Episode 118. Where the Blade Points
Lawrence felt a rage boil deep within her as she watched Lacrahan helplessly offer his head.
She'd thought Lacrahan would resist if she threatened him with a knife like this.
Or at least beg for his life.
But Lacrahan was actually telling her to kill him.
Lawrence's hand, gripping the knife, trembled, unable to contain the emotions welling up within her.
"It's always like this. Always."
Both Bercheria and Lacrahan.
"What's so great about you?"
Lawrence felt a rage boil deep within her as she watched Lacrahan helplessly offer his head.
She'd thought Lacrahan would resist if she threatened him with a knife like this.
Or at least beg for his life.
But Lacrahan was actually telling her to kill him.
Lawrence's hand, gripping the knife, trembled, unable to contain the emotions welling up within her.
"It's always like this. Always."
Both Bercheria and Lacrahan.
"What's so great about you?"
They'd always behaved like this in front of Lawrence.
"If you eliminate the Supreme Being, that's the end? Then me! What was I?"
Lawrence muttered in a voice like scraping metal.
"It's unfair."
It was all their fault.
It wasn't her fault in the first place.
"You were the ones who made me like this!"
Even when she imprisoned Bercheria in the tower under the command of the Supreme Being, Lawrence honestly hadn't intended to torment her that much.
Her goal was simply to make her an obedient child, preventing her from leaving.
That way, she wouldn't have to face Lacrahan.
But every time she beat and abused her, Bercheria's reaction drove Lawrence mad. She was so young and vulnerable, she looked as if she could crumble if you grabbed her, yet her gaze was always unyielding, as if she were in control. It was truly maddening.
She was the one getting angry, she was the one hitting, she was the one in control, yet she felt like she was losing.
Come to think of it, it had been this way for a very long time.
Every life she'd lived, she'd tormented Bercheria, but through it all, life after life, Lawrence had never won.
No matter how much she tormented and trampled on her, she never felt like a victor.
"I should have killed you, Lacrahan, from the beginning, not Bercheria."
But this time, it would be different.
“That would have been true revenge.”
What if Bercheria, arriving late, saw Lacrahan dead?
How desperate would her face be?
How much pain would she endure?
“Hehehe.”
Just imagining it made her laugh.
If she couldn’t have it, then Bercheria shouldn’t have it either.
That was right.
“It’s the end.”
Lawrence raised her sword with all her might.
Lacrahan’s strong neck was waiting for her, veins bulging before his eyes.
Just as she was about to stab him, imagining crimson blood spurting out,
“Ugh!”
“What is this!”
Suddenly, the ground began to shake.
Shocks like lightning shooting up from the ground in reverse erupted here and there.
Lawrence staggered and fell to the floor with a thud.
“What the!”
The sword fell from her hand and rolled across the floor.
“This guy.”
Lawrence gritted her teeth and crawled, determined to regain her sword.
“Ugh!”
“What! The ground is moving!”
People who had been still just moments ago were running away, screaming as if something had happened.
It felt like hell was being reenacted before their eyes.
“What the...?”
Lawrence raised her head, still glued to the ground. The solid ground was boiling like soup in a pot, a sight uncanny.
Round bubbles rose and fell, raggedly, as if bursting from the ground, knocking people over. A sudden, tremendous roar erupted, and darkness enveloped the surroundings in an instant. The portal that had illuminated them like daylight began to warp and collapse.
"If you eliminate the Supreme Being, that's the end? Then me! What was I?"
Lawrence muttered in a voice like scraping metal.
"It's unfair."
It was all their fault.
It wasn't her fault in the first place.
"You were the ones who made me like this!"
Even when she imprisoned Bercheria in the tower under the command of the Supreme Being, Lawrence honestly hadn't intended to torment her that much.
Her goal was simply to make her an obedient child, preventing her from leaving.
That way, she wouldn't have to face Lacrahan.
But every time she beat and abused her, Bercheria's reaction drove Lawrence mad. She was so young and vulnerable, she looked as if she could crumble if you grabbed her, yet her gaze was always unyielding, as if she were in control. It was truly maddening.
She was the one getting angry, she was the one hitting, she was the one in control, yet she felt like she was losing.
Come to think of it, it had been this way for a very long time.
Every life she'd lived, she'd tormented Bercheria, but through it all, life after life, Lawrence had never won.
No matter how much she tormented and trampled on her, she never felt like a victor.
"I should have killed you, Lacrahan, from the beginning, not Bercheria."
But this time, it would be different.
“That would have been true revenge.”
What if Bercheria, arriving late, saw Lacrahan dead?
How desperate would her face be?
How much pain would she endure?
“Hehehe.”
Just imagining it made her laugh.
If she couldn’t have it, then Bercheria shouldn’t have it either.
That was right.
“It’s the end.”
Lawrence raised her sword with all her might.
Lacrahan’s strong neck was waiting for her, veins bulging before his eyes.
Just as she was about to stab him, imagining crimson blood spurting out,
“Ugh!”
“What is this!”
Suddenly, the ground began to shake.
Shocks like lightning shooting up from the ground in reverse erupted here and there.
Lawrence staggered and fell to the floor with a thud.
“What the!”
The sword fell from her hand and rolled across the floor.
“This guy.”
Lawrence gritted her teeth and crawled, determined to regain her sword.
“Ugh!”
“What! The ground is moving!”
People who had been still just moments ago were running away, screaming as if something had happened.
It felt like hell was being reenacted before their eyes.
“What the...?”
Lawrence raised her head, still glued to the ground. The solid ground was boiling like soup in a pot, a sight uncanny.
Round bubbles rose and fell, raggedly, as if bursting from the ground, knocking people over. A sudden, tremendous roar erupted, and darkness enveloped the surroundings in an instant. The portal that had illuminated them like daylight began to warp and collapse.
“Huh?”
“Get out of here!”
The light vanished in an instant, and everyone shouted in the darkness.
“Protect His Majesty the Emperor!”
Dylan’s voice, seemingly having regained consciousness, was heard, and the royal guards rushed in, supporting Gerard, who was staring blankly at the portal, and began evacuating him.
“Master! What should we do with this man?”
The knights shouted, supporting the Supreme Being from both sides. The mindless, Supreme Being was so large that even two people seemed to struggle to lift him.
“Just leave it...”
“I can’t hear you! Please say it again!”
“Just move it to the side. Don’t hurt anyone.”
“Yes!”
The moment the guardsmen were struggling to move the Supreme Being, a crunch.
A sound like an iron ball bouncing on an iron plate began to be heard from underground, and then suddenly, something burst out from the ground.
“Ugh!”
Those nearby were blown away like pieces of paper, and the ground rose up again beside them.
“What is that!”
To their dismay, it was a tree.
Large trees continued to pop out from the ground like moles poking their heads out.
They were huge trees that looked like they had easily lived for hundreds of years.
The plains that had been no different from a desert had instantly transformed into a forest.
People’s faces were covered in shock at the unimaginable scene.
“What are you looking at! Run away quickly!”
“Ugh!”
The ground next to a man who had been lost in thought made another thud, and a new tree sprouted from within.
The knights, momentarily lost in thought, ran away again.
“No. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you.”
Lawrence crawled toward her sword, covered in dust.
“I’ll never let you two be together!”
Lawrence didn’t even mind the dirt entering her mouth.
She clenched her teeth, chewing the stone between her teeth as she gripped the sword.
“Do you think you can be happy alone, leaving me behind? Do you think I’ll let you be like that?”
She screamed like a madwoman, clutching the sword she’d clung to and standing.
Shaking her disheveled hair, she searched for Lacrahan.
He was still standing there, gazing at the sprawling trees with an unreadable expression. He didn’t look surprised. But Lawrence couldn’t decipher what that expression meant.
“Just die! Aaaah!”
The moment she started running towards Lacrahan again.
Suddenly, a tree leaped out of nowhere, blocking Lawrence's path.
"You idiot! Get out of the way!"
Then, a leaf so large it obscured her vision, slammed into her cheek.
Slap.
"Ah! What the!"
Startled, she flailed her arms forward, but leaves as tall as her approached, layer after layer, enveloping her, leaving Lawrence trapped and unable to move.
"Ugh!"
Just then, as she swung her sword like a madman, a familiar voice came from beside her.
"We finally meet again like this, Mother."
A voice that flowed calmly amidst the chaos.
All Lawrence's movements stopped.
Bercheria.
It was her.
"Ugh."
In an instant, the leaves that had obscured Lawrence vanished as if by magic.
Losing her balance at the unexpected movement, Lawrence was about to fall when a white hand shot out and caught her.
Supported by that arm, Lawrence raised her head, gritting her teeth as she stared at Bercheria before her.
Even amidst the chaos, Bercheria remained alone, her eyes beautiful and serene.
Lawrence stared intently at her starry, golden eyes, sparkling like stars.
“I think this is the first time I’ve encountered a mother so perfect, in appearance and in spirit, isn’t it?”
Lawrence shook off Bercheria’s grip on him.
“What nonsense are you talking about!”
She let out a vulgar, crude remark, but she didn’t care.
The people of the Kingdom of Contana didn’t originally care about refinement.
They were a people proud of being called a barbarian people.
They were the ones who felt their presence by trampling and dominating.
“Lawrence. There’s something I wanted to ask you when we meet like this someday.”
Lawrence glared at Bercheria, she gripping her sword in her back tightly.
“Dipper.”
Dipper is no longer with us, but at this point, she realizes that sleeping with Dipper was nothing short of a gift to Lawrence.
“To become a human who can kill a god.”
What greater blessing could there be?
Whether it was Bercheria or Lacrahan, the good fortune of being able to kill anyone they wanted had come their way.
"What is it you want to ask me? Why did I imprison you? Why did I torment you? Or, do you want an apology? Who are you! Who are you...?"
“Were you lonely because you weren’t loved by anyone?”
“...What?”
“Lonely and painful?”
Lawrence’s lips trembled.
“Wh-what are you talking about?”
Lawrence thought each reincarnation was a blessing from the Supreme Being, but in fact, it was a curse.
The endless loneliness tormented Lawrence.
Born again and again, she was never filled.
She coveted what she couldn’t have, never even considering what was by her side.
She had never smiled in happiness, nor received the acceptance and complete love of anyone.
Her heart, increasingly warped by her gaze fixed on a distant, unattainable goal, would never be filled, no matter how many times she was reborn.
“Lawrence.”
Bercheria reached out and brushed her cheek, stained with blood and dirt.
“I feel sorry for you. My mother.”
Lawrence’s eyes shook as if there had been an earthquake.
The warmth of Bercheria's body against her cheek was so vivid that she could feel it running down her skin.
"I, I..."
"Don't worry. I've forgotten everything you did to me."
Lawrence's lips moved, her face blank.
"The curses you heaped on me, the whips you used to whip me with, even the dried, twisted bread. Everything."
Everything about Bercheria was shining brightly. Only then did Lawrence dimly realize that perhaps she hadn't loved Lacrahan. That she had clung to Lacrahan all her life, unwilling to admit that she couldn't overcome this being.
"Bercheria."
That deep down, what she truly longed for and loved might not be Lacrahan, but Bercheria, this woman.
"Bercheria."
Lawrence tightly grasped Bercheria's wrist, which was resting on her cheek.
Above it, the Twilight Ring she had shared with Lacrahan sparkled and shone.
Lawrence had always wondered why the great god would sacrifice his life for a mere mortal woman. He gazed at Lacrahan, wanting to know the reason, and that became everything to him.
“My beloved daughter.”
Lawrence pulled Bercheria’s hand and placed it over her heart.
She placed the white hand wearing the Twilight Ring on her chest and placed her own dirty hand on top of it.
“You don’t know how happy this mother is to hear you say that. Bercheria. My Bercheria. Do you know how much I love you?”
Lawrence tilted her head and smiled happily.
“My daughter. My perfect daughter.”
Yes.
At this very moment, she felt a sense of complete happiness.
“Even this mother is getting tired. So.”
Lawrence pulled out the knife she had kept hidden behind her back and hugged Bercheria tightly.
“Now, let’s go together, my beloved Bercheria.”
“...!”
Phew.
Lawrence smiled happily, savoring the feeling of the knife piercing her flesh.
The feeling of the hem of her pristine white dress soaking in blood was comforting.
"...L-Lacrahan."
“Just leave it...”
“I can’t hear you! Please say it again!”
“Just move it to the side. Don’t hurt anyone.”
“Yes!”
The moment the guardsmen were struggling to move the Supreme Being, a crunch.
A sound like an iron ball bouncing on an iron plate began to be heard from underground, and then suddenly, something burst out from the ground.
“Ugh!”
Those nearby were blown away like pieces of paper, and the ground rose up again beside them.
“What is that!”
To their dismay, it was a tree.
Large trees continued to pop out from the ground like moles poking their heads out.
They were huge trees that looked like they had easily lived for hundreds of years.
The plains that had been no different from a desert had instantly transformed into a forest.
People’s faces were covered in shock at the unimaginable scene.
“What are you looking at! Run away quickly!”
“Ugh!”
The ground next to a man who had been lost in thought made another thud, and a new tree sprouted from within.
The knights, momentarily lost in thought, ran away again.
“No. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you.”
Lawrence crawled toward her sword, covered in dust.
“I’ll never let you two be together!”
Lawrence didn’t even mind the dirt entering her mouth.
She clenched her teeth, chewing the stone between her teeth as she gripped the sword.
“Do you think you can be happy alone, leaving me behind? Do you think I’ll let you be like that?”
She screamed like a madwoman, clutching the sword she’d clung to and standing.
Shaking her disheveled hair, she searched for Lacrahan.
He was still standing there, gazing at the sprawling trees with an unreadable expression. He didn’t look surprised. But Lawrence couldn’t decipher what that expression meant.
“Just die! Aaaah!”
The moment she started running towards Lacrahan again.
Suddenly, a tree leaped out of nowhere, blocking Lawrence's path.
"You idiot! Get out of the way!"
Then, a leaf so large it obscured her vision, slammed into her cheek.
Slap.
"Ah! What the!"
Startled, she flailed her arms forward, but leaves as tall as her approached, layer after layer, enveloping her, leaving Lawrence trapped and unable to move.
"Ugh!"
Just then, as she swung her sword like a madman, a familiar voice came from beside her.
"We finally meet again like this, Mother."
A voice that flowed calmly amidst the chaos.
All Lawrence's movements stopped.
Bercheria.
It was her.
"Ugh."
In an instant, the leaves that had obscured Lawrence vanished as if by magic.
Losing her balance at the unexpected movement, Lawrence was about to fall when a white hand shot out and caught her.
Supported by that arm, Lawrence raised her head, gritting her teeth as she stared at Bercheria before her.
Even amidst the chaos, Bercheria remained alone, her eyes beautiful and serene.
Lawrence stared intently at her starry, golden eyes, sparkling like stars.
“I think this is the first time I’ve encountered a mother so perfect, in appearance and in spirit, isn’t it?”
Lawrence shook off Bercheria’s grip on him.
“What nonsense are you talking about!”
She let out a vulgar, crude remark, but she didn’t care.
The people of the Kingdom of Contana didn’t originally care about refinement.
They were a people proud of being called a barbarian people.
They were the ones who felt their presence by trampling and dominating.
“Lawrence. There’s something I wanted to ask you when we meet like this someday.”
Lawrence glared at Bercheria, she gripping her sword in her back tightly.
“Dipper.”
Dipper is no longer with us, but at this point, she realizes that sleeping with Dipper was nothing short of a gift to Lawrence.
“To become a human who can kill a god.”
What greater blessing could there be?
Whether it was Bercheria or Lacrahan, the good fortune of being able to kill anyone they wanted had come their way.
"What is it you want to ask me? Why did I imprison you? Why did I torment you? Or, do you want an apology? Who are you! Who are you...?"
“Were you lonely because you weren’t loved by anyone?”
“...What?”
“Lonely and painful?”
Lawrence’s lips trembled.
“Wh-what are you talking about?”
Lawrence thought each reincarnation was a blessing from the Supreme Being, but in fact, it was a curse.
The endless loneliness tormented Lawrence.
Born again and again, she was never filled.
She coveted what she couldn’t have, never even considering what was by her side.
She had never smiled in happiness, nor received the acceptance and complete love of anyone.
Her heart, increasingly warped by her gaze fixed on a distant, unattainable goal, would never be filled, no matter how many times she was reborn.
“Lawrence.”
Bercheria reached out and brushed her cheek, stained with blood and dirt.
“I feel sorry for you. My mother.”
Lawrence’s eyes shook as if there had been an earthquake.
The warmth of Bercheria's body against her cheek was so vivid that she could feel it running down her skin.
"I, I..."
"Don't worry. I've forgotten everything you did to me."
Lawrence's lips moved, her face blank.
"The curses you heaped on me, the whips you used to whip me with, even the dried, twisted bread. Everything."
Everything about Bercheria was shining brightly. Only then did Lawrence dimly realize that perhaps she hadn't loved Lacrahan. That she had clung to Lacrahan all her life, unwilling to admit that she couldn't overcome this being.
"Bercheria."
That deep down, what she truly longed for and loved might not be Lacrahan, but Bercheria, this woman.
"Bercheria."
Lawrence tightly grasped Bercheria's wrist, which was resting on her cheek.
Above it, the Twilight Ring she had shared with Lacrahan sparkled and shone.
Lawrence had always wondered why the great god would sacrifice his life for a mere mortal woman. He gazed at Lacrahan, wanting to know the reason, and that became everything to him.
“My beloved daughter.”
Lawrence pulled Bercheria’s hand and placed it over her heart.
She placed the white hand wearing the Twilight Ring on her chest and placed her own dirty hand on top of it.
“You don’t know how happy this mother is to hear you say that. Bercheria. My Bercheria. Do you know how much I love you?”
Lawrence tilted her head and smiled happily.
“My daughter. My perfect daughter.”
Yes.
At this very moment, she felt a sense of complete happiness.
“Even this mother is getting tired. So.”
Lawrence pulled out the knife she had kept hidden behind her back and hugged Bercheria tightly.
“Now, let’s go together, my beloved Bercheria.”
“...!”
Phew.
Lawrence smiled happily, savoring the feeling of the knife piercing her flesh.
The feeling of the hem of her pristine white dress soaking in blood was comforting.
"...L-Lacrahan."
A pained groan escaped Bercheria's lips.
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