Chapter: 223
While Ellensia was eyeing her prey, Lian was busy digging away.
‘I… I’m such trash…’
His thoughts, tangled in a mess, ended up in the gloomy trash can of self-loathing. Having grown up in a world where monogamy was the norm, Lian felt like a total waste for falling in love so easily with every woman who crossed his path.
If any of them had fallen for a guy who was head over heels for every girl around, he would’ve torn himself apart. But since he couldn’t literally tear himself apart, he morosely pondered if distancing himself willingly was the answer.
As Lian dug diligently, a hungry snake, still unsated, slowly slithered up and quickly grabbed its meal.
“Uh…?”
Firm hands gripped his jaw and cheeks, forcing him to meet a pair of gleaming red eyes.
If there had been even a hint of negative feeling about that kiss in Lian’s eyes, maybe the faulty brakes on his emotions would’ve been a little repaired—but unfortunately, all he reflected was confusion and a slight glimmer of hope.
The innocent prey sitting there, unable to escape, was swallowed again by those lips.
*
If the world were to end in three months, what would happen?
If you were to die tomorrow?
All kinds of thoughts.
What would you do if you knew how much time you had left? It’s a question everyone has heard and pondered at least once.
Would you be conscientious, seek love, or seek pleasure? Most would end up doing things they hadn’t done before.
Ellensia rushing toward Lian like a bike with a broken brake going downhill is for that very reason. Since tomorrow didn’t exist for her anymore, she became honest with her desires.
If Lian had pushed her away, she had decided she wouldn’t press any further. Maybe, deep down, she wanted to be outright rejected by Lian, to be hated so she could let go of all her lingering feelings.
But what came back at her were expectant glances and kisses that were gradually becoming more familiar.
“Lian.”
“Uh, w-what? Why?”
“One more time.”
“…!”
She no longer hesitated, laying her desires bare. Lian blushed but didn’t reject her kiss.
Realizing he was in a spirit state while seeing his own son not react sent a strange chill down Lian’s spine. Ellensia, who found satisfaction in kissing, savored that truth.
Lian shivered at the strange sensation.
The two of them walked and kissed, walked and kissed… if someone saw them, they’d probably throw stones at them for being so lovey-dovey.
Their hearts confirmed to each other, the flame between them showed no signs of extinguishing. If they had proper bodies, they might’ve stopped because their mouths would ache, but in spirit form, even a little rest seemed to bring them back to life quickly.
Ellensia felt torn between enjoying Lian’s rapidly swelling lips and feeling frustrated that they went back to normal so soon.
Even though everything around them felt slower, the energy seemed to approach with startling speed. Maybe the rules in this place were all jumbled up, she thought as she quickened her pace.
‘…If I stay with him any longer, I might never let go.’
The more Lian accepted her affections, the greedier she became. To save him, she needed to act quickly before being completely overwhelmed by her desires.
The energy that had felt so distant was starting to grow stronger and more intense. As the end approached, an unsettling fear washed over her.
‘Is it right to follow this energy? What if…it’s a trap? What if it’s not Lian’s power but that of another Outsider?’
She knew she had nothing else she could do but follow the familiar energy that was the only thing she could feel, yet that unease refused to fade away easily.
Suddenly, she felt a firm grip.
“…!”
As though sensing her anxiety, Lian tightened his hold on her hand. Feeling that strong connection brought clarity to Ellensia’s mind. In his gaze, she saw deep affection.
‘…Right, if something happens, I’ll protect him. I’ve prepared for destruction.’
Shaking off her unease, just as she was about to move, Lian lowered his head toward her.
Assuming he would naturally lean down to kiss her since she had matched his gaze, she was taken aback for a moment, yet didn’t reject the bold move as he reached for her.
Their breaths intertwined.
*
After walking for quite a while, they arrived at a bizarre place. It was as if a line had been drawn, with a white space existing in harmony with a black space.
Just one more step would let them escape the dark space and enter the dazzling white one.
Lian and Ellensia stood at the border, gazing into the white expanse. As they inspected the area for strange traps, monsters, or Outsiders, Lian’s eyes widened as he pointed in one direction.
“Hey? Look over there..!”
“…!”
In the midst of the white space stood a holy-looking white door. Its whiteness was so dazzling that if one didn’t look closely, they wouldn’t realize it blended seamlessly into the surrounding space.
‘That’s it!’
Ellensia sensed Lian’s energy radiating from there.
‘If I open that door, we can return to reality!’
Having traveled down the road leading to the Afterlife, she instinctively recognized the purpose of that door.
Lian—he was alive. Unlike her, he hadn’t perished!
A rush of dizzying joy spread throughout her body. Just as she intended to move forward.
Thud!
“…?!”
It was as though an unseen barrier existed between the two spaces, throwing her body back.
“Ellensia..?”
“…!”
Panicking, Ellensia looked toward Lian. He had stepped forward into the white space, gazing back at her with a bewildered expression.
“Ah…”
In that moment, she realized intuitively that her dead self could only go this far.
With a tiny gasp, she glanced at Lian’s hand, which had yet to cross into the white space.
Without a second thought, she let go of his hand. The worry that she might not be able to let him go if she reached the end faded instantly.
“Ellensia? Why? Hurry and come over here!”
Thud!
Lian rushed toward her, trying to cross into the black space to grab her, but it was as if a transparent barrier stopped him, blocking his way. Lian felt around the invisible wall with a startled look on his face.
“What the… Ellensia! Hurry and come over here!”
Lian called for her, urgency evident in his voice, as dark foreboding ran down his spine. Ellensia bit her lip and placed her hand over his resting on the invisible wall.
“I… can’t go.”
“What? But..”
“Lian, the truth is… I’m already dead.”
“…?!”
The unthinkable words froze Lian in place. Ellensia gazed intently at his face, as if trying to engrave it in her memory, before slowly continuing.
After Lian left, she recounted the decisions she had made, and how everything turned out, speaking almost monotonously about having simply followed his voice without thinking.
As her story neared its end, Lian’s face twisted in despair. Facing the death of someone precious, without any powers or the flesh of a god, was far too cruel for him.
“No, we can’t. Let’s go together.”
“We can’t. Lian, you’re… still alive.”
“No, I’ve died countless times. I’ve been reborn. Yes, that’s it. Let’s go… let’s ask the god of the world I lived in. They’ll surely revive me. There might be some strange conditions, but… I’m sure, I’m sure I can live!”
Lian shouted with a voice trembling pathetically, trying to hold onto her hand, but the transparent curtain still held him back.
“I’ll do whatever it takes, so trust me!”
“Thank you for saying that.”
“What…?”
As Lian’s voice became increasingly desperate, Ellensia found comfort in her heart. She had thought that at the end of this road lay only her own despair… but it wasn’t. Just as deeply as she felt an unreachable despair, he was also suffering from it.
Ellensia, because she loved him.
With that realization, she could let him go, no matter how many times she needed to. She rose on her toes, getting close to Lian, whose forehead was pressed against the invisible wall.
Peck.
The sound of untouched lips made a soft noise as they parted. She took a step back and smiled more gently than ever.
“I love you, Lian. And thank you for loving me. I’ll go ahead and wait for you. You see many things, and come back… as late as possible.”
It wasn’t an eternal goodbye, just a temporary parting.
Though she spoke such words, she couldn’t hide the tears that seeped into her eyes.
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