Chapter 76

76

A faint smile appeared on Dantalian's face.

He pulled his hand away from mine and hid it inside his robe.

'If hiding it would have worked, it wouldn't have caught anyone's eye in the first place!'

If this had happened while I was still alive, what on earth should I do?

Not even telling me...

'What the hell did you do?'

There were the elders who held Silophia and the high-ranking mages in the tower, but ultimately, their leader was me.

Yet, I heard nothing about it.

"Just once..."

After I stared at him for a long time without backing down, Dantalian slowly moved his lips.

He looked like he hadn't even reached his teens, both in height and appearance, but his expression and tone were far from that of a child.

"I have seen the former head of the tower who is dead."

I froze, still holding onto the hem of Dantalian's robe.

Dantalian carefully observed my reaction.

"For a very brief moment, a very short time..."

"..."

"She met my eyes as she approached me."

His lips slowly curved into a smile.

I was momentarily captivated by his charming, unchildlike smile, but quickly shook my head.

Dantalian was looking at me as if I were something very interesting.

Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden? It's nerve-wracking.

"Her hair was as beautiful as obsidian, her eyes glowed a deep red like a newborn animal that had just eaten its prey. The dark magic that enveloped her."

A satisfied breath escaped Dantalian's lips.

"I couldn't forget the smell of that magic, so I often reminisced about it..."

Dantalian slowly approached me and extended his hand.

He crouched down, bent over, and grabbed my wrist, bringing his nose close to it.

His hand was so cold that my body shuddered the moment his fingertips touched me.

"You have the same smell."

As soon as Dantalian finished speaking, I took a step back and fell to the ground.

Instead of chasing after me or coming closer, he let go of my hand.

Dantalian's lips curved into a round shape.

I couldn't see what expression I had in his eyes, but I was sure my face was pale. After all, my fingers were trembling and pale.

"Though it's still a faint bud compared to her."

"Who... Who are you?"

"Why are you here, Hella?"

Dantalian whispered without answering my question.

My breath caught at his words.

It felt as if time had stopped.

He was looking at me without a hint of wavering, and it didn't seem like he was about to leave.

'How did he know I'm Hella?'

I didn't expect to face such a wretched situation on a rare outing.

"At least it's fortunate. I've wanted to meet you for quite a while."

"Me? Why?"

Damn, my pronunciation is terrible.

I wanted to scrub my tongue as if it were a toothbrush.

Thinking of a toothbrush made me miss it.

I casually bit the toothbrush hanging around my neck.

Dantalian's laughter echoed in my ears.

'...I hope I don't have to wear this for the rest of my life.'

I might have to take it with me, but not right now.

Lately, I've felt more at ease with it when I try to think more.

"I wanted to be by your side, not the current incompetent head of the tower, who is by Hella's side."

Is this really a monster, or a human? Or what exactly is it? I couldn't figure it out and just stared.

It was surprising enough that he invaded so casually, but the conversation was even more unexpected.

"If you're going back to the tower, I'll help you."

"What...?"

You want me to go back like this?

'Go to Silophia and become a new test subject?'

And I have no intention of returning to the tower.

If Silophia doesn't want me, I don't need to make any more efforts for them.

"Ah, would you like me to be your guardian until I grow up?"

"You're a kid too!"

"I'm older than Hella now."

"Hella! My name is Serina!"

I shouted, eyes wide.

How dare you say my name so casually?

Dantalian's eyes widened.

He erased his smile and became expressionless, then bent down to look at my face steadily.

"Serina."

No, how can a child's voice be so sweet?

What kind of monster did Melaine create? A monster that can instantly charm people?

"Take responsibility for me."

"What?"

"I was subjected to terrible experiments. Right under the very space where you slept, ate, and breathed."

My movements, which had been struggling, stopped abruptly.

My heart began to beat fiercely, so loud that I could hear it in my ears.

I just stared blankly at Dantalian, who spoke with a smile devoid of emotion.

Dantalian extended his hand, gently lifted me from the floor, and brushed the dirt off my body.

"Hundreds of orphans became test subjects, and only a few survived."

"..."

"You should take responsibility, Serina."

His touch was gentle, but his voice was cold.

There was no anger or resentment in his emotionless voice. He simply demanded responsibility calmly.

For the things I had ignored and turned a blind eye to.

"Artifacts without owners do not seek new owners."

Artifacts were supposed to transfer ownership to the person who killed their original owner.

So I thought Melaine probably owned all my artifacts...

'He hasn't found a new owner?'

Is that possible for an artifact without a will?

"The Senate was very angry that they couldn't obtain the artifacts by killing you, and the current head of the tower is busy chasing after your trail due to lack of ability and skill."

"..."

"They learned what you did, tried to mimic your actions, and now they regret letting you go."

"Regret...?"

Melaine regrets it? That guy, who still calls my name as if it's nothing, regrets it?

"Serina, next time I'll bring other test subjects."

My expressionless eyes mechanically curved again.

'Now I understand.'

This is far from a look of kindness or affection.

Dantalian is angry. His cold, icy gaze is a clear sign of hostility.

"Take responsibility for it."

Once I sensed the hostility, my breathing became rapid.

He brushed the dirt off his own hands and grabbed my wrist.

His face, which was now right in front of me, showed no emotion.

"We were carved with magic circles while alive and turned into magical tools..."

"..."

"Some became living mana stones..."

"Huh..."

"Some became puppets to be used..."

I wanted to cover my ears, but Dantalian extended his other hand and firmly grabbed both of my wrists.

His purple eyes were right in front of me.

"One by one, they turned into monsters, not humans. You can't just die and run away to a place like this."

His voice was cold as he gently added, trying to reason with me.

I remained silent, head bowed.

I never thought about it. I thought it was fine if I didn't go back.

'I didn't do anything.'

I didn't know who was being used in the experiments.

I only thought they were criminals.

I never directly participated in the experiments.

Why should I take responsibility for them if Melaine doesn't? They are being used and killed because they are weak.

Who would dare take responsibility for their lives if they can't survive on their own?

I did the same.

I survived that way.

Why are you blaming others?

'Because I did it, it's only natural that you... '

I was startled by my own thoughts and shuddered.

'What am I thinking?'

I staggered back a few steps.

My head throbbed.

I saw a small, white hand in front of me.

A hand that was clean and pure, untainted by blood, born with clean and pure blood.

'I wanted to change that when I created Silophia.'

To prevent persecuted mages from appearing.

To eliminate the word 'witch' from the world.

That's why I created Silophia.

'But what am I thinking now?'