WOSE Chapter 33

"May I come in for a moment?"

"...I'm a bit busy right now."

"I have something to say."

The firm voice showed no sign of retreating. It was behavior unlike him, who always prioritized her opinion in all matters as if faithful to his 'guard' role.

Eventually, Iyu opened the door.

The man strode into her space like an intruder. That alone made the room feel cramped. Not just physically. His presence was enormous. That heavy, large gaze swept down her outdoor clothes.

Would he ask where she was going this late at night? Though she'd guessed the opening, what he actually said was this:

"What was your reason for lying?"

She'd forgotten for a moment. He didn't know how to speak indirectly.

"You sent your attendant to End Village."

"So you noticed everything after all."

She considered playing dumb. She could have asked what he was talking about, could have gotten angry with righteous indignation.

But when she realized who had come at this late hour, at this moment when she was about to start her 'work'—this man of all people—she'd instinctively known. That he too had noticed all the truth. Perhaps even her plan.

"Are you planning to involve the bereaved families?"

"...What if I am?"

"It's not right."

"Why is letting them directly kill the trash who murdered their loved ones wrong?"

She asked evenly.

Murder is bad. But was disposing of trash also truly a bad act?

She knew the result of loss. That pain of bones shattering and flesh melting. That terrible emptiness of the soul evaporating like steam day by day.

That overwhelming rage had changed her to be no longer human.

So if it had truly been possible, she would have directly disposed of those who drove Tamia to death with her own hands.

The man who had been quietly observing the byproduct of rage rippling beneath the surface firmly grasped the pendant around his neck.

"I'm not saying the act of murdering a murderer is bad. I too am angry enough to want to strangle that person."

"..."

"However, for ordinary people, murder is an act that can destroy even their souls. Even if the target is deeply resented."

He spoke of the victims who would have to live their entire lives with the memory of killing someone.

"If you want to help them end their suffering, don't let them dirty their own hands. Let them receive judgment by law. I will help."

Had it been 'Our One,' she might have been tempted by that sound argument. But to Iyu, it only sounded like pathetic hypocrisy.

"I don't know this world's laws well, but are you certain they'll cut off that man's head? The son of a world's leader, a race's leader? When there's not even proper evidence?"

She twisted up the corner of her mouth irritably.

"Guilt? Trauma? Of course they might develop. Maybe they'll come to think of themselves as no different from murderers. But so what? Better to live tormented by petty guilt than to live stupidly deceived by the one who killed your family while knowing nothing."

"...Even so, I cannot stand by and watch."

"I won't force them. I'll just let them choose. So you don't think about forcing either. That's also arrogance and hypocrisy!"

In the end, she spat out words as if angry.

He stared silently at her face boiling with emotion.

Enduring that gaze without a speck of error made things she'd thought long dead—conscience and morality—crawl out and heat her face.

I'm not wrong. No, even if I am wrong, it doesn't matter.

"If you want to stop me, tie up my limbs and lock me away."

"..."

"If you won't do that, move aside."

She pushed past him blocking the door and left the room.

And having thrown away newfound emotions to the dogs, she'd gone through with it.

'You didn't block or stop me again.'

Was he waiting to blame her?

Iyu glared harshly at the man standing dumbly.

'Everyone was crying tears of blood while gladly trying to kill him.'

She'd planned to sneer at him just like that. But instead of moving her lips, she bit them tightly.

Pale yellow eyes rested in turn on her ruined clothing, disheveled hair, scratches on her skin, and dried bloodstains.

That quiet observation felt exactly like reproach. Because it actually painfully stabbed at the conscience she'd thought long discarded.

She clenched her trembling hands inside her sleeves.

Her heart had been pounding all along. Though she hadn't directly harmed someone with her own hands, this was the first time she'd harbored malice toward others and caused them to lose their lives.

She'd thought it would only be satisfying. Only the pleasant task of watching Kelgrida crumble remained. She didn't regret it at all. Yet she couldn't hide her agitation.

...Just as he'd warned.

Because she didn't want to admit even slightly that he'd been right. She continued her heavy steps while desperately ignoring the fragments of her soul crumbling like dry leaves.

More than anything, both body and mind were so exhausted she had no strength left to deal with him.

"If you're going to lecture, do it tomorrow."

Iyu, who had averted her eyes first, passed the man.

She tried to stagger up the stairs, but large, firm hands grasped her forearm.

Heat rushed to her head as she twisted her body roughly.

"I said I don't want to talk to you right now!"

"How badly are you injured?"

"..."

She stopped moving abruptly and lifted her head.

Only then could Iyu read a handful of concern—not any other emotion—in his slightly creased eyes.

Just as she'd come to despise them for easily committing wrongs while obsessed with their purpose, she'd resigned herself to him also becoming uncomfortable and eventually despising her.

But the man before her neither mocked nor despised her ruined state.

After examining the minor wounds here and there from rolling down the mountain and her trembling legs, he lifted Iyu into his arms.

She clutched his shoulders in surprise at her floating body.

"What are you..."

His smooth face close enough to touch, and his inhuman body temperature that was warmer than expected—it felt unreal.

Whether she stiffened or not, he easily carried her as if lifting a bag and silently climbed the stairs.

Iyu, who came to her senses a beat late, struggled.

"P-put me down!"

"Stay still."

She flinched and stopped moving at the quiet but firm voice.

She felt like she would suffocate from discomfort, yet ridiculously, being in contact with him made her body—which had been throbbing as if beaten—grow drowsy like a lie.

'Some high-ranking celestials have healing abilities.'

Was it because of that ability? If not...

Creak.

Having quickly reached her room with long strides, he pushed the door open.

Unlike when she'd left, inside the room with a small lamp lit, surprisingly, Tamia was there.

"How is Tamia here now..."

The child she'd definitely sent to End Village—how was she here?

As she stared blankly, he carefully set her down on the bed.

"You need treatment."

"It's all just scratches. I'll be fine if I just rest, so please leave."

The surprise was brief. She hunched her body and turned her head sharply.

Whether the cold dismissal bothered him or not, he made an absurd request to Tamia with his still impassive face and voice.

"If Lady Iyu develops a fever or you see major wounds, can you tell me?"

When he clearly knew what she'd just gone and done!

Iyu, clutching the sheets tightly, twisted her face miserably.

Tamia glanced at Iyu's expression, then nodded very slightly, apparently quite worried about her master's wretched state.

Odynne stroked the child's head curtly and left the room without leaving any greeting.

Eventually, a sharp sigh slipped through her lips.

She hated both how he obediently followed her order to leave, and that attitude that remained polite despite considering her actions wrong.

No, what she truly hated was... herself, despicably wavering despite not reversing her plan.

Iyu roughly dragged her hand down what must be a wretched face.

She shouldn't be wasting useless emotions but doing something more productive. Like reassuring the restless child, or grasping the situation.

"Tamia, how are you here? I told you to hide in End Village until daybreak after guiding the people."

When she asked in a deliberately calm tone, Tamia quickly pulled out her notebook.

[Well, after I delivered the notes and the bereaved families were about to go to the mine, the holy knight came to End Village.]

"...What?"