Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Into the Heart of the Abyss
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"M-Mom...?"
"I can't just sit here."
Taking advantage of the lull in the Abyss's onslaught, Esira spoke up.
"I'm going to find her."
"Hmm. But if you go off on your own, you'll get lost."
"I've got the Blackjack sword."
Esira showed her the Blackjack sword.
"You know what this does? One of Blackjack's abilities is this."
She remembered what her mom had said a year ago.
"This is a marker that reveals each other's location. From now on, no matter where I am, you'll be able to sense my position if you focus."
"...Really?"
"Yeah. Even if we're far apart, it'll tell you exactly where I am."
With this, she could pinpoint the location.
"Even Mom can't handle it alone. It's too dangerous."
Marigold shrugged her shoulders.
She must not know from when she was little, but your mom was the woman who nearly toppled an entire nation single-handedly back in the day.
Impossible for her alone?
Doubtful. Had the word "impossible" ever existed in Asrania's dictionary?
But no need to douse her enthusiasm with cold facts.
Filial piety was a fine virtue, after all.
"Fine. Whatever. Sitting around sucking my thumb in a situation like this isn't my style anyway. Not when I'm an Exim."
"So, we're going?"
"Sure. But promise me one thing."
"What?"
"No blaming me if we get chewed out? I'm gonna say I tried to stop you."
"Ugh... That's sneaky."
The two dashed fearlessly into the pitch-black darkness.
It was eerily quiet.
The complete opposite of the Abyss swarming in just moments ago. The relentless horde had vanished without a trace.
"Not a single ant in sight."
Marigold glanced around.
"Big Sis Asrania must've done something."
"As expected of Mom."
Esira shrugged with the enthusiasm of someone ready to hum a tune.
"I told you, Mom's strong."
"No, 'strong' doesn't even cut it. This is like she deep-cleaned the whole place."
"Mom gets kinda scary when she's mad. Guess even the Abyss got spooked and ran off."
Marigold started to nod, then froze.
'Ran off?'
She couldn't imagine the Abyss fleeing.
Monsters that knew no fear of death, cowering and running away?
She didn't know much since this was her first time facing them, but it didn't make sense.
Either they'd been wiped out before they could flee.
Or something even bigger was at play.
"Something... feels off."
Marigold's brow furrowed.
"Sis, why the long face? Don't worry too much."
Esira said brightly.
"Mom's the sweetest in the world to us, but she shows no mercy to enemies."
"...The sweetest, huh."
Marigold let out an involuntary chuckle.
Anyone who knew Asrania's infamous past would keel over, foaming at the mouth.
They'd think the girl knew nothing of the world or was high or something.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Nothing. Your words just hit so fresh."
"What's fresh about it? The way Mom combs my hair so carefully. And her cooking? Seasoning spot-on, so delicious."
That's exactly what's weird.
Unaware of Marigold's inner thoughts, she rattled off more tales of Mom's virtues.
The woman who used to make legs go weak with a mere glance, now tying an apron and perfecting flavors.
Cognitive dissonance overload.
"Yeah, yeah. Your mom Esira, she's the best."
It came out sarcastic, but truthfully, Marigold didn't dislike the current Asrania.
No, honestly, she was a tiny bit envious of Esira, who was so adored.
'Not the time to get lost in thought.'
Marigold's eyes sharpened again.
Even setting aside personal feelings, the situation was suspicious.
'Can't shake the unease.'
The path was too clear, like someone had deliberately cleared it to invite them in.
Was this really thanks to Asrania?
I hope so.
Moments later, a faint presence stirred in the darkness.
The Abyss?
Approaching cautiously, they saw a man leaning against the wall, gasping raggedly.
"...Commander?"
The Commander lifted his head at the sound, his eyes widening in shock.
"How did the two of you get here...?"
"What, you're still alive?"
Marigold muttered nonchalantly.
"...Yeah. You've got nine lives or something."
Remembering what this man meant to her mom made her think he'd be better off dead.
"Where's Mom? Where is she?"
"Ms. Asrania went ahead first."
"First? Alone?"
Esira's voice sharpened.
The Commander hung his head in shame.
"I offered to go with her, but she refused vehemently. Said anyone else stepping further in would die."
"What does that mean? That it's dangerous?"
Marigold nodded in understanding.
"The mana density changes from here on. It's saturated with Sage's mana. The heart's exposed, turning the mana toxic."
"To think something like that is inside a body. Exims sure are something."
"Spare me the awe now. Unfiltered mana pouring out is pure poison. Of course it's hard to endure. Even I'm choking on it. Who'd guess the heart was jutting out like that?"
"... ."
"Big Sis Asrania was right. Commander, one more step and you'd drop dead."
The Commander bit his lip in silence.
"That goes for Esira too."
"...Me too?"
"Yeah."
"Then Mom? You're saying you left her alone in danger?"
"Forgot? Your mom's an Exim too. Stronger than me."
"... ."
Esira clamped her mouth shut, then abruptly turned toward the depths.
"Hey, wait! Where do you think you're going?!"
"To Mom!"
"Are you nuts? You heard him. Think you're safe? Big Sis said no for a reason...!"
The Commander desperately reached out to block her.
"W-Wait a second!"
Esira shoved him roughly.
"Gah...!"
The already weakened Commander tumbled to the ground.
"Don't move!"
Marigold reached out too.
Esira spun away just out of grasp. Marigold's hand flailed in empty air.
"Esira, what are you doing? Don't you know it's dangerous?"
"I know! But leaving Mom alone is worse!"
"Esira!"
Marigold bellowed.
It was so thunderous the Commander startled and clutched his chest.
"Damn it! If you die like this, I'll get my ass kicked by Big Sis!"
Esira froze—it was the first time she'd heard Marigold curse.
"No, I mean..."
"Please stop being so reckless. You're still a kid. If you charge in and become a liability? If things go more to hell, what then? Can you handle that?"
Infuriating and unfair, but Marigold was spot on.
A liability.
A burden.
"If you get hurt, even a little, Mom turns into a scaredy-cat."
"So please stay somewhere safe. That way, I can trust you'll be okay and go fight."
Mom's voice echoed vividly in her ears.
Going in now wouldn't help. She'd just be the one weak spot.
"...I'd be a burden, right?"
"Yeah. Think Big Sis could fight properly with you at her back?"
Turning a winnable fight into a loss?
Esira clenched her fist so hard her knuckles whitened and trembled.
Moments later, the girl let out a deep sigh and bowed her head.
"...Sorry, Sis."
"Huh?"
"You're right. I wasn't thinking straight. Got all heated and rushed in without looking. Really sorry."
Esira's ready apology left Marigold scratching her head awkwardly instead.
"Well, if you get it, fine. Sorry for yelling too. I panicked."
"No, no. Lady Marigold's judgment was spot on."
The Commander, who'd been listening quietly, chimed in.
His face was still pale, but relief colored his voice.
"Shut it, old man. You flew like a paper doll when Esira pushed you."
"Ahem, my apologies. The mana's crushing me; hard to stand."
"That's why I said stay hidden. Don't add to the baggage."
The Commander smiled bitterly.
"Still, is Ms. Asrania really okay alone? Against the Abyss."
Esira replied with utter conviction.
"Mom never loses. She'll win and come back for sure."
"Yeah. What kind of woman is Big Sis? She'll crawl out grabbing Sage by the collar if she has to."
Marigold rolled her shoulders as if loosening up.
A tense silence hung between the three.
Time dragged slowly, with no sound from beyond the darkness.
That was when it happened.
"...Huh?"
Marigold wrinkled her nose and sniffed the air.
"Sis? What's wrong?"
"The feeling's changed."
Marigold took a cautious step forward.
Before, her skin would sting and her breath catch.
The suffocating pressure was gone like a lie.
"The mana's thinned. Almost gone?"
"Gone?"
"Like someone cut off the source. The density's dropping fast."
Marigold turned back with a confident look.
"This should be fine now. You, and that paper doll over there, can handle it."
"Then...!"
"Let's go. Looks like your mom's waiting."
Esira's face lit up.
The Commander, leaning on the wall, staggered to his feet.
"I'll come too."
"You'll come even if I say no?"
"Yes. I need to see the end with my own eyes. And if worst comes to worst, I can be a shield."
"Ambitious dreamer. If you collapse, I'm leaving you. Keep up."
Marigold grumbled, but she waited silently until the Commander hauled himself up.
"Alright, shall we head in?"
At Marigold's signal, the three finally ventured into the forbidden zone.
The heart slowly came into view.
The first thing that caught their eyes was the pool of blood soaking the floor.
"...Huh?"
She wanted to believe it was an illusion.
No.
It couldn't be.
Cruelly, at the center of the blood puddle lay a terribly familiar figure.
Asrania.
"Ah... ."
She couldn't breathe.
The mom stronger than anyone.
The mom she'd believed unbreakable.
Lay sprawled in a blood-soaked mess.
"Ah, aaah... ."
The Abyss encircled Asrania motionless, as if waiting for the prey's final breath.
"M-Mom...?"
Esira's knees buckled weakly.
"Ah, ugh... aaah... ."
Her lips trembled, gaping silently, but terror choked out even a rasp.
Marigold's breath caught too.
'Impossible.'
Asrania defeated?
In such a wretched state?
She recalled words she'd hurled at Asrania once.
"I wished you'd be broken, your lofty pride rolling in the dirt. Surrounded by countless foes, utterly trampled and defiled. Used as a pathetic plaything until discarded like a rag. I prayed for that every night."
She'd thought that way back then, but this for real?
It felt like a nightmare.
The metallic tang of blood stinging her nose screamed reality.
"...Insane."
An indescribable shiver—fear? Rage?—crawled up her spine.
Marigold had to face the horror before her eyes.
"...Asrania's dead."