Volume 4, Chapter 54 – Three Minutes of Fate (Part 2)

“She’s dead.”

Edith’s words made Yisi’s mouth drop open in an exaggerated fashion.

“Huh? Didn’t we agree not to kill her? I didn’t hand her over to you for you to kill her. As a fallen angel, she holds secrets we don’t know. She’s an unprecedentedly valuable source of information.”

Seeing Yisi’s anxious expression, Edith’s lips curved into a satisfied smile, and she waved her hand as if shooing away a fly.

“Just kidding.”

“…So what happened to her?”

“How could I let her off so easily? I just occasionally take out my frustrations on her or do some small experiments, and then heal her afterward. Although her mental state isn’t very good, she’s at least still alive.”

“Are you a devil…”

“A vampire. A nicer term would be to call me one of the blood clan.”

“You win. But even if Hetty deserves it, don’t go too far, Pepe.”

Yisi let out a long breath. If she were to get serious with Edith, she’d probably die of anger.

“What about the pets who betrayed you? I remember there was one named Clara, right?”

“Fed her to the dogs.”

Edith answered without hesitation.

Having learned her lesson, Yisi naturally wouldn’t fall for it again.

“You’re definitely lying to me again.”

“Believe it or not. On the night I returned, Refina caught Clara trying to escape. I had originally planned to keep her as an example to the others and execute her properly in public, but I lost control of my emotions for a moment and fed her to Yisi-chan that same day. Want to see the bones? They should still be in the Pool of Sinners.”

“Don’t tell me you fed her to the dogs while she was still alive? And by the way, what do you mean by Yisi-chan!”

“Of course. There’s no point in punishment if she isn’t alive when you feed her to the dogs. As for Yisi-chan, she’s one of the many pet dogs I keep.”

As she spoke, Edith feigned a yawn.

She’s trying to make me angry again.

At this point, Yisi completely understood what Edith was here for—to make fun of her for amusement.

I guess she really can’t change her sadistic nature.

Yisi couldn’t help but feel helpless.

“There’s one thing I’ve never understood.”

“What?”

Yisi’s words made Edith tilt her head. Her stunningly beautiful face, slightly flushed under the light, made Yisi stare for a moment. Perhaps because she had drunk a lot of wine, even her breath carried a hint of alcohol.

“Hetty impersonating you made you very angry, but didn’t I do the same thing? You don’t seem to hate me very much.”

“You are at least more satisfactory to me than Hetty. Father would probably like your approachable type—no, let me put it another way. Do you want me to hate you?”

“No. If possible, I’d rather you like me.”

Of course, she was joking.

“Then let’s just say I like you. Because I like you, I don’t hold a grudge.”

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It was probably a joke. Although Edith wouldn’t lie, jokes clearly didn’t count as lies.

What a seductive little devil.

“What about you? Do you have any plans for the future?”

When she said this, Edith wasn’t looking at Yisi’s face, her tone as casual as if she were just asking offhandedly.

“Plans? Originally, I was thinking of finding out why I came to this world, which would lead me to the Ymir Church, the most likely place to know the answer, and solving the Fallen problem along the way. But since I’ve come to the blood clan, I’ve decided to visit the royal capital first. It doesn’t matter when I find out the reason. Since I have a new life, I should enjoy it.”

“I thought you’d want to go back to your own world. You’re always saying nonsensical things about being from another world, but it turns out you don’t like your own hometown that much.”

Edith laughed. For some reason, Yisi got the feeling that she had just breathed a sigh of relief.

The conversation fell silent again.

This time, it was not Yisi who broke the silence.

“I’ve recently thought of a way to defeat you.”

“At chess? Now? It’s still banquet time.”

“For you and me now, the banquet is just a waste of time. Being bound by rules is for the pedantic. Life is short, so we should enjoy it while we can.”

Being told this by the paranoid Edith, Yisi, who really had nothing better to do, could only smile wryly and wave her hand.

“Let’s at least find a place with no people to play.”

Compared to the paranoid Edith from before, the current Edith had less of an oppressive air and more of a girlish charm.

“Then let’s go to the gard—”

Halfway through her words, Edith, like a doll that had lost power, suddenly froze. Her azure eyes dimmed.

It must be the problem with her soul.

Yisi had gotten used to this recently.

However, what she didn’t expect was that Edith completely lost consciousness, slowly slumping over and falling to the ground.

“Hey, Edith! Hey!”

◇

That night.

Retracting his gaze from the quietly lying Edith on the bed, Count Pescia shouted at Yisi, his face anxious.

“Miss Yisi, what on earth is going on?”

“Onee-sama has already explained it to you, Father. Edith’s soul is overwhelmed and has little time left.”

Camilla took a step forward, standing between Yisi and the Count, but he completely ignored her, his sharp gaze fixed on Yisi behind her.

“Why? Why are you making Viel’s soul disappear? Viel treated you as her only friend, yet you are rejecting her for your own sake? If this is true, I swear, no matter where you flee, I will completely annihilate your soul.”

Not looking at the Count, Yisi frowned, staring intently at Edith on the bed.

“It’s not that I want Edith to disappear. I’ve already said it, haven’t I? When two souls are in the same body, the stronger soul will naturally reject the weaker one, eventually causing the weaker soul to completely collapse. As the Count of the Pescia territory, don’t you know this? In the end, I explained all of this to you from the beginning, and you said you would prepare a body for me. But I’ve been here for a full seven days, and you’ve done nothing. It should be easy to create a new body with the Tower of Pescia.”

“The Tower of Pescia? Are you kidding me! If the tower could separate you from Viel’s body and just put you in any vessel, don’t you think I would have done it at the first opportunity!”

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The Count’s words made Yisi turn her head. The Magic Fairy’s red eyes stared directly into his green ones.

“Edith already told me that as long as we use the Tower of Pescia—”

No.

Halfway through her words, Yisi realized something she hadn’t noticed before.

—Edith had never admitted that the Tower of Pescia could create a new body.

This was entirely her own wishful thinking. Because Edith hadn’t shown any anxiety about the body and had been completely focused on dealing with Hetty, she had subconsciously assumed that Edith had an answer for how they could exist independently. But Edith had never said so. Even when she brought it up, Edith had never confirmed it.

It was because Edith knew the Tower of Pescia couldn’t do it that she had said nothing.

In other words, Edith had known from the very beginning that her life was running out, but she had never shown any weakness to her until her soul could no longer hold on. She knew that even if she said it, it would be of no use. If even the Tower of Alexia couldn’t do it, what other method could there be for the two of them to exist independently? Telling everyone would only stir up conflict and cause those involved to fall into hardship and self-blame.

That was why when she had asked Edith why she didn’t resent her for being an impostor, she had answered, “At least Father likes your approachable type.” That was why she had insisted on playing chess with her at the end, saying things like “life is short, so enjoy it while you can.” If she hadn’t collapsed midway, Edith would have probably asked her to play the role of Loiswell in the end. What a foolish thing to say.

Her silence at that time wasn’t because she had nothing to say, but because she was bidding farewell to her final moments.

Damn it.

This hopeless, foolish, stubborn woman.

Taking a deep breath, Yisi patted Camilla’s shoulder, then controlled her body and landed on the chest of the sleeping Edith.

I hope I can see her one last time.

Her consciousness sank into the depths of the body.

It was still that dark space, but now there were some decorations. Ruined walls covered in wild roses, a garden full of fallen leaves and weeds, a path paved with white flagstones, and a stone pavilion with steps made of white chalkstone in the center of the courtyard. Even the air was filled with a sweet, intoxicating scent.

A familiar scene.

This was the abandoned courtyard in Celtic City.

Also familiar was the magnificent and pure sound of a violin.

The princess in a pure white gown was playing a solo in the abandoned garden. The surrounding scenery and the sound of the music combined to form a dreamlike scene that no one could disturb.

But this time, Yisi did not wait for the performance to end. She walked towards Edith with unwavering steps.

As before, even though her eyes were closed, Edith noticed her.

“…You’re here.” Edith lowered her violin with an expression as if nothing had happened. “What are you looking for? There is nothing here worth your attachment.”

Without stopping immediately, Yisi walked straight up to her. If anyone else were here, they would surely be puzzled by the two people who looked exactly the same standing together. Unfortunately, there were only the frighteningly quiet phantoms here.

Grabbing Edith’s wrist, Yisi prepared to lead her out of the mind space.

Edith did not move, but stood her ground, frowning slightly.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking a certain foolish woman out.”

“Out?” Hearing her words, Edith couldn’t help but let out a light laugh. “I have no time left. As you can see, this garden is the result of my last strength. Just this small garden has consumed all the time I have left. I can’t get out anymore.”

Feeling the strength in her hand slowly weaken, Edith’s smile faded, replaced by a calm expression tinged with sadness.

“I can’t get out anymore… I’ll probably dissipate completely soon.”

Edith smiled.

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“I originally had half a year to squander, and if I used it sparingly, I would have had a lot of time left. But the final [Curse of Envy] consumed too much. This is my limit now… I will disappear here. Don’t be sad for me. Just as you said before, go live your own life. I was thinking of having you play my role, but that wish is too willful. Even if I said it, you wouldn’t do it.”

Yisi released Edith’s hand, but her gaze never left her face.

“I will take you out.”

Perhaps because her soul was really at its limit, Edith’s voice became weak.

“Don’t I know my own condition? In a moment, no, in five minutes, I will forget everything and disappear completely. The willful and stubborn, tyrannical and cruel count’s eldest daughter will die. You will no longer have to experience the time of only watching others enjoy a banquet. Although I don’t usually say it, I am aware that my disappearance is a good thing for everyone.”

“Your father, and Refina, they don’t want to see you disappear. You don’t want to either. Why do you say such cruel things?”

“Cruel?” Finally unable to suppress her fear of death, Edith’s shoulders trembled along with her voice. “Do you think I’m saying this because I want to? From the moment I knew you existed… I had no choice…”

Tears streamed uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes. Edith reached up to wipe them away, but she couldn’t stop them from flowing.

In the end, the one standing here was just a fourteen-year-old girl. No matter how strong she was, no matter how firm her belief in her own will, in the face of an irresistible force, there was only a sense of powerlessness.

Yisi looked directly into Edith’s tear-streaked azure eyes.

“If you’re so afraid of death, then stop acting tough! Why do you think I came here? I’m going to take you out of here. This is my promise.”

Edith’s exquisite features contorted in grief. She grabbed Yisi’s shoulders, her grip so tight it even caused Yisi a little pain.

“Why? Why do you say such things to me when you know there’s no hope? You’re strong… but this isn’t a problem that can be solved with strength… Saying things that give me hope at a time like this… it only makes me suffer… besides making me suffer, it serves no other purpose… Loiswell will lose everything and die here. I’ve already accepted this result… Don’t put any more pressure on me…”

By the end, Edith was covering her face with her hands, sobbing.

“Finally… if you still have a shred of pity for me… I hope… I hope you can stay here… with me…”

Edith took a step forward, her tear-streaked hands reaching for Yisi’s cheeks, her azure eyes filled with sadness and a tragic smile.

“I have one last wish.”

“What?”

“I have nothing to give you, so, here… take my… Loiswell’s… heart… I offer it to you.”

A slight warmth came from Edith’s trembling hands. The existence that was usually as dazzling as the sun was now so small and fragile that it seemed as if it would shatter with a single touch. Her tightly pressed rosy lips and her hopeful yet exceptionally weak eyes—everything was conveying her true feelings.

Should I accept Edith’s feelings?

The stubborn and strong count’s eldest daughter was now showing her fragile side. For anyone else, there would only be one answer.

There was no need for much thought.

What needed to be done was already obvious.

Subconsciously, Yisi hugged Edith.

Her voice was full of determination.

“I will not take advantage of you… So, I hope you will say these words to me again after you’ve recovered. I will save you… Just give me some time—three minutes. Three minutes is all I need.”

Perhaps taking Yisi’s words as a rejection, the sadness in Edith’s eyes deepened.

But she couldn’t waste her emotions here. Time was running out.

Gently kissing Edith’s forehead, Yisi released her and disappeared from the mind space.

She took control of the body, opened her eyes, and sat up from the bed.

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“Onee-sama?”

“Viel?!”

Apologies could wait. There was no time to answer one by one. Yisi directly used her skills.

[Third Form Awakening]

[Blink]

She appeared in front of Hetty in the mansion’s dungeon.

“Who?”

Instead of answering, she directly took out Sandra’s tooth from her inventory.

“This is something I got from your companion. Tell me everything I want to know, or I guarantee your companion will die in the most cruel way possible.”

Fallen angels could sense each other’s presence. Even an item used by another could easily lead to its user. And Sandra and Hetty belonged to the same faction. It was impossible for Hetty not to care about her companion.

As expected, Hetty’s listless eyes instantly lit up, and her eyes, staring at Yisi, seemed to be on the verge of spewing flames.

“That’s Sandra’s… Bastard! What did you do to my daughter!”

Like a beast tied by chains, Hetty’s face was contorted. Her body, tied to a wooden stake, twisted as if she would break free at any moment and kill someone.

But Yisi just pinched her chin, making her look directly at her.

“Tell me! Is there any way on this continent for two souls to exist independently, or your daughter will disappear just like this tooth I’ve knocked out.”

As if hesitating between two difficult choices, Hetty lowered her head. After a few seconds, she took a deep breath.

“The Vampire Queen and the next Pope of the Ymir Church. The pendants they wear can connect two souls and keep them from perishing. Combining the two pendants can create a soul vessel, but only someone of the Demon Lord level can combine them.”

“If you’re deceiving me, I will destroy you along with your Demon Lord.”

[Advanced Teleportation]

—Two minutes.

Forcibly breaking through the soldiers’ defensive line, she snatched the red necklace from Alvier VII.

—One minute.

Using the same method, she found the next Pope in the underground of the Ymir Church and then snatched the blue necklace.

“I’m out of time.”

While continuously teleporting back to the Pescia mansion, Yisi calculated the time.

To be safe, she should have asked Hetty how to use the necklaces, but she probably wouldn’t have made it in time. Yisi directly hung the two queen-shaped necklaces on her body.

Then, the overlapping necklaces burst forth with a brilliant light in the night sky, as bright as the sun, enough to illuminate everything.

“So that’s how it is…”

The information that flooded her mind made Yisi let out a sigh of relief. Then, her lips curved into a slight smile.

She had bet correctly.

Loiswell Edith Pescia would not be erased just like this.