“It’s because of you.”
"..."
"He killed them to have you all to himself, with his own hands, personally."
At Vidar's words, Presepe wore a look of disbelief.
She didn't believe it in the first place when Dietrich arrested Fenrir for that reason, and she couldn't believe it even more if it was Vidar saying it.
Besides, why would Fenrir go so far as to do such a thing? It was something Presepe could not understand at all.
"Didn't you ever doubt it?"
However, Vidar continued speaking.
"Have you ever thought it was strange how Fenrir, who is nobody, was able to approach you?"
"..."
"Why does Fenrir always protect you to such an excessive degree... what is the reason for that?"
But that was because of a bug.
And what always comforted her was the memory from the tutorial.
Because he liked me.
Just as I like the Grand Duke too...
"In the end, he's just trying to kill everyone who can approach you and take you for himself."
Vidar said in a voice full of mockery.
"I told you back then, too. In my eyes, he's no different at all."
"It's funny. To me, it's not different at all."
What suddenly crossed his mind was the day Fenrir was injured in Ivan's raid.
It was what Vidar spat out when he came to the bedroom.
"...In the end, we’re just being swayed in the same way, equally excessively crazy, and have the same goal?"
Presepe showed no reaction. However, her pale violet eyes, filled with confusion, wavered aimlessly, and her limp hands began to tremble faintly.
Vidar stared at it intently.
"Lie."
And it was after quite some time had passed that Presepe spoke again.
"How would you know that?"
"..."
"There isn't a single piece of evidence, so why should I believe that?"
After possessing the game, he protects her unconditionally.
Completely unlike the other male characters who always shackled her, choked her, and ultimately took her life, he is the person who saved her while feeling sorry for her death.
She liked Fenrir.
And those were also the direct reasons why Presepe came to take a liking to Fenrir.
But that's not it?
Why should she believe that?
Even so, Presepe felt deep fear at Vidar's words.
Actually, she suspected that Fenrir, too, might have been looking at her with the same perspective as the others.
So she was worried that the end of the path with Fenrir might be the same as the endings with the other characters she's seen so far.
This fear could not be simply described as a matter of trust in Fenrir.
Because Presepe has endured such pain with all her might hundreds of times already.
After leaving the Imperial Palace and moving to Fenrir's mansion, she received comfort and solace. Her mind also became much more stable.
However, sometimes there were also traumas that remained like a vivid scar that could never be erased, and thus could never be removed.
Just like now...
“Do you need it?”
Vidar reached out, grabbed Presepe's cheek, and asked.
"The evidence. Like that."
There is nothing he can't show.
Vidar stretched out his other hand. Soon, black mist swirled and flowed from the large, pale fingertips, and something like an image began to appear in the center of the mist.
"Look."
Vidar looked straight at Presepe and said.
"You told me you needed evidence."
What was reflected in Presepe's eyes was a place she knew very well.
So, the flower garden near the banquet hall.
Attar Hanan was found dead.
"What are you doing! Stop it!!"
On that day, Presepe, whose wrist had been grabbed, thrashed wildly and slapped Attar Hanan's cheek. Then she ran away, and Attar Hanan, left alone, muttered softly while holding the shackles in his hand.
[Ha. Damn it...]
And in an instant, a dark shadow fell over Attar Hanan, who was grumbling with an annoyed face.
It was Fenrir...
[What, get away from me...]
Go away.
Attar Hanan could not finish his sentence. Fenrir reached out very quickly, in an instant, and mercilessly twisted his neck,
Attar Hanan seemed to be causing a very violent disturbance, but not long after, his movements came to a halt.
And Fenrir slowly picked up the shackles that had fallen to the floor. Then he looked coldly down at Attar Hanan, who was rolling on the ground like an insect.
"..."
In Presepe's eyes, filled with chaos, a different image began to appear this time.
It was Noah DeVern.
[I have no siblings. My parents are always in the northern estate. I wonder what is so great about that quiet and barren place.]
[...So, that means even if something were to happen to you right now, there is no one who would notice immediately.]
Noah DeVern looked puzzled at Fenrir's question, which seemed to be testing the waters, but Fenrir continued speaking as if nothing had happened.
[You have gathered so many rare items in the townhouse; wouldn't there be a risk of an intruder...]
Noah DeVern likewise continued the conversation.
[But lately, I’ve become interested in something else. I mean monsters. I heard they’ve started making stuffed animals out of monsters, and my heart raced when I found out. However, they are so hard to find.]
The video flickered and showed the next scene. It was Noah DeVern looking happy as he gazed at something loaded on a large cart.
[It's a stuffed monster, isn't it? Griffin...]
Noah DeVern struggled to move it. The room was filled with stuffed animals, a space Presepe knew all too well.
[Damn it, if I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have given you the vacation...]
Noah DeVern lit a scented candle, sat on the sofa, gazed at the stuffed griffin with satisfaction, and fell asleep.
He looked as if he were under the influence of drugs.
Not long after he fell asleep like that, a glint appeared in the griffin's eyes.
The griffin ripped its maw open and, just like that, grabbed Noah DeVern's neck...
"..."
At the utterly horrific scene, Presepe reflexively squeezed her eyes shut. Then, clutching her left chest, she gasped briefly.
What did I just see?
This is ridiculous.
"How is it?"
Vidar looked down at Presepe and asked.
"Do you trust me a little now?"
However, Presepe could not answer and leaned against the bookshelf, her legs giving way. But she ended up slumping back into the seat.
"You, how could you do something like this..."
Her mind was a complete mess.
She couldn't tell where the truth began, and the lies ended. Not even the things Fenrir had told her until now...
And it was that moment.
A book that had been leaning against the shelf fell conspicuously at Presepe's feet.
Presepe's gaze instinctively turned to the book.
[Book of Memories]
Then, something completely unexpected appeared.
'Why is this... here right now...'
[Notice: Would you like to view the Book of Memories?]
As if unconcerned by Presepe's bewilderment, a notification window that had not been seen at all until now appeared clearly before his eyes.
On Vidar's face.
'It hasn't been seen even once until now...'
Furthermore, other systems like viewing case logs or albums had long since collapsed. She saw it clearly with her own eyes last time as well—the notification window filled with incomprehensible question marks. And in the end, it didn't even allow for viewing.
[The password for the guide is the real male protagonist's name.]
“I. I...”
In a panic, Presepe muttered blankly.
"Poor Presepe."
"..."
"I'm the only one who can save you."
Vidar said, looking affectionately at Presepe.
"So stop being fooled now."
Not a single word of Vidar's words registered in her ears.
[Notice: Shall we look at the Book of Memories?]
Only the sparkling, glowing information window caught her eye.
"Vi..."
And Presepe stammered, his dry lips twitching.
“Vidar...”
[Notice: Summoning the Book of Memories.]
"Okay."
[Guide: Vidar, a Demon King who has lived for thousands of years in the Forbidden Forest, west of Ateloia.]
"The only one who can save you."
[Introduction: In the year 999 of the Imperial Calendar, Presepe, banished from the Imperial Palace, recalls Vanessa's dying wish and visits the Forbidden Forest, where she meets this character...]
"That was me."
"..."
"Not someone like Fenrir."
And only then did it catch her eye.
[Demon King Vidar / Affection ???]
The favorability window that had not been revealed until now.
A guide window flashed and shone over Presepe's vacant eyes, which were fading without a single ray of light.
It was that moment.
"Move aside. I have come here for business."
From beyond the closed door, Siegfried's voice was heard.
"Lady Presepe, I apologize, but I will be entering."
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