episode_0076

The two men clashed, aiming to kill each other.

The man with black hair emitted blue flames from his body, spewing fire towards the white-haired man.

Burning the man’s body, intense blue flames blazed fiercely.

Silia couldn’t bear to look at those flames.

Knowing why he was acting that way, she couldn’t bring herself to watch him.

“It’s… because of me.”

To protect someone like her, he faced an unbeatable opponent by burning his own body.

“Why…?”

Why on earth would he go to such lengths to protect me?

It hasn’t been that long since we met, and I’ve just been complaining and nagging at you all this time.

Why are you becoming like this…!

-Thunk!

A red spear made of blood pierced through the black-haired man’s side.

Blood started pouring from his left side.

“Argh!”

More blood sprayed from his mouth.

During Bern’s momentary pause, Abraham seized the opportunity and launched a follow-up attack.

-Crunch!

“···!!!”

A dreadful sound echoed in their ears.

Even facing injuries that seemed dizzying just to look at, he did not fall.

He adjusted his stance, stood up again.

“Your movements are getting slower, Bern. Surely you don’t intend to end it here?”

“Argh!! …Huff…. Huff… Not yet. I can’t end it like this. Until I kill you, who inflicted wounds that won’t fade from Silia… I cannot die.”

“…You possess a mental strength that is hardly human. Typically, in the face of the fear of death, suppressed instincts tend to surface.”

“Let’s go again.”

-Swish!

Despite being the most wounded and struggling.

Why… why do you not give up?

He is like a dying ember.

A weak, feeble little ember standing against the strong cold that even extinguishes the hot flames.

I want to go hold the fading flame warmly.

As if, like back then… I want to embrace warmly.

I want to receive a warm embrace from him.

“So, Bern… I’m fine, so····.”

Please, stop.

It’s okay to stop.

I’m fine, so please don’t push yourself further.

I wanted to say that, but the words wouldn’t come out easily.

Because I was afraid he might really leave me.

Because his actions might become meaningless.

I didn’t say it.

No, I didn’t.

I was afraid of being alone again.

So, until Bern reached that point, I couldn’t do anything.

Because I am a cowardly woman.

The warmth I regained was too cozy.

Too warm, I didn’t want to let it go.

I am truly a despicable woman.

Even though there is someone fighting for me, because of my selfish desires.

I made him more endangered, causing him more pain.

I resent and disgust myself for this.

Although I vowed not to repeat the same mistake, I am repeating it once again.

Instead of thanking him, every time we met, I glared and complained needlessly.

Of course, I didn’t do it because I wanted to.

When standing beside him, those behaviors unconsciously surfaced.

Truly regrettable.

If only I had the strength, the courage.

He wouldn’t have had to suffer.

I could have conveyed my gratitude to him.

But I lack the courage to express gratitude and the strength to overcome this situation.

Helplessly, I can only watch him tragically collapse.

“….”

I hate myself like this.

“……”

Feeling a hot sensation flowing down my cheeks, I closed my eyes as they grew cloudy.

Lacking the confidence to face what lay ahead, I cowardly fled.

Though I yearned to live under the light more than anyone else, I kept avoiding it.

Terrified of the overly bright light, I ran into the endless darkness, evading reality.

This is the result.

A foolish vampire who can’t even protect one person who considers me a friend.

-Swish!

-Crackle!

-Rumble!

Even now, Bern is fighting for his life, but I am powerless.

My limbs feel heavy, and the overwhelming pain threatens to make me lose consciousness.

I’m truly selfish.

Bern is suffering more than I am.

“What am I even doing?”

While Bern fights desperately alone, what am I, a useless woman…!

Get up, even if you can’t move. You have to move.

If you can’t run, then walk.

If you can’t walk, then crawl.

Somehow, you have to get through to that guy.

Even if my body gives out, I won’t let him die.

It doesn’t matter if my limbs are numb.

Just once.

Yes, just once.

No, even if this is the last time.

I want to protect him.

I hope Bern stops hurting.

So, even if I can’t give him a warm hug.

I want to save Bern.

“So, I’ll admit it. I’m you. Now, whether I’m a vampire or human doesn’t matter. I’ll do anything to save Bern.”

And so, I lost consciousness.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself falling into pitch-black darkness.

….

Silia walked down a path where nothing was visible.

In the endless darkness, she walked in search of a single ray of light.

To reclaim the denied reality, the person who had given her warm embraces.

To protect the soul’s only covenant in this world.

She moved forward.

How far did she go?

In the deep darkness, she could see a faint star.

The tiny star faintly glowed like a feeble ember.

The star emitting a feeble light looked so lonely and desolate.

She approached that star little by little.

And she could reach the small star.

The small, faintly glowing star was her younger self.

Shedding tears, feeling abandoned, and hurt, her young self was emitting light in the deep darkness.

As she approached the 10-year-old sitting on the ground, shedding tears.

She turned into her 15-year-old self, parted from her family.

Separated from her family, emotionally withering, she became her 18-year-old self.

And she faced the self she had denied.

Unlike her usual self with black hair and eyes, another version of herself with snow-white hair like winter snow and eyes shining ruby red.

That other self, silently watching over her.

『….』

After some time, the other self with white hair looked at her with slightly sad eyes and spoke.

“Is this the ending you desired?”

“No.”

“Why then are you making this choice?”

“That’s…”

“You, your actions are irreversible. The vessel itself may shatter.”

“I know, that’s why I’m doing it.”

“Then you may never see Bern again. Are you still going to do it?”

“You are me. So, you must know what answer I intend to give.”

“Sigh, do as you wish. Here, I’ll give you strength. Take it and do your best.”

“No, that’s not the response I wanted.”

“?”

“Let’s go together, because you are me. Now, I won’t leave you alone. Now, I won’t deny myself anymore.”

『….』

Extending a hand to the self I had denied, I offered a faint smile.

In response, another ‘me’ from when I was ten years old returned the smile lightly and clasped my hand.

….

“Ugh..!!”

Spitting out the blood rising once again onto the ground.

*Gulp!*

Whether due to Abraham’s blood manipulation or simply exhaustion, the regeneration speed had slowed significantly.

Blood continued to flow from the pierced side due to the spear.

The left shoulder was in tatters.

Suffering severe injuries to the chest and right leg, there was no strength left to move.

From the outset, with magic almost depleted, my defeat was already certain.

Having used skills to restore magic and stamina in the dungeon, there were no means left to recover magic.

Since merging with this world, the knife I had been using effectively until now had just been shattered moments ago.

So, all that remained was the flame burning in my right hand, my last weapon.

Yet, calling it a weapon seemed almost embarrassing.

Before long, the flickering blue flame would exhaust its power like a feeble remnant.

Perhaps, this flame would be my end.

But there was nowhere to run.

If I fled here, the vampire offspring in front of me would take Silia away.

That was something I couldn’t allow.

Therefore, even if this flame became my final one.

I would press forward.

With the last of my strength, I squeezed out and ran towards where Abraham was.

Abraham, covered in severe burns all over his body, looked at me and spoke.

“It’s almost sunrise. It’s been a while since I had such an enjoyable time. Though it got a bit heated towards the end, I’m satisfied. Well then, let’s make the last moments comfortable. Farewell, Bern.”

With a sword glowing red with blood in his hand, approaching me, Abraham who had fallen to the ground was blocked by Silia.

Then, wearing the most beautiful smile I had ever seen, she said to me.

“Dilpang-ah, did you wait long?”