CH 25

Chapter 25: Until Dawn

Underground:

Ki-i-euk.

Only the sound of crackling flames remained.

The firmly closed door opened, and a small lantern illuminated the interior.

When the light reached the girl composed of blue flames at the end, the girl, who had been looking down at the ground, slowly raised her head.

Finden Ai, smiling, asked Emily, who met her gaze.

“Are you feeling a little better?”

[.......]

In response to Finden Ai’s question, the girl looked down at her own hand. She thought that the flames of a necromancer could inflict pain close to eternity. But surprisingly, Marks’ soul was completely annihilated within just a few days - Perhaps due to the girl's resentment.

[I thought my heart would feel a little relieved if I sought revenge.]

"But?"

As Finden Ai gently asked, indicating that she will listen attentively, Emily breathed deeply as if unsure of what to do. The blue flames she was made of flickered, indicating that her heart was unstable.

[The sight of the director of the research institute crying out in agony, begging for forgiveness, and apologizing was undoubtedly gratifying.]

"......"

[However, even after he completely vanished, there is still something tangled inside me.]

Nodding in understanding, Finden Ai subtly pointed outside.

"Hence our master has prepared a stage for you. Would you like to see it?"

[...... Is that really true?]

In response to Emily's question, Finden Ai smiled as if enjoying the girl’s interrogation. It was her best possible consideration.

[If I go now, I can inflict the same pain on Detros Verdi, right?]

"Yes, he’ll scream in pain, kneel down, and apologize just like Marks."

[But then, what if he is annihilated just like Marks?]

The girl's concern was not simply about wanting revenge.

Having already annihilated Marks, she felt more empty than she had expected.

Furthermore, she realized that even if she did torture them, the tangled feeling inside her would still remain.

[If I still hold a grudge even after Detros Verdi has been annihilated… Then who should I unleash this anger upon?]

"......"

Her anger was justified. However, if it never ended no matter how much she poured it out-

[-Then wouldn't I just become another monster?]

Emily looked down at the remains of the shattered bone-centipede. Her feeble voice and trembling body revealed her fear.

Perhaps she, too, would become a monster consumed by emotions and revenge.

Will she be able to pour out this emotion and find peace if that were to happen?

"Don't worry."

But in response to the girl's worries, Finden Ai chuckled as if responding with certainty.

"Our master, though incredibly unlucky-"

[.......]

"-is a very special necromancer."

Finden Ai slightly turned her body and stepped aside next to the door. Now, in front of Emily, there was a path leading outside.

"He will definitely prevent you from becoming a monster, from becoming a demon."

[Ah.]

Emily let out a sigh and realized that she had unknowingly taken a step forward. From outside, the cries of evil spirits echoed.

She was driven by an instinctual desire to go there.

"So let's go… Finden Ai, the maid of the Verdi family, will accompany you."

Emily nodded as she looked at Finden Ai, who politely clasped her hands together and bowed her head.

[Please then.]

With a subtle smile, Finden Ai took the lead and walked forward. They ascended the stairs, left the underground, and reached the entrance of the mansion on the first floor.

At the main entrance of the mansion, the butler and the head maid stood together, simultaneously straightening and bowing to greet her.

"We welcome the honored guest."

"We welcome the honored guest."

The main entrance opened.

Numerous souls - wandering through the dark morning sky - came into her view.

Deus Verdi's exorcism not only summoned the souls of the mansion and the graveyard but also gathered many souls wandering in the vicinity.

Furthermore, as more souls gathered, even ordinary people were able to see their figures.

This was a temporary phenomenon called the spiritual domain that occurred in places where souls gathered heavily, like the Robern Academy.

[Ah.]

And there were numerous servants lined up in front of the door. Standing at regular intervals, they formed a straight path.

Although the end was not yet visible, she knew well who would be at the end.

Emily easily followed their guidance and took steps forward.

"We welcome the honored guest."

Every time she passed the servants, they deeply bowed their heads and politely greeted her.

The Verdi family was showing her the utmost hospitality they could offer.

At that moment, a spirit that had been wandering nearby attempted to settle on the path Emily was walking.

Whoosh!

The sword swung, stirring up the wind. Although it couldn't directly strike the spirit, it could distort its form.

The man who did this was none other than the current head of the Verdi family, Darius Verdi.

He stood silently on the road, glanced at Emily, and slowly turned his body to clear the way.

"I'm sorry."

A brief reflection.

Emily accepted it and continued walking forward.

"Clear the path! Don't come rushing recklessly!"

"Guard the vicinity of the cemetery! The candles must not go out!"

As they gradually reached the end of the road, fierce voices echoed.

The members of the Gocheolsang crew were in the midst of preventing unrelated spirits from interfering recklessly with the cemetery.

Finden Ai frowned, thinking that the commotion might upset her mood, but Emily remained silent as she knew it was an effort made for her sake.

Bam!

The sound of drums resonated.

Strangely, it stirred something in Emily's heart.

And at the end of the road.

A woman with black hair, Deia, politely bowed her head and extended her hand toward the cemetery.

"I've been waiting for you."

Deia, who took over from Finden Ai as the guide, cautiously turned her body.

Then Finden Ai and the other servants turned their bodies to bid farewell to Emily for the last time.

"May you go in peace."

[....]

Bam!

Passing by an old man beating the drum alongside Deia, she entered the cemetery.

Countless evil spirits were tearing each other apart there.

[Dieeeee!]

[I'll feast on your eyeballs! Just like you did! I'll feast on your eyeballs!]

[Kuaaaaaa!]

[Rest? Rest? While I burned in the flames of revenge, did you peacefully close your eyes, you bastard?!]

Ignoring their own conditions entirely, they inflicted wounds solely upon their opponents, screaming.

It could be seen as a kind of hell.

And at the center stood Deus Verdi, looking at them.

Deia, who had guided her all the way, bowed deeply and took a step back.

Now it was just the two of them.

"How did it go?"

Deus asked while looking at the spirits tearing each other apart as if in a frenzy.

"Did the resentment loosen a bit?"

Momentarily hesitating at his piercing words, Emily answered honestly.

[...No.]

"I see."

As if expecting it, Deus calmly continued his questioning.

"Do you see the man at the end?"

Amidst the countless spirits tearing at his body, the man flailed his arms and legs, desperately struggling.

[Yes.]

"That man is Detros Verdi. He's the one who slaughtered you, your family, and your compatriots."

Silently, Emily followed the man's struggling spirit with her eyes. He still seemed unaware of Emily's presence.

"If you were to inflict the same suffering on Detros Verdi, would you find relief and be able to sleep?"

[...I don't know.]

There was a hint of despair in Emily's voice. She sighed in frustration, not knowing what to do.

[I want revenge, but will the resentment inside me really disappear? I relentlessly inflicted pain on the director of the research institute, but…]

"..."

[It was only good at first. But afterward, only a sense of futility took hold, and the anger within me didn't vanish.]

Now Deus' gaze finally turned towards Emily. She cautiously met his eyes.

[What should I do?]

In response, Deus briefly looked at Emily and spoke in a voice that was no different from usual.

"Many people say they seek revenge to release their resentment."

[...]

“Indeed, many people, even after death, are unable to resolve their grievances, so they do not rest and keep wandering without finding peace.”

Being someone who had witnessed countless deaths and evil spirits, Deus could assert this.

"Among them, the majority wander without achieving anything, exhausted by their own burdens. Resentment remains in the depths of their hearts, dreaming of a miraculous moment of revenge that will come one day as if by magic, as they close their eyes."

And what was unfolding before them now was the realization of that.

"The time for revenge has come, Emily. What must you do to release your resentment?"

[...I-I...]

Deus's cane pointed towards Detros Verdi, who was now crushed beneath countless spirits.

"Inflicting endless suffering upon Detros Verdi, ultimately leading to his complete annihilation? Or somehow reviving Marks and making him beg for mercy once again?"

With her mouth closed, Emily looked at Deus as if demanding an answer. She knew; Nothing could release her own resentment.

And Deus knew it, too.

"Emily, unfortunately, resentment is not an exhausting emotion."

Lowering his cane, Deus looked at Emily once again.

Slowly getting down on one knee and reaching her height, he gazed into her eyes.

"The notion of releasing resentment is flawed. Emily, it hurts. A deep scar that can never be erased, and if you recall it, you will have no choice but to live in continued pain, burdened by it."

[Ah...]

If it weren't for her body formed of flames, tears would have flowed from Emily's eyes.

What Deus just said...

For her, it meant that there was no salvation left.

"Merely inflicting pain upon the culprit, making them scream or beg for mercy… You cannot forgive those who ruined your own life and the lives of those you love doing that."

[Yes...]

Being someone who had already annihilated Marks, Emily deeply sympathized and understood.

Such mere acts couldn't make the resentment within her disappear.

Tap.

Deus' hand touched Emily's head. Though the blue flames were burning fiercely, they warmly embraced him, not hurting him a bit.

"Most living beings cannot give anything to the dead. The claim to care for the dead is ultimately self-comfort and self-satisfaction."

Deus added.

"But I am a necromancer. Ironically, I don't fit into the category of 'most.'"

He gently stroked her head.

The emotions and warmth that Emily thought she would never feel again were felt through Deus’ gentle hand.

"This is the only farewell gift I can give you."

[...]

Emily's entire body began to burn. The blue flames were more intense and massive than anyone in the cemetery.

“Regret will linger, but struggle as best you can until dawn.”

It was called a Festival for a reason.

He vaguely remembered hearing; In the past, when there was a shaman conducting the exorcism, people from neighboring villages would gather and enjoy it together.

Here, instead of songs, there was only resentment and screams towards each other. Instead of dancing, there was a gruesome spectacle of tearing each other apart.

The music was simple—just the sound of beating drums.

But even so...

"Dance and sing with all your heart, reveal the anger, and enjoy this last festival until dawn… until you fall asleep from exhaustion and find peace."