DSMBL Chapter 76

Chapter 076

I really thought I might die this time.

Thankfully, it seems I’m still alive.

“……S-sister-in-laaawww…!”

“The human woke up!”

Judging by how noisy it is, I must really be okay.

“Please come down. If you fall again, you might not get back up.”

At Luna’s warning, the children who had climbed all over me slowly got down.

Their eyes were full of tears and snot as they looked up at me.

“……Why are you crying so much?”

“Because Charlotte has been sleeping for two days.”

Stephanie stomped her feet as she spoke, glaring at me with teary eyes.

“It was very tiring and difficult for me!”

“Stop crying, Stephanie.”

“Stephanie is a dragon. Dragons don’t cry!”

“Okay, okay. Just stop crying already.”

“Sniff.”

Stephanie wiped her nose with the back of her hand.

Seriously.

“I’m totally fine. Look, everyone. See? I’m really okay.”

I tried to get down from the bed, but I staggered and had to sit again.

“Waaaah! S-sister-in-laaawwwww!”

“I’m alive, kids…”

Luna sighed. She looked at me and smiled.

“Is your body okay? Mr. Miller said he used all the shots he had on you…”

“Maybe that’s why. I feel like I could chew rocks right now.”

As I patted Theo and Stephanie on the head, the door opened.

“Cassius.”

Thank goodness, you look better. Your face has color again… Is your side doing fine?

Cassius quickly lifted the kids and took them outside.

“Brother! I don’t want to go!”

“Stephanie won’t go!”

“Luna, take them all away.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

While Luna dragged the protesting kids away, Cassius firmly shut the door.

He walked up to me and cupped my cheeks.

“…Cassius?”

I was startled and widened my eyes. Why did he kick out those crybabies?

Cassius looked at my face from different angles, then let out a sigh.

He slowly knelt down and rested his face on my lap, muttering,

“I thought you weren’t going to wake up.”

“Come on. Do I look like someone who’d die that easily?”

“…Don’t ever do something like that again. I won’t be thankful for it…”

“Of course, you should be thankful. What would’ve happened if you weren’t saved back then?”

“Charlotte.”

I gently stroked Cassius’s hair.

He froze for a moment, then relaxed again, resting his head on my thigh with a warm breath.

“I didn’t understand before, but now I think I do.”

“What kind of burden are you carrying? What kind of person you are here.”

“……”

“It must’ve been really hard.”

I patted his shoulder.

“You’ve been through so much, haven’t you?”

He didn’t answer, but tightly held my hand.

“That’s why I wanted to help, but that was all I could do.”

I guess I gave my heart to this place without realizing it.

If I hadn’t, if I hadn’t used my life force to heal Cassius,

I think I would’ve regretted it more and been in more pain.

“…Charlotte, I…”

“Don’t get hurt, Cassius.”

“……”

“That’s all I can do for you. So don’t ever get hurt, okay?”

Cassius gave a small nod.

“Thank you, Charlotte.”

At his soft whisper, I stroked his head as if to say that was enough.

I realized again just how precious this peace is.

And what sacrifices are being made to protect it.

***

Later that night

It was late.

Everyone was asleep.

The gate had closed, having served its purpose.

The guards were still on watch,

but to Janice, slipping past their eyes was nothing.

Janice placed her hand on the blood-soaked ground.

‘They’re still here.’

The resentment and anger of the knights who died without even closing their eyes.

Janice swallowed hard and looked around.

The guards were alert, but hadn’t noticed her yet.

These kinds of spirits made excellent materials.

Janice gathered the souls and moved on.

She arrived at the place where the monsters’ bodies were said to be burned.

‘Oh!’

She almost gasped in excitement but held it back.

Strong magic energy lingered here.

It seemed some high-ranking creatures had crossed over.

With this much power, she could extract high-purity magic stones.

Janice moved happily.

The disaster in this world wasn’t over yet.

As the last shaman left on this land,

she still had a great task to fulfill.

***

Three days later

It took three days to settle the situation.

During that time, a modest but dignified funeral was held at the duke’s estate.

It was a time to mourn the dead and comfort their families.

Of course, both Charlotte and Cassius were present.

Charlotte placed white flowers on the coffins of the fallen knights and gave a prayer in their honor.
Soft sobs from the knights and the cries of grieving families filled the air.

She felt a heavy weight in her heart.
‘If only I could have saved them all,’ she thought.
But she smiled bitterly, knowing it was impossible.

God must have only given her power she could handle. If she had more holy power, she might have run around trying to save everyone, even recklessly.

When the funeral ended, the dead were laid to rest peacefully. Their families received the objects after their bodies were cremated.

“Duke, Duchess,” said Giverny as he approached.
“The other funeral is ready.”

At this news, Cassius looked at Charlotte.
“There’s another ceremony. Will you come with me?”
“You mean… for the Yetis?”
He nodded silently.

The knights who had attended the funeral began moving too. There were still others who deserved to be honored.

After comforting the families and organizing the duke’s castle, they made their way to the forest—now a familiar place.

Prince Krinini of the Yeti tribe was waiting for them.

“He says thank you. For coming,” someone translated.
Charlotte smiled faintly. The Yetis hadn’t changed.

Krinini pounded his chest with his fist—thump, thump.
“We mourn. The warriors’ death.”

Cassius gave the prince a nod. “Lead the way.”

The prince began to walk deeper into the forest, far beyond where humans usually go.
It was quiet, untouched nature. There, the bodies of the Yeti warriors were carefully laid out.

“This is the first time. We invited humans. To our funeral.”
“It’s an honor,” Cassius replied.

A Yeti with pure white fur sat in front of the bodies. The others joined, forming a large circle around the dead.

They began to sing.

It was a powerful, emotional song with no lyrics—just sound that stirred the heart.
Their tears were mixed into their voices, mourning the dead and guiding their souls to the sky.

A shaman stood up and began to dance.
Her white fur flowed, and the bells in her hands jingled gently.

Then, fireflies started gathering over the bodies.
The light slowly covered the fallen warriors, and one by one, they began to turn into glowing light and rise into the sky.

Charlotte widened her eyes, watching.
It looked as though they were becoming stars.

The human knights gasped—and then began to cry.
The ceremony awakened deep emotions within them.

After it ended, Charlotte asked Cassius,
“Do you think they really became stars?”
“Maybe,” he said, with a soft smile.