Chapter 87: Reverse of Faith
What kind of power was that?
Everyone in the basement thought the same thing.
“Stop it, Damon Keron!”
Yuna Vava drew her sword, her voice wary. Melaine watched her sister nervously. Damon ignored Yuna and shouted,
“I have to get revenge! I have to kill you all! That’s my father’s… my family’s wish!”
He was slowly melting in the black fog. He rolled up his left sleeve, the arm Sue had broken when they first met.
“…Wait, that’s…”
Sue’s eyes widened. Because she saw something she knew all too well on his arm.
“The Snake’s mark…?”
A black, thin snake tattoo writhed on Damon’s arm.
“W-wait… Wait a minute.”
Sue tried to stop him, but her voice wouldn’t come out.
“I’m going to blow up this whole area. You’re all going to die. Yes, let’s all die together!”
Damon laughed and cried at the same time. Tears streamed down his disfigured face, but no one pitied him.
The black fog spread rapidly. The priests tried to dispel it with protective magic, but it was no use.
Sue reached out to him.
“Wait, that mark…!”
But it was too late.
“…Huh?”
The mark on Damon’s left arm suddenly started to burn. The heat intensified, engulfing his entire body in flames.
“Aaargh! Aaaaaargh! H-help me!”
Damon screamed, clutching his left arm. The black fog emanating from his body thickened. But instead of spreading, it consumed him.
“Please, please help me! Raines! Lady Byron!”
Only his left arm, protruding from the black fog, pleaded for help.
Sue, and everyone else in the basement, watched in silence as he met his end.
No one helped him. And in that moment of utter betrayal, Damon remembered a forgotten memory.
He heard his mother’s voice, soft and trembling.
‘Damon, my baby. Don’t go to the capital. Find someone to rely on and live a quiet life, as if you’re dead. Even if we all die, you have to… survive on your own. Damon. Your sister is already gone, but you… you have to live.’
His mother’s face, tears streaming down her cheeks, her voice weak, as she clutched his shoulders. Her last words. He finally remembered.
“…Haha…”
A hollow, empty laugh escaped his lips.
The fog dissipated. Damon’s eyes were vacant.
“Ah… Ah… Mother, I…”
His last words were brief.
His muddy brown eyes rolled upwards, and Damon Keron’s body collapsed. And then, as if it had always been there, his still-warm body turned into gray dust and disappeared in the wind.
And so, the last day of the headless cockroach came to an end.
***
There was an interesting novel. It was called ‘Beyond the Tiny Droplet’. In a world with cell phones, cars, and televisions, there were also beautiful dresses, tea leaves, and magic.
Fritz, the son of a grand duke and the ‘King of Full Bloom’. Halo, a resident of the Wastelands who had entered ‘Full Bloom’ solely based on her talent. ‘Beyond the Tiny Droplet’ was the story of their love, their constant clashes. It was a cliché story, but the young me had loved it.
Of course, there were supporting characters who enhanced the interesting story. Acrea, the second male lead, Julia, Halo’s friend. And the character who left the greatest impact was undoubtedly the main villain, Enzhe.
Enzhe tormented Halo, who had become a thorn in her side, to an extent that the word ‘bullying’ couldn’t even describe. And she always had two nameless lackeys flanking her.
Lackey 1 and Lackey 2. Those nameless children, who relentlessly bullied Halo on Enzhe’s behalf, eventually met their downfall, their families destroyed. And soon, Enzhe met the same fate as her lackeys, bringing the villains’ pathetic story to an end.
Yes, it was truly satisfying to see those bastards crying and begging for forgiveness.
…But why was she reminiscing about this childhood memory?
“Gasp!”
She opened her eyes wide and exhaled sharply. She sat up in bed.
“Oh my, you’re awake?”
“Teacher Hella.”
Sue instantly recognized the person in front of her. And she instantly understood the situation she was in.
Her body was covered in bandages and gauze, and several needles were stuck in her right arm.
Her throat was parched, her breathing ragged, and a cold sweat was dripping down her back.
She turned her head and looked around. A woman in a white coat. Rows of beds. Medicine bottles. And what looked like medical instruments on a table.
A familiar sight. She was certain. It was the infirmary.
“Are you alright? Are you in a lot of pain?”
Hella looked at her with concern, seeing her struggling to breathe. Sue just nodded slightly. Hella relaxed and sighed,
“Whew, what a day. I thought you were dead. I was so scared.”
She took a sip of her cold coffee.
“…Phew, there don’t seem to be any broken bones. But there are internal injuries, all over. It’s a miracle you’re alive. You’re lucky. I’ll call your doctor for a detailed examination. And you need to rest for a long time.”
Hella leaned back in her chair, her head resting on the desk.
“Water… Can I have some water?”
“Yes, here.”
Hella handed her a glass of water as Sue spoke, her voice hoarse. Sue gulped it down. She felt a burning sensation in her stomach, as if the water was coming back up, but her thirst was unbearable.
“Hah…”
“There, there. Drink slowly, slowly.”
She finally felt her heart calming down after finishing three glasses of water. The warmth of the infirmary finally started to feel comforting. Sue savored the feeling, her mind hazy, and looked out the window. The sun was setting.
How long had she been unconscious?
‘…Or… maybe…’
“Teacher, what’s the date today?”
Sue asked cautiously, a bad premonition gripping her.
“Oh my.”
Hella immediately stood up and walked over to her. Her dry eyes looked at Sue with concern. She spoke in a serious tone,
“Let me ask you something. What’s your name? And what’s the date today? Try to answer.”
“I…”
Sue licked her cracked lips, surprised by the sudden questions. She winced at the stinging pain. Hella waited patiently. Sue slowly thought about the answers to Hella’s quiz.
I… My name is…
“Sue… Byron… Chiqmefriar.”
Hella nodded.
“What day is it today?”
“…The day of the closing ceremony.”
“Phew, your head seems to be fine.”
Hella breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from her forehead. She returned to her desk, her usual demeanor back.
Sue buried her face in the covers and sighed in relief.
Thank goodness. She hadn’t gone back to the beginning.
She looked out the window again, and this time, she saw snow piled up on the buildings.
“I’m so glad…”
“…Teacher.”
A delicate voice called out to Hella from behind the curtain of a bed far away. It was a girl’s voice.
Both Hella and Sue recognized the voice. But they weren’t frozen in fear, as they usually were.
Sue nodded at Hella, her heart calm. Hella slowly stood up.
“Alright, I have something to do, so I’ll be going.”
Hella picked up her coffee cup and left the infirmary.
It was quiet. Sue’s breathing had calmed down, and the bed was soft. The lingering scent of Hella’s coffee masked the smell of medicine. Sue still felt a little uncomfortable with the cozy atmosphere.
She heard a soft thud from behind the curtain of the bed far away. It was the sound of a thick book being closed. Sue stared in the direction of the sound. After a moment, the white curtain was drawn back.
Enzhe Lopetrefer stood there, her beautiful face looking at Sue. She placed the book she had been holding on the bedside table and walked towards Sue.
“Lady Enzhe.”
Sue spoke in a subdued voice. She had to thank her. But the words wouldn’t come out. Enzhe looked at her gently and sat down on her bed. Then, she gently took Sue’s bruised hand in hers.
“It’s okay now.”
The words of the most wicked person in the world comforted her more than anyone else’s. Enzhe stroked her long, red hair.
“Your hair is all loose.”
Her touch was gentle, like someone handling a precious doll.
“What a dirty color.”
She smiled, the most beautiful smile in the world.
“But I like it quite a bit.”
Sue smiled back.
A sad, warm memory surfaced.
‘Your hair… I like it quite a bit.’