Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: 11. Guidance
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Time is a poison.
Ceres could feel it in her bones.
Even the intense memories and emotions were gradually weathering away before time's relentless passage.
No matter how hard she tried, it was impossible to hold onto the feelings from that day all the way to now.
The desire for revenge hadn't vanished.
But after traveling the world with Arbelia, seeing and learning so much, she began to wonder if there might be paths other than revenge.
That was all—just the faint emergence of such thoughts.
Tonight, too, Ceres swung her sword late into the night before looking around.
The sky had already darkened completely.
"...Haa. Haa."
Ceres lowered her sword, breathing raggedly. Sweat trickled down her back.
Today, more than usual, she couldn't focus.
'Those thoughts again.'
The idea that revenge might not be the only path.
But if not revenge, then what other road was there?
No matter how hard she racked her brain, no better alternative came to mind.
All that lingered was a vague intuition that other paths might exist.
She couldn't exactly ask Arbelia about it.
From the start, Arbelia had tried to dissuade her, saying revenge was a grueling road.
She might give the same answer now.
What Arbelia wanted was a neutral perspective, not one biased toward either side.
'What the hell should I do...'
It was then. A voice came from the distance.
"Oh, we meet again."
A familiar voice.
In an instant, Ceres's mind plunged into chaos.
Her brain blacked out for a moment, and the image of Uncle flashed through it.
What felt like an eternity in that one second passed in a blink, and Ceres barely managed to turn her head.
There stood a man wearing a mask.
Half his face was covered in burn scars, and his right hand was grotesquely mangled.
His build, his voice, his height—everything evoked Uncle.
But Ceres knew.
'...Ah.'
This man wasn't Uncle.
Ceres opened her mouth to speak, but no voice came out.
It felt like someone else had grabbed her throat and was squeezing it tight.
If she spoke, sobs might burst forth. She wanted to apologize to Uncle.
So, for a while, Ceres just stood there silently.
The only sound from her throat was a sigh born of disappointment.
"...Ah."
How did he interpret Ceres's sigh?
The man who had introduced himself as Kyle scratched his head awkwardly.
"Sorry. I'm not the person you hoped for."
"...No—"
"But it was a familiar face, so I had to say something. You might not feel the same, but I was glad to see you."
Kyle walked closer, giving an embarrassed smile as he continued.
"Last time I saw you, you were up north, I think. Who would've thought we'd meet here—talk about coincidence."
After a moment, Ceres finally managed a response.
Her voice was barely a squeak.
"Y-Yeah..."
Ceres couldn't tear her eyes from Kyle's face.
Uncle's face. But not Uncle.
The gap between them was so thin, so faint, that she half-expected Uncle to pop out if she just removed the mask.
'No, no. Get a grip.'
Even as she tried to shake it off, her gaze was quickly recaptured by Kyle's movements.
His gait, the swing of his arms, even the habit of tilting his head slightly.
Everything resembled Uncle.
"You've been swinging that sword nonstop. It's not good to push yourself so late."
"Wh-Why are you here...?"
"I was passing by and happened to see you training so hard."
Kyle chuckled lightly, like he was talking to a young relative he hadn't seen in ages.
"But your face looked troubled. Got something weighing on you?"
Ceres didn't answer. Her grip tightened on the sword hilt.
Kyle noticed and spoke quietly.
"Is it... about revenge?"
Ceres's eyes wavered.
Kyle watched her steadily. The burn scars on half his face gleamed faintly in the moonlight.
"Ah, sorry if that's not it. Your sword just reeks of killing intent."
He pointed at her sword.
Following his gesture, Ceres checked her own blade and sighed.
A flicker of temptation stirred in her heart.
Maybe she could confide her worries in this man.
What would Uncle have said?
If this man, so endlessly like Uncle, then maybe...
Kyle said more after that, but it didn't register in Ceres's ears.
After much internal debate, she finally reached a conclusion.
"...It happens sometimes. That's why you thought that. If you're the type who—"
"—Yes. Revenge."
"..."
"But now, I'm not sure. At first, I thought I had to get revenge, but these days... I wonder if there's another way besides revenge..."
Having blurted out her troubles so rashly, Ceres regretted it too late.
But spilled words couldn't be gathered back.
Hearing that, Kyle spoke gently.
"Do you want revenge?"
Ceres faltered.
"Is it something you truly desire? Or did someone tell you to seek revenge?"
Kyle's second question pierced her chest.
Someone. Arbelia had tried to stop her. So who was this "someone" he meant?
She still remembered Uncle's eyes in his final moments.
Uncle hadn't said a word to her.
Not even "get revenge."
Had Uncle truly wanted revenge right up to his death?
"I..."
The revenge she'd taken for granted all this time began to shake.
All the things she'd seen and learned traveling with Arbelia.
The realization that the world wasn't simply divided into good and evil.
The memories of that day, fading bit by bit with time.
"You don't have to get revenge."
"...What?"
Ceres looked up at Kyle.
"Revenge isn't your duty. Even if someone expects it from you, you don't have to if you don't want to."
Kyle's voice was gentle, like an adult truly concerned for her.
"But... Uncle..."
"Do you really know what that person wanted?"
Ceres couldn't answer. She didn't know. She hadn't heard Uncle's last words.
"How about thinking of it this way."
Kyle looked up at the sky.
"See more of the world, gain more experiences, grow strong—and show him that. Wouldn't that be better for him too?"
Ceres's eyes widened.
"Time blurs everything. Even the strongest emotions, rage, sorrow. But that's not bad. That time might show you other paths."
Kyle turned back to her with a soft smile.
"You're already pondering paths beyond revenge, right? That's not bad. It's proof you're growing."
Ceres touched her chest. She definitely wanted revenge. She still did. But...
"It's okay to put off revenge."
"..."
"Right now, you might think killing those people is the best revenge, but if you see and learn more, you might find other ways."
She couldn't respond anymore.
It felt like someone had scratched an itch deep inside.
In that illusion of all her worries dissolving, one question lingered inescapably.
"...How?"
"Hm?"
"So... what should I do now?"
Kyle laughed.
His face was hidden by the mask, but she could tell he was smiling.
"Just keep doing what you're doing. And later... maybe study various subjects, ponder a lot. Like at an academy."
Academy.
The word lodged firmly in Ceres's mind.
"I'll head out now. Don't overdo it so late. And..."
Kyle stood.
"Whatever choice you make, it has to be yours. Not for someone else—for yourself."
Ceres stood there blankly until Kyle vanished into the darkness.
"...Academy."
She murmured the word.
On the way back after talking with Ceres.
Ella, who had been tailing me in secret, emerged from the bushes.
Her eyes brimmed with blatant distrust.
"...You serious?"
"About what?"
"That wasn't a coincidence, was it? What are you scheming with Ceres?"
Ella had overheard our conversation while following.
She must have heard me advising Ceres to give up revenge and join an academy to study.
From her position, it must seem like peak comedy.
Inciting one person to pursue revenge,
Telling another there are paths beyond it.
I admit it. It looked pretty suspicious.
I was about to offer Ella a fitting excuse when I noticed something off.
'...Her reaction.'
Something was weird about her response.
"The same thing I'm doing to you."
After that excuse, I tossed out some bait.
"But don't worry. Like I said, you're the only one for me."
Was it my imagination? Ella's intensity softened a bit.
"...Don't do anything to her."