CHAPTER 723

[T.L: punisher87]

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As the two of them left the Tikan Palace, the gazes of the people on the street naturally converged on them.

Mary was aware of the hostility emanating from the crowd's gaze towards Diphus.

It was only natural.

Even though he had regained his senses in the end, the fact remained that he had massacred hundreds of thousands of innocent people.

It troubled Mary. Her brother's hands were already stained with blood that could never be washed away.

Can I forgive oraboni?

In truth, that question was the real reason why Mary couldn't sleep for the past few days.

Even if she were to hear an explanation from Diphus today, Mary couldn't find it in herself to understand why Diphus submitted to evil god.

They walked in silence for a while as if they had made a promise.

Before they knew it, Diphus and Mary had reached the beach, leaving the city behind.

Their footsteps stretched across the white sandy beach, tinged with the red of the setting sun.

"It feels like we've been walking for three hours."

Mary was the first to speak.

"Is that so? I thought it had only been about thirty minutes."

Diphus replied, turning around.

He saw Mary and the distant view of the Tikan Palace.

"Why are you dragging it out like this? Are you avoiding the conversation after all?"

Resentment filled Mary's eyes as she glared at Diphus.

"That's not it."

"Then what's the reason for stalling with the excuse of taking a walk?"

"You already know."

Mary hesitated, then lowered her head.

"No, I don't know. Just tell me. I've already heard it from the youngest. He said that receiving the power of evil god is only possible if it's done willingly. So if that's true, then oraboni, you didn't betray us by force..."

"That's true."

Thump!

Mary grabbed Diphus's shoulder fiercely. Diphus didn't release her grip.

"You succumbed to torture and surrendered to evil god, is that what you mean?"

"That's not an entirely incorrect statement."

"Lies. The oraboni I know isn't someone who would break under torture."

"No, I truly despaired under the endless torture. Both physically and mentally."

"What kind of torture did you go through?"

"I can't explain it in words. At some point, my consciousness would disappear and then return, like a flickering light bulb. Each time, my memories would disappear a little bit. In the end, I couldn't even remember my own name. But now, everything has returned."

"So, Oraboni's mind was completely destroyed, and you had no choice but to accept the power of evil god... Well, I guess that's the only option. I asked a pointless question."

"Mary."

"Yes?"

"Is this explanation enough for you, considering how I lost myself to torture? Is it enough for you to not be tormented by my corruption anymore? If you have confidence in that, let's go back now."

Mary stared at Diphus for a while without saying anything.

"...No, it's not enough."

As the grip of Mary's hand loosened, Diphus turned around and started walking again.

Mary followed him, watching as his footsteps were erased by the waves.

"On one day, when the torture continued, the evil god that was once our mother, or rather, the monster, told me one thing."

"What did she say?"

"She said that my despair is the greatest help in completing her divinity. The more I suffer and despair, the stronger her power becomes."

"Ah..."

"At first, I didn't believe her words. But I became more and more anxious. If her words were true, then her power would continue to grow as long as I lived and breathed, and I couldn't die as I wished."

A special despair of a special being.

Just like Joshua, Diphus' despair was also the greatest aid in the completion of the divinity.

"After some time had passed, I became convinced. I could clearly see that each time the evil god visited me, its power became stronger. Naturally, I could only fall deeper into despair. If it continued like this, even if our father returned, I felt that he wouldn't be able to kill that monster."

As Diphus calmly continued his explanation, Mary tightly closed her eyes.

"But one day, the evil god made me an offer."

"...To receive its power?"

"Yes. Whether it would continue to torture me and add to my despair or whether I would receive its power and fight against the youngest. Either choice was a cliff."

"If only... if only you had endured a little longer. If oraboni hadn't received the evil god's power, we could have surely gone to save you."

"If that were the case, the evil god would have become an unstoppable existence by now."

"Why did the evil god choose to share its power with oraboni if it wanted to win? According to what you're saying, the evil god could have simply watched oraboni despair and eventually achieve victory."

"The evil god is fixated on the youngest. As soon as I became a fragment, I could see inside the evil god. It doesn't just want to win. It wants to bring the youngest down to the very bottom and then achieve victory. It wants the youngest to become the same existence as itself."

"So oraboni received power to do such things?"

"Lady Mary!"

Before Diphus could reply, someone came running towards them on the beach, calling Mary.

"King...?"

It was Kashmir.

"Lady Mary, the meeting is about to begin. Please come quickly."

"Why did the king personally come to deliver that? Couldn't you have sent someone else?"

Kashmir didn't answer.

Feeling her heart pounding unexpectedly, Mary alternated her gaze between him and Diphus. Diphus didn't stop walking.

"Just wait for a moment. I still have things to talk to oraboni about."

Mary ran after Diphus again. Kashmir had only exchanged a few words with her, but Diphus was already far ahead.

"Hey, oraboni! Are you trying to run away? Slow down! Is accepting the offer of the evil god the only reason?"

"Mary."

"Yes?"

"When you were cornered by the tricks of the prophet in Rikalton castle... What did you feel?"

"Why are you bringing that up all of a sudden?"

-Something strange... Somehow, if it were the youngest, I don't think he would keep playing along with this deception.

Mary recalled what she said to the prophet in Rikalton castle.

At that time, when it seemed impossible to defeat the enemy and she felt no hope at all, Mary was engulfed in a strange feeling.

Some great existence... The youngest, he seemed to be able to resolve this situation. She doesn't know why, but it felt like the youngest would ultimately lead this battle to victory.

"I had the same feeling too. When I received the fragment of the evil god, I thought the youngest would come and destroy it."

"Lady Mary! Lady Mary... It's late, you have to attend the meeting."

This time it was Enya. Mary turned to look at Enya and saw the faint lights of the distant Tikan Palace against the dark night sky.

It seemed impossible to return to the Tikan Palace even if they ran all night. It had already become that distant.

Diphus had gone even further. Mary swung her head vigorously and chased after Diphus.

"Oraboni, stop...!"

She barely caught up with Diphus. But Diphus continued to move forward.

"I couldn't come up with a better plan no matter how hard I struggled. So I thought it would be better if I took the fragment and let the youngest destroy me. That way, the power of the evil god would weaken..."

"I understand, I understand. The meeting is about to start. Let's go back for now and talk later, okay?"

"Elder sister Mary!"

"Elder sister, everyone is waiting!"

The voices of the Tona brothers could be heard from behind.

"Why, why is it only me you're looking for? Isn't Diphus oraboni right here beside me?"

Mary shouted without turning to look at them.

If she took her eyes off Diphus one more time, she felt like she would never catch up with him again.

"Diphus oraboni, let's go back. I'm sorry. I've been making you suffer with unnecessary words about the subject who survived because of your sacrifice. So please... just stop for a moment... please."

Soon, Diphus stopped walking and turned back to look at Mary. Mary unknowingly smiled. Diphus' face appeared blurry because of tears.

"Mary. Whatever reason there may have been for my choice, I can never be forgiven. I committed unforgivable acts. I killed too many people."

"But, but in the end, Diphus oraboni came back. You originally received the power to diminish the strength of evil god, and ultimately, thanks to you, many people survived when Glyek subjugated...!"

"Regardless of this and that, I simply lost to evil god. I was weak and lost, and I irresponsibly left the aftermath to the youngest and you."

"People can lose, too...!"

"As a Runcandel, there are fights that must never be lost. So, Mary, don't support me like that, keep fighting. Together with the youngest. Together with the people."

"Why do you keep talking as if you're going to disappear now? Don't do that."

Diphus smiled faintly.

"I told you before, didn't I? Just go back with those people."

Mary grabbed Diphus' hand and turned to look back.

Kashmir, Enya, the Tona brothers who had called out to her earlier, and all of Tikan's comrades were looking at her.

They were gesturing for her to come back.

"It's just a meeting, why is everyone like this?"

"Mary."

"I'll be back soon, with Diphus oraboni."

"Mary, you must go alone."

Diphus said that suddenly, and Mary felt his hand slipping away from her grasp.

No matter how hard she tried not to let go, she couldn't hold on. It felt like a dream, her strength drained away.

Immediately, Diphus gently pushed Mary's shoulder from behind.

"Even though I only experienced it through your dream, Tikan is truly a wonderful place."

"Oraboni!"

"But we have to reclaim our home. The Garden of Swords is the home of the Runcandel."

"Diphus oraboni, don't go!"

"It was nice to be able to walk together after a long time."

Even without me, you must be brave, my little sister.

Oraboni...!

Mary collapsed.

In the moment when she tried to get up again to chase after Diphus, what caught Mary's eyes was not his back.

Her brothers and comrades who were anxiously watching over her were in front of her.

"Elder sister Mary!"

"Elder sister Mary has awakened!"

"Heh, unnie is awake!"

"Elder sister!"

Jin tightly embraced Mary.

Mary stared blankly at the ceiling for a while, then hugged Jin back.

Yona and Tona brothers, too, embraced the two of them.

And Valeria, who was in front of them, opened the recording window to show Mary.

Mary couldn't take her eyes off that record for a long time.

[T/L:- I'm not crying, you are crying.]

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