Chap 91-Outside

 

As the scattering iron filings of the thrown dagger entered my vision.

I instinctively twisted my body.

However…

Something faster than a shadow, as if mocking my movements, snatched me by the nape of my neck with accurately .

“Kuh…!”

I couldn’t breathe.

Someone grabbed my neck and lifted me straight into the air.

My feet left the ground, and my vision spun.

Blazing flames.

Crimson flames filled my vision, enveloping the body of the being who gripped me.

Beyond the flames, all I could see was a burning hatred and a destructive impulse.

Hot.

The smell of burning flesh.

My skin melted, and a thrilling sensation of nerves burning.

At the same time, the air that should have entered my lungs was cut off, and a dizzying sensation turned my mind blank.

Pain and suffocation.

Two paths leading to death met and bloomed at a single point.

“Heuh… haa… heut…!”

A vicious and sweet pleasure, as if melting the strings of reason.

“Yeon!”

Bella’s desperate cry cut through the sound of the flames.

Without a moment’s hesitation, she was rushing towards me to save me.

‘No, Bella! Stop!’

I couldn’t even make a sound because my throat was being strangled, and I cried out inwardly.

They… they were not opponents that Bella could handle.

Thwack-

The dull sound was heard so futilely.

Narcission stood there without moving, simply waving his hand lightly.

With that one simple motion, Bella, who had been charging fiercely, floated into the air like a broken doll before crashing to the floor.

“Kuh…!”

Narcission merely glanced at Bella, who was groaning in pain and rolling on the floor, with indifferent eyes as if she were roadside trash.

Then, he spoke to the fiery figure holding me, as if annoyed.

“Stop it, Lagriel. You’ll kill her.”

At those words, the being called Lagriel roughly threw me to the floor.

“Cough…!”

I wanted to deny it.

I wanted to believe that I had misheard, that it was all a mistake.

But the name that came out of Narcission’s mouth was too clear.

Another Calamity-Class Monster.

Lagriel of Wrath.

Two Calamity-Class Monsters moving at once?

No way.

What are the founders of the ducal families doing?

The Evil God… still had the power to move both of them at the same time?

What about the support from the Witches that Emilia promised!

The academy students, the professors…!

No, everyone is in danger.

My mind was a mess.

I had too many thoughts, and my head felt like it was about to explode.

At that very moment.

A sharp hand roughly grabbed my hair.

My scalp was pulled taut as if it were about to tear, and my neck almost snapped from the force pulling me up.

I was forcibly raised to his eye level.

His hot breath covered my face,

And right in front of me, red eyes blazing with hatred pierced me.

“!”

Lagriel growled and whispered.

“If you try that pathetic suicide game again here.”

“I promise you.”

“I will kill every human in this ‘Farm’, including that woman lying over there, in the most painful way imaginable.”

That threat pierced my heart like an awl.

The last hope that had sustained me shattered.

Suicide.

It was the only card I had.

If I died here, the Evil God’s power dwelling within me would scatter again and seek a new seal.

At least I could prevent the worst-case scenario of it falling completely into the hands of the magical beasts.

But…

Lagriel’s cruel promise blocked even that last escape route of mine.

The moment I die, everyone here dies.

Bella, Lina, Clara, Lea.

All the students I struggled to save.

They would die in terrible pain.

To protect the world, I have to kill everyone.

To save everyone, I have to destroy the world.

No matter which I chose, my end was ultimately defeat.

Whichever path I took, only despair awaited at the end.

They were driving me to the edge of a cliff with no escape, forcing me to jump off myself.

[SYSTEM]

Unique Ability ‘Masochist’ is activated.

“…Ha.”

I couldn’t help but burst into a hollow laugh.

My heart was pounding, and a thrilling shiver ran down my spine.

This terrible despair was turning into a dizzying pleasure, as if my brain was melting.

‘Annoying… really.’

My throat tightened.

Tears welled up, but they didn’t flow.

When despair is too deep, even tears dry up, it seemed.

Or maybe I was deprived of the right to cry because of this damn pleasure.

With empty eyes, I looked at Bella, who was collapsed on the floor and groaning.

Until now, it was easy.

I only had to sacrifice myself.

This body doesn’t hurt anyway.

Whether my body is torn apart, or my soul is worn away, it didn’t matter what happened.

But now…

Now, I have to sacrifice someone other than myself.

Will I give up my life to protect the world and let the people in front of me die?

Or will I lead this world to destruction to save the people in front of me?

My head felt like it was about to break.

I couldn’t choose either.

I didn’t want to choose either.

I wish…

I wish someone would decide for me instead.

From this terrible responsibility.

From this terrible choice.

I wish they would just drag me away.

That’s how I had a weak thought for the first time.

『It’s okay.』

A soft and gentle voice heard from somewhere.

Words that were dangerously warm, whispering in my ear.

『Just do as they say.』

At those words, I snorted-

I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

‘…Pathetic.’

Was I such a pathetic human being that I was trying to rely on an unidentified voice ringing in my head?

But strangely, the moment I heard that voice, I felt like the fog that had filled my mind was clearing.

My fluctuating heart calmed down, and with it, a method came to mind.

I called out to Bella, who was groaning with difficulty.

“…Bella.”

“…Yeon?”

She endured the pain and looked up at me with difficulty.

She had a face that seemed to say, what nonsense are you talking about in this situation?

I smiled faintly and said.

“That thing from when we first met… I haven’t canceled it yet.”

[Oath of Death]

Vower: Yeon Bennet → Bella Staren

Effect: Yeon Bennet’s life is entirely under the authority of Bella Staren.

If Bella Staren wishes, she can immediately extinguish Yeon Bennet’s life.

Authority to revoke the oath: Bella Staren

A little time is all I need.

Just until the people here are safe.

After that…

Bella’s eyes shook as if there was an earthquake.

“No… I don’t want to! What are you thinking! I can’t do it!”

Bella shook her head and shouted as if screaming, but I turned away from her.

And I declared calmly to Narcission and Lagriel.

“I’ll do as you want.”

‘Even if I arrive in the Domain of the Evil God, it’s okay. All you’ll get your hands on is my cold, dead body.’

…

“I’ll do as you want.”

The moment those words fell—

Narcission’s mouth stiffened.

“…What?”

He was speechless for a moment, then muttered in a low voice as if dumbfounded.

“…Unbelievable.”

This easily?

Just to save those insignificant humans, she’s willingly handing herself over to us?

Narcission sneered at Yeon.

The entity that had troubled us for so long was just this stupid.

A foolish mortal who couldn’t see the big picture because she was swayed by emotions.

“That’s why she was able to seal that power and still be okay.”

Lagriel growled beside him.

Narcission couldn’t understand those words.

That low-level and inefficient way of thinking of sacrificing oneself to save others.

A vermin-like emotion that could never exist in a perfect being like himself.

“…Incomprehensible.”

He looked down with contempt at the foolish girl who had chosen the path of self-destruction.

“You take that bitch first. I still have things to do.”

Lagriel growled.

“You know the plan, right?”

‘That ridiculous plan.’

Narcission clicked his tongue inwardly.

The victory or defeat had already been decided, so he couldn’t understand why they were doing such troublesome things because they were afraid.

But it was the order of the Great One.

Narcission nodded in response and approached Yeon.

Without saying a word, he roughly grabbed Yeon’s arm and began to drag her towards the gate.

Silence fell.

The battle cries, screams, and magical explosions that had continued until just now disappeared as if everyone had planned it.

A forest as silent as death.

Only the sound of two people’s footsteps echoed quietly over the muddy ground mixed with blood and dirt.

Throughout being dragged like a doll, Yeon never resisted once.

Finally, they arrived.

In front of the rift where a crimson vortex split the sky.

Without hesitation, Narcission stepped into it.

This was no longer a physical world.

Chaos where reason, time, and space were meaningless.

A unique domain where only will and evil existed.

A distorted world where crimson nebulae flowed in the black sky, and even the laws of gravity were arbitrary.

This terrible space where a mortal would not be able to endure even for a moment and their mind would collapse.

But for Narcission, this was the most comfortable sanctuary.

Familiar, perfect, and inviolable—

‘…….’

That’s how it should have been…?

At that moment, goosebumps rose all over Narcission’s body.

A strange energy.

In this chaotic domain that was like a part of himself, he felt something impure that should never exist.

A dirty feeling, as if a disgusting bug had invaded the sanctuary that should have been comfortable.

Narcission, filled with anger, turned his head sharply.

And there…

Snow-white hair.

Eyes as clear and deep as sapphires.

It was a young girl.

The girl was standing there calmly as if she had been there from the beginning, holding Yeon’s hand tightly, who had been dragged along without resistance.

Narcission narrowed his eyes and glared at her.

And—

Their eyes met.

In that fleeting moment.

The absolute self-assurance that had sustained his existence crumbled like a sandcastle.

The girl’s eyes contained neither awe nor fear.

Just indifference and a depth like an abyss, as if a great being was looking down at a small stone at its feet.

Before those eyes, his arrogance was no longer the power that ruled the world.

It was just a child’s petty stubbornness.

Heh-

A naive yet cruel smile bloomed on the young girl’s lips.

Her clear and youthful voice echoed through the chaotic space.

“This isn’t Terra, is it?”

The Witch of Destruction said with a smile.

Author’s words:

Saturday update… success…?