Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Red Hydrangea, Lobelia
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"They shot a child!!!!!!!!!!!"
"We got tricked!! We were fooled!!!"
"I knew we shouldn't have trusted them!!!"
"Grab your weapons!!!"
The first shouts came from the refugees. Before anyone could identify the shooter, Han U-sol and Ronel were pushed back into the crowd.
"Wait, everyone, calm down…!"
Han U-sol tried to yell, but the refugees didn't stop. The death of the young girl from a gunshot had ignited their fury, turning a spark of suspicion into full-blown certainty. Caught in panic, the refugees charged at the soldiers and heroes.
The red blood flowing from the fallen girl's chest spread widely across the ground. But she was quickly forgotten. In their rage and panic, the refugees trampled the blood-soaked pavement where she lay. Occasionally, footprints marked her cold body.
"Stop! Don't respond with force!"
Ronel shouted at the soldiers reaching for their waists. A panicked, aggressive response would only escalate things beyond control.
But restraint wouldn't resolve the situation either. Calming refugees convinced they'd been betrayed was no easy task.
Watching the refugees draw weapons and rush forward, Ronel accelerated her thinking.
This is the work of someone from the demon side.Fooled by Colton's scheme and cornered, one of the remaining demons must have resorted to this desperate act to sow chaos.
What should I do?
There were hundreds of refugees by rough estimate. The soldiers and heroes—barely around ninety—had limits to holding them back without force.
...We can't retreat.
Right behind them was the bustling commercial district. If the refugees rampaged there, the damage would be unimaginable.
The only way to cleanly end this was one:
Kill every last refugee.
No, even if it's dire, that's not an option.
Ronel immediately shook her head, dismissing the thought.
It was the last resort—and the worst one.
This was inside Zone A. There were eyes everywhere. A riot was one thing, but massacring them would hinder Colton's future moves. No one would tolerate a leader committing slaughter in the city's heart.
Ronel gritted her teeth. No breakthrough in sight to calm the refugees or resolve the crisis.
"Attack them all!!"
"Kill them! Kill!!"
"Uaa!! Uaaaa!!"
The refugees' roars tensed the soldiers' lines.
They couldn't draw weapons or retreat. Stuck unable to act, they had to face the human wave bare-handed.
Even with personal power gaps, sheer numbers brought pressure. Anxiety began eroding the soldiers.
That tension and fear spread from one to the next, straining their fragile mental hold to the breaking point.
And all it took to snap that line was a tiny trigger.
A gunshot.
Even one echoing shot, or a soldier hit by a refugee's bullet.
The soldiers' taut line would inevitably break. And once broken, they'd lose reason and strike back.
Refugees with guns drew them, aiming at the soldiers. Ronel's eyes locked on them.
"Damn it…!"
Anticipating what came next, Ronel muttered a curse.
Shit, what do I…!
But the refugees wouldn't wait. They pulled their triggers without hesitation.
-BANG!
-BANG!
-BANG!
The plaza fell beyond Ronel's control.
As Ronel squeezed her eyes shut,
Incoming bullets hit the barrier and fell harmlessly. Stunned by the sudden wall, people stared at the figure extending a hand from the center.
"…Everyone, calm down first."
The plaza hushed, the heated atmosphere cooling momentarily. Thanks to Han U-sol's timely intervention, no one else died besides the first girl.
"…Phew. Senior, thank…"
Ronel exhaled in relief, starting to thank Han U-sol when,
"Hey, Ronel."
A familiar voice called.
"I came because something felt off… What the hell is this?"
"Ah…… Captain?"
It was Aselrika.
Aselrika glanced at the girl's body on the ground.
"…You'd better explain this well."
Yoon Na-rin stood beside Aselrika, nudging Han U-sol for answers.
"Hey. What happened? I can't make sense of this at all."
"Uh, it's… a long story…"
"Summarize in three sentences."
The heroes from Zone W had arrived.
Rena's hair was ashen gray. So was the dress she wore.
The chest of her gray dress stained red. Standing amid the refugees, Rena smirked at me.
Sneering, condemning.
You made me die again.
You let an innocent child go cold with a moment's hesitation.
"Oh dear. I didn't think of a barrier."
"……Why."
"Hm?"
"Why did you shoot?"
I asked Han, who muttered at the barrier.
"Why? Are you asking because you don't know?"
Her answer carried slight irritation.
"………."
I fell silent.
"You refused to let us rescue Camilla, so we had to create chaos another way. And this was the only method."
I knew why Han pulled the trigger. Not truly asking out of ignorance.
Just confusion.
Hallucinations, auditory illusions.
Rena.
Constantly talking to me, head spinning, chaotic. Stomach churning.
A reflexive question slipped out.
Yeah.
But why.
"But why specifically…"
Rena.
"Why a child? They're easier and faster to enrage."
Dizzy. Vision spinning.
When did it start? When Rena first appeared. When she began speaking to me.
No, before that—when did the blood pool form at my feet?
Droplets fell from my feet. Dripping, pooling on the ground. Snapping to, I stood unknowingly in a fresh red puddle.
Suddenly, Rena stood behind me.
I gripped Betty's hand tightly, pretending nonchalance. Rena didn't vanish.
"Ah……."
Mind blank, a weak sound escaped. Back to the first question.
Right, what was it?
Ah, yeah. Why specifically.
Rena.
"………."
Our eyes met momentarily. Han frowned deeply at my gaze.
"What are you hesitating for?"
Anger tinged her question.
"Anis. You're misunderstanding something. We're traitors. We betrayed humanity, joined the demon side. Understand? Neither you nor I have anywhere to return to."
Her irritated, rough voice pressed me.
"For scum like us, is killing a child off-limits? Is it so strange for evident evil like us to kill? Enough to hesitate that much? Both you and I were treated like expendables by humanity. Isn't it natural for escapees like us to seek revenge and ruin?"
"No, I just…"
"If not, why hesitate?!!!"
"Han, stop!!"
Betty pulled back the agitated Han. I still couldn't respond properly, just facing her.
Throat tightening, chest constricting.
Head foggy like drugged, vision doubling.
Rena whispered. Malice trying to shake my will and judgment whispered to me.
I get it. I know, Rena.
So stop choking me.
"…Anis, decide now. No, no choices left. It's already set. Just resolve yourself."
Han urged me. To turn vengeful blade on humanity.
She was right. Treated as expendables regardless of my will. Returning wouldn't change that.
So opposing them made sense.
"………."
Yet somehow,
I still hesitated.
Why.
Tell me.
Why?
Rena grinned mischievously like a child her age, pointing with her index finger. My gaze followed.
Heroes where her finger pointed. Familiar faces, names fuzzy. My eyes delved deeper, past them.
Deeper into the center.
There, what entered my view:
Han U-sol, Reisi, Daniel.
And Yoon Na-rin.
I'd seen the other three recently, but when did Na-rin arrive?
Staring blankly, Rena whispered again.
……
Rena's mouth tore wide.
Malice oozed from her torn mouth.
Stop.
Enough.
"Anis. Still can't decide."
Han's red eyes pierced me. Scanning my emotions, she followed my gaze.
"Those kids? Can't let go of old ties? Give up. Their ground is utterly opposite yours. If that's too hard…"
Han inhaled sharply, gritting her teeth. Hesitation? Resolve? Clearly, she was in a foul mood.
"…I'll help directly."
-Click.
Han aimed her revolver.
At my line of sight.
Specifically, Yoon Na-rin.
"…First, realize where you belong."
"H-Han! Wait…!!"
I startled, shouting.
But before I could stop her.
"Remember. We can't go back."
-BANG―!
Tick. Seconds stretch, time slows.
Unnecessarily sharp gunpowder scent. Smoke from the barrel clouds vision, eyes sting.
Hyper senses capture the spiraling bullet. Once, twice, thrice. Infinitely clockwise, converging on target.
No.
Rena peeked through smoke gaps.
One eye gouged. Massive chest hole bleeding. Gray dress fully crimson.
...No.
Viscous malice pours. At me? Or the target?
Untraceable malice chokes breath. Origin unknown.
Who?
Who's tormenting me like this?
Tormenting. Each word a needle embroidering my chest.
Who?
Who sent Rena to me?
Who ordered her to stab my heart?
Tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick
Clock sounds.
No, not clock. Time slows, seconds too.
What sound?
If not clock, what is it?
…Where's the bullet?
Bullet's flying.
Must block it.
Before Na-rin gets hit.
Don't know.
But feels necessary.
Regret otherwise.
-Thud.
Tick.
With those words, time resumed.
My eyes search for the bullet.
But.
…Ah.
The bullet already reached Yoon Na-rin, embedding in her body.
-Splat!
"Ack!?"
"Na-rin!"
Han U-sol cried out in shock as bloodied Yoon Na-rin collapsed. Catching her falling form, he frantically scanned for the shot's source.
Then, his eyes widened.
"…………Anis?"
Our gazes met.