Chapter 31

"Hey, you finally woke up."

Slowly opening my eyes, I heard that voice. The brightness was so intense that I quickly closed my eyes again.

After blinking several times, my eyes adjusted, and I realized the red blur in front of me was Melvin. Coming to my senses, I hurriedly sat up.

"Hey, don't overdo it. The drug Ralph gave you was pretty strong. You've been out for over a week."

Those words hit me like a punch to the head. A week? That's impossible. My birthday was only three days away.

My expression must have shown my shock.

"You're alive, you know."

"Huh?"

"You made it past your 20th birthday. Congratulations."

"......No way."

I couldn't believe it. But the date today confirmed it.

I had always wished for this more than anything. But now, there was something more important to me.

"Hey, what about Ralph?"

He looked uncomfortable. My heart thudded with a bad feeling.

"He's alive, barely."

"......Barely?"

"Yeah. Beverly says he has a few more days at most."

Everything went dark in front of my eyes.

◇◇◇

"It's a wonder he's still alive, the corruption is so severe."

"......"

"His physical wounds have all been healed, but even the power of the Holy Maiden can't do anything more..."

Nadia's large, tear-filled eyes, the same color as his, overflowed with tears.

Immediately after that, I went to the room where Ralph was. There he lay on the bed, his face pale. The moment I saw him, I collapsed on the spot.

Ralph had defeated that monster alone, called for Nadia, and entrusted me to her before losing consciousness.

Even though it was my fault, Nadia didn't blame me; she even worried about me, making my tears uncontrollable.

"It's my fault..."

"No, it's not your fault, Rizette. Besides, don't you think he looks very content? I never thought my brother could be so selfless."

Nadia wiped her tears with a bemused smile.

"Could you please stay by his side?"

"......Thank you."

With that, she left the room, leaving me alone with him in the eerily quiet room. I sat in the chair next to the bed and gently reached out to touch his cheek.

He was shockingly cold and lifeless. Yet, his expression was very peaceful, and he looked more beautiful than ever.

"Thank you for saving me. Thanks to you, Ralph, I can live beyond my 20th birthday for the first time."

I had thought of so many things I wanted to do and how I wanted to live if I could make it past my 20th birthday. But now, nothing came to mind.

'I always want to be with you, Rizette.'

Perhaps, deep down, I had wanted to live the rest of my life with Ralph. Now, I realized that.

"I'm sorry, it must have hurt, right? It must have been so hard..."

I gently took his hand and held it.

"May the pain go away."

In the distant past, whenever he was hurt, I would always murmur those words. I had no power now, but I prayed that his suffering would lessen.

Suddenly, a faint light emitted from my palm.

"How...?"

I recognized the sensation and the light. That's why I couldn't hide my confusion. It was undoubtedly the magic I could use in my previous life.

Perhaps something had changed in me after the monster was defeated. But now, that didn't matter. I immediately placed both hands over Ralph.

Even the Holy Maiden couldn't heal him. It might be meaningless, but I didn't want to give up.

"Please...!"

I wanted the power to save him. I wanted to live the future with Ralph. Pouring all my strength into my wish, I pleaded.