Chapter 63
The Secrets are Always in the Deepest Place (7)
“…I’ve seen such writings in the caverns of the subjugation training grounds as well.”
「I call upon you, First Apostle, come forth in response to this sacred summons. Bring fear and terror to the world and reign as a mighty army that will never fade… So that He may find His way back.」
Images of gigantic monsters flashed through my mind. It was no coincidence that the gigantic monsters appeared at that time and place. The curse had summoned them.
‘And this curse…’
I looked up again at the Crowell Castle drawn on the ceiling. Looking again, it seemed as if the platform wasn’t just built under the ceiling, but rather aimed precisely at the center of Crowell Castle.
“…This is the catalyst for the curse.”
Unlike the ‘Him’ written in the caverns of the subjugation training grounds, which was difficult to guess, the ‘You’ written here was undeniably… me.
Someone had brainwashed everyone in Crowell Castle just for me, turning them into puppets who had lost their lives.
Most likely, it was Diana who had lost me in another life.
With the help of, or perhaps exploited by, the purple letter…
Therion gently asked me,
“What will you do?”
“……”
What would I do? Of course, I should remove the curse.
Strangely, my hand wouldn’t move easily.
Now that I’ve confirmed this curse is aimed solely at me, there’s no possibility of the brainwashing being misused.
Nevertheless, this is still a terrible curse in that it arbitrarily controls the lives and emotions of the people of Crowell Castle.
…But can I still call this a curse for myself?
‘…Of course.’
Perhaps that’s why it was even more terrifying.
I suddenly became afraid.
What if all those loving feelings for me, all those feelings of caring for the castle, were all derived from brainwashing?
The fantasies and worries I had been burying and avoiding came rushing into my mind.
“……”
Without realizing it, I took a step back from the platform.
I didn’t want to admit it, but I was afraid.
Afraid that all the affection I had received might be fake because of those words written on that paper.
With a trembling voice, I began to speak.
“B-but….”
My hands were clammy, and I felt nauseous. Should I just pretend not to know and cover it up? What if the Crowell Castle I knew crumbled after this brainwashing was undone?
That was the real reason why the brainwashing had always felt so unpleasant and nauseating.
It was clearly behavior induced by brainwashing, yet it was indistinguishable from how I remembered my family normally.
“….What if the only reason my family could love me was because of this curse?”
The words flowed out contrary to my will. It wasn’t clear who I was speaking to.
Yes… If mother and father cherishing me, a mere adopted child, so much, and Diana loving her suddenly appeared sister to an excessive degree…
If it was all because of brainwashing… maybe it would be better to leave this curse be.
“If we just pretend not to know and bury it all together as we leave…. We now know it won’t be misused anymore. So… wouldn’t that be okay?”
As I lifted my head as if seeking an answer, Therion smiled, his eyes curving as if he had been waiting for this.
Even though he was standing far away and whispering, it felt like he was whispering right into my ear.
“I will follow Lady Edith’s will.”
I had uttered words I would never say normally.
Yet Therion, as always, says he will follow my will.
Yes, if we just keep our mouths shut and pass by like this, with no one else knowing…
Wouldn’t that be okay? The moment I thought that…
“Edith.”
Ethan’s call broke through my thoughts and pierced my brain.
As I looked up, Ethan’s straight gaze was fixed right on me. His cool, navy blue eyes conveyed words to me as if waking me from a hazy dream.
“I don’t know what you’re worried about. Think like your usual self.”
Like my usual self?
“Like when you genuinely smiled thinking of your family. Even without brainwashing, your family will surely love you sincerely.”
After finishing his words, Ethan raised the corner of his mouth slightly.
“You’re not lacking confidence, are you?”
A provocation?
“…Of course not.”
But his words brought me to my senses. I took a deep breath to calm myself.
How absurd were my delusions? Since coming to Crowell, I’ve been doing things so unlike myself.
「I love you, but I wish to love you even more.」
My death must have been such a great loss to Diana in some life that it led her to create such a curse.
Though it resulted in strange brainwashing, wasn’t the feeling contained in this curse ultimately a love for me?
I remember that the key to opening the well was “the deepest love”.
So, Diana… and surely including Diana, my family loves me.
It’s not something I should dare to doubt, deny, or avoid.
I had to face this moment, shaking off the nagging doubt that all the unconditional affection towards me might be due to brainwashing.
The driving force of my life, my beloved family.
My father who simply waited for me when I never opened my mouth as a child.
My mother who approached the overturned carriage with urgent steps, barefoot, without a trace of fear.
Diana, who cherished and loved my innate talent for handling magic even more than I did…
I remember them, who cared for and loved me at all times. I won’t forget.
After all, it was to protect my family that I didn’t break down even after hundreds of repetitions of regression.
‘I don’t need this kind of brainwashing.’
I reached out towards the paper and grasped it without hesitation.
Though I knew nothing about how to remove the curse, a strong intuition that ‘this should work’ dominated my mind.
And at that moment when I grasped the paper.
The energy emanating from the paper dug deep into my wrist. And in an instant, a tingling pain as if piercing my heart spread.
“Ugh…!”
“Edith!”
I heard Ethan, who had been watching me from a distance, running towards me.
“I’m fine…”
I raised one hand to indicate I was fine, but my body swayed greatly as if tilting.
Apparently, I wasn’t fine.
I recalled Therion emphasizing that ‘this body must receive all of the curse’.
Even as my consciousness blurred, a silly thought occurred to me.
If I have to do this two more times, it’s going to be quite tough…
With a recoil that shook my entire body as if on a huge ship, my vision, covered in the light of blue magic stones, flickered and my consciousness faded.
It seemed someone quickly supported me as I fell.
I couldn’t tell if it was Ethan or Therion, but it must have been one of them.
And from somewhere far away, a voice that felt incredibly nostalgic reached me.
「May everyone in Crowell Castle love and cherish Edith, and may Edith love everything in this castle. Therefore, let Crowell Castle be a sanctuary that does not betray Edith Crowell’s eternal life.」
With that, my consciousness faded away.
🥀
Edith collapsed before she could even finish saying she was fine.
The paper disappeared, scattering into ashes leaving blue flames, which then wrapped around Edith’s wrist.
Rimos Therion slowly reached out towards the falling Edith, but Ethan was a bit faster.
The next moment, Ethan Behemoth drew his sword with his free hand, the other arm still supporting Edith.
And he pointed it at Rimos Therion without hesitation.
“You were acting quite friendly.”
Rimos Therion tilted his head with an innocent expression, as if he couldn’t understand at all. He didn’t even glance at the sword.
“Didn’t Edith tell you to get along with me?”
His gentle voice seemed to be soothing an angry child. It was clear mockery.
Ethan Behemoth maintained his composure despite being treated like a child, but didn’t lower his unwavering sword from Rimos Therion.
“What did you contract from Edith in return? Why are you tormenting a soul that has never known peace?”
Even though he held the two-handed sword with one hand, there was no excess or hesitation in his motion of raising the sword.
It was swordsmanship that only one who was certain of the power behind their blade could show.
Finally glancing at the sword tip, Rimos Therion sighed lightly and asked,
“Are you curious about the contract’s price?”
“No. I’m telling you to break the contract.”
“Hmm…”
Therion looked at the cool and intimidating sword tip with innocent, clear purple eyes, then reached out and grabbed the sword firmly.
But his grip wasn’t that strong.
Therefore, Ethan’s inability to move the sword further was simply due to Therion’s action.
Because that action resembled Edith’s.
Therion pulled the sword and placed it against his own neck.
“What if… you kill me right now?”
Then he smiled brightly. Blood flowed from a small cut near his neck. The hand gripping the sword was even worse. Yet he showed no sign of pain. Just like Edith used to.
“What do you think will happen to Edith, who’s under contract with me?”
What would happen?
That question implied a lot.
If breaking the contract with a demon would harm Edith.
Ethan Behemoth finally showed emotion, furrowing his statue-like brow.
“…I’ll make you wish death was the better option.”
Rimos Therion dropped his angelic face and smiled, curling up the corners of his mouth deeply as if mocking him.
“Edith can’t do without me.”
“…I wonder if she thinks the same.”
Ethan retorted, but he actually knew.
Therion had been extremely ‘helpful’ to Edith.
Glancing at Edith, unconscious in Ethan’s arms, Therion smiled kindly as if doing a favor and released the sword he was holding.
Then he extended his hand as if asking for a handshake.
The wound on Rimos Therion’s hand healed instantly and disappeared.
“Let’s join forces.”
“With you?”
“Yes. After all… I promised to help Edith see the end of the curse.”
His eyes, now clear to the point of being eerie as if a veil had been lifted, turned to Ethan.
Ethan faced something massive stirring beyond the purple, clear, and innocent eyes, beyond the spreading iris.
“Don’t you want to be by Edith’s side?”
The fact that only truth came from his mouth, and that it pierced through to the truth as well.
“……”
Ethan hesitated for a moment.
And after a short while, his answer echoed within the chamber.
🥀
Thank you for reading! ♡
