At the End of the Dream (4)
At the End of the Dream (4)
Acedia began to put force into Melanie's hand that was pressed against her own neck.
As her own hand tried to strangle Acedia, Melanie hastily pulled back.
Then Acedia made a disappointed expression.
"Why— aren't you trying to kill me—?"
"Th-that's because Luxuria told me to bring you out."
"But killing me here— was originally your goal, wasn't it—? Because that's the correct story you believe in—"
At the word "correct," Melanie's pupils shook violently.
A world that would leave even the brave knight Pia and the noble saintess Hilda to die.
That's what Melanie originally intended to do if Luxuria hadn't intervened.
"That was... just my stubbornness. I admit it now. I can't say it was entirely correct."
"...You know— you might think I've changed— but I think a little differently—"
"Huh?"
"Even if humans call me a calamity— that detached appearance of accepting it as it is— is nothing but a mask I wear— that raging figure filled with anger— running wild in reality right now— is also one aspect of me—"
Certainly, that wasn't entirely without merit.
There was also an interpretation that Acedia's calm demeanor before the renewal was just an act, and that Acedia after the renewal might be closer to her true form.
Acedia's post-renewal appearance was undervalued because it was compared to the pre-renewal version, but she wasn't actually a problematic character in herself.
In fact, as pre-renewal players left, public opinion about Acedia also reversed.
"Just like Luxuria— I knew I had become a <Distortion>— so I could choose— which form to define as my true self—"
"Don't tell me..."
"Yes— I hid in the mental world with this form and that perception— and put that rage-filled figure out in the open— because— I thought that was closer to the real me—"
"......"
"I hate humans so much— They always turned away from my anger— but it's impossible— not to get angry— while bearing all that hatred alone—"
"Acedia......"
"And I'm— tired of being resented, and of resenting— I want to rest now— Will you— kill me—?"
Acedia began approaching Melanie with a peaceful smile.
Melanie, feeling no desire to kill her, hesitated and stepped back.
"Are you, once again, trying to save her according to your own whims?"
"Euk...!"
When Melanie turned her head, she saw Hilda looking at her with a contemptuous gaze.
Acedia's current situation was strikingly similar to Hilda's case.
"Even though she herself desires death, you won't grant that wish simply because you want to save her?"
"W-well, you see, Luxuria won't just stand by..."
"I am asking for your intention."
"Euk......"
Acedia blinked and looked at Hilda.
She had the same eyes as herself.
Those hollow pupils, weary of a life given an unwanted role, desperately wishing for death.
"You— are like me—"
And the next moment.
Acedia's form disappeared from before Melanie's eyes.
Melanie felt a chilling aura and turned her head back toward Hilda.
A large beast covered in white fur was pinning Hilda to the ground with its muscular arms, crushing her.
"Keuheok...!"
"Saintess-nim!"
"You monster!"
Lili and Pia, who had regained consciousness at some point, rushed at Acedia.
As Acedia tried to block Pia's sword strike, one of her arms was severed.
Lili hung onto Acedia's back, wrapping her arms around to try and break her neck.
Seeing Acedia's neck begin to twist with a cracking sound more easily than expected, Melanie reached out toward Lili to stop her.
"W-wait! Guys! Stop!"
"Stop what! The Saintess-nim will die like this!"
"That's right— before I die— I can take this child with me—"
"Ka, hak...!"
As tendons twitched in Acedia's arm, a sound of something breaking was heard and Hilda vomited blood.
"Choose— whether to kill this child— or kill me— There's no option to save both—"
"A, Acedia...! Your sisters are waiting for you outside!"
"We've lived too long— not every farewell can be beautiful—"
"Kk... Melanie... Don't mind me... Just do as you wish, following the will of the goddess you so adore......"
Hilda's consciousness seemed to be fading, but her expression instead looked peaceful.
Probably from the relief of regaining the opportunity for death that she had once missed.
"If you hesitate— you won't gain anything—"
While Melanie was unable to do anything, both Hilda and Acedia dying wouldn't be a bad outcome for either of them.
Acedia pressed down on Hilda with all her strength.
If she became minced meat in this mental world, the shock would cause her real body to fall into brain death and never wake up.
But for some reason, no strength would come to her arms.
Hilda, with blood flowing from her mouth, was also looking at Acedia with a bewildered expression.
"Huh—?"
Acedia looked toward her own torso.
A sharp, pointed snout made of black mud had bitten through and torn out Acedia's entire left chest.
"Ah—"
Crunch!
The moment Acedia tried to say something, the demon god's neck was broken by Lili's strength.
Acedia's body, which had transformed into a giant beast, began returning to its original form.
With a peaceful expression like a child about to fall asleep, she looked at Melanie and moved her mouth.
<Thank you.>
Acedia's body turned into particles of light, scattered, and completely disappeared.
The Sloth Demon God had vanished.
Melanie, who had been dark-faced the whole time, finally sat down on the spot and buried her head in her knees.
After healing her broken bones and crushed organs with a recovery spell, Hilda staggered over to Melanie.
"Melanie..."
"Later."
"......"
"Whatever you want to ask—why I didn't let you die, why I spinelessly let Acedia die, what exactly I want—I won't avoid any resentment, hatred, or curses toward me, so please just... just let me rest now. I'm begging you."
"That wasn't what I was going to say though......"
Hilda lowered herself before Melanie and tightly embraced her.
Melanie, held in the warm and comforting embrace of the saintess, raised her head with a look of disbelief.
"Hi, Hilda?"
"Thank you. For choosing me."
"A-are you serious?"
"Since you insist on asking, I'll answer—of course it's a lie. I can't stand how disgusting your selfish heart is for saving me yet again."
"I, I see... Sorry......"
"But if I leave you like this, you'll really be in danger. Since I've survived again, if you become a wreck, I won't be able to see your pain and anguish anymore, will I? It's my only entertainment."
"Euk......"
Melanie wanted to cling even to that false gratitude and find comfort.
She couldn't understand what she was doing now, or what she had been doing all along.
Without something to hold onto, she felt she would truly collapse this time.
Melanie hugged Hilda back and buried her head in that vast magnanimity.
"I, I'll hug Melanie too!"
"Huh? Th-then I will too......!"
Lili and Pia, who had been hesitantly watching without understanding the situation, also rushed in.
Melanie spread her arms wider and embraced all three women.
* * *
"Uum... Auk?!"
As soon as Melanie regained consciousness, someone grabbed her by the collar and pulled her up.
The bloodshot gaze of the Lust Demon, filled with killing intent, was piercing through her.
"Why did only you come out! Where is Acedia?!"
"Th-that is......!"
"While Avaritia and I bought time, your goal was to find the real Acedia in the mental world and come out!"
"Uu..."
"The fake Acedia suddenly disappeared! If that was a clone or something as Avaritia said, doesn't that mean something happened to the main body!"
"She's dead. Isn't that right?"
At Avaritia's words, Luxuria sharply turned her head toward her.
The Demon God of Avarice was engrossed in reading a book as if nothing had happened.
"Acedia has vanished. Was I wrong?"
Though Avaritia asked again, Melanie could only sweat profusely without answering.
Just thinking about what punishment Luxuria might inflict if she admitted it was terrifying.
"You damn bitch...! How dare you act on your own just because it's out of my sight?! You, how dare you... my sister...!"
"W-wait, Luxuria..."
"Melanie did nothing. The Sloth Demon God took her own life."
"What...?"
The Lust Demon shot a glare at the saintess who was calmly reporting.
Hilda continued expressionlessly, showing no sign of being intimidated.
"Before awakening Melanie with the sacred artifact, we first met Demon God Acedia. As Avaritia-nim said, she looked completely different from the outside. And she desired death and ended her own life."
"How absurd. Why are you protecting Melanie? Didn't you want to see Melanie suffer?"
"I'm not protecting her, just stating facts. I thought you should know about your sister's final moments."
"She took her own life? Why should I believe the words of a heavenly bitch? If she wanted to end her life, she could have done it long ago, why would she do it now?"
"Perhaps she couldn't do it until now because she was asleep. She might have awakened thanks to the sacred artifact too."
"That makes sense. If she had been awake, she wouldn't have handed over control of her consciousness to that fake."
"......"
With Avaritia joining in, Luxuria slowly released the hand that was holding Melanie.
Looking at those golden eyes that couldn't meet hers directly as if feeling guilty, she let out a deep sigh.
"For now... I need time to think. We'll discuss the punishment for this failure later."