Climbing ropes had never been a problem for me before.
But now, bent over, gasping for breath on solid ground, I realized just how much had changed. My hands trembled from the strain.
Damn it—this little brat had clearly never held anything heavier than a coffee cup in his life.
I let out a quiet, resigned sigh. Fine. I'd deal with this pathetic body later.
He's supposed to be a future man, for God's sake.
No wonder aristocrats need bodyguards.
Money really does ruin people.
I scanned my surroundings. It was quiet. Only faint voices drifted from somewhere in the distance—probably night staff or guards.
But I didn't need the main entrance.
I slipped around the corner and hurried—well, as fast as this body allowed—toward the unlit orchard.
By the time I reached the last apple tree, I was out of breath. I crouched behind it and checked my watch.
Two minutes.
I made it.
Unable to stay on my feet any longer, I slid down to the ground, pressing my back against the rough bark.
A faint rustling sound made me tense.
I didn't even have time to react before a figure in black appeared at my side.
I jumped to my feet, darting a glance around. If this was someone from the estate—
Run.
"For future reference," the stranger said calmly, "if you want to stay unseen in the dark, wear black."
I exhaled in relief.
"Start sent you?"
"And you're the peacock who decided to trade a silver spoon for a servant's life?"
"I am not a peacock!" I snapped.
"Move. Patrol will be here soon."
"How do you—"
I didn't finish.
A gloved hand clamped over my mouth.
He grabbed my arm—hard—and dragged me toward the wall.
I would've shoved him off if I hadn't heard voices approaching.
I swallowed my irritation and followed silently.
He stopped at the wall and let go of me. I felt it before I saw it—something like faint ripples running across the surface.
Then the stone… shifted.
Like water disturbed by wind.
Within seconds, the solid wall turned into a shimmering, translucent veil.
The stranger didn't give me time to react.
He pulled me forward—
Through it.
And just like that, we were outside.
Behind us, the wall flickered once more and solidified again—impenetrable, as if nothing had happened.
"Whoa…" I breathed, staring at him in awe.
"No time for that. Move," he said, already walking ahead.
We walked for what felt like forever through complete darkness.
He clearly had no interest in conversation. I could feel his quiet irritation—his disdain—every time he paused just long enough for me to catch up.
I stayed silent too.
Partly because I didn't have the strength to talk.
Partly because the sounds around us—faint, unnatural—made the hair on my arms stand on end.
"Wait," I finally said, unable to take it anymore. "Let's rest for a minute."
"Tch. Weak," he muttered. "We're almost there."
"Please," I said.
He stopped.
I sank to the ground where I stood.
God… this is torture.
A former athlete, reduced to this.
I'm going to train this body until it collapses.
As I mentally berated myself, something appeared beside me.
Pale.
Milky-white.
Transparent.
At first, I didn't understand what I was looking at—until it drifted closer.
Cold brushed against my shoulder.
I screamed and jumped up.
Adrenaline surged through me. I stumbled backward, practically diving behind the man in black, clutching at him as the thing floated after me.
"What is that?!" I shouted.
"A ghost," he said flatly, swatting it aside like an annoying insect.
"A—a ghost?!" I stammered.
"Yeah. A weak one. Doesn't even have a proper form yet. What, you've never seen one before?"
"I told you—I don't remember anything before last week!"
"Right… Start mentioned that." He sighed. "At worst, it'll drain a bit of your energy. You'll just feel tired. Maybe sleepy. That's it."
"Then why is it clinging to me but avoiding you?"
"Because I've got protection. You don't."
"…And how do I do that?"
"Release a bit of your power. Wrap it around your body."
"…How?"
He paused.
"Forget it," he muttered. "You really don't know anything, do you?"
"I told you—"
"I don't have time for this."
He grabbed my arm and spun me to face him. Then he pulled off his glove and pressed his bare palm against my face.
Roughly.
I was about to protest—but then I felt it.
A faint tingling.
Something… filling me.
Power.
It spread through my body—and then settled, leaving behind a thin, almost imperceptible layer against my skin.
"That was—"
"I coated you with my energy. It's weak, but it'll keep small things away." He stepped back. "Can we go now?"
I nodded.
He turned immediately and continued walking.
About half an hour later, we stopped near a large tree.
A black motorcycle stood beside it.
He tossed me a helmet and swung onto the seat.
I put it on and climbed on behind him, hesitantly.
Only then did I notice how broad his back was.
Solid. Towering.
I instinctively tried to keep a little distance between us—but the moment the bike roared to life and shot forward, I forgot everything.
I grabbed onto his waist with both arms, clinging to him tightly.
I'd never ridden a motorcycle before.
It was terrifying.
And exhilarating.
After a while, I relaxed a little, loosening my grip. The wind whipped against my clothes, the empty road stretched endlessly into the darkness—
And for the first time…
I felt free.
In my previous life, I lived quietly. Steadily. I never thought of myself as trapped—but I also never did anything that truly stirred me. No traveling. No risks. Nothing beyond sports and martial arts.
There was nothing wrong with that life.
But there was nothing like this, either.
This rush.
This spark.
This—
Freedom.
It was just a short ride.
But it felt like a shock to the system.
A bucket of cold water thrown in my face.
The wind and engine drowned everything out—so I screamed.
Let everything out until my throat burned.
And then I laughed.
Genuinely.
Freely.
From the heart.
…Maybe I really am losing my mind.