Chapter 107 - The Girl Wants to Be M*rdered

〈 Chapter 107 〉 Short Side Story: Escape * * * ** "What face do you dare show up here with?! Get out, get out right now!!!" "...I came to talk to Alice, Remi." "We have nothing to say!!" An endless, repeating conflict between Remi Acaia and Anna Acaia, taking place daily. Adding to that, recently even the once-trustworthy Saeli has likely begun to openly express displeasure towards them. Of course, it's only natural for them to be the target of such rebelling glances, given that they, despite helping Alice, are attempting to forcibly take their sister away—an unknown, suspicious woman attempting such a dubious act. Thus, in essence, a three-way battle had formed. "......." And Alice, who could do nothing but watch them from the sidelines, showed a face that grew gloomier with each passing day. Today was no different. In the room of the dormitory I'd been assigned to, filled with incessant shouting, those three were yet again embroiled in a tiresome dispute. This is my room, after all. It's too much. ─Clack. "─Alice, here you are." "....Oh, Shia." I stepped onto the balcony and approached Alice, who stood gazing quietly at the street below. Perhaps she'd escaped here, away from their fierce atmosphere. Maybe they'd sent her out briefly, not wanting her to witness them fighting. Alice, noticing my presence, greeted me with a faint smile, but there was no hiding the anxiety and gloom laced within her trembling voice. Despite the state this child was in, what were they thinking? I could only sigh at the feeble adults who did nothing but fight around a child, making innocent Alice bear the burden of their poor relationship. The situation was overwhelmingly stifling. To the point where I felt like abandoning everything and going somewhere far away—the mere tension between them exhausting everyone involved. Of course, leaving wouldn't change the reality here, but sometimes it's human to want to look away from the circumstances we've been dealt. The phrase "there is no paradise to be found in escape" flitted through my mind—a fleeting thought I've encountered somewhere. Yet, I shook my head. Wasn't the reason we even considered escaping because reality was a pit, not a paradise? If there was a paradise in reality, we wouldn't even think of running away. Their broken relationships seemed unsolvable no matter how one pondered over them. In that desolation, I half-jokingly suggested to Alice, "───Want to escape somewhere together?" It was a careless remark. I chided my impulsive lips for blurting such words without deeper thought. To me, they all seemed problematic, but to Alice, Saeli was someone who saved her from spiraling darkly adrift without memory. Remi Acaia and Anna Acaia were also her older sisters, who had been with her since childhood. Asking to run away while leaving those people behind was inappropriate on my part, considering our relatively shorter bond. Such words could be offensive, even implying a criticism of their character unfairly. Besides, I couldn't truthfully claim I didn't feel that way at all. It made me feel like a horrible person, suggesting Alice throw caution to the wind. So, to apologize, I turned towards Alice─── "Perhaps, we should." "──!" It was then I caught a glimpse of Alice's expression; a self-mocking smile, something I'd never seen before in her. Alice spoke weakly, gazing into the distance as though she might vanish at any moment. That fragility ground my heart to dust. When I came to my senses, we were already running from the dormitory, Alice's only hand clasped in mine. Oddly, I wasn't worried at all about any punishment or consequence this might bring. All I could think of was taking her somewhere peaceful, away from here. That day, we ran. ** ** To disclose the outcome, it didn't take long for me to be caught. Given Anna Acaia and Remi Acaia's enlistment of law enforcement and the unfair powers Saeli brought to bear, our escape might have been doomed from the start. Even knowing this, why did I plan the escape? Perhaps... I'm unsure. Honestly, I don't know. ─Swish. "Haha. Hey, Remi... put down the sword, won't you──" "──Shut up, Han Shia. Did you think you'd be forgiven for attempting to kidnap Alice just because I treated you decently for a while?" ".......Tsk." With a sword pointed fiercely at my neck, I let go of the blade I was holding, letting it fall quietly to the ground. Just beyond Remi's shoulder, whose eyes were fixed on me, was Alice squirming against Saeli's tight embrace, trying to reach me. Though I could fight them, with Alice taken, I knew victory was far from my grasp. They were the victors. I, the vanquished. All I regretted was being caught. "Out of old consideration, I'll hear a last request." "...A last request, that's quite the amusing choice of words." "─Sister,───Shia!!!" At a distance, I could hear Alice calling my name. She offered to hear my last request—should I plead for my life and hope she'd spare me? As I imagined Remi Acaia swinging her sword towards my head, saying that she had heard enough and thus it was the end, I found myself unable to suppress a faint smile, forgetting the gravity of the situation. "........" I noticed a slight twitch in Remi's face at my smile. "...What's so funny?" "Nothing, really. It's just that... this is my second death. Oh, although it would be my first by a sword." "...What nonsense." Maybe she was a little angry. Remi brought the sword even closer to my neck. With a scraping sound, I felt droplets of hot blood on my skin, hinting at a shallow cut on my throat. Alice, who had been watching from afar, raised her voice a notch higher at the sight. One month. That was the period I managed to elude capture while fleeing with Alice. Contrary to my initial expectation of being caught within days, I proved surprisingly adept at evading them, skillfully slipping through their nets. Honestly, it began as a reckless and playful act, but over time, it somehow became sincerely meaningful to me. Maybe because I had occasionally glimpsed Remi Acaia and Anna Acaia from afar, and their relationship still seemed unresolved. Although I never expected their relationship to improve overnight, it was disappointing nonetheless. In the end, as it stands, I was captured anyway. Frankly, it was all my own doing from start to end, so I had no final words left, no so-called will to leave behind. Yet... If there is a small thing I regret── "I should've run a bit better, perhaps?" "You... Han Shia, even till the end!!!" I slowly closed my eyes, feeling a bit scared to meet Remi's furious gaze head-on. When I tasted death once before, everything was miserable, unjust, and just plain painful. But now, I'd somehow come to terms with this end of my life. Maybe because, although briefly, I had been true to myself during this time. Saying there's no regret would be a lie, but truthfully, I had no regrets. Even if I went back in time, knowing the end was the same, I'd likely take the same actions and meet the same end. Be it money or education, parents' expectations or friendships. In my past life, I was too afraid of breaking those intangible bonds that tied me, so I ended up living while deceiving myself. Deceiving, deceiving, until I even fooled myself. Looking back, it was all over nothing. Pursuing something I truly desired, something I wanted enough to give everything I had, enduring any hardship, and enjoying the entire process. That one belief drove my actions. I lived a life without regret. Yes. At least I never ran away from myself till the end. Now, soon, the sword will fall towards my neck. Or maybe I'll be caught and imprisoned, or become a slave or something similar. Honestly, meeting death through a whimsical and impulsive act wasn't a particularly pleasant ending, but if this causes them to think about Alice a bit more, it's enough. I waited with closed eyes for the judgment to fall upon me── ─Thud! "───Shia!!!" "......!?" Yet before that could happen. A small figure squeezed between the narrow gap between Remi and me. Opening my eyes in surprise, I saw Alice had suddenly rushed in, toppling Remi Acaia. Leaving the shocked Remi in our wake, Alice ran straight to me, grabbing my hand and sprinting away. The shouts calling after us faded into the background as the vibrant sound of our footsteps echoed throughout the forest. "......." I glanced back. There, standing with a bittersweet smile, was Saeli, watching over our retreating figures. ...It seems my escape hasn't reached its end quite yet. Well then, just one more time. Even if I get captured again, I won't stop. "Come on, Shia! Let's go!" "...Alright! This time, let's head to the sea, Alice!" For no other reason than the simple, cliché desire to do so. *** "No matter how far you run, you cannot escape from yourself." Perhaps, then, an escape is merely a brief respite, a time to reflect on oneself. Han Shia's Journey. Escape (???) : Yearning for a deceased wife. *** * * *