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    Chapter 158: ck Blood n (2)


    Arin descended the stairs with heavy steps, looking preupied.


    Seeing her like this, Ressimus, feeling awkward, turned her gaze away.


    Normally, she would pause on the second floor for a moment, perhaps hoping to coincidentally run into Cyan, but now she just passed by without even ncing.


    Completely as if he were a stranger from the beginning.


    “Huh?”


    As Arin moved forward, someone familiar appeared in front of her.


    “Luna?”


    It was Luna, who hadn’t been seen for a while.


    “Are you going to ss?”


    “Yeah. It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve seen you. What’s going on in the royal pce?”


    At the question, Luna hesitated for a moment.


    “I came to meet Senior Cyan. It seems like I won’t be able to see him at all soon…”


    At the mention of meeting Cyan, Arin’s pupils slightly trembled.


    But she didn’t show any signs and maintained her smile as she spoke.


    “I see. He should be in his room by now. Since he already submitted his withdrawal, he probably didn’t go to ss…”


    “Are you okay with it?”


    “Huh?”


    Not understanding the question, Arin tilted her head.


    “Even if you don’t say anything, isn’t it too easy to ept another woman going to the room of your fiancé?”


    Although it was a bit excessive for a question from a 12-year-old girl, Arinughed casually and said.


    “I broke off the engagement with Cyan.”


    Luna’s half-closed eyelids suddenly widened.


    “The reason… Can I ask?”


    “He just said that he can’t be by my side anymore. I think he felt a lot of pressure from our engagement…….”


    It was already somewhat expected at the point when Cyan submitted his withdrawal.


    Saying that he couldn’t stay by her side anymore meant that there was no chance of himing back again, right?


    There’s a saying that sometimes knowing too much can be a problem.


    No matter who Cyan was, Arin had repeatedly asserted that it didn’t matter to her.


    But as she came to know his true side that had been hidden, she couldn’t help but wonder if the current situation was connected to that.


    Arin appeared outwardly calm as if nothing had happened, but knowing that inwardly she must be anything but calm, Luna couldn’t help but feel extremely ufortable.


    “Let’s go together.”


    “Huh?”


    “Still, saying goodbye while looking at each other and not looking at each other would feel different.”


    Is she saying goodbye at least for thest time?


    If she were to see Cyan’s face in the current situation, thest bit ofposure she had been holding onto would copse in an instant.


    In other words, for Arin, not going was simply not an option.


    However, her hand was already being held by Luna, and she was being dragged toward Cyan’s room without hesitation.


    – Knock knock


    Luna knocked on the door, but there was no response from inside.


    Attempting to knock again, just as she was about to,


    “Ah!”


    With a creaking sound, the door opened.


    Not opened by anyone, but already left open from the beginning.


    The three women entered the room without needing to say who would go in first.


    “Is… no one here?”


    Not a single person, not even the scent of a person, filled the empty room like a heavy stone in their hearts, making Arin and Luna unable to speak.


    Was there any need to say anything?


    They already knew the situation.


    He was gone.


    Not even a farewell, just emptiness.


    “…!”


    Amidst this, they felt movement behind them.


    Was there another guest besides themselves in Cyan’s room?


    As they turned their heads, someone familiar appeared in front of them.


    “Princess?”


    It was Brian, Cyan’s servant.


    Seeming unexpected that they would be in the room, confusion showed on his face.


    “I’m sorry, Brian! The door was open, so we identally walked in.”


    “It’s, it’s okay, Princess! Anyway, it’s not our room anymore…”


    Brian waved his hands reassuringly.


    “Is Cyan… gone?”


    “Yes! He leftst night after packing some simple belongings, leaving the academy first. I came to tidy up the rest of the luggage.”


    It was a very Cyan-like gesture, even in his departure.


    “By any chance, do you know where he went?”


    “I’m sorry. I can’t say that… for now.”


    “I see…”


    They hoped, but as expected.


    Even the courage she mustered to ask onest time felt meaningless.


    Arin sighed in resignation.


    Seeing her pitiful expression, Brian couldn’t bear to look at herpletely.


    “Can you at least pass this on to him?”


    Arin took out a letter from her pocket and handed it to Brian.


    “I was nning to deliver it sooner, but it got dyed unintentionally. It’s regrettable that I couldn’t say goodbye, but please pass on my regards and wishes for his well-being.”


    “Yes. I understand…”


    He epted it casually, but his heart felt a bit unsettled.


    Contrary to what he thought was a letter for Cyan, a different name was written on the top of the letter.


    “To Nana.”


    * * *


    There is a saying that all ces where people live are the same.


    No different here, I suppose.


    People wandering the streets with their own purposes.


    As someone who doesn’t particrly enjoy the smell of people, it all seems messy and noisy to me.


    But such an atmosphere is only temporary.


    As I continued down the road, the bustling atmosphere quieted down, and the lively streets gradually turned somber.


    Instead of the subtle aroma of food wafting from restaurants and bars, there’s a foul stench in the air, reminiscent of decaying bodies.


    And instead of people unting themselves in shy clothes, there are individuals d in ragged garments, embarrassing to even call clothes, lying scattered throughout the streets.


    Even amidst bread beingid out nearby, there are those clutching worn-out papers, muttering iprehensible prayers like they’ve lost their minds.


    With each step I took, more eyes fell upon me.


    Of course, they’re not friendly gazes.


    Covered in suspicion and wariness, these nces were simply ignored as I continued forward.


    -Whoosh!


    Suddenly, a woman blocked my path.


    She was a woman whose nk eyes seemed to be half out of her mind and were quite annoying.


    “What brings you here?”


    It was a question that made people wary of visits from unfamiliar outsiders.


    “If you’re lost or havee here without any particr purpose, please turn back. This is not a ce for someone as esteemed as you.”


    Esteemed?


    She hasn’t even introduced herself, yet how did she deem me worthy?


    Ignoring her pleading request with silence, people began to gather around me.


    Judging by their demeanor, they didn’t seem to be gathering to threaten or harm me; perhaps they were here to protect the woman in front of me.


    Otherwise, there would be no reason for them to cast such anxious nces at me.


    Well, it’s not like I didn’t anticipate this situation.


    To the residents of this ce, who have never received proper treatment from anyone, outsiders are nothing more than objects of suspicion.


    Though I’d like to brush aside the visible individuals and thoroughly search every nook and cranny to find the one I seek, causing amotion and leaving traces wouldn’t be beneficial.


    For now, it might be best to turn around ande back when it’s dark…


    “…..!”


    Suddenly, a nauseating smell filled the air, and I immediately turned my head in the direction from which it came, exactly one hundred steps ahead.


    In my sight, clear as day, was the familiar yet repulsive face of someone I couldn’t just pass by.


    “Why are you all gathered here?”


    Approaching the crowd where I stood, he shed a cheerful smile at the people.


    What’s going on?


    Am I seeing things wrong?


    “Threatening anyone you meet isn’t a good way to handle things. You should all rx.”


    Approaching, he smiled with a curious twinkle in his eyes as he looked at my face.


    Holding arge basket whose contents were unknown.


    “I apologize for startling you. The people here are so wary of outsiders that they inadvertently behaved rudely. Let me apologize on their behalf.”


    This is almost like being ignored, isn’t it?


    Without hiding his face behind a disguise or anything, he boldly presents that repulsive visage in front of me?


    Where does this confidencee from?


    “If it’s not too much trouble, could you tell me why you’vee to this slum? My name is Boris Ruchelheim…”


    -Thunk!


    Ignoring him tantly, hesitating once is enough.


    Determined that I could no longer tolerate it, my hand swiftly grabbed his neck and mmed him to the ground.


    As a result, the basket he was holding soared into the air, and various foods like bread and fruits spilled out from it.


    “Boris!”


    Startled cries echoed from the onlookers, but I paid them no mind.


    Whatever nonsense performance this cheeky fellow was attempting, once my hand gripped his throat, he shouldn’t even think about being let go.


    Not until his head is separated from his body.


    “Step back!”


    Even as his voice strained from being suppressed, he managed to speak.


    Then, a transparent circr barrier formed around us, obstructing the movements of those trying to rush towards me.


    It’s almost embarrassing to call this a retaliation.


    I took Kaeram from my holster and ced it against his neck.


    “P-please… spare me…”


    What’s this?


    Did I hear him wrong?


    After all I’ve been through, now he’s begging for mercy?


    If this was supposed to momentarily throw me off guard, it seeded.


    To an outsider, he might seem like a different person altogether.


    But that’s not it, is it?


    My heart bears the scars of resentment, constantly reminding me.


    And you, facing me with those cold, dead eyes!


    You’re the devil’s minion, willing to do anything to achieve your goals!


    Boris Ruchelheim, that’s who you are!


    Sure, you may be a human, but even that pathetic life of yours teeters on the brink of death, so you can’t help but be desperate.


    But don’t worry, you still have time for repentance.


    Whether it’s short or long, there’s time for you to reflect on the remainder of your life…


    “Please, spare them. They’ve done nothing wrong…”


    As I was about to mercilessly remove the de from his throat, his desperate plea once again stopped me in my tracks.


    I began to doubt my own hearing multiple times today.


    Was he asking for his own life, or was he referring to the people clinging around him?


    To an observer, he might seem like a true priest, fighting valiantly to protect innocent bystanders.


    What’s this?


    Did he pretend to be someone else to avoid being tracked by the mist, but identally switched personalities?


    That would be troublesome.


    I wanted to witness his repulsive true nature distorted with hatred…


    Wait a moment.


    A sinister conjecture briefly crossed my mind, furrowing my brows.


    Personality switch?


    From the nape of his neck, where Kaeram’s de touched, thick ck blood began to flow steadily.


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