Memoirs of the Returnee-Chapter 345: Crystal (4)

-10 minutes earlier.

I joined Derek’s escort convoy. Specifically, I was riding in the rear vehicle. Up ahead was the limousine carrying Balancer Smith and Derek, and we followed closely behind.

I had secretly hoped to be in the front vehicle, sitting next to Smith. But, of course, Derek wasn’t that naive. He knew how to keep his closest confidants close and the rest at arm’s length.

“…lt’s an honor, Balancer Ascal.”

From the driver's seat, a Chaser glanced at me through the rearview mirror as he spoke.

His name was Garden. A Chaser from the Intelligence Agency.

“Hey. What about me? Am I not an honor to be around?”

Beside me, Derek’s Balancer, Terence, scowled.

“Lord Terence, it’s always an honor. Just being in your presence is”

“Shut it.”

Terence casually rested his longsword on the dashboard, the blade brushing against the steering wheel. Garden’s face turned pale in an instant.

“Heh! What’s with that expression?”

“…M-my apologies. I've always respected and admired you, Lord Terence, I”

“Fuck off, you suck-up. God, ass-kissers like you are the worst.”

Among Derek's Balancers, there were a few who were particularly violent and hotheaded. Terence was one of them.

The term “Balancer” was supposed to signify equilibrium-a blend of strength and intellect. But in their desperation to secure their succession line, they had started recruiting men who were nothing but brute force, completely disregarding character.

“So, Balancer Ascal,” Terence spoke, turning to me. “How’s Lady Zia doing?”

I carefully adjusted my expression before replying.

“She’s always thinking of Lord Derek’s best interests, of course…”

“But?”

“I will report on that at a later time.”

Everything was already set in motion.

“Later? What do you mean later?” Terence pressed.

I glanced at my wristwatch.

Three seconds.

“Hey.”

Two seconds.

“What do you mean later?”

One second.

“What the hell do you”

Before Terence could finish his sentence, the world outside the window flashed blindingly bright. A thunderous explosion ripped through the air, heat searing the atmosphere.

The missile had detonated, right on schedule.

I immediately threw myself over Terence, shielding him with my body. A classic move -a full-body block.

Originally, I had planned to protect Derek this way, but, well…

It didn’t really matter.

The escort vehicle was launched into the air. Ahead of us, Derek's limousine suffered a similar fate. The entire convoy was engulfed in the chain of explosions. Naturally, I was caught in it as well.

The best way to avoid suspicion is to get caught up in the chaos yourself.

A little blood on my head. Maybe lose a finger or two…

…

The missile detonated, obliterating the vehicles. Debris rained down as the ground was torn apart.

Yet, amidst the wreckage, Smith had managed to pull Derek out unscathed.

“…Lord Derek. Stay cautious.”

Shielding Derek with his own body, Smith surveyed the area.

The surroundings were dense with trees, a forest stretching endlessly around them.

The scene was a strikingly unfamiliar landscape.

They had definitely left the courthouse and were driving along the national highway- yet now, they found themselves deep in the mountains, far removed from any roads.

“lt appears to be a magic space,”

Smith spoke, activating his Magic Body. It seemed that the mysterious missile had not only exploded but also trapped them within a magic space.

“…….”

Derek silently stepped out of Smith’s protective hold. Smith glanced at him. Derek’s complexion was pale, devoid of color.

To an outsider, his expression might have been mistaken for fear or terror.

But no.

It was rage.

Rage so intense that it had cooled into an icy calm. Derek, in his current state, was more dangerous than anyone else.

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“Lord Derek. Are you all right?”

At Smith’s words, Derek turned to him. With a slight tilt of his head, he asked.

“Was this Zia’s doing?”

“……lt’s still uncertain.”

“For now, deal with this situation.”

“Understood. I’ll do my utmost”

-Hey!

Suddenly, a voice called out from nearby.

-Smith! My lord! Are you there?!

It was Terence’s voice, calling out for Balancer Smith and Derek.

Smith raised his voice in response.

“Over here!”

-Oh!

Terence must have heard him because, soon after, the sound of rustling footsteps approached at a rapid pace.

“Smith!”

Terence arrived shortly, accompanied by one of the Chasers. On his back, he was carrying someone.

“So, you were here too”

A grin started to form on Terence’s lips. But the moment he caught sight of Derek’s expression, his face stiffened.

Sensing the tension, Terence immediately lowered his head.

“My lord. My deepest apologies. The ambush was too sudden…”

“Terence. Your back,”

Smith interjected, his gaze fixed on the figure Terence was carrying.

On Terence’s back was a man, unconscious and bleeding profusely, blood dripping steadily onto the ground.

Terence shrugged his shoulders.

“lt’s Balancer Ascal.”

“…Ascal?”

Smith’s voice carried a note of surprise.

“Yeah. The bastard took a hit for me. The missile came straight for the back seat, and for some damn reason, he decided to block it with his own body.”

At that, Derek’s interest piqued. He glanced over Ascal before giving a small nod.

“Put him down.”

Terence carefully lowered Balancer Ascal to the ground. Derek’s brows furrowed slightly as he examined him.

“…His injuries are severe.”

Ascal’s head was nearly split in half, his pinky finger was gone, and the back of his skull was so damaged that parts of the bone were faintly visible.

Smith spoke up, his tone grim.

“He’s not dead, is he?”

“Nah. He's a Balancer, he should heal up fine if we leave him be.”

Terence replied casually.

At those words, Derek clicked his tongue. His sharp gaze narrowed as he muttered to himself.

“Was this Johanna’s doing?”

His suspicion shifted from Zia to Johanna, his voice searching for the mastermind behind the attack.

Logically speaking, Johanna was the most likely culprit. But Smith couldn’t shake a sense of unease gnawing at him. Something about this didn’t sit right.

Smith turned to Terence and asked,

“…Terence. Did Ascal say anything?”

“What do you mean?”

“About Zia, Johanna, or anything else.”

Derek also shifted his gaze to Terence, his expression expectant. Terence scratched the back of his neck, rewinding his memory from just moments ago.

“Mm… well, he said Lady Zia is always thinking about Lord Derek's best interests. But…”

But.

Terence hesitated, tilting his head as if something didn’t quite add up.

“Something about telling me later. He said he’d explain later.”

“Later?”

Derek repeated.

“Yes. It seemed like there was something he couldn’t say at the moment. I think we’ll have to wait until this guy wakes up to get the full story.”

Terence glanced down at Shion Ascal.

“…….”

Derek said nothing. Smith also remained silent. Derek’s anger simmered, growing evermore, while Smith seemed lost in thought.

Whooooosh

The wind howled through the trees, rustling leaves and whispering through the grass.

The eerie sound filled the space around them like a quiet murmur.

Smith pointed a finger at Terence.

“For now, Terence. And…”

“Garden. Chaser Garden,”

“Right. Chaser Garden. The two of you, investigate this space. I’ll stay here to guard Lord Derek and try to wake Ascal.”

“Got it. Hey, come on, let’s go,”

Terence nudged Garden with his chin.

“Y-yes, sir.”

“No. Don’t go together,”

Smith interrupted.

“Be efficient.”

“Huh?”

Terence blinked, confused, but then let out a dry chuckle as began to understand.

“…Ah, I see. Garden, you go the other way, then.”

“Understood,”

With that, the two split up, heading in opposite directions.

Whoooosh-

The wind blew again. Smith held his hair in place as he looked down at Shion Ascal.

A blood-covered, wheezing mess.

And alongside the wind, the words of a memory flowed in.

“Senior. Be cautious of Belingham. The recent incidents… I can’t shake the feeling something's off.’

At the same time.

Belingham received the news. No, he had witnessed it himself-the missile strike on Derek’s convoy, captured through his surveillance.

-Yeah… That’s how it turned out…

Zia, too, had relayed the same information through her crystal orb.

“Yes. I’ve received the report as well,”

Belingham said, a smile spreading across his face. Reclining comfortably in his chair, he idly fiddled with his fingers.

The trial for Theia Esil was drawing near. If Derek and Theia both fell simultaneously…

Zia would have no choice but to turn to him-Belingham Kantar.

It was inevitable, something decided from the moment of her birth.

Perhaps, it was an inescapable pull written into her very blood.

Though not bound by blood, he had been created for Libra. Thus, Zia, as Libra’s rightful heir, had no choice but to side with him.

“I will keep my silence, as promised.”

-Alright…

Derek had already been ousted from the succession race. Johanna had proven herself an unfit Libra, and Jade had been flawed from the start.

“Lady Zia, please rest assured.”

-I will…

And so, the succession was slowly but surely converging on Zia.

For Belingham, the only task that remained was to move forward for Libra’s sake.

To fulfill the purpose for which he had been created-the preservation and advancement of the Libra family.

Smith had gathered the wreckage of the vehicles to construct a makeshift shelter for Derek. Using the information Terence and Garden had collected, he began mapping out the magic space. Fortunately, the space contained a lake with drinkable water and animals that could serve as food.

They could survive here for several months if necessary.

The nature of the missile that had trapped them in this magic space remained a mystery, but uncovering this much had already taken two days.

“…Hey! He’s awake! Smith! Ascal’s awake!”

Finally, Shion Ascal had regained consciousness. After being out cold for a full 36 hours, Shion blinked up at the sky in a daze before abruptly sitting upright.

“Hey, Balancer Ascal,”

Smith called out to him. Shion flinched, his head snapping toward Smith as he hurriedly asked,

“How many days… how long has it been?”

“Two days.”

“…….”

He had always been composed, unfazed, but now his expression was the most troubled they had ever seen.

Even Smith, and surprisingly Derek, noticed the unusual shift in his demeanor.

“What happened?”

Derek asked, stepping closer.

“Lord Derek…”

Shion exhaled softly as he spoke Derek’s name, his voice tinged with hesitation. He clenched his jaw, clearly struggling to find the right words.

“Speak. Whatever it is.”

Derek commanded, his voice devoid of emotion. His anger, which had been simmering for days, had now reached a point where it was cold and unrelenting, leaving no room for patience.

“I am as confused as you are.”

Derek added, his tone sharp, his presence suffocating.

Under Derek's icy insistence, Shion finally spoke, his words cutting through the tense air.

“Lady Zia has gone missing.”

The revelation was shocking.

“What?”

Smith was the first to react, his voice laced with disbelief. Derek’s brow furrowed sharply.

“What do you mean by that?”

Shion took a moment to adjust his disheveled clothing, his movements deliberate.

“My apologies, but at some point, she disappeared along with all relevant documents and records…”

He glanced briefly at his severed pinky finger but continued speaking with remarkable composure.

“Therefore, I will speak even if it costs me my life. I joined the escort convoy to seek Lord Derek’s aid.”

His calm demeanor had returned, his voice steady once more.

“…….”

Derek stared at him in silence.

Zia’s knight had failed to prevent her abduction. As a direct descendant, Derek could have easily imposed severe punishment, but he waved it off, granting leniency.

“lt’s fine. If it’s Johanna’s doing, there’s nothing you could have done to stop it.

That woman could take Zia without leaving a single trace.”

“ Lord Derek.”

Smith interjected. His voice was so grave that not only Derek and Shion turned to look at him, but even Terence-who had been nodding off against a tree-lifted his head.

The weight of his tone was impossible to ignore.

“lf I may speak bluntly, do you recall what happened a few weeks ago? When nearly twenty Balancers and Chasers were massacred…?”

“…Yes. I remember. Three of Libra's senior Balancers were killed.”

The casualties included three of Sherlock's Balancers and nineteen Chasers. Not just any Chasers, but veterans who had served Libra with unwavering loyalty for over twenty years.

It had been a tragedy severe enough to significantly weaken Libra’s forces.

“Yes. And, hypothetically speaking…”

Smith’s voice grew even more solemn.

“lf no one is aware that a direct descendant has gone missing, wouldn't it be possible for someone-someone who isn’t a direct descendant-to exploit their name? ”

Derek’s expression cooled at Smith’s cryptic words. Shion’s brows furrowed slightly.

“To use everything to their advantage.”

“……What are you implying, Smith?”

Derek demanded, cutting straight to the point.

“What I mean is…”

Smith felt a chilling hypothesis creep up his spine, like an electric current running through his head, sending goosebumps along his back.

“There is someone within Libra who, despite not being a direct descendant, is incredibly close to the head of the family. We all know who that is.”

Locking eyes with Derek, he uttered the most decisive name.

“Belingham Kantar.”

…Whoooosh.

A gust of wind swept through, rustling the branches. Leaves scraped against their skin, creating an eerie symphony.

The sound was unsettling, like nails scraping against the edge of one's consciousness.

Bzzzzzz-

Meanwhile, Zia stared at the rotating plate inside a microwave. In one hand, she held a drink, and in the other, a fork.

Hurry up. I’m starving.

Ding-

The timer went off, and she immediately opened the microwave, pulling out a plate of Shion’s signature frozen chicken. Without a second thought, she carried it back to her room, settling in as she ate and got to work.

She immersed herself completely. The chicken disappeared just as quickly. Dozens of documents were processed in no time at all.

In this secure, seemingly impenetrable bunker, she could work without distraction, without worry.

It was an ideal space. Perhaps, when all of this was over, she’d consider building another bunker just like it.

“ Haaaahm.”

Zia yawned suddenly. The clock read midnight.

She had been focused for twelve straight hours.

Zia stood up from her chair, satisfied-

“Working late, aren’t you?”

At the sound of that voice, her entire body froze.

“Zia.”

A voice that shouldn’t exist here was calling her name.

Zia instinctively tilted her head, turning toward the source of the voice.

“Sis…ter?”

It was Johanna. She was sitting casually on the sofa in the bunker.

At first, Zia thought it was a hallucination. She had been working too hard, and now her mind was seeing things.

But no matter how many times she blinked or rubbed her eyes, Johanna didn’t disappear.

“Hiding out in a place like this, plotting to destroy our dear broth er.”

Clap, clap, clap, clap-

Johanna didn’t vanish. Johanna simply smiled and applauded.

The clarity of her presence was undeniable-this wasn’t a hallucination. It was real.

“An excellent plan, I must say. But first,”

She patted the seat beside her.

“Come. Sit down. We need to talk.”

“…….”

Zia felt a wave of unease wash over her.

What could her sister possibly want to say?

Would it be something she had anticipated? Or something entirely unexpected?

Either way, Zia carefully managed her expression, doing her best to maintain composure, and sat down beside Johanna.