episode_0063

My mind became cluttered as I drove to the hospital.

I couldn’t figure out what to do next.

To be honest, I’m scared. I don’t know what to do now.

As the heat gradually left my mind, which had been stained with anger and excitement, I faced the cold reality. The victory I had gained in this duel was purely by luck.

I was just filled with anger, blinded by groundless confidence in my abilities, and rushed in. I threw away wisdom and reason. Even though people around me tried to stop me, I charged forward recklessly, only to hit a high wall. All my previous promises and resolutions were nothing but vain illusions that I couldn’t keep.

And I realized. I had deceived myself. I was only busy escaping.

In the fight with Martina, I realized my level. A B-class Hunter wasn’t that special in this world. I went through all sorts of hardships, but what would I do if I encountered even stronger beings above them?

I had to admit it. I was too weak. A weakling, both mentally and physically. Facing the truth I had tried so hard to ignore was incredibly unpleasant and sad, but I could no longer deceive myself.

Not only that, but before this, I had lived aimlessly, without motivation. I had moved relying only on my shallow strength.

As a result, the person I saw every day ended up getting hurt. She was always a kind and good girl to me. Although I knew the cause of the problem in my head, I still resented myself. I’m trash, an idiot, a fool!

I admit it. I, Violet, am just a pathetic, stupid girl.

Now, what should I do next?

I no longer wanted to be at school. I didn’t want to face any bigger disasters or incidents, or the flow of this world.

“Violet, do you want to go in first? I’ll stop by the admissions office.”

I parted ways with Irene at the hospital and took the elevator.

When I opened the door to the ward, the silver-haired girl sitting demurely on the bed in the middle of the white room turned her head. Daphne’s blue eyes lit up with welcome, and a small smile bloomed on her lips.

“You’re here! I woke up.”

“…Da-Daphne. Are you okay?”

“Ah, Ruzilin-ssi! Don’t worry about me. The Doctor-nim said I can be discharged right away. Agh…! My back. Can you help me up for a moment?”

Even after going through something terrible, there was no trace of worry on her. I should have been happy to see that, but I couldn’t be.

Overcome with emotion, I hugged Daphne tightly.

“Ah..? Ahh? Ruzilin-ssi?”

“…I’m sorry!… I’m so sorry…”

Why was it? Tears suddenly gushed out without me realizing. I closed my eyes, held in her arms.

“It seems you’ve had a difficult time.”

“…”

It’s embarrassing. To be clinging to a patient and acting childish. I’m an immature child.

She gently stroked my hair.

“Can you tell me? If it’s a sensitive matter, you don’t have to.”

“W-Well, actually…”

I slowly opened my mouth.

***

Several hours before Violet visited the hospital.

Daphne had a dream.

She immediately recognized that she was dreaming. It was a familiar scene that had been repeated countless times, to the point of tedium.

This was the indelible nightmare of her childhood, a terrible curse intertwined deep within her heart like an unbreakable chain.

Daphne opened her eyes inside her parents’ car, back when she was in elementary school.

Beside her, her innocent-looking younger sister was rummaging through a bag of snacks.

‘…This again.’

For a dream, it was too realistic. She could vividly feel the temperature, touch, and even smell.

Inside the car, there was a familiar scent of lavender, her mother’s favorite perfume. She used it so much that its scent permeated every corner of the house and even her father’s car.

At that time, Daphne was on an outing with her parents and younger sister. Their destination was an amusement park in the eastern district.

One day, her father received a small bonus from work, and coincidentally, her mother also received amusement park discount tickets as a gift from her workplace.

As these two small coincidences perfectly aligned, her parents, who usually didn’t have much time or money to spare for Daphne’s young sister, willingly went out despite their fatigue to give their two daughters some memories.

What they overlooked was that the road leading to that amusement park was notoriously congested. With it being a weekend as well, the family was stuck on the road for several hours.

Young Daphne, who found it difficult to endure the stuffy car, became irritable, and at that moment, her hungry younger sister, Laurel, looked at the bag of cookies her older sister was holding.

“…Unnie, aren’t you going to eat that? Give it to me.”

“Hey! Are you a pig? You just ate a huge breakfast! You got some from Mom, too. Where did you put that?”

“I don’t know! Just give it to me! Give it to me!”

Laurel had long since emptied the snack bag her mother had given her. Daphne couldn’t hide her irritation with her younger sister, who was eyeing her share too.

“Ugh! Fine, just be quiet!”

Young Daphne tossed the snack bag at Laurel. The snack bag unintentionally hit Laurel’s face, and she let out a short squeak! Her mother, who was watching, got angry.

“Daphne! What are you doing to Laurel? How could you throw something at your sister like that!”

“What? I just gave it to her because she asked for it! She keeps asking for mine!”

While the mother and daughter argued, Laurel forgot about being hit and munched on the snacks.

“Hehe, delicious. Delicious…”

The present-day Daphne thought as she watched the scene.

Laurel, my spoiled younger sister with a big appetite.

You always suffered from minor illnesses since childhood. Your immune system was messed up due to exposure to corrupted aether waves.

Mom and Dad were always busy working to pay for your hospital bills. Every night, you would sob in your bed, and every time, Mom and Dad would rush to you.

Sometimes, when you woke up, you would rummage through the cookie jar secretly from Mom. And at mealtimes, you would try to take my share in addition to yours.

Now I understand. For you, separated from the world by illness, snacks were your only happiness.

After an argument with her mother, sulking Daphne glared resentfully at her sister. Whether she knew of her older sister’s anger or not, Laurel contentedly ate the snacks, even tipping the crumbs into her mouth.

Her gaze fell upon a small doll her sister was clutching to her side. It was a doll Daphne usually cherished.

“What? Hey! Laurel! Why do you have that?”

“This…? It’s, it’s mine!”

Daphne tried to snatch the doll from Laurel’s grasp. Laurel tugged on the doll with difficulty. Annoyed, Daphne flicked Laurel’s forehead and confidently reclaimed the doll.

Laurel burst into tears.

“Waaah…!”

“Laurel? Are you okay?”

“Daphne Grace! What are you doing!”

While her mother comforted Laurel, her father, who had been quietly holding the steering wheel, yelled at her. Daphne protested.

“Dad! She stole my doll!”

“You could have just said so. How could you hit your sister? Dad is very disappointed in you.”

“Haa… Why are you acting like this?”

As her parents scolded her, young Daphne secretly felt desolate. She thought, *But she started it first*.

“…Daphne. Apologize to Laurel right now.”

“No!”

Young Daphne yelled back.

“She did wrong first! Why should I apologize?”

“Daphne. You are now…”

“Why do Mom and Dad always take Laurel’s side? Why do I always have to apologize!”

She was sick of her parents’ words, which she had heard countless times.

*Your sister is sick, so as her older sister, you need to understand, Laurel is still young and having a hard time, so please give in a little.*

“Why don’t you ever take my side!”

The irritation accumulated from the long traffic jam became the fuse, and Daphne poured out all the grievances she had harbored.

“Why didn’t you come to my school performance last time? I was the only one in my class whose parents didn’t come. You said then that you couldn’t help it because of my sister.”

“Th-That was…”

Her parents, flustered by the unexpected accusation, stammered.

The present Daphne, watching her past self, wanted to close her eyes with a complex heart.

I understand now. Back then, Laurel was rushed to the emergency room with breathing difficulties.

“And last year, you didn’t come until late at night for my birthday! Wasn’t that because of Laurel too?”

I cried a lot then. I stayed up all night with my eyes wide open.

I can understand this too. I later found out that my frail younger sister had suffered a cardiac arrest.

Young Daphne, as if wanting compensation for all the bad memories, spat them out.

“We were truly sorry then. But…”

“You promised but never kept it! You said you’d help with my homework but didn’t! Why don’t you ever take my side?”

The present Daphne wanted to defend them somehow.

That’s right. Your sister was your priority.

But you never once ignored me. You tried your best to take care of me, even if it was late. You bought a cake and presents the next morning, and never forgot to apologize to me. I understand now. My parents’ circumstances.

Now Daphne knew all too well what her past self was about to blurt out.

It was a scene she had watched countless times.

So please, don’t say it. Not those words.

“Daphne, Mom is sorry about that. Still…”

“No! I hate Mom, I hate Dad, I hate her too!”

Despite her plea, the embarrassing history she didn’t want to hear played out again.

“I don’t need a younger sister who’s always sick! Why does she even exist? It’s annoying! Just disappear!”

“…!”

“Daphne!”

The present Daphne wanted to cover her ears.

Unable to control her anger, the girl sobbed and burst out of the car, running along the congested road.

She ignored her parents calling out to her. Then she ran pattering between cars, crossed the nearby fence, and crouched down to hide. She heard her parents’ voices passing by as they searched for her. She remained silent.

“…Unnie! Where are you?”

After hiding for a long time, she heard a familiar voice and peeked her head out.

Laurel was walking on the road, holding the doll. Daphne tried to hide quickly, but Laurel found her faster. Laurel, who was trotting towards her like a dog that had found its owner, then fell with a thud.

“…Ugh, waaah!”

“You idiot! Why didn’t you just stay in the car? Why did you run out…!”

The young girl, unable to bear her sister’s crying, climbed over the fence and returned to the road. Laurel, sniffling, handed her the doll.

“Th-This. I’m sorry…”

“…”

“It’s soft when you hug it to sleep… That’s why I liked it. Unnie, I’m sorry for stealing it.”

“Ugh, I don’t care! Why did you come out onto the dangerous road?!”

Young Daphne was angry, but she couldn’t shake off Laurel. She saw her parents, who had spotted the sisters, coming towards them. She thought, *I’m going to get scolded again because of you*.

Suddenly, sirens blared on the road.

Mom and Dad, who were running towards them, grimaced rapidly.

“…Daphne! Laurel! Let’s go back quickly! Honey, get the kids!”

“Mom? Dad? What’s that sound?”

“It’s a Class 2 emergency alert! Let’s get into the car quickly!”

Unaware, she grabbed her parents’ hands and ran back to their previous spot, but nearby, chilling, air-ripping sounds were heard in succession.

-Fzzzzt!

Large and small gates appeared one after another in the middle of the road.

From within them, monsters filled with hostility began to pour out. For the first time in her life, Daphne realized what malice was.

“Quickly…!”

Explosions, screams, incomprehensible roars,

She was paralyzed with fear. The Grace family fled with all their might.