Perhaps I Should've Let You Die...

‘Live, be the personification you were always meant to be.’

‘What is this? Why does this seem so familiar? The boy in front of me… the lady in his arms…’

In the woods, somewhere unknown, a lady was being held in the arms of a young boy who looked no older than a teen.

“But… you told me… you were fine…”

The boy was sobbing uncontrollably. On one arm, he held the lady, on the other, blood that was not his.

“This is as far as I can take you. Listen to me, at the end of this forest–”

‘What are you doing? Don’t you have anything to help her? In that case, I'll…?! I can’t… move my body…?' 

All Kei could do was stand and struggle, however, he couldn't move his body at all. Before long, he had stopped struggling as if he had come to a certain realisation.

'.... ah, that’s right… This is… one of my sins… the sin of living... ' A wistful smile had formed on his face as tears began to roll down from only one side of his face.

'I’m watching my sins as a punishment… Maybe, it’s time… I’ve been wandering this land for so long… maybe it’s time I finally rested…?!’

As Kei spoke those words, the two figures in front of him slowly turned to stare at him. The lady spoke first.

“I didn’t save you so you could die.”

Then the boy.

“That helpless thinking is what got you here.”

Then the lady.

"Why did I have to die to witness this pathetic excuse standing in front of me?“

Then the boy.

"Maybe someone else was more deserving of your her."

Then the lady. This time, in a calmer but sharper tone.

Perhaps, I should’ve… LET. YOU. DIE. — —”

“UGH.”

Kei had bounced up from the bed. It was now morning, birds chirping. As he looked around him, Kei found that he was now back in his room inside the Lestia mansion. As he tried to get up, he realised he found it slightly restraining.

“Ah… that’s right… I summoned Typhon…”

Typhon, a beast of rebellion, the King of Monsters. To call on such a being would require either a tremendous sacrifice, or a tremendous amount of magical power.

“I really have to control my anger… Still… this is the first time in so long… I can feel it, I’m this much closer to finding her…”

Just then, there was a knock on his door.

“Can I come in?” It was the voice of Celena.

“Sure.” Kei responded.

When the door opened, Charlotte emerged and stood at the side of the door before Celena walked in. When she entered, Celena had a face of complete worry, as if she had received the grave news of someone close to her.

“How are you feeling?” Celena asked with a concerned voice.

“I’m okay… I just used a bit too much power…”

“Ummm… the thing is…”

Celena had difficulty forming her words. As if she was struggling to say what she wanted.

“You know, don’t you?”

Before Celena could get her next sentence out, Kei spoke up first. At those words, Celena was surprised for a short moment before composing herself.

“Mmm…” Celena nodded.

“Well, it couldn’t be helped. He called me a lowly commoner, after all. Knowing that, are you sure you still want to be associated with me?”

As Kei stated his reasoning, it couldn’t be clearer that he was trying to divert Celena’s and Charlotte’s attention. If she hadn’t spoken with the Lady Goddess the night before, no one would blame her if she thought he was a brutal killer with a strong blessing. However, she already knew the truth.

“Umm… Kei-kun… that’s not true, isn’t it?”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“The truth is… Charlotte had followed you into the alleyway, but you knew that already… didn’t you?”