Creaak! Creaaaak—!
The body continued to sway in front of my eyes.
From its dark hair to the dark circles beneath its eyes... There was no doubt about it. That was my own body.
"No, but... I..."
Holding onto my mouth, I tried my best to calm my emotions.
’This is my mind playing tricks on me. It has to be.’
Yeah, there was no way.
I still... felt alive.
I could breathe, move my hands, think, and feel. There was no way that I wasn’t alive.
"A trick. Yeah... it must be a trick."
Just like I couldn’t feel the Realmwalker, and the others, that was also probably a trick.
’This is all to make my mind unstable, and make me give up. I won’t give up.’
Yeah, there was no way.
"I won’t die. I will not die."
I went through so much just so that I wouldn’t die. How could I kill myself?
"There’s absolutely no way!!"
My hand smacked against the floor as I pushed myself up. My chest rose and fell in quick, uneven breaths as I looked back toward the doorway. It was empty. However, I kept my gaze directed the way.
"..."
The silence around me thinned as I continued to look at the door, the corridor past it feeling even bigger than before.
Then—
Step!
I decided to move out of the room, heading straight to the lower floor like before.
My mind was clear.
I wasn’t dead. I was being tricked.
Yes, it had to be that way.
Step. Step—!
Reaching the stairs, I went back to the main area where laughter rang throughout. A soft tune played in the background as the people continued to enjoy the party, taking a sip of their drinks while eating and chatting with one another.
For just the briefest of moments, I felt tempted.
I... felt like joining them.
’No!’
But I was quick to shake those thoughts away as I continued to look around.
Eventually, my gaze settled on a couple of familiar figures.
’...They’ve been left behind.’
Drake and Esteban.
The two from the Melson Sanders Guild were chatting with the others nearby, casually enjoying their drinks and snacks. Seeing them like that, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of disappointment. One of them was supposed to be a powerful Paragon, while the other was supposed to be someone smart enough to rein over such a Paragon.
For them to fall this easily...
’No, I am the last person who can think this way.’
Shaking my head, I continued to look around before eventually finding ’him’.
Yes, ’him’.
Even now, I didn’t know their name or identity.
They had never mentioned it.
In fact...
I didn’t even know what he truly looked like. All I knew was that he seemed moderately handsome, but whenever I tried to recall his features, they simply wouldn’t stick in my mind. It was almost as if my thoughts refused to imprint them.
Just who in the world was he?
"Honestly, Seline, I’m really glad that you were able to push your hatred aside and enjoy yourself. It brings me great joy to see that you’re starting to heal."
"All of this was thanks to you and the people around you. This place... It’s like heaven."
"Heaven?"
His laugh was warm.
"I’m glad you think that’s the case."
But to me, it felt extremely cold.
Stopping right behind him, I saw him turn toward me as if he had been expecting my arrival, his lips curling into a half-smile.
"Seth."
He greeted me as though he were an old friend of mine.
"It seems like you were left behind by Leon and his team. They’ve already left this place. It’s honestly quite unfortunate that they’ve left you behind."
"....."
"There’s no need to look that way. I understand your concerns, and I am here to ease them for you."
Taking a step towards me, he smiled warmly.
But that was all I was able to pick up. The warm smile on his face.
However, when I tried studying his face, I realized that I couldn’t memorize anything at all.
"You’ve indeed died."
His soft voice whispered into my mind.
My heart shook.
"You’re trying to deny the idea that you’ve succumbed to your inner demons, but is there really a need to be so hung up about your own death? Have a look around you."
He looked around.
I did too, my head scanning the surroundings as if acting on its own.
I watched all the people around. Their joy. Their laughter.
Everything.
"You’ve endured a lot. More than you can imagine. Your childhood has been a lie. From the moment you were born, you were nothing but a test subject for some weird cult. You were just a lab rat meant to be used as a vessel for... Dantalion."
’Dantalion. Dantalion. Dantalion. Dantalion. Dantalion.’
The mere mention of "Dantalion" sent shivers down my spine. His name echoed at the back of my mind again and again, whispering through my thoughts until they drowned out everything else.
"You’ve fought. You’ve struggled. In the end.. You sacrificed a lot and ended up sealing Dantalion away. Honestly, that’s a feat that’s worthy of applause."
Clap! Clap! Clap!
All of a sudden, a series of applause rang throughout the courtyard. I raised my head and looked around, feeling the numerous gazes of everyone present directed at me as they clapped with wide smiles on their faces.
"Congratulations!"
"That’s an amazing achievement! Wow...!"
"We’ve got someone with great accomplishments! What an honor."
"Come, have a toast with me later!"
Everyone congratulated me. This included Drake and Esteban. They smiled, cheered, and raised their glasses in the air.
Clap! Clap!
The claps didn’t stop.
They... just continued.
"Do you see this?"
The voice continued to whisper next to me.
"You’re appreciated here. Everyone here knows about your struggles and acknowledges you for it. Aren’t you tired?"
The whisper grew fainter.
"What do you even struggle so much for? Isn’t it because you want to live a good life without the disease that has been plaguing you? In that case, you’re free at the moment. The disease will no longer restrict you."
"....."
"You can eat, drink, laugh, and socialize as much as you want. Nobody will stop you. Isn’t this what you’ve always wanted? Why be so upset over an unexpected blessing?"
Something within me stirred.
I knew that I was being tempted. I knew that I was being manipulated.
But...
But...!
’He’s not wrong.’
The only reason why I struggled so much was that I wanted to live. Because I wanted to get rid of the disease that was plaguing me and live a normal life. That was all that I really wanted and desired.
Then...?
’Isn’t the life that I’ve always wanted right before my very eyes?’
Eat. Drink. Sleep.
Laugh.
Party.
Enjoy...
My lips gradually parted as my chest felt less heavy than before.
"You’re starting to open your eyes, Seth. I’m really happy that you’re seeing the truth."
The warm laughter returned.
At the same time, I glanced down and saw a hand extended toward me, a chalice of wine held firmly in its grasp.
"Take it."
The voice whispered, my heart stirring once more.
"...Let yourself go. There’s no need to struggle any longer."
My breathing grew heavier.
"Have fun."
And—
"...Okay."
I soon took the chalice, staring at the reflection that stared back at me. In particular, those dead eyes that seemed to belong to someone who hadn’t slept in a very long time.
I’m tired.
"I know."
I want to rest.
"You can do that."
"Can I?"
"Yes, you can."
Really?
"Drink."
Okay.
Bringing the chalice to my lips, I took my first sip.
"Wooooh!"
"Hahahahahah!"
"Congratulations! Congratulations on your freedom!"
Cheers erupted in all directions the moment I took a sip. Feeling the warm reception, I looked around me before my lips pulled into a smile.
"Thank you!"
I laughed.
"Thank you very much!"