Chapter 222: A Wooden Pocket Watch (2)

We will do a test run to see how many readers will support this series at 24 cents per chapter. The next 10 chapters will be set at 4 ATC each!

On a late night in Reccordak, snowflakes fell from the distant sky, and the moonlit breeze swayed past.

“…I joined the Imperial Knights.”

Julie was in the northern coniferous forest, sitting on a rocking chair and looking at the bracelet on her wrist.

“And that was my first real mission.”

Epherene listened to her soft voice.

“To protect the Professor in the Underground Passage and carrying dangerous weapons.”

“Carry?”

“Yes.”

Julie let out a low breath, puffing white in the cold.

“The head of Yukline back then, Decalane, was preparing an important study. I don’t know exactly what kind. But, it is clear that the core was necessary for Yukline at that time.”

What Epherene didn’t know about.

“My fellow knights and I made it there with Deculein. However, we were ambushed.”

Julie still considered that day to be her fault. For any knight, it was right to consider the possibilities and prepare with the appropriate power. Allowing an ambush was unacceptable.

“We failed, and many people died.”

“…Did you lose your bracelet then?”

“Yes.”

Nodding, Epherene took out the steamed potatoes from the basket she held and took a bite.

“Okay. Oh, it’s hot. Foo. Foo. What about the professor, foo?”

She huffed and puffed, trying to cool down the food.

“The profeshor. How did he find this brachlet?”

“…The Underground Passage is open again.”

“Aha.”

Julie thought that he took it on purpose when it re-opened, but she didn’t know why. She had no idea. To him, it would be an ordinary bracelet.

“I see it’s something valuable to you.”

“Yes.”

Julie answered right away.

“This is the first and last gift I received from my father.”

Although now it was almost like coal, memories of that day were melted in this bracelet. Her heart was pounding as she looked at it. The tip of her nose became hot, and her eyelids grew heavy. All those things were still clear in here.

“The gift of a lifetime.”

Proof that her father had thought of her at least once.

“It is that precious.”