The Girl Wants to Be Murdered

TL/Editor: Butter Cat

Status: 4/week mon-thurs

Illustrations: none

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〈 Chapter 10 〉 Chapter 10. Enticement.

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Have you ever touched cold metal that clings to your hand and refuses to let go?

It feels like I'll get burned just by touching it.

Like red beads of blood will well up if I just bring my finger close.

Sizzle, like that.

Within that cold, sharp edge, a rage like molten lava lies in wait, its body low, stalking its prey.

You can try to hide it all you want, but I can see everything.

My big sister is truly amazing.

Yes, yes, you've worked hard.

**

The hunting competition began.

Anna appeared at the competition grounds, looking incredibly calm and composed, under everyone's gaze.

All the abnormal behavior she had shown before. The sharp, neurotic overreactions that worried many, the distracted attention as if lost in thought, the harsh words, seemed to have been completely cured.

She looked like the ideal princess everyone expected.

People who saw her cheered.

The entrance of today's protagonist.

I also applauded inwardly.

Slowly appearing on the stage, Anna gave a polite greeting, saying that she had been struggling a lot lately, but thanks to everyone's support, she was able to overcome it. Ending her speech with a promise to work hard so that such a thing wouldn't happen again, Anna descended from the platform amidst the applause of the crowd.

Normal.

Yes, the word "normal" suited her appearance more than anything else.

Many people, relieved to see Anna, were busy praising big sis Anna for her gentle nature.

And Remi, seeing that—

"Phew... That's a relief. That foolish sister."

"Heehee... Can we all play together now?"

"...Well, I guess so. But I'll never forgive her for making Aris cry!"

Although there seemed to be some unresolved resentment, she looked at Anna with a small smile.

Despite her anger, Remi was worried about Anna deep down. She had been so worried about her, so it was natural for her to be relieved to see her appear at the grounds looking so healthy.

Yes, be at ease, Remi.

Everything — will be alright.

In the end, everyone will be smiling.

Happily.

After finishing her speech and greeting, Anna walked straight towards us. With a confident stride.

Although there were still traces of fatigue in her eyes, her clear gaze seemed to show that her mind was sound.

Such pure eyes.

The things that had been tormenting my sister had crumbled into dust and blown away.

Love, affection, morality, ethics, lingering feelings, compassion.

My sister, freed from the chains that had bound her, looked unburdened.

Only one emotion remained, unmixed with any other.

In the end, she was finally devoured.

When Anna was close enough, I left Remi and ran towards her.

Embrace, Anna gently hugged me as I dashed towards her. As if she was a completely different person from the one who had pushed me away with a harsh gaze.

Heehee.

"Big sis Annaa—!! I missed you!!"

"...Yes, Aris. You must have had a hard time because of me, right?"

"Uh-huh, it's okay! I'm happier to see big sis Anna!"

Remi came running from behind, crying out, "Are you abandoning me?".

She shook me back and forth, asking how our relationship was that shallow, how could I do this to her?

Eeeeeeh—

St-Stop— sh-shaking— m-me—

Come on, I would never abandon you, big sis~

Really! I'll stay by Aris' side forever—!

Forever is a bit... You should get married too, big sis...

Eeeeeeh!! N-No way!!

Remi hugged me, who was already embraced by Anna, and finally, the three of us were reunited in one place after a long separation.

Thump, thump, I could hear Anna and Remi's heartbeats. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the sound, nestled in their warm embrace.

Feeling a gentle and familiar touch stroking my hair, I smiled and looked up. Anna was carefully touching my hair with a smiling face.

Anna's hand is very cold.

Her eyes are cold too, when she looks at me.

So, So cold.

A coldness that feels like it would cling to me if I touched it.

A touch that wouldn't come off unless it tore away my flesh, ultimately taking a piece of me.

That's what was touching me now.

Ah, so cold.

"I'll treat you better from now on. I'm really sorry for what happened before. I've been reflecting on myself."

"Hmph! Even so, Aris and I won't let you off easy! Right, Aris!"

"—I love big sis Anna! I'm fine with it!"

"Ariiiiis!!!"

Remi looked like she had been betrayed.

Tearfully, she screamed that she would treat me even better. With a momentum that seemed like she would give me her liver and gallbladder if I asked.

I looked at Anna once, then spoke to Remi in a gentle voice.

"Let's forgive big sis Annaaaa~ Okay? Big sis Remiii... Just for today, just 'today'!"

"Uh... Really? Just today? Promise!? It's a promise!"

"Yes—!! 'Just for today' is enough!!"

When I soothed her like that, Remi quickly calmed down. And then, laughing together, the three of us embraced each other and spent a truly happy time, after so long.

I didn't lie.

Everything will end today, anyway.

Our parents, watching us from afar, sighed in relief. Seeing their close-knit sisters, who had seemed inseparable, suddenly drift apart must have been heartbreaking for them, who witnessed it up close.

A fight between a married couple is like cutting water with a knife; a fight between sisters is like cutting a knife with water. (TL Note: A Korean proverb that means the ties between a couple are not so easily severed, but a fight between siblings is.)

They must have been worrying about how to mediate between us, and seeing us reconcile like this, they're probably thinking that it was a good decision to hold this competition.

They'll firmly believe that everything will go back to the way it was.

Foolishly.

Remi, Dad, Mom, the knights, the nobles, the teachers, every~one is a fool.

Fools.

Idiots who only see what they want to see.

How is that any different from being blind?

A person can break down overnight, but how can a broken person come to their senses overnight? That kind of happy-go-lucky story can't possibly exist.

Such things are only possible in fairy tales.

A princess awakened by a prince's kiss, a hero defeating a witch with the help of a princess.

To strongly desire something means that it's lacking in one's life. To wish for happiness means that a person isn't happy right now.

Such stories are prevalent in the world because such beautiful things don't happen in reality.

Then how can my sister, who hasn't even received a prince's kiss, be any different?

Everyone knows it, don't they? Isn't there still an unresolved, unsettling feeling in the corner of your hearts? Look, face it, explore it! That doubt.

But you'll all turn away from your own hearts in the end.

Do you feel like there's no need to worry because the three of us are hugging each other and looking so happy?

Even if you feel fear, you should have dug deeper.

That's laziness, arrogance, and ignorance.

You will pay the price for your sins.

A typhoon brings heavy rain and wind, but at its center, the sky is clear and sunny, without a single cloud or breeze. But when the eyes move and you step outside the eye of the typhoon— you'll be engulfed in the storm again.

Kwaaah, only after being swept away by the wind and shattered like scattered flower petals will they realize.

What the problem was.

"Aris — would you like to go hunting with me?"

"Uh... Yes?"

Anna looked at me and spoke gently.

"I want to apologize personally... Because I'm sorry."

"...Huh?"

"We'll leave Remi with father and the others... Just the 'two of us'..."

The eye of the typhoon smiled brightly at me.

So I smiled back at her too.

Brightly.

"—Is that okay? Aris."

Her eyes, which should have been taking in the vast scenery, were focused solely on me.

Remi, who was hugging me, the grass beneath my feet, the trees standing tall and beautiful in the distance, the blue sky with fluffy clouds, everything. Nothing but me was reflected in Anna's eyes.

In her pitch-black pupils, I was the only one who existed, floating in a black background.

Ah, as expected, she couldn't escape from herself after all.

She could run away from other people's shadows, from everything that tormented her, but she couldn't escape from her own shadow.

The shadow follows.

Even in death.

Forever.

"Heeheehee."

I laughed joyfully.

The clouds parted, and the sun appeared behind Anna's head.

The bright backlight made Anna's face, as seen from my perspective, look dark and shadowy.

I can't see her expression. What kind of expression is she making?

Well, she must be smiling.

Just like me.

She, who had tried to escape from her shadow in fear, ultimately chose to become one with it. She thought that if she became the shadow itself, she wouldn't have to tremble in fear anymore.

But there's a price to pay.

Because a shadow cannot exist on its own.

The price will be paid, returning to Anna as a dagger.

But I love my family, my sister, more than anything —

"Okay! Let's go hunting together!!"

"—Thank you, Aris."

So I'll be that price.

Ah, as always.

I'm just too kind.

**

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