Chapter 82 – Atonement

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Chapter 82 – Atonement

“What is this...”

Isabel gasped for breath.

The last memory struck her head with fierce impact.

Everything was shocking.

She never even considered it.

No, she never sensed anything amiss.

Information broker Emily.

Who the hell was that damn woman?

Indeed, Emily in her memory had said it.

This world is fake, and she would escape it.

The protagonist of the original story, Derek.

His death was also unavoidable, she had said.

Wait a moment...

So, this means...

“This world... is fake...?”

Zing.

The moment she tried to think about it, countless truths about the world she never knew flooded her mind like a torrent.

The world within a game...

The Black Mist...

The Holy Relic...

“Ugh...!”

An intense pain, like being electrocuted, engulfed Isabel.

Her reason started to crumble into pieces.

The unbearable truths scraped her nerves like sharp blades.

She couldn’t breathe.

Tears streamed down her face from the excruciating pain.

And then, after a while.

“.......”

A fake world.

The protagonist of the original story.

The relentless flow of information gradually began to stabilize in her mind.

And when she finally pieced together the last fragment.

“...I see.”

Thud—

A deafening roar echoed in her brain.

A colossal confusion struck Isabel’s mind.

And at the same time, she suddenly recalled a memory from the past.

— Oh my, Madam.

— I was debating whether or not to tell you... but recently, the Master doesn’t seem to be in good shape.

One day, a maid had come to her room, reporting anxiously.

— Every night, he sleep-talks...

— He keeps repeating that he wants to go back, like a parrot.

— Where does he want to go back to...

At first, she didn’t think much of it.

She thought he was just having nightmares.

She thought he wanted to return to the Winfred because his married life with her was so dreadful.

“Ah.”

Isabel let out a sigh without realizing it.

She stood still for a while, then finally lowered her head and muttered something.

“To return to his original world...”

That’s why he was in such a hurry.

The annulment, leaving for the Imperial Palace, getting close to the Princess.

The Rosary.

He was trying to tear the dimension and return to his original world with that object.

She wanted to laugh like a madwoman, but even laughter wouldn’t come out as she wanted.

“Fake... Yes, it was fake.”

The realization washed over her slowly like a rising tide.

She felt as if she were sinking into a swamp, unable to move or breathe.

An overwhelming sense of helplessness consumed her reason.

And now, she had no choice but to accept everything.

So that’s how it was.

This world was all fake.

A world where all endings were predetermined.

I was just a chess piece being moved on a prearranged board.

‘Thank goodness.’

That this wasn’t Kyle’s world, that there was still a glimmer of hope in the life she had ruined for Kyle, she was grateful for that.

But...

‘What should I do now.’

Honestly, it no longer mattered to Isabel whether this world was fake or real.

To someone, this place might be fake, but to Isabel, it was reality, and she had no intention of denying it.

Her feelings for Kyle were the same.

Even if it had gone horribly wrong, at least she was sincere at every moment.

Even if he was another soul wearing Kyle’s shell, she didn’t care.

— Do you still see me as Kyle?

She had already suspected it.

Perhaps she knew all along but didn’t want to believe it.

But what if it was another soul?

In any case, the soul that whispered love to her, protected her from danger, and was ultimately poisoned by her was...

‘Lee Seung-jun.’

Yes, Lee Seung-jun.

That was his name.

Rather, she felt relieved.

‘If Isabel dies, the Papal See will...’

Damn it, things were messed up.

Since the moment Isabel arrived here, and when Luna attacked her, all plans had gone awry.

But above all...

“...Cough.”

Isabel was coughing up dark blood.

It was as if he was watching himself when she poisoned him.

Her death wasn’t as satisfying as he’d expected.

Rather, it was disconcerting.

What the hell, is she really dying?

Could the Saintess, blessed by the world, die so easily?

Should I use the last remaining Elixir?

But, I need to save that for unexpected situations...

He let out a bitter laugh.

And then.

Wuuuuuung—!!

Suddenly, the air around Isabel shimmered, and compressed holy power began to emanate from her.

The space distorted chaotically with the outburst of holy power.

The amplified holy power vibrated irregularly.

Soon, the glowing aura tore through the space with a thunderous noise.

At that moment.

He saw it.

The massive wound that Luna’s sword had left on Isabel’s abdomen was miraculously healing.

And then.

“...!”

Isabel’s tightly shut eyelids lifted.

He was so surprised that his mouth hung open.

At that moment, a chilling voice came from behind him.

“Kyle, come here.”

Luna glared at Isabel with wide, fierce eyes.

A murderous intent shimmered behind her blue eyes.

“I’ll protect you.”

Protect? Protect what?

Just when he was about to retort.

“Ugh.”

Isabel regained consciousness.

She slowly got up from her fallen state.

“Ha, you disgusting bitch.”

Luna’s eyes narrowed.

Murderous intent, anger, hatred.

All sorts of dark emotions flickered and then faded.

“...Ha.”

Isabel let out a derisive laugh, staggering as she stood.

She spoke coldly, steadying herself with difficulty.

“Luna Winfred, you’re out of your mind.”

“You’d better shut your mouth if you don’t want to be stabbed again.”

“Do you even understand what you’ve just done?”

“Of course, I know very well.”

She glanced sideways.

Isabel’s face looked too calm for someone who had just come back from the brink of death.

An inexplicable sense of unease crept up his spine.

No way.

Could she have regained her memories?

‘This is driving me crazy.’

At least she wasn’t dead, so the worst had been avoided.

But how to smooth over this situation...

“Kyle Winfred.”

Then, Isabel called him.

“What are you plotting?”

Her unexpected question left him speechless.

“Plotting?”

“Yes, did you approach me from the beginning with this in mind? To kill me?”

“What are you talking about... Why would I go to such trouble...”

“Ha, this is exhausting.”

As usual, Isabel kept speaking her mind.

That confirmed it.

She hadn’t regained her memories yet.

He barely managed to swallow a sigh of relief.

“Answer me!”

Isabel screamed, her voice strained.

A brief silence followed.

Her ragged breathing filled the air.

While he carefully considered his response.

“Never mind. I’ll just leave.”

Isabel gathered her clothes and turned her back.

What’s with her? Why is she acting like this?

Her sudden action left him blinking in confusion.

“Thank you for everything.”

Her body glowed faintly, and shortly after, with a brief flash, she vanished.

“...”

She disappeared just like that.

He stared blankly at the spot where she had been, then let out a hollow laugh.

“...What the hell?”

[Translator – Peptobismol]