180. Aren of the Sleeping Demon World (3)
Holding your breath and pretending to be dead is the limit now.
“Heo-eok-!”
Finally, he exhaled heavily and raised his upper body.
I barely matched the timing when Bell’s divine power entered my body.
I couldn’t help it because I felt like I was really going to go to hell if I endured it any longer.
The natural reunion didn’t happen, but I was able to open my eyes without making it as awkward as possible.
I almost died
“Aren!”
“… … !?”
“Ahh-“
Fortunately, my performance seems to have worked.
“Ugh.”
Seeing the restless Shiana hugging my neck without looking back.
“ah… … .”
Now I’m the one who woke up after passing out. You have to pretend to be stupid as much as possible.
Where am I and who am I?
You just have to make that face.
I have to, but I’m obviously in a position where I just woke up… … .
“Aren, Aren. Are you okay!? Yes?”
“Aren. do you remember me?”
“Mo, I think I’m fine… … . Senior Aren, how are you?”
It was not easy being surrounded by three people and receiving a lot of worries.
What is this overwhelming feeling? Something hot rang in my chest.
I slowly rolled my eyes.
I see Cain looking at me with a serious face and Bell praying next to me, and I catch a few strands of Sianna’s soft silver hair.
All three seem to be in tears.
It was a sad and serious atmosphere, to the point that I seemed immature after being awkward at the slightly ridiculous reunion.
Only then do I realize
How much I worried about these kids.
And how much these guys value me.
Maybe it’s for me more than I think.
‘I am garbage.’
Pat Siana’s small back.
The laugh that seemed like it was going to burst was completely gone. I must be a sinner
I should have run as soon as I woke up in the Demon Realm.
I couldn’t help it because I was caught by my ardent supporters, but I still think it was right.
I should have been the first to run to the people waiting for me.
I didn’t feel well. mind is confused
It’s good that they reunited safely, but isn’t it against the law to shed tears as all three promised?
In the end, the reason I forcibly broke through the Pandemonium was all because of me. What would you have done if something big happened? … .
Guilt spread like paint.
Whatever it is, it has to be said. Everyone was looking at me.
“… … sorry. Guys.”
I had no choice but to say that.
Even with ten mouths, there was nothing else to say. I’m really sorry.
All last semester, I only worried about him and received a lot of help. I couldn’t help it, but I cheated many times.
I can’t alleviate the debt of my heart, but I have to apologize. A guy like me has to do that.
At least to these three, I’m the bad guy.
I said sorry with a bitter smile.
I don’t know what my face looks like now. Is it still in the shape of a demon? Or, Aren looking sickly?
Well, it doesn’t seem that important to these guys.
“aaagh!”
After seeing my face once, Shiana hugged me again and began to weep.
Cain also dropped everything and fell to his knees.
“under. you really. It just worries me.”
She quietly wiped the tears running down her cheeks. Unlike when the two of us are alone, when there are several people, Cain is a very mature person.
Bell touched the back of my hand and said a prayer of thanks.
“thank you. God of light… … . Thank you.”
Looking at Bell, sacred, this word came to mind.
‘You bastard, have you become a real saint now?’
The way she sheds tears for others, the way she sincerely prays to God instead of acting, and the enormous divinity that dwells in her stigma.
No matter how you look at it, she was now a perfect saint. Bell’s awakening was successful.
Bell’s awakening and the preservation of my life.
Somehow, all of my goals for Act 4 have been achieved.
Well, Bell still has the divergence between the Colossus route and the Saint route… … .
She was reliable because she looked like a saintess candidate who would not be shaken at the moment.
After a brief moment of tears, an awkward silence flowed, and Cain opened his mouth.
“Because it’s dangerous here. Let’s go right back. More details later. Everyone is tired and sick.”
Straight up, Cain got up and pulled Cyana away from me.
“Aren is suffocating. Siana.”
“yes… … .”
Siana woke up with tears running down her nose. Even so, he did not let go of my hand.
I met Cain’s eyes and nodded.
Bell supported me and got up.
As I escaped the shadows of distant mountains, my eyes were dazzled.
Dawn was breaking. Even in the demon world, the sun rises.
“Hold my hand, everyone.”
Shiina said.
After passing through a long tunnel, we reached the end of the dark dawn.
* * *
everything is on fire
Embers were everywhere like weeds in a field.
The time was dawn. A red moon reigned in the sky.
Even if you look down at the ground from the gaze of the red moon, you won’t find anything alive.
The gaze slowly returns.
If you turn your head from the hill of ash, you will see a huge castle.
The white castle engulfed in flames is now just an old castle that lost its owner.
realize slowly
The fact that this scene now was a dreary one after the collapse of the kingdom of Aeonia.
The wind blew strong.
Unpleasant smells entwine and sting your nose.
The stench and the smell of burning flesh.
nothing is alive
Emotionless flames are just devouring the corpses of monsters and humans.
It is an eye-popping sight.
Who the hell did this horrible thing?
He lowers his head with a little resentment and anger.
Only then did he find the culprit of all these horrors.
My hands covered in blood.
Those hands, which were neither human nor demonic, were definitely stained with blood.
“ah.”
In an instant, his eyesight turned red.
Everywhere was full of puddles of blood.
blood and flesh. burning kingdom.
Everything, everything I did with my own hands… … ?
When I close my eyes and open them, I suddenly see three corpses.
“what.”
Sianna, Cain, and Bell. they were dead I don’t know why. However, I know that even they were killed with my own hands.
Pupils shake.
What the hell have I done?
“Oh, no–!”
.
.
.
.
.
“Huh… … .”
Sweat runs down the spine.
The burning capital, corpses, and the harrowing scene are gone.
Only one ordinary room comes into my eyes. Sensation gradually returned.
“Was it a dream… … .”
nightmare.
Yes, it was a bad dream.
It was fortunate.
Sometimes dreams are so realistic that they are indistinguishable from reality. It really was just like that.
So I was greatly relieved.
“What kind of dream is that… … .”
Now it’s a dream that I killed those three precious people with my own hands and the world was destroyed.
I didn’t want to do it again.
Since the demonization began, the frequency of such terrible nightmares has increased. I didn’t feel too good.
I shook off the awkwardness and raised my upper body.
An unfamiliar ceiling and an unfamiliar landscape caught my eye.
At least it was a place I had never been to.
Searching for the last memory.
Siana’s leap magic transported us from the Pandemonium to the academy in just three turns.
Even if it was Shiana, it was definitely an unreasonable magic.
As soon as Siana arrived at the academy, she collapsed.
Bell gave Cyana and me the blessing of healing for a moment, then returned with a tired face.
It’s time for the sun to rise soon, so you shouldn’t leave your seat.
Belle is clearly a candidate for a saint. Because he is the one who will become a lighthouse for those passing through this dark tunnel now.
Ciana collapsed, and Bell was forced to return.
All that was left was Cain.
Cain stayed until the end to take care of us.
First, they took me and Sianna to the emergency room.
The emergency room was nothing more than a temporary shelter built with tents.
Sianna and I lay there and received urgent treatment.
After a while, Cain returned and said that he had notified the principal.
He briefly explained what had happened to Sianna and Cain, who had returned to consciousness.
I can’t remember well since I touched the trophy, and when I opened my eyes, you were there.
I didn’t say anything that I had completely become a hemp tribe.
… … I would be lying again, but I didn’t have to, nor did I want to.
Being involved in bad things and becoming a demon tribe regardless of my will and becoming a great demon tribe and becoming the leader of a monster army are completely different things.
More than anything, I didn’t want to worry these guys anymore.
I can’t bear to tell you the truth after I witnessed her attacking the demon realm worrying about me.
Besides, for the sake of the future, I couldn’t let Sianna or Cain worry about me and limit my actions.
In the future, there will be a lot of things to do secretly behind the scenes.
If you want to be free, you shouldn’t tell anyone about this.
In the yard where he became a hemp tribe, what could he not do anymore?
I take care of all the dirty work. I don’t want to endanger the other guy.
And after all the talk, I’ll have to find a solution.
squeak–
Being lost in thought, the door was carefully opened.
The person who opened the door and entered was Annie with black bobbed hair.
“Ah, Bocchan.”
Annie had a wet towel and water.
Seeing Annie, all the memories of last night came back.
As I was recovering in a makeshift shelter, Annie rushed to see me.
As Annie took me and Sianna somewhere, the memory was lost.
It must be because I am physically exhausted.
After entering the island, I hadn’t really taken a break.
And when I opened my eyes, I was right there.
“animated film. Where are you?”
“It is a small accommodation in the village of Sepia. It’s not a very good facility to catch up in a hurry. Maybe it’s because things have exploded like this, so there aren’t many rooms left. sorry.”
“no.”
The situation was roughly understood.
Since the academy’s accommodation has been destroyed, it means that more guests are staying in the nearest Sepia Village.
Rather, I guess I was lucky to get a room.
“Fortunately, the. I’m glad.”
Annie put down what she had brought and rubbed her chest.
She put her hand on her chest and smiled lightly.
“The family head and the wife were very worried. He was constantly wandering around looking for the young master.”
“okay… … .”
I don’t think I’m a great person.
Even so, there were many people who worried about me and looked for me when I was gone.
Clearly, that’s something to be concerned about.
‘… … If I have to continue living in this world.’
It’s family anyway.
Once you hit an accident, you feel sorry for many people.
Well, this is not something I can do. It’s bittersweet.
“You two are coming now, so please rest in peace. Oh, the lady is also soundly asleep in the next room. You don’t have to worry.”
I almost asked who the lady was, but then I realized that she was referring to Siana. Really, it’s hard to adapt.
“thanks. animated film.”
“no.”
After replying, Annie slipped a chair and sat down next to me.
“… … ?”
Annie doesn’t usually treat me like this. This kind of behavior was a bit surprising since she always stands and finishes all conversations.
“young master.”
“yes?”
Sure enough, there was a bit of seriousness in Annie’s words.
“You must know that I am a homunculus, right?”
“Yes.”
It was not a particularly surprising remark, as everyone in the family knew it.
Looking at the numerous portraits and paintings hanging in the mansion, one can see that Wilglish, Dalglish, and Annie served in this manor for a very long time.
“Do you know the characteristics of a homunculus?”
By mixing human and non-human beings, it binds the soul to the body. The homunculus was born that way.
Although they have different appearances and powers, they have one thing in common: an infinite lifespan.
“Isn’t that a long life?”
I asked without any particular concern.
“yes. That’s right too… … A homunculus has special eyes.”
For a moment, Annie stared at me. It was a mysterious look that seemed to see through not my face, but deeper inside.
“A homunculus is a being born through a soul contract. At the same time, you gain eyes to see the soul. Like it or not.”
Little by little I began to understand what he was trying to say.
So, what she wants to say is…
“That’s just what I’m saying. Whose soul is inside you?”
“… … .”
It was to cool my nerves.
Her well-groomed bobbed hair feels exceptionally like a knife today.
No, I never thought that anyone in the world would find out about this.
smart!
bang!
At that moment, the knocking and opening of the door happened without any time difference.
“Ad!”
“Oh, my God!”
Well, it’s not good to rest in peace.
The awkward conversation with Annie had to be put off for a while.
* * *
“my baby. To win the Grand Festival! great.”
“Ugh. mother. stop!”
My mother, Delina Blackfire, is a warm person.
He usually acts like he doesn’t care, but he worries about me more than anyone else.
If you stay in the dormitory, a gift bag is delivered once a week. Most of them are things my mother buys for me while traveling.
It must be proof that I pretend not to, but that my thoughts are terrifying.
It is the same now.
Even though I usually don’t care much, when I hear that I’m hurt, he runs to me and hugs me.
Not too bad.
The fact that there is someone in this world who is on my side unconditionally is a great source of strength.
“Okay, how are you feeling?”
After the tearful reunion, the father asked. Sieg Blackfire, my father even hired a mercenary to find me. This part is very touching.
“yes. it’s okay. You don’t have to worry.”
“Uh huh. Don’t answer stupidly.”
I had to reassure my parents for another 30 minutes.
I had to explain all kinds of things, from the fact that I didn’t eat properly on Gumadi Island to the fact that I went missing after touching the trophy.
He eased his parents’ worries by mixing appropriately well-intentioned lies.
“Yeah, we caught on too much. Get some rest for now. Stay still for a few days.”
“Well, that would be nice.”
Only after the explanation was finished did Sieg and Delina rise from their seats, satisfied.
My mother got up and kissed me on the cheek, but when she parted her lips she said ‘Ah!’ and stared at me.
“The hearing will be held the day after tomorrow.”
hearing?
I took turns looking at my parents. Sieg shrugged and gestured to his mother for an answer.
“What, isn’t our family hated a lot? There are people who suspect that my family is behind this academy raid. Right now, with the blessing of the church, we are not under investigation, but since we found you, we couldn’t put it off any longer.”
Well, this is what I expected.
I arrived again before it was too late, and it’s time to explain it.
If necessary, I can ask the church to help prove my innocence.
I thought so.
“Don’t worry though. I will make sure that this mother speaks well to the three princes.”
“yes? who?”
“Hmm? His Highness the 3 Princes. Fortunately, the prince was also unharmed.”
The 3rd Prince, Aiden Braveheart. He is an ardent follower of Diamon.
Originally, a guy who would die in Act 4 or disappear after that and only appear in Act 6 appeared at this timing.
That too, while holding a hearing to find out the crime of ‘Blackfire’.
The purpose was very obvious.
‘I’ll take revenge on me, that’s what I mean.’