Chapter 114 Ice Finger
The air felt dry and still.
The black, muddy sweat that had filled the space had vanished without a trace. Even though she called herself a witch, Roze had little understanding of beasts or magic. So, before she could feel fear, she didn't even know what had happened.
The only thing that echoed in her mind was the fact that she had lost a powerful pawn.
"...You wanna play big shot, think you're above it all? Nah, gets you nowhere when reality slaps ya in the face."
With a look that seemed to cool her arrogance, his pale green eyes stared at the woman who stood frozen.
Even if she didn't understand the process, the result lay before her. Overwhelmed, she took a step back.
"You finally comin' around, Rose? That 'witch' label's too much for ya to handle."
"...Too heavy? You think it's too heavy?"
But perhaps sensing a hint of pity in the tone of the words thrown at her, the woman quickly regained her sense of being a witch.
She remembered the anger that couldn't be erased.
"I told you, witches can't be defeated by mere humans! There are no witches who can be taken down by just any human!"
Witches cannot be "defeated" by humans.
There has never been a witch defeated by a human.
Yes, what this town killed was not a witch.
It was just a woman. It was simply a case of one person killing another.
To confront the clouded eyes of those who serve a twisted sense of righteousness, Roze Stalacua stands firm.
"The beasts are still around, I'm still alive! Nothing is over yet!"
With that, the witch rang the bell.
She called out to the many beasts still remaining, urging them to crush that man's arrogance with the power of one strong beast.
[rehnnnne!!!!]
Whether it was because she understood the witch's intent or out of resentment for her fallen partner, the fierce Skinfaxi let out a roar, gathering even more powerful light around its collar.
With maximum firepower, it aimed to strike Hiiro.
"...I've been underestimated."
However, the witch's judgment was a mistake. She had fallen into a narrow-minded view focused solely on the intense presence of Hiiro. Regardless of Hiiro's actions as a human, it was Shidou, a brave knight, who stood against Skinfaxi.
In front of him, she had foolishly exposed her defenses.
Though distracted by Hiiro's transformation, the one-eyed warrior did not lose sight of what needed to be done.
"Hah!"
The sound of the bell rang out, and the white horse did not resist. So, it was also unable to withstand the swift sword strike that followed.
It had suffered greatly. The collar umbrella, which focused its laser power, was sliced and sent flying, and the sword tip slid straight into its body.
[reh!?──re,rehnnnn!!!]
"Not again! I won't let my pawn fall here!"
But with a rapid 2 strikes of pure swordsmanship without any magic, it hit Skinfaxi, causing it to scream and retreat.
The once beautiful circular umbrella of the laser was now barely half intact. The laser flickered weakly, no longer able to serve as a weapon.
Deep gashes marked its body, a white form now adorned with red flowers. From the moment they bloomed, they turned to black ash.
The white horse's time was running out.
"Wow, Captain... Alright, I'll give it my all too! Unyashaaaaaa!!!!"
[gieeee!?]
[kyiiiii!!]
Having finally defeated the troublesome enemy, Shidou must have inspired her. Like waking from a bad dream, Sham's movements regained their sharpness.
"How can this be...?"
The outcome was already decided. With the two key horses lost, only the foot soldiers remained. Even if they seemed to be endlessly pouring in from somewhere, there had to be a limit.
The situation worsened like an avalanche, making the witch realize her defeat.
"...It's your loss, Rose."
"...Not yet..."
Still, she refused to acknowledge the end.
"I am a witch. Witch Roze Stalacua. A witch cannot be killed by 'humans'!"
"Hold up!"
Even if the rain did not stop, the fire of anger still burned bright.
There was no ear for the voice of stillness.
Ringing the bell of magic control, Rose turned on her heel and fled into the depths of the dark forest, where light could not reach.
"That punk's still at it...!"
"Merifar, what are you doing?!"
"Captain?"
"Chase her! You're the only one free!"
"...You sure about this?"
"Hmph. No matter how much you act like a '3-line loser bastard,' you're still my subordinate. I've given the order, so hurry up and go."
"Yeah!"
With a bit of a twisted push, maybe because it was new to him, Hiiro also took off running to follow.
To bring down the silver screen of this rusty stage.
* * *
"Hah, haah..."
Running through the drenched forest.
Forgetting to catch her breath or fix her dress, her vision was as messy as the scenery flowing in the corner of her eyes.
"...Ugh, haah, haah...!"
Eighteen years had passed since Roze was last carefree, playing amidst Joosa's forest with her freckles still visible on her cheeks. The nostalgic feeling that suddenly overwhelmed her felt jarring and out of place. Trying to shake off the memories that tried to chase her down at a time like this, Roze focused only on her feet as she ran.
Her face didn't reflect in the puddles. She stepped through the water before she could see it. So, she couldn't tell if what was running down her cheeks was rain or tears. It was better that way.
"Ugh..."
A thought suddenly crossed Roze's mind.
──If I escape from here, what should I do next?
There are no means left to achieve revenge. Everything has been destroyed.
God's Poison too. The terrifying beast. Nothing remains of what was given. Is there anything she can do now that she has lost her "magic"?
"Hah, haah...! ...This is the place of the funeral rites..."
Running recklessly, the view that opened up was Joosa's canyon.
The cliff where the ashes of the dead flow. A custom of memento mori that surely existed in the past. Even if it's now a place filled with deceit, the view was beautiful.
"...It's strange. Even though all that remains are memories I don't want to recall. The view from here is just like it was back then."
Cherished memories, the space that invites sentimentality.
Everything should have turned to ash on that day it all burned.
"It's unpleasant. It feels like I'm being comforted."
"...So you wanna torch the whole thing?"
"──Yes. Everything. Since it was burned, I will burn it."
Roze wasn't surprised when Hiiro picked up on her monologue from behind. He was the one who had stopped the tragedy twice. She didn't think there wouldn't be a third time.
Taking 2 or 3 steps toward the edge of the cliff, Roze turned back.
Roze looked down at the man glaring at her defiantly with a witch's face.
"Think you're gonna quit, huh?"
"...Quit? Me?"
"Yeah, or you still got some ace up your sleeve? Still think you can take revenge on that town?"
"...If I don't have it, I'll just make it. I've said it many times. I'm a witch. I won't stop until I destroy that town."
She smirked, thinking how foolish he was.
──I'm the Vengeful Witch. I won't stop until I achieve my goal. I've said it many times before. So there shouldn't be any more words to add.
"...Revenge, huh? You're spittin' that out like you're some kinda boss."
But.
The moment those words, woven with a coldness that turned white, reached her,
she heard a crack, like a mirror shattering.
"You act like revenge is your whole life story... ain't nobody buyin' that."
"What... what do you mean?"
"The beast and that God's Poison, they weren't your idea. You're just usin' what you got handed to you, punk."
His pale green eyes narrowed into slits.
It was as if he stood at the tip of a strong bow, ready to shoot.
The piercing gaze crawled over the actress's mask like icy fingers.
"Let me ask you something, Vengeful Witch.
What's ya gotten for yerself in revenge?"
"...Huh?"
Her spine froze.
Her hands went numb.
Her throat tightened.
The ground beneath her felt like thin ice.
"Can ya even grasp a sword with those scrawny arms? Got zero magic in ya? What're you bringin' to take out your enemies besides pure hate?"
"...Stop it."
"You've spent eighteen years fueled by revenge. But everything else - the setup, the gear, the insurance - is all borrowed. How much of your own stuff do you got left, besides this burning hatred?"
"...Please, stop."
Using the openly hidden disgust as a weapon, his words cut deep.
The true face hidden behind the witch's makeup was about to be laid bare.
With each word, her heart screamed.
──Why? How do you know?
──How can someone like you understand?
"Hey, Rose.
Did you really behind this whole bloody revenge drama?"
This time, her scream took form.
* * *
After fleeing from Joosa, Roze's days were marked by hardship and struggle. She had to scrape by, scavenging for food scraps and occasionally stealing just to make ends meet. Her sacrifices were necessary to ensure her 5-year-old life's survival.
But what always flashed behind her eyelids was not the anger of what was taken from her, but the fear and sense of loss that weighed heavier.
She wanted to forget everything. She wanted to throw away the painful past. That desire always lingered in her heart.
As she grew older, becoming a resident of the night streets, it might have been not just for work, but also to numb the ache of that past with the heat of the present.
So, she thought it was ironic.
──When the man who bought her for a night discovered her talent as a "performer" and handed her a ticket to transition from the night inn to the silver screen at dawn.
The entrance to the dream she held in her childhood was opening now, worn and tattered. If there was a god of fate, how cruel and spiteful they were.
How ridiculous it was, even now.
While she cursed like that, she didn't hesitate.
From Roze Stalacua to Rose Carmine.
Facing the stage of the silver screen, she eventually became successful.
'All of the past is now a dream. Once you grasp glory, the scars of the past won't fester... Truly, such a human thing to say. If you cover the wound with lies, it's nothing. It's pure deception. You're just looking away.
You must have thought the same by now, right?
Hey──witch's daughter, Roze Stalacua.
Rejoice. I'll let you take revenge for your mother.'
The very person who led her to the path of acting (Director Drodo) had eyes of a color she had never seen before.
Rose, though scared, couldn't resist.
How ridiculous it was, even now. Even if she cursed again, there was no way to fight back.
Fate is a cruel thing.
"...Why?"
If you're going to go mad with revenge, all you need is a knife.
But Roze wanted the stage. She needed makeup to perform.
She sought many things to lie as the Vengeful Witch.
"...Why now?"
Roze couldn't deny Hiiro's pointed words.
Maybe she thought that even if she hid it, it would be exposed. That's why she piled on her grievances.
In the pouring rain, she crouched down like a child and cried.
"Why is someone like you showing up now?"
Why is someone who can touch the deepest parts she has hidden away appearing now?
After smashing everything──the stage, the weapons, the beast──she finally reached the truth. This detestable man who insists on calling her Rose instead of Roze feels like a cruel messenger of fate.
"If you're gonna hate me, do it already."
"...I hate you."
"If you're gonna ride me, do it already."
"...You're a terrible man."
The coldness of him is the complete opposite of the drunk she saw that night.
But for some reason, she felt that this too was his true face. The sharp disgust directed at her still lingers.
It's true that he hates her, but somehow... it feels like he's looking into a 'mirror.'
Her intuition whispered.
There must be a reason Hiiro touched her truth.
So, one more time. She stood up to confirm the coldness in his eyes.
"Eh?"
Her vision turned gray, and raindrops pierced in front of her.
Slowly, the world flipped upside down. A freezing sensation of levitation tormented her.
"Rose!!"
In this slow-motion world.
When she turned to the voice, she saw Hiiro running with a panicked expression.
Then she realized.
Ah. When she tried to stand, the heel of her shoe broke. That's why she lost her balance. Right at the edge of a cliff.
If that's the case, all that's left is for her to fall. Into the raging river from the heavy rain.
She could sense her fate without needing to be told.
"Ah."
She has been cursed by fate.
Ever since that day when she lost her mother.
The day her dreams were shattered into reality.
And now.
She is endlessly cursed by fate. So thoroughly that she can accept it.
"Hiiro."
So she reached out her hand.
It's okay. Don't come any closer. This is where the curtain falls.
It's fine for it to end now.
She wanted to say that.
"────help me."
In the rain.
As her body fell.
Something warm wrapped around her tightly.
The witch closed her eyes as if to sleep.
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