OBML 13

Chapter 13

Strictly speaking, he said he would make me think it would’ve been better to die. Well, it’s basically the same thing. If I leave here now, I’m destined to die one way or another.

“So you’re going to pin the responsibility on me?”

“That’s not what I’m trying to say. I’m just saying that given the circumstances, this is how things are right now, and that once I recover sufficiently, I’ll become strong. I have purification abilities, and I’m going to be healthy, so don’t send me back.”

“…”

After a brief silence, Chase straightened up and shoved both hands into his pockets. Then he tilted his head slightly to one side and looked down at me. It was an unbearably arrogant posture, yet even so, the sight of his black hair shimmering beautifully in the sunlight stole my gaze for a moment.

“Nita Grace.”

“Yes.”

“That’s none of my concern.”

A cold gaze that made it clear he had no pity to spare for someone like me. Chase, radiating an oppressive presence, continued in a voice far too pleasant for someone uttering such cruel words.

“I’ve been saying it from the start until now. What I wanted was someone sturdy and not weak. Not someone who will be someday.”

“But…!”

“Deal with your brother yourself.”

Does he really dislike me that much?

“You hate me more than you want the contaminated land to be cleansed?”

“Who knows.”

“Even though I can purify mana?”

“You’re not the only one who can purify mana.”

He’s not wrong.

“But, but I…”

I had nothing more to say. My trembling lips finally closed. Chase, who had been silently watching me, got up from the chair. Then, as if kindly explaining out of consideration, he spoke.

“In the long run, it’s a loss for me. You look like you’d die in the middle of it, purification or not.”

Speaking coldly, Chase stepped back and leaned against the window again.

“Sick people disgust me.”

I heard the muttered words he added under his breath.

Sick people…?

The question surfaced, but only for an instant. He looked down at me with an even colder gaze than before.

“I’ll send you back and request another mage.”

“Another mage? Who?”

“Anyone. Someone sturdier and healthier than you.”

This heartless bastard. I’d be gentler than this even to a stray cat.

“Your wrist.”

With a small nod, Chase indicated my arm wrapped in bandages.

“I can’t wait until it’s completely healed. I don’t have time either.”

“…”

“Go back once it’s somewhat improved.”

What kind of nonsense is that?

“I told you. I can’t stand twig-like humans.”

Chase strode out of the room swiftly with his long legs. He wasn’t even in a rush, yet his manner was so cold and brisk that there was no chance to say anything more.

Who are you calling a twig?

Staring blankly at the tightly shut door, I suddenly raised my arm.

“…”

Well, it is a bit scrawny. Not just thin, but completely like a patient’s. Still, in a sense, I am a patient. My wrist is broken, after all.

‘Go back once it’s somewhat improved.’

Letting out a deep sigh, I flopped down onto the bed and looked out the window. The deep blue sky was filled with billowing clouds, as if painted there.

“The weather’s so nice.”

Miserably so.

Through the swiftly flowing clouds, sunlight flashed like sparkling jewels, appearing and disappearing repeatedly. I never dreamed my plans would be blocked by something like this.

From Chase’s perspective, it probably is right to send me back and request another mage. For example, Vivian. The pretty, healthy heroine.

But then what about me?

Nita was a character created solely for Vivian’s sake. A supporting character used to build a narrative of enduring the sorrow of losing a sibling and using that as fertilizer to apply her abilities for a better cause.

Her screen time wasn’t long, but the emotions Nita showed from time to time made one imagine just how horrific and agonizing the half year she spent as Michael’s test subject must have been.

In order to investigate Nita’s body, which remained fine even after absorbing mana, Michael had not hesitated to conduct any experiment. Starting with forcibly injecting mana, he carved off flesh, pulled out fingernails, and even drained large amounts of blood to drink, saying he wanted to see if it had efficacy as well. He had done all manner of things to a human as if conducting animal experiments.

After Michael died at the climax, when Vivian discovered Nita imprisoned in the underground laboratory of the castle, she turned away and vomited on the spot. <A Kind and Gentle Tomorrow> was rated for all ages, so the descriptions narrowly avoided explicitness, but even so, it was a state no one could bear to look at with a clear mind.