“Why are you here…”

I thought she had forgotten, but my eyes still lingered in her memory. It seemed the characteristic of violence—its inability to be forgotten even with the passage of time—was not limited solely to the prey.

Of course, her reaction was far more important. A perpetrator and victim meeting again amidst a crisis of extinction—such tales typically ended in a bloodstained tragedy of revenge.

However, I did not desire such an outcome. And Roselia likely did not either. That was why she spoke with a slightly trembling voice.

“You’re alive. Mute… no, Saya.”

“Yeah. I’m alive, Roselia.”

“That’s a relief. In a world where you never know what will happen to anyone, you managed to hide well. I’m really… relieved.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

The ensuing conversation, bristling with thorns, sounded awkward to anyone. But to Engermier, reuniting with his master was far more important, so he pushed my shoulder aside and rushed forward.

“Miss. I am here. It is me, Engermier.”

“Ah, right. You’re finally here. Finally… you’ve come.”

“Yes. Are you hurt anywhere? Those bastards outside didn’t harm you or anything, did they?”

“Don’t worry. I’m fine. I don’t have a single scratch.”

A faint smile graced Roselia’s lips at the butler’s fervent questions. In that brief moment, she seemed to have completely forgotten my existence. It wasn’t incomprehensible. There were far more pressing matters at hand right now.

“Hey… so what about the ship? The ship came too, right? Didn’t it?”

“Of course, Miss. We prepared the largest ship we could mobilize. The crew was also specially selected from individuals with high loyalty to the ducal house.”

“Then we can leave this place quickly.”

“Yes. If you just give the word, Miss, we can depart at any time. Even right this instant.”

“I see. So that’s really… how it is.”

Roselia, smiling faintly, suddenly let her head drop. It seemed she couldn’t endure the overwhelming emotions within that long-awaited moment. I might have been imagining things, but I felt as though teardrops had fallen from her eyes.

Engermier, too, seemed overwhelmed by emotion, unable to speak for a long time. But his moist gaze soon turned toward us. It appeared the uninvited guests who had intruded upon this moving moment were starting to bother him.

“By the way, Miss. Are these people truly your friends? Well… that man named Lope seems to know you, and they mentioned they were looking for you, so I brought them along.”

“Well… yeah. I guess that’s roughly it.”

“Then we must take them along as well. Since they are your friends, Miss, there was an order to bring as many people as possible.”

“As many people as possible…? Why?”

Roselia tilted her head slightly at his words. It seemed she couldn’t fathom the humanitarian perspective that an ordinary person would easily accept.

“For starters, there is plenty of space. We brought ample food as well… taking them along won’t be a problem. Even including that Lope fellow and Miss Lena you mentioned.”

“I understand it’s possible, but I don’t see the justification for it. At the very least, it’s not something my father would say. Did he really issue such an order?”

“It was not the Duke who issued the order. It was entirely the head butler’s opinion.”

“Wait a minute. The head butler issued such an order unilaterally without my father’s consent?”

“…Yes.”

“Why on earth?”

A dark cloud briefly hung over what should have been a scene filled only with pure joy. Lost in doubt, Roselia suddenly furrowed her brows as if she had realized something.

“Where is my father right now?”

…

“Is he waiting for me at the harbor? Or is he still in the Capital? Answer me, quickly.”

“The Duke said he could wait no longer, Miss.”

As Roselia pressed him, he opened his mouth heavily. Then, as if feeling ashamed, he slightly bowed his head.

“I apologize.”

“No… he already departed? But there’s still time left. Is there a reason to be in such a hurry?”

“The Duke made that judgment.”

“I’m asking why he made such a judgment. Is there something I still don’t know?”

“There are far too many things I must tell you.”

Compared to the gravity of the question, the answer was far too brief and clear. He exhaled a tense breath and barely managed to raise his head.

“So let us hurry and go. I will explain the details on the way.”

“Right. Anyway, the important thing is getting out of here. I know that too.”

“Yes. Then let’s make our escape right this instant…”

“Even so, I don’t see any reason to take these kids along.”

Roselia’s gaze abruptly turned toward us. She spoke with a noticeably colder voice.

“Whatever the head butler said, I don’t care. It feels like I’ll have enough things to worry about already, so I don’t want to drag along kids who’ll just be a burden.”

“…You are absolutely right.”

“I said it before, but unless you’re useful to me, there’s absolutely no reason to let you board. It’s nice to see you, but Saya, there’s no reason I have to take you along. Same goes for that blind cripple girl who just slipped in.”

…

“And the same goes for you, Lena.”

“Huh? M-me too?”

Suddenly singled out, Lena was extremely flustered and stuttered her words. But the current Roselia didn’t have a shred of mercy left.

“Of course. Did you forget what I told you? I told you to appeal to old times, or at least offer your body, and somehow snatch the Mark. But it seems you have nothing right now. Don’t you?”

“R…right. But I brought some incredibly important information.”

“Important information. Let’s hear it. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

“Can’t I tell you once we’re on the ship? We don’t have time right now.”

“Just spit it out quickly. You really don’t have anything, do you?”

“It’s not like that! So… that’s…”

She opened her mouth in a hurry, but Lena hesitated for a moment, gauging Roselia’s reaction. She knew all too well that it was the only card she had left to play. But dragging it out wouldn’t change anything, so she eventually spilled the truth.

“Lope gave the Mark to Erika. He said Erika is the only one who will go with him. He definitely… said that.”

“What? Erika? Seriously. Do you think that makes any sense?”

“I… I couldn’t believe it either, but it’s true. These kids saw it too. Right, Saya? Haru?”

“That’s right, Roselia. I saw it too.”

“You saw it too, Saya? Why on earth? Why would he do that to Erika…”

“But it’s true. What the other kids have are all fakes made with magic.”

“Then the one on the back of your hand is also a fake made with magic?”

“…Yeah. That’s right.”

I answered calmly as well, raising the back of my hand toward Roselia. The single remaining Mark scattered a deep blue light as it swayed slowly.

Roselia fell into thought as she looked at the Mark. Her attitude suggested she was debating whether my words were true or a well-crafted lie. She maintained eye contact for a long time, as if trying to pierce through my very heart, before eventually shaking her head.

“Honestly, I still can’t believe it. Leaving the Mark with Erika…”

…

“But I don’t think you’d have the guts to lie in a situation like this. And there’s no way this Mark is real. Lope wouldn’t have sent people with the real Marks to me. Congratulations, Lena. It seems your words are true.”

“I told you so. Then… you’ll let me board the ship too, right?”

“I’m not sure about that. Because it’s been proven that these kids know perfectly well the same facts you do.”

“Wait…!”

“Besides, I get the feeling these kids actually have a better grasp of the truth. It seems like you’re hiding something, Saya. And the same goes for you, blind cripple.”

Roselia’s sharp gaze turned to Haru this time. She walked toward Haru with her arms crossed.

“You’re that junior who used to learn swordsmanship with Lope, right? I remember you because it was hilarious how you carried a sword in the hallway despite being blind. But since Lope had no friends or anything, you were his only junior, so there must have been some connection.”

…

“No. Maybe it’s more than that. Wouldn’t you be much closer to him than Saya, who just hovered around with her petty sense of justice? When you sweat together, feelings tend to sprout. Isn’t that right?”

“…Well, I can’t deny that. There’s no reason to now, anyway.”

Even as an opponent she couldn’t see pressed her, Haru nodded without a hint of agitation. Then she calmly clasped her hands behind her back.

“Honestly, I’m not quite sure what kind of feelings Senior harbors for me. Taking me in and protecting me after that day could just be an expression of pity. Of course, you could also call that love.”

“Hah. So you were the cohabitant Lope was hiding. Now I understand everything. Since you were living with a blind person, it must have been hard to come over to my side right away. That’s why you refused my offer back then.”

“Is that so? I didn’t know you thought of me that much. I’m glad.”

“What? W…wait a minute, Roselia. She’s not that close to him. She’s just a kid who clings to him every day and gets rejected as a matter of routine! Actually, compared to her…”

“Please shut up, Lena. It’s safe to say your utility has effectively come to an end. If you run your mouth needlessly again, I’ll cut your tongue out.”

With a chilling threat, a metallic clank rang out. Roselia’s loyal butler reacted instantly to his master’s casually tossed remark. Seeing that, no one could open their mouth.

“Finally quieted down. But well… Lena’s words aren’t entirely meaningless. You’re blind, after all. I’m not sure how much information you can bring me. I wonder if you’ll be of any use?”

“I at least know more than that woman. Is that insufficient?”

“I wonder. Is that really the case? Anyway, you said the Mark is with Erika. So what reason is there to take you along?”

“Because that one isn’t the end of it.”

“What?”

At that moment, shock filled Lena’s face. And Roselia, though she didn’t show it, had a slight crack in her expression. Nevertheless, Haru maintained her calm demeanor.

“I know exactly how many Marks there are in total. And who he gave them to.”

“You know that?”

“People think that if you can’t see, you can’t hear either. So they inadvertently let their guard down and spill secrets in front of a disabled person like me. You couldn’t even imagine how many filthy truths I overheard during our Academy days.”

“So you heard Lope’s secrets?”

“There’s probably no one who has heard more of Senior’s secrets than I have. Besides…”

…

“…It’s not like I really didn’t see anything.”

Haru suddenly brought her hand to her face and untied the blindfold covering her eyes. Through the black cloth that fell weakly away, the horrific scars she had been hiding were starkly revealed. As Roselia took a step back in slight surprise, Haru subtly pushed up the corners of her mouth.

And then, very slowly, she began to open her eyes.

“…!!!”

Lena gasped in silent horror and covered her mouth, and Roselia couldn’t hide her bewilderment at the unexpected situation. Their faces reflected in Haru’s eyes, which peered out from between the scars. Having suffered parental abuse, trapped within a grotesque shell, her eyes held a milky clarity like pearls.

“Oh my god…”

“…Is this enough for you to believe me? I’ve essentially revealed my most important secret. But I still have a lot more to tell you. Aren’t you curious about what these eyes have seen all this time?”

“Well…”

“I have only one condition. Let me board the ship. It drives me crazy with unfairness that I didn’t receive a Mark despite my dedication. At the very least, I can’t stand by and watch that bastard Lope go to the Land of Elves alone.”

…

“If you do that for me, I’ll tell you who you need to board the ship, and how you can steal the Marks. How about it? Senior Roselia.”

“You’re going to betray him? Is that it?”

“Betrayal? That man doesn’t trust anyone from the start. In the midst of all that, do you really think he’d send a blind girl like me and a powerless girl like Saya to find you? No. We came to find you on our own initiative. To find someone who would actually help us.”

Haru’s proposal caused a crack in everyone’s heart. Lena. Roselia. Even Engermier, who didn’t know the full details, seemed to be appalled at the fact that he had been deceived. The sight of her opening her eyes was that shocking.

But I wasn’t surprised. Because things invisible to others were visible to me. For instance, her focus that tried desperately to face forward but kept wandering and trembling, or the way she forced a smile but swallowed nervously. These were things you couldn’t see unless you were calm and had good eyesight.

Furthermore, despite meeting the outside light for the first time in a long while, Haru’s pupils didn’t contract at all, nor did they dilate again. Even if there was a change, it remained at an extremely subtle level. Without a doubt, she was blind.

Of course, I was the only one who noticed that. Lena and Roselia, their minds rushed, seemed to have been completely fooled beyond a doubt. 

“Huu… it’s hard keeping them open all the time.”

Before the truth could be exposed, Haru feigned difficulty and closed her eyes again. Then, with a relaxed attitude, she thrust her hands into her pockets.

“So what will you do? Ah, threatening to kill me if I don’t spill everything right now? That kind of threat won’t work. I know my own value best. Let’s just go on good terms.”

“That’s an arrogant attitude. Even though I’m the one holding the knife.”

“All I have is guts and the secrets in my head. So what will you do, Senior? Please decide quickly. It’s not like we have that much time.”

“Hah…”

Roselia let out a light laugh. It was a reaction as if she didn’t know what to do with this insolent girl. Even if Haru could see, it wouldn’t prove she knew Lope’s secrets. But conversely, if she really knew a way to steal the Marks, Haru was the person Roselia needed the most.

“…Engermier.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Lope. Erika. And add this girl named Haru to the list and take them along. Understood?”

“Understood, Miss.”

“Is there anyone else to board the ship, Haru? You said you’d tell me who.”

“I’ll tell you that slowly on the way. It’s a bit burdensome for me to reveal all my secrets at once.”

“Insolent brat. Well, fine. It seems like a nothing-to-lose situation anyway. If push comes to shove, I can use you as a hostage to threaten Lope. So let’s not delay and start heading out.”

“W…wait, Roselia. What about me?”

“Step aside, Lena. Stop clinging to me uselessly.”

“Wait. This isn’t what you promis…!”

“So annoying.”

“Ugh…!”

Roselia easily shoved away the desperately clinging Lena and sneered. Then she spoke with a cold voice.

“Don’t be so clingy. It’s been proven that you’re a completely useless bitch, hasn’t it? If you keep trying to follow me, I’ll cut off your legs.”

“R…Roselia…”

“Then let’s go, Haru. Oh, and don’t even think about backstabbing us. Engermier is a talent who was even selected for the Imperial Guard, so someone of Lope’s caliber couldn’t even leave a scratch on him. Besides, other personnel are coming this way too. Right?”

“Yes. They will arrive soon, Miss.”

“Right. Then let’s… oh right, Saya. You were here too.”

Roselia, who had been heading toward the door, suddenly looked at me. Then Haru interjected at the perfect moment.

“Saya is obviously coming with us, isn’t she? I still need someone to attend to me. I need at least one person around me I can trust.”

“Is that really necessary?”

“I wouldn’t say it’s an absolute must, but still. It’s just one person. Can’t you grant me that much?”

“Well… fine. I suppose that’s possible. Then you come along too, Saya. You might be of some use.”

…

“Answer me, Saya. Don’t tell me you’re still holding onto the past? I’m doing this out of my own sense of obligation, so just come along quietly. Let’s forget about the past.”

It was a tone that suggested I shouldn’t fuss over trivial matters anymore. Her audacity felt truly remarkable anew. It seemed Roselia was willing to cast aside her humanity entirely as long as she could achieve her goals.

But now wasn’t the time to worry about such things. Amidst the unexpected variable of the Imperial Guard arriving so quickly, Haru had done the absolute best she could. And that had certainly created an advantageous situation for us. It would have been too regrettable to throw away such an opportunity just because of my own past.

So I had to forget it now. No, I had actually forgotten it a long time ago. Even if some lingering resentment remained, I could brush it off as long as I set my mind to it. Because I had precious people now.

Because Haru had mustered her courage.

And because Lope was here.

So I could answer with sincerity.

“I’m not holding onto anything, Roselia.”

“Really? That’s good.”

At my answer, Roselia turned her head indifferently. Her steps were light, having cleared her karmic debt with just a few words. 

And it was the same for me. Though my steps weren’t light, they weren’t heavy enough to keep me from moving. Even if I had to be with her, it didn’t matter as long as I could get off the Island. Soon, the closed door opened, and the outside light slowly began to seep in.

…

“But. Before that, there’s one thing I want to ask.”

“…?”

At the sudden remark, everyone’s steps stopped. Roselia looked back and scowled as much as she could.

“What is it, Saya? You’ve been quiet all this time, so why now? I’ll take your questions later, so don’t be a nuisance and just follow me.”

“That’s right, Sis. Let’s just go for now. It doesn’t have to be right now, does it?”

“No. It has to be now.”

“Sis. Don’t do this.”

As I insisted, Haru seemed flustered and hurriedly tried to dissuade me. Roselia found the sight ridiculous and snapped irritably.

“Fine. Let’s hear what your question is. But you can finish it quickly, right?”

“I think I’ll know that once you hear it.”

“So annoying, really. Fine. I’ll just leave you behind. I don’t need someone like you anyway.”

“It doesn’t matter if you leave first. Because I don’t want to ask you the question, Roselia.”

I turned my head, ignoring Roselia entirely. And I looked at her butler, Engermier. He tilted his head at the unexpected situation and raised one eyebrow.

“You have something you want to ask me?”

“Yes. It’s something only you can answer.”

“I said earlier, if it’s about the situation outside…”

“I don’t care about what’s happening right now. What I want to know is about the past.”

“The past?”

“Yes.”

I gave a short answer and kept my mouth shut. A cold tension radiated from my heart, paralyzing my nerves. Facing the moment to resolve a long-standing question, my hands kept trembling.

“There’s something… that has been bothering me all along. I’ve been pondering it since the day Lope returned from the Academy. Until now, I didn’t have anyone to answer me, so I just kept it in my heart. But I’ve finally met someone who can. And that’s you.”

“Me? But I am…”

“Mr. Engermier.”

“What is it.”

“How did the Duke find out there was an Elf on this Island?”

“What?”

“It’s a fact no one knew until now. Even the professors at the Academy didn’t notice the existence of the Elf. But you outsiders somehow found out at some point and relayed that fact to Roselia. How was that possible? Where did you get the information?”

“…Do I have an obligation to answer that?”

His voice momentarily carried a hint of hostility. But Roselia, who was watching the situation, suddenly interjected as if she found it interesting.

“Saya. You know something too. Don’t you?”

…

“You want to hear the answer, huh. Fine. Just tell her, Engermier. Actually, I was curious about the source of that information too.”

“I don’t mind, but… this is not a story to tell to such commoners, Miss.”

“Just think of it as telling me. I said I’m curious too.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Only then did he slowly nod. And he began to speak with a heavy voice.

“After obtaining information about the Elf Marks, the Duke ordered us to find the Elves remaining on the continent. Of course, there were no results. They had already departed long ago. But we had to find them somehow and obtain additional information. As you know, the Marks…”

“I know. So just skip that part.”

“Yes. Anyway, to preserve the members of the ducal house, we had to steal someone’s Mark. But those who received the Marks were mostly members of the Imperial family or those who had already left for the Land of Elves, so it was impossible. It was desperate. I couldn’t tell you, Miss, but there was even talk of just giving up.”

…

“But around that time, a strange rumor circulated among the public. A rumor that an Elf’s lover was living in a remote rural village on the continent. Of course, I had heard similar stories before, but I dismissed them as absurd tales back then. However, with the situation as it was, we couldn’t ignore even such a trivial rumor.”

“So you went all the way to that rural village? Based on a single rumor?”

“The Duke thought it couldn’t just be a rumor. He said there are no baseless rumors in times of crisis. So, core personnel capable of maintaining secrecy, including myself, were dispatched there.”

He closed his eyes quietly, as if recalling the events of that day. Inside, the past was quietly stirring.

“I thought it would be a simple task, but it wasn’t. No matter how much we interrogated the villagers about the rumor, they kept their mouths shut. But the more they did, the more our conviction grew. If they had nothing to hide, they wouldn’t have bothered staying silent, would they?”

“I suppose. Obviously.”

“At first, we tried to resolve it with words. But no matter how much we persuaded them, they wouldn’t listen. Living in a remote rural village, they seemed to have a strong aversion to outsiders. Besides, with the situation as it was, bribing them with money or jewels didn’t work either. So eventually, we had to handle it the way we always do.”

“Which means…”

“We killed the women and tortured the men. Since it was a rural village, they didn’t have a proper guard force, so it was easy. After disposing of about half of them, they confessed that a woman lived in the forest.”

…

Even while ruminating on the memories of murder, his expression remained perfectly peaceful. To him, he had merely done his usual job. Of course, I couldn’t accept it that way, so I asked with a trembling voice.

“You killed… innocent people like that?”

“That’s what I do. Unfortunately, it’s something someone in this world has to do. If you don’t want to hear it, we can stop. Shall we stop?”

…

“Anyway, they also confessed that the woman was an Elf’s lover, and that she had a child under her care. So we went to the location without delay and secured her. Perhaps knowing we were coming, she was preparing to flee, but she wasn’t successful. She seemed distracted by something else she was doing. And her body was frail, so she couldn’t move well either.”

“So. Was she really an Elf’s lover? And having a child… does that mean she was Lope’s mother?”

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t ascertain the detailed information. She resisted with all her might, perhaps to protect her child. Moreover, no matter how much we searched the house, not a single document surfaced. It seemed she had kept the child’s existence an absolute secret.”

“So what did you do?”

“You know how it is.”

“Ah.”

“I did what I always do.”

…

“She was a sickly woman from the start, so it was quite difficult. But it wasn’t the first time, and I managed somehow. Of course, I was delayed a lot in the process. Her resistance was quite fierce.”

…

“I think it was about a week later. She eventually lost her mind. She wandered on the verge of death, spouting nonsense. I made a slight mistake during the torture the day before, and that must have been the cause.”

…

“But thanks to that, I learned one fact. That she had enrolled her child in the Academy, of all places. It seemed she had made a great effort to hide her identity. When her mind was pushed to the limit, she suddenly recalled that time. Anyway, that is how I found out, Miss.”

“Well, it wasn’t an incredibly fascinating story. Anyway, that’s the end of it, right?”

“Yes. This is the end. There is no other story.”

…

“…And?”

“What?”

“So what happened to that woman?”

I asked the question without even daring to lift my head. Engermier hesitated slightly before casually blurting it out.

“It seemed there was nothing more to gain from her. But it looked like she wouldn’t live long anyway, so I granted her my final mercy. Does that answer your question?”

…

“Are we done now, Saya? Are you satisfied?”

…

…So that’s what happened.

“…So that’s what happened.”

“Saya?”

“So that’s how it was…”

That’s how it was.

My head spun, and my words and thoughts tangled with each other. The breath I exhaled was so hot that I couldn’t endure it without letting it out. Eventually, I slowly peeled off the gas mask covering my mouth. Damp drops of sweat fell to the floor, drip, drip.

“…I secretly thought she might still be alive. After all, the assumption that she was dead was just my guess. But it really turned out that way.”

“What are you talking about, Saya. You really do know something, don’t you?”

“Moreover, she didn’t just pass away. She ended up like that trying to protect me until the very end. While suffering horrific agony.”

“Could you explain… wait. She tried to protect you?”

“Did she cry while being tortured? She must have. My mother was always a woman of many tears. She cried so much on the day I left for here. If only I hadn’t said I wanted to go to the Academy, this would never have happened.”

“Does that mean…”

“It’s all my fault. Everything from beginning to end…”

…

“No. That’s not it.”

My head is too hot. My breath is ragged. If I stay still, I feel like I’ll just explode with a peong. Unable to endure the suffocation, I lifted my head and took off my hood.

Then, the face I had been hiding revealed itself in the cold air. I looked at Roselia’s slowly widening eyes and spoke.

“It’s because of you. Roselia.”

“Saya, you…”

“It’s all my fault, but still, isn’t it a little bit your fault too?”

“You were an Elf?”

“Even now, that’s all that matters to you.”

I wanted to let out a hollow laugh. But instead, tears threatened to burst forth. Still, now wasn’t the time for that, so I held them back and swallowed them down my throat. Along with that, my heart sank into a deep abyss.

“Roselia.”

“Yeah…?”

“In the end, it’s all because of you.”

My heart crumbled. Claws hidden deep tore my chest to shreds. My slender, trembling hand lightly clenched into a fist.

At that moment, I suddenly looked at Haru, drawn by an inexplicable gravity. Our unmet gazes crumbled insignificantly in the air. Nevertheless, Haru spoke with a desperate voice, as if grasping onto her last hope.

“Sis…”

…

“I’m sorry. Haru.”

That was all I could say. 

In that instant, I quickly spun around and drew the sword hanging at Engermier’s waist. And before the cold metallic sound could even fade, I tore his body to pieces.

“…!”

Tore him to pieces. I’m not sure if there’s a more accurate expression. I had merely mimicked Lope’s swordsmanship that I had seen once, but in an instant, I slashed his wrists and destroyed both his eyes. He couldn’t even scream until I carved out his solar plexus and groin, the weak points Lope had taught me.

No. It seemed he hadn’t even fully grasped the situation. The skill that almost got him selected for the Imperial Guard was just that much. Only after his entire body was shredded did he finally open his mouth.

But before he could show any reaction, I slashed that worthless neck of his with all my might. With the chilling sensation of hewing a tree stump, his head sprayed blood as it flew into the corner. And so, the scream he couldn’t let out until the end was poured out instead by the people around him.

“Kyaaaaah!!!”

“Oh… oh my god!”

“Sis? What are you doing right now. Sis!”

“Haa… haa…”

Amidst the barrage of voices, I let out a trembling sigh. The sensation of blood soaking my entire body was so chilling that I dropped the sword without realizing it.

But it wasn’t over yet. My gaze, which had lingered on the headless corpse, soon turned toward Roselia.

“S…Saya…?”

…

“Don’t come… I said don’t come!”

As I approached step by step, Roselia let out a piercing scream. Meanwhile, Lena, who had been trembling in the corner, realized she wasn’t the target and immediately fled outside. Amidst the sound of those pitiful footsteps, Roselia collapsed to the floor.

“S…Saya. Listen to me. Okay? I… I didn’t know either. I said I didn’t know!”

…

“I’ll give up the Mark and everything. So please spare me. Do you think you can get out of here without me?”

…

“Please, Saya. Just spare me this once. Then I’ll give you anything. Please… please, I’m begging you.”

…

“Please spare me!!!”

Eventually, tears streamed down her face as well. But that didn’t change my mind. I approached Roselia, grabbed her by the hair, and picked up something that had fallen on the floor.

It was a brooch engraved with the Anbert family crest. Needlessly large and heavy, it was the pride Roselia couldn’t bring herself to discard until the very end. As I lifted it high, a shout came from somewhere.

“Saya!”

…

It was Lope’s voice. Was it an auditory hallucination? Or was it real? If it was real, I wanted to say this for sure.

I’m sorry. Lope.

“No!!!”

…

I repeated the apology I couldn’t deliver in my mouth. And I began to strike Roselia mercilessly.

“Aaaaaaaagh!!!”

With a single blow, her eyeballs were crushed. But I wasn’t satisfied and kept swinging my hand. Until her neck spewed more blood. Until her lips let out a bigger scream.

Until her life finally crumbled away into nothing.

I didn’t stop. The brutal sound of impact was buried and faded amidst Roselia’s screams. 

“Aaaagh!!! Agh!!! Fuck!!! Fuck!!!”

…

“It hurts! It hurts!!! Please!!!”

…

“Saya please! Please spare me… euk… ek…”

“…Heuk.”

“Ek… uek… ek…”

“Heuk… uheuk…”

“Eueok… ue…”

“Heuk… uheuk… heuk…”

…

“Heuk… uheuheuk… ah… aheuk…”

…

“Uheuk… u…!”

The bloodstained brooch slipped from my hand and disappeared into the darkness. I trembled violently, then fumbled around to pick up the fallen sword. And I raised the sword high to the sky.

“No! Saya!”

At the last moment, Lope’s voice came from behind. But I couldn’t stop. Eventually, something damp buried in my chest spilled over. Small, hot droplets forming only around the eyes.

I delivered my final words of apology toward the end of that innocence.

Sorry. Lope.

“Saya!!!”