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Chapter 47 Part 5 – 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 trembling, faint voice was finally squeezed out from the back of Arnold’s throat.
Hearing his words, Alisa had a terrible smile.

「…… I deceived you? Women are creatures that wear makeup. It’s only natural for them to wear a mask or two. You’re such an idiot. You should have stopped trying to act cool and just share a bed with me. Then you could have learned a little about women. It was hard for me to hold back my laughter every time I pretended to be innocent and pressed my breasts against a boy who was blushing and enduring his desire.」

Sighing deliberately, Alisa had the same expression as the queen at the execution site.
She is a monster who enjoys toying with people’s fates.
Arnold shuddered.

Compared to this person, Queen Scarlet, whom Arnold thought was the enemy, is nothing more than a little girl desperately trying to pretend to be ruthless.

「…… Did you also lie when you said you always wore black ribbons as a substitute for mourning clothes ……」

Arnold asked in a depressed voice. It was a stupid question, he mocked himself. He was ashamed that he still wanted to believe in Alisa’s humanity. If Alisa was really that queen, there was bound to be only an atrocious answer to be returned.

Alisa tilted her head and smiled as she fiddled with the long black ribbon.

「I never take off this black ribbon, even when I am having a love affair.」

Then she mercilessly shoved down Arnold’s heart that was about to cling to hope.

「…… Ahahaha!! I wonder what you are misunderstanding. How can a woman who is held by a man while wearing mourning clothes be mourning for the dead? The pathetic naivete of a young boy that is trying to cling to his parent’s enemy …… makes me thrilled. As a reward, I’ll give you the answer.」

After bursting into laughter, Alisa held up her hand to the gold beetle hair ornament.
Arnold’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets as he saw the beetle begin to crawl around as Alisa stroked it.
The metal product came to life.
Its thick fangs clenched tightly together.
It spread its wings and soared with a grating sound.
It flew powerfully, drawing a trail of shimmering gold.
Arnold stiffened in shock, and Alisa spoke happily to him.

「…… It’s not a metal product. The golden bug is not a legend, but a real insect. However, instead of picking up the souls of the dead, they devour the flesh of the dead …… they attract their prey with their golden glow …… and then …… 」

It was too late when Arnold suddenly realized the meaning of Alisa’s whispered words.
The golden bug latched onto the tip of Arnold’s bow.
The inner wings folded back in a flash, revealing a back that shone like a gold coin.
Before Arnold could look away, a strange gleam came into his eyes.
The golden glow transformed into something that looked like a skull.
An illusion of a sneer filled Arnold’s field of vision.

In a panic, Arnold tried to shake off the golden bug and fell over, tangling his legs.
Trying to jump up, he plunged face first into the floor.
His eyes whirled around in front of him, and he was unable to grasp where heaven and earth are.
Cold sweat broke out on Arnold’s forehead as he realized that in an instant he had lost his sense of equilibrium.
The tip of the golden bug’s forelimb, which resembles a small iron hook, scratched his cheek and rested on the edge of his eye.
Arnold’s blood drained from his face as he realized that the golden bug was looking for an easy spot to bite.
Alisa’s laughter echoed.

「Ahahahaha!! Do you understand now? The glow of the golden bugs is like a narcotic that makes people’s senses go haywire. Then these children devour the humans who are immobilized …… You guys can go now.」

Arnold almost screamed when he saw countless golden bugs crawling out of Alisa’s sleeves and collar. The repulsiveness that can make a person wake up at once from a hundred years of love gave him goosebumps all over his body. The golden bugs all took off at once and danced wildly around Alisa. Alisa continued her explanation to Arnold while lovingly playing with the bugs.

「…… You know, these little guys dazzle you with their appearance, their movements, their smell, and the sound of their wings. They are diligent killers. They are very compatible with my signature move.」

Alisa’s figure became hazy like a heat haze and turned into countless red petals and swirled.
It was reminiscent of Bradd’s signature clone technique, the Blood Sakura Butterfly.
The difference was that the vortex suddenly reversed from there.
The vortex spread out and became smaller again with a high speed rotation. Arnold drew in a gasp.

After the blood sakura petals converged, he saw not Alisa but Scarlet, the queen at the execution site, standing there with a cold gaze. She looked exactly the same as she had in the nightmare. She smiled wickedly and spun around in a circle as if to show it off to him. The glow of the golden bugs coiling around her trailed like the headlights of a car.
Arnold’s head went numb at the shocking sight, even though he had been vaguely aware of it for some time.
Alisa lovingly embraced her body, which had turned into Scarlet’s appearance, with both hands.

「…… Here’s your answer. Fufufu, it’s hard to tell apart the fake and the real one. Even I can’t help but get excited …… These children can enhance the effect of Blood Sakura Butterfly. Although I’m also capable of enhancing the effect, it would be too much for me to handle if I use it for a long time. Have you heard of symbiosis ……? Me and the gold bugs have a symbiotic relationship. The gold bugs help me and in return I …… fufufu, you should already have a guess, right? Now you’re about to experience it for yourself ……」

With an ecstatic, dreamy look on her face, she continued.

「…… Did you know? The real Scarlet is very courageous and kind. She tries very hard not to hurt people. She did the same for your father. She issued his pardon ten days before his execution. She didn’t even know about your mother and younger brother wanting to sacrifice themselves in exchange. The look on her face when she was later informed of the execution was priceless. 「Why……」 she said. Her face became ghastly pale and tears welled up in her eyes as she was at a loss for words. …… She was so cute that I wanted to embrace her. You cursed at such a kind-hearted girl and considered her as your parent’s enemy. Poor her …… but I wonder, then who killed your family? Could it have been someone else that pretended to be Scarlet that showed up?」

「…… Alisa ……!! …… You ……!!」

Arnold gritted his teeth in anger as he looked at the giggling Alisa.
All the blood in his body felt like it was flowing backwards.
His fear of golden bugs was obliterated by his fury.

The sad expression on Queen Scarlet’s face when he had accused her of the crime replayed in his mind.
She was innocent. Those tears were shed for him and his family.
He joined the rebel army and had driven Scarlet into a corner.
His heart creaked with regret. What Matzo said was the truth.

I’ve been made to dance like a clown all my life ……!!
Without realizing that the culprit was right beside me ……!!
I’ve misunderstood and hated the real Queen who cried for our family to the point of wanting to kill her ……!!

Arnold’s face contorted in humiliation and grief.

「…… Fufufu, is it so hard on you that you’d cry …… This brings me back, Arnold. The night you woke up with nightmares of losing your family …… the night I stroked your hair and comforted you …… the night you cried tears of sorrow and fell asleep reassured by a hand that reminded you of your mother …… not knowing that it was in fact the hand of the culprit …… So pitiful.」

Unable to speak due to rage, Arnold sneered at Alisa. Then once again Alisa turned into blood sakura petals and swirled.
Gradually emerging from beneath the petals was a tall, slender woman whom Arnold did not recognize.
Her bundled platinum hair and green eyes reminded him of a forest fairy.
The lonely beauty that seems to have a sad fate was somewhat reminiscent of Scarlet.

「…… This is Scarlet’s mother, Cornelia, who died young …… I always use this appearance when I kill Scarlet’s father, the Crimson Duke. It’s so interesting. The calm, seamless duke, whom even I would have had a hard time dealing with would just stand there like a fool. He even crumbled in tears. Fufufu …… Your current expression is just like the expression you had on the execution site …… Oh right, do you want me to change my appearance to your mother’s and comfort you?」

Arnold was infuriated by Alisa’s faint smile while using Cornelia’s appearance.
Alisa desecrated the dead. She trampled on people’s feelings. He could never forgive her.
Anger gave him explosive energy and Arnold shook off the golden bug’s spell.
He shook off the golden bug that was about to bite him on the cheek and stood up.

Arnold aimed his bow at Alisa that had returned to her original form.