Chapter 73
At some point, Lang’s voice stopped interrupting the conversation. Before she knew it, he had already moved somewhere else, summoning water.
Water like a beast devouring the earth. For a fleeting moment, flames flickered within it and then vanished without a trace.
It was too late to run. And stopping it was far beyond anything human hands could do.
This was truly the end.
You’ve done enough. You really gave it your all.
Had it been enough?
We probably won’t see each other again. Because of you, I’ve seen all sorts of things I’d rather not have seen…
“…”
But I liked it—everything you did to move me, to try and change the future.
The closer his farewell sounded, the nearer the catastrophe crept.
I have one last favor to ask you.
Find my body… and destroy it completely.
So that no one touches my other memories. So that I never become Phaeton’s sorrow again.
I nodded.
Phaeton, staring at the oncoming disaster, pulled Sophia into his arms, shielding her within his embrace.
“Grandfather?”
“At the very least, as long as you’re with me like this, you’ll be safe.”
His sudden action was puzzling, but soon she understood why. Slowly, against her will, her body began to float upward.
Phaeton knew. He knew Lang would never kill him. So if Sophia stayed clinging to him, at least in this moment, she would live too.
The instant their bodies broke free from the earth’s grip, the tidal wave slammed into the village. Walls collapsed under the surge, and people were swept away and drowned in the blink of an eye.
Stalls disappeared without a trace. Those who had hidden in fear of Wheel’s sword were helplessly washed away in the calamity.
But Phaeton and Sophia floated calmly above the surface—higher, ever higher than the waters that swallowed the village.
Looking down at the flooded land beneath their feet, Sophia once again faced Lang.
“I’m disappointed in you, Wheel.”
“…I’m sorry. Suddenly, my body… wouldn’t move.”
“Enough excuses.”
Wheel, now standing beside Lang, clenched his trembling hands and bit down hard on his lower lip.
Tearing his gaze away from Wheel, Lang fixed his flat, emotionless eyes not on Phaeton, but on Sophia.
That look made Leon instinctively warn:
Danger…
Not you—Phaeton.
Lang’s eyes slowly rose until they reached Phaeton.
“Why don’t you hand it over to me?”
He smiled gently, but Phaeton only held Sophia tighter. He had heard that Lang had broken Olivia, had killed the woman he loved.
How could he possibly hand Leon over now?
“…No. Please… why are you doing this…?”
“Because I think you’ll listen better if I break one of its bones every time you refuse.”
Just hearing the words sent chills down his spine.
Phaeton shook his head desperately and spoke with pleading sincerity.
“No, please… Lord Lang.”
When Phaeton had first met Lang, he never called him Lord. The fact that he did now meant he was truly begging.
Perhaps moved by that desperate plea, Lang nodded and changed his words.
“Then come to me. Leave the child behind.”
It was even more devastating than before.
…The moment Phaeton lets go, he’ll drop me down there.
Sophia wasn’t the only one who understood that. It was obvious from the way Phaeton’s grip on her only tightened.
“I don’t want to waste any more time.”
Frowning slightly, Lang dropped his gaze from Phaeton to Sophia.
“If you release your hold, I swear I won’t let you fall from here.”
Who could believe such a lie?
And even if he didn’t let her fall—where would he put her? How could anyone survive this flood?
Phaeton’s grip tightened again. Beneath them lay a drowned village, and the water kept rising.
From midair, he was forced to witness this tragedy burned into his eyes.
If not for the grace of the one who held the godlike authority to keep them afloat, he would already have fallen—bones shattered against the remnants of rooftops barely poking above the surface, coughing blood as his lungs filled with water.
“Why is everyone so disappointing?”
Sophia stayed silent. Phaeton wouldn’t obey his command. So… Lang played his final card.
“Phaeton Sel Meria.”
“…Ah.”
“Answer.”
“…Yes.”
“Leave it and come here.”
Lang extended his hand—a gesture as beautiful and warm as the touch of a god.
And Phaeton knew all too well.
From the moment his name was spoken, he could no longer defy Lang’s command. The moment he let go, Leon would die.
You’re arrogant because of your power. You never consider that you might be unable to heal one day.
Leon’s words came back to him.
You were right. I was arrogant. I thought I could always protect my people—everyone.
What is the purpose of my power? Must I exist only as Lang’s tool for my life to have meaning?
I should never have longed for freedom.
How… how can you be so cruel? To steal away what’s precious, inflict pain, and force obedience?
“…Leon.”
Phaeton’s eyes turned to Sophia. There were so many emotions tangled in them that she couldn’t read his thoughts—but one thing was clear.
Whatever choice I make, you will die, and I can’t save you.
She understood, even if she didn’t want to.
There was no way out. The board had been set, and only its master could move the pieces.
Like a god, arrogant and absolute.
“…I don’t want to let go… I really don’t…”
Phaeton didn’t want to release her, but the command echoing in his ears drained the strength from his hands. Yet even as his grip weakened, his fingers tried desperately to cling tighter. Sophia could feel his will in that desperate hold.
“Wheel.”
At that short word, Wheel’s sword flashed upward and drove into Phaeton’s arm. A groan escaped his lips, but over it came Lang’s cold command:
“No magic, Phaeton Sel Meria.”
His flesh, which had been healing and tearing over and over, suddenly stopped mending. The blade twisted slowly, sending waves of sickening pain, but Phaeton could do nothing.
“…Ugh.”
For Sophia’s sake, he bit back the scream clawing at his throat.
“Leg.”
With that curt word, the sword withdrew from Phaeton.
Which meant…
“Lang—Lord Lang, please. Please don’t do this.”
“I told you.”
“….”
“That those who remain in my estate are not there because they seek freedom.”
The finely honed blade pierced Sophia’s leg.
“Ahhh…!”
She collapsed under the blinding pain, trying desperately to endure, but all she could do was clutch Phaeton’s arm and gasp for breath.
“…Lord Lang!”
“I need you for my perfect castle. That’s why I’m being so generous with you.”
Phaeton didn’t let go. Wisps of smoke coiled around his fingers—he was secretly using healing magic.
To keep Leon’s strength from failing. To ease the pain in her wounded leg.
He abandoned his own arm to do it.
“…Please… stop.”
Through her fading vision, she saw him—thinking only of her.
Will I ever find someone I’d risk everything for?
It would’ve been better if I hadn’t. Then your memories with Leon would mean nothing.
Then we wouldn’t be facing this tragedy.
But that feeling—cherishing someone—must never be tainted by anyone else.
“…Let’s make this clear.”
With a soft exhale, Sophia grasped Phaeton’s hand and somehow forced herself to rise, opening her lips to speak.
“There’s nothing I can do now, and Grandfather… you have no choice either. I have to die.”
“…No. No, Leon.”
“Grandfather. I’m so glad that whatever happens here, whatever I say or suffer, won’t affect the real you.”
“Li…on…?”
For the briefest instant, Phaeton saw not Leon, but someone else. Hair the color of soft lavender…
“This choice—it’s not Leon’s. It’s Sophia’s. Sophia Venny’s.”
“…Venny?”
Ignoring Phaeton’s bewildered face, Sophia glanced at Lang, who looked puzzled by the name.
“I’ll meet you in reality. No matter what. No matter what it takes.”
Even if I give up here, in the true timeline where Phaeton belongs, I’ll make sure you never hurt him again.
“Phaeton… and you too, Grandfather.”
“Leon—no… Sophia? What… what are you talking about…?”
Sophia brushed past his confusion and continued:
“Even if I let go here, I promise I won’t in reality. No matter what.”
“Sophia.”
Her eyes shimmered with a deep violet glow. Her hair grew longer—much longer—and its tips turned pale purple.
Phaeton stared, seeing a figure unlike Leon.
Beautiful and radiant—someone dazzling, speaking like the god he had sought all along.
“I’m not dying. So don’t worry.”
Sophia released his hand. Instantly, the power keeping her afloat vanished, and gravity seized her.
It was time to wake from this long dream.
