Chapter 38
Chapter 38
When Daun fell into a deep sleep from which she would never awaken, the hospital room that Isabella had been looking at slowly became engulfed in darkness. Left alone in that darkness, Isabella unclenched her tightly clenched fist, the nails having dug so deeply into her palm.
A wave of helplessness rushed over her. She couldn’t tell whether the emotions flooding in were from her past or her present. All she knew was that her mind and heart felt completely empty.
Then, it happened. A small child suddenly appeared before her. It was Daun from her dream.
Isabella gazed silently at her younger self, her head bowed in sorrow. Finally, a weary, lifeless voice broke the heavy silence.
“I’m… so lonely…”
At those words, Isabella’s pupils trembled. But then, in an instant–
“Lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely…!”
A chilling voice that was both a heart-wrenching scream and a cry laced with sobs exploded throughout the darkness. Startled by the sound, Isabella instinctively clutched her ears and looked around in panic.
At that moment, the Daun with her head lowered slowly lifted it. And Isabella saw them, those empty eyes staring directly at her, tears of blood trickling down.
At that instant, tears began streaming down Isabella’s own cheeks. Startled, she hastily wiped them away with the back of her hand. Unlike Daun’s, her tears were at least transparent.
The moment she saw her tears, the relentless voice abruptly stopped. Daun, who had been staring blankly at Isabella, finally spoke.
“Don’t leave me alone.”
“…”
“Please don’t abandon me.”
“…”
“Please, don’t hate me.”
That sorrowful voice tore at Isabella’s heart. But Daun’s words, once unleashed, would not stop.
“I want to be loved.”
“…”
“I want to be noticed.”
With each word, Daun took a step closer to Isabella. Eventually, she wrapped her arms tightly around Isabella’s waist, speaking in a pleading tone.
“Look at me… Listen to me… Please, just this once…”
“…”
“Hug me…”
At that final, desperate plea, Isabella sank to her knees at last. And she gently embraced the child, her past self, who had burrowed into her arms.
“It’s all right. You’re all right now. I’m here for you, so you don’t have to be sad anymore.”
As she softly stroked Daun’s hair, she whispered reassurances over and over, as if casting a spell. Just then, a sweet voice suddenly echoed in Isabella’s ear.
– Are you really all right? What about you? Who’s there for you?
A shiver ran down her spine at the voice that traced her neckline. Alarmed, Isabella whipped her head around to find the source.
But there was nothing, just the empty darkness. Then the voice whispered again, this time in her other ear.
– Look around you. Who’s by your side?
‘By… my side…’
As if hypnotized, Isabella turned her gaze around, drawn by the voice. But once again, there was nothing but darkness.
When she looked down at Daun, still crying in her arms, Isabella’s eyes widened in disbelief.
‘Gone?’
The Daun who had been there moments before had vanished without a trace. It was then that Isabella realized that she was completely alone in this darkness.
She shook her head, trying desperately to deny it.
“No… I’m not alone anymore. By my side, there’s…!”
She faltered.
‘Why… why can’t I think of anyone?’
No one came to mind. It was as if a thick curtain had fallen over her thoughts. Sensing her confusion, the sweet voice returned, echoing in her ear.
– Shall I help you?
Help with what? What exactly did it want to help with?
Isabella couldn’t understand.
Snap!
Suddenly, a sharp sound of fingers snapping rang out. Before her eyes, a new scene unfolded. Beyond a field of brightly blooming flowers stood a fully blossomed cherry tree. Beneath it, someone was waving at her.
“Daun! Stop playing and come over here! Time for lunch!”
“…Mom?”
At the affectionate call, Isabella’s eyes trembled. By her mother’s side, her father stood smiling, waiting for his daughter. Staring blankly at the sight, the sweet voice spoke again.
– Aren’t you going? Your parents are calling you. Isn’t this the moment you always dreamed of?
“The moment I dreamed of…?”
– That’s right. The scenery you longed for with all your heart. Isn’t that so?
The dream she’d yearned for.
Indeed, the scene before her eyes matched perfectly the dream she’d always desired in her past life.
But why?
Her feet wouldn’t move. Again, her parents under the cherry tree called out to her.
“Daun!”
“Daun, come quickly!”
“…”
At their call, Isabella instinctively took a step. Or tried to until something seized her ankle. Startled, she looked down.
Her ankle was gripped by a hand made of shadow.
“What is this…?”
A strange feeling of emotion rose in her chest, and she turned to look behind her, following the shadow’s grasp.
Behind her, her own shadow stretched wide, dozens of vivid red eyes staring directly at her. It was a terrifying sight, one that could easily inspire revulsion.
Yet, as Isabella met those red eyes, she felt an unexpected sense of comfort. Because of that, her lips, which had been stiff with fear and confusion, softened into a gentle smile.
She spoke.
“Thank you. Thank you for always staying with me.”
No sooner had the words left her lips than the darkness surrounding her began to crack. Moments later, the entire space shattered.
Beyond the ruins, dozens of monsters emerged from the darkness, creatures who had quietly watched over her from within her shadow. They came in all shapes and sizes, but they all shared one thing in common.
An unwavering affection and loyalty that shone in their eyes as they looked at her.
Only then did Isabella realize.
‘I wasn’t alone. I had them all along.’
At that realization, the faces of those she’d momentarily forgotten came flooding back to her like a lantern show.
Her parents, who had given her unconditional love in this life; her only sibling, who had grumbled but always cared for her. And the precious bonds she’d formed beyond those walls, even Cedric, waiting for her just outside the barrier.
As each face came to mind, the dark veil that had clouded her vision lifted. With her confidence restored, Isabella slowly turned around and faced the demon trembling with fear.
“It seems I’ve won this bet, don’t you think?”
“H-How…?”
In answer to the demon’s question, Isabella proudly spread her arms to show the monsters standing loyally behind her.
“How, you ask? It’s because I wasn’t alone that I was able to come back.”
She removed the glove from her hand and, step by step, approached the demon, then thrust her hand into its mouth without hesitation.
“It’s time for you to pay the price for our wager. Drink it. From now on, your soul belongs to me.”
Gulp!
Unable to resist, the demon had no choice but to swallow her blood as it dripped from her pierced hand.
“Ugh, ack, k-kiieeek!”
As her blood entered its body, the demon was overwhelmed by a power too great to contain, and it writhed in agony. A moment later, as its struggles subsided, a clear mark appeared on its forehead.
Just then, someone leaped out from behind Isabella.
“I never thought a demon would be hiding in the Tear of Infernus. You’ve overcome it splendidly.”
Baal said, carefully wrapping a handkerchief around her bleeding hand.
With a faint smile, Isabella asked, “Have you finally gotten over your sulking?”
“Sulking? Who, who’s sulking now?!”
“Oh come on, you were so obvious.”
Poking his side teasingly, Isabella’s tone made Baal flustered as he hastily changed the subject.
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about! Anyway… what will you do with this demon and the noble lady?”
At Baal’s question, Isabella turned her gaze to Diana, who was still curled up on the floor. Checking that the handkerchief was secure, Isabella replied nonchalantly.
“Now that the demon is bound to me, the second dark relic has effectively lost its power. All that’s left is to go retrieve the relic’s core. And as for this demon…”
She paused briefly, then curved her lips into a sly smile and asked the demon lying on the ground.
“By the way, what’s your name?”
Terrified by the contract that bound it to her magic, the demon trembled as it answered.
“N-Nibbas, Master.”
“Nibbas? That’s an easy name to remember. Good. I’ll be sure to remember it.”
With that, Isabella gave a strong nod. Then, she began rolling her shoulders as if to warm up.
“All right, then. Let’s get started.”
“S-Started? Started with what, exactly?”
At the ominous tone in Isabella’s voice, Nibbas stammered in fear. But Isabella gave him a bright, innocent smile as she answered firmly.
“Training! We need to teach our dear Nibbas a lesson about what happens to those who dare to toy with people’s hearts.”
She had never intended to let this pass easily.
“K-Kiieek?!”
At Isabella’s playful yet menacing tone, Nibbas’ face turned pale with dread. But here, no one was on his side.
“Miss, would you like to use my spear?”
Baal offered her a long spear crackling with black electricity.
“Oh ho ho! My lady, you can’t possibly train a demon without me~.”
With a nasal laugh, a succubus coiled her tail around Nibbas’ neck.
“Heehee! When it comes to training, nothing beats a good whip, right, my lady?”
“Grr! Grr! Woof!”
A centaur let out an excited whinny and handed her a sleek leather whip, while a massive Cerberus proudly presented its enormous claw as if offering to help. Countless other demons stepped forward with various tools and suggestions for the training session.
But in the end, Isabella chose the most primal method of all.
Isabella patted her knee a couple of times, removed the glove from her uninjured hand, and spoke.
“Nibbas, come here and get down on all fours. Let’s start with ten strikes!”
It was what one might call a good old-fashioned spanking.
……
T/N: After making me cry, we end with the old-fashioned spanking? You can’t toy with my feelings like this 😣