Chapter 61
After she disappeared, Killian, left alone, stood like a statue, silent and unmoving.
In his hand was the holy sword he had drawn.
Even Elshunain had never seen him like this after she left.
“……”
A painful lump of dry saliva slid down her throat.
The moment when you are betrayed by someone you thought a friend.
That was exactly now.
The one he loved had died, and before he could even fully grasp that fact, he was betrayed by a friend.
Even though he had steeled himself for years, telling himself it was something he had to endure for her happiness.
Still, she could not feel at ease.
That must have left a deep scar.
That was why he was recalling this moment here in his mental world.
“…Elshunain.”
“….”
His voice, dying, called her name.
As if he could not believe it, his eyes were dazed.
Those around him quickly closed in.
“Guardian! The holy sword! Hurry, the holy sword!”
“That’s the only way we live!”
“Oh, God above! Save us!”
“…Disgusting.”
Clutching his head with one hand, Killian muttered,
“I said shut up!”
But the frenzied masses did not hear him. They clamored desperately, begging him to save them from the demons.
And just then, a strange voice echoed from nowhere.
— Abandoned again, aren’t you?
“….”
— Didn’t I tell you? In the end, you would be forsaken.
“No. Elshunain will come back.”
He spoke firmly, but his voice trembled.
Elshunain’s face stiffened as she looked around.
Where is that coming from?
Was this in the original story?
— Tsk, tsk. Pitiful man. Humans are so wretched. To live their whole lives in such pain.
“….”
— Even now, it isn’t too late.
The whisper was sly, intimate.
— Accept my offer. Then you will never feel such pain again.
“…Never again?”
— Yes. Never again.
“….”
Among the cries and pleading, Killian fell silent.
“He’s going to let us die! At this rate, we’ll all perish!”
“That’s right! Even those you care for will all be slaughtered!”
When he did not answer, the people began to turn on him.
“Maybe that sword isn’t holy at all, but a cursed blade? Why is he like this?”
“He’s just scared! Damn it, I won’t die here! Hand it over! I’ll wield the holy sword myself!”
One of them lunged for the sword.
And at that very instant, Killian moved.
Whoosh—! Clang!
“Arghhh!”
The knight who had recklessly reached out was hurled away as if yanked back by an invisible force.
“H-Heck!”
— Yes! Kill them all, these worthless insects… What are you doing?
“I’ll confirm it myself. Face to face.”
— What…?
“I’ll meet her. I can’t just let her vanish like this.”
— You’ll regret this.
The sinister voice threatened.
— A more painful future awaits you. Even so, will you still choose this?
“….”
Killian gave no reply.
Instead, raising the holy sword high in both hands, he brought it down in one swift stroke.
A brilliant white light, so holy it brought tears to the eyes, swept across the world.
When Elshunain opened her eyes again, everything was black, just as it had been when she first awoke.
From somewhere, sharp voices rang out.
“You are alone. No one loves you.”
“Everyone at your side will abandon you.”
The voices buzzed with a murderous edge.
As the voices echoed, the space began to brighten—revealing Killian, sitting blankly, muttering to himself.
Here.
The place described in the original.
The very core of Killian’s mind.
Here, I have to take Arwen’s place.
Elshunain strode toward him with a determined face.
Killian, kneeling and staring up at the sky, had eyes filled with wounds.
Eyes that were normally so cold and rational were wet with tears, making her heart ache unbearably.
Killian…
A sharp pain throbbed in her chest.
As she drew closer, she finally caught what he was whispering.
“No… She doesn’t hate me. She didn’t abandon me.”
But then, a cruel voice fell upon him like hail.
“How could anyone not hate someone as useless as you? You were abandoned.”
“And it’s only right. Stop burdening everyone around you and just give up.”
Killian whispered back,
“Give up… what?”
“Do you really not know? Your life. Your breath. Your future.”
“…If I do… will those around me be happy?”
She couldn’t let him sink any further.
Elshunain rushed forward and embraced his shoulders.
“No, Killian!”
According to the original story, this was Killian’s mental world where everyone appeared to him as Arwen.
This time I came in alone, but originally, two people entered—Arwen and her maid.
Killian, longing desperately for Arwen, mistook the maid, who arrived first, for her.
So now, Killian is going to think I’m Arwen.
And that meant she could take Arwen’s role.
“Killian, are you all right?”
She imitated Arwen’s tone, gently patting his shoulder.
“…You.”
“Yes, it’s me.”
“…Your way of speaking is strange.”
As his tilted gaze fixed on her, Elshunain quickly covered,
“It must feel strange since it’s been so long.”
“…Is that so? Then… you’ve returned to me?”
“Eh? Y-Yes! That’s right. So don’t listen to those cruel words. Let’s leave here.”
“You… really came back?”
His trembling voice was so faint.
Elshunain nodded and clasped his hand.
She felt the calloused roughness in his large palm.
“I’m completely back. You can see me now. I’m alive, not dead.”
Saying it made her heart ache.
In the future, Arwen would never be able to say these words herself—she would no longer exist.
So Elshunain poured herself fully into the role.
“Now we can be together until the end. You’re not alone, Killian.”
“…So, you never abandoned me?”
“Of course not! I would never abandon you.”
“….”
Killian slowly relaxed, collapsing from his kneel to a slump on the ground, tension leaving his shoulders.
“Then… show me proof.”
“…Sorry?”
His gaze, slightly lopsided, locked onto hers.
The emptiness in his eyes was gone—replaced by a strange fire.
Meeting it head-on, Elshunain swallowed hard.
This was the very moment she had feared before boarding the ship.
“Show me proof.”
“Wh-What kind of proof?”
“That you’re mine.”
“…How am I supposed to show you that?”
Killian leaned closer, his torso drawing toward her. His red eyes slowly trailed downward—finally resting on her lips.
“…Give me proof. That you belong to me.”
“…Killian?”
She knew full well those words weren’t meant for her, but still, why did her cheeks burn so hot?
Elshunain reflexively tried to back away.
But his hand gently caught her wrist.
His grip was soft, yet unyielding—she couldn’t move.
Or rather, she could, but she froze.
His other hand brushed slowly through her hair.
“Give me proof you can’t escape me.”
Lowering his head, his breath tickled her cheek.
The fine hairs on her skin bristled in tension.
“…Give yourself to me.”
And then, a soft warmth pressed against her lips.
“…!!”
Though she knew it was coming, Elshunain still shuddered as if it were utterly unexpected.
O-Oh my God.
How could she keep her composure under such a gaze?
Eyes that looked as if they would devour her whole.
His lips pressed firmly, as though trying to memorize their shape, before finally pulling away.
Phew…
Elshunain, clutching her pounding heart, exhaled silently.
Killian waking from the kiss with Arwen—just like in the original story.
Thank goodness the author was conservative. At least it stopped at a kiss… r-right?
But even as she thought that, his lips returned—not gently this time, but with swift, undeniable force.
And then—
A warm, insistent something slipped past her lips.
“…Huh?”
