Chapter 189

"I'm sorry."

Those words that Rene left behind were still deeply embedded in my heart.

At that time, I couldn't even offer her any comfort.

Too much blood had already been spilled for me to speak.

...No, even so.

Even if it meant dying after speaking, I should have stopped him there.

The thought that it might have been the last chance to stop Crete still haunts me.

Clang-.

Blades flashed towards each other.

Countless demons and humans killed each other, turning into lumps of flesh.

In that hellish landscape,

"....."

I could only look down at the battlefield with unfocused eyes.

Pitter-patter-.

...This is a story from a day when heavy rain poured.

* * *

'......This is.'

I rose from my seat.

Looking around, I realized I was in a bed in Bares's medical office.

Right after Crete stabbed me.

As soon as I confirmed Rene's figure, I lost consciousness.

Slide-.

I moved my hand to check my body's condition.

Although the wounds were almost fatal, they were now almost completely healed.

'Did Rene heal me?'

That would make sense.

It must have been because of Rene's protection that I was able to survive the enraged Crete and keep my life.

But then,

How much time has passed since then?

First, I would have to go outside to find out.

However, I couldn't move because of someone sleeping next to me.

"...What are you doing here?"

He was Bares's blood relative, but a boy who didn't resemble Rene or Crete.

Anna was sleeping soundly on my bed, his arms wrapped around me.

As I woke Anna up, he rubbed his sleepy eyes and sat up.

"Hmm... Oh, you're awake?!"

"Yes, I just opened my eyes."

"Th-That's a relief. I was really scared to death. Rene was crying, you were lying there covered in wounds, what in the world did you say to Father to make him..."

Anna looked at me with truly worried eyes as he scanned my body.

Perhaps it was Anna who had been nursing me all this time.

...Then, where did Rene go?

Starting with why Anna was nursing me, there was a mountain of things I wanted to ask.

However, I had to answer Anna's question first.

"...It's a long story."

"I'll still listen, tell me."

As soon as Anna spoke with determined eyes, I opened my mouth.

And as the story progressed, Anna's eyes widened, and his expression began to change from moment to moment.

However, when it came to the end, Anna made a complicated expression.

"...As expected, you couldn't stop Father from starting the war either."

"It seems you expected as much."

"Yes, because I knew how much Father loved Mother. Moreover, there had to be a reason why he told me to increase my stamina."

"That's..."

"Yes, he's preparing for the time of his death, to pass the position of successor to me early. That means only one thing."

"War."

"Yes, war. Father has been planning to start a war, ever since Mother died. From that moment on, Father has been sharpening his blade of revenge...From the time I even got a rough idea, I should have stopped Father."

I felt a sense of doubt at Anna's words.

Why?

Why didn't Anna stop Crete?

As if sensing the emotion in my eyes, Anna sighed and spoke.

"...How could I? Father saw Mother die right before his eyes, and he loved her more than anyone else. How could I possibly stop him?"

Slide-.

Anna wiped away her tears.

Hearing her explanation, I could understand it to some extent.

Because of that, Rene couldn't bring herself to stop Crete's scheme and suffered alone, couldn't she?

I felt truly complicated.

Even his own family couldn't stop Crete, who cherished his family more than anyone else.

Revenge.

It was now a foregone conclusion that Crete would attack the Human Realm.

Pat, pat-.

I patted Anna's back, comforting him, for he was the one who must be feeling the most troubled.

Only after Anna stopped crying did I open my mouth.

"How much time has passed since I collapsed?"

"...About a week has passed. That's why I really thought you were going to die."

One week.

Considering I was half-dead, it wasn't that much time.

Even so, the fact that I couldn't do anything for a week bothered me.

...If I had been conscious for a week, could I have stopped Crete?

Thinking such thoughts, I shook my head.

It was an opportunity I had already missed.

Then,

"Is Milady...safe?"

"If you're talking about Rene, she's fine. Father wouldn't lay a hand on us."

That's a relief.

I breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

Crete at that time seemed truly enraged, as if no one could stop him.

But Rene succeeded in stopping Crete from killing me, and thankfully, it seemed she wasn't hurt either.

"Then where is Milady?"

"..."

"You don't know where Milady is?"

"Ah, well. Rene and I don't really communicate much."

Anna smiled awkwardly, suddenly stumbling over his words.

I frowned at this.

...A very suspicious scent tickled my nose.

Right now, Anna was lying.

"Where is she."

"Huh?"

"Where is Milady."

I opened one of my crimson eyes and looked into Anna's.

As if chills ran down his spine at my gaze, Anna flinched.

But I had no intention of stopping my imposing aura.

Endless ominous imaginations tormented my mind.

"Answer me. Where is Milady? Is there a reason you can't tell me?"

"...I'm sorry, I can't say."

Answering that way, Anna lowered his head.

Tears began to fall from his eyes once more.

What in the world,

was going on?

Seeing Anna's reaction, my mind was in utter turmoil.

"Please tell me. Where is Milady? Do you have a reason you can't tell me?"

"...I can never tell you."

"Anna!"

"I'm having a hard time too!"

Startled,

I couldn't hide my bewilderment at Anna's outburst in response to my pressing.

Soon, he burst into tears, seemingly in great pain.

"Am I the only one, the only one who cares about Rene? He's my precious little sister too! But, but...what am I supposed to do? I'm having a hard time too!"

Anna wiped his bloodshot eyes, grabbed his hair messily, and pulled at it as he cried out in agony.

The sight of Anna, unable to bear the guilt, was truly painful to behold.

Therefore,

"Please answer me. Only then can I help you, help Milady."

"...What can you even do?"

At Anna's question, his eyes bloodshot as he looked up at me, I opened my mouth to answer.

"Anything. I can do anything to protect Milady. So tell me. If you don't tell me, there's nothing I can do."

"....."

Did he notice the sincerity in my words?

After a moment of contemplation, Anna opened his mouth.

"...Rene wanted to protect you. If you knew where he was going, you would have followed her without a doubt."

Perhaps now, I won't be able to see her again for the rest of my life.

At Anna's following words, I felt my mind go blank.

It was as if some ominous premonition had really come true, and it terrified me.

"Don't tell me, it can't be, right? Please tell me it's not true!"

It's dangerous.

Alarm bells rang in my head.

Grip-.

I grabbed Anna's slender shoulders with both hands and shook.

Anna only sobbed as he looked at me.

"...Please."

He pleaded with me.

Anna removed my hands that were gripping his shoulders, then grasped them with his own, his grip firm.

I swallowed dryly at the unexpected weight I felt from his delicate hands.

Finally, Anna opened his mouth.

"Protect Rene."

* * *

Tap, tap-.

I ran and ran without rest.

The events that had transpired.

Anna already knew when the war would begin.

It wasn't that he had a rough idea, thinking the war was about to begin.

Anna truly knew the exact date the war would start.

It was today.

While I was asleep, Crete had finished all the preparations for war and was about to begin.

Even Anna and Rene couldn't stop Crete in the end.

Tap, tap-.

I didn't stop running, instead looking around.

Except for a few servants, no one remained in Bares's mansion.

Everyone had gone somewhere, mobilized for the war.

And Rene willingly followed them.

'...Why in the world.'

While I empathized with and understood Rene's decision, I couldn't accept it.

I could understand Rene following Crete, but I couldn't understand why she would try to keep me away.

Why did Rene trust and favor me, who had only stuck by her side for Bares's authority?

Rene.

Why did you make such a choice?

Thump-. Thump-.

My heart felt like it was about to burst.

I felt nauseous.

Anna's last words.

'Rene wanted to save you. That's why she asked me, to stop you from following her...That's why I was nursing you. I had to keep you here until you woke up.'

Rene knew she was walking into a death trap.

That's why she didn't try to bring me along.

But then, why?

Why would you go so far for me...?

'Rene, Rene...'

I didn't stop running.

To find the answer to that question.

To answer her.

I had to see Rene again.

Tap, tap-.

And so, I sped up, heading towards the place Anna told me Crete and the servants were.

It was a large plaza.

A giant gate that led to the Human Realm.

And into it,

Thump, thump-.

Thousands of demons could be seen entering the gate.

And at the very back of them,

"Milady!"

Rene's figure came into view.

"...!"

As soon as I called out her name, Rene turned around in surprise.

Whizz-.

Then, she turned her gaze back and entered the gate.

Just as the gate was about to close,

'-Move.'

I activated Position Exchange, switching places with a servant who was about to enter the gate and the sword he was wearing.

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