Chapter 401: Gold and Silver (6)
Chapter 401: Gold and Silver (6)
Seria is acting strange.
The moment I heard those words, the blood-stained letter flashed through my mind.
The words written in blood all held a ghastly light. The content was no different.
To ask me to tear her body into pieces and bury them in the ground.
I couldn't say a word in response to that madness-driven plea.
The end my beloved junior had to face was simply too cruel.
That was why I vowed over and over again. I would never let Seria end up like that.
I didn't care what methods I had to use.
I still had a year of leeway left.
I just had to find a way to save Seria during that time. If I could do that, we would be able to move toward a happy future somehow.
However, an unease I couldn't quite shake remained in the depths of my heart.
What if my choice was wrong?
Because I stepped in, Leoric was provoked. As a result, a subordinate of the Evil God awakened, and I defeated Leoric after a life-and-death struggle.
Looking at the outcome, nothing had gone wrong.
If not for the facts revealed by the blood-stained letter.
It said the source of the power that corrupted Leoric was the 'Seven Deadly Sins.'
Since the letters from the future began to arrive, I had heard stories about those seven stars a few times.
The first was from Emma.
Emma had asserted that magic to regress through time did not exist.
However, she left one strange possibility: it might be possible if one borrowed the power of the 'Seven Deadly Sins.'
The stars representing the seven sins created by Delphirem.
And I had also heard about those 'Seven Deadly Sins' from the 'me' who came from the future.
The seven legion commanders who lead Omeros's army.
Hadn't he said that each and every one of them was a monster rivaling a Master?
The monster that used Leoric as a sacrifice was merely a seed. Even so, it had almost driven the North to the brink of destruction.
And in the blood-stained letter, these words were also written:
'The power of the Seven Deadly Sins is like a kind of curse. It never disappears, and someone must bear that sin.'
The Seven Deadly Sins do not disappear.
They only wander in search of a new sacrifice.
I didn't know the full details, but in the letter I received, Seria was the one bearing that sin. Given that the word 'monster' appeared frequently, it seemed the blood flowing in her body had been the decisive factor.
The 'Vampire' bloodline.
If she inherited the blood of a fiend called the worst in history, it made sense.
That was why I had no choice but to run, gasping for breath.
Could it have started already?
The letter said there was about a year of time left, but it didn't describe the detailed process of how Seria became like that. In other words, it wouldn't be strange if something happened to Seria right this moment.
My movements grew rough in my haste.
As soon as I stood before Seria's room, which the Princess had pointed out, I threw the door open without even knocking.
And inside, I saw her.
Seria, who had been sipping a red drink through a straw, her eyes widening in shock.
"……Ah."
A brief silence hung between Seria and me.
We couldn't move an inch, as if we had both frozen at the same time. We just stood there with stiff expressions, overcome by embarrassment.
In truth, it didn't matter what Seria was drinking.
It wasn't a sin to rest in her bedroom and have a drink.
The real reason Seria and I froze was something else entirely.
It was because of the items decorating every corner of Seria's room.
Looking at the individual items, there was nothing particularly surprising.
At most, they were dolls, portraits, or perhaps a worn-out piece of clothing if I had to pick something unusual.
The problem, however, was their uniformity.
The portraits and the dolls were clearly modeled after a specific person.
A man with striking black hair and golden eyes.
It was me.
Even the worn-out clothes placed at the head of the bed looked like something I used to wear.
The bloodstains here and there jogged my memory.
It was likely the uniform I had been wearing just before I was admitted to the concentrated healing room.
As the scenery of the room etched itself into my retinas, the silence deepened even further.
The one who finally broke the ice-thin silence was Seria.
The girl's hands began to tremble violently, and soon, a glass rolled pathetically across the floorboards.
The spilled drink mirrored Seria's state of mind.
Like that liquid staining the floor red, Seria looked as if she wanted to cough up blood herself.
Fine tremors shook Seria's tightly closed eyelids.
I fumbled for words, trying to manage the situation somehow.
"It's been a while, Seria… Did I visit too suddenly? Have you been well—"
"……Ki, kill."
Her voice was thick with suppressed emotion.
The tips of Seria's ears were turning bright red as she hung her head. I couldn't even begin to imagine the depth of her shame.
So, I had to silently watch what my junior was doing.
I didn't know what kind of reaction to show.
Who was the victim here?
Was it me, or was it Seria?
I couldn't even tell that much, and my thoughts became a tangled mess.
Seria eventually unfastened the sword hanging at her waist.
Then, holding the sword up politely with both hands, she offered it to me.
"Please kill me……."
At her hiccuping request, I wiped my face with my hand.
It seemed this was my fault.
I sat across from Seria.
This was after we had cleared up the misunderstanding through a desperate conversation. Even so, Seria was still fidgeting and glancing at me warily.
She had no choice.
Seria's bedroom was a gallery of all sorts of products related to me.
Starting from small dolls to my portraits and even my old clothes.
For my part, I felt rather awkward.
I was well aware that Seria admired me.
If you met those eyes sparkling with respect even once, it was impossible not to notice Seria's feelings.
But I never imagined she liked me this much.
Seria fumbled through her excuses.
"Th-they're mass-produced items."
What did that mean?
When I stared at her blankly, she hurriedly added an explanation.
"It's not that I went looking for them on purpose, but there's a market! Th-there are many students who admire Senior Ian… so, I couldn't just pass by without buying anything, right?! I can't lose when it comes to my respect for Senior Ian!"
"I-I see."
To be honest, it was a story I couldn't understand.
No matter how much I'd been in the spotlight lately, wasn't I just another student at the Academy?
In fact, my reputation at the Academy wasn't exactly good.
It was because I had committed so many crazy acts.
But to think that a group of followers had formed in the meantime, and that items modeled after me were being sold.
It was news to me, and I felt quite dazed.
However, Seria was speaking with such passion that I didn't dare raise a question.
"So a competitive spirit developed… A-as you know, I have a bit of a temper."
That was the end of her hesitant excuse.
Seria's blue eyes were stealing glances at me.
She looked so pitiful yet cute.
I wore a faint smile as if it were nothing.
"Right, well… you always did have that side to you. Though it's gotten better lately."
"Yes, yes… th-that's right!"
Seria brightened at my calm tone and nodded.
Seeing that innocent smile put me at ease.
It seemed the Princess had been mistaken.
How could such a kind and pure junior turn strange?
I decided to offer Seria an apology right away.
"Sorry, Seria. I startled you by showing up so suddenly, didn't I?"
"N-no! Honestly, I was surprised, but I also wanted to see Senior Ian……."
"Her Highness the Princess asked me for help."
Seria tilted her head at my words.
She looked as if she had no idea what I was talking about.
As if I had expected that, I wore a bitter smile.
"There must have been a misunderstanding. Well, Her Highness is a bit unique……."
"Ah!"
It was then that Seria let out a strange exclamation.
It seemed something had occurred to her. Her blue eyes blinked as she searched through her memories.
"I remember running into her in the hallway today. My mind was a mess then, so I only gave a brief greeting as I passed by… but as soon as she saw me, she started trembling violently in shock."
"……She was trembling?"
"Yes, I don't know why… maybe it was because I looked like a mess at the time."
Seria looked somewhat dejected as she said that.
Her self-deprecating smile particularly caught my eye.
Had something happened?
I could find out easily if I dug into it, but strangely, I didn't want to pry into that matter.
It's best to just let it go.
I didn't know why, but my intuition was telling me so.
I could always ask the Princess for more details later anyway.
I decided to tease Seria a bit to change the mood.
"Right, I see… But Seria, why are there so many different kinds of these dolls? They all look pretty much the same to me."
"Huh? N-no, they're not!"
Seria immediately raised her voice at my remark.
It was a quite intense expression of emotion, unlike before. I couldn't even recall her former ice-cold demeanor.
You've really grown up, Seria.
I hid my inward satisfaction and watched Seria as she launched into an explanation, looking wronged.
"Look closely, Senior. This doll only has a sword, but this one even has a hand axe, right? They changed Senior Ian's equipment based on the period. And sometimes the uniform has wounds right after a battle, and that kind of detailed depiction has rarity value……."
Of course, the more I listened, the more embarrassing it became.
What on earth are you talking about?
I swallowed the words that threatened to burst out of my throat several times.
Instead, I was able to ask all the things I was curious about.
"What's this portrait? Why are you buried in flowers… they're Sepia flowers."
"Th-that's because it looked prettier that way……."
It looks more like a funeral photo than 'pretty.'
I chatted with Seria like that for quite a while.
Seeing Seria had regained her energy, I realized I had fulfilled my role perfectly.
It was time to go take care of my business.
Starting with the Yurdina family, and then the aftermath of the battle with the elves, I had plenty of work left to do.
At least I was glad Senior Neris was there.
She was the only one who could handle my secret tasks for me.
Even so, the free time I could squeeze out wasn't much.
My eyes began to drift toward the clock hanging on the wall. Seeing that, my kind junior watched my expression and asked cautiously.
"Are you very busy?"
"Yeah, well… I have a lot to do in many ways."
Seria nodded quietly as if she understood.
I felt a bit regretful that our conversation was ending so soon, but this was also for the sake of Yurdina.
And it was for Senior Delphine as well.
I decided to leave a word of advice instead of a goodbye.
"Seria."
Even after starting, I hesitated.
In fact, there was a rumor I'd heard before coming here.
That Senior Delphine and Seria had a massive fight.
I didn't know the exact reason, but Yurdina was currently facing a crisis like a flickering candle in the wind.
Nothing good would come from the bond between sisters being damaged.
So, I gave Seria my sincere advice.
"Well, I know the family is in turmoil lately. It's only natural since shocking news has been coming in one after another. Still, don't hate your sister too much. Senior Delphine is also doing her best for you and the family in her own way……."
"Is that what that bitch said?"
My words came to a dead stop.
I couldn't make a sound for a moment. I just remained silent to process the words I had just heard from Seria.
But no matter how much I racked my brain, it was the same.
I found it so hard to believe Seria's words that I had no choice but to ask again.
"What?"
"I asked if that bitch said that."
There was no opening to be found in that extremely calm tone.
Seria's face, wearing a bright smile, was the same as always.
Cute, lovely, and innocent.
That was why it was even more chilling.
It felt as if only her language had been forged into a blade.
Is this what it feels like to face a dagger hidden in cotton?
While I was dazed with shock, a line followed that drove a wedge into the frozen air.
"That bitch… I mean, Sister Delphine."
The surrounding temperature plummeted in an instant.
It was enough to make the beads of sweat turn cold and clammy.
Amidst that suffocating wave of emotion, I thought:
The Princess was right.
My junior, whom I hadn't seen in a while, was broken somewhere.
And very badly at that.