Ch.46Confinement (2)

Under the quiet sky submerged in sleep, where birds chirped and insects sang.

It was night, with the reddish sunset having disappeared and the white moonlight dimly illuminating the earth.

There was a woman sobbing pitifully, her legs seeming ready to give out at any moment.

The desolate wind caressed her white hair, which had been dyed pure white by the moonlight. Transparent tears rolled down her cheeks like jade beads from eyes like rippling blue lakes.

She looked miserable, unable to wail openly like a child just stepping into mature consciousness.

“Irefi.”

Irefi Justitia. A great sinner who had already once destroyed the world.

The woman bearing the karma of the Destroyer wept endlessly.

Knowing she had no right to wail, knowing she had no right to shed tears, she continued to sob.

Whenever I looked at Irefi like this, I couldn’t bear the sadness and pity I felt.

The desire to wipe away her tears filled my mind completely. Yet the reality that I couldn’t approach her made my heart ache with self-loathing.

Did I have the right? Did I have the courage to reach out to Irefi who had committed sins?

Or if not that, did I have the ability?

I couldn’t find an answer. Self-loathing filled my creaking heart. Just like me, trapped and bound by reality, unable to do anything…

……

Reality. Yes, this isn’t reality.

Once I realized this, the scenery began to blur. Yet strangely, Irefi’s form became even clearer.

Step, step.

Irefi. In the blurring world, she gradually closed the distance. Her face, ruined by tears, was still so beautiful that it made my heart ache.

Now Irefi was close enough that I could embrace her if I just reached out.

Though I wanted to comfort her, no words came out. I tried to at least hold her hand, but my body remained rigidly frozen.

“Nepy.”

Irefi wore an expression neither crying nor smiling. With each tear track that remained, it seemed as if a deep scar was being torn along the same path.

‘Irefi, you…’

My lips wouldn’t open no matter how wide I opened my eyes or how much strength I applied. All I could do was look at her.

I wished she wouldn’t make such a face. Please don’t make expressions that don’t suit you at all. Return to your usual dignified, haughty gaze. Or if not that, remember how you used to playfully torment me…

My wishes seemed to have no effect, like a branch hitting a wall, as she continued to sniffle and spoke.

“My savior.”

You’re wrong, I’m not a savior. Just an ordinary person who happened to get lucky.

Originally, I was just a worthless person who couldn’t even speak to someone as great as you.

“I have a request that only Nepy can hear.”

The next moment, a bright flash of light swept over the world with her words.

“Please ■■■■■ me.”

Irefi’s desperate wish was grotesquely smudged along with the distorted dream.

Yet strangely, I felt a desire to ignore her request. A will like hardened steel took root within me to do the exact opposite, no matter what.

Somehow, it was because she was Irefi.

In a world where everything was blurring, I kept replaying the afterimage of Irefi, which remained clear until the very end.

Until my consciousness returned to reality.

◇

[Are you awake?]

“Old man.”

What a comedy to be greeted by Netionpis as soon as I wake up.

[You slept for quite a while. Thanks to that, I was anxious for the first time in a long time.]

“What do you have to be anxious about, old man?”

[The erosion is progressing faster than expected. I have to inform you earlier than planned… Tsk, there’s something you need to know.]

“What is it?”

Netionpis reluctantly reveals the truth. And quite a shocking truth at that.

[In the near future, that body will completely belong to you. You’ve been grumbling whenever I didn’t respond to your calls, but it’s the opposite. I wanted to respond but couldn’t.]

“You’re joking, right?”

[Since I emerged on the surface during the battle with that Zikharun brat, the constraints of the mental world have rapidly strengthened. Soon, I won’t even be able to see you from here, let alone talk to you.]

“Isn’t there a way to stop this erosion?”

[No. This too is the price I must pay for my karma.]

“Ugh.”

It was a difficult situation.

Certainly, cohabiting with the old man came with many inconveniences in terms of privacy.

But I was willing to accept even that. Netionpis’s experience, knowledge, and power as a Founding Noble were irreplaceable elements.

A hidden card, so to speak. Since it was ultimately his own body, he had no choice but to help me in times of need.

Even if any adversity came, I believed it would eventually be resolved. Netionpis was a big part of that belief.

And now he’s going to be isolated?

‘I guess I was unconsciously relying on the old man…’

[The duel with Bartlant is the same. While getting a taste of real combat was a good experience for you, the fundamental reason was that I couldn’t emerge on the surface.]

“So that’s why you only interfered with the body. So, how long do you think you can hold out?”

[If you’re going to have a physical confrontation with that white-haired girl, it’s one week. Until then, I might somehow be able to move the body.]

“There must be a time limit, right? You couldn’t hold out until the end with Zikharun and Bartlant either.”

[When the time comes, it would be about 2 minutes… no, 3 minutes.]

“That’s too short! Is this instant ramen or what?”

Ignoring my complaints, he continued his advice.

[Remember this. You must take action before the white-haired girl goes mad. Think of the future. If you don’t want to ruin the new branch you’ve carefully grown, that child…]

“Hey, old man? Old man!”

Netionpis disappeared before finishing his advice.

“Damn it.”

Faced with these suddenly harsh conditions, a great anxiety began crawling up like a swarm of ants.

“If I have a physical confrontation, I have one week? You know that’s nonsense, old man!”

I had already admitted that I couldn’t guarantee victory even if I fought the first Bartlant. And now, at a point where our connection is breaking, he tells me to settle things within a week?

“No… it’s impossible. Absolutely impossible. I should go out and contact His Majesty or Bartlant for help… he… help…”

There, I pondered a question.

‘What would I do if I got help?’

One question branched into two, then three, all leading to negation.

‘Can I persuade her? Can I win? Can I subdue Irefi Justitia in her prime?’

I recall a dark, damp hut. Two skeletons with distinct wounds lying side by side on the mountainside.

There, the boss monster “Terrible Destroyer Irefi” with her impressive jet-black armor awaits the final battle.

Just a scene from a game. A mere brief event cutscene, yet the memory gave me goosebumps.

‘Either way, nothing changes. The old man also said it would be dangerous if I don’t take action before she goes mad…!’

If there was even a slight possibility, I had to try. It was a forced situation where I had no choice.

The best recruitment target was Bartlant Chester, an asymmetric force.

He should be staying at the imperial palace now.

I carefully manipulated my Malice. Gradually, a black energy swirled around my body, stimulating repulsive emotions.

Shaaaa…

‘Get a grip. Don’t be swayed by Malice. You’ve already experienced enough of this with Zikharun!’

I recall when I crushed the incomplete Zikharun with biological specs.

I revive the unpleasant yet omnipotent sensation of dissolving Malice in my blood and distributing it throughout my body.

The blasphemous sense of omnipotence reaches its peak in an instant!

Clank! Clank!

‘I’ll explode all the power in my body at once!’

Kwang! Kwang! Kuooo!

With each convulsion of my body, blue chains contracted and expanded in the air.

The moment when the outcome between multiple convulsions and the protective ability would be determined arrived soon.

Just as the tide turns in a tug-of-war in an instant, cracks rapidly spread across the chains of the protective ability that had reached its limit.

Crack, crack! Clang!

“Kuack!”

The direction I was convulsing toward was straight ahead. There was a wall with attractively embedded iron bars.

With the momentum of my convulsions, I flew without stopping and passionately planted my face into the iron bars.

“Kuuu… Kuaak! S-sensory block!”

I was relieved as the pain quickly subsided. At the same time, I took comfort in one positive realization.

‘Holy Memory can be broken with strength accompanied by Malice. Bartlant with his Battle Aura should be able to do it too.’

I wanted to leave this suspicious place as quickly as possible.

I threw open the thick iron door that dragged along the floor making a terrible metallic sound. In front of it was a narrow, dim staircase. It was exactly as I remembered.

At the end was an entrance that required a key, but that wasn’t a necessary condition. I just needed to push it with brute force.

Crack, crack!

Finally, the cover disguised as the warehouse floor opened wide. After coughing uncontrollably for a while due to the dust that rushed in, I was able to leave the warehouse.

‘Good, I’ve succeeded this far.’

The pale crescent moon shone elegantly in the cloudless sky. Since it was late at night, Irefi would have gone to bed by now, which was a great relief.

I had been worried because my sense of time was numbed, but it seemed my concerns were unfounded. If it had been daytime, there would have been many eyes watching, making stealthy movement difficult.

Fearing detection, I lay flat and crawled like a worm toward the main gate of Marquess Justitia’s manor.

Eventually, Irefi would discover me if she visited the basement.

Considering that, I just needed to subdue or persuade the gatekeeper of the manor.

‘If necessary, I’ll just kidnap them before they can scream and run.’

I don’t know how long I crawled around the vast manor. Finally, my view fully captured the main gate of the manor.

As if heaven was helping me, the gatekeeper’s post was completely empty and defenseless.

Just a little more, just a few more steps and the path to the center of the district would open up. It was clear that even Irefi couldn’t cause a commotion in the middle of the district.

Hope pulled my hand and lifted me up from where I had been lying flat on the ground.

One step, then another.

Just as I was about to pass through the main gate of the manor that had reached my feet.

“Hmm?”

Something slender touched my abdomen. It felt like a soft cotton rod filled with plenty of cotton, a sensation that could be easily mistaken.

Looking closely, it was the touch of a woman’s delicate hand. Then, the lukewarm body heat transmitted from the doll-like figure pressed against my back took away the excitement I had felt.

“Is night walking your hobby?”

A chilling wind ran from my lower back to the nape of my neck. Instinctively, all the hair on my body stood on end, sounding an alarm of danger.

“Nepy!”

‘Ah… Aah…!’

Unable to even make a groan, I swallowed it inside.

There stood a woman of the moonlight, beautiful to the point of being eerie. She was the owner of pure white hair that reached her waist and eyes like blue lakes.

Though she was in a sleeveless dress-like nightgown, having discarded her sword and uniform, her identity was clear.

“Ahah, Nepy? You must have been very lonely inside. Actually, I was very lonely without you too…”

“Irefi…”

“We’re connected! Just kidding, hehe.”

I called out the woman’s name as I stepped back, freeing myself from her gentle restraint. Meanwhile, she smiled as if she was happy and glad.

“Why… why are you here?”

“What a strange question. How could I not know when the Holy Memory was broken? But that’s just like you, Nepy. To easily break through the protective ability I put effort into, you’re amazing. I like that about you.”

“Ugh…?”

Her words suddenly reminded me of something from the past. Before Charle’s pursuit, she had given me a ring-shaped protective ability and said:

[If… if you think you can’t punish Zikharun, break this.]

‘It meant she could remotely know if the protective ability was broken!’

It was such a long time ago that I had completely forgotten. And as a consequence of that rash action, despair materialized and approached.

Step. Step.

“I’m embarrassed to be in this attire because I came out in a hurry. If it wasn’t you, Nepy, I might have gouged out their eyes.”

It was a statement mixed with shyness and shame.

‘Is it fortunate in the midst of misfortune that she doesn’t have her sword?’

Just then, she expressed concern about the same topic.

“Nepy, would you please go back quietly? I was in such a hurry that I didn’t bring my sword…”

“… And if I refuse?”

“I really don’t want to… I don’t want to treat Nepy roughly… but I have no choice. I’ll have to confine you until you give up…”

In an instant, Irefi’s demeanor changed drastically. Her eyes, still filled with regret and sick affection, took on a different hue.

Swish!

A sound of air being cut! I looked at her with disbelief.

Clearly, she had neither a sword nor even a switch in her hand.

Fwoosh!

Almost simultaneously with the sound of air being cut, a handful of blood splattered through the gap where my shoulder was split.

“Kuk?!”

“Ah, as expected, it’s unstable without the medium of a sword. I didn’t want to inflict unnecessary wounds on Nepy! I’m sorry. I’ll adapt soon… I’ll cut you without causing pain, okay?”

Irefi gathered her sword intent and raised it.

Ethereal sword energy flickered at the tips of her fingers, emitting a faint presence.

“Ha… haha.”

I laughed dejectedly. That’s a natural reaction, of course.

There couldn’t possibly be such a ridiculous being elsewhere. And this woman was the strongest knight desperate to confine me.

“Holy Memory.”

A blue, transparent cube enveloped her and me. With all directions blocked, my legs felt like they would give out from the sense of helplessness.

“It’s completely just the two of us now, Nepy!”

Like a fairy descending on moonlight, she exuded a lovely demeanor.