CH 30

While Cain was in confinement, his meals were being brought to his room. 

One day, a kitchen worker pushed a cart of food up to his room, knocked on the door, and returned to the kitchen, leaving the cart. 

Cain never came to the door, and the cart was left there, untouched for some time, so Ilvalino had to bring it into Cain’s room and let Cain know that his food was ready. He left and came back a few times, each time calling out to him and informing him of the food.

“Hey, are you eating or what?” asked Ilvalino, finally losing his patience on his fourth visit. 

He looked around the room and saw that a tablecloth was still covering the cart. 

“I’m eating… I may be depressed, but I still get hungry,” said Cain, drooping his head further, as if disappointed in himself. 

Ilvalino got up, went over to the cart, and turned over the tablecloth to see that a few bites had been taken out of the bread and the tomatoes were plucked out of the salad. He let out a deep sigh and pushed the cart over to Cain’s bedside.

“First of all, eat your damn food. You’re not a bird at a birdfeeder. This doesn’t count as eating,” said Ilvalino. 

Cain had made a birdfeeder months ago and installed it in a garden outside the manor. It attracted birds when breadcrumbs were put in it. The birds that gathered there were small, though, and so their feathers were not big enough for the plume of a pen. 

Ilvalino was referencing these small birds in his jab at Cain. 

After bringing the cart over, Ilvalino sat down on the edge of Cain’s bed, grabbed him by the jaw, and forced him to look up. 

“Open your mouth. Eat your damn food,” said Ilvalino, thrusting a spoonful of soup into a dazed Cain’s mouth. 

Cain started coughing and sputtering, but Ilvalino kept spooning more food into his mouth. This time, it was beans from the salad. 

“Being all alone and being hungry are unacceptable. Aren’t those the words of Grandma Sakae or whoever the hell it was?” asked Ilvalino. 

It wasn’t as if Cain was physically unable to eat, so he begrudgingly chewed his food. 

When Ilvalino saw Cain swallow a mouthful, he immediately thrust another spoonful into his mouth. 

“Compassion is not a gift for others. Isn’t that what you said?” said Ilvalino. 

“You have a good memory…” said Cain. 

These were sayings that Cain had said to Ilvalino right after taking him in. They were famous lines from popular movies in the world that Cain came from. 

At that time, Ilvalino was injured, and on top of that, had just been beaten up by Cain. He had seemed to be only half-conscious, so Cain was surprised to find out that Ilvalino remembered those lines. 

“You showed me compassion back then, so I’ll return that compassion to you, now,” said Ilvalino. He stopped force-feeding Cain and made him hold the spoon himself. [Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]

“Eat your damn food. If you’re just going to sit here by yourself and think dark thoughts, I’ll stay next to you. I’ll sleep next to you, if I have to. I can even read you a book to keep you distracted.”

“Ilvalino…” said Cain. 

“My brothers and sisters told me that they can’t wait for you to visit again. Seranosta found a strong rock for Diana and has been polishing it. They may not be rich or powerful, but the kids at the orphanage will always have your back, now. That’s the kind of thing you were talking about when you said that compassion isn’t a gift for others, right? Do you think that was all bullshit, now? If you’re feeling weak, I’ll help you train and get back on your feet. If you need a helping hand, I’ll lend you one. If you’re scared of something, we can face it together. Don’t look so damn helpless!”

Ilvalino was still seven years old and child-like, but Cain saw a glimpse of a certain teenager in his face. 

Cain remembered the face well. It was the face of a seventeen-year-old Ilvalino. 

“I’ll always be by your side. I’ll protect you from anything that threatens you. I’ll remove all who despise you. I’ll take out anyone who makes you sad. Anyone who hurts you will be met with pain in return. Please, don’t look so sad…”

These words were from the end of Ilvalino’s storyline in the Unlimited Magical Academy. They appeared on the screen in the final scene of the Assassin’s Route. 

In that scene, there was a sea of blood, with all of the other Potential Suitors and the Villainess, Diana, already dead. 

Ilvalino spoke these words in a profession of love to the Player. It was just after he went on a killing spree in revenge for the Player being wronged and emotionally scarred. 

Ilvalino’s face right now, as he encouraged Cain, was reminiscent of the look on his face in that scene of the game. 

“It’s the same thing, but changed… The phrases are so similar, but…” muttered Cain. 

In the game, llvalino felt that in order to protect the Player, he had no other choice but to destroy the people who had hurt her. 

This was different, though. Ilvalino was already Cain’s ally, and he was saying that he would fight by Cain’s side. 

Wanting to avoid a future where Ilvalino kills everyone, Cain had chipped away at the darkness in Ilvalino’s heart and built him up with kindness. Cain had taken Ilvalino in, sympathized with him, and treated him as a friend. 

They were all actions he had taken to save the lives of Diana and himself, but Cain had to admit that he ended up enjoying the days spent with Ilvalino by his side, studying together and watching over Diana.

He imagined that no matter what happened between now and ten years from now, there was no way that Ilvalino would be able to kill Diana or Cain. 

That led to one conclusion. 

“My actions are showing results… I can make a difference…” muttered Cain, with full belief in the statement. 

This life wasn’t hopeless, after all. Cain felt it in his heart that though the path he was meant to follow was narrow, it existed. It continued on before him, to a happy future. 

The proof was right in front of him. 

He leaped into an embrace with Ilvalino, let out a loud wail, and started to cry