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Chapter 58 Part 1 – Huh? My death is suddenly decided right from the beginning? More enemy reinforcements. And who is「he」, my strongest guardian?

「…… Scarlet!!」

「…… Scarlet-san!!」

I can hear my mother and Seraphy shouting.
Mother’s voice was so filled with sorrow and it even made me feel sorry for her.
Seraphy, too, was distraught to the point that I couldn’t see that he’s actually a genius.
They desperately tried to run toward me.
But the giant standing between us was so powerful that neither of them could break through.

「…… It’s okay. I’m here. Scarlet. I’ll heal you right away. So …… don’t worry about anything else.」

Bradd smiled gently at me as if to dispel my fears.
I could feel that my body was limp, my vision was blurred, and I heard some sounds coming from a distance.

Ahh, that’s right, the more he is in a tight spot, the more he makes this kind of expression to reassure someone else.
What kind of expression should I make in response to his kindness?

My heart was so full that I couldn’t hold it in and was about to cry, 「It’s enough now」.
But my voice won’t come out.
As he squatted, Bradd’s back is now completely unprotected.

You idiot!! You should be a little more concerned about yourself when your enemy is right behind you!!
Why are you being so concerned about me all the time!! Why ……!!

His hands on my back felt warm.
He controlled my blood flow and tried to keep me alive.
He was so focused that sweat trickled down his lower jaw.
No, it was not just sweat. He was also crying.
Without even noticing that he was shedding tears, he smiled at me and was single-mindedly trying to treat me.

Idiot!! Idiot!! Idiot!!

If my arm could move, I would have scolded him and hit his chest repeatedly.
Just like I always did.
After that, we would fight, he would pacify me and also tease me ……
And in the end, he would always gently pat my head.

I could see the red ribbon Bradd was wearing on his head.
My vision was blurred because of my tears.
That brings me back.
It is the color that connects us.
The matching ribbons I’ve been wearing since Bradd gave it to me when I was a baby.
It seemed like it was only yesterday that he personally tied the ribbon for me.

Memories flashed through my mind like a revolving lantern and I realized that I was facing my final moments.

Bradd probably knows it too.

I’m already dead
I remember this feeling of my chest becoming stiff, my whole body felt like it was about to crumble into sand, and it felt like I was about to explode from the agony of suffocation. It was the 「heart-stopping technique」 that Bradd used when he killed me in the previous 「108 times」.

Addis the Faceless had hit me with that technique.

This secret technique of the〈Lawless Crew〉will forcefully stop the hearts of even the mightiest of creatures as long as the target is directly hit by this technique.
There is no way to cancel it.
It is therefore feared as a synonym for the〈Lawless Crew〉.

「…… I’ll get you …… back to normal …… right now ……!!」

「… like this… like this… right now, I’m back to normal…!!」

Behind Bradd, who was desperate to bring me back to life, Addis stood there while sneering.

「…… Nuahahaha!! What a waste of effort～. If you’re the son of the head of the group, you should be able to understand the wonders of the『heart-stopping technique』better than anyone else, right? Let me tell you something. The heart of the red-haired princess is finished. It will not be able to circulate the blood by itself. The moment that boy takes his hands away from the princess for even a second, boom!! She’ll die instantly.」

A grating voice murmured happily.
He turned his upper body away, cackled, and waggled his finger.

「Hahaha!! A heroine with a big head that is incompetent and can only be protected, don’t you think it’s funny!? You should know your place. …… The weak are just existences to be bullied by the strong as a recreation. Ohh, crybaby princess, why are you crying? Are you afraid because you’ve realized that you’re going to die? Are you feeling frustrated? Sad? Come on, come on, tell me how you feel right now?」

「Shut up!!」

Bradd shouted.
Addis shook his body that was completely covered in white outfits and laughed.
He reminded me of the sinister ghosts that wander around a deserted castle.

「Ooohh, I’m scared, I’m scared. Don’t be so angry and enjoy the game, okay? Well then, here’s the ultimate two-choice question. …… I am now about to hit you with the『heart-stopping technique』. So, will you give up that futile treatment and run away? Or will you stay and throw away your life together with the princess? Which one would you like to place an order for?」

Acting like a hypocritically polite cook, Addis put his hand on his chest, bent down, and asked respectfully.

Bradd contemplated seriously, glared at Addis silently for a moment, and then he turned around.
I felt his arms tighten around me as he embraced me.

Addis deliberately clapped his hands loudly.

「…… You made the decision to stay together and have a double suicide!! It makes me cry!! What a beautiful love. To be together in sickness and in health, until death do you part!!」

He pulled a white flower out of his pocket and plucked off the petals.

「I like you guys so much!! It’s time for fortune-telling!! I’m going to divinate what’s going to happen to you two. Live, die, live, die, live, die, live ……!! Oh, if I go with this last petal, the result will be live? Nuahaha!! I accidentally crushed the whole flower!! Ehehe.」

Addis crushed the flower.

「Now then!! The result is out!! Only irrationality is life!! Say goodbye to the disgraceful life of the pitiful and weak princess that can only be protected by her many comrades and is merely a nuisance to those around her.」

「Don’t you mock my daughter!!」

Mother became furious and rapidly fired the arrows.
But all of it was blocked by the giant and did not reach Addis.
The scenery around the giant wavered and six arrows were easily smashed into tiny pieces.
The giant was silent, but Addis saw the situation and was triumphant.

「Nuahahaha!! How ridiculous!! She’s desperate even though the princess is about to die. Once the princess dies, will she scream saying that she wants to take revenge for her daughter? I bet she’s going to fight like crazy even though she doesn’t stand a chance!! That’s amazing. Red-haired princess, alive or dead, you’re hurting more and more of your comrades. Hey hey, why were you born?」

…… It’s frustrating, but it’s true.
Because of me, everyone is getting hurt, and Bradd is dragged into this situation ……!!
If it weren’t for me ……!!

「…… Scarlet, I’m going to get seriously mad at you.」

After reading my mind, Bradd said so but his eyes were kind.

…… But!!
At this rate ……!!
Bradd and I will be killed by Addis ……!!

「…… I told you not to worry. No one has ever once thought that we would be better off without you. And what’s shameful about being protected by everyone? That just shows that a lot of people love you. Do you think that someone who doesn’t know what he’s talking about can do something to me?」

Addis laughed with one hand clutching his stomach when he saw that Bradd continued to treat me with his back turned to him.

「Nuahaha!! I don’t understand!! Words are beautiful, but powerless. How can that princess who’s nothing but a nuisance somehow cause a miracle?」

With the index finger of his other hand, he tapped the side of his mask.
At that part of the mask, it was cracked, caved in, and stained with blood.
It was caused by Bradd when he had punched him earlier.

「It is true that you have injured me. I admit that you are strong, but if you want to defeat me, you have to throw away the nuisance and thoroughly focus on your strength. If you have a better way to get out of this predicament, prove it to me right now!!」

Addis’s hand extended toward Bradd’s back.

「Well then, come over guys!! The countdown to the delightful『heart-stopping technique』begins now. 10, 9, 8 ……」

With my body unable to move, I let out a muffled scream.