episode_0111

The wall of dead trees cracks and the heterogeneous landscape they had hidden is revealed.

Contrary to the saying that no one lives in the western part of the empire, everything has died and has lost its color and is devastated.

Even to describe the scene unfolding before my eyes as a spectacular sight would not be enough.

A high cliff overlooking colorful and charming villages, as if another world were unfolding.

And the endless horizon, and the sun across the horizon. And the song of the beautiful stars shining brightly in the sky.

It was a scene that would have caught anyone’s attention, but for the women who were rekindled with new hope, something more important remained.

“Captain’s… energy…!”

“….Venice! I can feel the magic of Venice…!”

“Smell… Master’s smell…!”

The energy, magic, and smell that I miss and try to recall every day.

And because I felt a warmth that I couldn’t hide at the edge of that cliff.

They ran. Have you ever been so desperate and ran with all your might in your life?

The heart that had stopped starts beating again. After he left, their hearts stopped.

The heart recognized the presence of the person who would make it burn, and began to beat like crazy.

In front. A little boy standing on the edge of a cliff.

It was different from the leader. It was a little different from Venice. It was… different from the master.

However, as soon as you look at him, as soon as you look at that small back, the tears that fall are filled with the hope that you will be able to see the loved one you had to let go again.

These were not the negative tears of sadness, anger, self-blame, and hatred that I shed every day. Tears flow from endless joy and happiness that a new opportunity has come once again.

Finally. The place where the light they thought they had lost resides. I stopped in front of him and screamed.

“I finally found it… my leader…!”

“Venice…! I’m here…!”

“Owner…! The smell of the master…!”

Could it be that their tear-soaked voices reached me? The black-haired boy stopped at the edge of the cliff and slowly began to look back.

Black hair darker than the night sky. And red eyes that seem to be filled with blood. That face still looks young.

It was certain. Although it was a little different from the ‘Venice’ they had seen. The boy in front of him was clearly his leader, butler, and master.

“Sweet….Blind…?”

“Venice…”

“Master….”

however. They couldn’t laugh. As they faced the light that had disappeared again, their expressions became distorted and they became filled with anxiety.

“Uh…how…here…”

Because their light was broken, as if it was about to go out. The boy’s face was so empty.

Lifeless eyes, as if there wasn’t even a shred of hope left. The marks left behind by countless tears.

And the sight of him standing precariously at the edge of the cliff was not normal, no matter who saw it.

They were desperate. The expression made by the love before their eyes was the same as their own appearance when they looked in the mirror every day and decided to die.

“Seri…S…Eriel…Carly…”

My heart was pounding like crazy when I looked at the faces of the girls asking their names in vain and heard that childish voice calling their names, but at the same time, my heart felt like it was going to stop at any moment.

“How did you come to this place…?”

His voice trembles. And still, empty eyes without a single ray of light. As he stood at the edge of the cliff, as if he had lost all hope, and seemed like he was going to jump off at any moment, the women were unable to do anything even though they were shedding tears.

“Chief. Calm down a little… and come this way…!”

“Yes, Venice…! It’s too dangerous there. Come here quickly…!”

“Master… no. Come here quickly…!”

Venice was in agony. What they call themselves. Leader, butler, and master.

I entered a fake body that seemed infinitely real and pretended to be its owner. Is it okay to hear a name like that?

Could it be that I deceived them? Wasn’t the reason they suffered because of me?

“…That… wasn’t me. The Venice you saw was not me, but my alter ego.”

Venice told the truth. What you saw was not me, it was just my alter ego.

It was just a fake I created, and I lived only for myself. He spoke frankly.

In fact, if there is a main body that summoned an alter ego, shouldn’t the alter ego be the same as the main body? Even though he had the ability to be a ‘simulator’, why was his height, personality, and abilities all different?

It was strange from the beginning. This isn’t an alter ego… Isn’t this the same as possession?

Could it be that I… intruded into someone’s life, a peaceful life, and ruined everything? Was I not an uninvited guest?

I agonized over it every night and thought about it again and again. Looking at the means of escaping reality right before my eyes, I couldn’t shake it off.

That’s why he can’t live because he feels guilty about ruining someone’s life and because of anxiety about reality. Venice speaks.

Tears flow from empty red eyes.

You always gave us a bright smile and warmth. You who saved us…

Why couldn’t he save himself?

“So… I’m sorry… Forget me and just…”

“….No! How… how could that be possible…!”

Looking at Venice’s trembling body. Cerise cut him off and shouted.

“What difference does it make if I say that the leader I saw… was an alter ego and a fake?! That you saved my life, that warm energy was real-!”

I remember the day you first came by my side. The one who gave me his hand. And I remember everything, including the things that always supported me reliably.

“… To me… Hmm… It doesn’t matter whether the leader was real or fake! Just… just stay by my side… please…!”

“Seri…s…”

As she looked at Seris, who was shaking her shoulders and sobbing, Venice’s eyes began to shake.

…Is it okay for me to be alive? How should I apologize for everything I ruined?

“But… I’m alive…”

“What do you mean…!! I still… remember that smile you sent me, that voice…”

I remember the day you saved me. The smile you made, that warm voice. I remember everything, even your footsteps.

“Ugh… So please… please live… Now… we can finally meet again…”

“Eriel…”

Venice looks down at her hands. Really… is it okay for me to be alive?

But… someone next to me was sure to die. Just being alive would be a curse.

“…No… If I’m alive… If you come near me, you’ll get hurt too…!”

Venice sobbed and spoke in a trembling voice. Angels by my side. Even they left because of me.

If you are by my side, you will definitely be like that.

…Why did you, who is kinder and gentler than anyone else in the world, have to go through something like that?

When they heard the story of Venice, which they had never known before, they broke down. Because the light that saved everything was so sad.

Because I felt so pitiful that I had no choice but to live only looking at the darkness and not looking at the light.

Venice speaks slowly, sobbing, her voice hoarse from screaming.

“I… shouldn’t be alive…”

“Where is such a thing-!!!!”

“…………!”

“You… saved my life…! You showed me the way when I lost myself and didn’t know where to go…!”

The moment when even I gave up on ‘me’. I remember all your actions in my hellish life. I remember that warm and charming smile, and the warmth of the hand that stroked my hair.

“Please… help me… Ugh…! I can’t live without you anymore… Please… Master…!”

“Carl….Lee…”

The women who were obviously hurt by me and my actions want me. I hope I live and not die.

Because those hot tears and the earnest voice shouting at me made me so sick.

“J…I….ugh…”

-Is it okay to live…?

Venice wandered. Is it okay for me to be alive? Isn’t this an act of trampling on their hearts again?

Could it be that they… are getting hurt because of me? Is it okay for me, who was only a facade, to stand next to you who shine so brightly?

Looking at Venice holding her head and suffering. The three women’s eyes begin to burn.

Although the tears did not stop flowing, even cold tears could not forge that will.

“You… gave me strength and saved me…! Please live…. Captain!!!”

I will give the same warmth called hope to you, who helped me achieve my goal and made me realize that there is hope.

“You…saved me from being a monster…! No one deserves to die!! Especially if it’s you…!”

I will give you the will to live, who saved me when everyone called me an emotionless monster, and gave me the will to live.

“There is no reason for you, who guided me who was lost and saved everything, to die… Master!!!”

I will give you a reason to live, to you who warmly embraced me as I wandered and gave me a reason to live.

Their will turns to Venice. My heart, which I thought had cooled down, starts beating again.

Will is instilled again into a life that has been abandoned. Once again… I want to live.

“Everyone…”

Venice sobbed as she listened to the voices of those shouting at her.

The body of Venice, which had been turned towards the cliff, turns towards them. And then one step at a time. Start moving slowly.

“…Am I… okay…?”

Do I deserve another chance? Is it okay to live? Venice asked.

A small smile begins to appear on Venice’s tearful and always downcast face.

“….of course! So come here….!”

“Okay…! Because I will definitely make you happy…!”

“I will give back everything I received from you…!”

Life begins to shine again in Venice’s eyes. Venice limped and started running towards them.

They also started running to Venice, shedding happy tears.

Breaking up, breaking up!

[Ah, oh my. I guess the tearful reunion will have to end here, right?]

But that moment, when everyone let down their guard and cried and laughed. As the world begins to distort, a familiar voice begins to be heard.

Kwajik….Kwajangchang-!

The world is broken. Like a mirror breaking that reflects this beautiful, small town, a crack appears.

“Uh….?”

Venice looks blankly at the reality that has begun to break down behind her.

The scenery of a beautiful village falling apart and disappearing, one’s own house, and the library.

Venice, looking at the beautiful scenery of the cliffs fading away as they turn black, mutters softly as she looks at the blue window that appears before her eyes.

“Status….window?”

[yes! It’s me! Your status window!]

The status window, which I thought was broken, suddenly starts to appear as normal. The lively voice that I have always heard is also heard.

“….Captain! Come here! This is something strange-!”

“Holy shit…! Venice! Hurry and run!!!”

“Captain!!! Get out of there right now!!!!”

The blue window is clearly visible to their eyes. The cause that allowed me to see Venice, and a window of unknown identity.

As it suddenly appears before my eyes and the world collapses, my anxiety begins to build up to an extreme level.

[And now there is no need to hide it.]

The blue status window gradually begins to change to red. The lively voice that was like that of a girl turns into a bizarre voice that seems to be a mixture of all the voices in the world.

[I waited a long time just for this moment. Isn’t that right, ‘a human from another world’?]

Kwasik-!

“Kuh…Kuheook…!”

A huge red chain began to emerge from the gap in the broken dimension, binding Venice’s entire body.

“Captain-!!!!”

“Let go of that…! You fucking bastard!!!”

“This bastard…!”

[Tsk…Khahahaha-! okay…! That’s what I wanted!!!]

The sounds of laughter so malicious and grotesque that their expressions rotted seemed to echo throughout the sky.

However, their expressions were colored with astonishment.

The cliff of the small village where they were standing. The appearance of the place was broken and destroyed, and soon changed into the appearance of the inside of an old castle.

A throne on a black background, as if everything had been painted with blood.

And above that are huge eyes that make you feel like you’re going crazy just by looking at them.

Next to those eyes, the chains that bound Venice turned into a small birdcage, and Venice looked down at them blankly, trapped inside the cage.

[….Now it is time to face the end. The strongest people in this world.]

-Those who will become my subordinates.