episode_0055

Plop.

A liquid, distinct from rainwater, flowed onto the ground. The surreal scene of red liquid seeping into the red floor created an otherworldly atmosphere.

It was blood. Not just anyone’s, but the blood of the Dragon’s Child, Rahilt.

In the realm of illusions, the Emperor severed Rahilt’s arm, causing a gush of blood, but that was an achievement made possible by the anomaly of defying fate.

Originally, Serin and his companions shared the goal of stopping Rahilt. However, they did not expect to inflict any deep wounds. After all, their opponent could easily incinerate thousands of lives with a single gesture, a living disaster.

“Is it possible to defeat him?”

A common hope resurfaced in their minds.

Upon closer inspection, anomalies were abundant on their side as well.

The Emperor who overwhelmed Rahilt – Serin, who inherited his physical form. And Kanarin, who manipulated the cheat called the status window. And finally, Luca, who twisted his fate to avoid death.

It was undeniable that they were not ordinary individuals.

Therefore, Kanarin felt a sense of relief.

“Perhaps… it’s okay not to resort to the final option.”

In the face of imminent annihilation, Kanarin had decided to bring out the card she had always kept sealed. Even if it meant committing acts that would be condemned by humanity and accumulating immense resentment.

In any case, it would be better than the world’s destruction.

“Above all… it’s not like Serin to give up easily.”

There was no room for unfamiliar faces who casually extended kindness for their own agenda. Therefore, Kanarin reaffirmed her resolve.

Thud.

Taking a step forward.

She retrieved the frozen window from her inventory and repeated the process of summoning it, returning it to its place with her own hands.

“Parallel Ability – Spatial Seal Release.”

Crack!

At her words, geometric rays shattered like glass, dispersing into particles of light.

If the downpour continued inside, everyone would drown, causing greater damage to the surroundings.

Therefore, Kanarin’s choice was a forced fate.

Shoosh…

The surreal phenomenon of rain falling indoors continued.

It was cold.

Serin deliberately turned her palm upward, feeling the chill of the falling raindrops.

The dense clouds, the long ceiling, the damp and musty air – everything felt like the world Rahilt was seeing.

If the black dragon’s consciousness had not suppressed Rahilt’s negative emotions, she believed that the world he experienced would always be like this.

“Lian.”

Knowing her voice would not reach him, she spoke.

“Whether it’s pollution or dark magic… it’s not just an excuse.”

Suppressing negative emotions from the start was not normal. Ultimately, forcing a human’s deficiency for the sake of the world’s safety was a story in itself.

The uneasy daily lives of people were happening under Rahilt’s deficiency.

Despite being persecuted by the world and ultimately being used and discarded, Rahilt, who had sacrificed his humanity for others, was truly the rightful avenger in this world.

“From Lian’s perspective, everything might finally be falling into place now.”

Those who had pointed fingers at him would change their attitudes. They would kneel in awe, begging for mercy. Even if Rahilt indulged in dangerous thrills, would the perpetrators and bystanders dare to speak out?

“Still, I will do whatever it takes to stop him.”

I know Rahilt better than anyone.

He is so kind to the point of being foolish, and I understand his naivety better than anyone else. If someone like Rahilt were to wield the blade of vengeance upon the world, all that would remain in the end would be a bitter emptiness.

“Rian is much more stubborn than I thought… Am I selfish?”

That’s right.

The emotions that Rahilt will feel at the end of revenge are nothing more than speculation or possibility. In the end, you have to try to know.

Yet, Serin admitted that the desire to stop Rahilt was selfishness.

“I can’t live without you.”

At first, it was sympathy for the favorite character.

Next, curiosity about the real favorite character.

And behind curiosity was admiration.

After that, it was an obsession and stubbornness mixed with those three.

As time passed, the favorite character that they finally met was so different from the fantasy they had secretly held. Every moment of conversation was unfamiliar.

Because of that, Rahilt was quickly accepted not as a character in a creation, but as a human being.

“Maybe you don’t know, but I can only breathe freely when I’m with Rian.”

Even their parents were awkwardly accepted as part of the creation.

Having lived a life where they loved two people who acted as they had seen in the past, it was difficult to love sincerely. The exception was probably their younger brother Teser, who had a significantly lesser role.

During that kind of life, they met Rahilt. In reality, it was just a name shared with the original.

It must have been then. The time when they gradually realized that this world was real.

When they first met Rahilt, they liked the favorite character Rahilt, not the human Rahilt.

But now, they just like you. This person whose ears turn red at the slightest silly behavior.

“So… I have to somehow bring Rian into my world.”

They don’t know how to push and pull.

They have to pull and pull, pull until they can’t get enough, and then stick them next to them so that their patience doesn’t run out.

“Don’t say that you treated me like that without preparing for this. Because that’s the only thing that Rian is bad at.”

They take a stance.

They focus all their attention on Rahilt’s small actions and prepare for the future.

For you.

Watching Serin pour out their heart, Kanarin and Luca both made their evaluations at the same time.

If the direction of emotions is not mutual, they will surely pay the price even if it’s hard.

◇

In a corridor of the Lupentel Marquisate.

“Uh…”

Flutter!

The chubby fingers of a girl twitched.

Once a wave of consciousness surged, the connections were made in an instant.

Eshutiel opened her eyes in surprise, forcing her heavy body to awaken.

“Huh…?”

Groan.

Eshutiel sat up unsteadily. She glanced around once.

In the distance, several servants were lying down together. And right next to her, Arhan, who had been playing with her, had fainted.

Eshutiel was frightened.

The ghost that had been joking around seemed like it would actually appear and take her away. Like Roderick, who had tried to kidnap her oracle.

Therefore, Eshutiel gently woke up Arhan, who was her only source of strength.

“Get up… Huh? Get up…”

After shaking him for a while, Arhan’s eyebrows twitched. Eshutiel’s face brightened momentarily, but it was a futile hope.

Maybe I should slap him.

But that’s bad. Brother said not to hit people. If there’s a need to hit someone, he’ll do it instead.

“Sob…”

So, Eshutiel decided to search the mansion to make sure no one else had woken up to not disappoint Rahilt. She decided to search the mansion while rummaging around.

Without anyone to stop her, Eshutiel ran around the mansion without manners. Because the only person who was walking around the mansion unharmed was Eshutiel.

Eventually, exhausted and giving up, Eshutiel expanded her search outside.

“The stairs are too steep…”

At least, it was keenly felt by Estelle, who was carefully descending the stairs as they were quite high.

After descending the stairs with extra caution, Estelle found the butler collapsed near the entrance.

There was no point in waking him up, so she decided to leave him be. But Estelle’s steps came to a sudden halt.

This was because he had given her five candies this morning. Her brother usually only gave her two candies a day! Ignoring her brother’s advice that it was bad for her health, this was a serious matter for Estelle.

“Butler.”

Approaching cautiously, Estelle shook the butler’s body gently.

“It’s not good for your back to sleep on the floor. I feel cold and sore when I sleep on the stone floor.”

Oh, there it is again.

“Your mouth is open.”

Shaking him with all her might, but no miracle happened. The butler remained asleep, showing no signs of waking up.

“Ugh… what should I do.”

In search of some sustenance, Estelle rummaged through the butler’s pocket with her soft hands. There, she felt the hard texture of something.

“This is your reward for waking up.”

The identity of the loot from the pocket was none other than a candy. It was an item that the butler, who was captivated by the cuteness of the noble guest, always carried with him.

Eating the candy she had just obtained, Estelle felt a slight boost in energy.

Recharged with sugar, Estelle pushed open the noble guest’s door with all her might.

“Huff… huff…!”

Indeed, the power of the candy was so great that she could easily push open the heavy door. However, the challenges she faced were not just the stairs and the door.

Splash…

It started to rain.

The raindrops were quite thick, surpassing the level where jumping around would keep you dry.

“What should I do…?”

As she grumbled at the rain, Estelle’s gaze turned towards where the clouds were gathering.

The royal palace.

It was a place where the clouds were unnaturally gathering.

Estelle had witnessed such a phenomenon before.

“Brother Liheart?”

Yes, it was certain.

He was there.

Her brother could do anything. Surely, he would be able to solve this strange phenomenon.

Gulp.

Swallowing a needle, Estelle stared at the slightly weakened raindrops due to the gathering clouds and made up her mind.

In no time, Estelle popped three rattling candies into her mouth. It was the best energy boost she knew how to do.

“Let’s go, to where brother is.”

Now, the preparations were complete.

Let’s go.

Through the rain.

To where her brother was.