A Farewell Promising the Next Time

Lucy’s situation was like this.

There was a special power passed down in her family from their ancestors, and the Eyes of Dawn, having noticed this existence, planned to kidnap her and her mother.

However, thanks to her mother’s sacrifice, who gave her own life to save her daughter, she was lucky enough to escape. After that, she hid her real name and lived under the name Lucy.

The name Lucy was also taken from her mother’s name, Lucia.

“Then, the healing you gave me…”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s thanks to that power.”

Vermillion, feeling all the pieces falling into place, let out a soft exclamation.

No wonder such a serious injury disappeared in the blink of an eye; it must have been thanks to the miracle passed down from her ancestors, as she said.

However, upon realizing this, he suddenly felt curious about the burn scar on her left arm.

“If you had such power, why did you leave your left arm like that? As a woman, it’s a mark you’d definitely want to erase.”

“Unfortunately, this power can’t be used for myself.”

“…What a truly unfortunate power.”

“Indeed.”

It was certainly a power close to a miracle, but neither Vermillion nor Lucy felt particularly positive about it.

Of course, the fact that it was a power that could be used for others had its own value, but ultimately, it led her family down a path of destruction without even knowing why.

From Lucy’s perspective, it was a power she would have preferred not to be born with.

‘What those bastards are after isn’t just the Evil Eye.’

Meanwhile, hearing her words, Vermillion could once again clearly realize what kind of group the Eyes of Dawn was and what kind of shit they were pulling behind the scenes.

He didn’t know exactly what their purpose was, but to achieve it, they were a crazed group that gathered anything that could be of use to them, no matter what.

That was the brief assessment he could make of the Eyes of Dawn.

“Still, thanks to this power, I was able to save Rian-ssi, so I guess I should see it as fortunate.”

“……”

A faint smile appeared on her consistently stoic face, and seeing this, Vermillion bit his lip silently and clenched his fist.

No.

What you saved wasn’t just some ordinary citizen who was about to die innocently somewhere.

It’s just a piece of trash who was in the same position as the bastards who drove your mother to her death and put you in this situation until recently.

Although he didn’t condone their evil deeds by cooperating with them, until recently, he was just as much of a scumbag as they were.

He was just another villain who would do anything to reach higher places and gain more power.

Unable to bring himself to say those words, Vermillion quietly got up from his seat.

‘Was I trying to walk the same path as those guys?’

A group that kills innocent women and gives nightmares to young girls.

No matter how great their cause may be, no one could say that it is truly the right thing to do.

At least Vermillion had some pride in the Drake family he was born into.

Even if the Drake family was a family that colluded with the Eyes of Dawn, he thought until recently that they had their own pride and dignity.

But seeing all this reality, he felt everything he had thought was collapsing.

His father, and furthermore, his grandfather.

By joining hands with such a group, were they desperately trying to climb to the top?

He couldn’t possibly say he didn’t know.

That fact came to him so painfully that it stabbed his heart.

“…Rian-ssi?”

Lucy, looking up at him as he got up from his seat, called his name.

In response, Vermillion lowered his gaze and stared at her silently for a long time, then gave a bitter smile with a mournful look and opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry. Lucy-yang. It seems like it’s about time for me to leave too.”

“Leave?”

“I can’t stay here forever. Thank you for everything so far.”

Lucy grabbed his wrist as he abruptly announced his departure and tried to leave.

She didn’t understand at all.

Of course, as he said, she never thought he would stay here forever.

He was someone who would leave someday, and they were in a position to return to their respective places someday.

But why now of all times? It’s a strange timing for anyone to see.

“That’s not what you’re trying to say, is it? Where are you going in the middle of the night like this? It’s not that I don’t want you to go. At least stay for a day or so, and when it gets light…”

“No. I have to leave now.”

“Why…”

Vermillion couldn’t answer her as she repeatedly asked for the reason.

Of course, there was also the reason that he felt sorry for being in front of her and that it was hard to face her.

But it wasn’t just guilt that was making Vermillion move.

It was to ensure that this frail girl would not be afraid to come out into the world again, and to eliminate them as soon as possible, realizing that it was the top priority.

That would be the least atonement and repayment he could make as someone who had been saved.

“Wait a minute. Rian-ssi.”

“If you’re thinking of stopping me…”

“No. It’s not like that, so please wait a moment.”

Vermillion was about to show his displeasure at the voice that grabbed him as he left the door, but Lucy shook her head firmly and hurried back into the house.

After a long time of rustling noises as if looking for something, she came back outside with something in her hand.

It was the thin coat that Vermillion was wearing when he fell into the river.

“I’m sorry. It took longer than I thought to repair it…”

“…You fixed this?”

“It’s awkward to say I fixed it. I’m not as skilled as my mother, so this is all I could do.”

Certainly, as she said, the coat looked quite shabby, unlike the appearance Vermillion remembered.

No matter how hard you try to repair and sew it with stitches, there are limits.

But Vermillion smiled as he received the coat Lucy handed him without saying a word.

“It’s enough. I was worried about being cold on the night road, but thanks to you, I’m saved. Thank you. Lucy-yang.”

“Thank you? Rather, I was more grateful to you for helping me in many ways while I was here.”

“……”

Vermillion felt the memories of the past flashing through his mind like a revolving lantern at her words, which sensed the farewell.

At first, he was so clumsy at chopping firewood that he was at a loss, but he learned how to make a fire without using magic.

He used to be startled by cockroaches that popped out every now and then, but at some point, he even reached the point of killing cockroaches with his bare hands.

Looking back, it seems like there were so many things that happened.

If he had his way, he would stay by her side and live as Rian, not Vermillion Drake, and those memories were so sweet that he even thought it would be better.

But if he stayed here, she might end up living here in hiding for the rest of her life.

That’s why Vermillion decided to leave.

Not for himself, but for her.

“…Lucy-yang.”

“Yes.”

“There’s something I need to tell you before I leave.”

“What is it?”

Vermillion hesitated whether to tell her this fact.

If she were to find out about the identity of the Drake family, she might curse him as a traitor and hate him in the future.

Nevertheless, his heart felt heavy as if he had a lead weight on it, and he decided to tell the truth after all.

Even to truly face her when they meet again next time.

“…Actually, my name is Vermillion Drake.”

“Drake… Are you talking about the prestigious Count family?”

“That’s what people call it.”

“I can’t believe it. Of course, when I saw you freaking out about the cockroaches, I thought you might be from a noble family.”

I don’t think that freaking out about cockroaches is the same for children from commoner families, but Vermillion smiled with a chuckle without bothering to argue.

“And when everything is resolved someday, I will come back to see you.”

“I’ll be waiting. Oh, and…”

Just when it seemed like the last farewell conversation was about to end, Lucy also hesitated for a moment and added.

“…My name is Annis. Annis Blanc.”

“I will remember it. Blanc-yang.”

“Please call me Annis. Next time we meet too. I’ll remember you by that too.”

“I will. Annis.”

With that conversation, Vermillion bowed lightly and said goodbye, then turned around and left the forest with a small light turned on through magic.

Annis was about to feel a little resentful that he never looked back.

“Ah…”

“……”

Just before he disappeared completely from her sight. When she turned around for the last time and saw his hand waving with the light as if saying, ‘It’s cold, so go in quickly,’ she smiled with a soft exclamation.

Even though the night air was quite cold, she somehow felt her face and body warming up.

But the person who would make her feel this warmth again had already left, and that fact was truly regrettable.