When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 214
Chapter 214
“…”
Her chin trembled momentarily.
A firm hand reached out and touched her face.
It gently stroked her cheek and caressed her trembling eyes.
“Were you scared?”
“…”
That’s impossible. This is for you, for all of you who willingly risked your lives for me.
She should have said it wasn’t scary at all, but somehow, a lump formed in her throat, preventing her from speaking.
“The thought of going alone must have made you lonely.”
“…”
She shook her head.
Of course, this was a path she had to walk alone. How could she say it was a path for them and then bring someone else along, complaining of loneliness?
But even as she denied it, he only smiled.
Looking at that smile and his firm gaze, her fingertips suddenly tingled.
She was using all her strength to suppress her emotions, and she didn't even have the courage to guess what her own expression looked like.
“If only I could take your place. If only I could do that for you, I would have, of course. But since I can't die in your stead, and I can’t force you to live either, I have no choice but to go with you.”
He spoke to her gently, as if he felt no pain at all.
With fingertips that were chapped and raw, he caressed her trembling eyes and cast an affectionate gaze at her.
“I’ll go with you.”
“…”
“Don’t push me away.”
“…”
“Don’t push me away.”
Her white, elegant chin trembled again slightly.
The tremor quickly spread uncontrollably throughout her body.
Her eyes stung, and her throat felt tight. Her chest felt constricted.
But how could he go if she cried?
Sehwa barely managed to hold back the hot tears welling up in her eyes.
Biting her lip hard enough to make it bleed, she raised her white, slender arms and pushed him away.
You dying… That can’t happen. I can't bear to see it.
“Go with you, where? What about the Baek Clan?”
“I left it to the Chancellor. Manyong will do well.”
“The Six Clans have finally united, what will they do without you?”
“Is that important? It’s their clan’s business; they’ll manage.”
Even as they spoke, the smell of burning and festering flesh filled the air.
She also didn't want to let go.
She wanted to hold his hand forever, but she couldn't hold him any longer.
So, she spoke in a trembling voice.
“Then wait for me.”
She pleaded, gazing intensely into his eyes, which appeared incredibly dark within the light.
“Wait for me outside. No matter how long it takes, no matter when. I will definitely come back to you.”
She barely managed to clear her tightening throat.
“We’ll meet again.”
It had to be that way. They would meet again.
“If you don’t remember me, I’ll be the one to chase after you, tell you I love you, and ask you to marry me.”
If they could just meet again, she could fall in love all over again, countless times.
The feelings etched deep within her, like scars, now insisted that it had to be this man.
Even if he didn't remember her. Even if it wasn't the situation she had hoped for.
Even if, by some chance, he was married. Even if he had forgotten her and started a family, happily raising children.
“So, wait for me outside.”
Even if that were the case, she wouldn't have any regrets.
But the voice that answered her long speech was short.
“No.”
“You—!”
“You might be able to wait, but I can’t.”
He intertwined his fingers with her trembling hand, holding it tightly.
“I can’t wait like that. So even if I die here and now. Even if it’s a foolish death.”
“I have a wish I can make with the Divine Beast's immortality! I’ll use it. So stop doing something pointless alone and go, quickly!”
“No. Don’t try to trick me. I already know you can’t use it.”
“!”
“You would have used it already if you could. How could you think I wouldn’t know that?”
“N-No. I can use it. I’ll use it to come to you, and—.”
“Enough. I won’t leave you no matter what you say. You get lonely easily, so I’ll always be by your side.”
He smiled, his eyes also trembling.
“Because I love you.”
“…”
“Because I love you more than anyone else.”
Finally, Sehwa’s face crumpled.
Have you ever seen such a fool?
The tears she had desperately held back finally flowed hot and freely down her cheeks.
“Quickly…”
Even with her face a mess, she couldn’t give up and pushed him away.
“Get out, quickly.”
Knowing how much pain the light was causing him, she couldn't push him hard or hit him.
“Get out. Go, quickly. Now!”
Why won’t you listen to me? In the end, she burst into tears like a child.
You fool. You’re such a fool. Why go this far? Why? Why?
“Please, go now. Even the Reverse Scale can’t heal you here.”
He was right.
If his body was in so much pain, the Reverse Scale hidden within him should have reacted already.
It should have revealed itself, swelling up, and healed his body.
But the Reverse Scale, which could save his life once in any situation, showed no reaction at all.
The same went for the second wish hidden on his shoulder.
His desire to die together if they couldn't live together couldn’t be a lie.
The five-colored Spiritual Power of the light, which no power seemed to affect, remained dormant, seemingly influencing even the Reverse Scale and the wish.
“So please, go! Go!”
If this is the end, I want to show you only my best side. I don't want you to see me like this, a mess.
Strong arms embraced her shoulders.
“Even if it's just for a little while. Even if it's just this moment, being able to see your face is enough for me.”
He whispered in her ear, his voice thick with emotion.
“Because we’re holding hands like this now. Because we’re together like this now.”
“Baek Giha.”
“This is enough for me.”
Her eyes were too hot and blurry.
She wanted to see his face more clearly, but in this precious time, she ended up crying so much that she couldn't see.
I should have called your name more.
She had called his name ten times more than in her previous life, but it still wasn’t enough.
It was then.
Suddenly, the world shook.
“!!”
A roaring sound seemed to echo in her ears, and then, as if all the sounds of the world had vanished, it became silent.
Heaven and earth seemed to turn upside down, and the space where she and he were seemed to freeze in an eternal moment.
And the light surrounding them changed.
As if it had never embraced her warmly, the light that had veiled her vision now blazed, blindingly bright.
“!”
When she opened her eyes in surprise, the waterfall of light was right before her.
The breathtakingly beautiful waterfall of light and the immense power that could control the world.
Even with it before her, her face turned pale.
The firm hand that had held her was no longer there.
The man who had been beside her just moments ago had vanished.
Oh my god.
“Baek Giha! Baek Giha!”
As long as he was safe, it didn’t matter. If he had gone outside the pillar of light, it was fine.
…But what if he hadn’t?
“Baek Giha!!!”
Ignoring the presence of the enormous waterfall of power, she screamed his name until her throat was raw.
At that moment, she felt an intense gaze.
She turned to see the mystical, gigantic beast she had seen once before, quietly staring at her.
Fear dried her throat, but she didn't back down.
Focusing her gaze, she met the beast's stare and asked.
“Where is he?”
“…”
“Did you send him away?”
“…”
“I’m asking you. Answer me!”
But the beast showed no reaction.
Its cold eyes simply stared at her.
As if rebuking her for avoiding what she had to do and making excuses.
Under its gaze, she felt all the blood drain from her body.
She realized that the beast would never have quietly sent him outside.
“N-No.”
She ran towards the beast.
“No. Don’t hurt him. I’ll go. I’ll do it. So, give him back.”
But even though the waterfall was at her feet, she couldn’t reach the beast, no matter how much she ran.
“Give him back. Give him back!”
She screamed at the unresponsive beast, her face flushed red.
“If anything has happened to him, I won’t let you get away with this!”
“…”
“Don’t do this. I’ll do it. I’ll do anything. I’ll do whatever you want. Anything. No matter what it is.”
I don't need anything. Not that great power to change the world. Not this huge mission.
“I just need him to be safe. Please, just let me know he's alright.”
Realizing that she couldn't reach the beast no matter what, she bowed her head towards the silent, statue-like creature and burst into tears.
I… I was wrong.
How could I have thought of leaving you?
I should have found another way. I should have thought of a way for both of us to survive.
So, she didn't notice that the eyes of the beast watching her had become warm.
And at that moment, the world turned upside down once more.
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