System vs Rebirth

"Huh?" Anna was startled to see Noel's tears. She hadn't shed any tears in this life, but she certainly had a lot in the previous life when transforming to a better person.

So, she could understand if Noel cried like in the Sword Saint Tomb.

"Are you alright?" Anna stopped while going back to him to check his condition.

Noel remained silent while wiping the tear. He walked past her while saying, "I'm sorry."

"Huh?" Anna's body trembled as chills went down her spine. Noel was only saying, "I'm sorry," but she could feel the emotion behind those words.

The sadness, regret… all the complicated emotions mixed into one. Anna didn't know why Noel apologized when he had done nothing wrong, but it felt like there was another burden lifted from her heart. It felt like this apology was directed to something in the past.

"What did…" Anna turned around, looking at Noel's lonely back. A thought appeared in her mind. 'Why do I feel like Noel has changed once again?'

Anna feared that Noel changed for the worse when she was currently enjoying the current Noel, who was able to work together with her this well. It felt like they were true comrades in the past one month.

So, she didn't want it to be changed, afraid that Noel would just return to the previous one.

Anna slapped her cheeks as if trying to return to her energetic self, planning to transfer this energy to Noel.

She playfully walked beside Noel while teasing him, "What's wrong? You're a grown man already… No, wait. You're still 15 years old, right? How many days are left until your birthday? This is an important celebration since you're going to be an adult."

"…" Noel glanced at Anna with a troubled expression. He knew that Anna wanted to brighten the mood and considering they were on a mission, he shouldn't be this down.

He took a few deep breaths and said, "Yeah, you're right. I guess that'll be the last time I shed any tears since I'll become an adult soon."

her arms as if preparing to be an adult to calm

the same age as me." Noel shrugged. "Anyway, we should focus on our mission. I apologize if I made the atmosphere awkward a

expressions again and knew that he was trying to shift the mood. So, Anna played

pointed at a steep slope that could be said as a wall

side, showing a bit of opening on the wall. The gap created a rectangle shape as if it was an artificial stone

Noel narrowed

the legend, it's rumored that a great figure from one thousand years ago was using this cave in the past. The man lived inside this place because it had water dropping from the ceiling and that

it's

already one thousand years, you know." Anna shrugged and took out her sword. "Help me up in pulling out

and nodded. He stabbed the gap between the rocks, trying to cut

there was nothing that stopped them from moving the rock, Noel stabbed a single

a glance at Anna's sword and connected

entering her sword. She glanced at Noel who winked

actually ice that connected their swords. Noel

Noel asked with a

Anna nodded with

gave the signal as they

rock was wet, reducing the friction and allowing

*Grumble!*

*Grumble!*

slight movement from the rock, indicating it was possible to pull the rock

soon as they nodded their heads, they

whole five minutes to pull out half of the

even asked, "Is there any need for us to do this? Can't we just destroy