Ch.9898. Peach Blossom and Vine (8)

“…do you remember.”

The moonlight hanging in the sky reflects on her face.

“Yes. I remember. Everything. I’m not as dull-witted as you, sister.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“…anything to say.”

“Hah. I don’t know.”

Nothing but a sigh comes out.

Clouds in the sky dimly cover the moon.

“Well… I can understand. Both you and me.”

“…To say we were both young, I…”

“I’m trying to let this go easily. Are you going to be like that?”

“Because it’s my fault.”

To be honest.

I can’t help but say the situation wasn’t good enough to call it my fault.

I’m a villain, Yuri is a magical girl.

Standing at opposite ends, how could we not hurt each other?

“…”

“…”

We couldn’t look at each other, only staring at the quiet night city.

“Where should I begin to untangle this.”

“Is there even a need to untangle it? I gave you… nightmares that can never be washed away.”

“…Nightmares, yes. I still recall those disgusting brainwashing machines and torture devices. When night falls, when my head suddenly goes blank.”

“…”

“That torture machine. Yes, truly a torture machine, literally. How could… someone do that to a person.”

“It was made by a doctor notorious for his cruelty.”

“…I see. Hah.”

“…That’s right.”

“Hah… that bastard doctor. I should have snapped his neck before I left.”

“He’s missing anyway, isn’t he?”

“Missing, yes, but not dead.”

That so-called education machine was a device that “corrected” our, Eden’s “thoughts” if we didn’t think properly.

Literally a correction device.

If the flow of thoughts deviated from our cause for even a moment, we would suffer terrible pain.

“…You remember all of that?”

“Yes. It’s firmly embedded in my head. No, it was made impossible not to be embedded.”

Going into such a machine in a mentally weakened state, there’s no way I could be normal.

…Though I was the one who created that mental weakness too.

“…May I ask one favor?”

“A favor?”

“All those memories, everything I did—please don’t forget them.”

Our gazes, which had been fixed on the night view of the city, crossed.

Of course, being the guilty sinner, I quickly lowered my eyes.

“…Why.”

“…It’s all for my sake.”

For you.

“…It might sound disgusting, but if even you forget.”

If you forget.

“I won’t be forgiven, will I? What does a disgusting villain, a filthy villain, a selfish villain want? Self-satisfaction.”

What becomes of the pain you suffered?

You’re still suffering, aren’t you?

“So.”

So.

“…Yes, please don’t forget. For my disgusting desire.”

Don’t forget.

It’s all my fault. I should accept the consequences.

A sin that cannot be repaid even over a lifetime.

“…That’s how it is.”

The wind blows in, making her hair flutter, obscuring her face.

I don’t look at her face.

I hope she would despise me.

I hope she wouldn’t feel any affection for someone like me.

Because she shouldn’t keep it in her heart.

Because hatred that eats away at oneself… shouldn’t just be accumulated.

Because she needs a place to release it.

To play that role…

After all, the direct perpetrator should bear all of it.

Bear it, even that thought is truly overwhelming.

Bear it.

Who are you? What are you?

What expression is she making?

I hope she would show contempt and hatred that I never want to see again.

Even though we were opponents, the wound I inflicted on her heart was enormous.

“It’s raining.”

“…Yes.”

“After Yunseul, I’ve spent the most time with you, haven’t I?”

“…When you think about it, sis… you have spent more time.”

“Hey. Don’t correct yourself to call me ‘you.'”

“…A nauseating villain doesn’t deserve that right.”

“That’s right. Since you’re a villain without that right, don’t change how you address me.”

“…Yes.”

“Hah. Right. Actually, I’ve seen more of your everyday self.”

“…”

“Elise too. Ha, damn… I still remember it. Saying you were her junior and then… ha, I should smack her when I get home. Anyway. Don’t I know you?”

“…I suppose you do.”

“Right. Sigh… You went to headquarters without me last time. While I was sleeping.”

“…I couldn’t just wake you up, sis.”

“But I know the inside better than Yunseul or Hyewon, don’t I?”

“…I suppose that’s true.”

“Tch. You didn’t clean my room.”

“…Well, apart from briefly investigating to find the cause of betrayal, I didn’t touch anything. The boss ordered it to be closed immediately. No one would have entered after the investigation was complete.”

“…Still, even those nightmares are memories. I wanted to go too.”

“You… can go whenever you want, can’t you?”

“Huh? I can’t. Thanks to someone.”

“…”

She smiled slightly with those words.

Why.

Why do you.

Why are you smiling at me?

How can you treat me so normally?

What did I just say to you?

What did I just say to you?

“Why.”

“You’re simpler than you think. Yunseul seems to be catching on too. Really, you’re so easy except when fighting.”

“No, why…”

“What, why am I not angry?”

“I, I…”

“Well… I can’t say I don’t want to do something to you.”

“Th-then why, why are you acting like this?”

“That’s… well.”

Yuri’s eyes reflect me.

They transparently reflect the utterly hideous darkness.

“Because we were young. We were young back then. You too.”

“…I wasn’t young…”

“No, you were. Have you lived longer than me? No. You just lived that young age multiple times. That’s what I think.”

“That doesn’t erase what I did. And, and…”

“And what? When did I say I forgave you? I won’t forgive you. I’ll get revenge. I’ll have my bloody revenge.”

“…Yes. I’m prepared. Even if I receive back the same pain I gave you… I have nothing to say.”

“Hm? When did I say I would torture you? When did I say I would brainwash you? Did I deliberately push you into extreme situations, force you to comply, and then tamper with your deep consciousness?”

“…”

“You said you’re prepared, right? Yes, your sister will take care of everything. The infamous villainess Bine… must wait in constant anxiety?”

“…Yes, if that’s what you want.”

Yuri’s face, which had been smiling with a frightening expression, lost all its scary aspects and returned to her usual carefree smile.

“Pfft… Why are you so tense? You seem to be very aware of what you did to me?”

“…Yes.”

“But, to tell me to take it all out on you? To avenge everything I suffered on you? Are you serious?”

“That’s the only way, sis.”

“You think if I get revenge on you, electrocute you like I’m going to kill you, incapacitate you and beat you, those nightmares will get better?”

“…Originally, all of that.”

“Ha, really. You’re the dull one. Who was always insulting me for being dull-witted at Eden?”

“…No, isn’t it obvious? Those negative things, when you can clear them away—”

“Stop. The method of clearing them is wrong. How could I… do that to you… how could I… to you…”

“…Don’t you hate me?”

“I do hate you.”

“Then… isn’t it better to eliminate the cause when you can? Isn’t it simple? Just find and eliminate the ultimate cause that made you like this.”

“That hatred. It can’t be cleared away with violence.”

“The cause of your pain is right in front of you. You… can do it, can’t you? Now… I’m even wearing the necklace. So why…”

“Is the situation now the same as back then? Besides, I have my own ways to torment you. When did I… hoo.”

“…”

“Our Bine’s good days are over. Not much of your old self remains. The same goes for me, though.”

Yuri placed her hand on my black hair.

“Violence can’t clear away such things. Violence can’t. Do you think I haven’t tried?”

“…”

“You know very well what I did first after I was released from my corrupted state.”

“…The mid-level executives.”

“Especially those who were harsh to me. Focusing on them.”

After Yuri returned to the magical girls’ side, she appeared at every scene.

Almost as if she was dedicated solely to Eden.

When it came to Eden, she would travel everywhere without considering national boundaries.

“I tried everything. Do you think you were the only one who visited that room?”

“I know I wasn’t, but physically, only I…”

“No, they each came to hit me at least once. And do you think they just hit me?”

“But there were no marks…”

“Of course they hid them. Don’t you think they were conscious of you? Do you know how hard they tried to hide it from you?”

“Such…”

“Yes, I took care of all those kids. At least to someone with power like me, they were nothing. You know how they treat you when you lose a bit of power. After I was corrupted, those memories were mysteriously gone, so I didn’t say much, but when I returned from the corrupted state, the memories came back too. I got scolded by the association for being too harsh, but…”

“…They and I are a bit different, aren’t we? I’m… ultimately the one who kidnapped you.”

“Even if we’re different, I don’t think violence will solve it. If anything, it only made me feel empty.”

“…”

Yuri slowly began to stroke my hair.

“I can’t forgive you. Yes, I can’t forgive you. I absolutely can’t forgive you. The day I forgive you will be right before I die. If you’re by my side then, I’ll specially forgive you then. But not now. I’m not forgiving you. Wake up from that dream.”

“…Aren’t your words and actions contradictory?”

“That doesn’t mean I have a reason not to like you, does it?”

“…Isn’t that contradictory?”

“Why? There’s such a thing as love-hate. I think of you, Bine, as a cute little sister I want to hug and pat… while also being the most heinous villain who completely changed my life and whom I hate the most.”

“What kind of…”

“Remember when you first came to our house wearing that necklace? I really didn’t know then. Didn’t I say the nature of the magical power had changed?”

“I did say that…?”

“And then you showed me the necklace. The one I had worn. I thought, Bine is wearing it too. I thought about it tremendously then. Do you think I didn’t think about it?”

“…”

“So, I really, really thought about it for a long time. The conclusion was.”

“Hyat?!”

Yuri, who had been stroking my hair, suddenly lowered her hand to my waist and abruptly hugged me.

“You bad girl. If I make you give me happiness, isn’t that the most perfect way to deal with you?”

“Wh-what are you s-saying…”

“Yes, now I can feel it properly. It’s definitely different. But it’s also different from what I felt then, somehow. Anyway. You’re definitely different.”

Yuri hugged me tighter, squeezing me.

“From now on, you have to give me happiness instead of torture or pain, Miss Bine. You have to try, okay? You say you won’t? Who decides that? I’ll force it out of you if I have to.”

“Wh-what are you…”

“Because I hate you, I’m being forceful. Because I like you, I’m being forceful.”

She buried me in her embrace.

Her embrace was filled with a sweet scent like peach blossoms.