“…I guess it’s coming.”
A small space barely illuminated by a dim light.
As Teresa muttered softly, Cain, who was looking at her, nodded slightly.
He thought it would come someday, but the timing was a bit sooner than expected.
Still, it didn’t matter. After all, all preparations had already been completed.
Teresa’s complexion had become much paler than before.
It was possible because she had absorbed the power of the dead dragon while maintaining her own personality.
The residual thoughts possessed by the dead dragon, being absorbed entirely, were undoubtedly powerful enough to be called monstrous.
However, Teresa’s expression remained dark.
The face that was once filled with ecstasy from gaining power was now overshadowed, appearing no longer comfortable.
“Are you worried about something?”
“Worried, huh.”
With a twisted smile, Teresa chuckled softly. She wasn’t really worried about anything.
She intended to take revenge on Robert, so if she just killed him when he came to her now, wouldn’t that be enough?
However, the memories slowly rising in her mind were a problem.
These weren’t memories seen directly in reality; they felt like memories of someone else hearing about them.
“There’s nothing like that.”
“Then I’ll send the others first. I need to test how things stand.”
Nodding at those words, the memories lodged in her mind were gradually expanding.
They weren’t her memories. Yet, they undoubtedly belonged to her.
– Robert, did you really believe in me? How foolish. To give everything, even your guts, for a woman.
She was smiling.
As she brushed Robert’s cheek, staring blankly into space, she was just laughing like it was a happy moment.
She didn’t know what made her feel so good, but Robert’s expression resembled what she had imagined.
It was a face that had been drawn countless times, a desperate expression that seemed about to crumble at any moment.
– I never loved you, but thank you for loving someone like me?
Even as she stabbed a dagger into his heart, Robert didn’t move.
His vacant gaze merely traced the void. Even with blood flowing from his lips, even as his heart was torn apart and he was dying.
Those empty eyes could never look at her.
In the end, his cold body stiffened and fell.
The motionless body, now a corpse, was the last thing Teresa remembered.
…But why did she feel pain from it?
It was just a memory.
But it felt as if a dagger was stuck through her heart, as blood surged and spilled from her chest.
“Does this mean it’s more than a simple memory?”
She had no idea what this meant.
She didn’t know why the wounds inflicted in her memories were now appearing on her own body.
Since she couldn’t even be sure if this memory was really hers, when exactly did Robert die?
The blood that had been rushing out eventually began to slow.
Given that her body had already turned into a monster, such wounds would heal quickly.
Yet the pain remained.
With every memory that surfaced, the pain grew stronger, so Teresa slowly rose from her seat and moved forward.
Killing Robert would make the pain disappear. After all, he had been the one tormenting her from the beginning.
No, perhaps it was her fault for getting too close in the first place.
Having approached him to scrounge some riches, this was the outcome.
As I approached to tear it apart, this is how it turned out in the end.
With her face reflected in the transparent window, Teresa’s lips trembled slightly as she gazed at herself.
Her cracked skin no longer resembled that of the woman from before.
It was already beyond redemption.
Killing Robert and meeting her own death in the end might be the most beautiful conclusion, wouldn’t it?
“I really hope you come quickly. I hate waiting.”
As more wounds formed on her body, Teresa took another step forward.
The memories of killing Robert, the memory of Robert dying.
In all those memories, her actions had always been the same, she had always approached to use Robert.
Why did she fail this time? She had always betrayed Robert to siphon off his wealth, why was it revealed this time, leading to this situation?
Unless she heard it directly from him, she would never know the answer.
That’s why she moved forward. To kill Robert.
To erase this memory that was becoming more painful.
Covering the scar etched on her arm, Teresa slowly opened the door.
Thud.
As the door closed, the light in the empty room began to dim.
Only silence remained in the room. As even a ray of light left the chair, the space was engulfed in complete darkness.
#
I had a rough idea of where Teresa was.
There weren’t many places to hide in this South.
If she went further south, it would be a complete territory of the Non-Human Race, and the only remaining area would probably be around this city, mixed with them and humans.
I was fully aware of the geography in this vicinity, so I could quickly find a place where Teresa might be hiding.
Moreover, the energy radiating around seemed to beckon me; it would be strange not to notice it.
This energy was unlike anything I had felt before.
However, my body reacted as if it was very familiar with this energy.
I hope my guess is wrong, but the fact that it reacts to this power means…
Yes, there’s really only one possibility.
“Is it the Dead Dragon?”
I already knew that the Crown Prince was interested in the Residual Thoughts of the Dead Dragon.
He had ordered me to secure the Relic to use it, and he probably informed Teresa of Miragen’s location… it must be the Crown Prince.
What a complicated relationship.
The Crown Prince had always tried to kill me, and I ignored that fact, trying to take care of other people.
What if I had decided to kill the Crown Prince from the start?
It was a futile thought, but it might have been a solution to escape from this gloom a little quicker.
I should have lived a bit selfishly.
Yet, while I complained about it, I knew full well I could never live that way.
At first, I had resolved to die alone, but didn’t I end up worrying about someone again?
If I had only wished for my own death, there would have been no need to save Adele.
No need to get closer to Adrian or to venture out alone to save Miragen.
It was already beyond redemption. Since I had decided to save them, I could bear a little pain.
I was accustomed to suffering.
To betrayal, to loneliness. Is there anyone in this world who can endure as well as I do?
As if beckoning me, I walked slowly along the rising magic power.
Holding the sword I had custom-made on my way here, I drew up the magic power.
Gripping the sword I had custom-made, I drew up my magic power.
In the eerily silent street, as I placed my hand on the wall, the space began to warp slowly.
In an instant, the street changed colors to reveal an empty manor.
Climbing over the rusty old iron fence, I saw weeds that must have been neglected for decades, growing taller than a person.
I walked, cutting through the swaying grass.
A rustling sound reached my ears, and as a presence drew nearer, I tightened my grip on the sword.
“You’ve arrived,” a man wearing a mask greeted me as I stood before a dilapidated mansion,
I thought I might have seen him once before. I recalled receiving reports about masked individuals while investigating the south.
Thinking if he was one of them, I felt a group surrounding me and let out a small laugh.
“It seems there are too many welcoming faces around.”
“I can roughly guess why you came here, but before meeting the lady, some preparation is needed.”
“About twenty or so?”
“It’ll likely be quite different from the immigrant tribes. I was somewhat surprised last time, but this time you might just collapse here.”
Though it was our first meeting, his soft tone was quite bothersome.
I couldn’t sense any presence, but the energy from the relic within me reacted strongly, which was concerning.
The one inside the mansion was likely Teresa, but it was odd that I felt a similar energy from the masked man…
He must have some connection to the Crown Prince.
There was no need to antagonize him here.
Before I could kill the Crown Prince, I had to become his most important aide.
What I needed to handle here was to appear just like Teresa.
Hiding my hostility, I smiled gently and slowly opened my mouth towards the masked man.
“Do I have to fight you too?”
“If the lady wishes for it, then perhaps, but unfortunately, I have my duties. I shall take my leave for today.”
“Then I’d like you to convey a message to Your Highness.”
At the mention of “Your Highness,” his gaze changed.
He must know well who I was referring to.
It was true that I aimed to become the Crown Prince’s aide.
However, I was also well aware that he was wary of me.
So, it was unlikely that the Crown Prince hadn’t created variables during the numerous reincarnations.
I know him. And the Crown Prince might have a fair idea about me as well.
I wouldn’t show hostility, but I hoped he wouldn’t underestimate me too much.
It wasn’t pleasant to be toyed with when he was so blatantly revealing his intentions.
“Next time, you don’t need to send someone like this. I’ll ensure the relic is secured properly.”
“…….”
While I laughed sarcastically, the masked man remained silent until the end.
I thought Kaitel wouldn’t get mad upon hearing this.
He might be a bit more cautious of me, but I had already anticipated that.
However, it was unlikely he could drive me away.
Every action I took would benefit Kaitel, and he knew well that trying to dispose of me would be a foolish move.
So when it’s time for us to get closer, that’ll be the day the Crown Prince dies. The masked man glanced at me for a moment before slowly turning away.
The man looked at me for a moment before slowly turning his back.
And then the identities of the presences approaching alongside him became apparent.
Each one boldly displayed a sun drawn on their chest, causing me to involuntarily let out a laugh.
“Are you not even trying to hide it anymore?”
The sun symbolizes the dead dragon, and what appeared leading these entities were the Crown Prince’s subordinates.
I wondered if Kaitel thought I wouldn’t be able to guess about them, but still, appearing like this was just too blatant.
It was an empire that worshipped the moon.
Even with a Temple of the Moon nearby, to openly display those adorned with the sun’s emblem was shocking.
I chuckled at their surprisingly overt intentions.
The gaze of the approaching figures lacked focus.
It was simply empty, seemingly filled only with a single-minded desire to kill me.
This was what you’d call a failure.
They could not fully endure the residual thoughts, used as discarded pawns like this.
“Twenty.”
I muttered as I beheaded one of the approaching ones.
It was true that they were stronger than the immigrant warriors.
Each individual possessed significantly more magic power, and if I were to falter even a little, I would find myself at a disadvantage.
However, that was only when I fought the immigrant tribes.
Three weeks in the North, one week in the Order, and another week in the South.
In just a month, I had continually made advancements.
“You should have brought 200.”
I could only feel the disappointment of only meeting twenty of them.
With every swing of my sword, a line was drawn, and one person would die.
Blood splattered, and brain matter sprayed, yet my expression remained calm.
But my mind was growing complicated.
The more I felt Teresa’s presence and approached the mansion, the more my consciousness was being buried in memories.
I could feel that this encounter was completely different from the previous ones.
Adele, Adrian. The words they spoke felt like a recollection of the past, something I hadn’t experienced in my entire life.
What difference would it make if they remembered my past?
Still, I couldn’t help but wonder about that little curiosity I had conjured.
If you learned of my past, recognized the sins you committed, and felt my pain directly,
What emotions would you hold then?
It was a regret that couldn’t be undone.
No matter how much I might lament now, the emotion was regret that could never be reversed.
Whether the woman named Teresa Violet would feel regret was uncertain.
The chances of seeing me die and genuinely repenting for her sins were slim.
All I wished was for you not to regret it.
If anything, if you could just laugh at my demise, then I could kill you without hesitation.
Hadn’t we always been that way?
We met in falsehood and ended in falsehood, destined for tragedy from the very start.
As I looked around at the now tranquil surroundings, I realized there was no one left standing.
A cold breath filled my lungs, and in the exhalation, an emptiness lingered.
It was now time to meet you.
It was time to erase you.
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