<strong>Proofreader: DreaMing </strong>


    I clicked my tongue.


    “What a load of crap.”


    "…What?"


    “Mars is not a kid, he is a grown up man. One can can live independently from their parents at this age, okay? And you are protecting him? What are you?”


    "I..!"


    “A childhood friend? Doesn''t that mean an old friend who has been close since childhood? And friends are equal. You are not a mother hen looking after her little chick."


    "W-What–"


    “Of course, I know why you engaged in that way of thinking. Mars is an orphan whereas you are known for having good parentage in the whole vige. Mars is moderately handsome meanwhile you are so damn pretty. Mars has neither money nor friends, while you get a lot of pocket money and have a lot of friends. So, at some point, that mentality must have been established. Oh, he''s a level lower than me. He is someone I need to protect.”


    “Don’t talk nonsense! I never thought of Mars that way!”


    “Then why were you behaving with him like that? That one action of yours exin many things.”


    You hide your affairs with the baron''s son in order to protect him, total dogsh!t.


    You don''t know what Mars likes. On the contrary, Mars duly knows how much you like to sleep.


    Meanwhile, you even pulled a bullsh!t action like ying hard to get on a guy like him.


    “Everything seems based on a sense of psychological superiority, and it is impossible unless you let it have room in your heart. Admit it. You see Mars as someone on a level lower than you, you see him as something to be protected. Not as a life partner.”


    As I finished my words, Isabe''s expression was nothing but miserable.


    In fact, my speech contained a lot of sophistry and exaggeration. Still, looking onto the expression on her face, I may have to poke a bit more to achieve the real effect.


    “But actually, you are right. Mars is indeed someone who needs afort roof.”


    Isabe''s gaze changed strangely.


    Maybe because I defended her this time around.


    I smiled again and said.


    “He is an orphan, isn''t he? He doesn''t have parents'' emotional support. The strong-minded will ovee, but the weak ones copse. In my opinion, Mars was thetter… you did a great job. You healed his heart that was split in half, Isabe. That’s why you were more precious than anyone else.”


    A precious person that no one can rece.


    “The feeling of being abandoned by such a precious person… can you envision it?”


    Isabe''s body shook violently. Not wanting to hear anymore, she tried to pull herself away from me, but…


    —no way.


    I didn''t let go of her wrist.


    “For your information, I know it so well because I’m an orphan too. Do you want me to exin how it feels?”


    Holding onto Isabe''s wrist, I pointed my remaining hand to my forehead.


    “First, there is blood in your head. Your face turns red and veins unsightly protrude near your eyes. It feels like hot magma is boiling in your head and your eyeballs are turning upside down.”


    Next, I pointed to my eyes.


    “In such case, it''s natural for a person to cry, isn''t it? But not for long, because the tear nds dry soon after. There are no tears left to shed. So, do you know whates out instead of tears? Blood. Tears of bloode out. It''s not a metaphor, it''s the same blood that flows when a person gets a cut. But in reality, those preceding things are not a big deal.”


    Finally, I pointed to my heart.


    “Compared to here, they aren''t. Let''s see… how do I exin this…”


    I gazed around, looking for something sharp. The sword around my waist is too big… the knife is unfortunately out of sight.


    Welp, I cannot help it.


    I took the fork from Isabe and released her hand.


    “The heart is this…”


    Showing her my palm and the fork clearly…


    I jabbed the fork on my palm.


    Isabe''s eyes widened in shock.


    I heard loud gasps and startled coughs. It was not Isabe, it was the vigers who overheard while having their breakfast, just like watching a morning drama show.


    I spoke a little louder so they could all hear it too.


    “It tears through one''s heart, you know? It just hurts so much. To the extent that even a desperate cry doesn''te out even with a opened mouth. As if your vocal cords were blocked by a lump. But if you think this is the end, it''s not.”


    I plunged the fork through my palm!


    A few drops of blood sshed on Isabe''s face.


    Oh, sorry.


    I apologized inwardly, but Isabe didn''t say anything. She just stared still at my palm pierced by the fork as if possessed.


    “It feels wrenching. It feels like something precious in your chest was being gouged out. Do you understand what I mean?”


    “…”


    “How would Mars feel? Do you understand why I rmended a trip to him?”


    Isabelle didn''t answer.


    She just lowered her head and stood still. It wasn''t until I saw her tears dripping down and wet the floor that I realized she was crying.


    Seeing her like that made me feel bothered too, but I can''t help here.


    Destiny here is like a ma, and if I don''tpletely separate it, it will go back to its original state.


    It''s so f**ked up that even if I half-heartedly wish them happiness with discreet precautions, the tragic destiny of Mars could pop up back again.


    So, in order not to give any room for that development, I have no choice but to ept this hard choice, topletely separate them like this.


    I ced my hand on her shoulder and patted her infort.


    “I’m sorry for you, but please forget him, for Mars.”


    "…I."


    “It may be difficult right now, but one day you two will have a good friendship back again. Maybe the baron''s son you are seeing right now…"


    “…where …tell me.”


    Huh?


    "Hm? Please say that again.”


    “Tell me the direction to which Mars left.”


    Isabe said as she raised her head up.


    She had a calm expression unlike anything like before, there was no distortion and no fuss.


    “…you understood what I was saying, right?”


    "I understand. You are saying that I inflicted such a deep wound on Mars that it would not be strange if it apanied him as a trauma for the rest of his life, am I right?”


    “Well, you understand. So why do you want to know?”


    “I understand, that''s why I have to ask. Mars is struggling a lot mentally right now because of me. Then I have to go and apologize.”


    “…no, it''s not a small wound, you realise, right? Can''t you see this?"


    I waved my palm, pierced by the fork, in front of her.


    Even after seeing the sight, Isabe''s gaze did not waver.


    “I will apologize enough to make up for it. If Mars wants, I''ll kneel down on my knees for him. If he remains traumatized for the rest of his life, I will love him so much that he won''t even think of that trauma.”


    Whezz.


    The wind began to move unusually around Isabe.


    It was not just wind.


    It was a de of wind with sharp anticipation.


    “Then tell me the direction to which Mars went.”


    Isabe, who had just awakened as an elemental mage, spoke in between the center of the fluttering wind des.


    Looking at Isabe who suddenly awakened out of nowhere, I gruffly rapped my forehead.


    Woah… is this chunni awakening moment, right at the end, for goddamn real?


    Goddess, you bleeping b!tch.