Chapter 28: The End of Obsession (3)

[28] 4. The End of Obsession (3)

Despite having lived for five years being blind, I still wasn’t used to the darkness.

That was because those five years had been anything but easy.

All sorts of things came at me in the darkness, and only a few were warm.

It was as if I was trapped in a thicket of thorns during winter.

But to survive, I had to reach out. I had to constantly bargain with the world, trying to trade an inch of flesh for a single crumb of bread.

And whenever I did manage to get a bite to eat, it was always a moonless night.

But sleep wouldn’t come.

Hunger, pain, depression, loneliness.

They took root in my flesh, taking advantage of the night’s silence. In winter, they reached my bones.

I would toss and turn in my tattered clothes as if I were struggling. And then, I would force myself to dive into memories.

The time I spent playing with Amy, and the days I was Clara’s servant.

I would count those sparkling memories like stars.

Only then would I be able to fall asleep. At least, I could be happy when I was asleep.

“Rem, are you awake?”

That’s why, when I heard Clara’s voice, I felt more relief than surprise. I thought it was just a dream.

But the distinct scent of lavender that wafted into my nose, and the clear sound that brushed past my clothes… They pulled me back to reality.

Clara was really here, in front of me.

I instinctively raised my head and opened my mouth,

“____!”

But all that came out was a sound like an animal gurgling.

Confused, I reached up to touch my throat, but what I felt wasn’t the coldness of my bronze fingers.

It was the warmth of a blunt wrist spreading along my neck. And then I felt emptiness below my thighs.

All my prosthetics were gone.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it, it’s for the ritual.”

Unable to hide my bewilderment, I turned my head towards Clara’s voice.

And then, I froze at another sound reaching my ears.

“I…”

The sound of someone desperately trying to hold back tears.

Clara tried to force herself to continue speaking.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cry… It’s just…”

But eventually, sobs choked out her words. Her sniffles tickled my ears.

Unable to contain the emotions welling up in my throat, I unconsciously reached out towards her.

“…!”

But a hard, smooth wall stopped my wrist. I tried to move my leg and felt something hard against my thigh as well.

“…It’s a specially made glass tube. I couldn’t let you escape. At least not until the ritual is over.”

I turned to look towards Clara’s voice again. I could hear her approaching.

Then came her voice, still choked with tears.

“Even listening to my voice must disgust you, but I hope you’ll listen to what I have to say.”

An indescribable desperation filled her voice. That desperation constricted my body.

I quietly listened to her words.

“Rem… My revenge is over.”

I could hear the sound of Clara’s hand sliding across the glass tube.

“I found those who beat you before taking your eyes and cut off their wrists. I gouged out the eyes of the inquisitors who took your eyes and chopped off their heads.”

“And Ivan… he’s still alive, hanging from the roof of this Crystal Palace, his entrails being pecked at by crows.”

“I found everyone who spilled your blood and made them pay.”

By now, the sobs had subsided from Clara’s voice. In its place was a cold, hardened anger.

It was an emotion I’d never imagined would come from the mischievous girl I knew.

But it was short-lived.

“…Except for one.”

Clara’s hardened voice broke. It was the voice of the girl I knew, spoiled and fragile.

But instead of familiarity, I felt indescribable unease.

“The girl who, like an idiot, trusted Ivan and confessed everything,”

“The idiot who was lost in happy daydreams until the moment you were dragged away to the execution grounds,”

“The fool who was blinded by revenge until you became… like that.”

Clara’s words piled up on top of me, turning the unease that bloomed in my chest into a concrete reality.

“…Me.”

A self-deprecating laugh flowed into my ears.

“Of course, even that won’t take long.”

I immediately knew what she meant. I tried to bang on the glass wall, to scream at her that she was wrong.

“____!”

But all that came out of my mouth was an incomprehensible cry.

And to anyone looking, it could even seem like it was a cry of rage.

Clara’s voice trembled.

“…I understand your anger. I knew it, and yet, I still tried to deceive you, who had lost your memories.”

No, damn it, That’s not it!

I shook my head violently.

I scribbled “No” on the glass wall with my blunt wrists, over and over again.

But it didn’t reach her.

“Even now, I’m afraid of your hatred, and I’ve blindfolded myself. I’m truly a coward, aren’t I?”

She blindfolded herself?

Holy shit, this bitch…!

Clutching my head with my wrists, I desperately wracked my brain.

How was I supposed to communicate with this stupid woman, who not only took away my voice output device, but even blindfolded herself.

But without my prosthetics, I was utterly powerless, and Clara’s words didn’t stop.

“But please, listen for a bit longer, Rem. My death won’t end with simply plunging a dagger into my throat.”

What?

My racing mind came to a halt.

And in the silence, ominous imaginations crept in.

“When I was reunited with you, when I saw your body, stitched together with metal and magic, I realized that there was only one thing I could do for you.”

No… Don’t tell me… She wouldn’t go that far…

Clara said with a hint of laughter in her voice,

“Rem, I told you, I belong to you. My tongue, my two hands, my two legs…”

“…Even my heart.”

“Rem, when this is all over, you’ll be able to walk the world with a whole body.”

Limbs that have been missing for a long time can’t be restored with holy magic. Only transplants were possible.

I fully understood what Clara was trying to do.

“_______!”

I screamed, pounding on the glass tube.

My blunt wrists split open, and blood dripped down. I could smell the metallic scent of blood rising from my broken vocal cords, but I didn’t care.

I had to stop her.

But Clara didn’t even allow me that much.

“…!!”

My thrashing body suddenly froze as if it had turned to stone. Even after 13 years, I instantly knew what it was.

It was the holy magic that Bishop Ivan had cast on me back then.

“…I suppose even this isn’t enough. I understand. It’s a grudge that’s been festering for 13 years.”

I could hear the sound of her standing up. Her footsteps and her voice grew distant.

“…I wasn’t expecting to be forgiven anyway. But…”

The sound of a door opening, and her footsteps stopped.

A pitiful voice, filled with tears, reached me.

“…Could you, one day, perhaps smile while thinking of me?”

And then, the cold sound of a door closing echoed in my frozen ears.

***

The moment I took off the bandages covering my eyes, I collapsed.

The Holy Knights, panicked, rushed over to me, but I waved them away.

Then I just buried my face in my hands and wept, pathetically.

I don’t know why I cried.

Was it because I realized that you truly hated me?

Was it because the word ‘death’ was now looming over me?

Or perhaps it was from the relief of finally putting an end to 13 years of revenge and regret.

Either way, my cries didn’t last long. The last page of this story wouldn’t turn by itself, after all.

I stood up and asked the Holy Knights.

“Are the preparations for the ritual complete?”

“…Yes, your Holiness.”

“Good, lead the way.”

The Holy Knights hesitated for a moment, but soon obediently led me to where the ritual would be held.

Ironically, it was the top floor of the highest tower in the Crystal Palace.

Rem, do you still remember? The stories you used to read to me.

Among them was also a story of a knight rescuing a princess trapped in such a high tower.

As I climbed the stairs, I couldn’t help but compare that story to the situation I was in now.

For a moment, I was lost in a happy delusion, where I was the princess, and you were the knight.

But that was really just for a moment.

I’m not a princess. I’m just a cowardly and despicable witch. And you were a prince robbed of what should have been his.

And this was the final chapter of the story.

The ending where the foolish witch, repenting for her sins, throws herself from the top of the tower.

And you, having everything returned to you, will fall in love with a beautiful woman, both in appearance and in heart.

And you will live happily ever after.

Just like the endings of all those fairy tales.

“Your Holiness…?”

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it.”

I wiped away my tears and entered the room that had been prepared.

The room had everything I requested.

The floor and walls were covered with scriptures, there was a silver bowl to hold the transplanted body parts, and most importantly, a sharp dagger.

“Make sure no one enters until the ritual is over.”

“Yes, your will shall be done.”

I picked up the dagger and stood before the silver bowl.

My hands trembled, and I felt breathless, but I pulled myself together. It wasn’t difficult. Just imagining you becoming whole was enough to make my hands steady.

Smiling, I raised the dagger.

The first part I’d return to you was already decided.

Your eyes, which I loved the most.

Wishing for your happiness, I plunged the dagger into my left eye.

***

And not too long before that,

To be more precise, right after the Holy Knights dragged away an unconscious Rem…

The members of the Rose Rem mercenary group were facing news they’d never imagined.

“Huff…! Huff…!”

Rough breathing, as if she had been sprinting.

The mercenaries’ eyes turned to the blue-haired woman who stood at the doorway. It was definitely the woman named ‘Irene’ that Feya had brought here yesterday.

The woman, after catching her breath, said with a pale face,

“Mr. Rem was kidnapped by the Holy Knights…!!”

Being a mercenary was a job where you couldn’t survive unless you were quick on your feet. And the mercenaries of the Rose Rem mercenary group had all been mercenaries for at least five years.

Meaning, the moment they heard those words, they understood the situation.

But what they did, upon understanding the situation, wasn’t to jump up in anger, nor to look away awkwardly.

Instead, they turned to look at a woman sitting in the corner.

The only Derin in the Rose Rem mercenary group, and one of its founding members.

And a crazy bitch who was as meek as a lamb when the Vice-Captain was present, but turned into a tyrant when he was absent.

Feya, the ‘Dwarf Maker.’

The iron cup she had been holding was crushed in her hand with a sickening crunch.

“Everyone! Your Vice-Captain has just been kidnapped, you know? Why are you all just staring blankly…!!”

“You just stood there and watched?”

Irene turned her head at the cold voice and then froze.

Because icy, sky-blue eyes were glaring at her as if they were going to kill.

Feya’s hand rested on Irene’s head.

Irene instinctively realized that the woman before her was about to crush her skull.

Irene’s pupils and legs trembled violently. Her hand reached behind her back.

“I’m asking why you just stood there and watched, you fucking bitch.”

“W-Well…! I, I was so surprised…”

“Tsk-”

Feya clicked her tongue and let go of Irene’s head. Irene immediately collapsed to the ground.

Feya’s cold voice washed over her.

“Where?”

“What?”

“Where did they take him?”

Looking down at Irene with a disdainful expression, Feya drew her sword.

“I’m asking where they took him, so we can go save him.”