The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 171

#171.

“Is what you said last time really true?”

“Now you’re talking.”

“Tell me. Is that really all it takes?”

“That’s right.”

Ebensev grinned and handed something to Vasily.

It was a black fruit. Just looking at it was ominous. The name of this fruit was the Fruit of Death.

It was a dark red berry found at the entrance of Hebel [a mythical underworld or afterlife], and he had seen several beastkins die after eating it.

“Actually, Larien’s power can revive the dead. And the Divine Beast strictly forbids it. It’s against the laws of nature. So, if she breaks that promise, Larien will be free.”

“If what you say is true, Larien might not save me just because she listens to the Divine Beast.”

“That will never happen.”

“Why?”

“Still don’t get it? You’re already in love with each other, aren’t you?”

Love.

The moment Vasily heard that terrifying word, he realized that he was in love with Larien.

But he couldn’t be sure if Larien loved him. When you fall in love, you tend to become greatly anxious even with the smallest spark.

Knowing this, Ebensev incited Vasily.

“So, take this opportunity to find out. You’ll know how much Larien loves you.”

“……”

“I guarantee Larien will never just stand by and watch you die.”

In the end, Vasily believed Ebensev’s snake-like whisper. He had no idea that the reason her words felt so plausible was actually because of her pheromones.

* * *

When Vasily opened his eyes, he was outside Hebel. He clearly remembered eating the fruit in Hebel, but how did he get out?

Then, Larien, who was beside him, caught his eye.

“!”

As Ebensev had said, Larien was outside Hebel. Larien smiled beautifully at Vasily.

But there was something different from her usual smile.

‘Her eyes……’

Vasily realized something was wrong when he saw that Larien’s pupils had turned a cloudy gray.

Vasily was stunned. The sacred power he had felt from Larien had completely disappeared.

Larien, who had lost the Divine Beast’s blessing, looked as fragile as if she would break if touched.

A faint pheromone, even weaker than that of an ordinary beastkin.

Moreover, even the presence he had felt from her was fading. If she disappeared like this, it would be difficult to even find her.

It was hard to believe that this was Larien, who always seemed so strong.

‘No. This can’t be happening.’

Vasily was speechless and couldn’t do anything. He buried his face in her neck and smelled her scent. It was his way of confirming that she was still there in front of him.

Fortunately, she still had a sweet scent, but it was still weakened to the point that it couldn’t be compared to before.

It was well known that beastkins with weak pheromones had short lifespans.

With this level of energy, Larien wouldn’t live long.

The moment he realized that fact, Vasily knew exactly what he had done.

Larien saving his dead self ultimately meant…….

‘It meant she was dying in my place.’

Vasily despaired. At the same time, he felt her power dwelling in his body.

A full pheromone that couldn’t even be compared to the pheromone he had before.

It was an unwanted power. What he wanted was not power, but Larien herself.

But in the end, he had taken her power and brought her closer to death.

‘This isn’t what we agreed on.’

Vasily recalled his conversation with Ebensev. At that moment, he belatedly realized that her words were full of loopholes.

He couldn’t understand why he had been so swayed by her words.

“……”

Had he ever felt so foolish?

Looking back, Ebensev had never said that Larien would lose her power. She had simply said that she would help Larien get out of Hebel.

And as she said, Larien had come out of Hebel, in an unhealthy body, facing death.

‘I was deceived.’

Realizing that fact, it became too painful to look at Larien.

Vasily humanized and called her name for the first time.

“Larien.”

It was definitely a moment he had longed for so much. Why did it hurt so much as if his heart was tearing apart?

He was tormented as if he had ruined everything. Even if she resented him and turned away, he wouldn’t be able to do anything.

But Larien didn’t blame him. Rather, she caressed his cheek with a lovely smile.

“Did you sleep well?”

A kind voice. A bright smile. All of it was still dazzling.

Although she had lost her power, Larien was still Larien, and Vasily still loved only her.

But with his heart in tatters, it wasn’t easy for Vasily to calm his emotions.

So, the first thing he said to her was a cowardly accusation.

“Why did you do that?”

“……”

“You should have just let someone like me die.”

What am I that you made such a sacrifice?

You should have just let me die.

Why did you take your life so lightly?

Why did you fall for such a foolish trick?

Larien already knew that he was deliberately getting hurt. Yet, she saved him.

Vasily lowered his head. Having belatedly broken free from Ebensev’s spell, he felt like he was going crazy at his own foolish actions.

At that moment, Larien said.

“Because I love you so much.”

“……!”

“You know, Vasily. I actually made a selfish choice. Rather than living in a world without you, I wanted to live the rest of my life with you, even if it was short, and die first.”

“……”

“So, don’t blame yourself. I don’t regret my choice now.”

Larien smiled brightly and held Vasily’s hand tightly. Then, she uttered some cheerful nonsense.

“Of course, it’s a little sad that your rose-like eyes are gone.”

“……Is this really the time to say that?”

Larien was calm as if nothing had happened. That made Vasily even more upset.

“Ah! Of course, gold suits you very well too. You look like a sunflower.”

Like the flower-loving person she was, she associated everything with flowers.

Normally, he would have laughed it off as silly. But strangely, the more she smiled today, the more Vasily’s eyes stung.

In fact, Vasily also knew. That Larien was pretending to be okay.

Vasily gripped her trembling hand tightly.

The moment a limit was placed on Larien’s life, who had been promised an infinite life. There was only one thing Vasily could do.

As she wished, he would stay by her side until she died.

* * *

As a Zerachiel [likely a character or being with knowledge of future events] who already knew the ending, he frowned at the inevitable tragedy.

He felt all the more depressed by the fact that he was behind the saintess’s fall and death.

The moment Zerachiel was captured by Ebensev and trapped in this dream, he realized. That he had been manipulated by her pheromones.

Then, Vasily and Larien’s happy married life unfolded. A sweet and happy sight to behold. But knowing that the end was set, Zerachiel became distressed.

‘I need to get out of here first.’

But no matter how hard he tried, there was no way to get out of this dream. If he stayed like this, he might open his eyes only after everything was over, as Ebensev had said.

It was the moment he thought he had to stop that.

A familiar sandalwood scent brushed past his nose.

‘Cheltia?’

Then, the sound of bubbling water echoed in his ear. And Cheltia’s pheromones were felt in the direction of the sound.

Zerachiel began to move, following the sound. It was an almost instinctive movement.

Then, an unfamiliar space unfolded.

Suddenly regaining his senses, Zerachiel was startled by his appearance. Eyes stained with blood and hands full of blood. There were corpses scattered around.

A sight as if he had gone mad and rampaged.

‘Could it be that I did this while I was asleep?’

While looking around in confusion, he saw beastkins with red eyes like him rampaging nearby. A bizarre sight as if they were mad.

Then, with the sound of water droplets, a tabby in the shape of a fish appeared in front of him. It was the guardian who always followed Cheltia around.