Chapter 64: Drop of Blood (10)
pEp8wdsBang!QOHyIL
f1DtDWhen the giant skeleton’s fist struck the wall, debris flew and it began to collapse.uJzu
pVNAmidst the chaos, Valerian, his crimson eyes glowing, charged at Dereck, sword in hand.dDgV07D
8rGn9WCThe concentration required to wield four-star necromantic magic while brandishing a sword was astounding. He had already surpassed his limits. His mind, pushed to the brink, no longer knew reason.NtJpt
ylXOtyeIf Dereck stood in his way, he would simply eliminate him. That simple cause-and-effect reasoning filled his mind.ltp1L
EVe7The downfall of a noble family, collapsing beyond recovery, was a pitiful sight, and Dereck felt a flicker of sympathy for him.y6DfI
6yK3JKBut wrong was wrong. Dereck was someone who fiercely guarded against any hesitation born of compassion.gwJto
9C9hSnap!GvBLST
t0wftKoValerian had already reached his limit.H1e
f8wFmQHe had bewitched the mansion’s servants, controlled numerous monstrous corpses, and even commanded a giant skeleton.TEl1VS
Op5IYhNo matter how tightly he clutched Rozin’s staff, handling magic on this scale simultaneously was pushing him to the brink.TpWg
vgdlClang!bLiqv
LoJDereck moved with the agility of a wild animal and slipped into Valerian’s space. The dagger he held in a reverse grip pierced the gap in Valerian’s armor at the wrist. The sudden pain nearly made him drop the staff, but Valerian gritted his teeth and endured the agony.Jkli
ruZhU5Thud!uIye
myPkmPIHe kicked Dereck to create distance and again commanded the giant skeleton.3irEySU
Td5PluThe sheer physical power of each of that skeleton’s blows was something no human body could withstand. Blocking was out of the question, and deflecting was not an option either. It was an attack that had to be avoided at all costs.ELRTU6
WM2HrA8Valerian knew this well, and just as he tried to summon more magic to press Dereck, a familiar voice called his name.9YMtUTX
25NkE“Valerian, brother…!”MrJD
KCZjq6PAt the sound of his name, Valerian’s eyes trembled. His body lost strength for a moment, and he shuddered completely. Dereck didn’t miss the chance and kicked him in the chest.bopJL
pP2JZ1YCrash! Bang!Kc5S
3tMW8CValerian rolled across the ground and landed in the garden bed.4JNUTNc
tZnUhUnder the torrential rain, Valerian forced himself to stand and looked toward Aiselin. He had been avoiding her gaze, but now it was time to face her.u9ZGUu
sgaHCNThe father he had so deeply respected—he had stabbed with his own hands, and the guilt of patricide had driven him to madness.TX05A
8baEven as he struggled to rise, seeking to atone for his sins, Valerian had to confront the truth.IJzI2e
ozXbhXThe family he had loved wasn’t just his father. Beyond the shattered wall, the girl trembling beside Diella’s bed was also part of that cherished family.AT2
dWh“…Aiselin.”WurD6jA
ncwvAt last, the whispers of madness clouding his mind began to fade, and Valerian responded in a trembling voice.wioh
wiS***Dgt
k4utRWhen his blurred vision returned, life came back to Valerian’s eyes.a6rU
FMswyoIt was the moment he saw Aiselin, drenched and sitting on the ground.GfxZ9q
wXs8Swoosh!5amRix
7gMlsUnder the rain, he looked down at himself. His armor was soaked in blood.fk9Y
EKenHe turned his head slightly to look at the mansion—completely destroyed, with numerous injured servants scattered across the floor. In one hand he held a sharp longsword, and in the other, the necromancer’s staff that had clouded his judgment.Gd1Z
oid7Ps“…”kJOJR
vx2w14pThe acts committed in madness were vivid. The one responsible for all this carnage was none other than himself.vbi2n
AMFValerian looked at Dereck with trembling eyes. Dereck held his gaze, frowning.veSri
eehWThe light of reason was returning to Valerian’s eyes. Seeing Aiselin trembling behind Dereck, Valerian dropped his sword and fell to his knees.4m0Ipr
eKDyaYTThud!IG3iqOx
dwjThe towering skeleton that had burst through the wall stopped moving.3egzt
LdimStanding in the rain, it resembled a massive statue. Despite the falling droplets, it showed no further intention of advancing.R2mZ
4aBK“Ah… Huff…”FFHi3X
pUCRaindrops slid through Valerian’s hair and hit the ground, vanishing as they touched.KG4I1
swrBnrValerian silently stared at his trembling hand resting on the floor. The room of Diella was strewn with scattered watercolors.rIOF
nSq1h3Among them were portraits of Dereck. A masterpiece that his dear younger sister had created with devotion, intending to gift it to her most admired teacher.gYo
GxSDWl0It seemed like just yesterday she was being praised for effortlessly correcting any flawed strokes and completing the painting.iIJbLTT
BlPh1By the time he regained consciousness, the ball had already turned into a disaster. And the family was almost completely ruined.vesj
lyMmoWho was responsible for all this? No one but Valerian. He lifted his trembling head and spoke in a dragging voice.dvKCa8
63Ru3“Kill me.”M9EHs
1qt7His gaze turned to where Aiselin lay collapsed. Aiselin shivered once more, holding her breath. Valerian spoke with complete sincerity.QA0Gr
jbTwWtp“H-Brother Valerian…”vZMzc
TQidM“Before outsiders intervene… you must end it.”fGQUq
u6k0MCvValerian already understood. He should not be allowed to live.hFlIoQV
Cu4XpUFor House Duplain to maintain even a shred of its legacy, there needed to be an external justification that they had cast out their wayward eldest son.P4XfQH
4k0Valerian’s erratic actions had to be seen as his alone, and a symbolic event had to demonstrate that they didn’t reflect the family’s will.cXG
ndHIf the mages in the main hall began to recover their senses, or if neighboring territories responded, no one could predict how things would unfold.pJLb
OF5So this had to be resolved within the Duplain family. The sword was now in Aiselin’s hands.B099HAK
9bdYx4Thud!2Q9VAqO
9g9k2qCValerian removed the armor from his torso. His slender figure, clad in noble clothes soaked with rain and sweat, clung tightly to his body.noWQjV
JUX7e58Still kneeling, Valerian tossed the sword toward Aiselin. It rolled across the ground, clattering several times.Wyv2g9
cI7Dereck stepped on the blade before it reached Aiselin, stopping it.lSb
uzAVGVC“…There’s no time, Aiselin.”bo75l
OPLnWoD“Brother… what are you saying…?”lVeJyAP
Y3jqtWQ“…Before I lose my sanity again, you must end it.”2tYVy5A
zJjDDereck looked at Aiselin silently. Soon, he gave a small nod without a word.9PWznKr
RKNTMKAiselin bit her lower lip and picked up the sword with her trembling, delicate hands.4GBCcQ
4IVAnd under the rain, she slowly walked toward Valerian. Her body was drenched, and she stumbled several times, unable to summon the strength.GIOyA
IEmvcHAYet Valerian remained still, watching her approach without moving an inch.egw
oESUAA0“I’m sorry things had to end like this…”ouZHq
NAKoN2“Brother… Valerian…”SsK7
MUIwhVAiselin raised the sword with trembling hands and called out his name several times in a broken voice.nu6
CAFBut there was no turning back. If she didn’t end Valerian while he still had a moment of clarity, House Duplain would fall even further. Valerian knew that himself. So, with tears streaming down her face, Aiselin raised the sword higher.cd0Bd
fzQJWhoosh!9Ky
SvpYBut from Rozin’s staff, which Valerian still held, a new surge of power began to erupt.Y1uPM
82QAs if it couldn’t allow the death of its wielder, who acted as its channel, a more intense will began whispering to him. It urged him to seek more power, more corpses, more slaughter.1Al
f0gValerian bit his lip and clung to his sanity, silently watching Aiselin.JXDqH
t0RX3Aiselin, tears cascading down her cheeks, looked down at Valerian and finally dropped the sword from her hands.kMdge
iFMq“Brother… Brother, there must be another way. Even if it’s not this… there has to be another way…”66c
tdKkjKc“Miss Aiselin! Do not hesitate!”QQQGc
MKauz0QDereck’s voice rang out, and Aiselin’s arm began to tremble. For someone who had lived her life like a pure lily, the thought of killing her own blood was too cruel. She knew, but hesitation now would solve nothing.L4pUev5
kcQSoon after, an even stronger power began to surge from Rozin’s staff. Valerian screamed in pain, and the storm around them grew more violent.JmbN0Ed
9UJDWhoosh!iU7qQG2
3f8wmbKAiselin fell to the ground under the wild wind, staring with trembling eyes at the sword lying on the ground.RYocul
0WQTfThe sudden burden she had to bear felt like it weighed a thousand tons.pyQ8fL
N574lDereck watched silently, realizing there was no more hope.NqaFTL9
7LJgwPerhaps it would be better if he did it himself and claimed Aiselin had done it. In a crisis like this, there was no time to waste.c7SWne
OPEOJJust as Dereck was about to pick up the sword—0eX
Gzt5a8y“…Then I’ll do it.”BAvwK6N
E4ESnap!qzAe
8emwT0A girl appeared in the middle of the storm and picked up the sword. It seemed too heavy for her small hands, but she pressed her lips together and stepped toward Valerian.KJJe
m1XdaqThud!QwcM
DsvWhat followed happened in an instant.TQw7
zidBThe girl’s flowing hair whipped wildly in the storm. It looked like a lion’s mane blowing in the wind.HEvpI
FGQhdA***RNLj
FfgcAaI still clearly remember Diella chasing a ball across the mansion garden.sPTZdpf
sRnoShe had once been a sweet little girl, but she grew into a beautiful young lady.LML
D0msQpShe learned to manage the servants in her own way, mastered many forms of etiquette, and excelled in the arts. Sitting alone in the garden, canvas spread before her, pursing her lips as she contemplated her painting—she truly seemed like a noblewoman.lde6U7c
OHuVnFeeling a strange mix of pride and tenderness, Valerian silently looked at Diella, who had thrown herself into his arms.1GAGV
Me5ef6The sword she held pierced his chest. Blood spilled from Valerian’s lips.nwm7rLq
2nl3UThe dress she had prepared for the ball was stained red.PtGdA
5sTggKAs soon as she stepped out of the carriage and saw the scene, Diella made a swift decision.QJ2
NCweemrThough her face was streaked with tears, she bit her lower lip to contain her emotions. Yet her trembling hands betrayed her feelings.4D8PVua
1Ab‘I see now…’BJjgS
IjDUOnly then did Valerian understand. That resolve, that step forward despite the fear, was Diella’s greatest strength. That determined expression was the same she had when painting with watercolors.cNhET
AUIFZFRHow much determination did it take to draw each irreversible line on a blank canvas?ZmFI
iF5sAnd when she made a mistake, her ability to quickly adapt and fix it was a gift from the heavens. In this splendid and talented family, perhaps Valerian had been a mistaken brushstroke. This, in a way, was a remarkable improvisation.mDH
SSDyRCValerian smiled faintly and placed his hand on Diella’s head.rAG
fzUUpOJWatching her tremble, he let out a soft laugh and said,2FoV
Go1“You’ve… grown, haven’t you…?”kMF
NCzFwaDiella, who had been looking down, widened her eyes in surprise. Soon after, Valerian lost all strength and collapsed to the ground.06uyKyT
7cJjyThudZ9tAh
2jINwI0Clang! Clang!CWQlbo
WfvThe staff fell from Valerian’s hand and rolled across the ground.LlLUp
piCThe rain began to ease gently.AU9Kd
bfpLxDrenched, Diella looked up at the dark clouds slowly dispersing. Sunlight filtered through the bones of the now-motionless giant skeleton.0vG
T8ZARVKneeling in the mud, she gazed at her brother’s cold, lifeless body.87anS
2kUmCShe held her breath to keep from crying—feeling that even a moment of weakness would unleash her tears.ApR5w
NCBSquelch, squelch.V3fo
l12q9gA mercenary approached the girl sitting there.OOKVIof
qSt1“Miss Diella.”EeqjQ
KVcThe voice that softly called her was the one she loved most.NYXY
rSzt“It’s been a while, Dereck. I’m ashamed to say this after inviting you, but as you can see… the ball was a disaster.”QahC4D
eeRX“It’s all right.”pSca
cyXxhDiella spoke in a barely audible voice, soaked with tears. Dereck stood behind her, brushing the mud from his clothes.Gcr
FASIb4lWith trembling shoulders, Diella whispered,FFH
PQgbH“Dereck. I’m sorry, but may I ask you for a favor?”vxgDe
m0f“Of course. Anything.”4pEfc6N
BQJgfe1“Could you… hold me, just this once?”6fy6
4TFx5“…”03J
4BAAM8Without hesitation, Dereck knelt beside her and wrapped his arms around her.ApE0V
Oi46Moments later, the girl who had lost everything broke down in tears in Dereck’s embrace.eWs
0QjVMKLShe clung tightly to his neck and buried her face in his chest.O8y
1IA1pU1Both of them soaked, covered in mud, blood, and sweat… yet neither complained.ddKIh
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