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Chapter 70 Part 1 – Side Story: The Blood-Sucking Madam of the Abandoned Castle (Part 3)

「Hannah!! Hannah!! Please!! Answer me!! Hannah!!」

I cried as I clung to Hannah’s hand.

「…… Scarlet …… -sama …… are you …… unharmed ……?」

Hannah said weakly.

「Thanks to you, I’m not injured!! What about Hannah ……」

I cried out. The rest of the sentence couldn’t come out of my mouth.

There is no way that Hannah is not injured.
In order to protect me, Hannah took a direct hit from the chandelier that looked like a pile of blades.

Hannah didn’t answer my question and weakly grasped my hand.
Hannah’s slender hand looked like a white lily.

「Hannah ……!! Wait just a moment!! I’ll take you out of there right now ……!!」

The huge chandelier pressing Hannah down was bent and broken here and there from the impact of the fall. I forcefully ripped off the chandelier brace right next to Hannah’s outstretched hand. A bunch of candle saucers came off.

Hannah’s pale face appeared from underneath.
Her eyes lost its light, but she had a satisfied smile.

「…… I prayed to …… god in the chapel …… I prayed for the safety of Scarlet-sama …… the person who gave me what I wished for the most ……」

Hannah smiled like an angel.

「…… God, thank you very much …… for granting …… my prayer ……」

Tears fell from Hannah’s eyes.

「…… Thank you …… Scarlet-sama …… for being …… my friend ……」

「Hannah ……」

That small whisper made my heart hurt excruciatingly.

Hannah’s prayer in the chapel was for my sake.
For someone she had just met ……

I couldn’t see clearly because of the tears welling up in my eyes.
Then I pulled myself together.
I wiped my tears with my arms and stood up.

What the heck are you doing, Scarlet!!
Stop crying!! You don’t have any time!!
I have to help Hannah right now ……!!

I desperately choked back my sobbing cries and tried to move the chandelier.
But the chandelier was heavy and part of it was embedded into the floor.
Even with all my strength, I could only raise it a few millimeters.
I couldn’t lift it any further with just my strength.
The red color of Hannah’s blood silently spread across the floor.
The blood soaked my feet.
I yelled at the dazed Elisabeth who was still sitting down on the floor.

「Elisabeth!! Hannah saved you as well!! Come here and help me!!」

But Elisabeth responded by cursing at Hannah’s loyalty.

「Hannah!! You traitor!! You were the one that led this girl into the castle!! How befitting of a monster!! Die while being skewered!!」

Elisabeth stood up, pointed a finger at Hannah, and denounced her.

My field of vision became red from anger.

「…… What are you …… talking about!? Hannah was so grateful to you …… because you picked her up …… She talked about it so happily ……!!」

I was so angry that words couldn’t come out properly from my mouth.

Elisabeth snickered.

「Heh …… I hired Hannah because the whole village loathed her monstrous face. It was convenient for me. Even if she told them about the sacrificial rituals, no one would take the word of a monster seriously. Do you seriously think I have no idea about what you’ve been doing?」

「…… But …… I’ve always …… thought that the …… madam pitied me …… and that’s why ……」

Hannah weakly muttered. But then, Elisabeth gave her an even crueler shock.

「Me? Pity the monster? How ridiculous. You really are a clown, aren’t you? Let me tell you one good thing. I’m the one who ran over your mother and father with a horse-drawn carriage and smashed your face.」

Hannah’s expression froze.
She shook her head in refusal, not wanting to accept the truth, and then she cried and laughed. Tears trickled down her cheeks.

「…… Aahh …… I …… I …… I’m such an idiot …… sorry …… father …… mother ……」

I couldn’t bear to listen to Hannah’s heartbreaking cries.

Elisabeth laughed haughtily and loudly as she tried to deliver the final blow to Hannah.

「…… Hohoho …… That’s right. You’re a stupid monster. It was a sight to see. You acted like a dog and wagged your tail at me, not knowing that I am the one who killed your parents. No, even the guard dogs of the castle are much smarter than you …… hohoho …… hiii ……!?」

Elisabeth’s triumphant face stiffened.
The knife I threw grazed Elisabeth’s cheek.
It pierced the wall behind her and quivered.

「Don’t laugh. Don’t you dare insult Hannah.」

My voice was so cold that even I myself shuddered.

And now I have executed Elisabeth.
Elisabeth would not survive.

「…… Your eyes are glowing …… who are you ……」

Elisabeth gasped.

I know. When I seriously get angry, my eyes glow red like rubies.
It was the same with my late father.
When that happens, the restraint on my offensive attacks would burst apart.
I would no longer have any hesitations in making a cruel move.
It’s a demon that is concealed inside my heart.
I didn’t want to let it out if I could.

…… But I can’t forgive this woman.
She trampled on Hannah’s kindness and ridiculed her.

If the heavens do not judge this woman. I will knock her down to hell.

…… I know. Hannah is a child who does not want such retribution.

So this is not an act of justice.
I was foolish enough to let my anger get the better of me and personally punish Elisabeth.
I’m no different from Elisabeth, who trampled on other people’s lives with her ego.
Someday there will be divine punishment for me.

「Why should you care about who I am? You’re already a dead person.」

「Damn you, you little girl, you’re acting so proud ……」

Elisabeth felt enraged over the wound on her cheek, but then her knees gave out and she fell on the floor.
She stared in a daze at her trembling fingertips.

「…… My body is …… numb …… what did you do ……」

「Do you know the poisonous plant called『Poison Lady’s Kerchief』? It was smeared on the knife I just threw.」

I answered quietly so that only Elisabeth could hear me.

「…… Hiii ……!!」

Elisabeth had a stunned expression and then she screamed.

The 「Poison Lady’s Kerchief」 is a plant with flowers shaped like a lady wearing a kerchief. It is famous for its rarity, but even more famous for its toxicity. The flowers, stems, leaves, and roots are all poisonous. Even herbivores that have a resistance to plant poisons will die if they accidentally consume it. Especially when the plant is collected at a specific time of the year during the new moon, it will become viciously poisonous. The deadly poison extracted from its roots has been used for assassination since ancient times. Even until now, no antidote has been discovered.

「…… You can’t be saved anymore. But you won’t die right away because it only slightly scratched your cheek. You will die a slow and horrible death. You’re not the kind of person who would regret the sins you’ve committed. But at the very least, you will experience 1:10,000 of Hannah’s suffering before you die.」

「N-No ……!! I’m the center of the world. I’m the main character. This world should revolve around me …… The world exists to serve me ……!! How could this happen to me ……!!」

I coldly told Elisabeth as she screamed in an unsightly manner.

「You’re not the main character of the world. Do you have friends who would cry for you? Do you have a friend you would cry for? You don’t. That’s what you’re worth. A boring, lonely woman. And you think you’re what? The main character of the world? Don’t be ridiculous.」

No, there was just one person who would cry for Elisabeth’s sake. But Elisabeth did not realize her value. She had personally cut off the fragile thread that might have saved her. That’s why –

「…… Go to hell. That place suits you better.」

「…… Gah …… goh ……!! …… ge ……」

I turned my back on Elisabeth as she started foaming and convulsing.
I secretly repositioned myself so that Hannah could not see Elisabeth.

Because I’m sure that if the kind-hearted Hannah saw this vicious woman’s gruesome death, her heart would definitely feel hurt.
Elisabeth is probably saying she is in pain and needs help, but she can’t speak properly anymore. It’s fortunate that her voice could not reach Hannah. The look of anguish on her face with her purple tongue sticking out looked just like a toad. There’s not a shred of beauty in it anymore.

‘…… But, Elisabeth, be prepared. This is just the beginning of the hellish experience in store for you.’

I muttered quietly inside my heart.