3 bar menu

Chapter 78 Part 4 – The fortune teller ‘Mother’ appears. The 「True History」 is starting to be revealed little by little. Our love story is beginning to move. Carrying various emotions, the curtain rises on the night of the dance ball.

「Promise me. Promise me that you will survive no matter what.」

Bradd said as our lips parted after a long kiss.

And I …… I ……!! I left him sitting there and put my back against the door ……!!
Even though I knew that he could no longer move!! Just like that time with Flora ……!!

「…… Will you go on ahead of me? …… You are strong. You can walk by yourself. So, go. For the sake of seizing happiness. Don’t look back. I’ll make sure to catch up with you …… after I get some rest.」

He urged me.
But there was no way that was possible.
Because he had entrusted me with whatever life force he had left. To keep me alive. To let me escape from here.

「Don’t worry. There’s no way I’m going to die and leave behind the prettiest bride in the world. When everything is over, let’s go to that hill filled with memories where flowers bloom. The souls of Seraphy and the others will surely be waiting for us there. …… Now, hurry up and go.」

Bradd lied to me for the first time.
There is no way he could have misjudged his own death.
He said that so that I would not choose the path of double suicide, and so that a scar would not be left on my heart from witnessing his death.

And he must have wanted to cry. Not for himself, but for me.

I knew better than anyone how much Bradd loved me and how faithful he was. He was the kind of person who, once he said he would protect me, would never break that vow in his lifetime. He must have felt frustrated. And worried. By the fact that he’s about to leave me behind and pass away.

However, he suppressed all that frustration and sent me off with a smile.

…… And yet I ……!! I trampled on Bradd’s feelings. I used the power that was given to me, not to escape, but to settle accounts with 「her」. And not only that!! I …… I did something even more unforgivable in order to oppose 「her」 who is far above me ……!!

The sound of swords clashing resounded.

I cannot let 「her」 escape from here. Even if 「she」 loses everything, as long as 「she」 is still alive, 「she」 will come back like a phoenix. Bradd’s death, everyone’s death, would be in vain if that happens ……!! I couldn’t allow that to happen. For that, I would …… no longer care what would happen to me ……!!

A crack runs through the Ruby of the True Emperor hanging on my chest. I repelled 「her」 sword away. The glistening sparks scattered like a comet’s tail. I made 「her」 take a step back for the first time.

As we were surrounded by flames, she faced me from a distance and asked.

「I’m surprised. I can’t believe you used the Blood Atonement ……. It must be Bradd’s work. No wonder he was a bit weak in his final blow. He was saving his strength to give it to you. What an incredible man. But this strength cannot be explained by Blood Atonement alone …… What did you do?」

I was in a daze and unable to answer.

I had no idea who 「she」 was referring to when 「she」 mentioned that name.

No, it’s not only that. The people I loved in my life, the people who loved me, the many precious memories that I should have …… And yet, I couldn’t remember anything at all ……!!

「…… Scarlet, you …… you’ve forgotten about …… I can read the source of your power. Stop it now. If you continue, you’ll end up in a state worse than being disabled. …… Scarlet? I see, you can’t stop the activation by yourself anymore ……」

I was startled by how the arrogant and cold-hearted 「her」 murmured so with pity.

「Poor thing …… It’s been a long time since I’ve truly meant that. If there is such a thing as God, he has given the Ruby a very cruel trump card.」

I think 「she」 truly meant that. Because it was the first time I had ever seen 「her」, the absolute strongest person in the world, make such a face.

「Ahaha, fine then. Scarlet. You’re the best. You have literally put everything you have on the line in this battle against me. Ahaha, ahahaha …… That’s why you’re so special. I will accompany you to the bottom of the abyss. Come on, don’t forget me until the end. Your nemesis is right here.」

And then a loud, crazy laugh echoed through the air.

「Ahaha!! Come, Scarlet!! Let’s dance. Just the two of us!! At the crossroads of this world!!」

「She」 was a demon that ruthlessly trampled on other people’s lives. But sometimes she showed a strange kindness. Or perhaps it was just a whim. However, even at this time, she actually went as far as to meet me head-on in a sword fight. For a battle veteran like 「her」, she would have been able to beat me to death with just a teasing move if she wanted to. Perhaps that was why. I could never truly hate 「her」 no matter how much I resented or detested her. Although it is unforgivable to even mention it from my mouth, I even had a faint yearning for 「her」 free-spirited and vivid way of life.

Then, after a deadly battle, 「she」 and I stabbed each other’s bodies and fell into a sea of ​​flames ……

In my fading consciousness, I kept apologizing to him.

I’m sorry. I’m sorry to you whose face and name I can no longer recall.
If this was going to happen, I should have given up on my body. If only I had the courage, there would have been plenty of opportunities. Although I can’t remember it, my heart knows. You gave me so much more than I could ever hold ……!!

I’m the worst. I didn’t just let you die.

In order to fight against 「her」, I even burned the most precious memories of the two of us ……!!
It’s so heartbreakingly sad, and yet, I can’t …… remember anything. I lost you twice. No, what I did is the same as killing you. It’s so hard …… it’s so painful……. I don’t even know why I’m crying and yet I feel so sad and miserable ……!! I’m sorry ……!! I’m ……!!

「W-What’s wrong, Sca-chibi?」

Bradd grabbed me by both shoulders and shook me, only then did I realize that I was crying raggedly.

Huh? Why am I like this …… It felt like I was remembering something important ……

「S-Sorry. my body seems to be out of order because of the sudden transformation.」

I don’t really know for sure, but it must be so.
As the hard-boiled little girl that I am, tears don’t suit me.

My body wobbled, but I braced myself and tried my best to hold it together.

I answered Bradd’s question as if I was persuading myself and Bradd didn’t pursue the matter any further.

「…… That’s possible. Even I was surprised by the fact that I suddenly became an adult.」

He wiped away my tears and patted me on the head, but then he raised both of his hands in the air with a wry smile.

「Oops, sorry. I shouldn’t do this. Right now, you’re a splendid young lady. Excuse me. Lady Scarlet. Please forgive my rudeness.」

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing at the slightly pretentious way he said it.

「It’s fine. You don’t have to change how you act to me. After all, I’m the same person on the inside.」

For some reason, it felt a little nostalgic. Even though he always acts like this to me. Also, my heart ached a little.

「Mnnn, but since both of us currently have the appearance of an adult, it might not be a good idea for us to interact in this way. If your father sees us like this, he might have a misunderstanding and want to kill me. Although it is an accident that we are in this position, definitely not intentional.」

「What do you mean by ‘this position’? Hyaaa!?」

After hearing Bradd’s words, I immediately looked around and confirmed the situation.
Then, I screamed in a very unladylike manner.

Bradd’s concern was understandable.

I was sitting with my legs out to one side, just like how ladies would sit when riding a horse.

…… But I wasn’t sitting on the carriage’s seat. Of all things, I was sitting on Bradd’s knee, or rather, on his thigh …… Bradd had his legs slightly spread apart, and I was in between them, resting my butt on one of his legs. It’s no wonder that my body was unsteady.

「W-w-w ……!!」

I was at a loss for words due to the overwhelming shock.

「Funny, right?」

Hey!! There’s no way I can laugh in this situation!! How did this happen!?

I was so enraged that I turned my face toward Bradd and was about to flare up at him, but because of that, I almost ended up kissing him. Both of us instantly turned our heads away from each other in a panic, so it ended with only our cheeks lightly touching. If we had turned our head in the wrong direction, it could have resulted in a serious accident.

Well, that’s just how close Bradd’s face is to mine in this current situation. If I put my arms around his neck and fall down, it would become an intense love scene in no time.