Radiance · A Glimmer of Light (Continued)

If a king of legitimate bloodline and a king of legitimate military power can unite, then they will directly reach the ideal future— the Sarkaz civil war will end, and the demon kingdom will rise again as it has for thousands of years. And the new order will naturally be able to more easily cover every part of Terra.

I think that's what I was thinking back then—a small sacrifice for an ideal, and personal feelings are completely insignificant.

Is that so?

Is that right?

"...No," she said to herself, her voice faint and barely audible, like the buzzing of a mosquito. Yet, deep within her heart, a deafening thunderclap suddenly erupted!

No.

No, it's not like that; it's more than that.

If you just want to escape, then you can gradually distance yourself from them.

If you simply want to back down, you can apply for a private job and disappear for a while. That will naturally fade your traces.

There was no need for me to stay there, no need for me to spend every day with her as before. There was no need for me to treat her with an attitude that was more severe and worse each day than the day before.

As well as...

Since ancient times, there has never been a rule that a king could only have one concubine. In addition to the queen, it is Terra norm for a king to have multiple consorts and build a large harem.

—Theresia told me, 'You can join anytime.' This was because the Sarkaz queen had always been tolerant of having many concubines. She didn't mind, nor did she mind the societal rules; in fact, she was happy to see it happen.

So, I've always been bothered by it. Actually...

—Am I the only one?

Her hands and feet grew cold, her blood flowed slowly, and her limbs stiffened—she tried to breathe, but found even swallowing air difficult. Because her self-deceiving nature was about to be exposed to the earth.

Why the pain? Why the humility?

Why do I have to stay by her side even though I can't do anything for her? Why is it that after that crucial moment, my lips and tongue can never speak properly to her?

—I... want her to notice me.

—I... want her to only notice me.

—Because I am so jealous, I... want to have her all to myself.

A realization dawned on her, and a wave of self-loathing immediately rose in her throat—she felt she might just vomit. Yet she also knew that no matter how much she tried to distract herself, she could never truly avoid confronting what she had to face.

So that's how it is. So that's all there is to it. From the very beginning, I was poisoned by a deadly poison, and the name of this poison is called the possessiveness of love.

He suffers because he wants to possess her exclusively, and that's why he feels pain when she makes a promise with someone else.

Because he wanted to possess her exclusively, he ignored the Princess's suggestion at that time, and instead made the communication environment worse and worse.

Because he wanted to possess her exclusively, the more she was favored, pursued, and loved by others, the more restless he became.

Because he wanted to possess her, he always wanted to tell her what to do, always wanted to make decisions for her, wanted her to do what she wanted to do, wanted to move her, and wanted her to only have his own image in her eyes.

Ah, the cause and effect, everything is so clear.

—But do I deserve it?

She asked herself the same question.

For a time, perhaps it was a fitting match—back when Surtr had just Sarkaz Babel Tower, when he only considered her a reliable friend. Back then, she was always by his side, constantly showing concern and always at his beck and call. This obvious preferential treatment was almost a clear signal of pursuit to many of Sarkaz Babel Tower's veterans. And if he had chosen to accept then, perhaps...

—Perhaps I will get nothing at all. At that time, her smile showed no real emotional change.

—Perhaps...she will belong only to me, and I will belong only to her.

Clenching my teeth. Letting the slight throbbing pain in my nerves from the pressure—perhaps I was destined to fail from the start. Perhaps everything I'm experiencing now is the result of my own actions. Perhaps... there are countless perhapss in this world. But whatever the case, those perhapss are all in the past.

But now, I'm no longer worthy.

She braced herself on her knees, struggling to stand up. The flow of blood gradually slowed, and her heartbeat slowly returned to normal—she freed one hand and gently wiped her eyes.

My fingertips were slightly damp. A dampness tinged with melancholy.

I'm no longer worthy, no longer qualified. My possessiveness led me to make the wrong decision at the wrong time. And if I continue to be willful, I might invite a despairing disgust from myself.

—When did I start prioritizing this relationship over my ideals and responsibilities?

—Ah, it must have been after Theresia died. Even on her deathbed, she was concerned for me, telling me to find my own happiness. But...ah, I messed everything up.

Get up and clear your blood vessels.

The stiff limbs gradually regained their vitality, and the pointless willfulness should also stop here.

—I did something stupid again. Running out at this time only forced her to abandon Miss Lian and chase after me. It forced her to choose between me and those two... How different is that from jumping off a cliff again? And such an action will undoubtedly further diminish her opinion of me.

—I no longer deserve to have her all to myself... My jealousy, my desires. If I can't just leave and remain friends, then I should adapt to my new position. I... must place myself on the same level as those women who have only recently become involved with her.

—I need to get back quickly...I can't keep causing her trouble.

She stood up, she turned around.

The chill in her body gradually faded, but before her agility and nimbleness returned, she suddenly felt a slight sharpness.

Someone is approaching... who is approaching?

Who's there? Who's showing me malice?

He abruptly turned his head, and several shadowy figures suddenly appeared at the edge of his vision. They were shadow knights dressed in black, clad in armor that resembled bones. And in the knights' hands, a dark broadsword gleamed!

What's this!?

What are they trying to do?!

Before their hands were fully raised, the knights in black suddenly charged forward! The crimson eyes beneath their ferocious masks shone brightly, and their dark swords pressed down in tandem!

Oh no!

The girl's face suddenly turned pale. The symbiote buried in her spine struggled to break free, but before the limbs could be pulled out, the black blade had already broken through the defense and reached the top of her head!

The breath of death ruffled her hair. Her vision and thoughts went blank for a moment, with only one thought echoing in her almost stagnant brain.

—Sherlock Holmes...

'Puff—'

Fire streams descended from the sky.

The skeletal knights let out a wail, and in the next moment they were burned away, leaving only their blackened skeletons. At the same time, a fire barrier that had been buried in Kal'tsit's body long ago was activated, blocking the sword's momentum at its end.