episode_0141

Selena was always intoxicated. Whether it was by alcohol. Or longing. Or sorrow. She stumbled with sorrowful steps. As if to sink forever.

But. Intoxication eventually wears off. Because reality lies outside the drink. The drunkard was no different. Nothing had changed. The alcohol had simply worn off. From the prolonged intoxication and liquor. From memories. From her younger sister.

“I was drunk for too long.” The woman sighed softly. The executive, who had been looking down at her for a while, clicked his tongue. “What ridiculous hypocrisy.” “…” “I will kill you in the most painful way.”

The Mana Oath. Exploding the inscription infused in her heart would make killing Selena easier than squashing a bug. But instead of killing her, the executive handed her over to his subordinates. A deep sneer hung on his lips. “We shouldn’t let a traitor go so easily.” The executive commanded. “Imprison her in the dungeon. In a cell where not even light can enter. I will personally strip the traitor’s bones and flesh.” After that. The dark red robes moved busily. The woman was dragged away helplessly. “…” Her retreating figure. For a moment, on her slender back, a speck of dark shadow seemed to cling. Soon, it was a shade that dispersed like a dream.

***

In the underground dungeon, where not a single ray of sunlight penetrated. Selena was bound in chains. Three days had already passed in this blood-soaked scene. Was it because she hadn’t touched a drop of water all this time? “…” The woman had grown as weak as she possibly could. Her unfocused gaze, the dark red blood that had congealed, and the festering wound on her thigh. She felt like a flower trampled indiscriminately. However. If asked if she was broken, the answer was no. The drunkard was merely waiting for an opportunity. A chance to deliver one last blow to them.

*Screech—* The closed iron bars opened with a shriek. Following was the man walking in. It was the executive who had imprisoned Selena here. For the past three days, he had only kept her in custody without any other measures. It seemed he had finally decided to do something today. “How have you been?” A formal question. In the man’s hands were a hacksaw, pliers, knives, and various other torture devices. It seemed his promise to kill her painfully was no joke. Perhaps he intended to intimidate her. The executive laid out the devices one by one before her. Making it easy to infer what kind of pain awaited her.

“Then, I’ll give you one last offer.” Before beginning everything. The man made his final proposal. “I won’t worry about the loss of data. As for burning down a branch… I suppose they were just that caliber of subordinates.” His tone sounded like he was showing mercy. “His Excellency still needs your power.” “Ha.” “If you declare your willingness to cooperate, His Excellency will take you back under his wing. Meaning, he will show you mercy.” “Bullsh*t… It’s not mercy; it’s just that there’s still a use for me, isn’t it?” “Indeed. It’s not easy to plant a spy among the academy’s leadership.” “Shameless bastards…” “Choose carefully.”

The hacksaw the man took out gleamed precariously. As if it could strip flesh and bone at any moment. The executive whispered. “His Excellency’s resurrection is imminent. When that time comes, your younger sister might also receive mercy. Haven’t you longed for your family for years? Are you giving that up now?” Younger sister. That word alone pierced her heart. Unconsciously, Lianne came to mind. —Unnie! That voice was still vivid. How could I forget you? You were my star even at the bottom, the only meaning I loved in life. My love for you had never changed, not for a single moment. But. “Go to hell.”

Lukewarm tears streamed down her cheeks. Yet, her eyes were wide open. Because she had decided not to be bound anymore. Selena Drunkerd. To her, family no longer referred only to her younger sister. Her Teacher-nim, who had taken her in from the bottom. Her fellow professors, with whom she bickered but also stood together. Even the students who always smiled brightly. ‘Gallimard Academy.’ All of it was her home, and the woman’s family. It was a belated realization of affection. And. —Teacher-nim. A certain boy. The child who took many of her firsts. A grateful yet regretful student. She wished that even at the end, she wouldn’t be ashamed of his kindness. Even to an adult like her. —Well, because he’s a good person’s student. —That, too, would be proof. —Proof that beneath a seemingly indifferent exterior, a warm heart resides. For the voice that called her a good person. Selena stared directly at the man. For the first time, life gleamed in her murky red eyes. “Five years of being swayed by you bastards is enough.”

“You’ve made a mistake.” Perhaps he instinctively knew that persuasion wouldn’t work. The executive clicked his tongue in annoyance. Finally, the hacksaw was extended. It was the moment her end was declared. “Very well… if that’s what you wish, I’ll let you meet your beloved younger sister.” “You won’t be able to. Lianne will be in heaven.” The woman laughed with a sense of relief. Because she knew the end was coming. “Though a b*tch like me will fall into hell.” “How unfortunate.” “And you’ll fall into that hell with me.” “What?” The executive was caught off guard. Selena didn’t miss the opportunity. It was the move she had hidden until the very end.

“Ugh…!” She poured mana into the inscription on her heart. A device she had carved with her own magic just before arriving here. *Whoosh—!* An overload occurred in her internal flow. Energy circulating rapidly. The [Oath] inscription that existed primarily, and the [Resistance] inscription added secondarily. The two violently clashed, wielding immense power. “You, surely…!” The executive’s eyes filled with panic. It was an explosion caused by the synthesis of magic formulas. A self-destruct or suicide attack that created an artificial collision by sacrificing all the mana residing in one’s life. It contained enough magic to easily blow away a mere branch. Selena sneered. “Let’s go. To hell.”

In the slowly unfolding moment. The woman closed her eyes. Her body was hot. Soon, her flesh would shatter… no, not even a speck of ash would remain. A smile formed as she felt the surging mana. ‘If only.’ A meaningless assumption. Even so, at the very end, one thinks of such things. In the contemplation that concluded her long life. ‘What if we had been different?’ At the end of her monologue, it was none other than the blond boy who appeared. The blond boy who was always kind. ‘If I hadn’t been steeped in sorrow…’ If only. If we had met in a relationship that hadn’t gone awry, could Student Yuda and I have had a better relationship? I had resolved to be indifferent to death… but only you remain as a lingering regret. Words of gratitude, words of apology, words of affection—I haven’t properly conveyed any of my feelings, and they linger in my mind like an unsent letter. It’s truly laughable. ‘I… perhaps I was.’ The monologue couldn’t be completed. The end pursued her to the very brink of life. And as she exhaled her last breath.

*Snap—!* “That’s enough.” A popping sound, like fingers snapping, rang out. Then a voice was heard. “Break.” *Crash—!* With the sound of shattering glass, an absolute darkness enveloped the drunkard. Shadows seeped into her skin. Soon. The energy that was about to explode vanished without a trace. As if someone had told a lie.

“…?” Selena looked confused. She had sensed death and braced herself for the impending pain, but her limbs were perfectly fine, far from being torn apart. Even the inscription that had painfully constricted her heart was no longer felt. It was strange. A warm temperature was felt from behind her back. As if she had been embraced by a familiar person. The woman opened her closed eyes. And what appeared in her vision was… “Teacher-nim.” “Student Yuda…?” It was none other than the boy. The boy who had been the subject of her monologue just moments ago. Their gazes met by chance, extending both briefly and long. “I came to save you.” The snake whispered as if answering her question. By now, a kind smile, as usual, hung on his lips. “Didn’t I tell you? That I would take responsibility.”

For some reason. A scene naturally replayed. It was part of a conversation they had shared alone in the garden on the day they attended the banquet together. For a brief moment, the instances seemed to overlap. —Well, what do you think? —If it’s true… will you take responsibility like a superstition? —Gladly. —If you wish it. Just like then. The snake held the drunkard in an embrace. As if he would never let her go. “I came to keep my promise.” Her eyelids slowly lifted. The pupils reflected beyond them were clearly shining.