* * *

“Dame Ryan has arrived, Tower Master.”

I nodded silently.

The rain drizzled down like the season demanded, but I didn’t mind.

The events of the past few days had mirrored my previous life, and thanks to the medication, I was finally able to rest.

When the gates opened, a knight with her hair tied in a high ponytail strode in briskly.

Her energetic steps and bright demeanor seemed to light up the space around her.

It was Bell Ryan, the vice-captain of the knights assigned to protect the tower master.

“I greet the master of the highest tower.”

Bell had just returned from visiting the Grand Duke of Roanes in the north on my behalf.

The Grand Duke—a member of the royal family—didn’t have extensive dealings with the Tower, but their relationship endured in a steady, if minimal, capacity.

Despite the long journey, which included portal travel and numerous meetings, Bell showed no sign of fatigue, as expected of her.

“The Grand Duke is in good health. He was pleased with the gifts and displayed no unusual behavior… Oh, he mentioned raising something.”

“Raising something? What?”

Was this part of the original timeline?

That cold-hearted man, raising something?

Surely not a monster?

But as soon as I asked, the gauge ticked down again.

Well, in my past life, I hadn’t even known who the Grand Duke was, let alone cared about what he was raising.

My gauge, fluctuating all day, hovered at 80% now.

Clenching my jaw to suppress any reaction, I stayed silent.

Thankfully, Bell continued explaining on her own.

“I’m not sure what exactly. He said he found it under the bridge near the castle walls on a rainy day.”

Picking something up on a rainy day?

That never boded well.

I silently wished that whatever the Grand Duke had taken in wouldn’t bring him harm and listened as Bell completed her report.

There wasn’t anything particularly alarming.
“And this part is for your ears only…”

Bell cleared her throat and glanced at Cloden, who nodded and stepped back without protest.

Moving closer to me, Bell bent down to whisper in my ear.

“Yuri, shall we step out for a while? …I heard you’ve been feeling unwell lately.”

It seems the rumor about my insomnia has already reached Bell.

Still, I didn’t expect him to suddenly suggest going out… It was surprising.

It’s rare for Bel to propose an outing to me.

However, back then, when she returned to the Tower for the first time, she didn’t say anything like that.

Bell was too busy writing reports and processing paperwork, only visiting me days later.

The lines she said were identical, but the circumstances were different.

In my previous life, I was also frail around this time of year, often struggling to sleep.

But back then, it was because I was under stress while adapting to being possessed.

Bell noticed and took me outside to relieve some of that tension.

I remember nodding eagerly when she suggested showing me the outside world.

I was so excited by the idea (despite not actually being confined—I just hadn’t thought of leaving).

The timing of her invitation changed because of my actions.

Back then, I was just weak and listless.

But now, I was showing clear signs of insomnia, and rumors were spreading that I was depressed.

Perhaps this is why the system advises sticking to actions my past self might’ve done.

Bel tilted her head, looking at me questioningly.

Her long hair swayed slightly, making her look adorable.

“They’re holding a puppy festival at the Solet Memorial Hall.”

…A festival? What festival?

I’d never heard of such a thing in the six years I’ve been here.

The Solet Memorial Hall is a large venue typically used for exhibitions or debates.

Could it be something like a dog fair?

Regardless, it sounded fun. I nodded slightly, and Bel’s face lit up with a bright smile.

“Then I’ll wait for you in front of the laundry room in an hour.”

With that, Bell left.

Cloden didn’t bother asking what we were secretly discussing.

It wasn’t the first or second time Bell and I had sneaked out together, so he must’ve guessed this was another scheme.

Yet, out of concern for my condition, he pretended not to notice.

An hour later, I donned the shabbiest, thickest robe I owned, layering it with a raincoat.

The weather was chilly during the rainy season, and I’d freeze without dressing warmly.

I slipped out of my room while Cloden was away.

He rarely left my side or the vicinity of my quarters, but this time, it seemed he deliberately turned a blind eye to my escape.

Though I wasn’t exactly confined, getting outside required a convoluted process.

Skipping all the formalities, I left the Tower with Bell, both of us dressed casually.

Whenever we returned from such outings, I would be scolded, and Bell would face disciplinary action.

Yet, Bell never wavered in inviting me, and I always followed her lead.

The outings with her were far too enjoyable to give up over a bit of scolding and discipline.

“Yuri!”

Bell waved her hand, standing by the side door of the laundry room, precisely next to the hatch used for dumping laundry.

No one came here except during designated collection times.

This spot was ideal for sneaking out because I had a portal hidden here.

The room was likely piled high with linens used throughout the Tower.

Bell opened the hatch, peered inside, and leapt down.

I heard a soft thump.

She stood up quickly, glanced around, and made a circle with her fingers to signal it was clear.

I followed her down in one swift jump. …

My stamina bar took a hit.

Right, back when I first tried this, I was terrified of the height, worried about what might be buried in the linens, or even whether Bell might be kidnapping me.

What if the linens weren’t soft enough?

All sorts of concerns raced through my mind.

But the linens turned out to be clean and fresh-smelling, barely used for things like tablecloths or guest bedding.

They were so soft I almost wanted to lie down and sleep on them.

Sleep…

Ugh, no. I quickly got up and approached Bell.

The portal was tucked in the corner of the storage room.

Bell moved aside some clutter to reveal the floor.

The magic circle wasn’t complicated—just a single, long line, enough to fit two people.

The mechanism was simple: I only needed to stand on it.

As soon as we both stepped onto the portal, everything turned brilliantly white, as though a bright light had engulfed us.

When the light faded, we found ourselves in a small house echoing with the sound of rain.

It was modestly furnished, clean, and freshly tidied up, though no one lived here except when using the portal.

This house served as a temporary station.

Beyond its door was a dim alley where unused goods and trash from nearby shops were stored.

Adjusting my raincoat, I stepped outside.

A fat, scruffy cat sat under the eaves, watching us.

The cat didn’t seem surprised by our presence; it simply licked its paw and sauntered off into the rain.

“Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve seen that cat.”

I recognized it.

The local merchants cared for this alley’s unofficial guardian.

I suddenly recalled a moment from my past when I’d offhandedly referred to it as a “guardian” and left Bell utterly confused.

“Is it the guardian of this alley?”

“Sorry? Guardian? What’s that?”

Seeing Bell’s puzzled expression made my stamina bar tick up slightly.

It was heartwarming.

I’d worked so hard to recover it, only to lose it all again if I made the slightest mistake.

Anyway, in this world, there are no guardians, no nobles, and no shamanic traditions, so I had struggled to explain the term.

But now I knew how.

“It’s… like a protective spirit.”

Close enough, right?

That’s how I explained it back then, too.

Thinking about it now, it was a decent analogy.

Simple explanations are always the best.

“Wow, that’s cool. Is it an ancient word?”

“No.”

“Then should we start calling it ‘Guardian’?”

Calling it “Guardian” would imply it ranked above Bell, the vice-captain of the Knights.

If Bell’s official title was akin to “Dame,” wouldn’t “Guardian” sound even grander?

Could we casually call it that?

But since no one else understood what “Guardian” meant, it didn’t matter.

Just as I had concluded in my past life, I replied, “Sure.”

My stamina bar ticked up again.

Times like this made it feel so easy.

And just like that, the cat—whose real name was surely something else—became “Guardian” a few days earlier than in my past life.

The feline had long since disappeared, and Bell nudged me forward.

“Let’s hurry, Yuri. The cute stuff sells out fast.”

* * *