Chapter 175

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Content Warning

More Content Warnings!  Y’know the drill! Less intense than the last few chapters Part 1

After that, Angelica tried to persuade Eugene.

She had a vague idea of how Eugene felt about Lucia.

That’s why she didn’t think Eugene would stay idle after Lucia had been kidnapped.

But allowing Eugene to act was too dangerous. This wasn’t the time to be consumed by emotions. Joining the Family suppression operation? 

Even though Eugene had experienced real combat, that was against monsters. Fighting humans was different from battling monsters. It was fundamentally different. He needed to prepare himself mentally.

In a life-or-death battle, a moment of hesitation could lead to defeat.

If the opponent was a monster, he wouldn’t hesitate. But if it were another human… Could he remain unshaken in a critical moment?

It was too soon for Eugene.

At least while he was still a student.

She sincerely hoped he could stay away from the smell of blood while he was still a student.

That’s why she tried to persuade him.

To stay out of this.

To trust the adults and wait in a safe place.

Or at least to leave the 4th Division and come under her protection.

“I’m sorry, teacher.”

But Eugene shook his head and refused all her requests.

“I know what you’re worried about, teacher.”

How could he not?

He knew what kind of person she was.

His experiences had taught him that.

“You don’t have to worry.”

He knew, but Eugene couldn’t meet her expectations.

Because he didn’t want to be powerless anymore.

Because he was sick of just talking without being able to protect anything.

“Because I’m stronger than you think.”

Because he wanted to protect the person he loved.

That’s why Eugene didn’t back down.

There was no place left to retreat to.

Suppressing the overwhelming anxiety was already pushing him to his limit.

He could save Lucia.

He might be able to save her.

If he didn’t cling to even the smallest, uncertain possibility, he wouldn’t be able to endure.

Eugene rejected all of Angelica’s pleas and headed to the 4th Division.

“Phew, you’re really stubborn.”

Angelica muttered as if lamenting.

She sighed, chewing on her bitter feelings.

She had considered forcibly removing him from the operation, but she was certain it wouldn’t stop Eugene. His resolve was already firm. No matter what anyone said, he wouldn’t listen. In the end, Angelica could only watch Eugene’s retreating figure.

“How about it? Do you understand how I felt now?”

“…Is this really the time for jokes?”

Four years ago, Angelica had brushed off Isabella’s pleas and left the Celestial Corps. Back then, she hadn’t listened to a word Isabella said. She had a clear goal and ran straight toward it. Just like Eugene now.

Angelica saw her past self in Eugene. And it wasn’t just Angelica. Isabella shook her head repeatedly. Though she spoke teasingly, she wasn’t in a good mood. 

Karma. 

Can we really leave that kid with him?

‘I did warn him that I wouldn’t stand by if he did anything stupid…’

But he’s so hard to read that I’m not sure if he understood.

As a Captain, he’s diligent, but as a person, he’s hard to trust.

He’s the kind of guy who would gouge out his own eye if necessary. What more can I say?

There’s nothing more unsettling than an unpredictable person.

‘The fact that he came here to say that…’

It must be his way of warning me.

He’s really a cunning one.

I can’t let my guard down.

“Hello.”

While they were struggling with the issue of Karma and Eugene, an unexpected visitor arrived.

The neat uniform proved she was an academy student.

A girl with her blue hair tied up smiled softly.

Her half-opened red eyes shimmered faintly.

“It feels like it’s been a while, teacher Angelica.”

“Alice?”

Angelica couldn’t hide her surprise. She hadn’t heard the news of Alice waking up yet. When did she regain consciousness? And even if she had, why was she here instead of in the hospital?

“I heard about what happened. It seems a lot has happened while I was asleep…”

Alice raised her head. To Angelica, who was used to seeing Alice hiding behind Lucia and peeking out timidly, this was a very unfamiliar sight.

“Can I join in too?”

Though the sentence was incomplete, it wasn’t hard to guess the hidden meaning.

Angelica pressed her forehead. First Eugene, now Alice. Eugene was one thing, but she hadn’t expected Alice to be like this too. 

These kids really couldn’t stay still. How am I supposed to talk them out of this? Dealing with Eugene alone was already a headache. She didn’t want to add another problem to the mix.

“…”

Then Angelica met a familiar gaze.

The same eyes she had seen in Eugene earlier.

The same eyes she had seen in the mirror four years ago.

‘…So this is how it felt.’

Angelica thought she understood a little of how Isabella had felt back then.

◈

These days, I spent more time lost in a hazy dream than being conscious.

With every breath, a sweet scent mixed in.

The fuzzy sensation pierced through my mind.

A creeping softness enveloped my entire body.

“Ah, ah, ah…!”

The gag that had been blocking my mouth was gone.

But no proper words came out of my mouth.

Like a doll that plays recorded sounds when a button is pressed.

Only meaningless, sweet moans escaped.

Snip. 

The sound of something being cut echoed faintly.

What was cut just now? I focused my dulled senses. It felt like I was missing a finger. One joint of my index finger, no, two? Anyway, my fingers felt shorter. 

Hehe, hehehe… It feels good…

“Ah, ha, uh, ah…!”

My mind, intoxicated by drugs, melted away. 

Snip. Snip. Snip. 

Parts of my body were torn and cut away. My body twitched. With each movement, I lost more sensation. My fingers became the back of my hand, then my forearm. Soon, I couldn’t move my arm anymore.

I moved my blurry vision to examine my body. The absence of the blindfold helped this time. Ah, my arm’s gone. Those neatly sliced pieces must have been my arm at some point. I thought about regenerating, but I wanted to enjoy this burning pain a little longer.

The cluster of nerve cells in my skull was mercilessly assaulted by the high concentration of drugs.

A searing pain pierced through my drug-addled brain.

Drool dripped from my lips. I twisted my body, but my torso was tightly bound, so all I could do was twitch.

“Uh, huk, haa…!”

A moan echoed. It wasn’t mine. The voice, mixed with sobs, was far from Lucia’s. Was it an auditory hallucination? My thoughts were jumbled, and the scene before me was a chaotic mix of memories, hallucinations, and delusions.

“Sorry, I’m so sorry… please… I’m sorry… sorry… ah…”

The sobbing voice was layered with other voices.

They were so tangled that it was hard to make out what they were saying.

Various scenes were painted like pictures, then smudged like ink.

I blinked my eyes and stared blankly at the hallucinations floating in the air.

[Are you serious?]

Ah, this again. 

You’re back.

I don’t know who you are.

But I’m starting to get used to you.

No, thinking about it, I’ve been familiar with you from the start.

[Luc■]

The boy calls me.

Hair as black as ink.

Gold that sparkles like starlight.

He looks at me with eyes as blue as the sea.

His face was full of worry.

[If that’s what you want, I won’t stop you.]

The boy sighed and scratched his head.

He seemed to have a lot to say but didn’t know where to start.

[But…]

[That’s the realm of the gods.]

[Only the four seasons can do that.]

[I can’t even imagine the burden it would place on you.]

He bit his lip slightly. The boy’s clear gaze wavered.

[Why not look for another way?]

[No, I just said I wouldn’t stop you, but…]

[Still, there might be a better way if you look for it.]

Thank you for worrying about me.

You’re so sweet.

But it’s okay.

It’ll be fine.

[Eu■]

I called the boy’s name.

The end of it was muffled, and even I couldn’t understand what I had said.

[This is the conclusion I reached after much thought.]

[It won’t solve everything right away.]

[But I’m sure it’ll be the starting point for a better future.]

The boy fell silent. But even without speaking, his expression revealed everything. I couldn’t help but chuckle. Really, he hasn’t changed at all over time.

I don’t want to see that expression.

It’s a little annoying.

If you’re so worried about me.

If I’m so precious to you.

Why didn’t you choose me?

I wanted to ask him accusingly.

But I didn’t.

I didn’t want to break what we have now.

‘Ah…’

The hallucination quickly faded. What came back into view was the familiar ceiling. The searing pain made my blurry vision a little clearer. 

I stared blankly, my lips parting. The boy’s face had already disappeared without a trace. But unconsciously, I chased after his lingering presence.

A boy who was familiar yet unfamiliar.

He must be someone I’ve never met before.

But his blue eyes, like the sky.

They felt so, so familiar.

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Everyone is in ruins, but one person is not.

By the way, the most ruined person is Regina.

They say that the smell of the blood on her body doesn’t go away.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Lucia is being noobed, smh.