Chapter 20: My Choice!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 20: My Choice!
"Leave?"
Muen’s eyes widened as he stared at the room's door.
The door no longer felt like an impenetrable barrier; it seemed as though it truly could be opened now.
Subconsciously, Muen gripped the handle and pressed down hard.
Click.
The door opened.
Through the crack, he could see the brightly lit corridor outside.
Joy flared in Muen’s eyes.
As long as the door was open, he could escape!
However, he wasn't planning to abandon Celicia. He was going to find help!
Only by bringing others could he have a chance to save her!
"Wait."
Muen’s footsteps suddenly faltered.
He realized something was wrong.
"The assassin’s accomplice guarding the door should know this too. Why would she let me go?"
"She said just now... it’s almost over?"
What... is almost over?
Muen whipped his head around.
And then, he saw it.
The maid held a flaming dagger aloft, like a reaper raising its scythe, poised to descend and harvest that soul—a soul that remained proud even when driven into a corner.
Forward was life.
Backward was death.
In that moment, time seemed to freeze.
Vaguely, Muen heard the rustling of pages turning, as if a story had reached a pivotal junction, waiting for him to write the next line.
*
The reflection of the blade and the flames danced in Celicia’s eyes.
Despair had completely enveloped her, its weight making it difficult to breathe.
Everything in her field of vision slowed down, as if someone had pressed a slow-motion button.
But Celicia understood that time hadn't actually slowed; rather, in the face of death, her brain was working at high speeds, causing her perception to accelerate.
In short, her life was flashing before her eyes.
How pathetic. To think I’d fall in a place like this...
That damn Muen Campbell...
Celicia cursed the man she hated most in her heart, yet the fury she felt moments ago had long since vanished.
At a time like this, anger was meaningless.
He should have escaped by now...
Good. He shouldn't have to die here...
Celicia closed her eyes, calmly accepting her end.
Squelch.
The sound of a blade piercing flesh rang out as expected.
Hot blood erupted, splashing across Celicia’s face.
She felt no pain. On the contrary, she felt a familiar, warm presence surrounding her.
"What—"
She opened her eyes in shock, her gaze colliding with a pair of deep blue, clear eyes that were now beginning to dim.
Just like at the start of the banquet, when he had invited her to dance.
"Cough... isn't it a bit too early to give up, my Princess...?"
Muen slumped over Celicia, a tragic smile on his face. He coughed up a large mouthful of blood, staining Celicia’s pure white gown a breathtaking, shocking red.
"Why..."
Celicia’s eyes widened in disbelief. The icy chill in her gaze seemed to melt away, replaced by a look of panic and confusion like that of a little girl—an expression she had never shown to anyone.
"Muen Campbell, why did you save me...?"
"Why? Cough... I’d damn well like to know that too."
Muen gasped for air. The dagger of death had pierced through his back and into his lung. The flames—the ones capable of defying even the laws of the gods—were now ferociously scorching his body, bringing a searing agony that threatened to tear his consciousness apart.
"If I had to say... maybe... it was just an impulse."
"An impulse? Who acts on... an impulse at a time like this?"
Seeing that Celicia clearly didn't believe him, Muen could only shake his head helplessly.
But in truth, he wasn't lying. In that moment, he could have stepped out the door and stayed far away from death.
Yet, the moment he turned back and saw the dagger raised, poised to strike, every other thought in his head vanished.
His guilt toward Celicia.
His regret over his own weakness.
His fear of death.
His desire to survive.
All of it disappeared.
He simply didn't want Celicia to die. He didn't want this girl—once his favorite character, now standing before him so vivid, real, and beautiful—to perish.
Especially since it was his fault.
And so, he chose to turn back.
And so, he stood before the Reaper.
As it turned out...
That so-called obsession...
Was perhaps nothing more than him lying to himself.
I guess I really do have Intermittent Brain-Dead Syndrome. And it always flares up at the worst possible moments.
Muen couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Just like that time at two in the morning when he desperately wanted to pull for a gacha character.
He had been so excited after getting five SSRs in a single ten-pull that he got hit by a passing truck.
Is it going to be the same ending this time?
Fortunately, having experienced death once before, it wasn't quite as terrifying.
But before that, let me act like a total badass one last time, otherwise this is a huge loss...
With that thought, Muen endured the excruciating pain and forced himself to rally his spirits. He tried his best to look like a true Duke’s son, offering Celicia an elegant and composed smile.
"So... do I look like a man now? My Princess."
"You..."
Unfortunately, Muen didn't live to hear Celicia’s answer.
Darkness swallowed his consciousness.
*
【...】
【Loading Progress...】
【Pride Progress: 50%】
【Envy Progress: 99%】
【Greed Progress: 0%】
【Lust Progress: 0%】
【Sloth Progress: 0%】
【Wrath Progress: 0%】
【Gluttony Progress: -90%】
【...】
【...】
【Please continue to struggle】
【Muen Campbell】
【My ■■■■】
Deep within Muen’s consciousness, the black book trembled slightly.
*
"You... bastard!"
Watching Muen suddenly appear and use his body to block the attack, the maid’s eyes erupted with a predatory rage.
Success... success was right there! Why did you have to butt in at the critical moment, Muen Campbell?
Our target wasn't even you!
"Strange... did I just... daze out for a second?"
The maid pressed a hand to her forehead, instinctively sensing something was off, but she had no time to dwell on it.
"You think this can stop me? Even if you blocked this one hit, with the blessing of the Great One, Princess Celicia is still nothing more than a lamb for the slaughter!"
"If I have to, I'll just stab her again!"
The maid gripped the dagger tightly and tried to pull it out...
Huh?
Why won't it budge?
The maid looked down at Muen in confusion.
She discovered that where she had stabbed him, on his ornate clothing, faint specks of golden light were shimmering, firmly clamping down on her dagger.
"So there's something strange about these clothes."
The maid sneered with disdain.
As the son of a Duke, it wasn't surprising for him to have life-saving treasures. But even if it was unique... it was just a piece of clothing. How long could it possibly hold her back?
The maid channeled all her strength, and as expected, she quickly pulled the dagger free.
But the dagger she pulled out seemed... odd.
"Eh?"
The maid stared blankly at the weapon.
The blade still shimmered with a cold light, as sharp as ever.
Except...
"Where's my fire?"
Where was that massive clump of Sacred Fire bestowed by the Great One?
How was it just... gone?