#092 Unnecessarily Embarrassing.
Catherine fiddled with her flushed nape, spilling out the lingering regret she'd kept hidden. "Did you really have to disappear like that? It would've been nice to see Mother's final moments together."
Don't be upset, Catherine. Just think of this as the end.
There were so many things she wanted to ask her mother—far too many, to the point of madness, making her impatient. What would happen if she refused to become Lilith? What if she inherited Lilith's legacy instead? Catherine grabbed at the whirlwind of questions swirling in her mind and fired them off one by one.
"Um, there was a photo of you in the new mansion I moved into. Was that on purpose?"
Do you remember the realtor who led you to that mansion?
Of course she did. It was the person who'd introduced her to the place she lived in now.
"Yes."
That realtor was Dantalion.
Catherine's eyes widened as if they might pop out at the shocking truth. No wonder! She'd thought it was ridiculous for a single woman like her to be shown such an absurdly grand mansion—at an unbelievable price, no less!
"That's the most shocking thing I've heard from you today."
More than the fact that you're my successor?
"I think so."
She meant it.
Dantalion must have really gotten under your skin.
"That rat bastard... Dantalion said you had to be revived."
He must have scared you good. That's Dantalion's style. Stick around him long enough, and you'll learn to tell exaggeration from truth.
Did she really have to live with that rat bastard? The thought left her uneasy. Lilith looked genuinely delighted. Even digging through childhood memories, Catherine couldn't recall a smile this happy on her face. That made her heart ache even more. Knowing this moment was the last, she had no room left for the faint resentment that had lingered.
"What now?"
What about what?
"I don't have the confidence to become someone that great."
Lilith advised her in a gentle voice. Just keep choosing for yourself, like you've always done. If you like things as they are now, there's no harm in living that way.
Aren't you the one who just called me a mere nephilim?
But you need to know this: if you inherit my legacy as Lilith, your contracts with the demons will...
That was when it happened. A harsh screeching sound—kigigigik—rent the air, cracking the space filled with darkness. A long fissure opened, bright light leaking from it. Beyond that, a slender leg probed out and touched the ground. And then the being that emerged was...
Leviathan.
It was Chezare.
"Even a dim place like this—it's been nearly six hundred years."
Chezare swept his gaze over the shadowed space with fresh curiosity, then approached Catherine naturally.
"Sorry I'm late, Catherine. It took a bit to find you."
Catherine pulled him straight into an embrace. She hadn't realized her body could move faster than her thoughts. The warmth in his arms was real, not an illusion. This wasn't a dream. It wasn't Mars. The man before her was her demon, Chezare.
Chezare's stiffened body gradually relaxed. He gently stroked her hair.
"Let's go home now."
Quite bold of you.
Oh no. Hugging a strange man in front of her mother. She tried to pull away in a panic, but Chezare's arms around her didn't budge.
Lilith snorted. How ridiculous is this, Leviathan? The next Lilith and Leviathan sharing souls in a contract. I've never heard of such absurdity in my life.
Chezare's response was as cold as Mars's. "Lilith. After that day six hundred years ago, the way you looked at me did change. Now I finally understand why."
What kind of look had made his grudge last six centuries?
Mind your tongue, Ruler of the Oceans. In human terms, I'm your mother-in-law, aren't I? I kept Catherine in this world—be grateful.
Chezare fell silent. Hm. She could guess what kind of look it was.
Lilith tugged at Catherine's hand. Chezare finally loosened his grip.
Today might be the most delightful day in my long, long life. It'll be the sole motivation keeping me going for the next six hundred years waiting for Catherine.
Tears welled up. Lilith embraced her, letting out a soft sigh. It's time to say goodbye, Catherine.
"Can't we talk a little longer?"
Everything has its time. The longer the farewell, the harder it gets.
"What if I miss you later?"
The will of the Void endures until the end of the universe. I'm melted into your power. We'll be together forever, until the cosmos itself perishes.
Was it because it came from her mother of all people? Catherine believed the promise they'd always be together. She pinched her nose to hold back tears, but as time passed, everything grew hazier. Lilith's presence was fading.
Don't forget—even if you abandon the Void's legacy, this mother loves you.
"Me too."
Even her voice was fading now. Catherine hugged her tighter, but there was no sensation anymore.
Let me remember your smiling face.
With effort, Catherine lifted her heavy head. Lilith was smiling. But Catherine couldn't. She forced down the crumpling of her eyes and barely managed a smile.
Tell Lian I'm sorry. And...
Do whatever Catherine wishes. With those final words, Lilith vanished completely.
Catherine stared blankly at her empty arms for a long while. It was truly over with her mother now. The void left behind was bigger than she'd imagined.
"Catherine."
...Right. She wasn't completely alone. Catherine took a deep breath.
"For an archdemon living eons, death is more like rest. Celebrating suits better than mourning."
Celebrating? Pfiuuuu—boom. Suddenly, a streak of light shot up into the pitch-black sky. It burst with a loud bang, scattering into star-like sparks. Fireworks.
"...Did you do that, Chezare?"
"As if. No matter how much of a kindred spirit I am to Lilith, I'm not so empathy-deficient as to set off fireworks in front of your grief."
Another firework exploded. Catherine gazed up at it in a daze. So what was this?
"Seems like Lilith's own celebration."
Celebration?
"Celebrating what?"
"Meeting you... hm. Returning to the Void six hundred years later? I told you— for an archdemon who's lived as extraordinarily long as her, death is no different from rest."
How joyful must death be to leave behind a few fireworks? Catherine laughed in disbelief. Strangely, once the laughter burst out, the stuffiness in her chest melted away like snow. The gloom vanished too.
"How many days have passed in your world?"
"Just shy of three."
"Big difference, as expected."
"Sir Demian was in a right frenzy. Let's head back now."
That was when it hit her—a memory she'd briefly forgotten amid the blackness.
"Wait a sec. There's somewhere I need to go before we leave."
She remembered the ring she hadn't gotten back from Mars. He'd even insisted she come see him again after reuniting before leaving.
"I have to go to Mars. We promised."
Mentioning the promise with him in front of Chezare felt odd—like reminiscing, We made that promise back then, remember? She watched his face intently for any change.
But Chezare remained serene, his reply straightforward. "No need."
He drew something from inside his coat. Unlike Mars, his smooth fingertips held it delicately. A crystal ring engraved with a rose.
"You left without meeting me in the end."
For a split second, her thoughts froze. That was the ring Mars had taken from her. The one he'd promised to return before she left—and Chezare had it.
"Luckily, it had enough magic left for one more crossing of time and space. Now, let's go home—where we belong."
Firm arms wrapped around her shoulders. That's when Catherine realized. I never got to meet Mars. And the ring she never reclaimed, Mars had kept holding onto. All that time. For six hundred years, until we met again.
An indescribably heavy, vast emotion crashed over her. She couldn't even name what she felt. Mars had trusted her utterly inexplicable claim. Trusted it enough to wait six hundred years, ring in hand.
"Cheza—"
As Catherine called his name, he vanished in an instant.
What the—? She wasn't even surprised anymore. Turning her head, she saw that damn rat face grinning ear to ear, somehow repulsive.
It was Dantalion.
Ooh, don't make it so obvious you hate me—it breaks this Dantalion's heart. You know it was all Mother's orders, right?
Staring at that rat face with its needlessly delicate whiskers plummeted her mood. Catherine snapped irritably.
"If you'd just sent me straight to Mother, this would've ended quick."
But thanks to that, you met Lord Mars.
Would it kill him to shut up? Catherine yanked out a whisker twitching like a reed in front of her eyes. Dantalion clutched his snout, feigning agony.
Ow! Aigoo, that hurts... You're so fierce.
Your face alone makes me fierce. Aside from Anne, Dantalion was the first she'd treated this harshly. His shoulders trembled, then he handed her a small box.
Here, take this, Lady Catherine. Very, very important item. A relic left by the previous Lilith just for you.
It was a plain, unadorned paper box. She wondered what was inside.
What could be so preciously kept inside? Heh, I'm dying to know! Why don't you open it now...
Dantalion trailed off.
Kkh.
A hand had shot out of thin air, throttling his neck. Veins bulged on the back of the hand from the brutal grip.
"Now even lowly scum like you dares provoke me?"
The voice that followed, and the man who appeared with it, were all too familiar to Catherine. Staring at his fiercely twisted face, she realized once more.
"Stealing right in front of me? Your will to live must've hit rock bottom."
Chezare really was Mars.