PLOM Chapter 144

<Episode 144>

Every time I face Rue, I painfully realize the fact that I have no way with words.

Among them, especially today, I felt a great astonishment to the point I was distraught.

‘H-how could he… say such embarrassing words so casually like that?’

I wasn’t saying it was weird. The time where I used to look at Rue’s actions with absurdity in my eyes had already passed.

However, Rue, who revealed his feelings honestly, was being greatly forward. To the point where I felt like I was a coward.

Honesty, afterall, eventually reveals a person’s flaws. Therefore, I thought it was only right to hide my feelings in order to protect myself. If I only showed emotions that were favorable to me, it would be difficult for the other person to come to a conclusion.

Even though Rue usually showed a vague attitude, I also understood to some extent why I couldn’t shake him by the collar and shout, ‘Tell me your true feelings!’ at him.

It definitely felt like that.

“Daisy, don’t tell me you’re going to die from a heart attack right now, are you?”

Rue playfully whispered while pressing his ear to my chest, and I pushed away his face.

What was the point of hiding my emotions?

I couldn’t hide my heart!

“If you like me that much, then stay by my side! Where the hell did you go if you didn’t go to Calepa?”

“The Kingdom of Astrosa.”

“…You went to such a distant place?”

“I briefly looked into an ancient tome about resurrection experiments. It’s just a record from a mere 150 years ago.”

I felt my slightly raised body temperature from excitement gradually cooling down.

I adjusted my posture (although I just leaned closer into his body) and asked Rue.

“What did you find out?”

“The literal story of the resurrection experiments. Or should I call them ‘devil’ experiments?”

Devil?

In an instant, a famous hypothesis flashed through my mind. No way.

“Since you were in the magic war for ten years, you might have already noticed. Devils are not some new, created beings. To be precise, they are rearranged existences. They are undead creatures made by recycling human corpses.”

So, it was indeed true.

The hypothesis that devils were transformed humans was one of the most widely spread theories even among ordinary people. That’s why the truth revealed by Rue wasn’t particularly surprising.

“The origin isn’t too far away. The first records of devils date back to the rebellion by Rogue that occurred 150 years ago on the Northern Continent. At that time, Rogue had turned the Astrosa Kingdom into a stage for massive resurrection experiments.”

Although his tone was calm, the content it conveyed was as horrifying as the magic war itself.

“According to the records, some of the corpses that failed in the resurrection experiments moved as if they were alive. The revived corpses had very low intelligence and followed the will of the one who used magic in the experiments. In other words… they were able to create an army of corpses, a devil army.”

“…”

“Rogue dreamt of unifying the continent with the devil army but failed. It backfired on them. After that, all the records related to resurrection experiments were designated as forbidden and discarded.”

“Then, what about Mephisto…?”

“He must have acquired those records from somewhere and raised his army. Originally, he only meant to pass his next wall, but desires constantly inflate the ego.”

Suddenly, the appearance of the devils I had encountered countless times in the war came to mind.

Melting flesh and a stench that stimulated my nostrils. Yes, they were all signs of the dead. We were fighting with the dead, with those who were someone’s family, lover, and friend.

…So, had I committed a massacre?

I took a deep breath and clenched my fist.

‘Don’t be shaken. Don’t think too deeply. You can’t immediately decide whether vanquishing those devils was a sin or not.’

Right now, I had to focus on what I could do in the present. That was all.

Gathering my composure, I looked at Rue. Did he see the glimpse of resolve in gaze? Rue lightly grabbed my hand and pulled me along.

Then, he pressed my fingertips deep into the wound on his shoulder. I felt the creepy sensation of digging into flesh. I gasped and struggled.

“What is this…!”

“Remember, Daisy. This energy is Mephisto’s power. It is the source of the energy that controls the devils.”

In an instant, I stopped vehemently resisting and concentrated my entire mind on the subtle waves of power.

‘This is… Mephisto’s power.’

Awkward, yet strangely familiar. It must be because it is the power of the enemy who killed me.

Finally, I felt like I understood Rue’s intention in enduring such a deep wound during the hunt. It was he could reveal the source of those devils’ energy and show it to me.

‘And these wounds are inflicted by the devils from the hunt.’

The devils of the hunting festival.

The aura of Mephisto emanating from the wounds inflicted by those devils.

‘Those devils yesterday. They were indeed born from Mephisto’s heart.’

If I was right, they were created by the Imperial family. Then their bodies… were they the bodies of the comrades that <Berithlet> had been collecting?

“There is no action as inefficient as worrying and being concerned about unconfirmed matters in advance.”

It was Rue’s voice. He warned me with a firm voice, if he could look clearly into my thoughts.

“If your concentration is clouded by unnecessary worries, your judgement will be impaired as well. You know that best yourself, Daisy. Isn’t that right?”

“…Yes, you’re right.”

Don’t waver.

Reflecting on Rue’s advice, I blankly looked up at the clock.

There was only about an hour left until the start of the banquet. It was time to proceed with the scheduled plans.

“Rue, there’s a place I’d like for you to go with me to, if you don’t mind.”

Rue nodded without even asking where that place was.

I left the townhouse with Rue and got into the carriage. The bustling streets were crowded with people enjoying the hunting festival, so our carriage moved a bit slower.

After about 15 minutes, we arrived at our destination, the Grand Theater.

As befitting a grand theater located in the heart of the capital city’s downtown area, both the exterior and interior were pristine and clean, as if it’d just been completed construction yesterday.

Who owned this theater? I didn’t know. I simply paid the appropriate fee and rented it through Viscountess Werkhord.

“…Aren’t you going to ask where we are?”

“The theater sign was prominently hanging in front of the building.”

“I meant, why aren’t you asking why we came to a place like this?”

“There must be a reason.”

I knew he was usually tolerant of my shenanigans, but somehow at this moment, I found that tolerance annoying.

No, should I consider it fortunate? If he didn’t have any expectations, he wouldn’t be disappointed.

“We’ve been waiting, Viscount Weatherwoods. Allow me to guide you inside.”

The steward led us to the largest opera theater in Ragel. After the heavy doors closed, I climbed up the stage with Rue.

The sight of the empty seats in the audience, as seen from the stage, felt incredibly unsettling and unfamiliar to me.

But it wasn’t like I could undo what I’d already done.

“Ahem.”

In this moment, just like Rue, I wanted to be honest with my feelings.

“Think of this place… as a ballroom.”

Rue’s eyes narrowed.

The atmosphere was one where he couldn’t predict why I brought him to such a place. It seemed like even Rue could be oblivious to things at times. I suddenly realized how out of the blue and unmannered my actions were.

“Of course, I know it’s difficult. How can a mere theater stage compare to a grand ball opening at the palace? There’s no chandeliers, no music, no food.”

No, no, that’s not it. Let’s not belittle this place too much. Why was I adding salt to my injury?

This place was my best preparation, and most importantly, it was a space I’d claimed just for us.

“…But still, I wanted to dance the first dance with you. That’s why we came here.”

I came here to dance.

With no one else but Rue.

The first dance, which holds the most significance at the ball.

“Actually, my first dance partner for the hunting festival’s banquet has already been decided. If the plans don’t change, I’ll dance with Duke Raphael Zenail.”

I couldn’t muster the courage to look directly at Rue’s face, so I went on with my gaze slightly averted.

“I don’t really care about the significance of the first dance. I don’t care how I look in other people’s eyes. I consider it one of the most useless things in life.”

“….”

“But when I think the other person might be you, my thoughts change. I don’t mind if others don’t know… but I don’t want Rue to misunderstand.”

I don’t know how much time I have been allowed.

So, I want to be happy while I can be happy.

And I can say with certainty that this man is necessary for my happiness.

Rue, who was standing in front of the stage, slowly took a step forward. Even though I knew he wouldn’t, my heart still raced at the thought he might laugh at my words.

His black shoes stopped in front of me, and his white hand gently sought permission as it reached out.

“May I please have the honor of dancing the first dance with you, Lady Weatherwood?”

I don’t know what state of mind I was in when I accepted.

Before I knew it, his hand was around my waist, and my hand was resting on his chest.

“When dancing, you should look at your partner’s face.”

Very cautiously, I lifted my head.

The person I was dancing the first dance with was no longer Count Serenier. It was Rue.

Rue was smiling.

The moment he smiled beautifully as if he had everything in the world, he took the first step. The sound of a previously unheard orchestra began to play.

As music filled the quiet space, the darkness of the empty theater receded into the distance, and pearl-colored moonlight fell from the ceiling.

The solid wooden floor eventually transformed into a sandy beach. But our feet did not sink into it. He and I walked on the sand, danced on the waves, and as well as on the pure white of the sea. The familiar milky way from Queen Island unfolded in the sky. The night sky we used to look up to…

At some point, I found myself smiling so much that the corners of my mouth ached. On the other hand, Rue seemed noticeably calmer than before.

I asked him.

“What are you thinking about?”

“I think I made the right decision not to go to Calepa.”

“…I’m worried. You said that if you don’t take a rest at Calepa, the balance will tilt.”

“Yes, but the more the weight is tilted, the clearer your face becomes. And there’s more unnecessary thoughts in my head. Having a cluttered mind isn’t a very pleasant feeling. It’s strange, but not necessarily bad.”

“Are you okay?”

“It’s okay. Probably. But aren’t you going to ask me what those thoughts are?”

“Do I have to ask? You’re just going to say something that makes me feel embarrassed again. Ouch, it hurts! Where did you just bite me?”

“Finger. What did you eat to become so cute?”

“You’re the only one who looks at me and says I’m cute!”

“Of course. Who else are you supposed to look cute to? Rowayne Werkhord? Or Raphael Zenail?”

“Why do those names keep coming up? Rue, do you like me that much?”

“Well, who knows. Ah, anyway, I just realized something about how I feel about you.”

“What kind of nonsense are you going to say now?”

“When I see you, my teeth itch.”

“What?”

“I want to bite and chew you up gently. Is it because you’re weak? It feels like my stomach would be safer for you than this harsh world.”

“I am not weak.”

“You are weak. I’m so anxious because you’re weak. When I see you, my teeth itch, my mind becomes complicated, and everything becomes frustrating…”

“…”

“I want to keep you trapped inside me forever. I want to be the only one who can see your embarrassed face, unsure of what to do, and your expression that is afraid of rejection.”

“…”

“If you dare to leave me behind and die, I will chew and swallow all your limbs.”

“…”

“This greed can’t be love, can it, Daisy?”

Omg I- 

I don’t know what to say.

If you saw my face while translating these chapters, you’d think I was the one getting confessed to.