I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 185
He coaxed and persuaded Primrose, even promising to buy her meat. He emphasized over and over that this was the only way to make money. But each time, Primrose’s answer remained the same.
“I don’t want to.”
At last, Roned lost his patience and slapped her.
“Why are you so selfish? I’m breaking my back trying to feed you, and you can’t even use your magic? How hard can it be?”
Enraged, Roned struck Primrose again.
“You’re an ungrateful little brat! If someone else had taken you in, you’d have been thrown out long ago!”
His fists rained down on her small body. The sound of his heavy breathing gradually subsided.
Blood trickled down Primrose’s flushed cheek from a scratch left by his nails.
Seeing the blood, Roned finally came to his senses.
“S-Sorry, Primrose.”
He was struck with shock.
Had he blacked out for a moment? What had he just done?
Roned swore he never wanted to hurt Primrose. To him, she was like a little sister he had to care for. Ever since they left the orphanage, they had stuck together every single day—she was precious to him.
But…
But… he couldn’t help it.
He truly couldn’t help it.
This was all Primrose’s fault. If she hadn’t been so stubborn, this wouldn’t have happened. All she had to do was tell him who was about to die, but instead, she obstinately kept her mouth shut, like she was deliberately being difficult.
Yes, it’s all your fault.
I didn’t do anything wrong. I just wanted to make enough money for both of us to live comfortably. I did it for you, but you refused to cooperate, and this is what happened.
“This is all because you didn’t listen to me! If you don’t want to be hit again, you better do as I say!”
With that, Roned forcibly dragged Primrose to the busy streets once again.
“Look around and tell me who’s going to die soon.”
Forced to sit on the ground by Roned, Primrose stared blankly at the people passing by.
As soon as she met their eyes, horrifying images of their deaths flashed through her mind.
This person, that person—everyone would die.
They were all going to die.
It was unbearable.
Everything seemed so pointless, it was unbearable.
People were all going to die anyway.
Whether it was now or later.
They would all die, without exception.
So, it didn’t matter.
Whether they died now or later, it didn’t matter at all.
In the end, everyone’s fate was sealed, and no amount of struggling could change it.
Even the woman over there, smiling as if she were the happiest person in the world, arm-in-arm with her fiancé.
Even the man over there, laughing with his friend as if he owned everything in the world.
Even the little child holding both of their parents’ hands, smiling so innocently.
They would all die.
So, what was the point of living?
Months passed like this.
Every morning, Roned would take Primrose through the city to search for people who were going to die.
When they found someone, Roned would follow them and track down their residence.
If they lived alone, Roned would break in without hesitation and steal anything valuable.
If they lived with family, Roned would wait until the house was empty during the funeral and then rob it.
Roned’s purse grew heavier and heavier with coins.
“See? I told you this would make money!”
Laughing heartily as he counted his growing wealth, Roned was pleased with himself.
‘Good thing I didn’t sell Primrose to some noble! Better to keep working hard every day and make money this way!’
While Roned reveled in the fortune he gained from selling stolen goods, Primrose was slowly falling apart.
“…”
Sitting with her back against a cold stone, her face half-buried in her knees, Primrose stared at Roned with hollow eyes.
When her gaze fell on him, she saw it—his death. The image of Roned suffocating under a pile of glistening gold coins filled her mind.
Seeing his death left her feeling empty.
Even Roned, who had been so desperate for wealth, was destined to die without ever achieving his dreams. The sight of it was so pitiful and meaningless.
She couldn’t understand why people lived at all.
Primrose buried her face completely in her knees.
She couldn’t think anymore.
All she could feel was a deep, overwhelming rejection.
―I hate this.
―I don’t want to do this.
―I hate it. I don’t want to do it anymore.
That was all.
She couldn’t think of anything else.
Roned’s thefts continued to be highly successful.
How could they not be? He was robbing homes where the occupants were already dead. No one could stop him.
Once he had amassed a decent amount of money, Roned bought a shabby house in the capital at a bargain price.
Primrose entered the house with him.
