Chapter 723: Mary’s Dream (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 723: Mary’s Dream (2)
As they stepped out of Tikan Palace, the eyes of everyone on the street were naturally drawn to them.
Mary noticed the hostility simmering in the gazes the citizens directed at Dipus.
It was only natural.
Even if he had regained his senses at the very end, the fact remained that he had slaughtered hundreds of thousands of innocent people.
That reality tormented Mary. Her brother’s hands were stained with blood that could never be washed away.
Can I… truly forgive him?
In truth, that question was the real reason Mary hadn't been able to sleep for the past few days.
No matter what excuse she heard from Dipus today, Mary wasn't sure she could ever truly understand his fall from grace.
As if by unspoken agreement, they walked in silence for a long time.
Before they knew it, Dipus and Mary had left the city center behind and reached the shore.
Their footprints stretched out across the white sand, which was stained crimson by the setting sun.
"I think we've been walking for three hours already."
Mary finally broke the silence.
"Has it been that long? I thought only about thirty minutes had passed," Dipus replied, turning around.
His eyes took in the sight of Mary, and far in the distance, the towering silhouette of Tikan Palace.
"Why are you stalling? Do you not want to talk after all?"
Mary’s eyes were filled with resentment as she glared at Dipus.
"It’s not that."
"Then why are you dragging this out, using a walk as an excuse?"
"You already know why."
Mary flinched, then shook her head.
"No, I don't, so just tell me. I already heard from the youngest. He said that receiving the Authority of the Evil God is only possible if the person is willing. If that’s true, then you… you weren't forced to betray us…"
"It’s true."
Thud!
Mary fiercely grabbed Dipus by the shoulders. He did not pull away from her grip.
"Does that mean you gave in to the Evil God because you couldn't endure the torture?"
"That's not entirely wrong."
"Liar. The brother I know isn't the kind of man who would be broken by mere torture."
"No, I truly was in despair because of the endless torment. Both my body and my mind."
"Just what kind of torture did you go through?"
"It’s impossible to explain with words. At a certain point, my consciousness would vanish and return repeatedly, like a flickering lightbulb. Each time, fragments of my memory would disappear. By the end, I couldn't even remember my own name… though it’s all returned to me now."
"So your mind was completely destroyed, and you had no choice but to accept the Evil God's Authority… I suppose that’s the only explanation. I asked a question with an obvious answer."
"Mary."
"Yeah."
"Is this really enough for you?"
"What do you mean?"
"That I went mad from torture and had no choice. Did you struggle so much just to hear a pathetic excuse like that? If this is enough for you—if you’re confident you’ll never agonize over my fall again—then let’s go back now."
Mary stared intently at Dipus for a long time without answering.
"…No, it’s not enough."
As Mary’s grip loosened, Dipus turned back around and began to walk again.
Mary followed him, watching his footprints get erased by the waves each time they rolled in.
"One day, while the torture continued, the human who was once our mother—no, that monster—told me something."
"What was it?"
"She said my despair was the greatest contribution to the completion of her godhood. She told me that the more I suffered and despaired, the stronger her power became."
"Ah…"
"At first, I didn't believe her. But I grew increasingly anxious. If what she said was true, the Evil God would keep getting stronger as long as I drew breath, yet I couldn't even die as I wished."
The special despair of a special existence.
Just like Joshua, Dipus’s despair had been the greatest catalyst for the Evil God’s completion.
"As more time passed, I became certain. Every time the Evil God visited me, I could clearly see her power growing more immense. Naturally, I couldn't help but fall into deeper despair each time. At that rate, I felt that even if Father returned, he wouldn't be able to kill that monster."
As Dipus continued his calm explanation, Mary squeezed her eyes shut.
"Then one day, the Evil God made me an offer."
"…To receive her Authority?"
"Yes. Either I could continue to be tortured and fuel her with my despair, or I could receive her Authority and fight the youngest by her side. Both choices led to a precipice."
"If only… if only you had held on a little longer. If you hadn't accepted the Evil God's Authority in the end, surely… we would have come to save you."
"If I had done that, the Evil God would have become a being that could never be opposed by now."
"Are you saying our operation succeeded because the Evil God shared her power with you?"
"Yes."
"That’s just a sick rationalization!"
Dipus did not look back at Mary, who was screaming at him.
"Ha! Fine, then why did the Evil God bother to share her power with you? According to you, wouldn't she have won the war eventually just by watching you despair?"
"The Evil God is obsessed with the youngest. As soon as I became a fragment, I was able to peer into her inner mind. She doesn't want to just win. She wants to win only after dragging the youngest down to the very bottom. She wants him to become a being just like her."
"So you accepted that power and did those things for that reason?"
"Sir Mary!"
Just as Dipus was about to answer, someone ran toward the beach and called out to Mary.
"The King…?"
It was Casimir.
"Sir Mary, the meeting is about to start. Let us go."
"Why did the King come to deliver this personally? Instead of sending someone else?"
Casimir did not answer.
Mary suddenly felt her heart pounding and looked back and forth between him and Dipus. Dipus did not stop walking.
"W-Wait just a moment. I still have things to hear from my brother."
Mary ran after Dipus again. Though she had only exchanged a few words with Casimir, Dipus was already far ahead.
"Brother! Are you running away? Slow down! Is that really the only reason you accepted the Evil God's offer?"
"Mary."
"What!"
"When you were cornered to the brink of death by the Prophet's trickery in the Ricalton Inner Castle… what were you thinking?"
"Why are you bringing that up all of a sudden?"
—It’s strange… for some reason, I don't think the youngest would keep falling for this trickery.
Those were the words Mary had spoken to the Prophet in the Ricalton Inner Castle.
At that moment, when it felt like the enemy could never be defeated and all hope was lost, Mary had suddenly been overcome by a strange sensation.
That some great existence… that the youngest would soon resolve this situation. That for some unknown reason, the youngest would eventually lead this fight to victory.
"I felt the same way. I felt that if I accepted the Evil God's fragment, the youngest would soon come and shatter it."
"Sir Mary! Sir Mary…! You’re late, you must attend the meeting."
This time it was Enya. When Mary glanced back at Enya for a moment, she saw the pitch-black night sky and the lights of Tikan Palace, now incredibly distant.
It felt as though she wouldn't be able to return to Tikan Palace even if she ran all night. They had already come that far.
Dipus was far ahead once again. Mary shook her head and chased after him with all her might.
"Brother, stop…!"
She finally caught up to him. But Dipus just kept moving forward.
"No matter how much I struggled, I couldn't choose a better move. I judged that if I took the fragment and the youngest killed me, the Evil God's power would inevitably be weakened…"
"I get it, I get it. They say the meeting is starting. Let’s just go back for now and finish talking later! Okay?"
"Sister Mary!"
"Sister, everyone is waiting for you!"
The voices of the Tona brothers could be heard from behind.
"Even you two? Why, why is everyone only looking for me! Can't you see Brother Dipus here? He’s right next to me!"
Mary shouted without looking back at them.
She felt that if she took her eyes off Dipus even once more, she would never be able to catch up again.
"Brother, let’s go back. I’m sorry. Even though I only survived because of your sacrifice that day, I kept making things hard for you with my useless words. So please, just stop for a moment… please."
Finally, Dipus stopped and turned to look at Mary. Mary smiled in spite of herself, her vision of his face blurred by tears.
"Mary. No matter what reason I had for my choice, I can never be forgiven. I committed acts that are unforgivable. I killed too many people."
"B-But you came back in the end. You took that power in the first place to diminish the Evil God's strength, and as a result, it happened because of you. And when Gliek was finished, the number of people who survived thanks to you is beyond counting…!"
"One way or another, I simply lost to the Evil God. I lost because I was weak, and I irresponsibly left the aftermath to the youngest, to you, and to everyone else."
"A person can lose…!"
"As a Runcandel, there are some battles you simply cannot afford to lose. So Mary, don't lose like I did. Keep fighting. Alongside the youngest. Alongside the people."
"Why do you keep talking like someone who’s about to disappear? Don't do that."
Dipus gave a faint smile.
"As I said before, you already know. Now, go back with those people."
Mary grabbed Dipus’s hand and looked back.
Along with Casimir, Enya, and the Tona brothers who had called her earlier…
All her comrades from Tikan were looking at her.
They were gesturing for her to return quickly.
"It’s just a meeting, so why is everyone…"
"Mary."
"I’ll tell them I’m coming soon, together with you."
"Mary. You have to go alone."
The moment Dipus said that, Mary felt his hand slipping from her grasp.
No matter how hard she tried not to let go, she couldn't hold on. She couldn't muster any strength.
Then, Dipus gently pushed Mary’s shoulder.
"Though I only experienced it through your dream, Tikan is a truly wonderful place."
"Brother!"
"But we have to take back our home. A Runcandel’s home is the Garden of Swords."
"Brother Dipus! Don't go!"
"It was good to be able to walk together after such a long time."
You must be strong even without me, my sister.
Brother…!
Mary collapsed.
The moment she pushed herself up to chase after Dipus again, what met her eyes was not his back.
It was her siblings and comrades, watching over her sickbed with worried faces.
"Sir Mary!"
"Sir Mary has woken up!"
"Hehe, Big Sis is awake!"
"Sister!"
Jin pulled Mary into a tight embrace.
Mary stared blankly at the ceiling for a while before hugging Jin back.
Yona and the Tona brothers also huddled together, embracing the two of them.
And Valeria, who stood before them, opened a Record Window to show Mary.
<Dipus Runcandel accepts a portion of the Evil God's power, placing his hopes in Mary Runcandel and Jin Runcandel.>
<May 22, 1803. Dipus Runcandel passes away along with a fragment of the Evil God's Authority. The Evil God is weakened.>
Mary could not take her eyes off that record for a very long time.