Chapter 217: Sheep that Devours the Wolf
Neighh-!
"......"
On their way back, Ferzen's horse lost its balance, as Ferzen desperately tried to hold onto his steed.
"Ugh!"
Even as he lowered his posture and held onto the reins tightly, it was not an easy task.
"My Lord!"
The surrounding soldiers called out to him, but they hesitated to get close, as the horse made a visible effort to keep his balance.
"......"
With a deep breath, Ferzen managed to jump off his horse safely as he moved to check on his faithful steed.
Neigh......
Huffff-.
Huff-.
Blood flowed from the horse's nostrils, painting his hide with his dark red blood.
When Ferzen looked at the horse's leg, which was trembling, he noticed the leg was swelling.
Perhaps the animal had reached its limits, having sustained numerous wounds on the battlefield.
"......You've endured a lot."
Even though Ferzen wasn't knowledgeable in veterinary medicine, he could easily notice that this horse was approaching its death.
So, as he gently stroked its mane, Ferzen touched his altar and summoned Isabel, creating a platform made of ice, and lifting the horse.
Then, he also commanded Isabel to interfere with the atmosphere, shielding the horse from the rain.
Had this horse been an untamed beast,
He would have met its end while roaming the endless plains of this world.
So, this act was only a small consideration Ferzen could offer to a beast that had loyally served him.
"Let's go."
Finally, Ferzen took a step forward.
The soldiers, seeing his back, couldn't help but be touched by his actions.
However, one person among the others saw things differently.
Indeed, Lizzy couldn't help but compare the horse's situation to hers.
That is why, the resentment contained in her violet eyes only deepened.
* * * * *
As soon as they arrived at the camp, Ferzen's horse drew its last breath.
This simple beast left the mortal realm more comfortably than her own family.
A bitter smile marred Lizzy's lips as she watched Ferzen burying the dead horse.
The hypocrisy of being able to feel more compassion for a dead animal than for her own lineage filled her with incredible disgust.
"......"
Or was it natural that a toy would have lesser value than that of a beast of burden?
Lizzy was approaching the brink of insanity trying to rationalize something that couldn't be rationalized.
Even when she entered her tent, her emotions continued to be chaotic.
Why would Yuriel love a man like him?
Why would the Imperial Family rely on a man like him?
Why does this cursed world keep favoring him?
Lizzy firmly believed that - based on her own standards - this was wrong.
Yet, everyone, even the world itself denied her truth.
Even when her body was broken,
Even when her life was trampled upon,
Even when her family was annihilated,
Even when everyone forsakes her,
Was it justified?
"Ah....Ah....Ah....."
Lizzy clenched her fist, trying to squeeze out a voice that wouldn't come.
Like a person confined in an inescapable prison, exerting all their strength to escape, as their shouts erupted with all the force of their rebellion......
But her shout died in her throat, nothing more than an echo that rebounded back to her, like a fool who breaks his own fists while punching a solid wall.
Her despair was so loud that even the pouring rain could no longer be heard.
"Haaaah.......Haaaaah......."
After a while, Lizzy managed to calm down a little, as she gasped for breath, tightly clutching her chest.
No, to be honest, she didn't calm down at all.
It would be more accurate to say that this cruel world crushed her emotions so thoroughly that she could feel no longer.
Emotions that can't be expressed only harm a person's heart.
An artist can express their emotions by using the most exotic colors on their canvas.
However, she wasn't allowed to do so. Her canvas was forever cursed to remain colorless.
"Ah......"
She felt dizzy.
It was as if her body had become drained of all strength.
Drip-.
Drop-.
Then, she felt the disgusting sensation of blood flowing from her nose, as Lizzy quickly wiped it with her hands and stared at them.
"......"
Her hands were stained.
A festering,
Decaying,
Stain.
Ever since that day, Ferzen hadn't said a word to her, nor had he reached out to her, but the world continued to torment her.
When someone throws a helpless fish onto the ground but doesn't do anything more, either to help or to further torture it......Could that be considered the highest form of cruelty?
After all, the fish lying on the ground would gradually suffocate.
And if she were to die just like that......
That man would probably present his twisted kindness by burying her corpse, just like he did today.
Ironically enough, no matter how much she thought about it, Lizzy didn't want to give Ferzen such a convenient ending.
Even when she had no power whatsoever, to make a single move right now.
If things continued as such, her ending wouldn't change, regardless of her determination.
Lizzy felt so suffocated that she couldn't help but tear her own hair out.
Indeed, just like the fish desperately wriggling on the ground, it would die all the same.
Ring-!
"......"
Suddenly, the sound announcing the distribution of rations cut through the rain.
But Lizzy didn't move.
After all, no matter how desperately the fish wriggled, it couldn't return to the river.
But......Perhaps, she could at least reach a filthy puddle, prolonging her life, even if it took more than a couple of seconds.
Indeed, even if she was inside a disgusting puddle of stagnant water, Lizzy would desperately flutter her grills.
* * * * *
Squeak-.
Drenched by the pouring rain, Lizzy moved forward with the help of her corpse servant, avoiding the stares of the soldiers in her way.
It wasn't difficult for her to guess where Ferzen had buried that horse.
But even if she knew the exact place, it would be difficult to find that spot under the rain-soaked land.
But she wasn't an ordinary person.
For someone like Lizzy, who could control the corpses of Elemental Wizards, it didn't take long for her to find it.
"......"
Her fingers twitched as she sensed something,
She found a place that had a distinct contrast to the surrounding areas.
Focusing on that spot, Lizzy flexed her mana.
And then, the soaked dirt split apart like a mound of sand, revealing the horse's corpse.
With a smirk, Lizzy directed her mana towards the corpse.
Even if it was the corpse of a mere animal, as long as the head wasn't destroyed......
The overwhelming resentment she felt towards Ferzen seemed to empower her.
Rustle-.
Under her control, Ferzen's horse rose to its feet.
Thinking about it, even when Ferzen trampled over her family, destroyed her life, and killed her loved ones, she never once dared to touch something that belonged to him.
That's why, even if this was just a corpse of a horse he owned, and one that he displayed his usual twisted kindness......
"Hahahahaha..."
For the first time in her life, Lizzy felt a sense of exhilaration.
Perhaps that man felt something like this when he destroyed her life?
"Hahaha....haha....ha....."
But even then, that momentary joy faded away.
It wasn't because she felt disgusted at herself for feeling such pleasure in corrupting the body of a mere beast......
"......"
No.
It was because the horse, Ferzen's horse, stood tall, even when he struggled, even when his legs seemed to tremble, even when he was unable to take a single step.
How could she even describe this sight?
The overwhelming emptiness she felt by seeing this horse standing tall....
Was just like eight years ago,
When her left leg was trampled on by Ferzen......