Chapter 522: Jealousy is My Power (22)
Chapter 522: Jealousy is My Power (22)
Lia had eventually lowered herself slightly, her gaze meeting mine. Those golden eyes were burning like the sun.
“Brother, you promised to spend the rest of your life with just me, didn’t you? But what is all this? Every rumor I hear is strange… Why does it feel like my brother keeps looking elsewhere?”
“What… what are you talking about…?”
“Don’t worry too much, Brother.”
Blowing a sweet breath into my ear, Lia wore a faint smile.
“I’m not that greedy… All I need is proof that we are bound together. Yes, a proof that can never be denied… A proof that the world must acknowledge, even if it refuses to.”
Only then did I realize the true nature of the fire burning deep within those golden eyes.
Madness, obsession, affection.
Call it what you will. One thing was certain: Lia was not in her right mind.
There was no way 'Lia'—not 'Greed'—would resort to such extreme measures on her own.
The 'Vampire's Barrier.'
Its influence wasn't limited to the Academy students. It was affecting everyone staying in this area.
This implied a desperate truth.
I couldn't trust anyone.
I shouldn't trust anyone.
No one, not even those precious to me, could escape the power of that barrier.
Just look at me now.
Was I not paying the price for a brief moment of carelessness?
“Ce… line…”
Like a final struggle, I squeezed out a faint voice.
“I have to… find Celine… She was kidnapped…”
“You know what, Brother?”
Lia’s expression didn't waver despite my plea.
On the contrary, her smile vanished, replaced by a chillingly cold look.
The temperature shift was startling.
“Actually, I’ve never liked Sister Celine. For a very long time…”
That was the end.
I thought I saw a silhouette at the very last moment.
With that vague intuition, I closed my eyes.
“…We meet often.”
The moment that dry voice echoed in my mind, I snapped awake with a start. Looking around, I found myself in the middle of a dark, empty void.
This was a place I had visited several times before.
Cracks were scattered throughout the air. The scenes reflected beyond them were the memories of a certain man.
There was no ground to speak of. Yet, as I stood up, a solid sensation traveled up from the soles of my feet.
Perhaps this was what it felt like to step on glass that didn't even reflect light.
At the edge of my vision, I saw a familiar back.
With his hands behind him, staring at the fissures in the air, his back looked terribly lonely.
Eventually, those indifferent golden eyes glanced back at me.
“How much more of a pathetic sight do you intend to show me before you’re satisfied?”
At that cold reproach, I was speechless for a moment.
A hollow laugh escaped my throat. I wanted to argue back, but I couldn't.
To be taken down by my own younger sister.
And by an ordinary person with no martial prowess at that. She must have used some kind of drug, but that wasn't an excuse a knight who had reached the level of High Expert should be making after losing consciousness.
In the end, I slumped down where I stood.
“…You’re right. I was too careless.”
“Just because your personal martial strength has grown doesn't mean everything is solved.”
The man’s tone remained ruthless.
His voice, which didn't show a hint of mercy, felt like that of a strict instructor training a new recruit.
“Drugs, hostages, or even mysterious magic… there are countless ways to put you in danger. You’ve become too conceited.”
“…I got hit by all three.”
It was a rare lament.
I didn't know why, but I might have started feeling a strange sense of familiarity with this man.
Otherwise, why would I be continuing this rant that I couldn't tell anyone else?
What was surprising was that the man didn't intentionally stop my complaining.
In the past, he would have told me to 'stop whining.'
Whatever the case, it was fine. I was in a state where I didn't even know what to do next.
I can't receive help from anyone.
This simple sentence was approaching me as a form of terror. Though I acted like I didn't, I had been receiving a lot of help from my comrades.
It wasn't just martial power or strategy.
In the face of this terrifying trial, how much comfort had the fact that I wasn't alone provided?
But now, I couldn't trust anyone.
Even Lia had ended up like that. I didn't even want to imagine what the rest of the group would look like.
“Knocked out by drugs, my childhood friend kidnapped with no trace of her whereabouts… and I even got caught in a vampire’s spell because I let my guard down? Pfft, hahaha…”
I wiped my face down with both hands.
“God damn it!”
I began to swear with all my might.
“You idiot, what the hell are you doing! I haven't even found a single clue yet…!”
The man wasn't surprised, nor did he pity me.
He simply kept his silent gaze fixed on me.
Actually, I preferred it that way.
It was more comfortable.
“The Imperial Secret Garden, Celine’s whereabouts, the conspiracy of the vampire who infiltrated the Academy… I haven't even gotten a feel for any of it, and I’m already getting stabbed in the back?! Seriously, it’s so pathetic…!”
“Are you frustrated?”
It was a sudden question.
I kept my mouth shut and gave him a look that asked what he meant.
The man’s golden eyes remained indifferent. Not a shred of emotion could be seen, so I couldn't discern his intention either.
“Everyone makes mistakes in life. God did not grant perfection to humanity… I call that a ‘limit.’ Every human has limits. If you don't acknowledge that, you’re bound to collapse and fail eventually.”
His tone was calm, without even a change in pitch, but I suddenly realized something.
Just how much pain and injury this man must have endured to reach such a conclusion.
So, I only pursed my lips, unable to speak recklessly.
“It’s not just me… Everyone was like that. My Junior Sister, the Saintess, even my Master… But did you think you would be the sole exception? How incredibly arrogant.”
“That’s…!”
“Kid, just do one of two things.”
With a weary face, the man turned his gaze away from me.
His golden eyes once again turned toward the cracks in the air. Various scenes were playing there, all jumbled together.
“Will you acknowledge your limits? Or will you continue to run wild like a reckless fool as you have been… The choice is yours. This world is your world, not mine.”
I couldn't hide the surge of emotion at that cold mockery.
My slumped body stood up on its own. I bit my lip and chose my words for a long time, needing a few more seconds before my mouth finally opened.
“…Then what about your ‘Junior Sister’?”
A flinch.
A crack appeared in the man’s composed demeanor. His gaze flickered back toward me.
Eyes so worn down that not even a speck of dust remained—desolate.
But why?
I felt a faint emotion shimmering within them.
“Your ‘Junior Sister’ isn't my ‘Junior Sister’… So isn't that a problem you have to deal with? Why are you trying not to look?”
“…Do I have an obligation to explain?”
“You want to see her.”
It was a blunt statement.
At that, visible cracks began to form in the man’s expression. His eyebrows twitched, revealing his discomfort.
But the man was the one who started this game.
I had no obligation to be the first to stop.
“You want to see her one last time. After parting like that… of course you’d want to see her! So why are you trying so hard to lie to yourself?”
“…Ridiculous.”
Despite my sharp point, the man quickly regained his composure.
He snorted, attempting to dismiss my reasoning.
“Kid, it seems you’ve grown bold after peeking at a few of my memories… The path I’ve walked is several times rougher and longer than that. You’re free to speculate, but don't try to presume my feelings so recklessly…”
“I should be the one who knows best.”
But that only lasted a moment.
At my voice, spoken once more, the man was forced into silence.
“The memory of that day, the feelings of that day… someone who hasn't experienced it will never know. Isn't that right?”
His lips opened, then closed.
Soon, the man let out a long sigh and closed his eyes.
“…Fine, let’s just say we’re both wrong. Enough of this talk.”
It was a declaration of surrender.
Even so, I felt a sense of regret and tried to continue, but I soon shut my mouth.
It was because the man offered a piece of advice I couldn't ignore.
“Think more simply.”
“…What?”
At the sudden remark, I could only let out a short, questioning sound.
As if he had expected that, the man added in a dry voice.
“All incidents are connected. And if you’ve lost your helpers, you can just find new ones. For example, yes… powerhouses who cannot be controlled even by a vampire’s barrier.”
“Who on earth is that…?”
“They’re here.”
And then, thump.
A powerful tremor shook the world. I groaned at a splitting headache.
I no longer had the luxury to converse.
Looking at me in my agony, the man left one somewhat lonely remark.
“…Treat her well.”
The end of the dream.
My consciousness suddenly surfaced, I opened my eyes while gasping, and the smell of medicine filled my lungs.
My body was lying on a shaded patch of grass.
A mysterious smoke was curling and trailing above my retinas. I tried to find its source, and soon, our eyes met.
Pale green eyes soaked in fatigue.
As soon as I saw that murky hue, a single thought crossed my mind.
Teachers and disciples really do resemble one another.
“…Are you awake?”
The State Preceptor of the Southern Kingdoms.
The Guardian of the Great Forest and the Ruler of the Five Elements.
The 'Great Witch' was looking down at me.