Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: 4. Motivation
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How long had it been since Ceres left Firendel?
Slumped on a narrow forest path, Ceres stared blankly into the void.
Her fingers trembled faintly, and the screams and explosions still lingered in her ears.
'Uncle...'
Closing her eyes made the scene vivid.
The terrace stained red.
Uncle's back as he shoved the terrified girl behind him and snatched up a decorative sword.
"Get back!"
With Uncle's shout, Lily's waist snapped in two. Blood and entrails soaked the carpet.
Ceres couldn't even scream. Her throat felt tied, no sound escaping.
Vera's face was devoured by jagged teeth. Even at the end, she reached out toward Ceres.
That failure to grasp her hand lingered as regret.
The memory dragged on, leaving only guilt. It was Roy, locking the door after abandoning them.
"The door won't open! Roy oppa, please open it!"
She pounded on the door, but it stayed shut. Meanwhile, Uncle fought the demons.
He swung an unfamiliar sword, never properly trained in its use.
The outcome was obvious. Ceres knew it.
That's why she thought she should go out there, the one who had learned the sword—but she couldn't move.
A tearing sound of flesh came from behind her.
"Ceres! Find another way!"
A burning pillar crashed down, separating them. Uncle was out of sight, but his voice carried through.
"Over here, you monsters!"
Sounds of sword strikes. Thrusts. Slashes. The blade clanging against the wall in wild swings.
She could tell from the noises alone that Uncle was fighting recklessly.
Ceres couldn't move. Couldn't choose.
Couldn't find another path, couldn't fight alongside Uncle.
A few minutes later, Uncle leaped over the pillar, appearing in tatters.
His left eye was blinded, and the index and middle fingers of his sword hand were severed.
His skin was charred from burns, his clothes soaked in blood.
Yet Uncle smiled.
"Ceres. Pull yourself together now and listen closely."
His voice was the same as always, even calmer.
Not the voice of a man facing death. More like he was forcing himself to stay composed.
No, it must have been that way. Thinking of the pain he endured made her chest ache.
"There's a passage in the basement. Head down there, and it'll take you out of Firendel."
"But Uncle, I..."
Uncle gripped her shoulders. His touch was warm.
"Ceres. You go first. I'll deal with these things and catch up."
It was a lie. She knew it instinctively, rationally.
He wouldn't follow. In that state, he couldn't last long.
"Hurry! Go!"
Uncle turned and swung his sword.
Ceres fled.
She plunged into the basement, racing through the dark, damp passage. The mansion's collapse roared behind her.
As the mansion crumbled and their fates diverged, Ceres looked back.
Amid the rubble, her eyes met Uncle's gaze.
That look held worry. Pure worry for her.
That was the last.
Kwaaaang!
"Over there! We've got a survivor here!"
A voice echoed in her ears.
Ceres lifted her head. Knights in white armor and soldiers approached from afar.
They had arrived to stop the demon summoning ritual.
A few soldiers rushed to her.
"You okay? Anywhere hurt?"
One soldier peered at her face.
Ceres shook her head. No words came.
"You escaped from Firendel? Impressive. Making it out here alone. See any other survivors?"
The soldier's voice sounded distant. Ceres's gaze fixed on Firendel.
The black flower blooming over the city. Beneath it, Uncle was...
'Is he alive?'
No, he had to be. They had a promise.
But the images that followed were severed fingers, blinded eye, burning skin, collapsing mansion.
"Ah... Uncle..."
"Huh?"
"The mansion... We have to go to the mansion. Uncle's there."
Ceres tried to stand, but her legs buckled. The soldier supported her.
"Calm down. Are your parents still there? But Firendel's too dangerous right now. Demons are still around."
"No. We have to save Uncle. He saved me... Because of me..."
Tears welled in Ceres's eyes. The soldiers exchanged glances.
Then, a knight stepped forward.
"Then I'll help you."
Ceres nodded.
"Thank you... Please..."
The road back to Firendel was hell.
The streets choked with smoke, low-level demons clashing with holy knights everywhere.
The black flower still pierced the sky, but its power felt faintly waning.
'Lady Arbelia...'
Had Lady Arbelia safely severed the flower's stem?
No, she would be fine. Lady Arbelia was strong.
She stopped thinking. Right now, only Uncle mattered.
The mansion district was ruins. Grand estates collapsed, streets littered with corpses.
Ceres's steps quickened.
"Here... This is where..."
Uncle's mansion had stood here—barely recognizable now.
The three-story manor utterly demolished, only stones and wood marking the spot.
"Uncle...?"
Her voice quivered. Ceres climbed the debris, clawing at stones and wood.
"Uncle! Uncle, where are you! I'm here...!"
"...He's here, right? I'll help."
"Cain, why'd you come without a word... Sigh. I'll help too."
The two knights and other soldiers began clearing rubble together.
Time crawled. Each stone lifted felt like her heart stopping.
'Please be alive...'
The first find was Lily's body. Already cold. Ceres closed her eyes.
Next, Vera—mangled beyond easy recognition.
Roy wasn't here. He was found near Firendel's exit.
Demonic claw marks scarred his back. Caught from behind while fleeing.
And finally...
"Here he is!"
Ceres whipped toward the shout.
A pile of debris pinned an arm. The protruding hand missing index and middle fingers.
"Uncle!"
Ceres rushed over. Soldiers heaved stones away with her.
His form emerged. It was Uncle Ernst Walther.
"This is..."
"...Gruesome."
"How does someone endure wounds like these and wear that expression..."
A soldier stifled a gasp. Uncle's body was horribly mangled.
Most skin burned away, deep gash across his abdomen.
Left eye closed, surroundings bloodied.
Worst, his legs crushed. Smashed under rubble.
"Ahh..."
Meaningless sounds leaked from her mouth. Pure emotion spilling out.
"No... No..."
She dragged the boulder pinning his legs. Nails splintered, fingers bled.
Uncle's face came into view. Serene as ever.
No—almost smiling.
Not twisted in pain, but peaceful, satisfied.
"Why... why are you smiling? It hurt so much..."
Ceres grasped Uncle's hand. It was cold. Long since cooled.
Something gleamed on Uncle's hand. A ring.
The wedding band he always wore. A memento from his late wife.
"Uncle... I'm sorry... If I'd escaped faster..."
Tears fell on his dust-covered face.
"If I'd been stronger... If I could have fought..."
The knight placed a hand on Ceres's shoulder.
Why did everyone precious die around her?
Her only friend, her only parent—gone.
Thoughts spiraled.
'What if I hadn't gone adventuring with that kid?'
'What if I'd trained harder under Lady Arbelia?'
'What if I hadn't followed Uncle that day?'
Every possibility stabbed like a blade. All her fault.
In that moment, Uncle's voice brushed her ear.
"...!!"
It felt like Uncle was speaking to her.
Looking around, no Uncle. Just the holy knight's hand on her shoulder.
Ceres bit her lip. Sharp pain snapped her awake.
In that instant, something pierced Ceres's heart.
'Perfect.'
The knight's body.
I'm the one with my hand on Ceres's shoulder right now.
Guiding her to find the body was all my doing.
'I'll recover the corpse later.'
I patted Ceres's shoulder and turned my gaze.
My fellow knight wore a grim expression. I shook my head at him and said,
"Let's head back. No survivors here."