I Will Live for Your Death - Chapter 94

“Stay still without knowing anything?”

There was a bitter taste at the end of those words. Lebel noticed the displeased energy mixed in Ilarid’s voice.

“…You’re angry.”

“That’s right.”

Ilarid grabbed Lebel’s collar and pulled it down. Only then did their eye levels properly match. The parallel blue, blue eyes were vivid.

Having read his gaze, Ilarid immediately concluded. Tamiel was killed by Lebel.

“You did this.”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”

“You thought to carry out revenge alone? Did you think I would just let it be?”

Lebel’s eyes, which had been quietly listening to her words, gradually widened.

It wasn’t anger about causing trouble with the sword on his own. Ilarid was displeased with the fact that Lebel had taken revenge ‘alone’.

“I’m quite hurt. You didn’t even give me a chance to wield a sword.”

“…My apologies.”

The lips of the two people, who had been in a constant state of tension, finally curved upwards. Ilarid quietly embraced Lebel’s neck.

Was it because she heard that he had killed Tamiel? It seemed as if the scent of iron, disguised as the smell of blood, was faintly coming from Lebel’s body. Rather than feeling uneasy, it was more reassuring. He really succeeded.

Revenge against Tamiel had always been just a thought in her mind. There were only vague plans like, if Cledius falls, his situation will naturally become precarious, so we should aim for that time.

But Lebel had left Tamiel with the maximum amount of pain, and completely burned away a piece of Ilarid’s long-held resentment. Perhaps after today, she might not see Limless in her dreams inside the prison tower anymore.

In the quiet calm, one nightmare burned and disappeared. She murmured softly to herself.

“I wonder if my brother has found peace.”

“He’s the type to go directly to hell and finish off that bastard once more.”

Those who shared the same happiness also shared the same object of revenge. Lebel smiled wryly while in Ilarid’s embrace.

Perhaps people who don’t know Ilarid and Lebel’s circumstances would interject with words like ‘revenge is futile’, ‘forgiveness is the best revenge’, or ‘living better than that person is the best revenge’. And they would shout to cut off the desire for retaliation in one stroke.

Then, what about our dignity that has been ruined over that long time? What about the souls of those who died?

Lebel was waiting in place for Ilarid’s orders. Standing still without urging or gesturing. Like a faithful hunting dog that waits endlessly until given the order to bite.

“It’s a story I’ve read and heard for a long time. That revenge is futile. That the dead won’t come back anyway. But now it’s different.”

It wasn’t simply about venting the anger built up inside. It was for the sake of the trampled individual dignity and the future to live on.

The brilliant green that Lebel had loved so much was shining under Ilarid’s eyelashes.

“Let’s judge together whether the end of revenge is futile. I’ll gladly be your accomplice.”

Accomplice. The back of those three syllables should have tasted bitter and fishy like iron.

But the word that flowed from Ilarid’s mouth melted sweetly on the tip of the tongue. At this moment, it was a softer word than even ‘I love you’.

Lebel embraced Ilarid without hesitation. Her two feet floated in the air. Ilarid ended up in a position of being half-hung on his neck.

“Understood, Your Majesty the Empress.”

An excited voice tickled near Ilarid’s nape. Whether it was due to the hot breath or the fallen hair was unknown.

“Now that you understand… put me down.”

Ilarid tapped his shoulder. It was a scene that didn’t fit the torture chamber at all. Aren’t they just like lovers who had a dramatic reunion after being separated for days?

“Just a moment, I’ll stay like this.”

Lebel didn’t seem to have any intention of putting her down easily. When he inhaled, a deeper scent than usual could be felt.

Now, whenever this scent lingered nearby, Lebel’s first thought was that the young lady was nearby.

When he placed his hand over wild roses near the artificial garden and scattered them, a similar fragrance would emerge. The flower that resembles you the most. The flower I want to see just as it is, without ever picking it.

Several inhales and exhales passed. Lebel, who had been holding Ilarid for quite some time, finally let her go. The small feet that had been floating in the air lightly touched the ground.

“But Lebel… weren’t you going to say anything until I came?”

It was an incredibly perfect timing. If Ilarid had been even a little late, Lebel would have been torn to pieces by Cledius’s torture. He spoke in a calm voice as if it were nothing.

“I’m used to enduring pain.”

Ilarid recalled the numerous scars engraved on Lebel’s body. The characteristic attitude of someone accustomed to being hurt, acting as if nothing was wrong.

Just like how she doesn’t pay attention to the marks on her wrist.

“I hope you won’t have to suffer anymore.”

Lebel felt the same way. Before she knew it, Lebel’s hand was hovering near Ilarid’s wrist again. Ilarid didn’t particularly stop him.

Is it just the wrist? Those scars hidden by the scarf on her neck, and the numerous scratches left on her heart, though not visible on her body.

“You’ve been through enough. You don’t have to go through it anymore. So… don’t be in pain. This is an order.”

Instead of answering, he lifted the hand he had been caressing and kissed it.

May those red marks disappear. May you live on, overcoming wounds and forgetting hardships.

Lebel’s lips lingered on the back of her hand for a long time, as if trying to convey warmth. Only after quite some time had passed did he let go of Ilarid’s hand.

“Please go out first. Did you come with the head maid?”

“She’s out… side.”

Ilarid only now realized that her way of speaking had changed.

Reverting back to longer sentences after they had become shorter was quite awkward. She sheepishly rubbed the innocent toe of her shoe against the floor. When her embarrassed gaze looked down at the floor, Lebel’s short laughter was heard.

“Aren’t I your accomplice now, Your Majesty the Empress? Please treat me comfortably like you did just now. Both in words and actions.”

Even if he begged to be treated casually, Ilarid was not the type to treat him carelessly. But Lebel was prepared to go along with her even if she were to treat him like a dog.

“Alright… I got it.”

The awkwardness didn’t last long. Despite the words becoming considerably shorter, Lebel smiled with satisfaction.

**

Although he had left the torture chamber, Lebel still had work to do. Lebel headed towards the place Tamiel had indicated, killing his presence.

Last night, Tamiel, in an attempt to save his life, confessed one fact to Lebel.

For someone who had tortured people, he trembled and cried at just a few punches. When he whined, asking “Who on earth are you?”, Lebel mentioned the name of one person that the bastard couldn’t possibly not know.

‘Limless Rowen Melpiram.’

Tamiel gasped. Even in the darkness, his pupils could be seen shaking clearly.

‘Remember that name clearly. At least it will be part of the reason for the pain you’re receiving today.’

‘T-Then I’ll tell you one thing! This is something no one knows! The truth about Limless Rowen Melpiram’s death!’

Lebel’s movement stopped. Tamiel, thinking he had found a way out, quickly began to wag his tongue.

**

I’ve never seen anyone endure torture like Limless Rowen Melpiram. Usually, ah, they would spit out lies by this point, but that man just wouldn’t break… In the end, His Majesty the Emperor personally came to the torture chamber.

He said something like “Serves you right,” and then presented a piece of paper in front of him.

And he ordered him to admit to all the crimes written there. But when he kept refusing, he brought up Her Majesty the Empress.

H-How, you ask? Well… he said that if he didn’t admit it, he would accuse Limless Rowen Melpiram and Her Majesty the Empress of, um, incest, and that he would send even Her Majesty the Empress to the execution ground…

He also said something like, since everyone’s going to die anyway, wouldn’t it be better to save at least one person…

From then on, things went smoothly. The man who hadn’t succumbed to all sorts of torture suddenly crumbled and admitted that he had tried to commit treason as per His Majesty the Emperor’s order.

Aaagh! There’s evidence too! The fabricated documents! They’re all in the prison tower, in a secret space that only I know about!

**

‘Thank you, Tamiel.’

Lebel bid a final farewell as he threw Tamiel’s corpse down. If possible, may you burn wretchedly in hellfire for a long, long time.

‘I have one more reason to kill Cledius.’

He moved quietly inside the prison tower. Now was the opportunity, with the prison tower in chaos due to Tamiel’s death.

On top of that, even Cledius was too flustered to pay attention to the situation. Isn’t this a golden opportunity created by none other than Ilarid? He couldn’t possibly miss it.

The facts heard from Tamiel were things that couldn’t possibly be told to Ilarid. If she were to have nightmares again after hearing this story, if she were to bear the guilt.

Somewhere, he seemed to hear Luth’s voice telling him to focus. Lebel once again cleared his mind of distracting thoughts.

His ability was certainly in a more unstable state than before. Even kidnapping and bringing Tamiel would have been quite troublesome without Luth.

After this job is done, he would have to conserve it for a while. If discovered, not only Lebel himself but also the mercenary group and even Ilarid would be in danger.

Despite the grandiose name of ‘secret space’, it didn’t take long to find it. Lebel counted the bricks while feeling along the wall. As Tamiel had confessed, only one brick felt strangely new.

When he twisted his hand and pulled out the brick, another empty space opened up inside. A sigh mixed with exclamation escaped Lebel’s lips. To think that the cause of taking that tremendous life was hidden in such a shabby place.

Soon, the truth came into Lebel’s hands. False statements written down with a battered body. The numerous typos and smudged handwriting on the paper hinted at the intensity of the pain.

Lebel quickly left the prison tower, enduring the oncoming dizziness. As it was evidence obtained with great difficulty, it had to be hidden securely.

“Captain! What on earth is going on, they suddenly collected all our weapons, and you were dragged away by the royal guards…”

“…When trouble occurs, it’s natural to suspect outsiders first. Everyone, you’ve been through a lot.”

As soon as Lebel returned to the camp, worried voices from the members poured out. Lailo and Eddie were ready to count even the number of fingers and toes, saying they would check Lebel’s body.

“They said they would return the confiscated weapons by tomorrow. I don’t know what the death of that Tamiel has to do with us. We haven’t even left the palace grounds.”

“I see…”

“Oh, Captain?”

Lebel staggered and stood holding his forehead. Lailo startled and supported him. Perhaps due to dizziness, his vision blurred for a moment before returning to its original focus.

“Oh my, that’s why I said you should rest! I should have known from the way you’ve been pushing your body. Hurry and go inside to get some sleep.”

“Alright.”

Is it because he couldn’t sleep? He had stayed up almost all night and was then immediately dragged to Cledius. Even if he says it’s not, his whole body had tensed up and then relaxed. He might be tired. Lebel didn’t think much of it.

‘Don’t be in pain. This is an order.’

If it’s your order, I must fulfill it. He thought that even a short nap would resolve the symptoms.

And if possible, hoping to see the young master even in a brief dream. Even if he doesn’t say anything, just to see him at peace.