If You’re a Friend

Aria’s fist slammed into my face. As if that wasn’t enough, she swung and struck my face again. My lip split, and blood flowed from my nose, but I didn’t dodge Aria’s fists. Lakar and Kane rushed over, grabbed Aria, and pulled her away from me.

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,Ugh… Ugh…! Ughaaaaa…!!!,

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As I moved further away, Aria, not giving up, swung her fists and howled like a beast. Seeing this, I realized Aria’s ego had fully awakened and gave a bitter smile. There was no longer any reason for me to be here. I stood up and silently left the clubroom.

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A lot of time had passed since winter break, but spring still hadn’t come. I could feel the blood flowing down my face hardening in the cold wind. Hearing hurried footsteps behind me, I, walking across the campus, slowly turned around. Kane, out of breath as if he had run in a hurry, opened his mouth.

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,…Ross.,

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,Yeah.,

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,Really… are you Lily? The Lily who killed Aria’s parents… is that you?,

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,…Yeah, that’s right.,

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Kane was silent for a moment. Seeing him clench his fists, I thought he might punch me in the face as Aria’s boyfriend. I planned to just take it. If it would help them even a little.

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But, contrary to my expectations, Kane made a different choice.

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,Explain it to me.,

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,…What.,

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,I don’t think the club president would do something like that for no reason. So don’t hide anything from me and tell me the truth.,

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Kane looked straight at me. Seeing the look in his eyes that still considered me a friend, something hot welled up from my chest to my heart. Unable to hold back, I raised my head and looked up at the night sky. A white sigh escaped my lips and faded away faintly. The hesitation wasn’t long. Kane was the only person who could save Aria.

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,…If Aria could die, what could you do?,

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I knew the answer even before asking. Kane and I were friends who had a lot in common. So Kane’s actions would be similar to mine.

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,Anything, isn’t there anything I can’t do?,

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I lowered my head and looked straight at Kane. And I said quietly.

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,Aria is a Homunculus.,

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,What?,

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,Aria’s parents made the dead Aria into a Homunculus with the help of the cult. They wanted to save Aria no matter what.,

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What impact would Aria being a Homunculus have on Kane? I don’t know since I’m not Kane. But even if Luna was a Homunculus, my feelings wouldn’t have changed. It seemed to be the same for Kane. He was taken aback that Aria was a Homunculus, but

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,So you killed Aria’s parents?,

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,Aria’s parents lured travelers, murdered them, and used their life force to keep Aria alive. I stopped that.,

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Kane ran a hand over his face. He didn’t know how to react to the cold truth. After a moment of silence, Kane slowly opened his mouth.

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,…You should have just told Aria the truth.,

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I gave a bitter smile at that stupid mumbling.

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,The truth that you’re a Homunculus? That the reason your parents died was because they took the lives of others to save you? Do you think that’s a way to save Aria, who’s becoming a doll? No, Aria would never have been able to handle it.,

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,But… Aria is misunderstanding. You, who she thought was a precious friend… she’ll think of you as an enemy from now on. She’ll never forgive you… Was there really no better way?,

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I don’t know. I just did the best I could. I just thought it would be better to live hating others than hating your own existence. Even if Aria hated me for the rest of her life, I just wanted Aria to live like that. She’s always been a bright friend to me, and like a younger sister I need to take care of.

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,You said you’d do anything for Aria. So just leave it alone. If Aria can live by hating me… just let it be.,

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At my words, Kane smiled sadly with a face full of tears.

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,…But you’re a precious friend to me too.,

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,That’s why it’s okay. Because we’re friends.,

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Silence flowed. I approached Kane, who was quietly shedding tears, put my hand on his shoulder, and smiled.

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,The reason I told you the secret I was trying to hide from everyone is not only because you’re Aria’s boyfriend… but because there’s something only you can do.,

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Kane, taking a moment to catch his breath, barely spoke.

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,…What is it?,

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,Collect the scattered pieces of the Emerald Tablet. If it’s alchemy that’s closely related to Homunculi, you’ll definitely be able to find a way for Aria to keep living.,

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Kane’s eyes widened as he looked at me. After trembling his lips for a moment, Kane wiped away his tears and said with a determined expression.

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,…Okay, I definitely will. I’ll save Aria no matter what.,

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I patted Kane’s shoulder. And I turned around. Kane is a friend I can trust. He’ll definitely find the pieces of the Emerald Tablet scattered across the continent and save Aria. So I can trust him and leave it to him.

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Suddenly, the moment I killed Aria’s parents flashed through my mind. Seeing me wearing a mask, Aria’s parents, realizing what I had decided, left me with these last words.

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,If you’re still friends with Aria… I’m sorry, but please take care of Aria. She’s a really good kid.,

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Did I keep that will today? Or did I drop Aria’s life into hell with my own greed? I couldn’t know. I still don’t know the answer. All stories, you can only know the answer at the end. I just did what I thought was the answer.

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I took a step. Kane’s shout came from behind me as I disappeared into the darkness.

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,…Thank you. Ross, thank you so much!!! I still think that becoming friends with you is the luckiest thing in my life. So, so… don’t get hurt, don’t get sick… and keep going! You’ll always be my friend.,

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I was glad that my expression wasn’t visible because I had my back to Kane. I left the academy without saying anything, swallowed the endlessly flowing tears, and headed into the dark alley.

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***

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With Bella’s help, Rosalyn, who was able to use the alchemy lab inside the Imperial Palace, was spending most of her time there these days. Today, as she was preparing to test a new reagent, someone suddenly opened the door and came inside.

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,To dare enter the lab without knocking!,

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Rosalyn, angry that the first person to visit the lab that no one had ever visited was an uninvited guest, rose from her chair with her chest heaving and checked the face of the uninvited guest.

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,…El, Ellie?,

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Rosalyn, flustered by her face full of cold sweat and her precarious appearance as if she was about to collapse at any moment, quickly ran over and supported Ellie. As she recalled the combination of potions that had a pain-relieving effect in her head at her very painful appearance, Rosalyn came to her senses at Ellie’s voice.

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,…Sister, give me some medicine.,

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,Oh, where does it hurt?,

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At the sight of Ellie, who couldn’t answer and sat down on the floor, Rosalyn was horrified and immediately laid Ellie down on a nearby sofa. And as Rosalyn checked Ellie’s condition using her cane, she was so surprised that she almost dropped the cane from her hand.

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,You, you… that thing inside your body….,

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Rosalyn was even more surprised that Ellie hadn’t lost consciousness yet. It must have been a tremendous pain. No, the tremendous pain must be continuing. Because the thing inside Ellie’s body is still endlessly tearing away at her flesh.

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,I’m, I’m okay… just a medicine to make me forget the pain….,

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,This isn’t a problem that can be solved with painkillers! You’re being eaten alive by a bug eating your insides right now!,

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It’s not just the intestines. Ellie didn’t have the organs that a woman should have. This is an injury that can’t be treated with potions. Because there was no flesh itself that could grow. Ellie gave a difficult smile to Rosalyn, who was at a loss at that fact.

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,…I know. Because I, I did it.,

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,What…?,

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,It was necessary. So, it’s okay….,

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Rosalyn was furious at Ellie’s words, but seeing that she was having a hard time, Rosalyn decided to make a potion first. Rosalyn, who made a potion that eliminated the pain by pouring in the ingredients without sparing them, immediately put it in Ellie’s mouth. Ellie, who slowly took it, soon forgot the pain and breathed comfortably.

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,What the hell… what happened to you? Does Roel know?,

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At Rosalyn’s question, Ellie slowly shook her head.

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,…No. Please keep it a secret from Roel *Oppa*. Please.,

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,How can I keep this a secret? This isn’t a problem that can be solved unless you get that bug out of your body right now!,

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Ellie gave a bitter smile to Rosalyn, who was angry.

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,I can’t take this out. Because if the bug dies, I’ll die too. I share my life with it.,

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,…What?,

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,It’s because of a curse. It’s okay. I’ll keep regenerating my intestines with magic power so I won’t die.,

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Rosalyn said with a stiff face to Ellie, who was giving a bitter smile.

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,That means you have to feel the pain of your intestines being torn apart until you die…,

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,So, can you make a lot of potions? Hehe.,

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Ellie smiled slightly at Rosalyn, who was beyond bewildered and dumbfounded.

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,…A month is enough.,