The Way To Protect The Female Lead’S Older Brother [EN]: Chapter 180

The rising tide in her chest surged into a raging storm and overflowed.

“Right now…….”

Cassis gripped their intertwined hands tighter, his voice revealing the full extent of his emotional torrent.

“Saying things like that now is too…….”

Unfair.

To think a single word could so easily send him from hell to heaven.

In the end, he failed to suppress the overwhelming emotions surging within him and roughly devoured her waiting lips.

It was as intoxicating as when she had claimed him as her own.

Even if her confession from moments ago had been a lie, Cassis would have felt a joy akin to bitterness.

But Roxana’s words now were her complete and utter truth, and Cassis could feel it.

And to stay by his side until the moment of his death.

To kill him with her own hands rather than let him leave.

Where else in the world could such sweet words be found?

Roxana was right.

Even if Roxana were to cruelly tear his heart to shreds, Cassis would never let go of the arms embracing her until his dying breath.

“Roxana.”

With ragged breaths, Cassis pressed his lips against hers, tightening his arms around her waist as if to crush her.

“I want more…….”

Even after saying it, once was far from enough for him.

So he whispered the same words countless times, never tiring of them.

Roxana embraced all the words and kisses that rained down like stars. No matter how much she devoured, it was never too much.

That night, Wigdrasil [likely a reference to Norse mythology’s world tree, here perhaps a place or estate] was, for the first and last time, a world solely for the two of them.

* * *

A quiet, sinking air was permeated by a faint current, spreading like mist.

‘They’ moved silently within it, like leaves carried by the water.

Crossing the southwestern border, passing through fields, their footsteps finally reached a habitat teeming with monsters.

Kieeeek!

The monsters attacked the intruders who had invaded their territory.

But ‘they’ were only there to pass through, interested in nothing other than fulfilling their master’s orders.

However, eliminating obstacles was essential to achieving their goal.

The sharp metal that replaced where a hand should have been slashed through the air without hesitation.

Kieeeek!

The flesh of the charging monsters tore open, and blood splattered through the forest.

After a brief skirmish, ‘they’ stepped over the corpses of the monsters, now just lumps of meat, and continued forward.

Soon after, the monsters swarmed back into the silence.

The forest returned to its original state as if nothing had happened.

Only the air, calm as the eve of a storm, swirled ominously.

* * *

“Ah.”

Orca, sitting by the window and gazing outside, suddenly let out a soft chuckle.

Pandora, sitting at the table and aimlessly drinking alone, turned a questioning gaze towards him.

Where the leader, Hiakin Hyperion, had been sitting just moments ago, there was now only an empty glass.

“What’s out there?”

“No, it’s just…….”

However, there was nothing unusual to see outside, even when following Orca’s gaze.

“I was just thinking that the fellowship is really interesting.”

Puzzled by his incomprehensible words, Pandora frowned.

What exactly is so interesting about it?

Even thinking about the hearing that had taken place just this afternoon, the word ‘interesting’ was the last thing that came to mind.

To create dolls using human corpses.

Of course, when it came to someone like Roxana Agriche, she could understand wanting to kill her and turn her into a doll.

There were probably quite a few people who had the same thought as Pandora when they heard that story.

But putting such thoughts into action was another matter entirely.

In any case, to say that the fellowship is interesting right after such an event. She knew it already, but Orca’s tastes were not good.

Whether Pandora thought so or not, Orca was still gazing far out the window, muttering to himself.

“Yes, there’s really not much time left now.”

Hearing those words, Pandora couldn’t help but tilt her head.

“But there’s still quite a bit of time left until the fellowship ends, right?”

Well, is there, really?

Orca swallowed his retort, basking in the rare feeling of fullness, a languid smile on his face.

He was looking forward to tomorrow.

* * *

Before dawn, Cassis rose from his bed.

As he unwrapped his arm from around her waist, the body he had been holding stirred slightly.

Cassis’s eyes lingered on Roxana’s back as she lay beside him for a long time.

He had once told her to do whatever she wanted.

He had also said that if there was anything she wanted him to do, he would try his best to make it happen.

What he had said to Deon Agriche not long ago was not a bluff or a lie.

He could truly fall to the ends of hell with the person before his eyes, if Roxana sincerely wished it.

Cassis gave a small, self-deprecating smile.

He realized he wasn’t qualified to criticize Deon Agriche so self-righteously.

In truth, he might not be so different.

If Cassis hadn’t been a Fedelian, he might have become just like Deon Agriche.

Cassis reached out and slowly stroked Roxana’s hair, which was scattered on the sheet. His touch was as persistent and complex as the thoughts swirling in his head.

Then, he lifted a strand of hair tangled between his fingers and pressed his lips to it.

He didn’t intend to interfere with Roxana’s wishes.

But he also didn’t intend to do nothing.

He didn’t know exactly what Roxana was planning, but surely her ultimate goal wasn’t for the people here to die.

Roxana might not know what to think of herself, but Cassis believed that her core was different from Lant Agriche or Deon Agriche.

So, he would do what he could to prevent this from ultimately hurting her.

As he released his hold, the smooth hair flowed like water between his fingers.

Cassis kissed Roxana’s white neck and shoulders in turn as they came into view.

Then, he silently got out of bed and quietly left the room.

Immediately after, Roxana’s eyelids, which had been closed all along, slowly lifted.

* * *

Deon Agriche was gazing at the dawn light rising in the distance.

In contrast to the serene scene, Deon’s insides were a tumultuous storm of destructive desires.

“Your usefulness is already over. So, do nothing and stay quietly out of my sight.”

Nevertheless, Deon was enduring this because of Roxana’s words.

The image of Asil’s doll and Roxana’s figure that he had seen yesterday afternoon still lingered in his mind like a residual image.

As did Roxana’s emotionless, cold gaze towards him.

“…….”

Once again, violent emotions stirred and surged from within his chest.

The impulses raging inside him were now reaching their limit.

“You are a monster created by Lant.”

“I hate and despise you terribly.”

Then, at the voice suddenly ringing in his ears, Deon murmured softly.

“Shut up.”

But the echoing voice did not disappear and stubbornly flaunted its presence beside Deon.

“But I pity you that much.”

Once again, murderous intent surged, wanting to kill anyone.

Deon didn’t know any other way to resolve these emotions.

As Cassis Fedelian had said, the role that had been assigned to Deon until now was to destroy and ruin anything, not to protect something.

No one had ever asked Deon Agriche to do such a thing.

Beyond the slowly receding curtain of night, he could see the faint dawn light spreading.

“Yes, go to my daughter.”

“Go to my daughter and…….”

“Die for her at any time. That’s why I spared your life.”

It was like a brand seared with a red-hot iron.

This could even be called a curse.

If things continued like this, Deon would die as Sierra wanted, as Roxana wished.

As her dog, completely ignored until the end, unable to gain even a shred of attention, and more futile and miserable than ever.

That was what Roxana wanted.

Deon slowly raised his hand and stroked the empty area around his neck.

If he didn’t want to die, he had no choice but to escape.

But as if his eyes were covered by something, he couldn’t find a way to escape on his own.

Even though his vision was filled with such radiant light, the place where he stood was still dark and gloomy.

The red eyes with dark shadows stared at the white darkness before him for a long time.

And before long, Deon found the answer to the problem that had been stubbornly holding him back.