"—Truly, a foolish brother."
The rabbit plushie, torn down the middle, crumbled into dust and vanished without a trace.
It was the sign of death.
It meant that Jelasis was dead, along with the demon that had nested in his heart since the moment of his birth.
"Based on this, it seems Edward is still alive."
And Laguna Ver Brave as well.
I had expected Jelasis to lose, to be honest. The boy was soft. However, I assumed that even if he lost, he wouldn't die as long as he gave the demon full control of his body.
The result? Death.
The way that cute pink plushie had turned black proved he’d surrendered his soul to the creature. Even though I specifically told him not to do that.
...Stupid brother.
But since he had spent his entire life doing only what he was told, I suppose it couldn't be helped. It was a little sad, perhaps, but I had no time to dally over it.
"This tea is dreadful."
I muttered to myself, sipping a brew that was pointlessly expensive and utterly tasteless.
There were too many irregulars now.
The Brave Territory Disappearance Event—slated for the end of summer—likely won't happen as long as Laguna Ver Brave is alive. His intentions for intervening were obvious enough. Which meant the collapse of the Guardian Barrier, triggered by a demon-possessed Alicia, was also off the table.
"Well, it hardly matters now."
I wondered if the thing that killed Jelasis was the same demon Alicia sold her soul to in the game. It was a minor concern, and ultimately irrelevant. I had already gotten everything I wanted from those fools; it didn't matter what happened to them now.
The road would have been much easier if the scenario had played out—if I'd destroyed the Guardian Barrier, rewrote it, and secured my future as Edward's wife. That was all. Just that.
But the path I set out on wasn't really a path at all. It was a trail of sacrifices, walked only by those willing to cast everything else aside.
I packed my things. There was no point staying in this kingdom now that the Edward Route was dead.
A reverse harem? Don't make me laugh. They were all just blind idiots, hanging on Edward’s every word and following his lead. I was sick of them—little brats who would flush red the moment I let them touch me even slightly.
I hated them. I hated it all.
I hated this world and its convenient little rules. I hated the stupid men who enjoyed it.
It was the Barrier's fault. Everything was that Barrier's fault. I would destroy it. I would tear it apart until there was nothing left.
Let it all crumble. Let it return to the Mother Sea and be wiped clean.
"I'm doing this for your sake too, you know... Lord Margrave?"
I laughed as I gazed out the window toward the Brave Territory. I didn't know who or where he was, exactly—the Margrave who stood in the center of a twisted fate that was trying to right itself.
I wonder how you'll react when I break it? Will you try to protect the Barrier? Or do you intend to just watch in silence?
"Hehe. I'm looking forward to it."
Whatever choice he made didn't matter to me. It was merely a difference of convenience. It was a real shame I wouldn't be able to watch from the sidelines as the Academy fell apart, but I had to focus on what came next.
I was bound for the Continent Duchy. House Ignite had already arranged my transfer as a student.
I didn't need to keep dyeing my hair to play the part anymore. I hated doing it; it ruined my hair. Frayed strands lay scattered on my pillow. At the roots of the gold, I could see black and white.
Good, evil—it didn't matter. I would paint over it all. Three colors, perfectly suited for this twisted, broken world.
"Listen... the Continent Duchy has a beautiful sea, you know."
I spoke to the pendant around my neck.
"The sea is lovely. It's so much bigger than that Barrier, and it's so deep that it could even swallow a tall Royal Castle."
Clutching the pendant with the shining red jewel to my chest, I left the room.
"It's so beautiful, I'm sure you'll be surprised. Right, Jelasis?"