Published at 4th of October 2024 9:08 am

Chapter 250: Underworld (2)

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Ferzen halted his stride after a long time walking.

The place he arrived existed on a different plane from the Underworld - an independent realm where the souls of living beings pass through reincarnation.

Based on their accumulated karma, souls here receive their punishment, maintaining their self-awareness only during those times.

At other times, they wander this place as lost spirits, devoid of consciousness.

After this process, they re-enter the cycle of life and death, merely living out their lives as cogs in the wheel of mortal fate set by the world's providence.

"......"

Thus, Ferzen silently watched Lizzy's soul wander before him.

A warlock sacrificing himself.

Why would the monstrosities of the Underworld respond instantly to such an act?

Because it is only the good deeds that can be converted from the karma accumulated during a mortal's life—subtracting from their misdeeds.

Thus, a human soul that flowed into the underworld through such an act could immediately enter the cycle of reincarnation if it had not committed any misdeeds.

Otherwise, they would receive punishment for all their life's errors just like now.

Ah....Ah....

Staring at the wandering soul, Ferzen reached out his hand as Lizzy bumped into him.

“Even in death, reuniting with me is not something pleasant for you.”

No, it would be pleasant.

If he too had been just another part trapped in the mortal cycle of reincarnation.

But since that was not the case, awakening herself here would only bring intense feelings of powerlessness and frustration.

After sacrificing her own life, she essentially used her last measures as best as she could.

Just to realize it was all meaningless, would be enough to drive anyone to despair.

But having come this far, should he really be concerned about such things?

Feeling pity for her situation seemed absurd.

From the beginning, how he wanted to end things with her here was even a question for Ferzen Von Schweig Brutein.

He was here because he hoped for an answer, yet he couldn't even begin to grasp what answer he truly desired.

No, deep down, there was an answer he hoped for.

That Lizzy Poliana Claudia would ask for the end of the suffering, for herself, for Cesar, and even for Roer, and be thrown into the cycle of reincarnation.

Ferzen subconsciously wished for such a clear conclusion to their relationship.

But apart from what he wanted, what was this intensely unpleasant feeling?

The question was brief.

Perhaps this was the guilt he had been ignoring all along.

While living in the mortal world, adhering to the role of a villain was the best way to survive, but now, there was no need for that.

So, the guilt he had shoved into a corner of his mind and avoided facing was now writhing.

If his previous mindset was akin to a one-sided scale, now the scale desired a rational and equal balance.

However, his refusal to accept this stemmed from the fact that the very beginning wasn't his choice.

After all, his reincarnation in a human body was clearly done due to external forces.

"......"

But the endpoint of this dreadful self-justification was that she, like him, was bearing an unfairness that neither should have to carry.

Even if he were to receive compensation from the gods in Heaven.

From whom could Lizzy possibly claim hers?

Truthfully, even having such a question was a sign of cowardice.

Because the only responsible party was himself.

Through their tangled story, all the unfairness she endured stemmed from him.

Even if it was a minuscule amount of time, hadn’t he learned as much while living as a human named Ferzen?

A sin was a sin.

No amount of flowery words could change that.

To deny that fact was to deny the life he had lived as Ferzen in the mortal world.

Because, in the end, what he had chosen was the role of a villain, living a life stained with negative karma.

‘If it had come to this...’

He should have indulged a bit more in his life.

Perhaps he had taken the idea of paying for his sins too lightly.

With a self-mocking smile suddenly seeping through, Ferzen lightly tapped Lizzy's soul.

*****As if wandering through a forest shrouded in thick fog,

Sinking into a cozy abyss where not even the sunlight could be seen, Lizzy's mind, which had been hazy, surfaced, and she instinctively shivered.

Because what awaited her beyond this was a continuation of pain she didn't even want to recall.

"Ah..."

But no matter how long she waited, the punishment was not executed.

Instead, feeling a warmth she hadn't felt in a very long time, Lizzy harbored a strange sense of relief and lifted her bowed head.

"......"

Then, as she saw the figure of Ferzen, Lizzy's mind went blank.

"Hah...Hahahaha...!"

She began to crackle maniacally.

Was this the punishment being delivered to her this time?

"Ha... Aha... Ah... Aaaaah!"

No, she desperately hoped it was, as Lizzy cried out loudly.

The warmth enveloped her.

She felt his touch all over her existence.

If all of this was not the punishment being executed, then how far did this world intend to cruelly treat her?

"Lizzy."

"......"

"It's been a long time."

"Kr... Krhuh...! Kruh...! Ha... Haha... Ahaha!"

Only regaining her sense of self when the punishment was executed, Lizzy did not know how long she had been here.

Yet she knew all too well that this scene made no sense.

Fortunately, due to her current state as a wandering spirit, there were no tears to be shed, but all the other facts were stained.

So, Lizzy continued to laugh for a while and then she turned her head to the side and spoke in a low tone.

"You...Crazy Bastard..."

What had she done so wrong?

What had she done to deserve such a deathly punishment?

To chase after a dead person, even to the realm of the dead.

"You're crazy...Absolutely insane--!"

"......"

"What do you want by coming here? Did you want to gouge out my eyes? Did you want to cut off my ears? Did you want to split my legs? Or did you want to see me cry? Or maybe you wanted to see me disgrace myself by wetting myself in front of you? Ha... Ahaha! Too bad then! Because I can't do any of those things anymore!"

"......"

"I can't!"

"......"

"So please, go back... If you've seen my ugly and miserable state even in death! Be satisfied with that and leave──!"

A voice filled with intense despair.

Eyes stained with violet hues of frustration and despair.

Facing all of this silently, Ferzen reached out his hands and gently grasped her cheeks.

"Haven't you said it yourself?"

To go, try and twist the laws of the underworld.

And at that time, Ferzen had said,

"If I die and go to the underworld... only then will I pay for my sins."

There was no need for pathetic apologies.

Be it in this life, or in the next,

He had never intended to be forgiven.

Just as Lizzy, had no reason to forgive him.

Ferzen lifted his right hand, which had been clutching her cheek, and once more lightly tapped his forehead, concentrating his karma.

With that, along with the karma he harbored, some memories of the underworld, and the life Ferzen had lived were transferred to Lizzy Poliana Claudia......

"Kuh... Ah...! Aaaaah!"

She began to experience an intense pain as if her soul was being torn apart.

Ferzen then carefully set Lizzy down and sat nearby, slowly waiting for the process to stabilize.

Having transferred about half of his karma, even if it stabilized, it wouldn't last long.

Moreover, while it could be consumed in some form, it couldn't be released.

This was the intrinsic limit of the human soul.

Through the memories transferred, Lizzy would naturally realize that she couldn't annihilate herself here.

...Could this be called cowardice?

But this was the best justification and rationality he could offer.

After all, wasn't this level of cowardice acceptable?

He was a villain, after all.

So, Lizzy.

When you wake up once more, and open your eyes,

Look at me,

A being whom no one could properly punish.

....And become my scale.

The beginning of our tragic connection might have been my doing.

But you,

Perhaps only you,

Can end it.

In this last chapter of ours.

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