Will You Cry for Me If I Die? - Chapter 20

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 20

“Rumel, does it hurt? Why? Because you fell earlier?”

“I didn’t fall!”

“I saw it. It hurts because of that, right?”

Theodor shouted loudly while sniffling.

“Are you okay?”

I glared at the small demon who had seen me fall and shook my head vigorously.

“I’m fine!”

“Liar!”

Tears welled up in Theodor’s eyes.

When I saw those tears, strangely, I felt suffocated.

I didn’t know if it was because of the fever or something else.

My chest felt a little tight.

Demian laid me down on the bed.

My body was pressed down.

He covered me with a blanket.

Weight settled on top.

I tried to kick off the blanket.

My legs moved.

“It’s hot!”

“Just bear with it a little.”

“I need to cool down!”

“Here, open your mouth.”

“Huh?”

Something entered my mouth.

‘A pill…?’

I tried to spit it out, but I had already swallowed it.

“Now, shall I tell you about another method?”

“Another method?”

“A way to cool down.”

He said with a gentle smile.

Before I knew it, I was fixated on that other method and wasn’t thinking about what had just gone down my throat.

I squinted my eyes.

‘Another method.’

Those words didn’t exist at the Research Institute.

There was only one method.

Make it cold.

That meant dying.

Since I’d come back to life anyway. Then I’d be cured.

That was all there was.

“Aide.”

“Yes.”

Demian called for the aide.

His voice came out briefly.

Shortly after, warm water and a wet towel were brought.

Very faint steam rose from the towel.

I looked at it suspiciously.

The towel touched my eyes.

Warm water doesn’t bring down fever. What’s his scheme?

“This will make my body hotter!”

“Well. We need to reduce the swelling in your eyes. Cold would be startling, so this is better, right?”

Soon, Demian removed the warm thing from my eyes and placed a cold, wet towel on my forehead.

It touched my forehead.

The towel quickly became lukewarm.

I blinked my eyes a little dazedly.

“…It’s not cold.”

“Right?”

“…Why?”

“Just cooling your forehead is enough. I’ll change it for you.”

Just cooling the forehead is enough?

I tried to understand those words.

At the Research Institute, it was always shocking.

Cold, bright, and painful.

I lay quietly.

It seemed like the quiet time could last long and that would be okay.

Even if the blanket pressed on my chest and my breathing became short.

At some point, the ceiling looked a little distant.

My vision slowly became hazy.

My fingertips became dull too, but I wasn’t scared.

Theodor leaned against the bedside and shouted.

“I’ll stay here!”

I looked at him.

His eyes were right in front of me.

My mouth moved slowly.

Go away.

Theodor shook his head vigorously.

His hair swayed.

“I said I’m not leaving!”

I breathed in slowly.

The air was warm.

My chest swelled a little.

Heat spread little by little.

It rose from my stomach to my chest.

It filled up to my throat.

My vision blurred.

Light spread.

Lines became fuzzy.

Then, memories mixed in.

Light.

Cold water.

Metal gripping my wrists.

Cold and hard sensation.

Force pressing against my skin.

‘Holy relics are hope.’

That voice echoed again.

It sounded close.

The inside of my ears rang.

I suddenly flinched.

My shoulders lifted.

“No.”

“Rumel?”

Demian reacted immediately.

His movement was quick.

“What’s wrong. What don’t you like?”

I spoke with my eyes half-open.

My vision was narrow.

“Light.”

My mouth was dry.

My words came out a bit broken.

Theodor gripped my hand tighter.

His hand came closer.

“There’s no such light here!”

His voice was loud.

It came out urgently.

I looked at the ceiling.

My eyes slowly moved up.

The ceiling was dark.

Light spread softly.

Sunlight came in gently through the window.

It entered thinly.

It wasn’t the light of a holy relic.

It didn’t tear.

Still, my mind went white.

Lines disappeared.

Everything merged into one.

“…Nanny.”

The word burst from my mouth.

I was surprised at myself.

For calling out after so long.

The person who used to wash me in the room next to the Research Institute.

Her hands were soft.

I remember the touch that sometimes stroked my head.

The person who sent me to this place and seemed unwilling to come in the end.

That person disappeared.

I know that now.

“I can’t see her again.”

Demian hesitated at my unconscious words.

Then he looked into my face.

“Do you miss your nanny?”

The words came out carefully.

I didn’t answer.

My mouth wouldn’t move.

I don’t really know the word “miss.”

She just came to mind.

My head felt loose from the fever.

My thoughts wouldn’t stick together.

I fumbled and gripped the blanket.

My fingers caught the fabric.

“No!”

Then I said quietly.

“I can’t see her because I won’t go back.”

“Won’t go back?”

Theodor tilted his head.

“Where?”

“There.”

“There?”

I closed my eyes.

My eyelids were heavy.

The Research Institute.

The basement.

A place with truly no light.

To the place where I couldn’t breathe.

I took a deep breath.

My chest rose greatly.

Warm air entered my lungs.

It wasn’t cold.

It didn’t hurt.

Demian’s hand silently changed the towel on my forehead.

His hand moved precisely.

This time it was a bit cooler.

My forehead cooled down.

But it wasn’t like ice.

“Rumel.”

He called out low.

His voice was close.

“Stay here.”

I opened my eyes.

My vision returned.

Those words lingered in my ears for a long time.

“It’s okay to make this your place to return to.”

If I’m discarded, it’s the end.

There was nothing after that.

But here, they say I don’t have to go back.

“This is a demon’s lair, but it’s warm.”

I heard laughter from Demian.

I felt the fever gradually going down.

My insides cooled.

My body was soaked in sweat.

Inside the blanket became damp.

I caught my breath and slowly opened my hand.

My fingers relaxed one by one.

Strength left me.

Theodor was still holding my hand.

His hand was warm.

He didn’t let go.

“Are you okay now?”

He asked.

I thought for a moment.

Words didn’t come out right away.

I’m okay.

I rolled it around in my mouth.

It felt like I shouldn’t use it the same way as before.

I spoke quietly.

A little breath mixed in.

“Mmhm.”

Theodor laughed loudly.

His mouth opened wide.

“That’s good enough!”

He said immediately.

Demian silently touched my forehead once more.

His hand wasn’t hot like the small demon’s.

It wasn’t cold either.

It was just solid.

It didn’t waver.

I closed my eyes.

My eyelids slowly came down.

The fever slowly drained away.

The inside cooled down.

Both the light of the holy relic and the gaze from the black cloak grew dim.

The lines became blurry.

What remained was the weight of the blanket and the warmth of the small hand holding mine.

The weight was on my chest.

The hand continued to be held.

I spoke very quietly, to myself.

‘I’ll be interrogated here for a long time.’

The words didn’t come out.

* * *

The day after my fever broke, I opened my eyes earlier than usual.

My eyes opened immediately.

My body felt light.

The blanket felt less heavy.

Yesterday’s heat was gone.

But my mind was clear.

My thoughts connected.

I got down from the bed and went to the window.

My feet touched lightly.

It wasn’t cold.

The winter forest was visible.

It spread out beyond the window.

White snow rested on the tree tops.

It was piled on the branches.

It fell bit by bit.

That forest is dangerous.

Many things move there.

Many things hide there.

That’s why it’s good.

If it’s dangerous, I’m useful.

I nodded my head.

Yesterday I was sick.

My body wouldn’t listen.

When sick, I can’t protect.

My hands get slow.

That won’t do.

I raised my hand and gripped the air.

My fingers closed one by one.

There was nothing there.

But I gripped anyway.

“I am No. 1.”

My mouth moved immediately.

Then there was a knock on the door.

The sound came twice.

“Rumel.”

It was Theodor.

His voice came in lightly.

“I’m coming in!”

The door opened even though I hadn’t given permission.

The door was pushed right open.

Theodor was holding a large box.

The box looked bigger than his body.

He was holding it with both hands.

The box was tied with paper and cloth.

String was wrapped around it several times.

I narrowed my eyes.

I narrowed my field of vision.

“Explosives?”

The words came out immediately.

Theodor shook his head.

His head swayed greatly.

“No! It’s a gift!”

His voice was bright.

I hesitated.

A gift?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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