Chapter 446: Proof of Existence (34)

0% I needed to say something, but no words came out.

It felt like my tongue had turned to stone. My Adam’s apple trembled every time I tried to squeeze my vocal cords.

My sister… the one I lost so many years ago.

The words drifting through my mind wouldn’t lock into place. They scattered like lonely images rather than forming sentences. I wanted to choke out all the emotions swelling inside me:

Why did you show up only now?

Why did it have to be at this moment?

What have you done–do you even know how many sins you’ve committed?

But all those questions were blocked by a single word. My original sin weighed heavily on my heart.

My sister.

Yes. I was the one who abandoned her.

Perhaps it was my parents who decided to cast her aside initially–but after I defeated the Corpse Giant, it was I who chose not to look for her.

The truth was–I was afraid.

I couldn’t even begin to imagine what might have happened to my sister, who had been taken by the Dark Order. Part of me hesitated, afraid that bringing it up might hurt Ria. No–perhaps, after all this time apart, my family and I were nothing more than intrusions in the life she had built for herself.

Excuses.

There may have been all sorts of rationalizations, but in the end, my choice was nothing more than a pathetic act of avoidance.

And now the bitter fruit of that choice stood before me.

My facial muscles convulsed. So many emotions surged within me that my body didn’t even know what expression to make. A parade of conflicting ripples passed across my face.

Twisting. Collapsing. Clenching my lips in silence.

Then, the girl burst into maniacal laughter.

“Pffft, ahaha… ahahahahaha! W-What, you startled? Surprised, right~? Sorry, sorry, I wanted to give you a heads-up, but……”

Suddenly, the sound of teeth grinding could be heard.

It was a noise filled with such intense emotion that it seemed like her molars might shatter. When the girl stamped her foot in uncontrollable rage, dust billowed up with a boom.

Crack. The bedrock split, and the ground’s mouth creaked open.

It was the result of pure physical force. Even compared to me, her physical capabilities were on another level.

What kind of power would she unleash in a full-blown battle?

And so, I fell into fear and self-loathing.

She had such skill. Of course, it couldn’t have come without pain.

Surely, she must have sacrificed something in return.

As if to prove this, a blue demonic energy blazed in the girl’s golden pupils. For a moment, it felt as if my entire field of vision went dark except for that ghostly fire.

Grnnk, grnnk.

With the sound of white teeth splintering as sheet music, thick emotions of hatred were spewed out.

“A sibling reunion shouldn’t be this boring… don’t you think, older brother?”

“Ria, I……”

I was at a loss for words. I stepped back hesitantly while placing my hand on my forehead to cover my vision.

I felt dizzy, as if I might faint at any moment.

From the swirling fog of my mind, I barely managed to string together a few words.

“……What have you done?”

“Hmm?”

At that, the malice disappeared from the girl’s face.

Gone was the demonic aura–now replaced by an oddly innocent tilt of her head. I didn’t even have the mental capacity to be surprised by this astonishing reversal.

My hand waved vaguely toward her back.

To the faceless monsters who stood lined up like dolls.

It was obvious they had once been human.

“What… what did you do, Ria? Do you even understand what you’ve done?!”

“Aha.”

As if my meaning had finally clicked, she gave a sweet smile.

With dainty, and graceful steps, she approached the faceless monsters. The girl proudly spread her arms like a shopgirl introducing her wares.

“I didn’t do anything. I simply granted their wishes… But you know, deals must be fair, right? So as a merchant, I just collected my due payment.”

“Wishes, you say? Becoming a slave stripped of body and soul was their wish?”

The girl burst into giggles.

And then, blink, the blood-red sun flickered momentarily. Afterward, the light began to shine like direct sunlight, illuminating only specific points.

Graaah, grrg, kreehh.

One of the faceless monsters stepped forward, creaking like a broken marionette. Standing before it, the girl threw open her arms and made a bright announcement.

“Sir Telon of the Delos School! Though he studied under a master who was a great figure in the magical world, the master cared only for gold–so only his wealthiest disciples earned his approval! He, who couldn’t even learn properly, craved more knowledge. After he started trading with our company, his skills improved by leaps and bounds, and–can you believe it? In a fit of rage, he murdered his own master! Now he’s on the Delos School’s kill list. What happened next… is a secret~”

Wink, the girl gave me a coy look and her gaze turned somewhere.

It was where faint groans were leaking out. Senior Elsie, who had taken the girl’s strike, was staggering to her feet.

Blood dripped from her mouth, falling from her chin. Anyone could see she was in an abnormal state.

As my expression became urgent, the curve on the girl’s lips deepened.

“Today, he will personally provide guidance to the customer’s little pet!”

Keeeeeeek!

A blood-red ominous light burst from the faceless monster’s eyes. With a scream that scraped the eardrums, the monster began to charge.

Additionally, black spheres lined up in the air.

Senior Elsie hadn’t even properly regained her posture. At this rate, the outcome of the battle was clear.

A loud cry burst from my throat.

“SENIOR ELSIE!”

I instinctively reached for my waist and gripped the hatchet. I had only one thought: I must save her.

Just as I was about to throw it–

Crunch, my arm froze mid-motion. Even as I clenched my teeth and forced my strength into it, only sharp pain responded.

My bloodshot eyes turned towards my arm.

I saw the problem.

Faint blood-red threads covered the surrounding space like a spider web. My arm was also caught by dozens of threads, unable to move forward.

When on earth?

This question disappeared as the girl moved with bouncy steps. There wasn’t even a hint of accomplishment on her face.

Her attitude suggested that this outcome was inevitable.

A difference in skill.

That truth struck me with bitter clarity. She had the power to control any space, anywhere, at any time.

Blink. The lights flickered again.

Two more faceless monsters creaked forward. They gave a polite greeting with their skinny flesh bathed in blood.

Kueoek, kreak, kek!

With that ridiculous sound as background noise, the girl bowed politely.

“The Melsis brothers of the Holy Nation! Devout followers of their village priest since childhood. But shockingly, the priest turned out to be a monster who preyed on young boys! Their fanatical parents refused to believe them and blamed the brothers instead… until they stumbled upon our humble establishment. After killing their priest and parents, they fled, hoping to forget the past and build a new family… Pfft… Yes, until the Holy Nation’s purification squad found them! In the end, they returned to us–pleading only for their new family to be spared.”

Despicable.

I gritted my teeth. Digging into others’ wounds and weaknesses, then posing as their only salvation while setting conditions.

Despite knowing, plain as day, that the end result would be ruin.

It was a cruel deal.

Though it pretended to be fair, its essence was no different from blackmail or coercion. Their mental state prevented them from considering any other options

But this wasn’t the time to worry about others.

The girl glanced sideways again, then smiled politely.

“Today’s lesson will include a junior who thinks he’s oh-so-clever, and a little brat with dreams above her station!”

KRREEEEEEHHHH!

With that declaration, the two monsters moved by hopping across the ground. The black aura coalescing on their arms and legs left ominous trajectories.

Yuren and Celine had just regained their senses.

I desperately tried to move my body. But the more I did, the more the blood-red threads tightened around me.

A desperate scream burst out.

“CELINE! YUREN!”

Just as he was getting up, Yuren spat out a curse.

“Fuck… I was just trying to lay low!”

I had nothing to say.

Soon an explosion was heard, and the battle began.

Groans from all around testified to the group’s disadvantage.

I felt like I was going mad.

My precious companions were facing death. Yet there was nothing I could do.

Despair, screams, blood.

Through it all, the girl moved with mesmerizing steps. The faint smile in her eyes was fatally charming.

“…..Give up.”

That one phrase turned my mind white.

A crimson whisper echoed in my brain.

“There’s no chance of winning against me anyway… You know that, right? So just surrender quietly.”

My eyes trembled wildly.

Give in? Just like that?

Memories began to fall one by one. For reasons I couldn’t understand, memories of the Saintess poured down like drizzling rain.

Immanuel, Immanuel…….

Between meaningless murmurs, the girl’s voice cut in.

“…..There is no god.”

A low chuckle followed.

“If there is, why doesn’t He save you?”

With a twirl, she spread her arms like a dancer.

“Our Lord always delivers fair payment for fair offerings… So what about your Lord?”

A black dot burrowed into my heart.

“Give up. Despair. Collapse…..!”

That honeyed whisper nearly brought me to my knees.

A deep groan leaked from my mouth.

I wanted to give in.

To fall, to submit, to close my eyes.

But… why couldn’t I?

Suddenly, another memory flared through my mind.

A faint, blurry scene–where a woman whispered to me.

‘……This is the Lord’s will.’

The sensation of a pure white lightning shot down my spine.

Intoxicated by the thrill running through my body, I shouted recklessly.

“Greed, I propose a deal!”

Flinch, the girl’s body, which had been relaxed throughout, stiffened.

Soon, her frozen gaze turned to me. With an infinitely serious expression, she asked.

“……The terms?”

My mouth closed automatically.

Since it was a spontaneous outburst, I hadn’t thought of any detailed proposal.

But I carelessly made a playful suggestion.

“How about… giving me a singular sincere hug?”

It was nonsense.

What kind of wish could that possibly fulfill? I must’ve gotten confused because she looked so much like Ria.

Just as I was half-resigned to my fate–

“…..Hmm.”

The girl began to seriously contemplate my proposal while holding her chin.

As I was attempting to understand the situation.

“Alright.”

With a snap of her fingers, the monster attacking Senior Elsie dispersed into shadows.

Senior Elsie, who had been engaged in battle, looked at me while gasping for breath.

A look of incomprehension.

But I too was no less baffled.

Only the girl moved, spreading her arms and blushing slightly.

Avoiding my eyes a bit as if embarrassed.

“But… you have to hug me for more than a minute, okay?”

I swallowed a hollow laugh and thought.

……This actually works?