Johan stared at Shiki with a gaze full of disappointment and resolve. Shiki was silent, trapped in a whirlpool of conflicting feelings. Was it true? Had she really changed? The question arose suddenly in her mind, echoing like a whisper that couldn't be ignored.
She remembered that morning—the morning she woke up with the realization that she had regressed to three years before the teleportation. She remembered how she began to draft her plans, writing them on paper before burning them to ashes.
Shiki knew that dominating the City of Beginnings alone was impossible. Therefore, she had created the Four Seasons, a faction founded from a collection of individuals who, in her previous life, had become legends of the Procession Tower.
With the resources and connections of the Ganko Family, Shiki had turned her dream into reality. Everything felt so easy—too easy. Her every whim was fulfilled with a single command.
But since when had she started distancing herself from the Four Seasons?
Since when had she only given instructions through Mujun?
Wasn't her initial reason to prevent the Seasons Heads from brown-nosing just to climb the ladder of power?
But... why was she so sure they wanted to flatter her?
Hadn't she chosen them for their extraordinary talent and ability?
Shiki pondered, trying to recall the feelings she had when she first formed the Four Seasons. Had she truly created them only as pawns for her ambition? No. She had created the Four Seasons to gather talented people who, in her previous life, had become great figures. She wanted them to be her allies, not troublesome enemies in the future. They weren't pawns; they weren't tools.
They were allies!
But when did her perspective change?
Was it because everything was too easy?
She remembered how everyone bowed to her will simply because of the Ganko Family's reputation. As the Ganko Princess, her desires were treated as honors, even without the slightest effort. Her original plan to make the members of the Four Seasons indebted to her had failed to materialize. They were already competing to be her subordinates before she had given them anything.
Everything felt devoid of challenge.
"What happened?!"
She felt she no longer understood not just the Four Seasons or Johan, but also herself. However, before she could reflect further, Johan's movement shattered everything. He pulled his sword from the ground and stood tall.
"If stopping you means I must betray you, then I will do it. Because to me, they are family." His gaze pierced through Shiki. "And I will not let my family be destroyed by a noble who has forgotten what it means to lead."
There was no time for introspection. Danger was too close, and she had to think fast to escape this situation. As Johan raised his sword, Shiki forced her brain to work. She recalled everything she had ever seen, every piece of information that might be useful. There was something there—something she could use to calm Johan down. If Johan could be pacified, the other members of the Spring Division would likely back down as well.
"Johan, wait! You can't do this to me. Have you forgotten everything I've done for you? You were once just an unknown athlete; I was the one who gave you the chance to continue your education at the most prestigious university in Ignisira!"
Shiki tried to keep her voice from trembling, but her words felt hollow even to her own ears. She tried to remember the name of that university—and what help she had actually provided to Johan. Yet, nothing came to mind. She was certain it was all recorded in official reports she had never read.
Since when had she handed over all important documents to Mujun?
Shiki felt ashamed remembering how she had started ignoring the piles of reports from the divisions, choosing only to hear summaries from Mujun. She had even given Mujun full authority to approve them without further consultation. Now, her own policy had backfired.
Johan stopped mid-stride. Shiki's heart, which felt as if it wanted to leap out, finally returned to its place. However, Johan's long sigh, followed by a slow shake of his head, sent a fresh chill through Shiki's entire body.
"Shiki, I never enrolled in any university," Johan said, his tone calm but firm. "I wouldn't choose an educational path that distracted my focus from the Four Seasons. I feared that if I were too busy with education, I wouldn't be able to carry out my duties properly. The other division heads felt the same. None of us wanted to occupy ourselves with anything other than the Four Seasons."
Shiki was speechless.
"The invitation you're referring to was from the Faculty of Law at Daiwa University. They weren't interested in me; they only wanted to build a connection with you—more precisely, with the Ganko Family. The other division heads also received invitations from prestigious universities. But none of us knew if accepting or rejecting them actually mattered. Because in the end, we all ended up here, just as you planned. Isn't that right, Shiki?" Johan stared at her with a sharp gaze. "I hope your reason for leaving us in this place is something more than just negligence."
Johan stepped forward again. Shiki could only gape, lost for words.
Was all of this in vain? Three years in Ignisira, all the plans I made—were they truly meaningless? If so, what is the difference between my current self and my self in my previous life?
No.
Shiki clenched her fists. I am different. She bit her lip, gripping the stone floor beneath her, and forced her body to stand even though one of her legs was no longer usable. With sword in hand, she stared at Johan with cold eyes full of resolve.
"Johan, if you want to kill me, know that it won't be as easy as you think!"
Johan's eyes widened, and a thin smile graced his face. "Finally… I see a shadow of the leader I once respected. But unfortunately, it's too late."
Johan lunged with his sword.
Shiki knew her wounded body was no longer as strong as Johan's. Her thigh throbbed violently, and her balance faltered. Yet she still possessed one advantage—experience.
Wars in dungeons. The defense of the City of Beginnings. Even the Bride War. All of it had tempered her. She might be limping, but her instincts remained sharp. Shiki's golden eyes read Johan's movements calmly.
A vertical slash. Aiming for her left shoulder.
Parrying directly wasn't an option—she lacked the strength. Evading completely was impossible with her injured leg. Thus, there was only one way: redirect the attack, then counter in one decisive move.
Johan's sword slid down with full force. Shiki waited. One second. Half a second. As the blade passed a quarter of its trajectory, she moved. A large swinging slash always had an opening. Once gravity took over, the attacker's control weakened. Shiki exploited that moment. With the flat side of her sword, she touched Johan's blade—not to block, but to deflect.
Iron clashed loudly.
The direction of the attack changed. Johan's slash missed, hitting empty air. For a moment, his balance wavered. Johan's eyes widened. Shiki gave him no chance. She stepped in, ignoring the pain tearing through her thigh. Her sword shot straight forward, aiming precisely at Johan's neck.
One clean motion. I win.
But before the tip of her sword could reach its target, a heavy impact struck the back of her neck. Shiki's vision shook. The sound of metal slipping from her grasp. Her knees lost their strength. The world spun—light, shadows, the silhouettes of people around her—everything blurred.
Her body collapsed onto the cold ground.
"Who…?" she whispered faintly, filled with denial.
There was no answer. Darkness swallowed her completely.