Please Kill Me - Chapter 103
“Uh…”
A sense of helplessness gripped Dmitry’s body, and cold sweat trickled down his back.
In that moment, the small monster before him seemed more terrifying than any ferocious monster he had ever seen in the arena.
Swish.
The monster’s body and head separated, and with a small thud, it fell to the ground. This was the first time Dmitry witnessed a kill up close.
Death came swiftly and quietly. The realization of this made Dmitry collapse to the ground. As warm blood spread across the floor, he heard soft footsteps approaching.
“….Yekaterina.”
Seeing her indifferent expression, Dmitry’s face flushed with anger. He should have thanked her for saving him, but instead, he lashed out.
“Get away!”
“Dmitry.”
“Don’t say my name! You orphan! Are you trying to show off because you saved me?! I could have called for someone else!”
“Then why didn’t you call for someone? Why didn’t you?”
“…What?”
Yekaterina replied indifferently as she flicked the fluids off her sword.
“You knew the reason, didn’t you? You can’t.”
“…?”
“If you called for help, they would have known you snuck in, and you would have been beaten. But that’s not the worst part. The real fear is thinking that no one would come even if you called.”
Her calm voice struck a chord with Dmitry.
She was right. He couldn’t bring himself to call for help.
He feared that no one would come, and he couldn’t bear that despair. Unable to respond, Dmitry remained silent. Yekaterina slowly approached him, speaking softly.
“In the end, it worked out. If you had called for help, the monster would have reacted immediately. Thanks to that, you are here without a scratch, and no one knows you were here.”
“I…”
“I thought you were different from me, Dmitry.”
You seem to be an outsider, just like me.
Muttering words that were hard to understand, Yekaterina reached out and placed her hand on Dmitry’s shoulder. She gently hugged him.
“Dmitry, you and I are the same.”
We are both from Offenbach, and both of us are outsiders. So we need to learn how to survive on our own.
“But if you ever find that you can’t survive alone, then call for me. If I hear your voice, I will always come to you.”
“…Why?”
Dmitry asked dryly. Even as a boy, he didn’t trust his parents completely. He wasn’t the kind of child who would nod his head just because someone who was family in name only said something kind.
“I hate you.”
“I know.”
“I’ve said horrible things to you. So why? Don’t you have any pride?”
“No, I don’t.”
Yekaterina replied without any resentment, then released him.
Up close, Yekaterina didn’t look as pristine as she had when she first arrived. Scars covered her body, visible only when seen up close. Her face was gaunt and exhausted, making her look more like she’d been through five rounds on the streets than a member of Offenbach.
“Just think of it as whimsy. It’s easier that way.”
“That doesn’t mean I won’t still hate you!”
“That’s fine. Do as you wish.”
I’ll do as I want.
With that, Yekaterina turned her back and walked away.
After that day, Dmitry stopped calling her an orphan.
Three years later, she was ‘Sister’. Their expressions, attitudes, and even values began to mirror each other so closely that it was hard to tell who was the original.
When Dmitry discovered ancient texts in the underground library, he cast the family protection spell on Yekaterina. Afterwards, she forgot her past memories.
Throughout it all, Dmitry was by her side.
A world without her had become unimaginable for him. Not because she was a precious gem, but because she had become life itself.
Now, Dmitry lay with his cheek pressed against the table, his arms completely relaxed.
“…Sister.”
From his dry face came a quiet murmur.
“We are the same, sister.”
So, my wishes are your wishes, and wherever I am, you should be too.
His voice trailed off. Dmitry slowly closed his eyes.
Once the hunting party was over, he wouldn’t have to be alone here anymore.
* * *
Time flowed like a flood breaking through a dam.
Thus, the morning of the hunting party arrived.
The hunting party, which marked the end of the year, was one of the largest annual events hosted by the royal family.
Even if each noble house selected only five participants, the gathering quickly numbered in the hundreds.
As a result, the forest’s edge was crowded with those chosen for the hunt.
“Those called from the listed houses, step forward! The rest, wait by the tents!”
At the commander’s order, representatives from the named houses rode forward on their horses.
Even in such a large crowd, certain individuals inevitably drew attention.
