MPBAGS Chapter 59

Even after Yulma closed her eyes, there was no pain she could feel. Had Ranon succeeded?

"Ugh..."

At the director's pained groan, Yulma quietly opened her eyes. However, what spread before her was a completely unexpected scene.

The man the director had brought was restraining the director from behind, as if embracing her. The director's hand was blocked and frozen in mid-air. The man was gripping her hand tightly, causing pained sounds to leak from the director.

The director soon let go of her hand. Yulma quickly pulled her body back, and the blade fell to the floor with a sharp clang.

"Yulma... can I open my eyes now?"

"Absolutely not! Who told you to speak? Don't look back and quietly cover your ears!"

The children's patience seemed to have reached its limit, so Yulma shouted. They couldn't have heard that sharp sound just now, could they?

"Can't you let go of this?"

The director snapped, but Melech didn't budge. Yulma was bewildered. If he knew he could gain the upper hand like that, why had he been obediently tied up all this time?

Either way, if that man was on the children's side, it would be much easier to subdue the director.

Then Ranon wouldn't have to get blood on his hands... That's right, Ranon! Yulma hurriedly checked on Ranon. Ranon was sitting collapsed as if drained of energy, and something red was on the knife he was holding. Blood?

But the director seemed fine? Yulma soon looked at Melech's back in horror. Blood was gushing from Melech's waist area.

Melech had stopped the director while simultaneously protecting her from Ranon's attack, taking the knife in her place.

That stupid fool, trembling like that after stabbing an innocent person, how was he supposed to deal with the director?

Only the director, unaware of this fact, was terribly angry at Melech. Why was he interfering now after being so passive all this time? As if protecting the children. A demon, no less!

"Merai. Please stop."

The director paused for a moment. It was because she felt like she had heard those words somewhere before. A very long time ago, yes, about 20 years ago...

While the director was confused by the sense of déjà vu, Yulma made a quick decision.

The door was open. She couldn't be certain whether the man was completely on the children's side, but it didn't matter either way. Of course, it would be good if he was on their side, but even if he was on the director's side, he was injured so he couldn't chase the children.

During this gap, the director... Yulma made eye contact with Ranon. Fortunately, Ranon seemed to have quickly emerged from his panic. Yulma and Ranon counted.

They would do it after three seconds passed. Three, two...

"Yulma, Ranon!"

And before they could count the last number, an uninvited guest burst into the room. No, was it a savior?

Yulma stopped moving at that moment. Someone who shouldn't be here had appeared.

"Sister Daisy?"

"My goodness, are you hurt anywhere? I'm so glad you're safe."

Tearful Daisy embraced Ranon and Yulma. Troy could be seen behind her. Just as Ranon had said, Troy really had come to rescue them?

And seeing the person who entered after them, Yulma gasped. Crazy, what kind of person looks like that?

Just from the clothes she wore, she was clearly a noble young lady. But despite looking so frail, what she actually emanated was an overwhelming atmosphere. If all nobles were like that, it would be a bit frightening.

Since they came together, had Sister Daisy or Troy called her?

"Director..."

With the intrusion of new faces, the director also returned from the past to reality.

To think that the ally her weak son had brought was Daisy. The director remembered Daisy as a lucky child. She had always been gentle and obedient. She had good conditions for selling, but Troy kept interfering, so the director's last impression of Daisy was that. The child left after selling the others.

She posed no threat so she had left her alone, but she didn't expect her to join forces with Troy, with whom she had such a bad relationship.

"Troy, you obstruct me to the very end."

Really, why was there no one who understood her?

Merai had sacrificed herself by the director's side, but there was no one by Merai's side. Not only her son, but even the demon wouldn't move according to her will.

And white robes fluttered.

The director saw the angel standing behind Troy. Merai sighed. She praised. She trembled and was moved.

The whole world flashed white. It was a sensation similar to when she had looked at the painting in the temple. What a noble, brilliant, and authoritative being this was.

The angel smiled faintly. Merai believed she had received a revelation. The angel had given her a hint to resolve this situation.

Yes. Her beloved son right before her eyes.

Merai groped the wall. When she felt something blunt in her hand, she carefully grasped it and hid it behind her back.

There were too many obstacles now. She had to aim for the moment when the others briefly turned their attention away.

For example, like now.

"Ranon? Yulma?"

"Mary! I told you to keep your eyes closed!"

"I counted all the way to one hundred..."

The only thing Yulma had misjudged was that Mary was very good at counting. Mary had counted all the way to one hundred after making several mistakes, and then opened her eyes.

When Mary spoke hesitantly, Yulma shouted furiously. Mary was already frightened, thinking she had committed a grave mistake.

And while everyone's attention was focused on Mary, the director didn't miss the opportunity and lunged at Troy. Yulma, sensing something ominous, hurriedly embraced Mary and covered her eyes.

Thud!

"Mom...?"

"Haa, haa. Ha, ha ha ha ha!"

The director laughed broadly. It was an expression of ecstasy, but tears were forming and falling down her cheeks, so no one could interpret that expression as a smile of joy.

No one had expected that the director would actually stab her own son. Even the director herself had no intention of harming her son, so it was natural that no one could have guessed.

Troy staggered and leaned against the director. Daisy tried to run out, but Yulma and Ranon grabbed both her arms and stopped her.

"Melech. Offer my son as a sacrifice. Troy should have at least that much value. Now you'll grant my wish, won't you?"

The director whispered to the demon and extended her bloodied hand. Melech, who had been barely breathing after being hit by Ranon's blind strike, swallowed at the appetizing smell. He had been starving for too long. With his already weakened body now wounded, an even more severe hunger washed over him.

Reason was gradually being consumed. Just as Melech was about to devour Troy, a clear voice awakened his consciousness.

"Are you hungry?"

Melech nodded without even knowing who was asking. The director dismissed it as a lie, but Melech truly hadn't had a proper meal since becoming a demon.

"I'll take care of feeding you. So there's no need to force yourself to eat now."

The voice was somehow gentle despite being firm like a command, so Melech decided to follow those words.

"What are you doing? Melech!"

At the director's scream, Melech felt very sorry. Merai was clearly still trapped in the basement from 20 years ago. Wasn't that the same for Melech?

The director turned her arrow elsewhere.

"Haven't you come to save me?"

The director pleaded toward Evangeline. Just like when she had appeared in the painting of the great temple, hadn't she descended now to give an answer? Evangeline replied matter-of-factly.

"That was the original plan, but the situation has changed."

"Am I being abandoned?"

"Yes. You failed to meet the criteria. So stop now."

Only after being abandoned by what must surely be an angel—after already being abandoned by the demon—did the director finally give up everything. As Merai looked around, the scene of the basement came into view.

She could see her own son bleeding from a knife wound from her, and Daisy, Ranon, Yulma, and Mary who were wary of her. And she could see the other children covering their eyes and ears, turning away from Merai.

Merai burst into tears.

She felt viscerally that she had ruined everything.

Realizing that the director had lost her fighting spirit, Ranon and Yulma took Troy away from Merai and supported him. Troy was managing to stay conscious.

"Thank you, Ranon... Yulma."

"Forget it. Patients should shut up."

Yulma couldn't even say thank you due to conflicting emotions and cursed instead. Daisy listened to the bickering voices of the two while examining Troy's wound. The wound was large.

Daisy looked at Evangeline.

"Why, why didn't you save Troy?"

Whether it was Lady Evangeline or the demon called Jelly, either could have stopped the director. Then Troy wouldn't have been hurt either.

"That wasn't part of our agreement."

Evangeline answered calmly to Daisy's reproach.

Hearing those words, Daisy felt dizzy. That was right. What Daisy had asked to be saved were the director and the children.

Daisy realized she had no right to blame Evangeline. Since she couldn't understand human emotions, she had simply tried to faithfully keep what Daisy had requested in her own way.

It was Daisy who had initially cursed Troy and struck his back, so she had no right to blame Lady Evangeline for just watching Troy get stabbed.

"Why? Do you want to save him?"

"Yes. I want to save him."

Was there some method? Of course, excluding raising the dead like Jelly had done...

"Fortunately, I have holy water. Just one bottle though."

One bottle?

"Daisy, you choose. Should I give the holy water to Troy or to that man?"

Evangeline raised her index finger to count and then pointed to Troy and Melech, whom Jelly was tending to. When Daisy hesitated, Evangeline continued.

"Just kidding."

Evangeline curved her lips up like a painting.

Daisy felt nauseous at herself. If she hadn't heard the last words, the person Daisy would have chosen was clear.