Ch.81I’ll make you come to your senses.

# 1.

Rose had a peculiar habit.

“Rose!! Ruby is…!!”

“…Please wait.”

“…Pardon?”

Occasionally, she would stare into empty space and mutter incomprehensible words.

“Some things only have meaning when you face them directly and learn from experience.”

“…? Rose?”

Who on earth was she talking to?

“…Thank you.”

What did the Great Prophet see with her eyes as she muttered to herself?

“…so please don’t cry.”

But curiosity remained just that—curiosity.

“…Always.”

“Ah, are you back with us, Rose?”

“…Thank you for waiting, Dallan.”

When her gently glowing eyes calmed once more, Dallan would embrace her.

“It’s annoying, isn’t it? A woman like this.”

“Not at all. You’re absolutely adorable.”

Dallan remained in love.

“…What a fool.”

Because of this, a few strange quirks meant nothing to him.

# 2.

Nahan was contemplating.

‘Now the despair begins.’

The Eclipse’s attack targeting the Great Prophet, and Dallan and Ruby getting caught up in it.

The horrific future he learned about through the memories of the Black Wolf members, obtained as compensation.

That’s why he was contemplating.

‘Wouldn’t it be better to somehow wake them up before the misfortune begins?’

That’s what he thought.

No matter how much of a dream it was, what lay ahead was merely a replay of the despair they had already experienced.

‘…Yes. Let’s wake them up.’

Rather than letting them experience the same despair and even greater sorrow, it would be better to wake them.

Having made that decision, as he approached Dallan and Rose in the dream,

“…Please wait.”

“…Huh?”

Nahan’s eyes met Rose’s.

“Some things only have meaning when you face them directly and learn from experience.”

Words clearly directed at him.

“So, please… scold me so that I can face sorrow and pain without avoiding them.”

Trembling hands,

Wavering eyes,

Reddening eyelids.

Recognizing her sincerity, Nahan unconsciously withdrew his power and nodded.

“…Thank you.”

Their gazes shifted away from each other.

“…Always.”

This time, Rose muttered something while looking elsewhere, then returned to the past, finished her conversation with Dallan, and stood up.

“I know where Ruby is.”

“Ah, as expected of the Great Prophet…!! That’s a relief!! If you tell me, I’ll bring her back right away!!”

“…Before that, just a moment.”

After hesitating briefly, Rose slowly turned and embraced Dallan.

“Don’t waver, Dallan.”

“What?”

“As always, spend the rest of your life pursuing what you truly love.”

“…What? Why suddenly……”

Dallan couldn’t finish his sentence.

“I love you, Dallan.”

“…!”

Because Rose, who had never approached him first, pressed her lips against his.

After that brief kiss, Rose whispered the location in Dallan’s ear.

“The cabin under the tree where I’ve lived my whole life. Ruby is being held captive at the place where you first came to find me.”

“…I’ll be back soon.”

Dallan immediately got up.

While he armed himself and warmed up his Aura Heart, Rose lingered by his side, uncharacteristically.

Occasionally holding hands,

Kissing whenever possible,

Carefully nestling into embraces.

He wanted to hold her tight, but Ruby might be in danger.

“Rose. I’m truly sorry, but I really must go now.”

Dallan gently pushed her away.

“…Don’t worry. Ruby will be fine.”

“If you say so, then it must be true. I’ll be back soon. Well then.”

“W-wait, Dallan!”

…Grip.

Hastily reaching out to grab Dallan, she smiled at him and asked,

“Dallan. What is it that you truly love?”

The answer was obvious—it’s you.

Just as Dallan was about to answer, his Aura-enhanced hearing caught a scream.

-L-let me go…!! Uncle Dallan!!!

It was Ruby’s voice.

“I’ll come back and answer soon.”

“Ah…”

Before Dallan could answer, he launched himself toward the cabin.

Whoever the opponent was, he would deal with them quickly and return to happiness.

However,

“Having ruined a night with the suddenly forward Rose, I won’t let them off easily.”

A faint smile played on his lips.

Though he would learn it too late, Dallan would come to regret this choice the most.

There were three main reasons, the first being that his judgment was clouded by emotion.

“Ruby!!”

“U-Uncle Dallan!!”

“…Dragon lure successful. Retreat.”

The moment he rushed in to save Ruby, the intruders immediately vanished.

This was a diversionary tactic by the intruders, whose real target had always been the village.

BOOM!!

With a massive explosion, a great fire demon engulfed the Red clan’s village.

“Ah…!!”

“T-the village…!!”

“Stay put, Ruby!! Don’t move a single step until I return!!!”

Dallan, who belatedly realized what was happening, placed a barrier around the cabin and rushed to the village, but the intruders’ forces were beyond what he had anticipated.

“…Why the Imperial Family?”

“We thank you for your sacrifice.”

【<Divine Mandate(SSS+)>’s 1st skill – <Carnival(SSS+)> has been activated.】

【30 minutes – Count-up in progress.】

【00:29:23】

A deafening sound of rupture.

People wearing clothes emblazoned with the imperial crest rampaged through the village, destroying everything.

“No!!!”

Dallan rushed in quickly.

He blocked the barrage of attacks to evacuate survivors and fought with all his might to get back to Rose as soon as possible.

But it was futile.

【Accumulated: 218 doppelgangers have been created.】

【30 minutes – Countdown begins.】

【00:29:59】

His struggle against overwhelming power was just that—a struggle.

“Your name?”

“Get out of my way!!!”

“…I see. Regardless, I won’t forget.”

Thud!

Crack, thud!

“Kuhak!!”

Dallan fell to the ground, his body pierced by numerous greatswords.

Sadly, it was right next to the home that Dallan and Ruby had chosen as their newlywed residence.

“……”

As Divine Mandate, who had descended to end his life, hesitated due to guilt,

…Creeak.

The wooden door opened, and Rose walked out with a composed expression, blocking Divine Mandate’s path.

“You will regret it. That man will be your salvation.”

“…Are you the Great Prophet?”

Rose nodded.

“Please finish quickly and return.”

“…You came out knowing what would happen?”

Knowing what consequences her actions would bring, she nodded.

“Wait…!!! R-Rose…!!!”

“Shh, Dallan. It’s alright, my love.”

“I won’t forget your sacrifice.”

Swish.

A flying greatsword pierced her fragile body.

“…This is payment for a life willingly given.”

Having completed the task, Divine Mandate took out a transcendent elixir and poured it over Dallan’s body.

“…Look forward to the day of salvation.”

Whoosh!

The greatswords were withdrawn simultaneously.

Unlike Dallan’s wounds, which were slowly healing, Rose was dying rapidly.

“Ah, ahhh…!!”

Dallan crawled on the ground.

Following the red trail of Rose’s blood that soaked the earth, he moved as if guided by fate.

“W-why…!! Why of all people…!!”

It should have been him who died.

“Why…!! Why did you step, step forward…!!!”

Instead of me,

“Rose, you…”

Grip.

Finally reaching Rose, Dallan embraced her as she turned deathly pale.

“Dal, lan……”

“Rose!!! Please, cough!! Please…!!!”

“What you, truly love……”

Gush.

A terrifying amount of blood welled up from Rose’s mouth as she struggled to speak.

“Please, please…”

Dallan clutched her hand tightly.

Afraid of hurting her, he couldn’t even embrace her properly as he watched his love die.

And at that moment.

Another set of small footsteps approached, defying Dallan’s orders.

“S-sister…”

Ruby, her body trembling uncontrollably, managed to reach Rose’s side and collapsed beside her.

-On the day the old girl’s first love blooms, the calamity of the Red clan begins.

-The old girl’s love will be led by the jewel of the Red clan…

“Did I… did I kill everyone…?”

Ruby couldn’t even shed tears.

She just held Rose’s hand, her breathing choked as she spoke in fragments.

“Is it all… because of me……?”

Ruby trembled quietly.

Rose whispered to Ruby:

“Al, ways… don’t be afraid…… shine, bright, Ru…by……”

A gentle smile.

Holding Ruby with her left hand and Dallan with her right, Rose said:

“Thank you, Dallan. For… for letting me experience love.”

“Rose!!!”

“Please, take care of Ruby……”

And with that, she breathed her last.

.

.

.

【Warning.】

【The individuals – <Ruby Red(S+)> and <Dallan Esteban(SS+)> turn away from and deny the despair they face once more.】

【Warning.】

【The <Seed of Attachment> inherent in <Ruby Red(S+)> is blooming.】

“It’s all because of me…”

【Warning.】

【The <Seed of Attachment> inherent in <Dallan Esteban(SS+)> is blooming.】

“I’ll, fol, low… right after.”

【Warning.】

【Directionless anger and sorrow strike directly at <You>.】

Nahan looked at the numerous crimson warning windows that had appeared and recalled Rose’s words.

-Some things only have meaning when you face them directly and learn from experience.

-So, please… scold me so that I can face sorrow and pain without avoiding them.

So,

“I’ll scold you until you snap out of it.”

【Activating <Black Curtain>.】

【Output – [30%]】