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Chapter 70 Part 2 – Side Story: The Blood-Sucking Madam of the Abandoned Castle (Part 3)

The initial symptoms of the 「Poison Lady’s Kerchief」 are still mild. It only causes breathing difficulties. From this point on, the symptoms will continue to intensify until you reach your demise 10 minutes later. The pain in the final stage is said to be a hundred times worse than in the initial stage. In the end, blood will spurt out from every hole in your body and you will die a horrible death.

Neither Elisabeth nor I are good people like Hannah. We will surely go to hell. If that is the case, then befitting of a villain, we should at least be prepared to accept any kind of death.

「…… Hannah ……」

I wrapped both of my hands around hers.

Hannah is still alive.
But she can no longer be saved.
The shadow of death is apparent.
Even if I moved the chandelier, the result would be the same.
I’ve seen people die many times. I hate those experiences.
There was so little I could do for Hannah.

「…… Hannah …… shall I …… make it easier for you ……?」

With overwhelming sorrow, I said to her.

Death is the ultimate silver bullet for any pain.
Unlike Elisabeth who was only grazed by it, the poisonous blade smeared with the 「Poison Lady’s Kerchief」 would give instant death if the victim received a serious injury from it. That is because the poison I use is several times stronger than what is normally used. In an instant, it can put Hannah out of her suffering.

If only …… I could resolve myself …… to do so.

Hannah looked up with difficulty and stared at me.
Then she smiled like a loving mother.

「…… Scarlet-sama …… please don’t cry …… Don’t suffer anymore for my sake …… Your kindness alone is enough for me ……」

I was trying to feign my composure, but hearing what Hannah said, I crumbled in tears.
Hannah saw through the conflict in my heart and gently refused my help.

「…… Besides …… I’m very happy right now …… so please, send me off with a smile …… Scarlet …… -sama ……」

Hannah’s voice became increasingly faint.

I knew that Hannah was about to say goodbye.

I nodded and smiled with difficulty.
It must have been a terrible smile with my face contorted trying to hold back the tears. But Hannah smiled back at me and looked as if nothing could make her happier.

「…… Ahh …… is it really okay for me to be this happy …… a sinful person like me ……」

I couldn’t bear it and pressed Hannah’s hand against my forehead as if in prayer.

「Hannah!! You haven’t committed a single sin. No, even if you did …… Even if god doesn’t forgive you ……!! I forgive you …… I won’t let anyone complaint about it ……!!」

Hannah smiled brightly at my sobbing words.

「 …… I’m so happy …… It feels so much better now. …… I’m not afraid of …… anything anymore …… I can finally go to where …… my father and …… my mother is. …… I’ll talk a lot …… to them …… on the other side ……」

For that brief moment, it felt like a refreshing autumn breeze blew through the dark castle.

Was that scenery of light an illusion?

I saw Hannah running through the golden ears of wheat.
Her face was no longer scarred.
She proudly wore the shawl I had given her on her shoulders.
Ahead of Hannah, I saw a couple dressed as farmers.
They were waiting for her with their arms outstretched, smiling kindly, much like Hannah.
Then Hannah jumped into their arms.

「…… Father!! Mother!! I made a friend!! She’s beautiful, kind, and the best friend in the world!! My long-wished dream has come true …… She never calls me a monster. With her bell-like voice, she smiled at me as she called my name over and over again. You know, father, mother, when people are happy, tears would come out as well. I completely forgot about it ……」

Her mother nodded repeatedly, 「Good for you」, as Hannah spoke happily all at once, and her father laughed as he easily picked her up with his large hands and placed her on his strong shoulders.

Hannah’s family laughed together and disappeared with the light.

All that remained was the scene of the dark banquet hall and the warmth of Hannah’s hand as she grasped my hand tightly. A cruel reality lay before me. My knees on the floor were wet with Hannah’s blood.

「…… Scarlet …… -sama …… my …… friend ……」

Squeezing out the remaining strength she had, Hannah told me with her trembling lips.

「Yes, Hannah. We are friends. From now on …… forever. So ……!」

I couldn’t finish the sentence as I responded in a tearful voice.
I was sobbing so hard that no more words came out.

Hannah smiled contentedly as if she had no regrets.

「…… I’m …… so …… hap ……py …… to hear …… that. …… I’m glad …… I was …… born ……」

Hannah squeezed my hand and closed her eyes.
Her eyelids never opened again.
Losing its strength, her hand slipped through my fingers and fell into the puddle of blood.

「…… Hannah ……!? …… Hannah ……!! …… Han …… nah ……!」

No matter how many times I called her name, Hannah no longer gave a response. I took her hand, but she didn’t grasp it back anymore.

「………… Hannah …… don’t say …… that you’re happy …… to hear that ……! …… Because …… I ……! …… I haven’t done anything …… for you …… yet ……!!」

I wailed while grasping Hannah’s hand as her body temperature faded away.

God, is this how you treat those with a righteous heart?
If so, that’s too much.

Elisabeth ruined her life, deceived her, treated her like a monster, and even disdained her kindness as she attempted to save others ……!! And yet, Hannah still maintained her kindness. She didn’t deserve to die in such a cruel way.

We only met for a short time, but I truly liked the kind Hannah.

I wanted to make lots of memories together from now on.
I wanted to make sweets together, do embroidery, make garlands and put them on each other’s heads ……
Hannah never experienced such a trivial daily life
I wished to give her happiness.
I wanted her to laugh more.
I wanted to tell her that she is a valuable person.

But none of that would come true now.

In the end, I couldn’t do anything for her as a friend ……!!

「…… I couldn’t do anything besides calling out your name ……!! Even though you even gave up your life to save me ……!! I’m sorry ……!! I’m sorry ……!!」

I looked up to the ceiling with tears streaming down my face and apologized to Hannah.

It’s just too much. Hannah didn’t get rewarded for all her deeds.
And yet, Hannah looked so happy when she passed away. That made it all the more heartrending.

Then the air rumbled as if tearing my sentimentality apart.
A whip rushed toward me from the blind spot behind me.

「…… How dare you injure my face ……!! I’m going to ruin your face!!」

I heard a scream full of resentment.
Elisabeth was still alive.
I was completely caught off guard.
In terms of timing, it would be impossible for me to dodge the attack.

But the snarl of the whip that was supposed to twine around my face and blast my head like a pomegranate passed above my head and only cut off a few strands of hair.

I escaped the surprise attack by chance when I bent down to give Hannah a farewell kiss on the cheek.

Having missed its target, the tip of the whip struck the wreckage of the chandelier. Elisabeth rushed to pull the whip back to her hand, but the whip stopped with a jerk, and was stretched taut. It was like a fishing line caught on a reef and unable to be pulled back.

「…… Impossible ……!! …… How can this kind of coincidence be possible ……!!」

Not only did I accidentally dodge a critical blow, Elisabeth’s whip was also rendered useless in an instant. She let out a shocked groan.

I saw it. A white shawl was wrapped around Elisabeth’s whip along with the chandelier and obstructed the whip.

It was the shawl I had given to Hannah.

I felt as if I could see Hannah’s smile.

Even after she died, she still protected me.

「…… It’s not a coincidence. It’s inevitable.」

Holding back my tears, I turned to look at Elisabeth.
But what I saw made me gasp.