Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: Mod7
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Chapter 6 - Grace
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Aria’s gaze, soft and moist, was fixed on Juho.
Like someone who had rediscovered a long-lost treasure, her eyes, unknowingly, shimmered with an almost honey-like sweetness.
She hadn't forgiven him. Aria still felt betrayed, and she still desired him, wanting both [revenge] and [possession].
But her green eyes, now filled with a newfound vitality, couldn't hide her true feelings.
Aria couldn't define the emotions swirling within her.
She was confused,
Bewildered by Juho’s decision to prioritize kindness and empathy, even after everything she had done to him.
“…”
But no words escaped her parched lips. She was speechless.
Aria couldn't understand Juho.
He was so close,
Yet so distant,
And his beauty, surpassing even the stars in the night sky, made it difficult to even look at him.
Aria’s eyelids fluttered, shielding her eyes from his gaze.
The emotions that had withered and dried, numbed by the nearness of death, began to resurface.
Aria,
Seemed to love him.
But Princess Arachne, who had been silently listening to this absurd exchange,
“…”
Stared at Aria with undisguised disgust.
Until now, she hadn’t cared. Aria had been nothing more than a valuable meal, a bonus prize caught during her pursuit of Juho.
But now, seeing the interaction between Aria and Juho, a wave of revulsion washed over her.
Arachne had no intention of associating with the foul-smelling, fish-like creatures.
Spiders, who avoided water despite enjoying baths, saw the mermaids as primitive, grotesque [monsters].
There were even stories, cautionary tales shared among the spiders, about the dangers of venturing too close to rivers and lakes.
Like the story of the two spider sisters who had disobeyed their elders and gone fishing in the river,
And while one was distracted, the other vanished without a trace,
Leaving only ripples on the surface-
“Arachne, I’ll take responsibility.”
Such deeply ingrained prejudices weren't easily overcome.
Even Juho’s earnest pleas couldn't convince Arachne to see Aria as an equal.
For Arachne,
The mermaids were,
A rare and valuable food source.
A delicacy to be savored, perhaps once in a lifetime.
“Let’s release Aria and discuss this together. It’s always wise to form alliances, especially in times of crisis. Don’t you agree, Arachne?”
But Juho continued his impassioned plea.
Did he truly understand Arachne’s thoughts, her feelings?
The world wasn't that simple.
If everything always worked out for the best, the universe would be overflowing with paradise.
–Should I just tear her apart?
Arachne considered it, her mind a battlefield of conflicting emotions and rational thought.
–Should I rip the mermaid to shreds right in front of him, then keep her head and torso as a trophy?
Arachne’s anger simmered, threatening to boil over. She was tired of pretending, of feigning sadness and vulnerability.
–Would that be easier? Perhaps Mother failed because she showed too much… restraint? If I’m absolute, if I leave no room for doubt, there will be no betrayal, no escape.
She was tempted.
Arachne cared for Juho,
Loved him, even,
But his newfound freedom had only led to chaos and betrayal.
Arachne scratched the space between her eyes, trying to calm herself. Perhaps taking control, asserting her dominance, would be the wisest course of action.
“Arachne.”
But,
Juho’s earnest, almost naive sincerity softened her resolve.
“Please… please trust me. I won’t let you regret this…”
In this moment,
Arachne understood her mother.
She finally understood why her mother hadn't been able to mutilate her father.
Seeing him like this, pleading with clasped hands, was strangely endearing. He thought he was being clever, but his naiveté was both amusing and touching.
“Hmm…”
Arachne chuckled softly, then reminded herself of her true goal.
She wanted to claim this earnest, sincere,
Foolishly kind male, as her own.
A clever man, yet
So naive, so inexperienced in the ways of the world.
“But… I don’t want to… sniff…”
“I understand how you feel. But you won’t regret this decision. Trust me.”
And yet,
He was so resolute, so determined to take responsibility.
“R-really…?”
Arachne wiped away her tears and extended her pinky finger.
“Then pinky swear.”
A gift, and a shackle.
A lifeline for her beloved.
And a reminder, a threat, for a future day,
When Juho’s actions might test her patience, push her to the brink.
She would straddle him, her claws tracing the lines of his body, her voice a low hiss in his ear.
“Don’t forget this day. Remember the sacrifice I made. Never forget.”
***
It had worked. Arachne, after her initial protests and feigned reluctance, had finally yielded, moved by my sincerity, and released Aria.
Now, Aria, clinging to my back, was guiding me towards a nearby river. The same river the spiders used to collect water.
Before, I wouldn't have been able to carry her, but Aria, dehydrated and emaciated, felt as light as a feather.
“…”
As we walked towards the water,
Aria remained silent.
Perhaps she was too weak to speak,
Or perhaps she simply didn't know what to say.
“Almost there.”
I felt awkward too.
While I was relieved that everything had worked out, that Aria was free, I knew this could easily go wrong.
Aria hadn't forgiven me. She had also lost too much.
The once vibrant and beautiful Aria was now a shadow of her former self. While her beauty still shone through, she was a shell of her former self, her spirit broken.
“Juho.”
Aria finally spoke,
As we reached the riverbank.
“Put me down.”
She entered the water, her movements slow and deliberate.
As the mermaid, separated from her element, returned, the river seemed to regain its vitality, its colors more vibrant. Birds sang, and the sky was a brilliant blue.
“…”
Aria resurfaced, her eyes and nose still submerged, her green gaze fixed on me.
I stood there, watching her, my feet planted on the riverbank.
It was a risky move,
But I didn't feel any fear, any apprehension about a potential attack.
As long as Aria’s eyes were on me,
I knew I would be safe.
“I heard what you said.”
I spoke, my voice soft.
“I know your numbers have dwindled. So, stay near here. Or… come visit sometimes.”
Perhaps,
It was an overture of friendship, a gesture of goodwill.
Aria chuckled softly, her laughter bubbling up from beneath the surface.
I couldn't see her smile,
But,
I saw the small bubbles rising from her lips,
As her eyes, filled with a quiet sadness, closed.
When the bubbles dissipated, Aria emerged, her face now visible above the water.
“Juho.”
Her sweet voice called my name. And my heart, for some reason, skipped a beat.
“Why did you do that? Why didn’t you just let me die?”
A simple question, but one that required a complex answer.
I stood there for almost five minutes, considering my response,
Then, unable to find a satisfactory explanation, I asked her the same question.
“…I don’t know. Why didn’t you kill me?”
Aria smiled faintly, floating on her back, her body drifting with the current,
And after five long minutes, she finally spoke.
“I don’t know.”
And that was the end of our conversation.
After that brief, absurd exchange,
We both chuckled softly and parted ways.
***
Chapter 6 - Humanity
End.
***