ESMLT 02

Chapter 2

First option.

Skip the prayer ceremony and run away.

Failure.

What’s the point of running? The ending would be the same anyway—family extermination, confiscation of property, and execution of all relatives.

Worse, the Empire’s surveillance is everywhere, so even fleeing abroad is impossible. In fact, in the original story, Redria—who knew the world far better than I did—was eventually found and killed despite going on the run.

Second option.

Expose Hayton’s misconduct and prevent the family’s destruction and execution.

At first, I smugly praised myself for the idea. Wow, that’s actually brilliant.

That is… until the maid who had just brought breakfast froze in shock and nearly dropped the tray when she saw me grinning.

For reference, the Redria I possessed is a certified lunatic among lunatics of the Empire.

One of her greatest “achievements” was storming into a social gathering, smashing a noble girl’s forehead with her shoe for mocking her, and threatening to spare her life only if she barked like a dog.

She’d been imprisoned multiple times for her violent temper—well-known facts, really.

Who would believe someone like her?

‘Then… what if I capture Hayton and lock him up before the prayer ceremony?’

It was an honest thought, but unfortunately, Hayton had vanished after being expelled from the Mage Tower.

Even as family, I had no idea where he was.

Which left me with only one option.

“…Alright. Let’s do this.”

The final plan was to save the male leads before the Saint did, earn their favor, and receive a pardon from collective punishment.

If I saved key figures of the Empire, even a family guilty of treason might be spared. And if the male leads owed me their lives, then I wouldn’t die a nightmare-like death either.

‘Yeah. Let’s try.’

If I was going to die either way, I might as well gamble.

‘But… what were those male leads like again…?’

As I recalled them, my mood quickly sank.

The male leads in the original novel became rabid dogs who were warm only to their woman after suffering trauma in the zombie zone.

The problem was—they were already awful before that.

‘Damn it.’

But what choice did I have?

‘Once I’ve decided, I go through with it.’

I spent the entire night organizing everything I remembered about the male leads.

When I finished, exhaustion took over and I collapsed onto my desk.

‘So sleepy…’

For a while, I’d forced myself to stay awake out of fear of nightmares, but strangely enough, this time I felt like it would be okay.

I closed my eyes.

And just like that, I fell asleep.

For once, I didn’t dream.

Not that night.

Not the next.

It was as if the path I had chosen truly led to survival.

“Miss, what are you planning to do with the young master’s belongings?”

The maid asked as she followed behind me.

The first thing I did after recovering my stamina was loot Hayton’s research materials.

He had been expelled from the Mage Tower for being a madman, but… well, wasn’t there a saying? Every madman is a genius.

True enough, several magical devices he created during his trainee days later contributed greatly to magical industry and daily life.

And according to his testimony in the original story, all of his unpublished works were piled up in his bedroom.

Creak—

When I opened the door, dust-covered junk formed a mountain inside. For someone who hated people invading his space, it was a complete mess.

I turned to the maid with determined eyes.

“Bring boxes.”

I was taking everything.

Thirty days passed in the blink of an eye, and the day of the prayer ceremony arrived.

Under a scorching sun that matched my burning nerves, the ceremonial grounds were set up in the center of the holy district cemetery.

I had prepared everything—magic scrolls, magic tools, lightweight weapons, even small-scale magic enchantments.

That wasn’t all. I trained my body and practiced combat until the day before.

The Count and Countess watched me nervously, worried I might kill someone, but relieved that I didn’t seem suicidal.

That morning, I gave them a pair of warp scrolls I’d purchased in advance.

They hesitated, but when I said I wouldn’t attend the ceremony otherwise, they reluctantly accepted.

For reference, the two of them die during the zombie outbreak in the original story.

Losing their real daughter was tragic enough—I didn’t want to let these kind people die too.

“So this is our seating…”

We arrived at the holy district and took our assigned seats among the nobles.

As I scanned the area, just as described in the novel, a strange sense of tension settled over me.

‘Stay sharp. This is the beginning.’

I clenched my fists.

‘I will survive. No matter what, you crazy apocalypse romance fantasy.’

That was when I noticed nobles whispering around me.

“Why is she dressed like that?”

“Seriously… no regard for etiquette at all.”

To be fair, I was wearing a plain white shirt and trousers.

“I heard she’s been swinging a hammer around her estate lately.”

“Shh! She’ll hear you. They say she’s planning to kill someone with her bare hands today.”

…Wait, what?

I glanced at them with my arms crossed.

The noble ladies immediately averted their eyes like they’d just been threatened with death.

I clicked my tongue.

‘All bark behind my back.’

Then it hit me.

I’d been so focused on surviving that I forgot—I was supposed to be an isekai heroine.

‘Why do others get fans and teacups while I get hammers? And why is my scandal about murder instead of luxury or romance?’

The absurdity hit me all at once.

Then suddenly, the noise died down.

A shadow fell over me.

A chill ran down my neck as I turned my head.

A sword with gold inlay shaped like a sacred bird came into view.

I slowly looked up.

A man in a pristine white uniform stood beside me.

Calm gray eyes. Neatly styled navy hair. A lightning-shaped scar across one eyebrow.

I recognized him instantly.

‘Duke Jaeger Mehen?’

One of the male leads—right here, right now.

He glanced at me coldly before looking forward again.

“This is a ceremony the Saint has awaited.”

“….”

“Do not cause trouble.”

His thumb brushed over the golden ornament on his sword before he strode away, cloak fluttering.

Only then did the audience erupt in whispers again.

‘Unbelievable.’

I glared at his retreating back.

‘Acting all high and mighty. Maybe I won’t save you after all.’

Then the ceremonial horn sounded.

Unfortunately, the moment I’d hoped would never come had arrived.

The embroidered curtain rose high.

The Saint ascended the platform, escorted by Jaeger.

I watched with folded arms.

A devoted Saint and her loyal knight who gave up power for love.

‘They do look good together.’

Not that I cared about romance—I just wanted to survive.

The priests began the solemn ritual.

How much time passed?

Suddenly—

KUUUUNG!!

The ground shook violently.

“Ahh!”

“What’s happening?!”

People screamed as chaos erupted.

I calmly ducked under the table.

No way I was getting hit by falling debris.

Crack—!

The ground split open. People and the altar tumbled into the abyss. Screams filled the air.

Skeletons began assembling themselves from nearby graves.

Panic erupted.

BOOOOM!

‘Damn it…!’

My head throbbed as I crouched, clutching it.

‘Just a little longer.’

Soon the Saint would collapse, the priests would begin teleporting survivors, and then the final escape would fail due to the zombie virus colliding with holy power.

‘Now should be good.’

I crawled out from under the table, intending to catch a priest’s attention—

Snap!

Someone grabbed my wrist.

“Redria!”

I looked up in shock.

The Arios Count and Countess?!

“You didn’t use the warp scroll?!” I asked urgently.

The Countess shoved one into my hand.

“Go, Redria!”

They exchanged a knowing look and hugged each other tightly.

Something twisted in my chest.

Was it because they’d been my parents for a month?

Or because I pitied Redria for having such loving parents?

‘Then why… why was she so unhappy?’

BOOM!!

Another violent tremor struck.

Without thinking, I tore the scroll in half while pulling them into my arms.

Light engulfed them.

“Redria! No!”

I smiled at their terrified faces.

“It’s okay.”

With a flash, they vanished.

‘Good…’

A moment later, warm light surrounded me too.

Relief washed over me as my consciousness faded.

‘Ugh… I’m going to throw up…’

The world went black.

And when I opened my eyes again—

I was lying in front of a small cabin.