* * *

Parak, the sacred beast who supposedly dwelled in the Ice Cavern, was described in ancient texts as a spirit of thunder and lightning.

Among the sacred beasts, he was said to have loved Maya the most, and because of that, he also harbored the deepest resentment.

Despite his fierce appearance reminiscent of a war god, Parak was an intense, steadfast lover.

In the northern lands, the sound of thunder was often described as “the sound of Parak’s rage,” a belief stemming from the legend that every time Parak mourned his inability to accept Maya’s death, lightning would strike.

It seemed that Parak, who had been asleep for ages, somehow mistook me for Maya.

[Maya has come back to meet me. This time, I won’t let that wretched Mephisto take her from me. Not even a strand of her hair. Let me hold you, Maya, just like when I was young…]

A hint of sorrow tainted Parak’s voice.

As ice crytals covering his body began to sink into the ground, ice soldiers born from the frozen ground awakened one by one.

As the ice soldiers launched a ruthless assault, the guild members from Flare and Jupiter drew their weapons.

“Protect the townsfolk!”

I barely managed to dodge to the side as Parak’s massive hand crashed into the ground with a thunderous bang, narrowly avoiding what would’ve flattened me.

Lying on the ground and groaning, I met Luke’s gaze.

He looked startled to see me, but quickly looked away as if he hadn’t noticed.

‘Really, calling yourself a hero, and then pretending not to see?’

In the chaotic square, with ice soldiers running rampant, there was no one to protect Jeanne.

Deflecting the guild members’ arrows with his shield, Parak shouted at me again.

[Maya, why do you look at me like that? Have you forgotten all the adventures we shared?]

Dodging the relentless attacks, I crouched in a corner, sorting out my thoughts.

Unlike the indiscriminate attacks of the ice soldiers, Parak was solely focused on me.

It seemed that he had responded to the summoning ritual because of me.

If I was indeed a reincarnation of Maya, then I carried Maya’s essence within me.

Clenching my fist, I solidified my resolve.

‘Alright. If that’s how it is, then I’ll be the bait.’

As soon as I made up my mind, I noticed the towering spire behind Parak.

It was usually an observatory for stargazing.

I sprinted to the center of the square, running in the opposite direction of the fleeing people.

Marchen called out from behind, but, as I expected, Parak ignored everyone else and started following me.

[Maya, Maya! Come back right now. Give me your heart!]

With each swing of Parak’s sword, buildings crumbled.

I narrowly dodged falling debris as I ran toward the spire. Parak, screaming, raised his sword high.

My hair crackled with static, lifted by the charge in the air.

A massive thundercloud formed overhead.

Desperately, I searched for shelter from the lightning.

But the surrounding area was already in ruins.

“Ugh!”

Distracted, I tripped over a rock and fell.

Groaning, I looked up at the sky.

The dark clouds above seemed ready to strike with massive lightning bolts at any moment.

‘Damn it, my legs won’t move.’

As the thought that I might die crossed my mind, my entire body started to tremble.

Seeing Parak’s towering form right in front of me stirred something deeper than fear—an overwhelming awe.

The thought that echoed in my mind was simple: ‘I can’t win.’

‘No matter how much I know about the future, there’s no way to beat Parak.’

Bracing myself as the lightning struck, I shut my eyes tight, expecting pain.

But seconds passed, and nothing happened.

Cautiously, I opened my eyes, and my breath caught.

‘No way.’

Jerome was standing in front of me, one knee bent to the ground, holding his sword firmly.

The sword, infused with the lightning that he’d absorbed, crackled with energy.

It seemed the weapon had served as a lightning rod.

“This is serious. I’ve realized it completely now.”

Caught off guard by Jerome’s sudden words, I looked at him in confusion.

Jerome reached out, messing up my hair, his eyes fixed on Parak above.

A tense smile spread across his face.

“So this is what it means… to want to protect something.”

His words left my lips slightly parted.

The Jerome before me was no longer the same person, weighed down by unseen chains.

His carefully worn tailcoat was now covered in dirt and dust, his once neatly swept-back hair drenched in sweat and disheveled, yet he looked strangely liberated, like a beast finally freed from its bindings.

Jerome leapt onto Parak’s arm, sprinting along it with fierce determination.

The words of Grand Duke Carmen flashed through my mind.

“If he has something to protect, he’ll become stronger. He’s always been a monster in that way.”

The white Moon King’s Stone embedded in Jerome’s sword shone brightly.

It was proof that the sword’s long-dormant will had awakened.

Parak, enraged by Jerome’s audacity to roam about as if this were his own bedroom, let out a guttural scream and twisted his body.

With a swift move, Jerome ascended, adjusting his stance mid-air, then slashed through the air with his sword.

“The Emperor’s Blade that Carlisle wields unleashes explosive power. But Jerome’s Moon King Blade is different. Like the moon that embraces even the deepest darkness, it absorbs any attack…”

Lightning burst from the tip of Jerome’s sword, raining down like a storm.

It was a replica of Parak’s own assault. A smile crept onto Jerome’s lips.

“Right back at you.”

I couldn’t help but be impressed by Jerome’s battle prowess, even as I watched with my own eyes.

But I couldn’t just stand idle.

Clutching a rechargeable mana stone tightly, I cast a water-based spell, creating a large puddle under Parak’s feet.

Though elementary by skilled mages’ standards, the water magic took on a new significance when it met Jerome’s lightning.

Boom!

A massive bolt of lightning struck the puddle, electrifying Parak and immobilizing him with a scream.

I silently celebrated, realizing how even basic elemental magic could be creatively applied in combat.

Jerome landed, brushing back his sweat-dampened hair, and shot me a wink.

“Nice support.”

A faint blush crept up at his compliment, but the warm moment was short-lived.

Suddenly, Parak broke free from the electrifying hold and swung his sword at Jerome.

Sensing the danger a beat too late, Jerome turned his head just as a chilling thought struck me—he could die.

“Jerome!”

I called his name through the cloud of dust.

A deafening roar filled the air before silence fell.

As the dust cleared, I saw Carlisle, blocking Parak with his greatsword.

“You always let your guard down, Jerome, and I always have to snatch victory from you.”

The impact sent Parak stumbling backward.

Carlisle, lowering his greatsword with a playful grin, cocked his head.

There was an edge to his teasing that made Jerome chuckle. He replied smoothly.

“Letting my guard down? I was just letting my dear friend take the win.”

“If you’re in such a giving mood, why not hand over a little more?”

“That, I can’t do.”

Jerome wiped a splash of blood off his cheek with the back of his hand.

“I’ve just found something worth holding onto.”

Surprise flickered in Carlisle’s eyes for an instant.

Meanwhile, Parak, who had risen again, snarled viciously.

As if ready to pounce, Jerome and Carlisle braced their swords simultaneously. I sprang up and shouted urgently.

“Jerome, Carlisle! Hold him in place until I can hit his heart!”

They both gave a nod, a familiar gesture in sync, even if there had been tension between them.

They held Parak at bay, and now it was my turn.

Following the plan, I ran toward the spire, sprinting until my throat tasted like iron.

‘This is something only I can do. I have to see it through.’

I raced up the spiral staircase inside the spire.

With Maya’s Stone in hand, I chanted a spell, and a golden bow materialized in my grasp.

I caught sight of Jerome and Carlisle pouring attacks onto Parak, matching their rhythm.

I hooked my index finger around the bowstring, then hesitated.

‘Damn, this is harder than I thought.’

Unlike a stationary archery target, hitting Parak’s constantly moving heart was nearly impossible with my current skills.

Just then, a memory resurfaced of a conversation I once had with a magic artifact shop owner.

“Ah, this feather belongs to Jacob. It never misses its prey once it’s targeted. Attach it to your arrow, and it’ll chase any target down.”

‘Right, Jacob’s feather!’

With trembling hands, I rummaged through my robe’s inner pocket, finding the feather I’d kept just in case.

I attached it to the arrow, and the arrowhead started to tremble with a faint hum.

Gritting my teeth, I pulled the bowstring, took a deep breath, and held it.

Please, pierce Parak’s heart.

The golden arrow flew from my hand, darting and twisting through the air like a guided missile before piercing Parak’s heart.

A gasp of disbelief escaped me.

“It hit!”

A brilliant flash burst from Parak’s heart.

A massive clock-shaped magic circle appeared on the ground, binding Parak with chains.

He struggled against the chains as if he would break them at any moment.

The chains tightened, trapping his limbs until finally, with one last earth-shaking roar, he fell still.

I exhaled the breath I’d been holding and lowered my bow, sinking to the ground in exhaustion.

“I did it,” I murmured, my voice barely audible.

✽ ✽ ✽

Bound in chains, the sacred beast Parak occasionally let out beast-like growls.

I asked the guild members gathered around if there were any injuries, but thankfully, thanks to Luke’s skilled leadership, everyone had evacuated safely. P

erhaps it was the sight of us subduing the sacred beast, but everyone, still in shock, answered with wide eyes.

This was a stark contrast to the original story, where there had been significant casualties.

But before I could even fully relax, Parak, who had been slumped weakly, lifted his head.

[Maya, are you there? You must be Maya, right?]

Guild members recoiled at Parak’s growling voice, but I slowly walked toward him, standing apart from the others.

Parak, staring at me, murmured weakly.

[Ah, I see. You’re not Maya. But I feel Maya’s warmth in you.]

I nodded in silent response. Parak, gazing at me, continued.

[For thousands of years, I’ve waited here for Maya, guarding her stone. At first, I missed her, I wanted to see her, but over time, I grew angry. I wondered why she never came to see me, felt betrayed. I’m still stuck in the moment she used to gently stroke my head…]

Bound by the chains, Parak emitted a bright light.

Soon, a small lizard-like lightning spirit sprang out from the glow, showing Parak’s true form as a sacred beast.

We held eye contact.

“Parak, is there anything you’d like me to do for you?”

He pondered my question before responding.

[*I made a pact with Maya—a bond of master and servant. Until a new contract is made, I am bound to guard her stone as her sacred beast. But I wish to return to my original ice cave. For that, I need a new contract holder.]

Understanding that Parak needed a new contract to be freed from his duty, I asked if he wanted me to find a new master.

He replied dejectedly.

[Yes, but… I’m afraid that if I make a new bond, I’ll forget Maya. This contract is the only thing linking me to her.]

Parak seemed to yearn for freedom from his role as Maya’s sacred beast, yet was frightened of losing their only connection.

After a moment of contemplation, I replied firmly.

“If Maya were here, she wouldn’t want a dear friend of hers to remain chained by the past. She’d want you to let go of her and be happy.”

My firm words left Parak looking sullen again, and I felt a pang of guilt.

Sighing, I added a few words of comfort.

“How about this? We’ll make a contract just until you get used to Maya’s absence. You said that I feel quite similar to Maya, right?”

Parak looked up at me with wide eyes.

* * *