Chapter 80
I need to push harder!
Especially since I tormented Halloway, I couldn’t just let this end easily. I drove my spear into the remaining eye of the Emperor.
―Ah, my sight… Aaaah!
Watching him suffer, I took a deep breath.
Legs, arms, torso. I thrust the spear in one by one, trying to inflict as much pain as possible.
Maybe it was because he was more like a monster than a human, or because I had already gotten used to such things in this hotel, or maybe thanks to the spear—I don’t know—but I could drive it into him without hesitation, and the hallway was already filled with his screams.
The way I was moving was something I could never manage naturally.
Go, ancestors!
Though in pain, thanks to having the spear, I began to corner the Emperor even if my movements were slightly sluggish.
I twisted the spear and drove it straight into his leg.
Messages popped up on the system window: attack power and evasion rate increased, but when I removed both legs and the Emperor collapsed with a thud, I raised the spear and aimed precisely at his neck.
Crack!
With a brutal sound, his head rolled.
But in moments like this, you can’t let your guard down. As I hurried to split his head, the flesh turned like spikes and brushed against my thigh.
“Ugh.”
“…….”
Enduring the pain, I drove the spear down, and with a split sound, his head cracked open and his heart came out.
A charred black heart throbbed. Without time to be grossed out, I quickly pulled the heart out and stepped back from the Emperor.
“If I leave it too long, the body will regenerate around the heart.”
Had I spilled too much blood?
My head was dizzy, but I couldn’t fight again.
I had to make sure he was dead before he revived.
Breathing heavily, I hurriedly opened my bag zipper, but Halloway pressed his hand firmly against my thigh.
“Sis is busy. I’ll play with you later.”
He pressed on my wounded spot, and it throbbed sharply.
I hastily found a glass bottle and pulled it out, and Halloway gripped my thigh tightly.
“Ah!”
“…….”
What the hell is this guy doing now?
But I had no time to push him away. The heart was already twitching, and flesh began oozing out.
Ugh, disgusting.
I opened the glass bottle lid and without hesitation, placed the Emperor’s heart inside and closed it tightly.
The blood began boiling over.
I cupped Halloway’s cheek, who was focused on my thigh, and spun toward the glass bottle.
“Watch closely. This is the end of this man.”
Stop paying attention to my thigh.
Halloway and I met each other’s eyes. His expression didn’t change, but his pupils flickered slightly.
No matter what, it was the Emperor’s real death.
There was no way he wouldn’t be shaken.
He was family, and at the same time, one of the causes of his demise.
I couldn’t say anything to his complex expression.
―P-please… let me live… I-I want to live…
Then a male voice echoed inside the glass bottle. It was the voice of the first Emperor I had seen through the island’s secrets, clear and audible.
―I… this father… asks for… forgiveness…
Halloway held my hand tightly.
Ah! My hand is going to explode!
Tears pricked at my eyes as I patted the back of his hand.
Loosen a bit.
But he gripped even tighter.
Hey! Don’t you understand me?
No? You don’t?
Flustered, my words got tangled.
―I’m empty like this! Why! You left your father like this, and you dare…!
Still no remorse.
I spun the glass bottle lid with one hand to let my blood coat the heart more thoroughly.
―Pain… pain… pain!
That’s exactly what it’s meant for.
―I, I sought… eternal life…!
“I didn’t get it.”
He rested his face against my head, and I silently watched as the Emperor’s wailing heart burned away completely.
By then, Halloway’s grip on my hand had weakened.
[Sub-Quest <What’s in the Underground Vault?> Completed!]
[‘Key to the Underground Vault’ is in the front of the bag.]
Halloway let go of my hand and tapped the now-burnt glass bottle.
His hand trembled slightly. I opened the front zipper and grabbed the key.
[‘Key to the Underground Vault’ obtained!]
[Key to the Underground Vault]
Feature: Key to the Underground Warlock’s Lab 1.
The Warlock’s Lab. I had never even seen it before…
With my spear gone, my only weapons now were shurikens and a dagger. I put the bag back on and snatched the glass bottle from Halloway’s hand.
“How long are you going to stare?”
“Just curious.”
“Feel better?”
“I’m not sure.”
He said that, closing his lips.
“Happy…? I know why it happened, but I feel like I still want to ask why.”
I looked at him, complex expression and all, and spoke calmly.
“So… do you regret killing him completely now?”
“No, not at all.”
It was clear, his answer came without hesitation.
It must feel strange.
Finally free from the shadow of a father who had been holding him back for a thousand years.
Until now, even if he wanted to kill the Emperor, he couldn’t; he had to lock him underground and let him live.
Even if he tried to forget, the Emperor’s existence remained unchanged.
Halloway probably couldn’t help but notice. A lot.
So now, I wanted him to feel at least a little relieved. No one else had driven him into this nightmare.
He hadn’t escaped it yet, but at least the cause was finally dead…
“I hope you feel a bit lighter now.”
Halloway, who had been silently staring at me, softened his mouth slightly.
“Yes, I will. I don’t feel bad, that’s for sure.”
“Then you finish it.”
“Finish?”
“Break this glass bottle. And sever this long, bitter tie.”
I wondered if he would hesitate, but he lightly lifted the bottle with one hand and released it into the air.
The glass shattered, and the black liquid spread across the floor, then solidified before crumbling, disappearing without a trace.
He watched silently.
Couldn’t he feel relieved?
Glancing at him, Halloway exhaled lightly, a faint smile slowly spreading across his face.
His eyes curved like a crescent, and his clear laughter echoed through the underground.
A refreshing laugh.
On his bright, clear face, it felt like a shadow had lifted, even if only slightly.
[Halloway’s heart feels at ease.]
[Halloway has broken free from his ‘father’.]
[Halloway feels warmth settle in his heart, as if your words carried magic.]
Halloway slowly turned his head and looked at me.
“Really.”
“…….”
“I feel lighter. I guess it’s because I finally think he’s dead.”
His half-lowered lashes cast long shadows.
Seeing him relieved yet bittersweet, I couldn’t help but stand on tiptoe and stretch to stroke his hair.
His eyes, which had been looking down, gradually shifted to me. His red eyes flickered with heat.
A part of the darkness at the bottom of him seemed to grip me, and I instinctively stepped back.
He reached out and carefully caught my hand as it moved away from his head.
“Evelyn was right.”
Uh, ancestors…
Is Halloway acting a little strange?
The closer our hands got, the hotter they felt, and the more I tried to pull away, the tighter he held.
I stepped back half a pace, but he stepped forward at once, closing the distance.
At a dangerously close distance, Halloway’s hand now wrapped around my neck, gently caressing it.
His half-closed eyes looking down, the curve of his lips… it was so beautiful I almost thought I was dreaming.
“Um…”
“You can cover this memory with good memories from now on.”
Tilting his head slightly, his lips moved slowly.
“Right?”
His deep gaze and soft voice made me forget this terrifying underground place.
“Evelyn.”
Hearing my name from his lips carried an unfamiliar emotion.
My heart raced. My face and ears flushed.
“When you said everyone was pitiful back then, I felt disgusted, but I didn’t know why.”
“Wouldn’t it be better not to know, for both you and me?”
I can’t handle this.
He chuckled softly at my words and shook his head.
“I know, but I can’t turn away.”
“…….”
“I’m getting weirder and weirder.”
They say love starts with “You’re really weird.”
Did he just say that out loud?
“Weirder…”
His red tongue licked his lips once before retreating.
“I want you to feel sorry only for me. Even if it’s pity, I want it to be for me alone.”
His words were full of obsession, almost hinting at intense possessiveness.
When you can’t say a word…
[Halloway’s possessiveness increases!]
Possessiveness?
[Unable to read Halloway’s affection level!]
[Error, error!! ?(°Д°≡°Д°)?]
[Error, error!! ?(°Д°≡°Д°)?]
Why is his possessiveness rising?
I killed the Emperor; I shouldn’t be rewarded with gratitude, yet here he is acting ungratefully.
The only relief is that Halloway still seems unaware.
Judging by what he says, he doesn’t know the cause of his weirdness, he just wants me.
That’s more dangerous.
If he realizes it…
I don’t even want to imagine it.
And Halloway in that state…
“Could I really refuse him?”
That’s what worries me most.
“Halloway, listen. I feel pity the same for everyone. For stray animals on the street, and for you too.”
I had to suppress his possessiveness for now. He needed to know my feelings weren’t exclusive. I couldn’t be harsh, but I could say this much.
“Did you think those words would hurt me?”
“Should I make it worse?”
“Go ahead.”
“Better not.”
I’m quick-witted.
As Halloway, now smiling easily, moved closer to me, suddenly—
“Is… is anyone there?”
I heard Moran’s voice. Halloway frowned.
He looked displeased that his time was being interrupted.
I guessed correctly. There was no way he wasn’t fully focused on me.
Or maybe he just couldn’t act.
Trapped with Halloway, I asked him:
“Hurry and return to your child form.”
“No reason to return.”
“Really? Then stay as you are?”
You don’t mind Moran seeing this?
Halloway brushed my hair aside, seemed to ponder, and finally shook his head.
“I’ll return.”
Apparently, he didn’t want Moran to see him like this yet.
As soon as Halloway returned to his child form, Moran appeared at the corner of the left ear.
Seeing me, Moran brightened and waved.
“E-Evelyn! You’re here?”
“Moran, why are you here? What about Cleta?”
“I just happened to find the underground place you mentioned, Evelyn, so I came to investigate…”
Tears welled in Moran’s eyes.
“What is this place? It’s so scary… It can’t even compare to the monsters upstairs.”
Her trembling body was splattered with dark red blood.
“C-Cleta lured the monsters to save me, but then she fell…”
So Cleta must also be here.
[Halloway’s temper is rapidly worsening.]
Maybe because Cleta and I might meet.
Even if we do, I won’t talk.
No point in unnecessarily provoking Halloway now.
I don’t understand why the difficulty isn’t getting easier over time, but harder.
Halloway’s emotions are a complete mess.
“Besides Cleta, anyone else?”
“Not sure.”
Soon, Dilaf and Suriel will come too.
To retrieve the items I have.
I’ll need to increase their affection, but I hope Halloway doesn’t get jealous.
Then Moran, who had been quietly watching Halloway and me, muttered a bit enviously:
“Even though I came in with Cleta, I fell, but Evelyn and Halloway are still sticking together…”
“Halloway’s basically a stalker.”
Not my fault.
