In particular, Vansis turned pale and shouted in a fluster.
"You, Miracle! How are you here? You clearly said you were going to bed!"
"But..."
Beyond the three men, the figure of the uninvited guest was faintly visible.
"Everyone left me behind."
Snow-white straight hair that swayed around her waist, skin as clear and transparent as freshly fallen snow, large eyes with chaste violet pupils resembling violets.
Completely opposite to the pitch-black me, a beautiful woman like snow.
Rodbel's treasure and precious youngest daughter.
Miracle Rodbel.
She pouted with puffed cheeks.
Listening to the story, it seemed she had secretly followed us after accidentally seeing the three of us and me moving.
Normally, anyone would have quickly noticed Miracle's presence, but today, everyone's attention was focused on me, so no one noticed.
"To do something so reckless, though. You need to know that there's a reason why we left you out."
"Brother's right! What nerve, considering how weak you are?"
As Estio and Vansis scolded her one after the other, Miracle's lips stuck out.
"Tch, my brothers nag too much."
"It's not nagging, we're just worried about you—"
"Yes, yes, I'm sure. After all, only Dad is on my side!"
Miracle immediately ran to Duke Rodbel and hugged him.
He greeted Miracle with a brighter smile than ever.
Vansis and Estio gathered around Miracle.
I stood there blankly, watching the scene.
It was truly a perfect family picture.
Only I was left alone in this darkness.
That place is a sanctuary I can never step foot in.
'…I'm used to it.'
A harmonious family without me.
A perfect family without me.
A complete family because I'm not there…
I didn't even feel miserable anymore.
'It's better this way.'
Thanks to this, I have a chance to escape this place.
"Hey, Miracle. Don't say anything else and go up to the carriage. We'll follow soon."
"No, Vansis, you should go with her, just in case. It'll be over soon."
"Yeah, that's a good idea."
"Do as your brothers say, Miracle."
Now is the chance, with everyone's attention focused on Miracle.
The thought didn't last long.
Thud!
I immediately sprang forward.
I planned to escape from this place while they were off guard.
But…
'Huh?'
As if she had anticipated me running, Miracle and I made eye contact.
In an instant, a strange sensation as if time had stopped wrapped around me.
The next moment, as if I had blinked.
—Whoosh!
A sudden gust of wind engulfed me.
“…!”
The wind pushed me straight into the abyss.
Belatedly, I realized that it wasn't wind but magic.
It was too late when I realized that.
The surprised expression of Vansis, the frowning Estio, and the quietly staring Duke Rodbel flashed by in turn.
And…
'She's… smiling?'
Among them, Miracle was looking at me and smiling.
Not only that, but her lips were also moving.
At the last moment, what Miracle said to me was definitely…
'Good-bye. You pathetic Lucia.'
With those words and Miracle's angelic smile, my vision completely went out.
My vision is all black.
It's all over. It's finally over.
'Over… is it really over?'
Along with the emptiness, I also felt relieved.
Because now I don't have to desperately struggle to survive or be loved.
Thinking that way, it felt like a relief, but…
'It's unfair.'
At the same time, I was overwhelmed with resentment.
If I had known it would end like this, I wouldn't have desperately struggled to be loved.
I could have lived a slightly different life.
But regrets and resentment are all futile.
Because I ended up falling into the abyss.
So let's just accept it. Let's disappear quickly.
As I thought that and closed my eyes, that moment.
[What is this.]
Suddenly, I heard a voice and opened my eyes wide.
A low voice with a hint of laughter.
[Something interesting fell.]
“……?”
What is this.
Who are you?
Questions arose in my momentarily dazed mind.
'Who is it?'
I can hear a voice.
This can't be happening.
That's because…
'I fell into the abyss.'
There's no doubt that I'm inside the abyss.
If that's the case, then who on earth is the owner of this voice I'm hearing now?
'Maybe it was connected to another place...'
Of course, I know it's an absurd assumption.
If the hole was connected to somewhere, I would have fallen to the end of it.
However, my body didn't touch anything, and I didn't even feel like I was falling.
In the first place, it was a pit so deep that I couldn't see the end.
There is no possibility that I, who have no magical power, could survive falling from a pit of that depth. Instant death or near death.
Not only that.
The most definite proof that this place is inside the abyss.
'It feels like my body is floating.'
The sensation of floating in the water confirmed that this place is inside the abyss.
Yes, this is inside the abyss.
The moment I was convinced again, an assumption came to mind.
It's really absurd, but it's something that might be possible because it's inside the abyss.
“…Evil God?”
The existence of the Evil God who was said to be sealed in the abyss.
If that's the case, could the identity of this voice be the Evil God…?
[…….]
There was no reply.
Maybe it's not the Evil God.
If so…
“…Are you a Death God?”
Maybe I died without me knowing and the Death God came to pick me up.
When I uttered 'Death God', a question with laughter broke the silence.
[Is that important? Whether I'm an Evil God or a Death God.]
"No."
I answered right away.
"I don't care if you're an Evil God or a Death God. Either way, you're the one who's going to kill me."
Yes, what does it matter if you're an Evil God or a Death God.
Either way, I'm going to die.
I closed my eyes again to meet the complete death that was about to come.
If there is one thing I wish for even in this situation, it is that I would be killed in one go without pain.
I'm sick of being in pain now.
Physically and mentally...
But for some reason, the 'being' didn't kill me.
Instead, I heard a voice that seemed to pity me.
[You… are weak?]
“……”
The mocking tone was very irritating.
I am weak?
'Rather, isn't it amazing that I've lasted this far?'
I was born in a brothel and barely survived by begging.
At the age of 9, I was suddenly kidnapped as Rodbel's blood and brought into the family, where I was subjected to all kinds of contempt and oppression, and finally offered as a sacrifice to bring glory to Rodbel.
If I hadn't endured and collapsed in the middle of it, I wouldn't be here now talking to a being that I don't know whether it's an Evil God or a Death God.
I waited and waited, only waiting for the day when I would become an adult and become independent.
But the result I got was just this.
'Good-bye. You pathetic Lucia.'
The words Miracle said at the last moment come to mind.
Miracle was right.
I was pathetic.
If… if I had been born with the talent for swordsmanship like Estio, or the talent for magic like Vansis, or the talent for magic like Miracle.
If I had been born with even one of those, would my situation have been a little different?
'I don't know.'
I used to imagine it passionately.
Imagining being loved by my father, bickering with my brothers, being friends with Miracle, and becoming their family, dreaming of impossible happiness.
But now I know. That kind of delusion only makes me more miserable.
A self-deprecating laugh escaped.
I'm really tired now.
I closed my eyes and waited for the death he would give me.
But he didn't give me death as easily as I wanted.
[Whether to say this is good luck or bad luck.]
“……”
[The only being who can save me happens to be such a helpless woman.]
'You talk too much.'
I thought indifferently, listening to the lamenting voice.
'But I shouldn't rush you, right?'
Because I want to die without as much pain as possible.
It would be troublesome if you got upset and tried to kill me painfully.
That's what I was thinking and keeping my eyes closed patiently.
“Hey, human.”
Suddenly, the quality of the voice I was hearing changed.
The booming voice suddenly pierced my ears clearly.
I was startled and opened my eyes.
But…
“Why are you closing your eyes so tightly like you want to be killed?”
The man's face, grinning and baring his fangs, was etched in my eyes.
Uh…
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