Chapter 69: Death

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Translator: Soafp

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“Gu…!”

“K… Kyaaaaaaa!!”

In an instant, Maya’s scream, realizing what had happened, echoed loudly.

And then, the woman named Mari who had stabbed Naoki began to speak softly in a cold voice.

“I gave you everything. My heart and my money. Yet, Naoki never gave me anything in return. Is there anything more empty than this?”

“Gu… Th-that’s…”

“I would have been fine just being loved by you. I wanted to be first, but I couldn’t even enter your heart. Am I just a fool for giving everything like this? So Naoki, from now on, live only in my heart. Don’t ever step out from there.”

Mari pulled out the knife that had pierced Naoki’s body once.

Seeing blood gush out profusely, I snapped back to reality.

But before I could intervene, Mari stabbed Naoki’s abdomen again.

“Gaaaah!!”

“H-Hey, stop!! Katsuragi!! Help me!!”

Still in a daze from the unexpected turn of events, Katsuragi was brought back to reality, and together they finally managed to restrain Mari in a headlock. But by then, Naoki was barely breathing, collapsing to his knees and falling.

Mari’s strength was terrifying, almost inhuman, making it difficult for even two grown men to stop her.

Is this how someone with clear intent to kill behaves, exceeding all human norms?

“U… Uuu…!”

The knife was dangerously lodged near Naoki’s liver. The bleeding was severe; he might not survive.

“I-it hurts… I don’t… want to die… I don’t want to… di…e…”

Seeing Naoki desperately begging for his life before me, I felt the pain of it deeply.

I had certainly wanted to kill him. The desire to end Naoki and Maya was real.

But the stark reality of someone dying right in front of me was so far from everyday life, too cruel and vivid.

Was my resolve, the feelings I had of wanting to kill Maya and Naoki, ultimately so shallow?

Ignoring my shaken self, the intense color of Naoki’s blood spread vividly around us.

“…Miz…u…”

Eventually, Naoki stopped moving.

How much time passed until we heard the sound of sirens? During that time, Maya’s face turned as pale as if she had lost consciousness, trembling uncontrollably.

Naoki, I think he won’t make it.

If that happens, we won’t be innocent, not at all uninvolved. Especially Katsuragi, who assaulted Naoki. It wouldn’t be surprising if we were seen as accomplices.

Even so…

Facing the fear of death, I strangely found a new determination within myself.