Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Translator: Yonnee

Dietrichs eyes went wide open.

You

In all my life as Charlotte, this had never happened before, so why?

I glanced over at the system window, trying to keep myself conscious.

[ New Authority ]

You have the ability to make monsters obey. This is limited to monsters you can see with your eyes.

This authority can be used only once.

However, there will be side effects.

Wait, I think I can see something there.

[ However, there will be side effects. ]

This crazy

Whats up with the miniscule font?

Cough, cough!

Are you going to be okay?

Im n coughcough!

I wasnt writhing in terrible pain, but the sight of blood bursting through my lips was shocking enough.

Watching as blood spilled down to my white apron, I fell unconscious.

Its dark.

* * *

Reflexively, Dietrich caught the woman who had fainted.

He was so confused by the current series of events.

Why, all of a sudden

The womans body was horrifyingly cold.

Before this, there had been far too many instances in which he had touched bodies that were equally cold.

Just this slight stimulus served as a trigger of the nightmares he had experienced long ago.

The looming darkness ate at the mans composure.

Dietrich could no longer see the same woman in his arms.

Another image overlapped the womans figure, and it made him feel even more desperate.

No, you cant

He had only barely scraped up enough determination, but as he caught sight of a sword being driven into the womans neck, it all shattered.

Perhaps it was with foreboding premonition that Dietrich could now predict whats to come.

If a sword would ever take aim at the womans neck, he would not be able to hold out at all. He would surely fall apart.

* * *

As the man crumbled away, rationality collapsing just as well, the past came back to haunt him.

His premonition proved to be right.

The man carried the woman in his arms, holding her as though she was the most precious thing in the world, and he then ran madly down the hallway.

And as he succumbed to a delusion of the past, Charlotte now became the most precious existence to Dietrich.

He must save her.

No matter what.

* * *

I had a dream.

This was a memory of the pastlong, long ago when I had first been trapped in this mansion.

Save me, please! Help!

Thud, thud, thud!

I knocked on the door like a madwoman, and as the soft flesh of my hands were pounded against the doors hard surface, each action shot a jolt of pain.

My hands became wounded and bruised.

However

Its healed again

What the hell was this? Its weird

As I observed the abnormal changes in my body, chills ran down my spine.

This flesh is not mine.

Please

I dont care who it is, please, just let me out.

I hate this place so much.

Its too dark in here.

I dont like the dark.

I dont want to be alone.

Im scared.

Please, if someones out thereanyone at allplease listen to my voice.

I reached up and scratched the door with my nails.

Let me out Please, I want to go out

Scritch, scritch. I kept scratching at the door even though my nails had become bloody.

Im sorry. Im sorry. Im sorry. Im sorry. Im sorry

In this empty place, I didnt know who my apologies were directed to. However, no matter how many times I admitted my wrongdoings, the situation did not change.

Bang! This time, I banged on the door as though I wanted to break it down.

I beg of you! Please, I beg of you!

Youve done enough! Just stop it already and let me out of here!

For a while, I expressed my anger and resentment, but In time, I regretted it again.

No No, I didnt mean

I, I was wrong. I didnt mean to do this. Im sorry. Im sorry. Im sorry. Im sorry. Im sorry

I leaned back against the door and hugged myself. It wasnt cold, but somehow, it was.

[ Steel mentality : OFF ]

I dont want to feel this pain.

Its awful.

I already know that no one will help me.

What if I wont be able to leave for the rest of my life.

I recalled the room I had been renting, and the image kept flickering in my mind. Though it was practically palm-sized, it was warm.

As yearning seized me, it was impossible to let go.

I was so lonely that I even started to remember my verbally abusive family fondly. They called me pathetic and drove me out of the house, but still, I looked back fondly.

Thats when I came to a realization.

That its possible for a human being to die out of sheer loneliness.

If Im to die in this place, it will be due to this unrelenting loneliness.

[ Steel Mentality: ON ]

After that day, I never turned Steel Mentality off.

* * *

How long did I sleep?

It felt as if my consciousness had been sinking deep below the surface of water, but now, it slowly rose.

At that time, a familiar voice permeated through my hazy consciousness.

Are you up?

Recognizing whose voice that was, I winced.

Dietrich.

Reflexively, I called his name.

Why was he here?

Do you feel alright?

Ah, yes. My condition doesnt seem all that bad.

Thats a relief.

After confirming that I was fine, Dietrich nodded.

I was feeling perfectly fine. But then, Dietrich He had to deal with the monsters back there, and I saw the new wound on his cheek.

Is it because I forced you to control the monsters thats why you collapsed?

Dietrich glanced up at me with a guilty expression.

Rather, I was the one who had to apologize, but I was met with the opposite situation.

I even blasted steak sauce at him.

Seems like it.

Then did you still do it even when you knew youd cough up blood?

No, thats not it.

Because of me

Is this guy good-natured or just plain stupid?

Was that why hes apparently less cautious of me now?

Was this the start to a better relationship?

Frankly, there wouldnt be any special advantages even if this relationship were to be improved. But here, I watched as Dietrichs disposition seemed to unravel.

Huh?

And then, I realized.

While turning so deathly pale, he looked so distressed right now.

What we had was an ill-fated relationship, so there should be no way for him to be so affected after seeing that I had gotten hurt.

Why was he acting as if Id hit his fatal weak spot?

It was a near-abnormal reaction.

Looking back, it couldnt even be considered normal that he saved me from a monster attack.

Wasnt it a bit too excessive for him to extend a lick of kindness to me?

I really must ask. Youve trapped me here, but why is it that now, youre helping me?

Before this, Dietrich had his vigilance up to the maximum around me, but it didnt feel like that anymore.

Then, as if he had made up his mind, Dietrich rose from his seat.

Feeling the intense pressure from his gaze, my eyes widened.

What are you

All of a sudden, he fell to his knees.

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