Chapter 645

Chapter 645

"It's okay, it's okay."

With a chunk of her side hair brutally chopped off, Hecate smiled nonchalantly.

"I'll just die for a moment and come back. Then I'll be revived with my old hair, and we can continue..."

"How can you say something so horrifying?!"

Junior desperately grabbed Hecate, who was staggering towards the exit.

Hecate kept trying to slip away, saying, 'I know many painless ways to die, so it's okay,' while Junior clung to her, pleading, 'I'll try to fix everything, so dont die!'

As the two women struggled, Dusk Bringar blocked Hecates path with a heavy sigh.

"First, Hecate. I must tell you why I've come here."

At that moment, Junior, who had been clutching at Hecate's hem while lying on the ground, shouted with a face full of injustice.

"Its all because the Duchess suddenly opened the door, causing this mess! Apologize first!"

"That, that was not my intention! Anyway, listen to why I came here!"

Ahem! Dusk Bringar, gathering her breath, looked seriously at Hecate.

"Hecate. Your 'curse' is nearing its end."

At those words, Hecate's red eyes regained focus.

Hecate slowly faced Dusk Bringar, who nodded.

"Since coming to this frontline, you have already died twice."

Once in an accident at a construction site.

Once more during a Wingian raid while saving Ash.

Hecate had died and was revived by the curse.

"I created the curse on you. So, I know."

Dusk Bringar raised her small hand and lifted one finger.

"One more time. If you touch death just once more, the curse on you will dissipate, and you... will end."

One more death would be the third death at this frontline.

At that time, Hecate would end, Dusk Bringar declared calmly.

Junior, with eyes wide open, stuttered.

"W-What do you mean, it ends?"

"It will revive one last time. The problem is what happens after."

Dusk Bringar, crossing her arms, sighed.

"Normally, one gets 'suspended.' Both soul and body preserved, unable to move or decay... just frozen alive."

"Eek."

Junior, swallowing a scream, asked urgently.

"What if she's lucky? Isnt there a better outcome?"

"This is the lucky outcome."

"This is good?! Are you saying there's a worse scenario?"

"Yes. In the unlucky scenario..."Discover new chapters at novelhall.com

Hecate clenched her fist tightly.

"You become a wraith."

"A wraith? You mean...?"

"Losing all reason, memory, and pride... you would seek to slaughter everything around you."

Dusk Bringar declared calmly.

"Simply put, you become a monster."

"..."

"Thats why, when the Glory Knights near suspension, they transfer the curse to a successor and prepare for their end."

"The end, you say..."

"If suspended, youll be entombed alive; if turned into a monster, your successor will behead you personally."

A sneer formed on Dusk Bringars lips.

"The curse grants immortality while active. This is a fair price to pay."

"How, how can this be...!"

"Dont be too harsh, young mage. Both this child and I have come too far for that."

Dusk Bringar clicked her tongue as she looked at Hecates short-cut side hair.

"So, Hecate. Dont waste the last of your lives over something as trivial as hair."

"..."

"Besides... its not like theres no third option."

Both Hecate and Juniors eyes widened. Dusk Bringar's bitter smile deepened.

"As the inventor of the curse, I've come to make a proposal to you, the last generation of Glory Knights, who can no longer inherit the curse."

Dusk Bringar's amber eyes glittered with a sinister darkness.

"If you dislike the endings of being buried alive or beheaded as a monster... how about it. Will you listen to my proposal?"

***

After ending her 'proposal,' Dusk Bringar left the room.

"Im sorry about the side hair... Ahem."

With just that, she left.

"..."

As Hecate mulled over Dusk Bringars 'proposal,' she slumped back into the chair in front of the mirror.

Junior, awkwardly standing behind the thoughtful Hecate, eventually took a deep breath and raised the hairdressing scissors again.

What really is... his reason for cooperating with us?

"People are beings who strive to understand each other."

Lucas suddenly uttered, and I quickly looked his way.

"This is the definition of a person you gave on this frontline."

"..."

"Are you going to apply that rule to the monsters too?"

If Scalian truly tries to be on our side, would I see him not as a monster I need to kill, but as a person I need to protect?

That was Lucass question.

"How much darkness... are you willing to embrace?"

"..."

I couldn't answer easily. Lucas was about to ask something more with a serious look on his face when

"Ah, you were all here!"

Junior's voice came from the direction of the street. I exclaimed, 'Oh,' and looked over.

"The Grand Sorceress of Water and Wind has arrived. Good timing. Let's grab some food toge"

I stopped mid-sentence.

Behind Junior, an utterly transformed Hecate was approaching, not knowing what to do with herself.

"Uh, Hecate, your hair has... changed?"

It used to be long and lush beige right after arriving at the frontline.

It turned into a bob cut reaching below her neck after being burnt in Wingian battle.

Now, it was a sharp, ear-revealing, pixie cut as if drawn in a picture.

"Does it look strange...?"

Hecate seemed awkward with her significantly shorter hair, and I gave a thumbs up.

"No, no! It suits you perfectly!"

Since I was partly to blame for Hecate's hair burning, I exaggeratedly raised my thumb. It actually looked quite splendid...

Just then, Junior, raising her nose, chimed in, "I did the cutting"

"It's not easy for a woman to pull off a short cut!"

"That's true, it's not easy."

"It was one of my dreams, but I knew it wouldn't suit me. I wanted to see it look good on someone else... Fortunately, Lady Hecate was there. Hehe, I took the chance to fulfill a personal desire!" (TL note: Look up images of "Pixie cut shaved sides")

"Good job, good job."

But what mattered wasn't mine or Junior's opinion, but Hecate's and her object of interestLucas's opinion.

And surprisingly,

"No, Hecate!"

Lucas was incredibly pleased.

"You look absolutely cool!"

"Eh? Oh, uh..."

A startled Hecate blushed.

Lucas ran up to inspect Hecate's hair and nodded in satisfaction.

"A knight's hairstyle should be functional after all."

"...?"

"Stylish as it is now, how about going even shorter next time? If you want, I'll shave it myself with a razor blade."

"..."

Listening to this, we all swallowed hard.

Could it be...

This knight thinks Hecate looks cooler because her hair is shorter than before...?

"You look totally cool, Hecate! This is the coolest look I've ever seen on you!"

With a smile, Hecate began to tremble, then clenched her fists. She spat out,

"Even if the world ends..."

"Huh?"

"Even if the world ends, you're still clueless, you jerk!"

Hecate grabbed Lucas by the collar and started a scuffle, and the surrounding heroes rushed to intervene. The cafeteria instantly turned into a battleground.

Junior, with a pale face, muttered softly.

"...Did I do something wrong?"

"No, no."

I handed Junior one of the drinks the waiter had just brought out, took a sip from my own glass, and murmured,

"It's because the world is ending, just..."

Still.

I secretly wished to see this peaceful scene last just a bit longer.

Smiling wryly, I chuckled.

***

A few days later.

The equipment made from Wingian's magic core was completed.

Simultaneously, the preparations for the Ipian raid were also finished.

--TL Notes--

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at /MattReading