Saint's Prison - Chapter 103

An Unforgivable Wish

“People say that ‘God’ bestows unconditional love.”

However, unconditional love is only given to those who are loved. Only those who deserve to be loved can receive it.

Love is like mire.

The essence lies in the indelible impurity.

It’s calculative and filled with malice.

Love is a blessing.

The purification and salvation of the soul.

It’s pure and bestows sacred rest.

People live for love and die for love.

People heal for love and kill for love.

People give for love and take away for love.

People pray for love and curse for love.

This contradiction is what makes love truly love.

—Ah, that’s why love is so beautiful.

***

A dark, cold space.

Drip-drip, the sound of water droplets falling can be heard.

Looking up, I saw stalactites hanging down like icicles. Stalagmites lined up around, creating a suffocating atmosphere.

Before I knew it, I found myself inside a cavern.

Why am I here? When did I come here? I don’t understand anything. A sense of discomfort, as if a filter had been placed over me, lingered in my chest. I put a lid on those thoughts and took a deep breath. Then, I switched my mindset.

It’s okay. I was just a little startled, that’s all. Because I know this place. That’s why I don’t feel any fear.

I started walking.

I already knew where the exit was. I had been through this path many times. There was no hesitation in my steps. The ground was wet and slippery. I stepped firmly, moving forward with each step.

—Clack.

A dry sound came from behind. The noise echoed through the cave and slowly faded away.

—Clack.

Ah, this is the sound of hooves… no, the sound of geta.

The moment I thought that, I had already turned around.

Black hair reaching down to her waist swayed. A girl dressed in a kimono, possessing decadent beauty, Ando Shizuka… my sister, was standing there.

“Nii-san.”

Being called, I realized that this was a dream.

“Haha, ah, how strange.”

Shizuka narrowed her eyes, looking at my face. She was laughing, but she didn’t seem happy. She continued to chuckle quietly, and I just kept watching her expression. I couldn’t read what my sister was thinking.

“Shizuka, why are you—”

I stopped there and shut my mouth.

Why are you appearing in my dream? Why do you want to continue the dream? Do you exist here, in Stonehurst?

No, what would I do by asking such things? Even if I heard the answer, I couldn’t do anything. I can’t do anything for her.

“…Why do I, after all this time, appear in your dream, Nii-san? Why do I want to continue the dream? Do I exist in reality? Nii-san, is that what you want to say?”

“—!”

“Nii-san, it’s obvious. Because I wanted it to be so. Because I wished for it. Because I wanted to be by your side. That’s all there is to it. Ahaha, Nii-san, were you surprised? No… you weren’t surprised, were you?”

“That’s not true. I’m quite surprised.”

“Nii-san, you liar. …You’ve known it all along. I’ve been watching you all this time, so I know.”

Shizuka gazed at me intently. Unable to bear her gaze, I looked down and stepped back. It’s impossible that she had been watching all this time. Because—

“Shizuka, you are already—”

“‘Dead.'”

Our voices overlapped.

I looked up at Shizuka. For a moment, she tensed up. But then she relaxed, brushing the hair off her cheek as if nothing had happened.

“I stopped it.”

“Stopped, what?”

“Yes. I stopped. …I stopped waiting.”

“…What?”

“Because Nii-san, you’re someone who never stops moving forward. Someone who would leave me behind. Back then, I didn’t want to be hated by you, so all I could do was wait. So I waited, and waited and waited and waited and waited… and then, I lost everything. That’s why I stopped.”

Shizuka continued speaking. It was as if she was pouring out everything she had been holding back, just going on and on.

“That’s why I’m here. To see the continuation of the dream. To be together with Nii-san.”

“Hey, Shizuka. That’s wrong. It’s something that shouldn’t be allowed. Even if you wish for it, it will only lead to unhappiness. As your older brother, I want you to have a normal happiness. To live freely, not bound by the village. That’s all I’ve been thinking!”

Hearing my shout, Shizuka sneered.

“…Nii-san, you always decide my happiness for me.”

At those words, I was at a loss for words.

That’s not true. I—

My chest ached. My breath was heavy. My blood boiled.

My consciousness was fading. My vision was enveloped in light. Awakening was near.

“Nii-san, it’s almost time. Just a little longer, so this time, please wait for me.”

Shizuka’s voice passed through my ears and disappeared.

Author’s Note : The next chapter moves on to a new arc.

For real now, the sister starts to act.