me as an insignificant bug who's not even worth meeting. How irksome.

"After that, I woke up underground. It seems that my body was buried in a shallow grave." He eyed me. "I wonder who dug it and threw me there."

I chuckled awkwardly. "I wonder about that."

A small smile crossed on his face. Oh, he knows.

"C-Come on, don't be upset." I panicked. "In my defense, I didn't have time to dig a better grave."

Haniel feigned to be hurt. "Even so..."

"Look, it doesn't matter anymore." I hugged him as a last resort. "You're alive. You don't need a grave."

I could feel him smiling on my head while I was embracing his body. When my eyes incidentally landed on his neck, I saw a scar on the same spot.

"It must've hurt." I remarked sadly then gently touched the scar with my fingertip. "I'm sorry."

"It is not your fault." he quickly dismissed.

He says that, but I'm the main reason why he was pushed to the corner in the first place. If I weren't with him, he would've managed to defend himself.

"Anyway, my life truly ended that night, but I was resurrected by the gods. When I came back to life, however, you were no longer..." Haniel trailed.

So he saw my body crushed in that pile of rocks.

"Yes." I scratched my cheek. "I also died then."

Both of us let out a depressing sigh. Jesus, this is supposed to be a happy occasion since we reunited. Why are we down in the dumps?

"Enough about that!" I exclaimed. "Tell me how you became acquainted with Princess Odette."

"Ah, Her Highness?" He blurted out. "After that incident in the east, I traveled far and wide in search of you. That's how our paths crossed."

Haniel rubbed his chin with mild interest.

"Her Highness reached out to me and confessed that she came from another world, and that she actually wrote the novel." He recounted. "She was desperate to have me as an ally, so I just gave in."

I looked at him inquisitively. "Is that all?"

"Hmm," He thought for a while. "Well, according to her, she was supposed to be my love interest, but I told her I was smitten with somebody else."

Haniel nudged his face onto mine like a feline.

"Who could it be, hm?" he playfully queried.

"Yeah," I scoffed. "Who's the lucky girl? Pray tell."

Instead of answering me, Haniel hugged me from behind and comfortably rested his head on mine.

While distracted in our own little world, we arrived at the camp without noticing. To our shock, someone threw a rock at the two of us.

It was the ironclad version of myself, Ellis.

Her arms were crossed, and I could feel her glaring at Haniel and I underneath her helm.

"How long do you plan on smooching with each other?!" The upright knight fumed as expected.

"I see that you're temperamental as ever." Haniel smiled at her. "I understand, Ellis. You're envious, aren't you? It must be frustrating not being able to be lovey-dovey with your love." he teased her.

"As if I'd like to engage in such vulgar acts!" Ellis growled. "Don't lump me in with the likes of you!"

"Yes, yes." Haniel chuckled heartily. "Your love is pure and admirable. Now go ahead and confess your unrequited love instead of pestering us."

She gasped. "W-What are you talking about?!"

"What else? We all know about your little crush--"

"Gah!" She panicked and, well, she raised her middle finger to Haniel. "Shut up, you wizard!"

A few seconds later, I heard her sniffing under the armor. What the heck? Is she crying now? Before I could even check, Ellis ran away like a raging bull.

I stared at Haniel in confusion. "What was that?"

"Leave her alone," He chuckled. "That one is just a lovesick girl. She acts all tough and serious, but she's actually a foolish young maiden at heart."

"She's in love?" I asked curiously. "With whom?"

Haniel smiled sheepishly. "It isn't my secret to tell, but if you observe her close enough, you'll notice."

"Is it you?" I inquired suspiciously.

"Absolutely not!" He waved his hand, laughing.

I shrugged. "Well, as long as it's not you..."

"Ah," Haniel smirked. "Are you perhaps jealous?"

I frowned and averted my gaze from him. The mage took my silence as a yes, and he seemed amused. I can't believe I feel jealous towards a woman with the exact same face as mine.

"Have you ever seen that knight's face, Haniel?"

"Ellis?" He eyed me. "Nah. She never takes off that helm, and it's not like I was interested with seeing her face. Well, now that you've mentioned it..."

So he has never seen her face. That's tricky. It will be a huge shock for him once he knows that the woman inside that heavy armor is actually me.

Anyway, the two of us unmounted his horse upon arriving at the camp. It looks more modest than I thought, with some large tents setup everywhere and surrounded by a barricade of wooden fences.

Many civilians and knights were gathered in the place. Some were cooking by the bonfire, while some were polishing weaponry. You could hear some of them guffawing the night, while some were quietly sleeping to their heart's content.

At the farthest north, there was a two-storey house made of stone. That must be where Her Highness stays. Of course, they won't let her sleep outdoors.

A man dressed in commoner clothes welcomed me and Haniel. "Greetings, Sir. You've returned."

"Yes." Haniel patted him. "Where's the princess?"

"She is conversing with her guest privately." The middle-aged man glanced over me. "If my guess is correct, this must be the renowned executioner?"

"Yeah," I glared at him. "Got a problem with that?"

"N-None at all!" He was flustered. "It's just that everyone has been anticipating your arrival."

Haniel grinned. "You're quite popular, huh?"

"For the wrong reasons." I shook my head.

"Anyway, this is Garet." The mage introduced him to me. "He's in charge of managing the camp when Her Highness and I are both absent. He's reliable."

"Oh, you flatter me." The middle-aged man bowed courteously to me. "It's my pleasure to meet you."

"Same here." I replied indifferently.

"By the way, Ellis must be holed up somewhere." Haniel informed him. "Please drag her back here for me. Tell her we'll be having our meeting soon."

Garet nodded to him. "Leave it to me."

We watched him as he approached a wooden box from a distance and lifted its cover. Surprisingly, Ellis was cooped up inside. What the heck is she doing there? And how did he find her so fast?!

"Leave me alone!" She hissed like a cat. "You damn wizard, always making fun of my feelings... Die!"

"Ellis," Haniel called sternly. "Time to report."

"Okay." The knight got up from the box as if nothing happened. She sure recovers fast!

I glanced over Haniel, perplexed. He simply shrugged. "She's moody, but takes her duty seriously. You just get used to her caprices."

Ellis and Garet walked side by side to the house.

That version of myself is a bit of an oddball, huh?

For some reason, a shot of guilt pierced me. Inside that heavy armor is a body that I will have to take over in the future. I have never met the original Isabelle or Allari before, but meeting Ellis made me realize that they all lived like normal people.

Until Callista died and took over their bodies.

"Haniel," I pursed my lips. "Does anyone know?"

"About what?"

"About my deaths and my role as an extra."

His eyes warily roamed around before speaking.

"No, I never told a soul. Princess Odette told me that she intends to reach out to some important extras. When she described the executioner as someone who had blonde hair and ocean blue eyes, I only guessed wildly that it might be you."

So he never told anyone. As expected of Haniel.

"After that, I lied on the spot and told her that I'm also searching for Kallen, who happens to be my lover. So we struck a deal, in which I would assist her in the battle of succession. In exchange, she would bring you here to the south unscathed."

I secretly smiled to myself. I expected no less from Haniel Calypso Astana. An astute man who boasts of strategic ingenuity and fighting acumen. Great.

To think that he managed to become allies with the princess without having to reveal our secrets.

He leaned down on my side. "Did I do well?"

"You did," I patted his head. "Good job."

Haniel purred like a cat. "Hmm."

"From now on, stick to calling me Kallen around others." I strictly instructed. "They can't know."

He smiled and made a little salute. "Aye-aye."

I should also tell Haniel about Ellis, but I decided to save it for another time. For now, I need to hear from Princess Odette how this arc will unfold.

"Let's go. I need to talk with Her Highness."

As Haniel and I made our way to the two-storey house, I noticed that he seemed a bit restless.

"What's the matter?" I asked out of concern.

"Well," Haniel smiled tensely. "There is one thing that I haven't told you yet... but I suppose it would be faster for you to see it with your own eyes."

I gave him a puzzled look. What is it?

"Please do not get too upset." Haniel walked up to the door and twisted the knob. "Hear me out first."

As soon as the door opened, I saw two figures standing face to face inside. The first one was Princess Odette, who donned an elegant white dress with her black hair braided into the side.

"Ah," Her face brightened. "You're here?"

She was an absolute looker, yes. However, I couldn't even appreciate her ethereal beauty because of the man standing in front of her.

He had his back turned from us, but his silver hair was enough for me to recognize him in an instant.

My lips trembled. "What are you doing here?"

The guest looked at me over his shoulder, those golden eyes of his seemingly sad and apologetic.

It seems that our fates will always be intertwined.

No matter how much I try to live a life without you, it feels as if the universe itself navigates the two of us and paves a path towards each other.

"We meet again." he said in a baritone voice.

How can we ever heal from each other, Alistair?

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