Birthday (8)
Screeeeech─!! The sound of wind tearing through the air echoed into the void. It was already too late to dodge. Bracing for the imminent pain, Ashu squeezed his eyes shut tight.
“...?”
But no matter how long he waited, the expected sensation never came. Confusion began to flood Ashu's mind.
Thud. As if answering his curiosity, a small palm gently settled on the crown of his head.
“...Revenge for our first meeting.”
A familiar, comforting voice rang out. Hoarse and strained from exhaustion, it sounded utterly drained just from hearing it.
“...Ideal?”
Ashu slowly opened his eyes. Ideal smiled as she stroked his hair.
“Ah, s-s-sorry.”
Startled, Ideal tried to pull her hand away, but Ashu grabbed it tight.
Ideal flinched. Ashu's subtle gaze fixed on her.
“...It's okay if you do.”
“Y-Yes...?”
Ideal clamped a hand over her mouth. This gentle sight didn't match the eerie figure from moments ago at all.
...Still, this is better. He couldn't forget those emotionless eyes staring at him blankly.
“─Cough!”
A wretched, blood-choked cough erupted from the side.
“...Father.”
The grand duke, Baldamir Kan Hart, stared vacantly at the sky with hollow eyes.
“─Ashu Kan Hart.”
A wind-mixed voice called his name laced with hatred. His blue eyes twisted in rage, glaring at Ashu. But the once-mighty duke was no more. He looked like a child throwing a tantrum.
“How dare you make that face at me.”
As Ashu's expression softened with pity, the duke's face contorted viciously.
“─You shouldn't have been born. You were never meant to exist in this world. Because of you, Kan Hart, the duchy, my life—all ruined.”
Raw accusations stabbed like knives, unfiltered and unrelenting. Blood-flecked coughs punctuated them, amplifying the pathos.
“I hate you, Ashu Kan Hart.”
Ashu listened to Baldamir in silence. Ideal fidgeted, stealing nervous glances.
“Father.”
Ashu limped toward the fallen duke.
“What exactly did I do so wrong?”
“...”
“From the time I was little, the ducal house showed me no interest at all. No food, and if I got hurt, I had to suffer alone.”
Ashu's voice began to tremble faintly.
“In a house full of people, I felt utterly alone in the world.”
“...”
“I knew it would dishonor my late mother, but desperate for even a scrap of attention, I kept causing trouble.”
His calm confession flowed like vomit, heavy and solemn. Seeing a ten-year-old boy recount it all so steadily without tears only twisted the heart more.
“Why did you hate me so much? Despise me?”
“I...”
The duke clutched his punctured chest, stammering. Sensation ebbed from his limbs. He'd lost too much blood; his vision blurred.
...Not long now.
He turned his head. Ashu's face came into view. His distorted pupils were parched like a desert. His dry voice seemed to crack the air just hearing it.
“From the moment you were born, I hated you.”
“─I see.”
With those final words, the duke's breaths grew shallow. His last sight was Ashu, head bowed, enveloped in Ideal's embrace. Then his eyes closed forever.
“...It's over.”
“...Yeah.”
The moment I confirmed the duke's breathing had stopped completely, I collapsed to the ground. My legs were still shaking uncontrollably. Every muscle in my body refused to obey.
...I don't remember.
Honestly, I remembered nothing. Just waking up and desperately blocking my own strike at Ashu's neck.
...If I'd come to my senses even a little later.
The mere thought made my lips chew themselves raw.
“A-Are you okay?”
“Y-Yeah...”
Ashu jumped, supporting me. His changed attitude nearly brought grateful tears, but now wasn't the time—I held them back.
“Disciple, you okay?”
“What about?”
“...I killed the duke.”
Ashu fell silent for a moment. His lips twitched as if he had words to say.
...As expected.
No matter how neglectful, family was family. I'd killed him after knowing Ashu just three months—he had every right to hate me.
Ashu's tightly shut lips slowly parted. I braced myself, drawing a deep breath.
“...You're more precious to me.”
“S-Sor─What?”
“I said you're more precious.”
But his answer was utterly unexpected, nothing like what I'd imagined. Ashu's clear eyes stared straight into mine, piercing like they could see through me. Heat rushed to my face.
“You okay?”
“M-Me?”
Me? Yeah, fine. I'd killed a person or two before. The first time I'd puked my guts out, but now I was somewhat used to it.
Though I don't remember this one.
I still had no idea how I'd taken down that monstrous duke. Half gamble, but with barely a scratch on me, it must've been a one-sided beatdown.
...Ideal's this strong?
The duke, who was so formidable, died without a fight. Then the protagonist's party that beat her must be insane.
Never cross paths with them. Ever.
I nodded with firm resolve.
“...Ideal, what's with your neck.”
“Huh? Ah...”
Ashu's trembling eyes pointed to my neck. The duke had grabbed and lifted me by the throat—must be bruised purple.
Ashu fumbled out a scarf.
“...The one I gifted you?”
“Yeah, put it on for now.”
He stretched out, wrapping it around my neck like a snake. The fluffy feel made my fingers twitch.
“Hey, what happened?!”
Byrn's voice echoed from afar. As he approached and took in the scene, he let out a sigh.
“...The duke's dead, huh.”
“Yeah.”
“And big sis is like that.”
Byrn scratched his head like it was a headache.
“...Sis—no, Ideal.”
Then he sighed again.
“Honestly, I never dreamed you were that Ideal.”
“...”
I clamped my mouth shut. The secret I'd tried so hard to hide was out clean and clear.
“Murdered an officer, deserted, and now killed a duke...”
“W-Wait!! Ideal was protecting me─!!”
“Sure, she was protecting you. But the duke struck first. And there were prior crimes.”
Byrn tsked, crossing his arms.
“Most'll think you tried to poison Sihan. Ideal helping is just icing.”
“...What.”
Ashu muttered in disbelief.
“Normally, the duke would've executed you on that frame-up, but now it's all tangled.”
“...Yeah.”
I nodded at Byrn's words.
“So, what's your point.”
“Someone's gotta take the blame and run till you're cleared.”
“─Disciple.”
My shaky legs propped me up, using my sword as a cane to stagger to my feet. Byrn looked at me, sighed, and pinched his forehead.
“And someone's volunteering.”
“...What?”
Ashu glanced between us, his expression slowly hardening.
“─Don't mess around.”
“D-Disciple...”
Target's emotional state is greatly fluctuating!
It was all predetermined. Whether the duke killed me today or I killed him—either way, I had to leave this place. The moment our deathmatch began... no, maybe even before. It was inevitable.
“Disciple, I have something to say.”
“...Don't say it.”
Ashu's eyes darkened. A viscous shadow welled up in his lightless pupils.
“It's all over. Just you and me left—why now.”
“That's why I'm telling you.”
I placed a hand on my chest and let out a small sigh. How to convince this stubborn little treasure? That for us both to live, I had to vanish.
Like this, I'd die for sure. Ashu might not, but he'd be excommunicated. A ten-year-old cast to the streets might as well be dead.
“No. You can't go.”
“Disciple...”
Ashu limped forward, blocking my path. Then he muttered through gritted teeth.
“How'd you find it. How'd you get it in your hands.”
He drew his sword. Expressionless, he aimed it at me.
“...In the end, it comes to this.”
Ashu Kan Hart feels intense possessiveness toward you.
I let out a hollow chuckle and raised my sword. The second round was beginning.