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Metaphor of Rebirth
Calaria had resigned herself to sacrifice, convinced that she alone should bear the consequences. It wasn’t her intention to protect Mary. In her attempt to rationalize her own death and escape from the suffocating world, she wanted to imitate Yuri’s actions.
However, instead of backing down, Mary opened her arms and stood tall, declaring, “I refuse.”
“Why?”
“I’ve said it before, we can be allies. Your story has only strengthened my resolve. Let’s kill Duke Slaver together!”
“But what good would that do? In this battle, I painfully realized that I’m powerless on my own. No matter how much I fight, the dead won’t return. I don’t know any other way to live. The days of happiness will forever remain in the past. What’s the point of living in such a world?”
For the past few months, Calaria had secluded herself, living almost like a recluse. Nevertheless, she remained dedicated to her training, as if it had become an ingrained professional habit. Dugan had sought her out specifically and asked her to undertake this mission under such circumstances.
The compensation offered seemed suspicious, to say the least. However, Calaria had a feeling that by accomplishing this task on her own, she could somehow overcome Yuri’s death. But reality proved to be harsh. The mission had failed, and now The Magician, who had killed Yuri, was also seeking to end Calaria’s life.
Overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness, she was tormented by an unbearable emptiness.
In the midst of her despair, Mary spoke directly, “It’s true that the dead won’t return. But surely, our loved ones are watching over us from the other side.”
“So what? Will they be happy if we seek revenge?”
“Yes, absolutely!” Mary asserted with conviction.
“Dying is excruciatingly painful, agonizing, and terrifying. Even the kindest and most righteous person, when killed, will harbor hatred towards their murderer. It’s only natural, right? When someone dear to you dies, anyone would hate the culprit. So, they should die and descend into hell, and I’m sure they would laugh hysterically, wouldn’t they?” Mary declared passionately, stretching out her arms as she spoke.
Having experienced something akin to death herself, Mary could somewhat understand the emotions of the departed.
“I can derive amusement from that as well. It’s not just about making my loved one laugh. Simply knowing that there’s no more despicable man in this world lightens my heart to an unbearable extent! It must feel like ascending to heaven! The dead won’t return, so the sadness won’t fade away. However, you no longer have to carry sadness, hatred, and powerlessness together! Even if feeble attempts are made to console you with vapid words, nothing else grants such gratification as revenge!”
The dark emotions swirling within her chest held a weight far greater than their outward appearance. As long as they lingered, there was no alternative path to choose.
“That’s precisely why vengeance holds significance. It demands realization. Even more so if you have the power to do it.”
“Maybe…” Calaria responded coolly to Mary’s impassioned speech. “But… I’m strangely drawn to this situation where I can meet the same end as Yuri.”
A faint smile possessed her, as if she were under a spell, and she raised her sword to destroy the box. “Hurry, run far away. I’ll handle it just like this—”
Since communication seemed futile, Mary swiftly grabbed the box and ran, turning her back on Calaria.
“That’s why I won’t let you!” Mary exclaimed.
“What? Are you planning to escape?!”
“Yes, I’m going to run away. I’ll flee as far as I can!”
“Don’t be ridiculous! Why do you need to go to such lengths?”
Without hesitation, Calaria pursued her.
Mary accelerated, her heels striking the ground, while Calaria ran on her own feet. The speed of the two was almost evenly matched.
“Calaria, you’re not listening to me at all! That’s why!”
“Why would my heart be moved by the words of someone I just met?”
“Well, it’s a problem for me too! I can’t fulfill my sister’s wish otherwise!”
“Deal with your own nonsensical problems! I want to meet Yuri!”
“So, you’re okay with watching the culprit who killed you roam freely like a beaten dog?!”
“If me and Yuri can be together, there’s no room for such sadness! Isn’t that the case for you too? If we talk about revenge, it means someone dear to you has also been taken away, right?!”
“Yes, that’s right. My sister was killed!”
“Then there must have been a moment when you wanted to reunite with her in the afterlife!”
“There were. But I want to meet my beloved sister with pride! I want her to praise me for doing such an excellent job of murdering the culprits!”
“The hell, you’re insane! What do you plan to do with that bomb, anyway?!”
“I’ll set it off and use the power of Death to try to contain the explosion. With my regenerative ability, I should be able to survive! Calaria, please protect yourself in a corner of the mansion!”
“Tch! Don’t you dare! You, of all people, I won’t let you overwrite Yuri in my memories!”
It’s not like she cared about Mary’s life. Calaria’s pride wouldn’t allow Mary to walk the exact same path as Yuri, someone she once cherished. But their distance didn’t close, and they finally returned to the entrance hall.
Mary stopped in front of the entrance door, and Calaria raised her sword in front of her.
“Hand over that box.”
“I can’t.”
“Then I’ll have to cut off both your arms. We’re not in a relationship where I hesitate!”
Calaria instantly approached Mary, closing the gap between them. At that moment, Mary threw the box she was holding with both arms. As expected, Calaria, who was about to sever her arms, turned her gaze towards it.
“You fool! It’ll explode when it hits the ground!”
Throwing her sword and attempting to retrieve it, Calaria was firmly grabbed by Mary with the enormous arm sprouting from her back, pulling her close. Calaria struggled to escape, but with her arms restrained, she couldn’t move.
“Let go! We’re too close to the epicenter; we’ll both die!”
“I refuse. I’ll make sure you survive, even if it means going against your will, together with me!”
Mary, along with the resistant Calaria, jumped into the darkness beyond the open entrance. She no longer understood why Mary was so desperate.
The place they ended up was the room they had been in just a moment ago.
Here, there is some distance from the entrance. It might offer a bit of reassurance, but hopefully, it can help mitigate the damage!
Mary tapped into her full mana, creating a shield to protect her and Calaria.
“Thousand Corpses Burial Coffin!”
A wall of white bones enveloped them, resembling an egg. It blocked out all light, enclosing Calaria as she struggled and thrashed while being held by Mary.
“You’re actually trying to protect me?! No, it won’t work! That thing is designed to kill Arcana users; there’s no way to defend against it! And you’re doing the same as her! You, Yuri, everything. In the end, even you—!”
Calaria was overcome with traumatic memories, tears welling up in her eyes.
Observing her in that state, Mary also remembered Francis’ death and held her even tighter. With her face buried in Mary’s chest, Calaria gradually grew more subdued.
Ah… Yuri… You used to hold me like this so often…
It was a warmth distinct from that of a stranger. Sadly, driven by her longing and yearning for human touch, it seeped into Calaria’s heart, if only to a certain extent.
If she was destined to die anyway, even surrendering herself in the final moments… such a tempting offer drained her strength.
The box plummeted to the ground, triggering the explosion. Light engulfed the entire mansion, accompanied by a deafening blast. The intense heat and powerful impact incinerated and obliterated everything, even devouring the protective egg in which the two sought solace.