Chapter 25: Until Dawn

Underground.

Ki-i-euk.

The sound of crackling flames remained.

The firmly closed door opened, and a small lantern illuminated the interior.

When the light reached the girl composed of blue flames, she, who had been looking down at the ground, slowly raised her head.

Findenai smiled and asked Emily, who had met her gaze.

"Are you feeling a little better?"

[.......]

In response to Findenai's question, the girl looked down at her own hand. She thought that a necromancer's flames would inflict pain close to eternity. But surprisingly, Maalkus's soul completely disappeared within just a few days—perhaps due to the girl's resentment.

[I thought my heart would feel a little relieved if I sought revenge.]

"But?"

Findenai gently asked, indicating that she was listening attentively. Emily breathed deeply as if unsure of what to do. The blue flames she was made of flickered, indicating that her heart was unstable.

[The sight of the Research Director crying out in agony, begging for forgiveness, and apologizing was undoubtedly gratifying.]

"......"

[However, even after he completely vanished, I can still feel something tangled within me.]

Nodding in understanding, Findenai subtly pointed outside.

"Hence why our master prepared a stage for you. Would you like to see it?"

[...Is that really true?]

In response to Emily's question, Findenai smiled as if enjoying the girl's interrogation. It was her best possible consideration.

[If I go now, I can inflict the same pain on Detros Verdi, right?]

"Yes, he'll scream in pain, kneel down, and apologize just like Maalkus."

[But... what if he disappears just like Maalkus?]

The girl's concern was not simply about wanting revenge.

Having already released her resentments against Maalkus, she felt more empty than she had expected.

Furthermore, she realized that even if she did deliver her malice, the tangled feeling inside her would still remain.

[If I still hold a grudge even after I'm done with Detros Verdi... Then who should I unleash this upon?]

"......"

Her anger was justified. However, if it never ended no matter how much she poured it out—

[—Wouldn't I just become another monster?]

Emily looked down at the remains of the shattered bone centipede. Her feeble voice and trembling body revealed her fear.

Perhaps she, too, would become a monster consumed by emotions and revenge.

Would she be able to find peace if she emptied herself?

"Don't worry."

But in response to the girl's worries, Findenai chuckled as if responding with certainty.

"Our master, though incredibly unlucky—"

[.......]

"—is a very special Necromancer."

Findenai slightly turned her body and stepped next to the door. Now, in front of Emily, she led a path to the outside.

"He will definitely prevent you from becoming a monster, from becoming an evil spirit."

[Ah.]

Emily realized that she had unknowingly taken a step forward. From outside, she could hear the evil spirits' cries echo.

She was driven by an instinctual desire to move forward.

"Let's go. The maid of the Verdi Household, Findenai, will accompany you."

Emily nodded after she looked at Findenai, who had politely clasped her hands together and bowed her head.

[Please then.]

With a subtle smile, Findenai took the lead and ascended the stairs. They left the underground and reached the entrance of the mansion on the first floor.

At the main entrance of the mansion, the butler and the head maid stood together, simultaneously bowing to greet her.

"We welcome the honored guest."

"We welcome the honored guest."

The main entrance opened.

Numerous souls—wandering through the dark morning sky—came into her view.

Deus Verdi's ritual not only summoned the souls of the mansion and the graveyard, but had also gathered many souls wandering in the vicinity.

As more souls had gathered, ordinary people were now able to see their figures.

This was a temporary phenomenon called a Spirit Domain, which occurred in places where souls gathered heavily, like Loberne Academy.

[Ah.]

Numerous servants lined up in front of the door. Standing at regular intervals from each other, they formed a straight path.

Although she was unable to see the end of the path, she knew well who would be waiting for her.

Emily followed their guidance and stepped forward.

"We welcome the honored guest."

Every time she passed the servants, they deeply bowed their heads and politely greeted her.

The Verdi Household was showing her the utmost hospitality they could offer.

At that moment, a wandering spirit nearby attempted to intrude on the path Emily was walking.

Whoosh!

A sword swung, stirring up the wind. Although it couldn't directly strike the spirit, it could distort its form.

The man who did this was none other than the current Head of the Verdi Household, Darius Verdi.

He stood silently on the road, glanced at Emily, and slowly turned his body to clear the way.

"I'm sorry."

A brief apology, showing his respect and reflection.

Emily accepted it and continued walking forward.

"Clear the path! Don't let them rush in recklessly!"

"Guard the vicinity of the cemetery! The candles must not go out!"

As they gradually reached the end of the road, fierce voices echoed behind.

The Scrapyard Nomads were in the middle of preventing unrelated spirits from interfering with the cemetery.

Findenai frowned, thinking that the commotion might upset Emily's mood, but she simply remained silent; she knew it was an effort made for her sake.

Bam!

The sound of drums resonated.

Strangely, it stirred something in Emily's heart.

And at the end of the path.

A woman with black hair, Deia, politely bowed her head and extended her hand toward the cemetery, welcoming her.

"I've been waiting for you."

Deia took over Findenai as the guide, and cautiously turned her body.

Then Findenai and the other servants bid farewell to Emily for the last time.

"May you go in peace."

[....]

Bam!

Passing by an old man beating a drum, she entered the cemetery alongside Deia.

Countless evil spirits were tearing each other apart.

[Dieeeee!]

[I'll feast on your eyeballs, just like you did to me! I'll feast on your eyeballs!]

[Kuaaaaaa!]

[Rest? Rest? While I burned in the flame, you peacefully closed your eyes, you bastard?!]

Completely disregarding their own bodies, they selfishly inflicted wounds upon their opponents while screaming.

This could be seen as a kind of hell.

And at its center stood Deus Verdi, who was now looking at them.

Deia guided her all the way, bowed deeply, and took a step back.

Now, it was just the two of them.

"How was it?"

Deus asked while looking at the spirits tearing each other apart,

"Did your resentment loosen a bit?"

Momentarily hesitating at his piercing words, Emily answered honestly,

[...No.]

"I see."

As if expecting this response, Deus calmly continued questioning,

"Do you see that man?"

Amidst the countless spirits tearing at his body, the man flailed his arms and legs, desperately struggling.

[Yes.]

"That is Detros Verdi. He's the one who tortured you, your family, and your compatriots."

Silently, Emily looked at the struggling spirit with her eyes. He was still unaware of Emily's presence.

"If you were to inflict the same suffering on Detros Verdi, would you find relief and be able to rest?"

[...I don't know.]

There was a hint of despair in Emily's voice. She sighed in frustration, not knowing what to do.

[I want revenge. But will the resentment inside me really disappear? I ruthlessly inflicted pain on the Research Director, but...]

"..."

[It only felt good at first. But afterward, a sense of futility and emptiness took hold. The anger within me didn't disappear.]

Deus looked at Emily, and she cautiously met his eyes.

[What should I do?]

In response, Deus spoke in a voice that was no different from usual,

"Many people say they seek revenge to appease their resentment."

[...]

"Many people, even after death, are unable to resolve their grievances. They do not rest and keep wandering this plane without finding peace."

Being someone who had witnessed countless deaths and evil spirits, Deus could confidently assert this statement.

"Among them, the majority wander without achieving anything, only becoming exhausted by their own burdens. Resentment remains in the depths of their hearts, and they dream of a miraculous moment when they will fulfill their revenge one day, as if by magic. And then they close their eyes."

And what was unfolding before them now was the realization of that dream.

"The time for revenge has come, Emily. What must you do to release your resentment?"

[I...]

Deus' cane pointed towards Detros Verdi, who was now crushed beneath countless spirits.

"Do you wish to inflict endless suffering upon Detros Verdi? Or do you somehow want me to revive Maalkus, and make him beg for mercy once again?"

With her mouth closed, Emily looked at Deus as if demanding an answer. She knew that nothing could end her resentment.

And Deus also knew this.

"Unfortunately, resentment is not something that can be exhausted; it is an emotion that fuels itself."

Lowering his cane, Deus looked at Emily once again.

Slowly getting down on one knee and reaching her height, he gazed into her eyes.

"The very notion of releasing resentment is flawed. A deep scar that can never be erased hurts. And you will have no choice but to live in continued pain, burdened by it forever, Emily."

[Ah...]

If her body wasn't formed by flames, tears would have flowed from her eyes.

What Deus had just said...

It meant that there was no such thing as salvation.

"Merely inflicting pain upon the culprit, making them scream or beg for mercy... You cannot forgive those who ruined your own life and the lives of those you love doing that."

[Yes...]

Being someone who had inflicted suffering on Maalkus and forcing him to disappear, Emily deeply sympathized and understood.

Such mere acts couldn't make the resentment within her disappear.

Tap.

Deus' hand touched Emily's head. Though the blue flames burned fiercely, they warmly embraced him.

"Most living beings cannot give anything to the dead. The claim to care for the dead is ultimately for self-comfort and self-satisfaction."

Deus added.

"But I am a Necromancer. I do not fit into the category of 'most' people."

He gently stroked her head.

The emotions and warmth that Emily thought she would never feel again were clear through Deus' gentle hand.

"This is the only farewell gift I can give you."

[...]

Emily's entire body began to burn. The blue flames were more intense and massive than any spirits' in the cemetery.

"Regret will linger, but struggle as best you can until dawn."

It was called a festival for a reason.

He vaguely remembered hearing that in the past, when there was a shaman conducting the ritual, people from neighboring villages would gather and enjoy it together.

Here, instead of songs, only resentment and screams could be heard. Instead of dancing, there was a gruesome spectacle of everyone tearing each other apart.

The music was simple—the sound of beating drums.

But even so...

"Dance and sing with all your heart! Reveal your resentments! And enjoy this last festival until dawn... until you fall asleep from exhaustion and find peace."