Chapter 66: Rewind Again

I strolled through a familiar forest. It is the forest that borders Astoria and Crystalia.

Perhaps I’m here because Garen reversed time. If yes, what is the time frame? During the Demon King’s bride-picking or my escape from Astoria Castle?

The answer was immediate. On my head, I had a cloth covering my hair. Garen had turned back time by at least five years if this was when I fled from Astoria Castle. Previously, the cost of going back was not obvious, but this time the cost may be so high that it can be seen. I wonder if Garen will be okay.

While I’m thinking this, with a knife in my hand for protection, a wolf appears in front of me.

The wolf takes a leap.

He’s going to bite me!

I ducked and closed my eyes, but the shock never came.

.

“…?”

When I opened my eyes, I saw the wolf had been killed. A guy with a cloth over his head stood next to it.

I met Yulin in these woods.

“Yulin, it’s me, Mika! Can you understand me?”

I took off the cloth that had covered my head, and when I asked, Yulin also took off the cloth that had covered my head.

It was Yulin, after all, who showed up.

“You just randomly called my name… but more importantly, that hair, you’re the Saint…”

“I am not the Saint!”

“A dark-haired lady with no ability to destroy us… The Shrine Maiden, no way…”

Yulin seems to be memoryless. Oh, no. Will he trust me if I’m not the Shrine Maiden?

“Believe it or not, Yulin, I am…”

Before I could convince him more, Yulin gave me a shocked expression as he gazed down at my neck.

“The mark looks just like the one that appeared on my brother…”

“Eh?”

I stroked my neck. I can’t see it, but I’m curious whether the mark persists even when time rewinds. I guess what they say about the mark being etched on your soul is true.

“Believe it or not, I am the wife-to-be of O’Dowell-sama.”

And a newlywed to boot. I didn’t expect to be separated the next day, though.

Yulin took a knee in front of me.

“I’m not sure when it happened, but you married my brother.”

“Yes!”

That’s good. He believed me.

“I’ll take you to my brother.”

Then, holding his extended hand, we teleported to the front of The Demon King’s office.

“Thank you for your service. Please inform His Majesty that Yulin has arrived.”

We immediately allowed entry.

“It’s been a long time, Brother.”

“It’s been a long time, alright! You’re always fooling around──.”

“This time, I’d like you to compliment me—I brought Brother’s destiny with me.”

“What are you… Huh?”

Yulin points at me with his hand, and the Demon King rolls his eyes as he notices my presence.

“That black hair, no, the mark on your neck…”

The Demon King does not mention my name, Mika. With a glimmer of hope, I looked The Demon King in the eyes.

But…

He only had a puzzled expression on his face.