Chapter 346

Chapter 346

The familiar sight of the square brought back fresh memories.

“Dalia, you won.”

“I can live well now.”

“Even though you won.”

It was the time when I first thought he might like me.

No, maybe even before that. If there was a moment of certainty, it was probably then. When we came to Heulin, we did something that felt like a “date” for the first time.

Here, at this square, he sparred with Chushinik for me. You confidently said you’d win after I told you not to lose because I feared someone else might take me away.

It was the first time. It was a moment of courage.

The day I decided I wanted to confess to Kaichen. This was the moment and place where I made that decision.

My mind, once filled with negative thoughts, was now covered with warm memories. I could barely catch my breath.

“Ugh… h-huh, ugh…”

A tingling pain spread through my body, and my chest ached. I thought I could handle the pain by now, but it was unbearable. My whole body felt like it was being crushed by a tremendous pain that couldn’t be described with words.

My knees buckled weakly under the crushing, throbbing pain.

“Ugh, aaaaah—!”

I screamed. How, how could I be okay?

There’s no way I can endure this. It’s different from the hundred years when I didn’t know anything. Without Kaichen by my side, I can’t survive at all.

Tears streamed down, revealing the fragility of this moment.

I wanted to win. Just once, I wanted to win. I’m just a supporting character, but wouldn’t be great if I became the main character? I thought it could happen as long as I thought positively.

But, of course, life doesn’t bend to our thoughts. I sighed.

What should I do?

It’s terrifying. In this empty place where there’s no one but me and the clear sky—where the only thing I can hear is my breathing.

What else could be more cruel than this reality I’m facing?

“…Lovely child.”

My breath caught in my throat as the unfamiliar voice vibrated in my head. The voice felt like it would tear me apart, and I screamed. My back bent. Even though I covered my ears, the ringing didn’t stop.

“…pitiful child, who sees the world more beautifully than anyone else… So, to you… I shall… give you…”

I couldn’t hear properly what was being said.

I only desperately wished it would stop. It felt like not just my eardrums but my brain would burst. No, my whole body felt like it would burst.

“Ah, augh! Huh, aaaaargh!”

It was another scream of agony, different from the one I had shouted until my throat went hoarse. My throat hurt from pain. The floor, wet with tears, was now soaked with blood. I couldn’t tell if I was vomiting or bleeding.

“…. Lovely child… cherish… the blessing… of… now.”

That was the end of the dreadful ringing.

My trembling body collapsed in an instant. I remained sprawled on the ground without the strength to move a finger. Despite the clammy sweat covering my body, thankfully, the pain was no longer there.

Strangely, apart from the sticky feeling from the sweat, I felt surprisingly refreshed. It felt odd, as if the blood from earlier was an illusion.

“What… was that just now?”

I looked around with hazy eyes, trying to turn my tired head, but there was no way to know. It seemed like someone’s voice, a memory, or perhaps some divine intervention.

“Haah…”

I felt like I was dying, but now, the overwhelmingly sad and painful feeling was gone, and I regained a bit of composure.

Taking deep breaths, I slowly got up this time.

“Ha! Surely, it wasn’t the voice of the blue dragon or something.”

I muttered and stopped abruptly. An awkward silence enveloped me. It was silent since no one else was around, but I had the illusion that someone was watching me.

After futilely scanning the surroundings, I swallowed dry saliva.

“I think… it said it would… give me something….”

I scanned the square. It was still empty, with no signs of life. I frowned. Given the situation, I couldn’t help but laugh. Have I gone crazy?

Perhaps because I had regained some composure, suddenly something sparked inside my head—another way to break the time magic.

I wondered why I hadn’t thought of this method before.

“If I break the crystal… I might be able to leave.”

I remembered that I could use magic even within the space of time magic. If it didn’t work out, I might sink halfway into the black swamp, but…

Swallowing my saliva, I reached out into the empty space.

My trembling hand was stark pale. But I didn’t have the confidence to endure anymore. Although it had only been a few days.

This time felt more hellish than the hundred years I was trapped in Acrab. Now that I know about love, there was no way I wouldn’t go crazy.

I miss Kaichen. I can’t live a single day without him.

I came to a resolute conclusion.

“Dalia, my Dalia.”

“I love you—not just parts of you.”

A man who vowed to save me. A desperate man who had already saved me many times and continued to promise to do so.