Since Karl is a transcendent being, wouldn't he like purification?
'If he turns back time, the purification will also go back to what it was like. He might stop the regression because he doesn't like that.'
She gently stroked his back, trying hard to hide her trembling hands.
Then he just focused on pouring out the purification.
"...Hmm."
It's only been two years since Karl awakened as a transcendent being. Since no disasters have occurred since his awakening, he probably never had to use his powers.
Perhaps that was why there was no sense of contamination. Shion did not seem to be satisfied with the purification.
As Odette began to feel uneasy, wondering if the purification was of no use, the status window rang.
[ Karl stops the fifth 'time regression'.]
In any case, it seemed he had decided not to return. Judging by the crimson ring that had surrounded her, it had disintegrated and disappeared into the air.
Odette sighed in relief.
'But...what is this feeling of discomfort?'
There was something decidedly different about the purification of Shion. No matter how much she pushed for purification, it felt like she was being sucked into an endless void.
Then, Odette realized the source of the discomfort and flinched.
Oh, how can this be?
'There aren't any... There are no monsters anywhere inside Karl.'
If there is to be a supernatural ability, then there must naturally be a divine monster within it.
'How can you use your powers when there are no monsters?'
In the world of < Redemption >, this is impossible. Only humans with the monsters of God can awaken and be called transcendent beings.
Obviously, the fourth male protagonist, Karl, would have Fenrir, the divine monster that is considered the root and origin of the Fenrir clan.
But... How... How on earth? How did he awaken without a monster?
It was the moment when the surprised Odette was about to let go of her arms in embarrassment. Karl wrapped both arms tightly around Odette's waist as she tried to move away.
"Are you going to end your apology here?"
A being that shook the foundation of her worldview. A cold sweat ran down her spine.
"I'm not the kid I was two years ago."
[ Congratulations! The 'Master of the Status Window' has successfully stopped the cycle of infinite regression! ]
Tiring. That was when the notification in the status window rang.
At the same time, Karl looked to the side. It was exactly where the status window was floating.
'It's creepy.'
She doesn't think the status window will be visible.
It was as if he had a gut feeling that there was something there. Just like the moment Odette had made eye contact with him in the castle of the Kingdom of Fenrir.
His gaze returned and rested on Odette's lips.
"yets?"
Rather than asking for permission, his eyes seemed to be testing Odette.
Odette felt choked up. She felt like a sacrifice to some transcendent being.
Those red eyes that seem to be holding her leash.
Odette clenched her fists. She grew up in the Count's mansion.
No one knows better than her that once you surrender, you will be subject to greater submission from then on.
'I can't be dragged away.'
Odette put strength into her arms to push Karl's chest away.
***
Early in the morning, on the day Paula was scheduled to enter the Count's mansion.
Before she went in as a maid, she stopped by Sasha's neighborhood briefly to say hello to him.
The alleys of the poor neighborhood were busy from dawn. The slaughterhouse already gave off a bloody smell, and a newsboy carrying a full load of newspapers was running around in a hurry.
A group of workers heading to the factory whistled and insulted her as she passed by in her skirt.
'They look like disgusting, poor people.'
Paula gripped her trunk tighter as she entered one of the tall, tightly packed apartment buildings.
Sasha's house was on the fourth floor of this building. Paula went up the narrow, smelly stone stairs and knocked on the door.
"Mother?"
Creak, the wooden door opened with a creaking hinge. Sasha's copper eyes appeared through the crack.
Her face looked more lifeless and gloomy than it had been immediately after Shylock had driven her out.
Sasha had been resentful of Fernand throughout the divorce trial, saying, "He's just like his father," but she seemed bitter when she heard the news of his death.
"...Come in."
After hearing the news of Fernand's death, Sasha bought a dress to mourn him. A dress made of the finest satin.
'There must have been a lot of black clothes out there, so why did you buy that?'
Paula's eyes narrowed when she saw that. It was an expensive dress that was too expensive for Sasha's current situation.
'You could use the money to pay rent instead of buying that.'
For Sasha, even her son's death may have been just an excuse to buy that dress. Sasha is a person with more self-love than maternal love.
Paula barely managed to swallow a sigh and smile. Her mother's reprimand flew at her.
"You wouldn't come to someone else's house empty-handed, would you?"
"No way. I just brought you a quick snack, Mom."
"Nothing like that. Don't you have any neat gems like onyx or pearls? Something that would go with this black dress."
It happened to be the bracelets and rings that Paula was wearing. Whenever Paula came over, Sasha would covet the jewelry her daughter was wearing.
"Isn't my fate really strange? It's a tragedy that my only child has come first, and now I don't have even one accessory that would be appropriate to mourn him."
By encouraging guilt in that way.
'The only child.'
Paula's brow furrowed at those words.
But if she doesn't give it to her, she might cry for a long time. Paula, who didn't want to stay here for too long, ended up giving her the bracelet and ring.
"Here it is."
On the subject of receiving a gift, Sasha looked as if she had received something from below.
The way she treated Paula was not much different from two years ago. She still treated her like a close maid, without any affection for her child.
'I couldn't help it because eyes were watching me two years ago, but now I'm the only one Sasha has left, and I'm being treated like this?'
Paula forced herself to suppress her rising irritation and smiled broadly.
"Mother, I have good news. I have been chosen to be Lady Charlotte's maid!"
When she heard those words, Sasha's face instantly brightened.
"Is that true?!"
But before Paula could open her mouth, Sasha spoke in an excited voice.
"Then you're going back to the Count's residence! You're in a position to get rid of that mistress and that damned illegitimate child!"
"Mother!"
Paula's voice was sharp. It was the opportunity of a lifetime that was given to her, but she was annoyed at Sasha, who only thought about other people's food.
"Mother. Are you telling me to do something bad for you? What will happen to my life if I get caught?"
"No matter what, you have to do it! So you want me to watch a mistress become a Countess with my own eyes?!"
"Mother...!"
"How much has my life been ruined because of that mistress? Those bastards who committed dirty deeds live in luxury in the Count's mansion, while I die in this beggarly neighborhood?"
But Sasha screamed in a louder voice.
A shared house with poor soundproofing. A loud bang was heard hitting the wall as if warning the two from the next door.
'I should have gone straight to the Count's residence. I reported this to my mother for nothing...!'
Paula turned around with a tired expression. There was nothing she liked about this place.
"Yes, Mom. I'll go first."
But Sasha blocked the door.
"Get out of the way, Mother!"
"I'll let you go only if you promise. Go to the count's house and promise that you'll take my revenge on my behalf! Promise me that you'll ruin that mistress, and then I'll let you go!"
There was madness in her eyes.
"Just look at this pitiful mother. Think about your poor, dead brother. How can it be that the mistress is happy while I am in this state?"
Sasha began to sob in front of Paula, as if to elicit sympathy.
Paula laughed in vain. Just a moment ago, she said Fernand was her only child, but now she is saying that she is her 'mother'.
'And... a younger brother? What younger brother?!'
She's called him Master her whole life. When she was at the Count's residence, if Paula accidentally called him her little brother, she'd get in trouble!
Paula's hands were trembling.
'Gisela is right. My mother has always been gnawing at me.'
Gisela always said that the person who helps Paula is not her mother. She is just someone who eats away at her life.
'I couldn't break it off because of love... but I can't do it anymore.'
Paula took out the ring she had been keeping in her bosom. It was the most precious jewel she had ever received from Sasha, a blue diamond ring.
This time, she had moved into the Count's residence, so she brought it with her, hiding it tightly in her bosom.
"Take it, Mother."
Paula threw the ring on the floor, intending to completely cut ties with her mother.
"Take it to any pawn shop and sell it. Even if I'm not around, my mother will be very happy with it."
Of course, she knew best how expensive it was, but she couldn't help but pay it if she thought of it as the price of cutting off her guilt and love for her mother.
Sasha's copper eyes sparkled as she remembered the ring.
The sight of her mother hurriedly getting out of the way to pick up the ring looked like a bug crawling in search of food.
Now, her shabby relationship with her mother was truly over.
Paula looked down at her mother with pity, then quickly turned around and left the house, satisfied with the fact that she would never have to come back to this cheap apartment again.
***
"Get out of the way, Karl."
But no matter how much Odette strained her arms, Karl's shoulders did not budge at all.
His face was still within breathable distance, without any change. At a distance where they could touch lips at any moment.
"Master."
Even though he ended up hitting Karl with his fist, Karl didn't budge a tall.
"I think it would be better not to push me away. The master hasn't forgiven me yet."
Odette's hand stopped.
"Is this how you want to accept an apology?"
"There's no way it won't work. It's so pretty."
"Even so, without my will, you cannot be purified."
She heard Karl giggling. Perhaps because the light was not there, it sounded like the devil's laughter.
"I never asked for anything like purification, Master."
She can't be pressured by the momentum. Odette accepted it as calmly as possible.
"I thought you liked it just now?"
"It's not that I'm purified, but I like the fact that the master is trying to please me."
As he said this, he moved his lips near the nape of Odette's neck.
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