Chapter 304: Not your fault

"Argh...!"

Noah’s eyelids twitched as he struggled to open them.

His entire body felt numb.

It was as if he had completely lost control over his limbs. He tried to move his fingers, but they refused to respond. Even lifting his head felt impossible.

’What’s happening...?’

His thoughts were sluggish, drifting in and out of consciousness.

Then he heard voices. Two people were talking nearby. Their voices sounded strangely familiar, but his mind was too hazy to identify them.

’Is that... Akari?’

A sudden worry surfaced within him.

’Is she okay?’

He tried to focus on the conversation, but the voices gradually became distant. His consciousness began slipping away again.

’Akari...’

Before he could gather another thought, darkness swallowed his mind.

---

Blink.

Blink.

Noah’s eyelids slowly opened. The first thing he saw was a beautiful ceiling.

’Damn...’

He stared at it for several seconds, trying to understand where he was.

Strangely, he felt no pain. However, his entire body was still exhausted, as though he had been drained of every ounce of strength.

"I am... safe," he muttered quietly.

His voice was hoarse.

Noah slowly turned his head.

That was when he noticed the chamber around him.

It was spacious and elegantly furnished, with refined wooden walls and expensive-looking decorations. Soft evening light streamed through the large window, casting a warm golden glow across the room.

The sight immediately reminded him of a noble manor.

’Wait...’

His eyes widened slightly.

’This isn’t the world I was trapped in.... That means... I’m back.’

The place he was currently at didn’t look like hospital nor did it look like a temple. It looked like a private chamber inside a massive estate.

For a moment, relief washed over him. But it disappeared almost immediately.

"Where is Akari...?"

His voice carried a hint of panic. She wasn’t here. Noah immediately tried to sit up, but his exhausted body barely responded.

Just then, "You are awake?"

A familiar female voice came from beside the bed.

Noah turned his head.

A woman with sky-blue hair was sitting beside him on a chair. Her violet eyes watched at him.

He recognized her immediately.

"Instructor Morgana?"

It was his instructor from Novaris Academy.

Morgana looked at him with a gentle expression.

Noah’s concern returned almost instantly.

"Instructor Morgana, where is Akari?"

"Calm down. She’s fine." She was little surprised seeing how much worried Noah was for Akari.

Hearing those words, Noah finally relaxed.

"Where is she?"

Morgana looked at him for a moment before answering.

"She’s back in this world. Where else do you think she would be right now?"

Noah’s eyes widened slightly. Then realization dawned on him.

"Ah..."

He slowly nodded.

"Yes... She must have gone to meet her family."

A relieved sigh escaped his lips as he closed his eyes. At least Akari had made it back safely with him.

Morgana watched him relax. However, her expression soon became filled with guilt.

"I’m sorry, Noah."

He opened his eyes again.

Morgana lowered her gaze.

"Again and again, I keep failing as an instructor. Once more, because of me, Damien and especially you—had to face something so dangerous. This time Damien didn’t face much danger, but you did."

Noah stared at her. For a moment, he was confused.

Then he understood what she meant. He knew this world was supposed to be base on a game. A world where the story had already been written. The future was set.

Damien was destined to face countless dangers. And more often than not, no one arrived in time to save him.

Not because those people were incompetent. Not because they were weak. It was simply because that was how the story had been written.

They were never meant to arrive in time. They were never meant to prevent every disaster.

They had their own problems to deal with while the events of the world unfolded according to a predetermined path.

Noah looked at Morgana’s guilty expression and smiled faintly.

"You are not at fault, Instructor."

Morgana raised her eyes.

"It’s not like you knew what was going to happen, where it would happen, or when it would happen. So please, don’t blame yourself."

He paused before giving her a playful smile.

"Besides, I’m much happier about being able to see you again after such a long time. I really missed you."

His smile widened. "So please don’t make such a sad face. Hehe~"

Morgana stared at him for a few seconds. Then, despite herself, a small smile appeared on her face.

"You really know how to say sweet things, Noah."

"Of course I do." Noah proudly raised his chin.

Morgana shook her head with a faint chuckle before standing from her chair.

"I’ll go and inform Lady Akari that you’ve awakened. You should continue resting."

She walked toward the door.

"If you need anything, tell the servant standing outside."

Noah nodded.

"Understood."

But before Morgana could leave, he suddenly remembered something.

"Wait."

She turned around.

"Where exactly are we?"

Noah glanced around the elegant chamber.

"This doesn’t look like a hospital or a temple. It’s more like a chamber inside some enormous mansion."

Morgana nodded.

"That’s because it is."

She looked at him.

"We’re currently at the Thornveil Household."

Noah’s eyes widened.

"The Thornveil Household?"

’Well... that actually makes sense.’

Considering where everything had happened, there weren’t many other places where they could have brought him.

Morgana noticed his surprised expression and smiled reassuringly.

"Don’t worry. No one here is going to harm you."

She opened the door.

"I’ll come back later. Until then, get some rest. Though I am very curious as where Lady Akari was for last twelve years, and how you were with her. I will just ask about it later."

Noah nodded.

"Okay, Instructor."

Morgana left the chamber, closing the door behind her.

Silence once again settled over the room.

Noah remained alone on the bed, staring at the warm evening sunlight spilling through the window.

Finally, after spending nearly seven months in that realm, he was outside. Now he could finally breathe peacefully.