TSFA l CH 145

Chapter 145

“Man, watching that bastard bawl was so satisfying. Maybe I should tease him like this whenever I’m bored.”

“Dad, seriously? That’s messed up!”

“What? He’s the reason I rotted in prison for twelve years!”

Elliot’s knees buckled. Trembling, he cut in.

“I-I’m sorry, Ryan. I really am…. I should’ve stopped Father that day… I ruined your life, I’m sorry. I know no words can ever make up for it, but—please….”

“……”

“……”

Both Ryan and the girl blinked down at him.

“…Guess Death Touch really is terrifying.”

“Strange, isn’t it? A painless, instant death—what’s so scary about that?”

“R-Ryan! Please—hkk—ugh….”

“Because life is too sweet to let go of. You’ve got everything—of course you want to live longer.”

“Yeah, stuffing your face with dirty money and filth. How long do you plan on leeching off it?”

“Ryan! Please. I regret it. I should’ve stood up to Father. Should’ve found another way than sending you to prison! But you know what happens when you defy him—I had no choice—”

“No.”

The girl cut him off. She stared at Elliot with pure contempt, then glanced at Ryan.

“You don’t actually believe this man only did all his filth because Father ‘made him,’ do you?”

“Of course not.”

Ryan stepped closer. Kneeling so their eyes were level, he gripped Elliot’s shoulder.

“I’m not killing you today. Relax. Squash one cockroach and the rest scatter. That’s useless. My goal’s total extermination—burn the whole nest. Got it?”

He leaned in, whispering in Elliot’s ear.

“Complete wipeout.”

Elliot stared up blankly as Ryan stood again.

“Use the life you’ve got left to do something good for once. Not that you will.”

The girl slipped into Ryan’s arms, hugging his waist. Ryan draped an arm over her shoulders and waved cheerfully.

“Bye-bye.”

And that was the end.

An ending Elliot wouldn’t even remember—one timeline’s close.

***

“Alright, we’re off!” Ryan announced, dashing away.

Nike remained waiting in the basement, where the crates of Kiphracia were stored. Thanks to Ryan’s plan, he’d already stolen some supplies, ready to torch the place.

And as for Bania, hidden in Ryan’s shadow… Nike pushed his worry aside. Ryan had told him the truth.

Bania’s true power: Song of Reversal. A blessing that made survival nearly certain. If she could rewind freely, without restriction… then she’d be safe. He had to believe it.

The anxious wait began—

“I’m back!”

“…?”

Nike blinked. Only thirty seconds had passed. Then he realized.

“Ah. He must’ve rewound time.”

So even the waiting vanished. That was a relief.

“Good work,” Nike said, jerking his chin at the oil canisters. “Ready to burn it all?”

Ryan nodded. “Yeah. That shitpile was huge.”

The mansion’s secret chamber roared with fire.

From the mountainside, the two men watched the blaze spread.

Ryan’s eyes grew distant. “What is love, anyway?”

“…The hell kind of question is that?”

“Doesn’t it burn bright like that… and then go out?”

Nike ignored the nonsense.

“I was just curious. You’ve experienced it, right?”

“I haven’t. …Not this time.”

“When it burns, it blinds everything else. I heard some guy even revived the vermin he’d wiped out. Sold out his own country for it.”

Nike’s eyes shut tight. He didn’t remember it, but he knew.

The man who rewound time to save Bania… who brought the Vasenberg monsters back… who betrayed his nation—was himself.

“And a certain woman,” Ryan went on, grinning, “walked out swearing to kill her entire bloodline. Just to meet that man again.”

“…Hey—”

Nike’s stomach dropped. Was Bania hearing this too? Could Ryan really talk like this in front of her?

Ryan turned to him, smirking.

“Of course, you could say it was all ‘for the greater good.’ But I think it all started with love. Destructive, yes—but love can push people past human limits. It can change the world.”

“…Yeah.”

Nike found himself agreeing.

In the end, he had betrayed duty to save the one he loved. But that same person had chosen to fight and change the world. Maybe that’s why he’d loved her—because she could carry that resolve.

“Behold!” Ryan gestured grandly at the burning mansion.

“The beautiful result of Your Highness’s love!”

***

At dawn, Nike delivered his report to the Crown Prince.

“So, Sir Ryan Belzer infiltrated first?”

The prince’s eyes widened, delighted.

Nike nodded, carefully polishing Ryan’s image. “Without him, I couldn’t have found the stash. Thanks to his help, we burned every crate of Kiphracia before the auction began.”

He explained how the fire had been contained without casualties—thanks to Elliot summoning a water-type Awakened to suppress the flames. Only the target was destroyed.

“Well done. And thank Sir Ryan for me. He’ll get his recognition.”

“Thank you, Your Highness. Then I’ll—”

“Nike. Wait.”

The Crown Prince stood, tension in his face.

Nike froze, remembering what Ryan’s adjutant had warned: Your brother wants to see you. He has questions.

“I have some things to ask. Answer honestly.”

“…Yes.”

His stomach knotted.

“Did you ask for Sir Ryan’s daughter’s hand in marriage?”

“???”

Nike’s mind went blank.

“What… what did you just say?”

“Don’t dodge. Answer me.”

“No! Absolutely not.”

“Only the truth, Nike.”

“It is the truth, Your Highness. I swear.”

The prince exhaled in relief, though his trembling hand gave him away. He’d been agonizing over this.

“Forgive me. I misjudged. I know you, I know you wouldn’t. But the circumstances looked too suspicious. And since I couldn’t see you, my imagination ran wild….”

“…What circumstances?”

“During the southern hunt, the words you spoke with Sir Ryan.”

“…Ah.”

Nike realized instantly—Ryan’s ridiculous “don’t see any other women” remark, which his adjutant must have tattled about.

“I thought perhaps… you’d pressed his daughter into a relationship. And since he couldn’t refuse outright, he asked you to wait until she was of age….”

“…Wait. Wait, wait, WHAT?”

Nike’s head spun.

“I… I don’t even understand why you’re bringing up Ryan’s daughter at all!”

“Oh, I asked him myself.”

“…You what?”

“He said all that conversation was about his daughter.”

“???”

Nike nearly fainted.

Ryan—was he out of his mind?!

And how the hell was he supposed to explain this to the Crown Prince now?

The prince’s voice grew quiet.

“Then let me ask my next question.”

It felt like a death sentence. Nike’s heart sank.

The world itself seemed to be forcing him into this corner.