122. vermian cetilpian

***

A deep night reaching midnight.

A quiet mansion quite far from the academy. An extremely cold chill lingered in one room of the mansion.

“……”

After entering the room, the man who hesitated on his lips eventually brought himself to the front of a bed.

The name of the man whose eyes trembled constantly and was overcome with emotion was Vermian Setilpian.

He had come to see the condition of his younger sister, who was the heir to the title of head of Count Cetilpian’s family.

He looked at his sister, now lying in bed.

Then, on top of the white bed, I saw silver hair dyed even whiter. And I look at a face with a paler complexion than that.

Breathing so lightly. Vermian was aware that his brother was not feeling well.

He knew very well that even the chill that hovered inside him was flowing out to his sister, and that a pain that was more severe than the chill he felt would grip his younger sister inside her body.

rattle.

Vermian, whose lips were hesitant, finally opened his mouth.

“Beatrice.”

When I tried to say the woman’s name with difficulty, there was a faint response from the woman called Beatrice.

“brother?”

When a very weak voice rang out, the man blankly nodded and held out his hand.

He warmly grasped Beatrice’s pale and cold hand.

“Yes, it is me. Beatrice, wait just a little longer. You’ll be fine again soon.”

“brother. I’m fine.”

When Beatrice answered in a weak voice, Vermian said nothing more.

no, i couldn’t

Hesitantly trembling eyes and extended lips, he held the cold hand that touched mine with both hands.

And by circulating mana, it conveyed warmth, albeit weakly.

“…”

At the warm touch of affection, the woman called Beatrice smiled faintly.

“It’s just… I just suddenly felt a bit unwell.”

Vermian bit his lip and nodded at the voice that continued, as if telling him not to worry.

Seruk.

Then, when Beatrice opened her eyes faintly, her unfocused eyes soon captured the pure white ceiling.

“…”

Beatrice, who was staring blankly at the ceiling, struggled to turn her head to look at the only family member holding her hand.

As if forcibly suppressing their emotions, Beatrice’s eyes filled with sadness at the sight of her family reflecting their sadness.

“It’s so hard… don’t do it. Because I’m really fine.”

Beatrice put a little effort into her voice, and Vermian, conscious of the gaze, tried to control his emotions.

He even smiled lightly.

“…yes. Because Beatrice, you have always been a strong child. sorry. I shouldn’t have shown this… I shouldn’t have.”

Vermian tried to smile even in the midst of his fluctuating emotions, and Beatrice also smiled, moving her lips lightly.

It was a very faint smile to Vermian.

A very transparent and at the same time a very delicate smile that is not strange even if it disappears at any time.

“…”

Vermian was able to force himself to keep his smile on his eyes.

Even in such a difficult situation, his own brother was holding on to his will and holding on strong.

Then he shouldn’t have shown such an idiot with his limbs intact.

Afterwards, the man carefully touched his brother’s hand.

softly… .

Beatrice accepted the warm warmth she felt from her hand at the extremely careful touch.

No matter how much she cast magic on the room or tried to create a special environment, Beatrice couldn’t get that warmth.

The chill emanating from herself takes away all warmth.

So now. It was not easy for Beatrice to feel warmth unless someone who reached a high level like Vermian forced her to give her warmth.

“……”

Beatrice made up her mind as she looked at Vermian, who was worried about her.

The cold chill that I had to feel for the rest of my life has improved in recent years, and I have been living my daily life. A few days ago, his condition suddenly deteriorated rapidly.

It was so sudden, but Beatrice was used to this cold chill.

It was a chronic disease of unknown cause that followed her all her life from childhood to adulthood. Originally, it was as if he managed to survive somehow in an environment where death would not be strange at any time.

In fact, Beatrice’s lingering attachment to life… wasn’t that strong.

It’s been a long time since the purpose of life was blurred by the pain that I had to feel every day due to the severe cold.

And as time passed, my family passed away one by one, and now the only family left by my side was Vermian, who held his hand.

The only one who can stand my cold. Looking at Vermian like that, Beatrice’s heart hurt a little.

I’d be fine if only I was sick.

Because when you start to get sick like this, your only blood relatives, your family, will suffer greatly, and all other servants will also suffer… .

For Beatrice, even in the midst of her fading sensations, that bothered her.

after.

A car that kept its seat while feeling different emotions. An hour had already passed.

“brother. Let go now.”

When Beatrice spoke cautiously, Vermian shook his head slowly.

“I’ll give you a little more warmth.”

“Right now… Oppa is having a hard time too.”

Even though Beatrice smiled faintly and replied that it was really okay, Vermian did not let go of the two hands that were holding them.

“Compared to you, I’m fine.”

When he smiled warmly, Beatrice reluctantly accepted the warmth.

The warmth transmitted through my hands spread throughout my body, relieving the cold that I had been feeling all the time.

and soon.

As if even Vermian’s hands were infected by the cold, the warmth faded, and Vermian removed his hands first.

“Beatrice. Please bear with me a little longer. I will definitely find a way.”

“Don’t push yourself too hard.”

When Beatrice saw him off with a faint smile, Vermian slowly left the inner room.

clap.

Close the door carefully and come out

“Coke! Coke!”

Vermian let out a big cough and had to bite his lip at the bitter chill that ran through his body.

It was only 1 hour.

His whole body complained of pain, as if he was suffering from a chill just because he was with his sister.

No matter how much he circulated the mana in his body to create warmth, the time he could endure Beatrice’s chill was too short.

“Vermian! Are you okay?”

When several servants who were waiting immediately handed over warm tea and thick clothes, Vermian smiled lightly.

“it’s okay.”

As he drank warm tea and carefully erased the chill that lingered in his body, his vision was blurry.

It was as if he was facing hell again just by facing his own reality for a few days.

My sister’s condition did not improve at all.

Without Leteia’s power, her sister’s reality was terribly heavy.

“…”

Even as he handed the teacup back, Vermian realized.

how you should behave. There is no longer time for moral ideas or ethics.

Beatrice’s condition returned to the worst of several years ago.

apostle of sacrifice. This was the result of trying to rule out Leteia’s interference for just a few days.

There was no room for hesitation for the sake of others or for the lives of others.

It was more important than the lives of others.

Even if dozens or hundreds of lives were to be taken, Vermian had only one family.

It was more important than anything else for Beatrice to find her daily life again.

Why did he, who had signed a contract with an apostle, have to bend his convictions and sacrifice others? He realized deep in his bones.

that buck

that buck… .

Vermian, who headed to his office, was left alone, and slowly opened his mouth.

“…Letheia.”

I couldn’t hesitate any longer.

The terrible experience of forcibly robbing the body a few days ago is still vivid in my mind.

I also know what Leteia did after stealing my body.

After that, he tried to reject Leteia’s interference, but Vermian realized that his thoughts could not have completely disappeared.

“I know you’re leaving thoughts in my body right now. So, please answer correctly. Leteia.”

Strange thoughts were injected into my head at Vermian’s repeated calls.

[I felt that he was trying to reject my interference]

Vermian chewed his lips and let out words at the direct thought.

“You forcibly robbed my body a few days ago. I’ll leave it unanswered about it. I’ll make sure to offer the sacrifices you want from now on as well. So, so… Return Beatrice’s condition back to normal.”

[That’s not bad for me either. I, too, feel sorry for robbing my body at will. However, my strength was greatly consumed. I can’t contain Beatrice’s chill like before.]

“What are you talking about… !”

At the unexpected words, Vermian opened his eyes in a daze.

The thoughts continued again.

[Now my strength is greatly consumed. Even though it’s an alter ego, I’ve suffered a lot of damage, so I need an offering to replenish my strength. More offerings than before]

Vermian’s eyes hardened coldly as he demanded a larger sacrifice.

But even for a moment, the image of Beatrice in pain flickered in front of his eyes once again.

“How much… how much sacrifice do you need?”

[I will not limit the sacrifice to the cadet. Instead, people with a certain level of mana or higher needed about 10 sacrifices. Then it will be possible for me to return Beatrice’s condition to the way it was before]

At Leteia’s calm thoughts… Vermian bit his lip.

Ten sacrifices were requested by Leteia.

It was three times the amount required for the usual sacrifice.

Even so, Vermian’s troubles did not last long.

“…I get it. Let’s try to save it.”

With a slight nod of his head, Vermian had completely solidified his mind.

How to act in the future… … .

***

At the same time, a promenade in the academy.

Chun and Adelia were now walking out of the infirmary and walking together. As Adelia, holding Chun-seong’s hand, walked carefully, Chun-seong took steps accordingly.

again. that buck

It took a while for the sounds of different footsteps to resonate. Heaven cautiously opened her mouth.

“Instructor Adelia?”

Looking at her who met his eyes, I looked at the hands that were touching.

‘Should I join hands in rehabilitation treatment?’

Obviously, this was also Adelia’s consideration. I know it’s good intentions with a kind heart, but even so, walking hand in hand like this couldn’t help but feel strange.

The more I moved my body, which was now out of sense, the more I felt the sense of distance.

Still, our appearance right now was very strange.

Two adult men and women walk together holding hands.

…It was a sight that would not be strange even if someone misunderstood us if they saw us, no matter how much they said they were instructors and cadets.

“It’s okay if you don’t have to hold my hand. I can balance myself now.”

When I spoke carefully so as not to offend, Adelia smiled and held my hand even tighter.

“Cadet Han Chun-seong, aren’t my hands warm right now?”

“…Yes. It’s warm, though.”

The car suddenly wanted to give a different answer.

Adelia showed off the hand that held my hand proudly.

Dig!

The moment I thought I was young, the soft light from her hand delivered stronger warmth to my hand.

“Cadets of Han Chun-seong. I’m asking just in case, but do you think you held hands with selfishness?”

Seeing her asking playfully… I was speechless for a moment.

Even then, it seemed that heat was coming up on his face.

“I’m sorry. Instructor.”

When I apologized, even seeing Adelia smiling lightly, my embarrassment rose even more.