Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Live Well in Hell
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"......Live well and eat well in hell, you bitch."
It was when Stella was in the middle of dinner.
Bam.
The front door flew open, and Mom rushed in, her face ashen.
"M-Mom? What's wrong?"
"Stella, have you heard the news?"
Stella's eyes went wide at the unusual tension in the air.
"W-What news?"
"They say Asrania was murdered."
The spoon slipped from Stella's hand and clattered to the floor.
"......What did you say?"
"It's total chaos right now. Asrania's dead."
"No way......"
Stella shook her head fiercely. It wasn't denial—she simply couldn't comprehend it.
"It's a lie, right? Just a stupid rumor? Mom, you saw her. What she was like when she saved us."
In Stella's memory, Asrania was a godlike being who far transcended human limits.
"Does it even make sense for someone that strong to die? Who? How the hell did it happen?"
"I don't know. No details have come out yet. Nothing's been revealed."
Mom immediately pulled her daughter into a hug.
"Stella, are you okay?"
Clutched in her mother's arms, Stella stared blankly down at the dinner table.
She couldn't believe it. No—she didn't want to.
'I haven't even thanked her yet.'
A hot surge welled up from inside her.
"She was so, so strong......"
She hadn't even fully repaid the debt.
How could she just vanish like this, so pointlessly?
Tears brimmed in Stella's eyes.
Mom gently patted the sobbing girl's back.
As the tears began to slow, Mom spoke carefully.
"Stella."
"......"
"The people Asrania saved are gathering for a memorial service."
"A memorial?"
"Yeah. There's no body, but they're saying we should all get together and at least give thanks. Set up an altar and pray for her soul."
Mom gently clasped her daughter's hand.
"Shall we go too?"
Stella nodded silently.
It hurt that they couldn't even give her a proper funeral, but she couldn't just sit idly by.
"......Let's go."
Stella wiped her tears with her sleeve.
"I want to at least say a final goodbye."
"Esira. You have to eat something......"
Since Asrania's death, Esira had locked herself in her room, as if severing all ties with the world.
Marigold adjusted her grip on the tray holding the cooling bowl of porridge and knocked carefully once more.
Knock, knock.
"It's been three days already. You'll collapse at this rate."
Still no response.
Marigold set the tray on the floor and thunked her forehead against the door.
"Esira. Please. At least show your face."
A dry voice finally emerged from the silence.
"......Just leave me be. Please."
"How can I? You planning to starve yourself to death?"
"No appetite. Don't want anything."
"The living have to live. Eat, even if you have to force it."
A self-mocking laugh leaked from inside the door.
"Better if I did."
"......What?"
"Mom's gone. What's the point of living?"
Marigold's eyes narrowed sharply.
Bang!
She slammed her fist against the door like she meant to shatter it.
"Is that what a survivor says!?"
"......"
"Sis gave her life to save you. And you're gonna die? Turn her death into a dog's death? Snap out of it, Esira!"
"No......"
"No what!?"
"You don't know anything, Sis! I killed Mom!"
The furious voice pierced straight through the door.
Marigold halted her raised fist.
"......What do you mean by that?"
"If I hadn't been her daughter! Mom would still be alive! She'd be safe!"
"Esira, calm down and explain. What do you......"
"The Abyss didn't just show up out of nowhere. It was wearing my face! It disguised itself as me to get close to Mom!"
A thud echoed from the other side, like something collapsing.
Esira must have slumped against the door.
"Mom's strong. Unbeatable by anyone! So why'd she lose!? Because of me. She saw that thing wearing my skin...... Mom let her guard down!"
Esira's voice cracked in raw desperation.
"She should've swung her sword! But it was my face, my voice!"
"......"
"If she'd never met me, never taken me in! She wouldn't have had a weakness. If she'd been alone, Mom never would've died!"
The screams dissolved into choking sobs.
Marigold swallowed hard.
This wasn't just grief.
Guilt was devouring the girl.
Marigold bit her lip hard, then slowly released it.
"......You stupid girl."
Her voice had turned calm, unlike before.
"How is that your fault? It's those bastards who pulled a dirty trick."
"No, it's because of me......"
"Don't delude yourself, Esira."
Marigold shook her head.
"If Sis had never met you, maybe she wouldn't have died. Sure, you might be right. But she wouldn't have truly lived either."
"......What do you mean?"
"Before you came along, Sis wasn't human. She was an emotionless monster."
Marigold gently pressed her palm to the door, as if caressing Esira's cheek through it.
"Do you know when Sis learned to smile? It was after she brought you home, washed you, fed you, put you to bed. It was only after taking you as her daughter that she first discovered what happiness was."
"......"
"If she hesitated in that final moment, it wasn't because you were a weakness. It was because you were her entire world—more precious than her own life."
Marigold wiped her reddened eyes with the back of her hand, forcing her voice to stay steady.
"Meeting you saved Sis. The happiness you gave her, those dazzling memories. Don't call it a mistake. That would insult her entire life."
The sobs from inside quieted, leaving only stifled whimpers.
"It's not your fault. How could a mother's love for her daughter be a sin?"
Marigold pulled her forehead from the door and added in an even softer tone.
"Asrania wouldn't want to see you falling apart like this."
"......"
"She'd want you eating well and getting your strength back more than anyone. You know how much she cherished you."
A long silence followed.
Only the sound of sniffling came through.
Marigold waited patiently, without urging.
Esira needed time to pull herself together.
How much time passed?
A hoarse, cracked voice seeped through the door crack.
"......I'll eat."
Relief washed over Marigold's face.
"Really? You'll open the door?"
"No. That's......"
There was a moment of hesitation, then Esira continued with effort.
"I'll eat, but...... leave me alone a little longer."
"......"
"I don't have the confidence to face anyone right now. Sorry."
Esira sounded so earnest that Marigold finally stepped back from the door slowly.
Forcing her way in now would only wound them both more.
Showing the will to eat was progress enough.
"Okay. I won't force you out."
Marigold picked up the tray from the floor and placed it right up against the door.
"I'll leave the food here by the door. It'll taste bad if it gets cold, so make sure you eat it. Promise?"
"Can I ask you one thing?"
"Anything."
"Why are you taking care of me like this, Marigold Sis?"
Marigold's lips parted soundlessly for a moment, as if at a loss for words.
"......You call that a question?"
Her voice was steady, but laced with deep affection.
"You're hurting like this. Holed up in your room, just crying. How could I leave you alone?"
"......"
"No other reason. I just want you to get your strength back. That's all."
No reply came from the other side.
"......I'm going. Eat it before it gets cold."
She turned and headed to the living room.
'Now, no one knows my true identity.'
Currently Exim #30, 'Marigold'.
But in truth, Exim #3, 'Calendula'.
Since she's gone, no one in the world knows who I really am.
'I should feel relieved.'
So why does it feel so suffocating?
I once wished she would die.
Even hoped some guy would rape her to death.
This wasn't the kind of ending I wanted.
"What now that she's really dead. She acted like she could chew up the whole Abyss."
The kid's falling apart like this, and she's off happy alone?
A memory from a year ago surfaced.
"It's unlikely, but if I can't be there for Esira anymore."
A sudden request, as if she'd foreseen her own death.
"Be Esira's friend."
What had she replied back then, a year ago?
With an annoyed look, unable to refuse outright:
"Fine. If that's what you want, I promise."
She leaned her head against the wall with a thunk.
"Ha......"
The curse circling in her mouth finally spilled out.
"Fucking bitch."
Leaving me this annoyed.
Dumping a lifelong burden on me.
And she gets to leave carefree.
Better to stay an obnoxious, emotionless monster to the end.
Why spread that human warmth at the last moment?
Why die as a mother, of all things?
Digging into people's hearts like this.
"I wanted you broken, your lofty pride rolling in the dirt. Surrounded by countless bastards, thoroughly trampled and defiled. Used as a wretched plaything, discarded like a used rag. I prayed for that every night."
Was this revenge for those words from a year ago?
Marigold clenched her fist tight.
'Yeah, you pulled it off, Asrania.'
You succeeded in chaining me to this painful promise, even in death.
Now, every time I see Esira, I'll think of you. I'll spend my life solving the homework you left behind.
All because of that damn promise.
"......Live well and eat well in hell, you bitch."
That was when it happened.
Knock, knock.
Someone was at the door.
'Who?'
Who would come at a time like this?
She crept silently to the front door.
"Who is it?"
A brief silence from outside, then a cautious voice.
"......It's me. Commander."
Marigold unlocked the door and opened it.
Not just the Commander—Marlboro was standing there too.