Chapter 91 – Festival (6)

“Were you that desperate?”

“Grk—erk—krk—”

Only bloodied foam escaped the woman’s mouth as her entrails spilled out.

Sirin continued, unperturbed.

“One of the Mage Tower’s pillars, yet so desperate you’d cast a curse without even recognizing my power?”

“Krk—krk—”

“Or perhaps…”

Sirin’s lips curled upward.

“You too have been blessed, Pirma?”

The neatly folded body of the woman—Pirma—twitched.

Sirin’s smile widened further.

“How dreadful. Whether you wanted it or not… Let’s hear your tale.”

Magical energy poured from Sirin’s body, flooding the alley.

Blood seeping from the townspeople’s bodies flowed back inside them, color returning to their pale faces.

“Had even one resident died… you wouldn’t have gotten this chance.”

The same happened to Pirma. Her folded, crumpled body crackled as it unfolded, entrails slithering back into place.

Her shattered jaw reformed as spilled blood absorbed back into her body.

After sitting dazed for a moment, Pirma frantically patted herself down, retching repeatedly.

“Now then, your answer?”

“H-heu… hic… Y-you… what are you…?”

“Pirma, simply answer my question. Did you choose to receive the blessing, or was there another reason?”

“If I tell you—”

“That’s fine.”

“What…?”

“I swear upon my heart—no matter what truth you reveal, you will not die.”

As Sirin’s oath finished, a black thread sprouted near her heart.

It flowed down her arm and into Pirma’s heart.

“M-my heart…? No… are you a Dra—”

“Such a chatty one. Want that jaw broken again?”

“Eek… n-no…”

“And such short answers. Should I stretch your tongue to help you speak longer?”

“I-I apologize…”

“Good. Now speak.”

After chewing her lips nervously for a while, Pirma slowly began:

“My younger sibling… is held in Erden…”

“And?”

“They’re sick… fragments of the End are growing in their body…”

“Hmm. Do you know the cause?”

“…Erden.”

“You know well. Then why stay trapped there until now?”

“Only Erden can stop the disease… So I had no choice—”

Sirin sighed softly, crouching to meet Pirma’s eyes.

“Have you killed anyone?”

“…Never by my own hands.”

“Will you face punishment for your sins?”

“If my sibling lives, I’ll accept anything.”

“Then why such a filthy mouth?”

“Th-that’s… I’m s-sorr—”

“Never mind. Do you want to save your sibling?”

“…Yes.”

“The elders… all the same, aren’t they?”

“Yes…”

“And the Tower Master… Serr too?”

“Yes… even the Tower Master…”

“I see…”

Sirin stood, smiling bitterly.

“All lies.”

“Ah… f-fuck.”

[Disappear.]

Crack—

In an instant, Pirma’s body folded, crumpled, and twisted before vanishing into a tear in space.

“The Mage Tower… I should pay a visit.”

Sirin recalled all her dispersed magic and snapped her fingers.

“Serr… That child must be suffering.”

***

Neither Rubia nor I could speak for a long time.

While Rubia was stunned by Sirin’s overwhelming power, my silence came from a different place.

“You must never rely solely on stats.”

Those words, drifting to us just before our return to the inn. Words no one in this world should know. Words they shouldn’t understand or dare speak.

Words that made me realize again.

Sirin knows what kind of world this is. She knows what I am. Perhaps… she’s like me.

She knew me before we met. Rubia, Charlotte, Hephaestus, Yuria— They all knew.

In the game’s story, there was no 10th Master. The 10th Master was always the player. Always had been.

So… Sirin is a player?

Then what am I? Just a character in this game? An NPC?

Right. I never thought I was the protagonist. But I also never thought I was worthless.

I’m an outsider. Someone who saw this world’s end. Things happened around me. Many died, many events unfolded.

But. I wasn’t alone in that flow. Rubia was there too.

Does that mean… The center of these events— The heart of everything— Isn’t me, but Rubia?

Am I unnecessary? Just another purposeless NPC? A side character to make the protagonist shine?

If Rubia leaves me. If she’s no longer by my side. Do I lose my reason to exist?

Then why would Sirin, a player… Why offer to be my master? Why say I must become sky? Why speak such meaningless words?

Because I’m with Rubia now? Because we’ve built affinity?

Or.

With nothing left around me. Ready to die at any moment. Like burnt-out ashes.

No one would miss me if I vanished. No one would care if I died. Am I trash to be used and discarded?

Or if not that. Does she need the ‘other’ me? Not my self—just power?

No.

I don’t want that.

I don’t want to be abandoned.

I don’t want to be alone again.

Even if I die, let me die by Rubia’s side.

I want to exist.

I want to live.

So.

“Don’t abandon me…”

“…What?”

“I… I’ll try harder. No… I’ll do better. I can do so much better…”

“Noah?”

“Anything… anything for Rubia. I’ll give my life. I’ll crawl if ordered. Lick your feet if commanded. Anything, anything at all. I’ll do it well… So please, please.”

My trembling legs collapsed. My body hit the floor. I couldn’t even grip my greatsword.

All I could do was crawl pathetically.

I desperately crawled to Rubia’s feet. Pressed my cheek against them. Bowed my head low.

I can’t let my filthy fluids stain her shoes— I swallowed hard, pressing my face to the ground. Carefully, slowly begging.

I begged. Begged and begged and begged.

“Don’t leave me alone… Please, please… please.”

Curse at me. Hit me. Hurt me. Humiliate me, shame me. Put a leash on me and make me crawl.

Even cut off my limbs and carry them—

Just don’t ignore me. I can’t face that hell again.

Please, please. I’m begging.

“…Noah.”

Rubia’s voice trembled. Is she angry?

Why? Why? Because I’m dirty? Because I’m crawling like this?

I don’t know. I can’t see. Can’t see anything. Can’t sense anything.

I don’t know.

“I… I was wrong. I was wrong…”

The foot I desperately held slipped away. My sweaty hands felt clammy.

“Look up.”

Her voice was sharp. I must have disgusted her. I quickly wiped my hands. Rubbed them against the ground again and again.

Rubia grabbed my wrist. Her other hand cupped my chin.

She pulled me up forcefully. Lifted my face.

“Noah, it’s okay. You’re okay, just calm down.”

Rubia pulled me roughly into her arms. Her fierce embrace squeezed tight.

“I was… wrong… Rubia… I’ll do better…”

“Open your mouth.”

“Wh-what…?”

“Open your mouth.”

“Ah… ah…”

Something warm and slick touched my tongue. Peach-flavored jelly.

“Chew.”

I chewed slowly as ordered.

“Good.”

Her rough movements— Her fierce grip—

Turned soft and gentle.

“Again. Ah.”

“Hic… sniff… ah…”

“What flavor is this one?”

“Sniff… str-strawberry…”

“That’s right. Chew well and swallow.”

I fought back hiccups as I swallowed.

Rubia wiped my face clean.

“Feeling calmer now?”

“Hic… ugh…”

“Not quite…”

Her gentle hand pulled my head closer. Something soft enveloped my face.

“I don’t understand why you’re saying these things.”

Her voice shook.

“I don’t understand why you did this.”

Behind the softness, her heart pounded.

“But I can tell you one thing clearly.”

Her hand stroked down to cradle my neck.

“This will never happen.”

Her voice drew closer.

“No matter what happens, I won’t leave you alone.”

Her breath grew heavier.

“Even if you try to leave, I’ll hold on and never let go. As long as I live, you’ll stay by my side.”

Our foreheads touched.

“Don’t go anywhere. Don’t look away. Don’t even think of anything else.”

Then our noses.

“Stay by my side. Look only at me. Think only of me.”

Then everything else—

“H-how… how can I… hic… believe you won’t abandon me, Rubia—mmph!”

Her lips met mine.

Pressed firmly, seeking entry. Knocking at my tightly closed gates.

Her hand tightened on my neck. Her arms squeezed my waist harder.

As if commanding my mouth open— She bit my lower lip.

Under the deepening pressure, my lips parted helplessly.

Her tongue slipped through the gap. Forceful yet gentle, tracing my gums, pressing my palate.

As if ensuring I’d never forget this moment. As if declaring everything I am as hers.

Tongues entwined.

Without space to breathe.

Deeply.