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Chapter 72
“The Reason Why That Villainess Wields a Sword”
It wasn’t the fact that she had died that frightened her.
What terrified her was that, from now on, she wouldn’t be able to protect Ferdinand if anything happened to him.
Death, at the very least, should only come after she had resolved everything.
‘Just because the western affair is over doesn’t mean it’s finished.’
On the contrary, now that she had seen what kind of cards the enemy held in the west, she had even more reason to stay alive.
Erin staggered to her feet. She couldn’t stay lying down forever.
‘Maybe… I didn’t actually die.’
Perhaps someone had moved her while she was unconscious.
“Ah—are you alright?”
At the sudden voice, Erin’s hand instinctively reached for her waist. But then she realized her sword wasn’t there, and bit down on her lower lip.
She turned her gaze—and froze in surprise at the sight of the woman before her.
‘So… this isn’t hell?’
A blonde woman with sapphire-blue eyes was standing there.
The gentle smile she wore was far too bright and pure for a gatekeeper or guide of hell.
“It must hurt.”
The woman drew closer, looking at Erin’s injured hand.
It was an unfamiliar place, with an unfamiliar person. Normally, it would have been natural to be on guard.
But Erin couldn’t bring herself to act against the woman who was approaching her.
The woman took Erin’s hand. A warm current spread out, and Erin’s wounded hand was restored to its original state.
“I’ve wanted to see you.”
Erin blinked in bewilderment. The woman before her was someone she had clearly never met.
And yet she said she had wanted to see her?
Catching Erin’s puzzled gaze, the woman continued.
“Titi told me so much about you.”
“Titi?”
“Yes. She’s patiently waiting here for the day you would arrive.”
“You… know Titi?”
At those words, a meow rang out. Something leapt straight into Erin’s arms.
Her eyes went wide.
A large, soft body—too big for an ordinary cat. It was Titi, the cat she used to feed.
“Ah…”
Erin’s voice trembled. Hugging the cat tightly, she broke into a bright smile.
“Titi!”
Meow—
She had always longed to see Titi again. But because she knew it was impossible, she had buried that longing deep in her heart.
Now, though she was smiling, her face slowly stiffened. Even when she finally met Titi, she couldn’t rejoice freely.
Much as she didn’t want to admit it, Titi had died long ago. On that rainy day, she had cried as she made Titi’s grave herself.
She still remembered that cold body.
Turning her gaze back to the woman who was watching them with warm eyes, Erin asked,
“Am I… dead?”
“No. You are not dead.”
“Then… how am I meeting Titi now?”
“Well… let’s call it a dream.”
“A dream…?”
The woman smiled softly as she stepped closer.
“Shall we sit there for a while?”
Erin turned her head in the direction she pointed, and found that a chair—one that hadn’t been there before—was sitting alone.
The woman went over and sat first. Almost without realizing it, Erin followed and sat down as well.
‘Maybe because it’s a dream…’
As soon as she sat, Titi climbed into her lap and began to purr. Erin felt her heart warm inexplicably.
And as she met the woman’s kind eyes, she fidgeted with her hands without realizing it.
She wasn’t used to receiving such a warm gaze from another adult woman.
“I knew you’d be flustered… but I wanted to see you so much that I called you here.”
“What?”
“May I… hold your hand?”
Though startled, after a brief hesitation, Erin nodded.
The woman carefully took her hand. Stroking the back of it gently, she suddenly twisted her face as though on the verge of tears.
“Everyone is grateful to you.”
“……”
“Because of you, the tragedy that almost unfolded in the west was averted. How fortunate it is that people were spared from killing their loved ones with their own hands.”
“……”
“It’s different from how the future was meant to be.”
Saying this, the woman carefully embraced Erin.
Erin’s eyes widened in shock at the unexpected gesture. The woman’s scent was sweet.
Holding Erin tightly, she gently patted her back with a small hand.
And then, without knowing why, tears began to fall.
Meow—
As if to comfort her, Titi rubbed his head against her arm.
The woman had said this was just a dream.
But her embrace was so warm it made Erin cry, and the soft, pliant weight of Titi on her lap felt so vividly real.
It was far too real to be called a dream.
“Time is short now.”
“……”
“I’m so sorry for burdening you with so much.”
Who are you? Erin wanted to ask.
But as if sensing her unspoken question, the woman only shook her head.
From that, Erin realized she didn’t have much longer to remain here.
“There is something I must tell you. It’s the reason I called you here.”
“Something… to tell me?”
“If you truly find happiness, everything will come to an end.”
As soon as she spoke, Titi burrowed deeper into Erin’s arms, as if unwilling to leave. But then, the warmth of Titi’s body faded away.
And in that instant, Erin awoke from the dream.
Erin opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was a white ceiling.
As her senses returned, she realized someone was holding her hand.
Turning her head, the first thing she saw was long silver hair.
It was Isis, looking down at her.
“Sir Erin? Are you alright? Oh, my God…”
Erin realized that he was channeling divine power into her as he held her hand.
‘Isis survived…’
What a relief.
Her vision flickered. She couldn’t fully stay conscious.
Her head throbbed as though it would split apart.
“Titi…”
“Titi? What do you mean, Sir Erin?”
Isis’s hand wasn’t as warm as Titi’s body had been. And precisely because of that, Erin could feel that this was reality.
She had truly parted ways with Titi.
It was a farewell without promise of reunion. Painful, yet strangely comforting.
Because parting with Titi meant, just as the woman had said, that she was still alive.
Slowly, heavily, Erin blinked her eyes open and closed.
“Don’t fall asleep, Sir Erin. You mustn’t fall asleep again! You may not wake up if you do.”
“Damn it, is there no other way, Isis?”
Helix was apparently there too, his voice rising in frustration.
It was strange.
Helix Exart, raising his voice? He was a man who never lost his composure, no matter the situation. And yet now he sounded almost… worried about her.
“Stay with us, Sir Erin.”
Helix’s voice carried an unusual desperation. With a trembling tone, he whispered,
“I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you sooner. Please… don’t die.”
Even if he hadn’t said it, Erin had no intention of dying.
She longed to see Titi again, but paradoxically, she wanted that reunion to be delayed as much as possible.
‘I’m sorry, Titi. Please wait just a little longer. Just a little…’
With that thought, Erin closed her eyes.
Erin was bedridden for a full week.
Isis, leading the priests of the west, did not sleep a single night during that time.
Even priests weren’t enough—Isis summoned every physician in the west. And Helix kept watch outside Erin’s chamber every day.
The priests of the west were bewildered. They had never seen Isis or Helix behave like this before.
“Lord Isis’s own health is not well either.”
Though they tried to dissuade him, Isis refused to leave Erin’s side for even a moment.
Perhaps because of that, Erin ultimately survived.
Though she had been in a condition where she might have died at any moment, she had endured.
Even the priests who witnessed her recovery were astonished.
“Her will to live is remarkable.”
And that evening, Erin finally awoke.
When she turned her head, she saw Isis, asleep with his hand still wrapped around hers.
He must have poured divine power into her until he fell asleep.
Sensing her gaze, Isis stirred awake. He stared at her as though he couldn’t believe his eyes.
“Sir Erin? Are you alright?”
“Thanks to you, I think I’m fine now.”
At her answer, Isis lowered his head in relief. But when he raised it again, his face was twisted with strain.
Erin felt a pang of worry. Was his condition worse than hers?
After all, every time she had briefly regained consciousness, Isis had been there beside her.
He himself had been wounded by Charlotte, and those injuries had surely not yet healed. To continuously use divine power in that state—of course it must have taken a toll on his body.
