Chapter 75 - The Moon Heading to the Star
"Lady Serena, we've arrived."
"...Thank you."
Finally, we've made it. To the place I absolutely never wanted to reach—the place where everything becomes certain.
"Don't follow me. I'm going alone."
"But your luggage..."
"Leave it. Just leave the luggage behind."
"Pardon?"
The maid, who had faithfully followed me through every previous loop and this one alike, tilted her head in confusion. Well, I suppose even I'd react the same way if someone told me to abandon their belongings in the carriage. But to me now, those things mean nothing.
"S-smoke... over there..."
"......."
The maid, who had been staring at me oddly, pointed toward the smoke rising in the distance and said something. Leaving her behind, I began to trudge forward with heavy steps.
'This place always feels so nostalgic.'
Walking for a long while toward the Starlight Mansion, I paused at the sight of the surrounding scenery.
'Coming here used to calm my heart...'
This was the only place harboring happy memories from my childhood, filled with horrific abuse and brutal training. Frey and I used to play hide-and-seek along this path leading to the mansion.
"Serena... where are you...?"
"Hehe... who knows?"
As I closed my eyes tightly, lost in those thoughts, and then opened them, there we were—childhood Frey and me, playing hide-and-seek.
"I can't find you... come out quick..."
Unable to spot me hidden in a tree along the path for ages, little Frey started sniffling.
"I hate boys who give up easily."
Then, little me smirked mischievously and teased him. Why smirk when he couldn't even see me? I was pretty young back then too.
"...Gasp."
But little Frey looked shocked, his mouth agape. His trembling eyes showed how anxious he was.
"I-I'll definitely find you, so stay put! Got it?"
"Yes, please find me. If you can't by the end of today, I'll disappear forever."
Oh dear, that was too mean a joke.
"No... you can't disappear... wahhh..."
See? Frey started crying. You have to tease just right to keep the fun going longer...
"Lady Serena? What are you doing? Hurry up and go."
"Ah."
The maid's voice from behind snapped me out of it, and the childhood Frey and I vanished from sight.
"...Sigh."
Memory recreations are quite taxing. They shatter if your focus wavers even slightly.
'That tree's still there.'
Still, I managed to dredge up a pleasant memory. Back then, Frey couldn't find me until sunset. Because of that, he got scolded by his mother that day.
"...I'm sorry, Frey."
I still feel terribly guilty about it. But I had no choice back then. Sure, part of me wanted to tease him and see his reactions, but mostly, I wanted to avoid being found as long as possible. Because once he found me, the game would end... and I'd have to go back home. Then the nightmare would repeat.
"Hoo-oo...!"
"...Ah."
A dreadful memory flashed by, making me flinch, when my owl came flying from afar.
"You found me well. Did the letter..."
"Hoo-oo...! Hoo...!"
"...Ow."
I smiled and reached out to my lifelong companion, but suddenly it pecked at me furiously.
"Don't do that. It hurts."
This child, who had never disobeyed or rebelled before, was desperately attacking me. Blood trickled from my hand covering my face.
"Hoo..."
Yet as I hardened my expression and walked forward, it collapsed flat on the ground.
"...Go back to the carriage."
I stared at the owl sternly, then stepped over it.
"...Whew."
No more crying now—it must have gone back. Or maybe it's still lying there. I could turn around to check, but I won't. I'd weaken if I did.
"The entrance... same as ever."
Marching silently onward, I finally reached the entrance to the Starlight Duke's Mansion.
"...This is where I first met Frey."
The memory is vivid: led by my father, the secret head and former head of the Moonlight family, on my first visit here. You were shy about meeting your fiancée for the first time and hid behind your mother, peeking out with curious eyes.
I had no expectations of you then. Unlike your pure self, I was steeped in the empire's shadows and knew the marriage's true purpose.
"Serena! Let's play!"
"...I don't know how."
"Come on! Just do what you usually do!"
"Is that... how it works?"
At first, it was simple jealousy. You, with your pure, bright face—so unlike my darkness—always seemed happy. I just hated you for it.
"W-what's this...?"
"Duke family paperwork. I 'play' by organizing these."
"And this...?"
"Advanced defensive magic arrays. Studying them is my favorite 'play.'"
So I took it out on you, innocent as you were. Who plays house with that?
"Serena! Look! I finished!"
"...Huh?"
But months later, you adapted to my twisted play—overcame it, even. Not quite my level, but impressively so. I thought you were a genius like me, the only one who could understand me.
"What... what's all this?"
"Ah, busted. Hehe..."
Then one day, stumbling into your study, I saw mountains of papers. Half right, half wrong—I realized then.
"Why... why would you..."
"If I don't learn this... I can't play with you, right?"
Those stacks bore traces of practicing every tough task I'd given. You'd memorized it all just to play with me.
'I should have distanced myself from you then.'
Lost in thoughts, I'd nearly reached the mansion. But the conclusion I dreaded drew nearer too.
No reply to my letters. The owl desperately blocking me. And that acrid pillar of smoke before my eyes screamed the truth.
"...Ah."
Entering the Starlight Mansion's courtyard, various people filled my view. Half wore grim faces, half wept.
Gazing briefly, I stepped onto the lawn where we'd once played.
"S-Serena...?"
Someone spotted me immediately, paling as they spoke.
"I-I... um..."
It was Aris, the secret head's informant. Her blank, ashen face suggested she hadn't grasped it yet. In this chaos, who could?
Ah, there's one who has: scratching her arm raw against a stone.
"It's my fault... all because of me... my curse of misfortune..."
That must be Lulu, from Frey's letter—the pitiful one with the Misfortune Mark. She blames herself entirely. The blood pooling under her arm shows deep guilt.
"..........."
The commoners bowed their heads darkly. Frey would have freaked out and told them not to. I can picture it clearly. Thinking of him sours my mood too. Better hurry past.
"The courtyard... filled with sobs..."
But each step deepened my gloom. Professor Isolet clutching a letter, sobbing. Kania bowed, black magic roiling darkly. Beside her, Perloché cursing the Sun God with divine power. Irina half-mad with laughter, Arienne hugging and weeping. The princess slumped, staring blankly at her letter.
'What a mess.'
I hate disorder most. Time to tidy this chaos.
"It should be... here somewhere..."
Searching scattered envelopes on the ground...
"Ha..."
It didn't take long to find mine. Only one left, addressed thus on the envelope:
To my first love.
"Frey."
I thought emotions never overrode reason except with Frey before me... but no. Tears streamed down my cheeks.
First, a warning. Drop any thoughts of rebellion.
"...Pfft."
Tears falling, I read the first line and chuckled at his silly joke. Always defusing tension that way.
Now, to the point. Game over means cleanup. I'll outline the best routes left.
"...Ha."
A short sigh escaped. He doesn't hate this wretched world, leaving countermeasures.
'Pointless anyway.'
...That way, at least three generations survive. If not, flee the empire to the Western Continent. With your talent, you might...
"Useless."
All his suggestions were escapes, merely delaying death.
If none appeal... read Aria's letter. It's the last hope.
After those futile plans, the final line made me smile faintly. It matched my conclusion on the way here.
P.S. Even reading Aria's... don't use that plan you have in mind. That's an order.
"As expected... you were a genius."
Glancing at the postscript, a sad smile formed. My mind read for the first time. My fiancé truly was a genius.
"Sorry, Frey..."
But just a bit below me.
"...The Subjugation Curse is already lifted."
I turned to the spot I'd avoided.
"...Ugh."
Frey's mangled corpse entered view.
"U-ugh..."
The princess flinched, raising her arm—likely her finishing blow.
"..........."
Only Professor Isolet seemed aware. Perloché's off since earlier.
*Crunch!*
"...Urk."
My tooth shattered. I'd ground it unconsciously despite staying calm. Blood from my lip, pain from the broken tooth—but no time for that. End this mess quickly.
"Miss Aria."
"Y-yes?!"
"I'll read the letter. Hand it over."
I extended my hand to Aria.
"H-here..."
Aria, eyes swollen, tremblingly offered a letter.
"No, not that one... the one in strange script."
"...Ah."
She pulled a neatly folded letter from her pocket.
Dearest little sister. You have two choices.
Live as a fugitive, or as a guardian. One of the two.
Frey's letter to Aria bore clear traces of anguish.
Fearing you'd find the Prophecy Book, Father and I never taught you this script. But now... no choice.
Invisible to normals, but to me: each character pressed for minutes, debating leaving it.
Per the previous hero's words, there's an extracurricular novel. In short for you: a hypothetical scenario, uncertain if it'll happen.
Yet he left it. Must have hurt—passing his fate to another.
That uncertain tale says... upon my death, only you in this world can wear the Hero's Armament in the basement's hidden space.
Aria stopped crying, face blank.
Of course, without 'hero's power' or 'system'... by the time you can, the continent burns.
"Ah... aaa..."
But if all unite... and you as 'guardian' maximize good deeds everywhere... maybe half-burned is the end.
I drew a deep breath. What followed was crucial.
That path opens hardship. No evil like mine, but high death risk, constant mental strain, hollow honors.
"...Urgh."
Even success averts doom only. Rebuilding takes centuries. All uncertain—Blacktail Fantasy 2 side story, not main.
Now I understood his despair.
Still... will you choose it?
Remember: your will alone. Decide yourself.
He wanted to give his sister the choice.
"O-oppaaaaa... wahhhh..."
Aria clutched the letter, sobbing anew. Yes, she understood. Time to end it all.
"A-aa..."
Leaving weeping Aria, I approached the pale, prostrate princess.
"I-I'm sorry... I did wrong..."
"Lady Clana."
"My fault... urgh... my fau—"
Her golden eyes bloodshot, elegant hair disheveled. Clutching the crumpled letter till her hand bled—she'd read the truth.
"...No need to mangle the corpse like that."
Intending kindness, harsh words spilled instead.
"No need for... the coup de grâce."
Clana scanned faces in terror.
"...Enough. Pointless now."
She sparked Frey's death, defiled the body. But past loop, Frey stabbed her heart. Defilement? His past actions. Rationally understandable, but...
"Aaaagh...!"
"...Princess?"
Clana clutched her head, groaning.
"W-what... these memories?"
"Ahh... ah."
"Frey......."
Turning cautiously, many clutched heads in pain—everyone but Kania, Irina, me, and the commoner students.
"What... are these memories?"
Clana muttered blankly.
"To save me then... Frey..."
"...Memories returned?"
"S-Serena..."
Finally: with amnesia source gone, memories restored—for all but we who already had them.
"........Ha ha, ha."
Clana's eyes died, doll-like. Chilling.
"Lady Clana. Snap out of it."
Shaking her yielded only thin tears and laughter. She's broken.
"........"
All behind her too—already unstable, now shattered by Frey memories.
"Lady Clana."
Sighing, I sat beside her to finish my final duty.
"Look at Professor Isolet. Quietly stroking her sword."
"...Ah?"
"Blank till now, now smiling at Frey's gift. Know what that means?"
At my cold words, broken Clana trembled.
"...She'll gut herself soon."
"Aaa..."
Terror returned to her dead eyes. Shock therapy worked.
"See Kania? Black energy swallowing her. Beside: Perloché clawing floor to bloody nails, mad Irina."
"S-stop..."
"Aria recalls mother's truth—eyes dead, mana refluxing. Left alone, she won't last."
"Please... stop..."
I prodded relentlessly.
"In this, what should Lady Clana do?"
"I... don't know..."
"Why not? You're the leader. If you don't, who?"
"I... lack qualifications..."
Dark-eyed, she muttered.
"Just... die. Vanish. So, please..."
"No."
I declared clearly, for her and all.
"If you and everyone crumble, my plan fails. So... rise again."
"P-plan...?"
Pulling a vial, I began.
"Hope remains. Details from Aria. She decides."
"Serena...?"
"Now, my final stratagem."
Unstopping the vial, I downed the liquid.
"............"
Silence fell.
'Frey, sorry...'
'But no other way.'
Recently, secret Moonlight document jogged a shocking memory. Explained my blind love, why I never gave up.
I owe you a lifetime's debt.
You accepted 10 years left at academy naturally. But how? Too much life force to Kania for that; how 'exactly 10'?
Answer: tampered memories. Your 'first villainy'—my Subjugation Curse.
"Cough!!"
"S-Serena!?"
Effect kicking in. Did you always vomit blood like this? Horrific.
"Serena...? What... did you do?"
"Haa... haaa..."
"...What's that magic array on you?"
Slumped, Clana stared blankly.
"Ingested extreme poison. Array's my curse."
".......What?"
"Frey blocked it; his death reactivated it. Minutes more, I'm secret head's puppet. So, suicide."
Her blank face twisted.
"What... Frey blocked your curse? Secret head? You're... dying?"
"Yes... only way for my final plan."
"What does that mean!!"
Tears streaming, she lunged.
"D-don't die... please..."
"Keh... ugh..."
"You too, dying because of me? I... made Frey that way... you too because of—"
"Lady Clana, everyone. Listen well."
Cutting her panic, clinging to fading consciousness:
"Don't waste Frey's death... my sacrifice..."
"N-no... no no no...!"
"Bury our deaths as your compass... advance. Don't give up. Understood?"
"Nooooooo!!!"
More to say, but too hard.
"...One thing, just one."
The black cat questioned. Couldn't refuse her.
"Why... go so far? This hopeless world... what's so great?"
Cute question. Smile formed.
"...The world Frey wanted to protect."
Ah, that might be my last words. Oh no? I wanted burial beside Frey...
.
.
.
.
.
"S-Serena?"
Serena went limp in Clana's arms, vomiting blood profusely. Panicked, Clana babbled incoherently.
"Lies, right? This... all your ploy? Right...?"
Onlookers grasped her final words' weight, heavy silence falling.
"Serena... Sere... ugh..."
Clana buried her face, muttering.
"I... I killed Serena... Frey... ugh..."
"Princess Clana! Emergency!"
"...Huh?"
A messenger burst into Frey's courtyard; Clana startled, shuddering.
"Y-you're safe... relief... uh, what?"
Relieved sigh turned to shock at the scene.
"...Dunno what happened, but news first."
Snapping to urgency:
"His Majesty the Emperor, Empress, First Prince, First and Second Princesses—just assassinated."
".......Pardon?"
Clana's eyes widened; messenger grim.
"You're empress now."
".......Ah."
Chaos at the shock; messenger darker:
"And Demon King declared war."
"...!!!"
All froze; time accelerated. Sun rose-set, moon waxed-waned. People rushed by swiftly.
"Haa...."
Amid it, soul-state Frey, grim-faced, muttered gloomily.
"......Worst case."
The Trial hurtled toward its end.