Chapter 113
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Backside World (6)
Entering the imperial palace with First Squad turned out to be surprisingly easy.
I had figured that even if the capital lay in ruins, the palace itself would still be guarded by solid defensive forces.
Whether they had already withdrawn or this was some kind of trap...
The Northern Palace, where the emperor resided, stood completely empty. First Squad pressed on, heading to the upper levels.
"This is weird, Captain."
This world's Yoru muttered.
She glanced around furtively before speaking to this world's Kline.
"Our plan was based on solid intel that the emperor was definitely here in the palace. It came straight from the cult leader herself, so the info should be reliable. But why is there no one around?"
"......"
"If the emperor's really here, there should be guards by the book. What if we've been had by bad information?"
"Are you questioning the cult leader's judgment right now?"
"Come on, don't say it like that. Of course I'm trusting the cult leader completely."
Listening quietly to their exchange, I could read her feelings plain as day.
She didn't seem to like the Blood Demon much.
Not that I blamed her. Even to me, this whole operation felt shaky.
We'd infiltrated on the assumption the emperor was here, but no guards in sight.
If the plan went south, odds were the intel was wrong from the start.
And Yoru was just pointing out that the Blood Demon's call on faulty info was the issue.
So why'd Yoru even join the Crimson Blood Cult?
She wasn't wearing an eyepatch.
Her eyes were out in the open, bold as brass—no shame, no pride either.
Yet she'd still pledged herself to the cult...
No way. Does she like Kline?
Whoa.
What a scumbag. Just drop dead.
"Enough chatter. The throne room's just ahead."
We'd already reached the floor right below the topmost level, where the emperor was supposed to be.
No knights or anyone else so far.
Was I really about to join in chopping off the emperor's head here?
Lost in that thought, moving wordlessly with the squad—
That was when Kline froze.
"-."
The captain halted, and First Squad stopped with him.
Yoru shot him a puzzled look, but Kline stared straight ahead, unblinking.
Like he was possessed.
And there, in the spot he was fixated on—someone who even shocked me stood watching us.
Smooth, flowing silver hair. But it didn't shine; its owner was in poor shape.
Clear silver eyes. Yet they held no light, mirroring their owner's troubled heart.
And—an overwhelming presence.
The kind you wouldn't notice until you did, blending into the air itself.
Once you registered it, though, it hit like a meteor crashing down.
No need to guess who.
Ariel Leonhart.
My little sister in this world—or rather, the original story's Ariel Leonhart—stood there, gazing our way.
Wait. Or not?
What the...?
At first, I thought she was looking at Kline.
It sure seemed that way, and he was the only one she'd ever care about anyway.
But no.
She's looking at me.
Ariel wasn't watching Kline. She was fixed on me.
Her silver eyes trembled ever so slightly, faintly.
"Ariel!"
Boom!
Throwing all caution to the wind, Kline kicked off hard and charged straight at her.
Crackle...
Chunks of stone scattered.
First Squad reeled in confusion at their captain's sudden bolt, but he ignored them.
Veins bulging in his eyes, he raced farther away.
"Captain!"
Yoru called after him too late. He didn't hear—or care.
Ariel gave him a quick glance, then faded like mist.
Ariel slipped away. Kline broke ranks to chase her.
First Squad ground to a halt amid the chaos.
That was our fatal mistake.
Shing—shring—
Swords drawn all around us.
How had they hidden until now?
Knights in silver armor materialized, encircling us in a ring.
"......This is bad."
Yoru clicked her tongue and drew her blade.
The rest of First Squad looked grim too.
No one kept a straight face.
I could feel the gap in strength myself.
If Kline were here, no contest.
Without him, the White Wing Knights had the edge.
Looked like Ariel and the knights had set this up together.
Guess we had to fight.
Anyone looking would peg me as a vampire—red eyes, rolling with First Squad and all.
They look stronger than me right now, though.
With more training, I could outmatch the White Wing Knights easy.
But not yet. They had too much head start.
Still, no choice.
I gripped my sword hilt, ready to draw—
"No. Not you."
"Huh?"
Yoru grabbed my collar and flung me aside like a ragdoll.
What the hell.
Where'd this gap even come from?
She'd tucked me into a spot outside the White Wing Knights' attack range.
She glanced back with a sly smile.
"You've got a long way to go. Can't have you getting hurt here."
"Wait, hold on. If I leave you like this—"
"Not your problem. Don't worry about it."
Then, somehow, she slammed my vision to black—like closing a lid.
No door opened after that.
The knights didn't seem to notice me; no attacks came.
I pounded on the "door," but it wouldn't budge.
"......"
All I could do was imagine the fight outside and wait.
Clang, clang—swords clashing.
Slice, slice—flesh tearing.
Thud, thud—bodies hitting the floor.
Strangers in a world that wasn't mine. No real stakes.
But one person gnawed at me.
Is Yoru okay?
Not the Yoru I knew. We weren't close.
Still, I didn't want to see someone familiar die.
After a while, the battle noises faded.
Boots on stone echoed several times.
Then silence blanketed everything.
Creeeak...
It opened.
Whatever magic she'd used, the "door" swung open easy once the fight ended.
Bodies everywhere.
First Squad wiped out. Plenty of White Wing Knights down too.
But I only cared about one thing.
Yoru.
"......You came."
She was on her last breaths.
Propped against the wall, she breathed slow and ragged.
Clinging to life.
Futile.
Her wounds were mortal. Deep gashes draining her red.
Yet her face stayed calm. She beckoned me over with eerie leisure.
"Don't just stand there. Come closer. I want to see your face."
"Why'd you hide me?"
I knelt before her, meeting her gaze.
She coughed, a wet hack-hack.
Blood splattered the floor.
"You're not meant to die here. I just looked the other way."
"Ah... So you knew."
"Yeah. I know this world's a dream. Never dreamed I'd see a guy like you, though."
"Then why save me? You could've ditched me and run. Hell, refused the mission outright and lived."
"Heh, heh. Like I'd do that."
Blood stained her smile red.
But it brimmed with affection.
She was happy just looking at me.
"No woman wants to watch the man she loves die. Couldn't leave the captain to whatever fate without me there. Makes sense, right?"
"How devoted."
"Haha! Saying it with the captain's face... cough... it's hilarious. Yeah, that's why I saved you."
"......Because I'm Kline?"
"Exactly. The man I love... No idea how you ended up here or got that non-captain face. But I couldn't let you die."
Yoru seemed utterly without regrets.
Sacrificing for me—for Kline—didn't faze her one bit.
It stung my heart.
Was there no way to save these people?
Adel, Ellie, Yoru.
I wasn't vowing to play hero in Kline's stead.
But did it have to end this tragically?
Then Yoru spoke.
"You'll fight the Blood Demon, right?"
"Yes."
"Heh... Good. Here's some advice. Special, just 'cause you've got the captain's face. Be grateful."
I didn't ask how she knew.
This was a dream world anyway.
Through the backside realm, anything was possible.
"You know this already, but the Blood Demon's blessed by the backside world. Same as the captain's little sister you chased earlier."
"I heard. To beat her, I need power from the backside world too."
"Right. That's true. But—cold hard fact: if the Blood Demon and your sister clash, no winner. Mutual destruction only."
"Why?"
"Ever imagine two stars colliding? Same tier stars."
"......"
"They just shatter together. Same principle. To take down the Blood Demon, you'd need your sister's power—but that just means dying with her."
"So what do I do?"
"Dunno. My advice? Our cult leader... she loves that guy Kline. More than anyone. Special treatment beyond all the members."
"......Really?"
That felt off.
Now even the Blood Demon crushing on Kline?
"She never bites her fangs into members when sharing blood. Only the captain—right in the neck. That alone screams special, doesn't it? Haa..."
"I see."
Her words jogged something.
The Blood Demon's actions toward me.
Fangs in the neck.
If Yoru was right, it was because I was 'Kline'.
"So... think hard about the Blood Demon liking you. Might not have to fight."
"Thanks for the advice."
"Yeah. Haa... Now go. Captain'll be here soon."
"You know the timing too?"
"Heh. Secret."
Yoru waved me off.
Time to go.
I bowed to her and left.
"......"
Walking the hall, I pondered.
What now?
Let's sort the intel.
To beat the Blood Demon, need backside world power.
It's with my sister.
The backside world wants me to meet her.
Blood Demon's case like ours.
Fighting her means mutual destruction. Find another way to survive.
And the Blood Demon likes me. Redeem her by becoming 'family'.
Head's spinning.
Feels like it skipped steps, slamming key info.
How do I even meet my sister?
She just flashed by and vanished.
No portals open now. No way to find her...
"Oh."
I stopped.
End of the hall.
Where the stairs led—Ariel stood there.
She watched me silently.
Weird.
Seconds ago, nothing there. I'd been mulling internally.
Now she appeared, like she'd been there all along.
What is this?
Does Ariel get this strong when she grows up?
Ignoring reason and nature itself.
Her presence alone halted my feet. Another dimension entirely.
Still, I pressed on toward her doggedly.
Partly because meeting her might advance things.
But more— as a big brother, I refused to show fear to my little sister.
Even if she wasn't the one I knew.
Ariel was always my sister.
A few steps away.
We stared in silence. Not a breeze between us.
Finally.
Ariel's lips parted.
"Hello... er."
Formal speech slipping out by habit.
That alone told me.
About this world's.
Original Kline and Ariel's relationship.
"......Hi, big brother."
The same as always, familiar.
Yet somehow worlds apart.
My little sister's greeting.