CH 138

Chapter 138: Tug of War [unedited]

Fiona dragged Bill Curtis to the place where he usually gathered people to preach. That place as usual also filled with people who followed Bill. 

Fiona laughed, “Come on, Bill, say it yourself.”

“Mm.. what…”

“That you’re actually just an ordinary guy who’s useless and doesn’t have any special power.”

Fiona whispered, “playing with the hopes of the desperate…you should pay the price for it, you impostor.”

“Do..do you think you can touch me and be safe?”

“Don’t worry. Do you think I didn’t even do something basic like that?”

Fiona grabbed and dragged him onto the podium. 

“Now it’s the time to deny yourself that you’re special.”

Bill was forced to stand on the podium. 

Everyone below focused on him. 

“Count, please will you give me the answer today?”

“Can my child ever come back?”

Fiona whispered softly from behind. “Do it faster.”

Bill closed his eyes tightly and his mouth stuttered.

“Oh.. oh, I have something to say today.”

“….”

“Actually.. I.. I can’t do anything.”

The buzzing crowd quickly calmed down. 

“I..I.. I can’t save the dead.”

The lights of hope in people’s eyes went out one by one.

“Say..saying that there is a God is all a lie. I did that because idiots like you would offer and give your money to me and praise me!”

“….”

The eyes of countless spectators were dying. However, it can’t be helped. Because that was the truth, the reality. 

Hundreds of dead eyes looked at Bill Curtis. As the story continued, the public became confused and sad in silence….

Soon after, they exploded.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN!”

“WE’VE GIVEN OUR MONEY!”

“YOU TOLD ME YOU COULD SAVE MY CHILD!”

The anger of those who were back in desperation was fierce. 

Bill staggered back. 

People reached out their hands toward the podium.

Bill fumbled and looked at Fiona.

“I did what you said… So stop— aaaaaa—!”

Bill was dragged down from the podium by the hands of the angry people. 

Fiona looked down at him expressionlessly. She vaguely understood why she was so angry recently. 

Long ago, she shuddered at the cruelty of the world she had created: a place where many people died, got hurt, and lived while struggling and suffering. The feeling of this being unreal faded slowly as she accepted Sigren wholeheartedly. However, it was still there, and the boundary between believing this world was unreal and real has been tensed like a tug-of-war.

Right now, the scene in front of her gave her a final slap. Which side is the winner of this tug of war was very clear. There was no doubt anymore.

There was no happy ending in this place where countless people lived. Right, and that was what reality looked like. The dirty, annoying, repulsive, and distressing things would always happen no matter what. And everyone would stand firmly on their own two feet, hold on, and move forward heavily.

This was a damn reality. 

This was the reason a very hateful feeling towards Bill Curtis appeared inside her. He was a person who extorted the innocents for personal desire without any purpose, justification, or honor. He was like a pest. No, he was worse than that. He was someone who made this sad reality more painful.

Fiona was angry with those people. Why the hell did they make it harder for those who lived hard in the world she created? Why? She hope they would pay the same price.

“Sa.. save me! I did nothing wrong!”

“Keep an eye on the situation, take him out if he is about to out so that he doesn’t die easily.”

After giving the order, Fiona calmly turned away.

***

After the situation was sorted out, Fiona went to see Sigren. She hugged him tightly.

“Fiona?”

Sigren wrapped his arms around her and patted her back. He was confused why did his beloved lover who was always relaxed and confident look very unstable and weak today.

“Are things not going well?”

“No.”

Fiona pursed her lips.

“But I need you.”

After saying that, she went deeper into his arms even more. She was like a young beast seeking warmth in a snowstorm. 

‘I think I need consolation.’

Sigren led herself to a complete reality. It was unknown whether it has been a great salvation for oneself or it was the other way around. However, at the same time as accepting this fact, part of her heart’s defense mechanism collapsed. Therefore, what she needed was someone who could fill that hollow. And she hope it was him who could fill it up.

She let out a sigh.

“Sigren, give me a hug.”

***

I slept with Sigren. And when I woke up, I looked at him with distraught eyes.

“Sigren, are we all right?”

Sigren yawned and opened his eyes, “what? Nothing happened.”

Yeah, nothing. Long story short, Sigren and I slept together. Slept while holding hands of course. Nothing happened in that direction. 

It was me who hung onto him first yesterday. I whined wanting to be with him. Honestly, when he agreed I thought we’d go all the way. But surprisingly, Sigren just hugged me and slept. And I couldn’t help but wonder.

“Sigren, do you have a problem with the important part—”

He immediately growled. 

“Just tried to say more than that.”

Ehh, that can’t be the case…

Then Sigren pulled me halfway up. 

“Sleep more.”

“I’m wide awake.”

“And I’m sleepy. I couldn’t sleep properly because of you, so take responsibility and act as a pillow for me.”

“The servant may come soon—”

“Don’t worry. They went away last night. They won’t come.”

“….”

It was ironic that nothing happened considering the atmosphere seemed to scream something serious happened. 

“Sigren, when I asked you to hug me, you didn’t interpret it as it is, did you?” I stroked his hair. If he truly thought that, wouldn’t it be too naive?

“No way…”

Somehow, I felt funny that it was me who was asking this. 

“Then, why didn’t you do anything?”

It was pure curiosity. Because in the past, didn’t he say he would eat anything I gave him?

“Are you really asking that?”

Maybe he was really sleepy. He pulled me closer while his eyes were still closed. Then there was a sweet low voice in my ear. 

“No reason. It’s very pathetic to rush at you when you’re weak.”

This time he stroked my hair. 

“And yesterday you really looked like in need an innocent comfort. Although, I’m not sure what your problem was.”

“Well, that’s not really a reason.”

“You’re really.” Sigren was a little angry. 

I hugged Sigren’s neck tightly. Suddenly his body became stiff even though he has been touching me well until now. 

“Sigren, let’s get married!”