Aqualina immediately clamped a hand over Vesperine’s mouth as Timmy’s hand was severed, the act happening so swiftly that none could react in time.
Timmy, clutching his bleeding stump, wore an expression of deep horror. He couldn’t think, couldn’t scream, could only feel the overwhelming urge to flee.
Run!
Without a moment’s hesitation, he spun on his heel, desperate to escape. But Kai caught him, his voice a low whisper, “What did you see…?” Yet before he could finish, Timmy’s face went pale, his eyes wide and blank as they fixated on something behind Kai. The entire group’s faces drained of colour as they turned to see.
Eight palm-sized crystal eyes gleamed ominously from beneath the bell.
“Msfcckkk!”
Two sharp, blade-like spider legs stabbed Timmy’s severed hand, lifting it to the creature’s maw. The monstrous spider crunched down on the flesh, its unblinking eyes locked onto the terrified humans.
That’s all… There was no need for further explanation. No need to think. Instinct took over, and they all bolted, running as fast as their legs could carry them.
However,
“Ouch!” John suddenly fell, crashing to the ground.
He looked down to find a knife embedded in his ankle. His face contorted in pain and dread as he glanced up to see Aqualina.
She winked at him, her expression smug, ‘That’s for defaming and trying to hurt my Aether!’ her eyes seemed to say as she exited the veranda, slamming the door shut behind her.
“N-No… No… NOOOOOO!!! YOU BITCH!!!” John screamed, his voice a mix of rage and despair. He couldn’t believe what had just happened…. He had been used as a scapegoat.
His eyes filled with tears as he tried to crawl away, his broken ankle dragging uselessly, “Y-You will pay for this, bitch! You will! I will kill you and everyone who left me!!!”
Unfortunately,
Stab!
“AARRRHH!!” John screamed in agony as something pierced his thigh.
With teary and fearful eyes, he slowly turned his head to see …a monstrous red-black spider staring at him with its crystal eyes.
“N-No… p-ple——”
…..
….
“P-Princess! Why did you do that?!” Kai shouted, his face a mask of fury as he followed Aqualina and the others out of the building.
Aqualina didn’t answer. Her mind was focused on informing Alaric and the other professors before that creature could escape.
“I am talking to you, Aqualina!” Kai yelled, blocking her path. His voice trembled with anger and disbelief. He couldn’t comprehend what she had done. She had practically sentenced a man to death for her own escape.
This was not something he could accept from his future wife!
Aqualina stared at him blankly, her eyes cold and unfeeling. Meanwhile, Timmy, clutching his severed hand and wincing in pain, said, “M-master, please calm down! We didn’t have any other choice. That thing was incredibly dangerous… someone had to hold it back, or we all would have died.”
Kai’s face darkened, his eyes blazing with anger, “So, we just let that man die as bait?! That was the most cowardly and disgusting thing I’ve ever seen!”
Timmy lowered his head, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. He was already grappling with the pain in his hand and now had to deal with Kai’s accusations.
“Kai, stop it! We don’t have time for this,” Aqualina said, attempting to move past Kai’s blocking arms.
Kai gritted his teeth, ‘She is always like this!! Never listen to me….’
Before stepping in front of her again, “Play around? Do you think I’m playing around, Aqualina? DO YOU?!” he shouted, the sound of John’s agonized screams still echoing in his ears, haunting him like a nightmare.
“You always act like this, Aqualina! Acting high and mighty, not caring for others!
You always act like an arrogant woman!
You never listen to what I have to say!
You never acknowledge Vesperine, who tries her best to be friends with you!
You act like you’re the only one in this world and the world revolves around you!
Have you ever considered that girl’s feelings?
She is innocent, unlike you!
She has been hurt by your actions!
….And yes, I love her!
Is that a problem?
It’s not like I’m the only guy who wants to love another woman! Many emperors in the past had many wives, so why are you so annoyed about me having another woman?!
If you have a problem with that, then annul our engagement.
I would never like a woman who never cared for anyone!
But I am not like that! I care for everyone! I want to be the saviour of everyone! I mean EVERYONE!” Kai finally let out all his pent-up emotions, his chest heaving with the effort.
Relief washed over him…. mingled with a deep-seated fear, ‘M-Maybe I said too much?’ he thought.
Aqualina stared blankly at Kai, inwardly amused, ‘Is he angry about John or about Vesperine who he had fun with?’ she wondered before her expression turned as cold as ice. She stepped closer to Kai and spoke in a voice that could freeze the blood, “Then why did you run along with us?”
“H-Huh?” Kai’s confusion was evident.
Aqualina’s smirk deepened a glint of satisfaction in her eyes, “Yes, I used him as bait. If you truly wanted to be the saviour of everyone, then why didn’t you stay with him and fight that thing?”
“T-That was… I… I… I didn’t see until you closed the door,” Kai stammered, his voice faltering as his eyes shook with uncertainty.
“Oh! But I did see you exiting last and even glancing at John,” Aqualina pressed, her smirk growing wider. Kai’s stammering increased, his attempts at excuses becoming more desperate.
“Kai, whatever you’re trying to say is just an excuse to ease your guilt… Well, if there is any guilt, to begin with.”
“…N-No… I–”
Aqualina continued, “What you’re doing is just pointing fingers to cover your incompetence.
You know your life is more valuable than that dead guy’s, don’t you?
If you wanted to be a saviour, then accept your failure…. and I don’t think you can be a saviour of everyone… It’s hypocritical and nearly impossible.”
As she turned to walk away, Kai bit his trembling lips, fighting back the urge to shout that he wasn’t a hypocrite. But deep down, he knew Aqualina’s words held a painful truth. He had allowed a man to die before his eyes and now complained to ease his own guilt.
Kai suddenly flinched when he felt a warm hand gently grab his. He glanced down to see Vesperine, her eyes filled with concern and warmth. She nodded with a comforting smile, “You did your best.” Find your adventure at freewebnovel
Kai’s eyes filled with tears as he nodded back, a wave of relief washing over him. At that moment, he realized he had found a truly wonderful lover in Vesperine.
The group arrived at the stadium and saw the tension among the students was nowhere. Instead, many girls were grouped around something… or someone. Aqualina’s eyes widened as she saw who it was.
“Aether!” she shouted, rushing towards the gathering with a mixture of relief and joy.
[+8000 AP]
Kai frowned, trailing behind her, his thoughts still a jumbled mess.
Upon getting closer, they saw Victor holding Aether, who appeared disoriented and unsteady. Aqualina’s joy quickly turned to confusion and concern. “What the hell is going on?” she demanded, noticing Aether’s glazed eyes.
Before Victor could respond, Selene stepped forward, her face etched with dread.
“He’s drunk!”
“…” The realization hit them all at once, the absurdity of the situation momentarily freezing them in place.
“Fuck!” Aqualina exclaimed in shock as she remembered something.
“Fuck!” Kai echoed, his face turned pale and dread as he remembered that shitty nightmare!
And,
“…” Timmy ran away.
“Hic, W-Where are you running, Timmy boy~ Come here…” Aether slurred, reaching out feebly as he watched Timmy flee.
“NNNNNNNNOOOOOO!!! FAAATTTHHEEERRRRRRRRRRR!! HEEEEELPPPP MEEEE!!!!” Timmy screamed, running even faster, preferring to face the monstrous spider than deal with this drunken Aether who would tear off everything without hesitation.