C723

When the two of them left the palace of Tikan, the gazes of the people on the street naturally converged on them.

Mary was aware of the hostility emanating from the crowd’s eyes toward Dyfus.

It was natural.

Although he had eventually regained his sanity, it was no less true that he had massacred hundreds of thousands of innocents.

This troubled Mary.

Her brother’s hands were already stained with blood that could never be washed away.

Could I forgive Oraboni?

In truth, that question was the real reason Mary had been unable to sleep in recent days.

Even if she heard an explanation from Dyfus today, Mary couldn’t find it in herself to understand why Dyfus had submitted to the evil god.

They walked in silence for a while, as if they had made a promise.

Before she realized it, Dyfus and Mary had reached the beach, leaving the city behind.

Their steps extended across the white sandy beach, dyed red by the setting sun.

“It seems we’ve been walking for three hours.”

Mary was the first to speak.

“Really? I thought only thirty minutes had passed.”

Dyfus replied, turning around.

He saw Mary and the distant view of the Tikan Palace.

“Why are you dragging this out? Are you avoiding the conversation after all?”

Resentment filled Mary’s eyes as she looked at Dyfus.

“It’s not that.”

“Then what is the reason for stalling with the excuse of taking a walk?”

“You already know.”

Mary hesitated, then lowered her head.

“No, I don’t. Tell me. The younger one already told me. He said that receiving the power of the evil god is only possible if one does so willingly. So if that’s true, then Oraboni, you…” R̃𝙖ＮǑᛒĚȿ

“That’s true.”

Bam!

Mary fiercely grabbed Dyfus’s shoulder.

Dyfus didn’t let go of her grip.

“You succumbed to the torture and surrendered to the evil god, is that what you’re saying?”

“It’s not an entirely incorrect statement.”

“Liar. The Oraboni I know isn’t someone who would break under torture.”

“No, I truly despaired under the endless torture. Both physically and mentally.”

“What kind of torture did you endure?”

“I can’t explain it in words. At some point, my consciousness would disappear and then return, like a flickering light bulb. Each time, my memories would fade a bit. In the end, I didn’t even remember my name. But now, everything has returned.”

“So Oraboni’s mind was completely destroyed, and you had no choice but to accept the power of the evil god… Well, I suppose it’s the only option. I asked a foolish question.”

“Mary.”

“Yes?”

“Is this explanation enough for you, considering how I was lost in the torture? Is it enough for you not to be tormented by my corruption any longer? If you trust it, let’s return now.”

Mary stared at Dyfus for a while without saying anything.

“…No, it’s not enough.”

When Mary’s grip loosened, Dyfus turned around and began to walk again.

Mary followed him, watching as their footsteps were erased by the waves.

“One day, when the torture continued, the evil god who was once our mother, or rather, the monster, told me something.”

“What did she say?”

“She said that my despair is the greatest aid in completing her divinity. The more I suffer and despair, the stronger her power becomes.”

“Ah…”

“At first, I didn’t believe those words. But I became more and more anxious. If those words were true, then her power would keep growing as long as I lived and breathed, and I wouldn’t be able to die as I wished.”

A special despair of a special being.

Just like Joshua, Dyfus’s despair was also the greatest aid in the culmination of divinity.

“After some time, I became convinced. I could clearly see that every time the evil god visited me, her power grew stronger. Naturally, I could only fall deeper into despair. If things continued this way, even if our father returned, I felt he wouldn’t be able to kill that monster.”

As Dyfus calmly continued his explanation, Mary tightly closed her eyes.

“But one day, the evil god made me an offer.”

“…To receive her power?”

“Yes. Whether she would continue torturing me and increasing my despair, or whether I would receive her power and fight the younger one. Either way, it was a precipice.”

“If only… if only you had endured a little longer. If Oraboni hadn’t received the power of the evil god, we surely could have gone to save you.”

“If that were the case, the evil god would have already become an unstoppable existence.”

“Why did the evil god choose to share her power with Oraboni if she wanted to win? According to what you’re saying, the evil god could have simply watched Oraboni despair and ultimately achieve victory.”

“The evil god is obsessed with the younger one. As soon as I became a fragment, I could see inside the evil god. She doesn’t just want to win. She wants to bring the younger one down to his lowest point and then achieve victory. She wants the younger one to become the same existence as her.”

“So Oraboni accepted the power to do such things?”

“Mary-nim!”

Before Dyfus could answer, someone came running toward them on the beach, calling out to Mary.

“King…?”

It was Kashimir.

“Mary-nim, the meeting is about to begin. Please come quickly.”

“Why did the king come personally to tell me this? Couldn’t you have sent someone else?”

Kashimir didn’t respond.

Feeling his heart unexpectedly pounding, Mary alternated her gaze between him and Dyfus.

Dyfus didn’t stop walking.

“Wait a moment. I still have things to discuss with Oraboni.”

Mary ran after Dyfus again.

Kashimir had only exchanged a few words with her, but Dyfus was already far ahead.

“Hey, Oraboni! Are you trying to run away? Slow down! Is accepting the evil god’s offer the only reason?”

“Mary.”

“Yes?”

“When you were cornered by the Prophet’s tricks in Rikalton Castle… What did you feel?”

“Why are you bringing that up suddenly?”

-Something strange… Somehow, if it were the younger one, I don’t think he would continue this deception.

Mary recalled what she had told the Prophet in Rikalton Castle.

At that moment, when defeating the enemy seemed impossible and she felt no hope, Mary was enveloped in a strange feeling.

Some great existence…

seemed capable of resolving this situation.

She didn’t know why, but she felt that the younger one would ultimately lead this battle to victory.

“I felt the same way. When I received the fragment of the evil god, I thought the younger one would come and destroy it.”

“Mary-nim! Mary-nim… It’s late; you need to attend the meeting.”

This time it was Enya.

Mary turned to look at Enya and saw the faint lights of the distant Tikan Palace against the dark night sky.

It seemed impossible to return to the Tikan Palace even if they ran all night.

They were already so far away.

Dyfus had gone even further.

Mary turned her head vigorously and chased after Dyfus.

“Oraboni, stop…!”

She barely caught up to Dyfus.

But Dyfus kept moving forward.

“I couldn’t come up with a better plan no matter how hard I tried. So I thought it would be better if I took the fragment and let the younger one destroy me. That way, the power of the evil god would weaken…”

“I understand, I understand. The meeting is about to start. Let’s go back for now and talk later, okay?”

“Elder Sister Mary!”

“Elder Sister, everyone is waiting!”

The voices of the Tona siblings could be heard from behind.

“Why, why are you all only looking for me? Isn’t Dyfus Oraboni right here beside me?” Mary shouted without turning to look at them.

If she took her eyes off Dyfus once more, she felt she would never catch up to him again.

“Dyfus Oraboni, let’s go back. I’m sorry. I’ve been making you suffer with unnecessary words until now. So please… stop for a moment… please.”

Soon, Dyfus stopped walking and turned to look at Mary.

Mary unknowingly smiled.

Dyfus’s face seemed blurry because of the tears.

“Mary. Whatever the reason for my choice, I can never be forgiven. I committed unforgivable acts. I killed too many people.”

“But, but in the end, Dyfus Oraboni returned. You originally received the power to weaken the evil god, and in the end, thanks to you, many people survived when Gliek subdued…!”

“Regardless of this and that, I simply lost to the evil god. I was weak and lost, and irresponsibly left the consequences to the younger one and you.”

“People can lose too…!”

“As a Runcandel, there are battles that must never be lost. So, Mary, don’t support me like this; keep fighting. Alongside the younger one. Alongside the people.”

“Why do you keep talking as if you’re going to disappear now? Don’t do that.”

Dyfus smiled faintly.

“I told you before, didn’t I? Go back to those people.”

Mary grabbed Dyfus’s hand and turned to look back.

Kashimir, Enya, the Tona siblings who had called out to her earlier, and all the comrades from Tikan were watching her.

They were gesturing for her to return.

“It’s just a meeting; why is everyone like this?”

“Mary.”

“I’ll return soon, with Dyfus Oraboni.”

“Mary, you must go alone.”

Dyfus said that suddenly, and Mary felt his hand slipping from her grasp.

No matter how hard she tried to hold on, she couldn’t keep her grip.

It felt like a dream; her strength was waning.

Immediately, Dyfus gently pushed Mary’s shoulder from behind.

“Even though I only experienced it through your dream, Tikan is truly a wonderful place.”

“Oraboni!”

“But we need to reclaim our home. The Garden of Swords is Runcandel’s home.”

“Dyfus Oraboni, DON’T GO!”

“It was nice to be able to walk together after a long time…”

Even without me, you must be brave, my little sister.

ORABONI…!

Mary collapsed.

At the moment she tried to stand up again to chase after Dyfus, what caught Mary’s attention was not his back.

Her siblings and comrades, who were anxiously watching over her, were in front of her.

“Elder Sister Mary!”

“Elder Sister Mary has awakened!”

“Heh, Unnie has awakened!”

“Elder Sister!”

Jin hugged Mary tightly.

Mary stared at the ceiling for a while and then returned Jin’s embrace.

The Yona and Tona siblings also hugged the two of them.

And Valeria, who was in front of them, opened the recording window to show it to Mary.

<Dyfus Runcandel, who shares the power of the evil god, places his hope in Mary Runcandel and Jin Runcandel.>

<May 22, 1803, Dyfus Runcandel departs from this world along with a portion of the evil god’s power. The evil god weakens.>

Mary couldn’t take her eyes off that record for a long time.

/SHADOWK

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