Chapter 321

R̃ëâd̃ ́òn̂ ́​K̈ät́R̀êãd̈ìn̂ĝ​C̈àf̀é

I thought she was dead.

Even while inwardly hoping she was alive.

I had resigned myself to the fact that she couldn’t be alive.

In the inferno of the human realm, where monsters rained down like rain.

Could Yui have survived after losing her heart and even an arm?

Still, I had hoped in truth. Because there was no body found. If there’s no body found, death isn’t certain. Maybe a miracle happened and she survived. Maybe she’s living well somewhere. Even while acknowledging it was an impossible delusion, Eugene couldn’t let go of the hope.

The reason he left presents at Yui’s tombstone was also because he had a small hope that Yui would come to find them. He prayed. He hoped. He desperately wished.

“…”

But he didn’t wish for her to survive in this way.

Can you really say she’s alive?

Who the hell is the girl in front of me?

Yui? Astaroth? Human? Devil God?

All are correct, and none are correct.

Can he really see her as Yui?

“Big brother, I like you. I like you too, big brother. I love you. So, huh? Let’s go together. Be on my side. You can do that, right? Big brother was always on my side. Just like I’m always on Big brother’s side, big brother has always been on my side too. You’ll do that this time too, right?”

Blue eyes full of expectation looked up at Eugene.

‘Please agree, please choose me.’

She looks at Eugene with eyes that seem to say that.

Eugene’s lips wouldn’t open.

As if sewn shut with thread, he couldn’t say a word.

It’s a face he missed. It was a face he really missed. A face that resembled Alice. Whenever he saw her, he imagined Yui would look like this if she grew up. It was just like that imagination. The grown-up Yui was very similar to the image in his imagination. That’s why he couldn’t speak even more.

“Yeah, don’t worry. If big brother and I join forces, we can beat anyone. The God of War, Agares, the Four Seasons… yeah, even Bael. The two of us together are invincible. We can do anything, we can go anywhere. If we’re together…”

“Astaroth.”

Eugene barely managed to open his mouth. The voice that came out was so cracked that he surprised himself. And it was dry. A voice as stiff as dried wood.

“I… can’t do that.”

“Call me Yui.”

“I can’t be on your side.”

“You can call other people whatever you want. I don’t care and I don’t mind. But only big brother, call me Yui.”

“The Yui I know died 5 years ago.”

“Big brother.”

“You’re not Yui. The Yui I know would never say she would kill people. She was such a kind child. A child who couldn’t even catch a bug wouldn’t massacre people. So you’re Astaroth.”

“…”

The expression slowly disappeared from the girl’s face. The smile was erased, the emotions were erased.

Eugene bit his lip. He bites so hard that his flesh tears and blood seeps out. He had to steel his heart. He squeezed out words he couldn’t bear to say. He forcibly tore away the warmth he didn’t want to tear away, deceiving himself that he couldn’t trust Astaroth’s words, that it was all a lie.

“So… I won’t call you Yui. I won’t help you either. I… I…”

Astaroth, who had been looking at Eugene emotionlessly, then smiled bitterly. Eugene’s trembling pupils and lips. The trembling of the hand pushing her shoulder made her smile bitterly without realizing it. 

Ah, this foolish big brother. He has grown up in his own way. Still, he’s still the same pushover as he was 5 years ago. That’s why he’s so lovable.

“Tch, stingy.”

Astaroth puffed out her cheeks and turned her body.

At that sight, Eugene’s lips, which he had barely opened, closed again.

Because it was the same behavior Yui did when she was upset or sulky in the past.

“Hmph, never mind. I didn’t expect much. I just poked around in case. I knew from the beginning it wouldn’t work.”

“…”

“But I was hoping a little, really just a little… In the end, big brother is going to side with the humans over me. Yeah, yeah, do that. If that’s big brother’s choice, I can’t say anything.”

“Yu… Astaroth…”

“So, this is big brother’s fault.”

I wanted to resolve it peacefully if possible.

Well, I guess there’s no helping it now that it’s come to this.

There’s no choice but to proceed as planned.

“I’ll apologize in advance. It might hurt a little.”

Right after she finished speaking.

Crimson flames dyed the cemetery hot.

◈

“You went as far as tailing us because you wanted to know that?”

In the end, I was caught.

I smiled awkwardly at Leo’s dumbfounded expression. Tailing them was surprisingly doable. As I awakened as someone close to a god, I reached a higher realm than Leo and Anastasia, and Lucille’s memories contained the experience of secretly following someone. Really, Lucille’s memories were a library filled with all the wisdom in the world. If you look, there’s nothing missing.

Alice is a Supernatural who has reached the captain level. Chasing after a rookie who hasn’t even awakened was a piece of cake.

The problem was Regina and Seri. The two of them weren’t particularly outstanding compared to Leo and Anastasia. Even though they had become significantly stronger due to the influence of the fox mask, Leo might actually be stronger. Compared to Eugene and Alice’s unique growth, it pales in comparison, but Leo’s growth was also considerable.

Somehow, I wasn’t caught until Leo and Anastasia arrived at their destination, but in the end, I was discovered.

“I dismissed it as a feeling, but sigh. I’m being tailed for the first time in my life. Unless it’s me doing it.”

“Yeah, I like spy movies too. Reality is always practical.”

“Well, we have a similar record, so we can’t really say anything. Haha.”

“We didn’t get caught back then. Yay, V V.”

Leo laughed heartily, and Anastasia wore a smug expression. When I was caught tailing them, I told the truth and deceived the two of them. I honestly confessed that I was just curious about their relationship and was tailing them as a joke. I didn’t lie. Yeah, it’s not a lie. I just didn’t tell the whole truth. I’m using the Devil Gods’ methods.

At my candid confession, Leo cleared up my doubts. Today is the 5th anniversary of the Great Catastrophe. Both of them were planning to go to pay their respects, and since their destinations were the same, they decided to go together. Leo has replaced Eugene’s spot after all. When did they get so close? Both of them had less interaction with Eugene than in the ‘novel’, so it’s not strange for this to happen…

In fact, strictly speaking, Anastasia doesn’t necessarily have to fall for Eugene.

Rather, falling for Eugene didn’t lead to a very good ending.

Eugene has a definite main wife, and the probability of him ending up with Anastasia approaches 0.

It’s closer to the best path for Anastasia to become friends with someone else and feel love and regain her heart, like now.

Eugene would also be able to borrow her abilities without any hindrance if he became friends with Anastasia after she regained her heart.

But the problem was that he didn’t know when the Devil Gods would run wild.

Eugene needs to become stronger before the Devil Gods begin their full-scale invasion.

That’s why I wanted to make him get close to Anastasia…

‘…What can I do now that it’s already happened? Maybe it’s for the best.’

I was trying to manipulate Anastasia’s heart in the name of a greater cause. I was trying to force a love that couldn’t be. Lucia likes getting hurt, but she doesn’t like hurting others. A corner of my mind wondered, ‘Is this really okay?’ Maybe that’s why. Even though the plan fell through, I felt a little relieved.

It’s not that I don’t feel frustrated, but even if Eugene can’t borrow 『Clone』 right now, he’ll definitely be able to copy it someday. I was just trying to speed up that time.

“But what are you guys going to do now? You’ve been caught tailing us, are you just going to go back?”

“Hmm, now that we’ve come all this way, shall we pay our respects too? What about you guys?”

“So, Alice. We have to stop more of Mama’s daughters from increasing. That Anastasia girl is definitely a formidable enemy.”

“I can’t help it then. Seri, this is a temporary alliance only. I still don’t recognize you.”

“Geez, a pretty dangerous combination has been born.”

“Yeah, everyone’s getting along. I’ll take that as an agreement.”

Did tailing them together have an unexpected effect?

Alice, Seri, and Regina were whispering to each other.

My heart swelled, thinking that they were finally starting to get along.

‘Since the plan to have Eugene meet Anastasia alone has failed… there’s no need to leave Eugene alone anymore.’

By now, he’ll be reminiscing about the past and feeling bitter in front of his sister’s tombstone. I should go and comfort him. It helps to have someone by your side when you’re having a hard time.

We entered the public cemetery together. I thought there would be quite a few people, but surprisingly, it was hard to find any signs of people. There must be a memorial service being held in another place at this time, so they must have headed there? But it’s a bit strange? There’s too few people.

As I tilted my head in doubt, Leo, who had been walking ahead, suddenly stopped and turned to look at us.

“I’m this way. See you later.”

His expression was coldly hardened, as if he had been smiling just a moment ago. This must be his true feelings. The exaggerated smile he had been showing until just now must have been an act. He must be in a bad mood because he relives his sister’s death every time he comes here.

“Yeah, see you later…”

Anastasia’s words, who had been waving at Leo, were cut off in the middle. Anastasia blinked her eyes and turned her head in a different direction. Not only her, but everyone in this place was looking in the same direction. Hot heat was riding the wind and attacking us.

“…Fire?”

Beyond that, a familiar flame was burning brightly.

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Yui expected Eugene to not help from the beginning, but was still disappointed.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
A fight to desecrate the dead, woohoo!

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