Chapter 615

Chapter 615: [On the Erroneous Existence of the Universe]

The first sunset—

He heard a voice calling his name and awoke.

It was the cheers of his beloved citizens, praising their emperor.

The second sunset—

Again, auditory hallucinations.

He opened his eyes, but the wilderness was empty.

And the third sunset—

[You cannot reach the stars]

[For you are the crimson rose born at dawn and withered by dusk]

His trembling hands could no longer aim.

Is there... anyone who would watch over me?

I’m about to die here, you know!?

In the end, even at the brink of death’s abyss, I was never loved.

Over and over, I wept. Again and again, I pressed the dagger to my throat—

I...

I still...!

Don’t want to die—

"Silence."

Before the red dress nearly melted by the setting sun, the little crimson dragon stood expressionless. Scarlet roses, blood-red like wild grass, surged forth, engulfing them. Yet a blade of white-gold light sliced cleanly through the floral tide, parting the falling petals to carve a path for one.

A familiar presence approached from behind, but the girl didn’t turn. She spoke as if to herself:

"The theater’s curtains have long since fallen. The audience seats are empty."

"So the actors should leave the stage as well."

This was not the Draco displayed to the world, but the manifestation of a girl’s deepest secret—locked away in her SG (Secret Garden), hidden at all costs.

SG · Suicidal Desire.

She intended to die, to draw the curtain on her own story.

As for Sakatsuki, he was entirely an unforeseen variable in Draco’s calculations.

He had fired that arrow of his own accord, then presumptuously cradled her in his hands.

Had it ended at the Second Singularity, it would have been a perfect tale of justice triumphing over evil. But even after she had fallen into the mud, covered in dust, someone still picked her up, wanting to walk with her—

Yet even that was over now.

That man would never allow anyone to harm his Master, much less forgive someone who knowingly, repeatedly refused to change.

...He had never had patience for unruly, troublesome children.

"You really are beyond saving," the girl’s avatar said within her grief-stricken heart, her back turned to the approaching figure.

"Again and again, without hesitation, you pry into the deepest parts of others."

The little crimson dragon, golden crown upon her head and hair coiled elegantly, pouted. Her frosty beauty held no intimidation before him.

"You’ve laid bare all my shame. What more humiliation do you intend to heap upon me?"

"Then again, perhaps your timing is perfect."

The slender figure continued speaking to herself:

"Perfect to witness my death—the final moments of a soul without shelter, without a home... a wicked beyond redemption."

"Or do you wish to execute me yourself, here and now?"

Compared to the stubborn Draco of reality, her heart was far more honest. Knowing she couldn’t stop her tears, she kept her back turned, shoulders trembling as she silently wept.

To be killed by the one you love—what a sorrowful, what a romantic thing.

Ah, perhaps this is the most beautiful, most fitting end for me.

Through tear-blurred vision, she finally heard that person’s voice.

Not feigned, but pure, unwavering words.

"If you love others more than yourself, then you will cease to love anyone."

"What you love is merely emptiness."

"Now, answer me, Draco—"

His arrival stirred a gentle breeze. That person did not look at her, merely gazing up at the sky, yet Draco found herself irresistibly drawn to his presence.

So desperately, she listened to his voice.

"Do I love you as I love myself?"

Not questioning her feelings, but offering himself as a weight in her palm, allowing her to measure.

Generous and indulgent.

Yet Draco could no longer meet his eyes to speak those words. She closed her eyes, letting tears roll down her cheeks.

She had no right to respond anymore...

She had made mistakes time and again...

She could no longer remain by his side...

Yet still, selfishly, shamelessly, she nodded with all her might.

You love me.

You must love me.

Please... love me as I love you.

Allow me to witness with you the far shore of this journey among the stars.

————

"If you love something more than yourself, then one day you will sacrifice everything for what you love. That is only natural."

Walking down the moonlit corridor, the crimson-clad emperor said:

"But when these people sacrifice themselves, they rarely consider that there are others in this world who love them—even more than their own lives..."

"In my view, that foolish emperor’s failure stemmed precisely from this overly arrogant ’love.’"

"Ah, these are not my words, but fragments I found in the memories of that ’me.’"

Hakuno and Alice followed closely beside Nero. Hearing this, Hakuno couldn’t help but speak up: "This way of speaking... it’s Sakatsuki, isn’t it?"

"Mm, the Governor said it himself." Nero lowered her gaze. The memories of the second singularity, transmitted directly by Draco, had already merged seamlessly into the ocean of her recollections. "My love is different from the love you speak of."

"The flames of love burning in this heart seem far heavier and fiercer than those of ordinary people."

What kind of turmoil must one endure to dissect such wounds from within?

Hakuno listened in silence as her Servant poured out her heart.

"My love is domineering—granting everything while demanding everything in return. But... that is merely a raging fire."

Even if someone approaches seeking warmth, it will consume them along with the comfort it provides.

As Nero spoke these words, her expression suddenly shifted, recalling a conversation with Sakatsuki before she had regained these memories.

[So your love is too selfless. You need someone to stand by your side constantly, lest your beautiful flames burn others—or yourself—to ashes.]

[Umu... You speak as though you know me well. Then, do you wish to be the one who watches over me?]

STOP!!!

"What’s wrong, big sister?" Alice asked curiously. "Your face is so red—are you feeling unwell?"

"Huh? N-no way..." Nero cupped her face in her hands, flushing crimson under her Master’s knowing gaze from behind.

How could she admit it was because she’d just discovered another embarrassing Chapter of her own past?

This was too... too mortifying!

Her skirt swayed as the young emperor fidgeted, before she finally took a deep breath and declared with dramatic conviction: "Therefore! We absolutely cannot let her follow in Our footsteps!"

That was such an obvious attempt to change the subject, Miss Nero.

Hakuno’s lips twitched, but she tactfully played along: "Right. So what’s your plan, Saber?"

"Is that even a question?" Nero thumped her chest with righteous determination. "We must drag her out and convince her with Our brilliant rhetoric!"

"Leaving her alone would be too cruel. After all, she’s Our other half. Even if the whole world despises her, We would never abandon her!"

Thus resolved, Nero charged back to her room—only to stop dead at the doorway.

[Due to certain circumstances, this room is temporarily sealed. Time remaining: 00:04:58. That’s all~(￣▽￣)]

Two crossed seals barred the door, while cheerful text scrolled across the nameplate, reflecting Nero’s dumbfounded expression.

"Wait, this is Our room!" After a long pause, the young emperor’s wail echoed through the halls. "And what’s with this obnoxious smiley face? The déjà vu is overwhelming here!"

————

When his eyes opened, the expected figure stood before him.

In this lunar sea, the one who had always watched over him and Draco.

[...Again, Shariputra, in that Buddha-land are seven-jeweled railings, seven-jeweled nets, seven-jeweled rows of trees, all formed of four jewels and extending in every direction...]

Amid faint Buddhist chants, the mythic figure pressed his palms together:

"The Beast of Sodom is but a shadow cast off by that emperor, an echo of the Rose Emperor’s fading resonance."

"Indeed." The young Magus smiled. "Though she is a fallen beast, she loathes filth and sloth—loving instead those small, certain hopes, and the stars that shine through the mire."

"Loving the trails left by those who journey toward the stars."

Meeting the gaze of this venerated existence, he declared: "I will reclaim her. No matter what."

"...Then I must ask you one thing first." The figure nodded slowly.

"The flames that consume all things—devotion, exhaustion, and love that burns everything away. The Beast of Sodom born from echoes inherits this nature, and to accept that form means she cannot escape this love (evil)."

"—You would walk alongside a Beast of Humanity."

"Honored one, forgive my bluntness." The young man likewise pressed his palms together in earnest inquiry. "If you meant to stop this from the beginning..."

"Why wait until now?"

The radiant figure remained silent as the youth continued his theatrical lament:

"Isn’t this question redundant? Draco was literally forced upon me by that guy (me)! Long before that, she was already under your watch, wasn’t she? After all, his story unfolded upon the Moon Cell."

"If you’d truly resolved to eliminate her... with your power, she would never have reached me in the first place."

The being seated upon the lotus throne gazed at the young man, listening as he even recited a passage utterly unrelated—"All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows. Like dew and lightning, they should be viewed thus..." Even with His imperturbable serenity, He couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated.

His eyes surveyed the three thousand worlds; His Buddha-light illuminated all phenomena. Devotees prostrated before Him, everyone spoke of revering and worshipping Him. Yet none knew He merely wished sentient beings to comprehend His teachings and awaken to wisdom. Alas, people worshipped the perfect sacred image but never shattered the demons within their hearts.

But this youth was different.

He dared to quip and snark before Him, even launching into comic monologues when the mood struck...

Truly, an interesting soul.

"No other human can face the evils of mankind as you do," He said slowly. "—Draco, I leave to you."

"Even so," the young man remained unimpressed, scratching his head with a wry expression, "I’m just here for a friendly assist. The rest should be handled by... well, another me. Unless—you’ll let me leave?"

Faced with this probing, He smiled wordlessly, merely extending a palm.

"Telling me to scram?" The youth brightened.

"No." His voice carried hidden mirth. "I mean—you cannot escape my palm."

"Eh? That’s not fair—"

The scene froze, shattered—a fleeting dream dispersed, leaving only eternal chanting.

[In that land is a Buddha named Amitabha, who is presently teaching the Dharma. Sariputra, why is that land called Ultimate Bliss?]

[Because the beings of that land suffer no afflictions but enjoy every bliss, thus it is called Ultimate Bliss...]

————

When Sakatsuki awoke from his daze, he found himself sitting amidst a sea of crimson roses. Draco—the little red dragon who’d caused him no small trouble yet again—sat demurely in his lap, her scaled tail gently coiled around his waist, its barbs smoothed in tenderness.

"To offer all, to plunder all—to me, love is a blazing flame."

"To accept all, to permit all—to humans, love seems a healing presence, like the warm noon sunlight."

"Yet, no matter what..."

"No matter how I try, I cannot comprehend—this ’love’ they speak of—"

"Then love in your own way, Your Majesty."

The blurred visage dissipated, revealing golden slitted pupils meeting Draco’s gaze. In the depths of both pairs of eyes burned identical longing and possessiveness.

"But your kingdom has crumbled. Even the theater’s audience now consists solely of me, no?"

"Thou..." Wine-red eyes drew near, swirling like mysterious, alluring vortices. "Wouldst offer me roses?"

"Sorry, but the roses are already spoken for." The youth shrugged with feigned helplessness, producing—as if by magic—a single blossom from his fingertips.

A white camellia, tinged with twilight gold.

The flower symbolizing perfect love, ideal love—noble, solitary, embodying temperance and virtue.

"Know this, Draco." Sakatsuki’s smile faded as he gazed into her eyes—and his own reflection within them.

She was looking at him.

With solemn intensity.

He said: "In this world of countless people, you alone make me oscillate between fear of loss and hope of gain."

"I know."

Draco took his hand and responded tenderly, "Because I am too."

In that instant, Draco caught the curve of his lips lifting.

As if he were smiling.

So blissful and content.

So she leaned in, seizing that smile with fervor and offering unrestrained affection in return.

Amidst the sea of roses, white flowers bloomed.

At first, it was just a casual stroke of the painter’s brush, but soon it spread across the mountains and fields, enveloping the kingdom in a pure and noble white-gold hue. In this dreamlike, uninhabited white realm, a pair of lovers kissed passionately, lost in each other.

He said she was the emperor of this realm.

She said he was its only subject.

Thus, that boundless love was bestowed upon this sole recipient, and in turn, that person would return it with equal fervor.

The malice of the Beast of Calamity was thus contained, and the girl who had wept in the mire could finally rise and step out of the filth completely.

"Come with me, Your Majesty," the young man said, tucking a stray golden lock behind the girl’s ear and adorning her with a camellia, his eyes brimming with warmth. "Our journey aims for the stars (hope), a path that leads ever skyward."

"...Mm."

In his arms, the girl’s flushed cheeks were utterly captivating.

The first sunset was struck down by his arrow of fate.

The second sunset, they lingered in a cottage on a deserted isle.

By the third sunset, her heart had already blossomed with pristine white camellias.

And then, a new sun would rise again—

[Speaking of the erroneous existence of the universe]

[It is the Beast of the Apocalypse departing the earth]

[The roses gallop across the cosmos until they burn themselves out, becoming stars]

————

With the chime of the clock, the seal embedded in the door of the private chamber automatically loosened and dissipated. Nero cheered, flung the door open, and barged in.

"Finally made it in! Draco, if you’ve got the guts to steal a man, don’t you dare hide behind closed doors... Huh?"

As Nero’s steps faltered, Hakuno and Alice, following close behind, had no choice but to halt as well. Their gazes instinctively shot forward, pupils contracting as they took in the familiar yet unfamiliar figure under the light, sharing Nero’s shock.

"Who... are you?!"