Blue Rose
The place where I first met him was the Rose Garden. Our worst and best encounter. His black hair is still vivid before my eyes. I'll wait for you in the blue rose garden, reminiscing on old memories.
"So..."
Don't make me wait too long.
A chill ran through her. In her final moments, the 'corruption' planted by Belzebub began to stir.
"...come quickly. I'm lonely."
And so, a thousand years later. In Snowfall, the capital of northern Winterer, a child was born. Unaware that it was the wish of a woman who loved him.
Rowen, born as the illegitimate son of the Valenos family, opened the door to the tomb. A woman gazed at him as he resolved to live his second life.
With sorrowful, pitiable eyes.
A thousand years. Far too long a time.
And far too long to endure the corruption.
Far too late to reminisce on memories.
Crunch... The seed of corruption bloomed.
A faint darkness rippled from the depths of her debt-ridden heart.
"So..."
Tears flowed. But her lips curved into a smile.
...She spoke the words she couldn't in the past.
"I love you."
Finally conveyed. This heart that had never reached him.
"Now, let's be together forever."
*
Arahan and Lea faced off. With Rowen between them, they glared at each other.
It wasn't just tense. The great knight's tomb itself howled.
In a place brimming with mana, vicious demonic energy boiled—it was inevitable.
Opposing energies clash and explode.
The sanctuary's tremors were omens of that.
...I have to stop them.
This place was inside snow and ice. In other words, underwater.
If no one wanted to drown, this fight had to be stopped.
She looked at Lea. Wings that hadn't existed in his past life caught her eye. Her hair color had changed drastically too. The endlessly beautiful golden locks were gone, replaced only by ashen strands.
Much like her own hair color.
"...Who are you?"
"I am Arahan."
"That's not what I'm asking. Why are you clinging to Rian's side...?"
"Whether it's Mio or you, I don't understand why everyone obsesses over the past. The young master's name is Rowen Valenos. Please correct yourself."
Lea easily shed the golden chains binding her body. A mere human dared challenge an angel.
No matter the corruption, her 'rank' hadn't fallen.
She looked at Rian. His appearance had changed, grown younger. But the essence inside remained Rian.
She had missed him. Wanted to see him. Had always waited!
She didn't know what form his reincarnation would take. That's why she waited here in this sanctuary.
Enduring as it gnawed at her heart!
But even that had failed. In the end, her heart bottomed out and sank deep.
A grotesque form driven by her own desires.
...Would Rian, who hated demons, be disappointed?
The thought made her tremble. She didn't want to disappoint him. Didn't want to be hated. She wanted to be loved.
Yes... I love you.
-I didn't want to show you this side of me because I love you.
Lea cautiously approached Rowen. Her black wings brushed the Rose Garden. Petals swirled in the cool breeze.
It was a sight one could dare call beautiful.
"Rian... how do I look?"
"...Lea. That form wasn't what you wanted, right? Right?"
Traces of demonic energy lingered. Her mind understood, but her body stayed on guard.
The hatred and trauma toward Belzebub carried from the past. Memories of her father slain before her eyes at the trace of demonic energy.
But was this right? The one before her was her comrade.
A thousand years had passed, but to her, it was still just 18 years.
...It felt like shit again.
Similar to when she saw Kael's corruption. Yes. This was despair.
"Hehe. It was at first. But you know, once I gave up, it got easier. Even in this form, I didn't have to wait in agony."
-No. I didn't want to give up.
One step.
"Rian. I missed you. You won't leave my side now, right? You'll be with me forever, right?"
-Sadly, this feeling is real. But it's wrong. Seeing you disappointed hurts me more!
Two steps.
"Hehe. I went to the divine realm to reincarnate you. What does He think of me now? Whatever, it doesn't matter anymore. As long as I have you. So hold my hand."
-Take my hand and save me.
Three steps.
"Yes... I love you."
-Because I love you, I wanted you to save me.
Four steps.
"Like before, let's hold hands and fall asleep together. It'll surely be happy."
-Kill me. I know it's painful. I know it's agonizing. But I'm a hundred times more tormented knowing I have to show you this.
At the fifth step.
Shing— The black-haired woman aimed her red-and-black sword at me.
Arahan stared at the fallen angel before her. If she could, she'd kill the woman right now. She was an existence to exclude.
There was already a woman eyeing the young master. Mio was handful enough—now this one too?
If the young master allowed polygamy, it couldn't be helped. She was just a maid before loving him.
As a person of Kalia Rune, she had no status anyway. If he permitted polygamy, she'd have to accept it silently.
She just hoped he'd prioritize her then.
...Infuriatingly so.
But for now, there was another reason to check her. Demonic energy.
The energy from the otherworld, Pandemonium called hell. Where the human world had mana, that place had demonic energy.
Different from demons. A demonkin? No, her rank was too lofty for that. A lofty celestial aura. Probably a fallen angel.
She didn't know or care why she fell. But seeing the young master's expression, it was clearly serious.
Killing her was right. To ensure no one got hurt.
But that would wound the young master's heart again. He'd grieved so much over his brother's death after 16 years together.
What about a comrade of even longer?
If she messed up, he might be disappointed, disillusioned with her.
'That can't happen.'
It terrified her. Just imagining the young master abandoning her made her skin crawl.
In that, she could understand the woman before her. Instinctively, she felt it. She and that woman were 'the same kind.'
But that's why she couldn't get closer. To sum it up in one word...
Yes, choice paralysis.
"...The young master is a man burdened with many sins."
"I haven't sinned."
"Exactly. Who told you to be born so charming?"
"Is that a compliment?"
"Yes. A compliment. You're charming, young master. That's why lunatics like her stick around."
Rowen definitely smiled. He had to smile at Arahan's joke.
His lips smiled, but his eyes didn't. They fixed only on Lea.
Why had she become like this? He couldn't understand.
Because he didn't know what happened in the past.
-Because only I don't know.
If he hadn't died, could he have prevented her fall? Made it so she wasn't lonely?
It wasn't too late now. But his body naturally checked her.
"Shall we talk after so long?"
"Hehe. Rian. People don't hold swords when talking."
"...This is insurance. I don't trust the words of the corrupted. You know that."
"Yeah. You're unchanged. You did nothing wrong. The wrong one is me."
"...Don't say that."
There was a reason he had to check her. It wasn't his will.
The hatred and trauma toward Belzebub from the past. Memories of losing his father before his eyes followed like a tail.
Instinct ingrained in his body to check anything related to demonic energy first. His mind knew he shouldn't, but his body moved first.
"This is all my fault."
The fault of Rian Rose, who hadn't understood her heart in the past.
If this was karma, could it be forgiven? No, Rowen couldn't forgive himself for making her like this.
If it wasn't too late now, maybe they could be together?
-She bears demonic energy.
-Kill her.
"...Shut up."
Traces of the past tangled, stirring the melody of knotted emotions.
He often heard he was contradictory. Having convictions yet breaking them when it involved himself—a true hypocrite.
He knew it well. Yet he committed another contradiction.
"Lea. Let's go together."
He knew she was already corrupted. But he thought it'd be okay if she was with him. A repulsive contradiction stood there.
If he'd felt this a bit sooner, when Kael's mind returned, it wouldn't have ended that way.
Arahan showed a slightly surprised expression. But she didn't let it show. She had her own thoughts.
Rowen was grateful she followed his will now.
But.
"...Lea?"
She was crying. Sobbing sadly.
Lea seemed confused too, as if unaware why she cried. It ached his heart.
Today, the blue roses felt especially strong. Fragrant floral scent rode the wind.
Unlike outside the door, no dampness here. Like a beautiful garden, reminiscent of Rian Rose's old home.
A whisper came from Lea's depths.
-What if you'd said 'let's go together' a little sooner?
-Then I wouldn't be like this, living a happier life?
He bore no sin. Knowing that, impure thoughts kept rising.
-Kill me. Rian.
-You might make a bad choice.
"Yeah, together."
"Right."
"-Forever here."
In an instant, black demonic energy enveloped her.
Invisible hands wrapped Arahan and hurled her forcefully.
"Kahk!"
"Arahan!"
Bam—! Rowen could only widen his eyes at the spatial distortion rippling with intense waves.
Arahan's body slammed into the moss-covered stone wall. Something in her body must have shattered.
He rushed to her. Worry overtook everything.
"...Where are you going?"
"Lea! What the hell did you just do!"
"Hehe... We don't need that woman to be together."
"What!?"
"...You're worrying about another woman right now? Don't. Rian, you're making me more miserable... right?"
Invisible hands wrapped Rowen. He couldn't move.
Slowly, he floated through the air toward Lea.
This wasn't his will. It was Lea's power.
A soft sensation spread over his body. Warm.
Lea shed tears. Not the cold corpse temperature she'd felt daily, but the genuine warmth of a living Rian.
She'd missed it. He'd said they'd be together. Late, but her wish fulfilled.
Together.
-Forever.
She gently embraced him with black wings. To heal his wounded heart.
That detestable black-haired woman hovering nearby was unnecessary. She didn't want to kill her and be hated. Being hated by Rowen was her greatest fear.
So she wouldn't kill—just restrain her lightly.
"...Lea. You're not right in the head."
"Yeah, I know. For some reason, I only see you. Why? Why does my heart race like this?"
"We can't go back together like this. Let go."
Lea's eyes were strange. Like Arahan's when anxious. The same murky, sunken chill.
A thousand years of loneliness had turned longing into obsession.
Rowen's body moved naturally. Though unwanted, with Arahan threatened, his body judged it must protect her.
"Cazin, Karma, Casim."
I command in the Spirit King's name.
The gate to the spirit realm opened, blue light encroaching. Mana resonated.
Nature welcomed them. The Valenos descendant was loved by the world.
Protect Arahan.
[[[Yes.]]]
That one word sufficed.
Now, it was just Lea and Rowen. Time for their conversation alone.
"Lea. Sorry for leaving you alone so long."
"...Now you say that!"
"It's all my fault you became like this. It's my responsibility—no one else's."
"Yeah. I'm not lonely now. You'll stay with me, right Rian? Forever here by my side. Right...?"
Rowen didn't answer her trembling, anxious voice. Silently, he began what he must say.
Remember? I told you before.
"If it's painful, don't hold back—tell me. If your shoulders are heavy, share with me."
"...Stop. I'm not in pain. I'm about to be happy—why?"
"I'll take responsibility for you."
Rowen—no, Rian Rose—gently shook off the invisible grasp.
He pulled slightly away from her embrace. Helped Arahan, blessed by the spirits.
"You okay?"
"...Young master."
"Rest a bit. I'll resolve this soon."
"It's dangerous!"
"It's not. She's an old friend."
Lea trembled. Him pulling away terrified and hurt her. But Rian didn't want to see Lea like this.
Making her tremble in anxiety was solely his fault.
It shouldn't have been. If just two years sooner. If he'd prioritized finding the holy sword.
This meeting might not have happened.
That's the contradiction.
He killed those turned demonkin, yet changed his tune when it was someone close corrupted. The ultimate bastard.
Yes, I'm a son of a bitch. But he wouldn't regret this choice.
If there was a way to shed the corruption, if he could find it.
"...Rian?"
"So snap out of it and come back. Let's go home together."
So she wouldn't collapse like Kael. So she could live even in her corrupted body.
Rowen opened his mouth to his old comrade before him.
"Let's go home."