Chapter 63

Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 63

Chapter Title: Don't Forget Me - 3

Clang!

"...!!!"

...

"Haa..."

...

Rustle rustle

"Haa... huu..."

...

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

"Hah...!"

"..."

Step. Step. Step.

...

Step step step

Thud

"Huu..."

...

...

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Springing up

"Luca...!?"

...

Clang!

Clang!

"Ah..."

...

Rustle rustle

Thud

...

Clang!

Clang!

"...!"

...

"Ah..."

Intense sounds battered my consciousness. I couldn't hold out any longer. They kept forcing my eyelids open, demanding I rise.

Clang!

I'm sorry. Just a little longer... I just want to sleep a bit. I'm so exhausted. No matter how much I begged with tears, there was no mercy. The sounds just kept screaming in my ear to get up.

Clang!

...

Fine. I get it...

I just have to get up, right?

"Haa..."

In the end, I let out a shallow breath and forced my eyes open. With immense effort, I lifted my precious, heavy eyelids to face a world I didn't want to see.

And I faced deep darkness.

"Haa..."

Is it because it's night? I deliberately exhaled to create a white mist in front of my eyes, trying to pierce the gloom. But no matter how much time passed, the darkness filling my vision didn't retreat. After staring into the endless void for a long while, a possibility suddenly dawned on me.

What if... I can't see?

Come to think of it, my body felt strangely sluggish today, my senses dulled. It wasn't just normal sensations. The gnawing hunger in my gut, the thirst choking my parched throat, the cold relentlessly whipping my body—they were all gone. The pains that had tormented me for days vanished in an instant, leaving me with a fleeting sense of peace.

Then, the last shred of my rationality scolded me harshly. Eli, you idiot. No sensations means you're dying.

"Haa... ah..."

Dying, huh.

Only then did I recall last night's events once more. My body and mind were already utterly exhausted, but Sera's words had pierced deep into my heart like knives.

It can't be real. Sera wouldn't do that. Even as I tried to comfort ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠myself, my crumbling heart collapsed like a sandcastle. In the end, I squeezed out tears I'd been holding back and wept bitterly through the night.

Was that when my frail body used up all its strength? For the first time, the thought crossed my mind: maybe I really will die.

"Haa... haa..."

...

Then... is that so bad?

But defying my rationality, my fragile body countered. Do I have to not die? Wouldn't dying bring relief? Is it really so wrong to just close my eyes and drift off like this?

Just for one moment. If ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠only for that one moment, can't I find some peace?

Tears welled up. Even if no more drops would come no matter how hard I tried, my eyes burned hot. A soft bed. Warm food. Loved ones. My situation—dying alone in the snow, stripped of everything I'd taken for granted—felt so heartbreakingly pitiful.

"Haa..."

Abandoned by my friend, attacked by my comrade. I have no reason left to live. I'm tired now. It wouldn't matter if I died like this. Even if I passed quietly without a grave, I didn't want to suffer anymore.

Yeah. I really don't care if I die now.

Just one wish.

Before I die, I want to see Luca's face. Just once.

...

"Ah..."

No.

The truth is... I don't want to die.

I want to see Luca.

I haven't even gotten close to the dreams I wanted to chase.

I haven't even half-conveyed the words I wanted to say.

I don't want to die like this. I can't die like this.

"Ah... ahh... ah..."

I hate... this...

"Aah... ahh... aaa..."

I desperately clawed at my throat, yearning for the lost sensations of life. Please. Even if it hurts, come back. Even if it aches, fine. Even if it's agony, that's okay. Let me feel alive just a moment longer. Let me be with Luca just one more moment.

"Ah... ahhh..."

Clinging attachment to life crawled over my body. Unfulfilled wishes flashed like a panorama in my mind, unsaid words sank into my throat. More desperately than ever, I craved life and lifted my head—only to paradoxically feel death vividly.

"Haa... ah..."

I struggled to the end, but now even my breaths grew faint, my heartbeat so weak it barely registered. In my final moments, Luca filled my thoughts. But with darkness before my eyes, I couldn't see his face.

Luca. Where are you? Please help me. I'm dying.

Of course, I know. I know I should be the one helping you now. I... I know.

But I'm in so much pain right now. Even I can't hold on any longer.

...

Still, if you can't help me,

can't you at least hold my hand one last time...?

...

"Eli."

Suddenly, someone's voice called my name. Could it be Luca? Clutching that futile hope, I strained to listen—but the next sound was the utterly unfamiliar voice of a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠young girl.

Words whose meaning I couldn't grasp echoed in my ears. These weren't the words I longed to hear. But I couldn't ignore them. The girl's voice carried an inexplicable magic that drew people in.

"Haa..."

I responded with my frail breath. The voice's owner chuckled softly and repeated the words.

"..."

"..."

"Haa..."

The words felt strangely familiar. Not alien at all—they were etched somewhere in my memories, stirring ripples in my heart. I lifted my head slightly, following the voice.

...

Erenggeti... Ruta.

Without realizing it, I repeated the words. The voice responded with a pleased, excited tone.

"That man. You want to see him that badly?"

After reciting every word, a sentence with meaning finally popped out. I just nodded silently, exhaling faintly.

"Haa..."

"That man who smells of mint flowers—you want to see him that much?"

"..."

"No matter what? Is that your deepest wish?"

Who... are you...?

Gathering my last strength, I barely managed the question. The voice answered, but now even my hearing faded distantly—I couldn't make it out. I was truly close to death now. Though I'd never experienced it, I instinctively knew my life was ebbing away.

".. .... .. .. ... ... ... ..."

The voice kept whispering something. As if it didn't matter if I heard. The ongoing murmur ended abruptly with a clear voice.

Then. Shall I help you, Eli?

The final words pierced directly into my mind. From the brink of death, that voice was so sweet and tempting.

"...Yes."

Before I could think deeply, instinct opened my mouth and replied.

You want my help?

"Yes."

No matter the price?

"..."

You want to see him, right?

"...Yes."

No matter how—no matter what, that's your desire?

"Yes."

Good. Then repeat after me.

Eli.

"Eli."

"Seta. Artani. Verum."

"Erenggeti. Ruta."

Good job, Eli.

Don't worry.

I'll keep my promise.

...

Rustle.

Then my hearing returned, and cold fingers brushed the stinging snow from my eyes. The darkness before me slowly faded, replaced by an overwhelmingly white landscape. As unfamiliar magical energy seeped in from my fingertips, I suddenly came face-to-face with a rabbit ahead.

"..."

The rabbit worked its mouth nonstop, staring at me with bright red eyes. Gazing at her, I offered not just thanks, but hope and longing.

"...Thank you."

Even then, her words echoed in my mind.

Eli. Seta. Artani. Verum. Erenggeti. Ruta.

...

What could it possibly mean?

I remembered one thing: that day, when all our fates changed, I heard these words.

This single phrase, meaningless as it was, kept circling my mind.

I knew it. This one sentence had ultimately brought disaster upon us. You can't expect kindness from others in demon territory. This might lead to another ruin.

But the only words I could say now were these. Maybe... they were the ones I should have said from the beginning. From that day I failed to protect Luca, perhaps this was my only choice left.

...

Sorry for being stupid. Sorry for being weak. Sorry for not protecting you.

But all I can do now... is this.

"Sorry, Luca."

I poured all my feelings into those simple words of apology. Then, with lips still tasting of salty tears, I called my own name.

"Eli."

The bitter coffee scent of that man lingered on my tongue. I wanted to retch, but there was no time—I pulled the words from my mind and spat them out with his scent.

Suddenly, beyond Luca's shoulder, a faint figure appeared. Was it that rabbit from back then? Probably not. Doubts still filled my heart. But in the end, I uttered the final words.

Ugh...

A strange sensation began crawling up from my fingertips. But I didn't look down. Instead, I gazed endlessly into Luca's eyes. You, still rigid as stone, looked at me with the same desperate gaze from that day.

Sorry, Luca. But this is my final choice. It's a slim chance, like a thread, but maybe this way I can see you again.

Now I clearly felt my body hardening from the fingertips. I tried to endure, but my guts twisted, blood dried up, veins cracked—agony escaped in a scream before I knew it.

"Ah... aaa... aaak...!"

What will happen to me? Will I harden into stone like you? Or something even worse?

"Euk... aaaaaaak!"

I don't know. Nothing is certain. But it doesn't matter. If this lets me see you again, if I can behold your face once more.

"Ah... aaa... aaaaak!"

Yes. If I can hold your hand again, I can do anything, Luca. So, promise me just one thing. No matter what I become, no matter my state. Even if I'm frozen in stone for eons. Just one thing. Promise me, Luca. Please...

"Don't. Forget me."