NOVEL WEB
Chapter 33 – Madness
[Translator – Peptobismol]
Chapter 33 – Madness
Luna Winfred had been haunted by disturbing nightmares for the past few days.
— Why on earth…
— If even you, sis…
In the dream, Kyle was miserably crying.
Today, yesterday, the day before.
Kyle reproached Luna, shedding tears.
— Is it because I behaved insensitively?
— I’m sorry… I promise I won’t do it again, please…
Kyle’s eyelids trembled pitifully.
It was heartbreaking to hear Kyle asking for reasons with such a moist voice.
But contrary to her intentions, Luna in the dream hurled abuse at Kyle.
With a face filled with hatred, flashing her eyes menacingly.
— What’s the problem?
— Kyle, your very existence is the problem.
You wretched woman.
How dare you say something like that.
She wanted to tear her cursed mouth apart right away.
Kyle’s blue irises shook roughly.
He lowered his head blankly and whimpered with a moist voice.
At the same time, the scene changed.
— Must’ve been tough.
Sitting on the bed, Kyle chuckled as if mocking.
— After going through such an ordeal just to save me, you must think I’m terrible.
No.
Not at all.
It’s not like that.
It’s a misunderstanding, I never…
— Why now?
— You should’ve just let me die.
Kyle’s face, marred with blood and scars, contorted grotesquely.
Luna instinctively sensed it.
Her own actions had made Kyle like that.
— Just looking at your face makes me nauseous.
The corner of Kyle’s mouth drooped.
She was afraid.
Afraid of Kyle’s face in ruins, afraid of the spiteful voice directed at her.
— So just live your life from now on.
When Kyle left those words, his body melted away like butter in high heat.
In Kyle’s place, there was only a pool of crimson blood.
That was when it happened.
With rough breaths, Luna’s eyes blinked open.
“Haa… ha…”
Breath caught in her throat.
Luna wrapped her arms around her neck and breathed heavily.
Ah, a nightmare.
A nightmare? No, could that really be called a nightmare?
It’s so excruciatingly painful yet intoxicating to the point of paralysis.
If I don’t dream of Kyle even for a single day, I’ll go crazy from withdrawal.
“Huff… haa…”
It’s ridiculous.
It’s so absurd that laughter burst out.
She couldn’t comprehend her feelings toward Kyle.
It’s too intense to be guilt, too tender to be pity.
The day Kyle collapsed, vomiting blood.
The sight of Kyle unconscious and defenseless still felt vivid.
Little brother, my precious little brother.
His jet-black hair was as soft as silk, his skin as warm as noon sunlight.
Incredibly beautiful.
And mesmerizing.
What did she do that day?
Wiping the cold sweat Kyle had shed all night, using a towel moistened with water to moisten his parched lips…
Kyle’s… lips…
Luna tightly shut her eyes.
Just recalling that day’s memory made her body itch with a dreadful sense of sin.
Even with her eyes closed, Kyle’s specter continued to haunt Luna’s mind.
However, Luna soon let out a short sigh.
Kyle despised herself.
It’s an undeniable, stark reality.
A reality so cruel that it cannot be changed with her efforts alone.
Breathing felt suffocating, as if a lump of coal was stuck in her throat.
The surroundings were dark as if plunged into an abyss, and her body felt heavy as if pinned down by scissors.
She wished she had never returned to the past.
If she had known it would be this agonizing, she would never have harbored any regrets.
She would have humbly accepted her fate.
But she already knew, didn’t she?
That eventually it would come to this, that no matter what she did, she would never be forgiven.
She already knew everything.
“…”
Luna stood up from her seat.
Her translucent skin sparkled under the moonlight pouring in.
What does she want to do?
Amidst such indiscernible emotions, what does she actually desire?
What words does she want to hear from Kyle?
What expression of Kyle’s does she want to see?
What do I want with Kyle?
Kyle, my brother.
My little brother.
My…
Her heart pounded as if it would burst through her ribs.
A corner of her chest itched.
“Ha….”
Luna turned away.
As she walked to sit on the chair by the bedside, the newspapers lying on the floor in front of the door caught her eye.
“…Newspapers?”
Luna lifted the newspaper as if entranced by something.
And then she saw it.
The contents of the article were utterly unbelievable.
“Isabel Yustia… The Saint…?”
The hot rush in her mind cooled as if doused with cold water.
The distant reason began to return gradually.
“Isabel… Isabel Yustia…”
Muttering something while looking at the article, Luna’s appearance under the pouring moonlight seemed eerily divine yet sinister.
[Translator – Peptobismol]
The contents of the article were straightforward.
The woman who had slapped the princess and was imprisoned.
Revealing her special abilities, she was elected as a contemporary Saint.
“Isabel… Isabel… Isabel…”
Kyle’s former fiancée.
The woman Kyle had devoted his entire life to loving.
And.
“…The bitch who poisoned Kyle.”
Ah, I had completely forgotten.
The reason why I returned to the past.
“…Don’t worry, Kyle.”
Yes, Kyle.
You don’t need to worry.
Anything that could threaten you.
I’ll take care of it all in advance.
“Haah…”
Even if it stains my hands with blood.
****
A week had passed since I started my research in earnest.
I spent several days holed up in the Alchemy Association, solely focusing on concocting the Elixirs.
For the sake of perfect security, I conducted my research alone without anyone’s assistance.
Of course, there were unavoidable instances where I needed help from others, but outwardly, it would seem like just an ordinary research project.
The Blue Orchid and the Soul Stones also arrived at the laboratory soon.
I heard that due to fierce competition in the middle, they had to pay an exorbitant amount for the materials.
How much did it cost for the materials alone?
Certainly, there’s no cheat code like the Royal Family.
However, a problem arose.
“Is the Sacred Solvent still far off?”
“Yes, due to the recent sharp deterioration in relations between the Empire and the Holy See…”
Isabel Yustia.
It’s all because that crazy woman suddenly revealed her abilities.
The reasons can be roughly anticipated.
To absolve herself of the sins she committed.
To taunt the princess who cornered her.
And, as always, to hinder me.
Sure enough, Isabel, whom I encountered after a long time, as always, grated on my nerves.
“Kyle.”
As I walked through the corridor to find the Emperor, I locked eyes with Isabel walking from the opposite direction.
“Kyle, there you are.”
Watching the approaching Isabel, my eyebrows furrowed involuntarily.
What’s with that expression again?
In Isabel’s right hand, as she approached with a smile, was a small velvet box.
“I missed you. Kyle.”
“I didn’t want to see your face.”
“It’s okay, I wanted to see you.”
Isabel’s state was strange.
Despite my blunt words, Isabel didn’t falter as usual, but rather smiled even more.
“I know too. Kyle, you hate me.”
“Then move aside.”
“But, I love you, Kyle.”
What? Love me?
Crazy bitch.
It’s clear Isabel has gone mad during her short time in solitary confinement.
“Fuck your love. Get out of my way.”
I shot back with a sneer.
But Isabel paid no attention.
Instead, she blushed and stared at my face intently.
“Ah, you’re so handsome.”
“Are you insane?”
“Indeed, I just can’t give up.”
Isabel murmured incomprehensible words in a soft voice.
“You know, Kyle. I’ve sincerely reflected a lot during this time.”
“Huh.”
“Of course, it might seem like mere words of reflection to you, Kyle. But my feelings are genuine.”
Isabel gently opened the velvet box in her right hand.
I burst out laughing incredulously.
“See? Kyle, the ring you gave me.”
Inside the box was the ring.
The engagement ring Kyle Winfred had presented to Isabel, crafted with a Bluestone.
“I don’t know how I ended up like this either.”
“What?”
“I know in your head, you want me to disappear from your sight forever. But how could I? Despite the wrongs I’ve done to you. Despite my feelings for you.”
Chills ran down my spine.
A desire I had never seen before flashed in Isabel’s eyes.
“You suffered a lot, Kyle.”
Tears welled up in her eyes.
“As much as you suffered, I’ll suffer too.”
Isabel whispered softly.
Her voice scattered in my ears, causing my shoulders to tremble.
“I’m sorry.”
Isabel kneeled.
She put both her hands on her knees and then raised her head and looked up at me.
Her face, as I looked down at her, was as red as a ripe apple.
“You can slap me, spit on me.”
“…”
“Kyle, punish me until your heart’s content.”
I was speechless.
To the extent that I even questioned if I was dreaming right now.
“I love you.”
Fuck.
Why are you doing this to me?
[Translator – Peptobismol]
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