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Chapter 47 Part 1 – A memory from the previous「108 times」. Beyond sorrowful. The men risk their lives to challenge the monster called Alisa, who is playing with fate.

The flames burning the castle grew stronger and stronger, the fire crawled unrestrainedly along the stone walls, spreading scorched marks. The irritating smell of black smoke intensified to strike not only his eyes, but also directly to his brain, forcefully pulling the nightmare-like memories of his family burning at the stake from the depths of Arnold’s mind.
A glimpse of Alisa’s scornful laugh was the final trigger.

「…… Alisa, why are you laughing like that …… like that woman ……!! …… It can’t be …….」

Arnold’s face went pale and he resisted the urge to scream, clenching his fists tight. The thought that crossed Arnold’s mind for a moment gave him a jolt that made him feel as if he were going to lose his footing. Unable to stand properly, he rested his shoulders against the wall and breathed heavily to endure the dizziness.

The old wounds inflicted in his heart from the scene of the execution site continued to bleed even now.
He has neither forgotten nor healed from it.
He only suppressed it with a sense of self-control so that the outside world would not recognize it.
The love Arnold had for his family, which was stronger than any other, has turned to sadness.
There is no way he can forget it even after all these years.

Although it could never be guessed from his unbridled behavior, Arnold hides the delicacy of a vulnerable boy. His constant fearless smile is also a cover for this.
Only Seraphy, his best friend and one of the〈Five Heroes〉, and Alisa, the〈Maiden of Salvation〉, know that he dreams of his family’s death in the middle of the night and jumps out of bed, drenched in sweat.

When Alisa found out why, she hugged Arnold while crying a lot, wiped his tears, and kissed him on the forehead. She tried to comfort him by generously giving her beautiful body to him, hoping that by holding her in his arms, he would be healed even if only a little. Her gratuitous love permeated Arnold’s wounded heart.

He knew that Alisa was sexually uninhibited.
He was even critical of her for that.
But Arnold knew that it was her way of selfless love that asked nothing in return and was as generous as the Mother of the Earth.

Arnold did not touch Alisa.
Instead, she held Arnold’s hand with one hand all night. She was drowsy but desperately tried to stay awake, and gently stroked Arnold’s head with the other hand. The gesture reminded Arnold of his deceased mother, and he continued to weep silently. That was more valuable to Arnold than copulating with Alisa’s beautiful body.

「…… It has been hard for you. I’m sure your mother was a kind person. Alisa is stupid so I can’t skillfully comfort you with words, but I can cry with you and be there for you all the time. So, if you ever feel sad, you can always call Alisa at any time. …… At that time, don’t hold back, whatever you’re holding on to, whatever you’re feeling sad about, you can let them all out …… inside of Alisa. …… I’ll do whatever you want to do …… because the world is too hard to live with your feelings bottled up.」

From that night on, Alisa became Arnold’s goddess.
Although they had no physical relationship after that, her kindness alone was enough for Arnold.
He silenced those who spoke of her as a holy whore behind her back by glaring at them.

After Arnold relaxed his guard around Alisa, he had once casually asked Alisa about the long, thin black ribbon that she often wore in her hair. Alisa likes to wear pretty and cute dresses in blue and pastel colors. He wondered why is it that it’s only her ribbon that didn’t match with those colors. Alisa shrugged her shoulders and shyly answered.

「…… It’s meant to be a sign of mourning …… Because a lot of Alisa’s friends have passed away ……」

Arnold was deeply touched by this kindness.
The small hair ornaments on the ribbons were actually intended as a requiem for the souls of the dead, Alisa told him.
It was an imitation of a legendary beetle called the golden bug.
The bug is the incarnation of the gold of the underworld and is said to come to greet the righteous when they die and bring them wealth and happiness for their souls in the afterlife.

Arnold truly loved and respected Alisa, who stuck out her tongue in embarrassment, saying that the story of the ribbon and hair ornaments should be kept secret from everyone, because it doesn’t suit her flower-like character. Although Arnold never joined the circle of love for Alisa, she always remained as Arnold’s emotional support.

「…… But what’s going on ……!! Why would her expression overlap with the queen’s ……!!」

Arnold squeezed out a groan of anguish from his clenched teeth.
Queen Scarlet, the hateful woman who had taken everything from him.
He couldn’t stop trembling as he recalled the events at the execution site.
An absolutely powerful person who sneered beautifully, arrogantly, and scornfully against the flames that burned his father, mother and younger brother.
Arnold could not forget that cruel smile even if he tried. He had never seen such a terrifyingly beautiful woman.
She was an out-of-this-world crazy being.

「…… I’ll tell you something good. Your mother and younger brother are going to be burned at the stake together. Not only to take your father’s place, but to save you. If it was just your father, I would have been willing to forgive either of you for just one of their lives. …… Oh, you poor thing. The brave Arnold who tried to save his captive father all by himself. An idiotic hunter who got captured. Burn it into your eyes. Your courage and misplaced recklessness, it will burn your family to death.」

Looking down at Arnold as he was restrained by the chains and tumbled to the ground, the queen spoke as if to teach him a lesson.
She burst into laughter when she saw Arnold crying like a child.

Her red hair shone magnificently like blonde hair in the glow of the flames.
She was a monster who calmly trampled on people’s fate with the haughtiness of a ruler.

「…… Ahahahaha!! That’s amusing!! You are already so big and yet you’re crying like a little kid …… you should learn from your mother and brother. They’re smiling like idiots even though they’re engulfed in fire. Kindness sometimes surpasses a warrior’s resolve. They’re on the verge of dying, but still trying to not make you worried.」

Hearing what the queen said to him, Arnold looked up and met the smiling eyes of his mother and brother.
There was no resentment or pain in their eyes as they nodded gently.
Tears ran down from Arnold’s eyes.

「…… Arnold, I am so proud to have you as my son. I believe that you can fly higher than anyone else. Please support your father …… Ahh, the two of you are so alike. Clumsy, vulnerable, stubborn …… and kinder than anyone else …… my dear treasures ……」

「…… Brother …… I couldn’t be as proficient in archery as you are …… I desperately trained …… so that I could enter your sight …… but when I look up, your back has always been far away and dazzling …… but now I’ll be going up to heaven …… I’ll watch over you from the sky. So when you …… look up to the sky, please remember …… me …….」

Flames of resentment flared in Arnold’s eyes as he heard the parting words of the two who were tied to a pillar.

Enduring an agony that burned their windpipe from the inside out, his mother and brother smiled and expressed their feelings.
Arnold’s mother never abandoned him when he was just a whining little boy that likes to throw a tantrum and patiently raised him.
Arnold was secretly proud of the fierce love and kindness hidden inside her gentle nature.
His noble younger brother was not talented in archery, but he never gave up on life, and his talent blossomed as a civil official.
Arnold was always proud of his younger brother, who resolutely took up the challenge and achieved results on a path that Arnold had always been uncomfortable with and had always run away from.
These two wonderful people were cruelly engulfed in flames.

And it’s all his fault ……!! I can’t allow this to happen ……!!
I haven’t even told them how I feel ……!!

Arnold’s muscles swelled and his chains creaked as he sobbed.
His skin broke, the chains dug into his flesh, and blood gushed out.

I’m not going to let you two get killed like this ……!!
I don’t care if my arm will never be able to move again!! Wait for me!!
Don’t die!! I’m coming to save you now ……!!