Whew~ Whew~
Even sturdy earthen walls sway under the fierce onslaught of wind and sand, mostly because they are built on soft, sandy soil.
It was pitch black outside. Although you could see a few stars, you couldn't actually see anything under the sandstorm. You could only see the faint starlight flickering precariously.
"Julius? How's it going? Can you connect?"
"Don't rush me, meow! What exactly happened, meow?"
"I'll tell you later, you better hurry up and reattach Lilith's arm!"
"Damn you, meow! Do you think I'm some kind of reincarnation of Hua Tuo, able to reattach a severed arm on a whim?!"
In the vast, desolate desert, a small house, barely made up of five earthen walls, does indeed look like a cozy cabin in the desert. However, the atmosphere inside is just as bleak and desolate as the sandstorm outside.
"Is this any good, Julius?"
"Shut up, meow! If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute, meow!"
"..."
"Divine power is sweet sustenance, great 'xxxx,' hear my prayer, grant me xxxx, heal all wounds, xxxx..., bestow divine light xxxx, — xxxx"
"What are you doing, Julius!"
As I listened to Julius muttering strange and completely incomprehensible incantations, I finally made my world-shaking statement.
"This is the language of the demon gods, Leon!"
"Demon language? What is that..."
Although I had learned from Sylvie that there were indeed many strange languages in this world besides the common language, this was the first time I had ever heard of the Demon God's language.
"Um... I don't know either, but I seem to be able to understand the language of demons from birth. That's why I was able to communicate with Julius normally when I first met him."
"Um……"
Katya's explanation was as good as no explanation at all. In short, I wasn't interested in the demon language at the moment. The mix of negative emotions I felt, which I couldn't express in front of Katya, made me feel uncomfortable and disgusted at the same time.
"I tried my best, meow. Lilith's injuries are too severe, meow. This is all I can do. As for my arm... what exactly happened to you, Lilith?"
"Is that not allowed?"
Even Julius couldn't reattach Lilith's severed arm?
In other words, even the most advanced magic couldn't reattach a severed arm.
Perhaps it would have been okay at the beginning, but now, a whole day has passed, and am I still clinging to an impossible fantasy? I've prepared myself mentally, yet I simply can't forgive myself.
I am the culprit who caused Lilith to become what she is today. If I hadn't insisted on exposing Nighold's true colors and saving the children he harmed, Lilith wouldn't be like this...
Such coincidences do happen in the world. I never expected that the force behind Nighold would be the same person Olivia asked for help.
Perhaps from the very beginning, I was just a piece on the chessboard, repeatedly used by others. Or perhaps, what I didn't know was that the letter I sent to Olivia was never actually sent.
The shop owner was actually one of Count Fred's henchmen.
But none of that matters anymore.
"Arbitrarily slandering others, arbitrarily stirring up trouble, and committing murder."
I have been accused of this crime, and arrest warrants are posted all over La Noscea. They are crookedly drawn with three figures on them: Lilith, Katya, and me.
Undoubtedly, Count Fred pinned the blame on me for the two men Nighold killed, and based on the testimony of the demi-human woman, the guards found a third body near the trash cans in the underground tavern—that of the demi-human man.
Although two of the deaths were not my fault, rumors of a serial killer circulated throughout La Noscea, and the inhuman Nighold became a popular citizen calling for my arrest.
Whether it's achieving great success or suffering utter disgrace, that perfectly describes him and me.
But I understand that it's impossible to stay in La Noscia any longer. Even if I disguise myself, I will definitely be discovered. After all, La Noscia is now truly heavily guarded.
So, I took Lilith and Katya and fled to this desert, which temporarily evaded the guards and Nighold's pursuit.
"Hmm... I had a feeling things wouldn't be too simple, but I never expected it to escalate to this point... Meow."
"Feel sorry……"
I knelt on the sand, burying my head low. Perhaps this was the punishment we deserved, since Lilith did indeed have a life on her hands, but it also dragged Katya into it.
"Ah... Leon... what is this...?"
Katya seemed somewhat bewildered by my sudden action; perhaps she had no idea of the importance of the matter.
Even in "Kylorans," the principle of "a life for a life" is the strictest law, let alone in "Robertia," which lacks law and order.
"Get up, Leon. Neither Katia nor I have blamed you, meow. Instead of sighing here, why don't you think about your next steps?"
"I... plan to go back to La Noscia and turn myself in. Lilith, I'm counting on you... Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch!"
"Idiot, even if you confess, it won't solve anything. Instead, admitting to murder will only make that bastard get ahead."
I covered my head; the slight pain did manage to expel some of the negative emotions from my body, but at that moment I still couldn't think, nor did I want to think at all.
"I...don't want to drag you all into this anymore...ouch, it hurts!"
"Idiot! What are you talking about, meow! Are you still the same Leon who was determined to find his family? Besides, even your family wouldn't believe that their child could be a murderer!"
"But I... can't do anything, not even save those children... not even find their families... I can't do anything, all I can do is... ouch, ouch, ouch!"
"What an absolute idiot! Lilith and Katya would believe someone like you! I guess I misjudged you!"
"I'm...sorry..."
“Leon…Leon…”
At that moment, Katya knelt down on me and pressed my head against something very soft.
"Knee...knee pillow?"
"Don't say it out loud...it's embarrassing."
I was about to tilt my head to look at Katia when she stopped me with her hand.
"Also... please don't look this way, close your eyes."
I don't know why, but Katya was stroking my forehead like an older sister, and I felt so at ease that I couldn't pull myself away from the feeling.
"Leon, I've always believed in you."
"I...I know, but I..."
"It's alright, Leon, I know. You should get some rest."
As she said this, Katya suddenly lowered her body, and the warm breath from her mouth seemed to touch my ear, sending shivers down my spine.
"Leon, please get some rest."
This sentence is full of love, care, and affection.
Yes... Katya too, and Lilith too.
They always chose to believe in me unconditionally.
But what about me?
That short sentence finally brought tears to my eyes like a torrent. Even with my eyes closed, the tears flowed uncontrollably, as if I were guarding against a landslide.
"I'm sorry... Katya... I'm sorry... I... I... Waaah..."
“It’s not your fault, Leon. Katia has always believed in Leon, both before and now, and will always believe in him.”
"Katia... Waaah~"
Hearing Katya's words, I couldn't control my emotions at all. Tears streamed down my face onto Katya's thighs, mixed with snot and some unknown liquid from my mouth. In short, I looked quite disheveled.
Even under these circumstances, Katya remained gentle, her silvery voice softly caressing my heart. Although she was only a year younger than me, her warmth filled my heart at that moment.
Katya had no idea that she was redeeming my soul at that moment, but seeing my body gradually relax, perhaps this was what she had hoped for.
Just like when she was at the lowest point in her life, "Julius"
That's how I comforted her.
This is a lap pillow that can redeem others. I don't know about others, but at this moment, I can feel it deeply.
Before I knew it, I fell asleep amidst sobbing and wailing. But my heart, which had been entangled in complex emotions, had become clear. I could clearly see what I should grasp, what I shouldn't grasp, and what I could grasp.
Even if it's something that's far away and out of reach, I know I can grasp it. Not now, but one day I will hold it firmly in my grasp.
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