Chapter 202: Greed’s Return

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Even after losing Greed, the demon Kairos did not stop attacking.

Raising his hands, his claws grew longer as he tried to tear through me.

『Fate! From above』

While dodging, I looked up in accordance with Envy’s warning.

Greed, who should have been a black shield earlier, had transformed into a black scythe. Moreover, the secret of the second form was being activated, already transitioning to a terrifying appearance. Was it possible to do something like that even when he’s not holding the weapon…?

It’s a method I was not aware of before.

On the other hand, getting hit by the secret of the second form will result in instant death. While Dad blocked it rather easily, I didn’t know if I could do the same.

『Quickly, end this』

[…Kairos.]

Throughout the fight, my hesitation finally rose. In this world… Was it really alright for me to defeat Kairos?

Because I’m afraid that for Kairos, the damage he received from this fight would be irreparable.

Even so, the Deadly Inferno wouldn’t wait. Spinning on its own at high speed, heading towards me,

『Fate!』

Envy called out my name as if in a hurry.

The sound of swishing air became more imminent. Thus I faced the demon Kairos.

[…Kairos-san.]

The next moment, the black bayonet pierced him in the heart. Right afterward, the black scythe landed a hair breadth away behind me, digging deeply into the ground.

The appearance of the demon Keiros was breaking down. The menacing horns, the sharp eyes, the claws that could tear the flesh… collapsed as if being sucked into the sky.

Immediately, his memory flashed back in his mind. No, it’s not just a memory. It felt like I was experiencing it personally.

It’s as if I was Kairos. But it was very fragmented and had a lot of ambiguity. It’s less clear than what I’d experienced when freeing Myne from her prison of the past――some parts were hazy at best.

Even so, it seemed that I could actually feel it there. Does that mean I’ve become Kairos, or …

[Finally… we are connected.]

[Kairos! This is…]

He had reverted back to his original appearance. But it didn’t stop there, as his form started to collapse as well.

And there’s nothing I could do as his shape dissolved like a sand castle.

[Don’t be sad. I’ve already died to begin with. And…]

He weakly raised his hand, and pressed his index finger to my chest.

[I told you already, I will always be here. That will not change.]

He already said the same thing before. I thought that we are connected through our Gluttony skill.

But, Kairos shook his head.

[You are such a dense person. Well, I suppose that’s why. Otherwise you wouldn’t be able to get this far. No wonder Greed can’t stand you.]

Kairos let out a wry laugh while glancing at Greed, who had returned to his sword form.

[I’ll be back again. You’d probably understand by then.]

[…Kairos-san.]

[Don’t give me that face. Have you ever listened up until just now…good grief… anyhow, never let go of Greed again.]

[Yes.]

[Sorry, for leaving everything in your hands. But otherwise, you wouldn’t be born in this world… really… I had no idea.]

I couldn’t understand what Kairo was trying to say at the moment. However, I know that he’s not lying to me.

After all――what’s the point of lying to me after I went this far?

[Catch you later, Fate.]

[…..until we meet again.]

He seemed a little surprised, before disappearing.

[Kairos-san…]

The sand that was Kairos’ body crumbled and turned into light particles, which immediately entered my body. A fusion… or rather, it’s as if a missing part of me had returned to its rightful place…

An electric shock struck my mind. The shock that ran through my head was so overwhelming that I forgot to even breathe.

[…so that’s how it is.]

So that’s how. I see… I see…

I can understand now why that fake Fate hated me so much. And I found out what Kairos meant when he said that he was inside me.

And also why Rafal had no grudge against me despite everything that happened…

All of it… everything.

Including why I’m able to keep my wits in this world.

…yes, everything.

[I… I am.]

『It is as you thought, Fate.』

A nostalgic voice spoke to me.

It’s the black sword that was left stuck on the ground.

He transformed into his human form and approached me.

[You really made me wait.]

[Sorry.]

[All’s well that ends well. I also got to have a talk with him again.]

Seeing Greed yawning lazily like that, I couldn’t help but to slug him in the flank with an elbow.

[You little… tell me, why did you have to do that crazy stunt back then!]

[I had to, because there’s no other way. But I still came back in the end, right?]

[Come here!]

I slugged him another elbow, this time apparently landing on a ‘sweet’ spot that it sent him doubling over on the ground.

[Why did you do that! Aren’t I your important companion!]

[Damn well you are!]

No matter how I think about it, a moving reunion with Greed didn’t come to mind.

Well, this is just how we are.

『You two getting along is all good and all, but can we return to the real world already?』

Envy spoke to us in an urgent tone.

Might be because of worrying over Eris’ condition. In the real world, I was out of control after all. This put Eris in a pinch.

However, the runaway should have stopped. Because if I close my eyes, I can see the outside world. From what I could see from there, I seemed to have stopped moving.

Although I calmed down, I was lying there defenseless. We’d better hurry back.

Greed called me, as if reading my mind.

[Shall we head back? Need some help?]

[Nah, I can do that myself. I know the way.]

[Alright… me too then]

Greed stretched out his hand to me. Ah, how nostalgic.

This is how we can return.

To the world where we can truly feel alive.

[Let’s head back home together.]

I grabbed hold of Greed’s outstretched hand.

In the real world, I have a lot to ask my dad. I’m wondering if I can call him my father, but I can’t help but ask.

The real me. Before I couldn’t afford it, I might not have been able to accept it. Still, now that I know it, I can calm down somewhere.

I would like to thank the connections and kindness of my colleagues who gave me such power.

Light shined on us as we returned to the real world.

The light and body became familiar and assimilated. Then it gradually lost its shape and began to appear bright red from the world to heaven.

The dead people who had been quiet at their feet flocked to chase after us. I was watching for a while while listening to the groaning voices.

That was also part of me. Never forget. From now on, I will think back every time I take another’s life with my Gluttony skill.

This was the origin of my soul.

I took a look in the direction to return. To a world with a bright blue future, not a world of the past that was bright red as blood.

I need to keep the hope of that world alive… for I was born into that world at the cost of my mother’s life.

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