The bard fantasized again.

Chapter 225 The Final Reincarnation (5k)

Fied never considered himself to possess any spirit of sacrifice.

After all, the word 'sacrifice' felt somewhat heavy to her.

It's like you have to sacrifice yourself in order to make others happy.

But why should she accommodate others?

She only wanted to fulfill herself.

She wanted a better life, a life she had always longed for during her wandering and drifting years.

She might live in some quiet little town, perhaps in the fields, perhaps by the sea.

The town has a small population, perhaps less than a hundred, but it would be best if the residents were of diverse ethnicities, and even welcome the arrival of Tyflin.

That way there would be no racial discrimination, and the orcs wouldn't be beaten and driven beyond the Wall to be used as bait and cannon fodder. This is very important.

She hoped her neighbors were a halfling family, since these guys were always so hospitable, cooking up a mozzarella fondue in the evenings and inviting her to dinner—a flavor she'd only ever tasted at the Green Bottle family's Friendly House dinner.

Occasionally, a dwarf would find him, holding up a bottle of dark beer and challenging him to a drinking contest. The next day, when he was sober, he might be heading to the fields to harvest wheat.

Hmm, it can't be rye; she doesn't like that bitter taste at all.

Fide longed for this kind of life.

But another meaning of longing might be regret about the current life.

She regrets that she hasn't been able to achieve that kind of life—

Becoming an adventurer, lost in the forest, and harassed by a witch.

In the end, she formed a new family with the 'beast' kept by the witch.

But in the end, he was imprisoned in this dungeon where mist and forest intertwined.

This is clearly unrelated to her dream.

But reality is quite different from fantasy. Even if her life was not ideal, it at least satisfied her most basic desires.

She gained a lover and a family.

She doesn't want to lose these.

Therefore, you must only care about yourself.

There was little spirit of sacrifice involved.

But what was it that drove him to snatch the scimitar, willing to risk excessive blood loss and exhaustion, to cut off his own wrist and let the blood flow to the ground and scatter in the air?

What is the hidden meaning behind this 'sacrifice'?
"It's the taste of satisfaction."

Before the castle walls, Lilith crouched at Fide's elbow, letting the flowing blood drip onto the tip of her tongue.

Her tongue traced across her red lips, the blood-stained lips adding a touch of allure to her serene face.

The taste is satisfying, but the appetite is not.

So she wanted to pounce on him and lick Fide's wounds clean.

Tang Qi grabbed her arm:
"Where did you come from?"

What surprised him even more was that Fide's blood actually made Lilith speak for the first time.

Is her blood really that sweet?
Lilith gave Tang Qi ample face, and with a touch of reluctance, looked at the blood spilled on the ground, writing a line in her notebook:

"It flew up."

Attracted by blood?

She nodded.

Tang Qi asked, "Is there anything different about her blood compared to others?"

"Blood flows through the whole body and the brain. The emotions that arise in the brain are the best seasoning for the blood."

Arthur looked at Fide in horror and used his last healing spell to heal her wounds.

He had exhausted his spell slots, with only two third-circle spells remaining unused.

Now, he can't help but want to offer some advice:
"The satisfaction derived from self-harm actually stems from the alienation of the mind from pain. You don't have to hurt yourself like this. You can talk to me if you have any worries..."

"Fuck you."

Fide glared at him, somewhat annoyed, and for a moment she was unsure whether it was worth it.

But does this 'sacrifice' actually represent satisfaction?
Regarding gratitude and recognition?
still is……

"The satisfaction of belonging."

Tang Qi suddenly said,
"It seems you've finally realized that you should do something for our team."

"what?"

Fied instinctively denied it, but the question stuck in his throat and he couldn't utter a sound.

She can verbally contradict her inner truth, but she cannot change the facts—

Previously, all she had been thinking about was how to get away from this group and return to the village to tell Kane that she was safe and sound.

But the longer they stayed in the castle, the more uncomfortable she felt about being there.

Arthur was able to set up a "Leomon Hut" as their escape route.

I felt like a tourist, following along from beginning to end, yet I couldn't demonstrate any value whatsoever.

She didn't know why she was so eager to prove these things.

Perhaps it's because of Arthur's kindness?

Perhaps it was through the adventure team in front of her that she recalled her past life, and because of her regretful past, she felt envious?
After all, the squads she had been in didn't have this noisy, inclusive atmosphere.

Just like that moment in front of the banquet hall—

Characters like Arthur, who cause trouble, will be scolded, fined, and kicked out of the team the moment the conflict is resolved.

Don't ask her how she knew.

This team, which constantly talked about 'adventure spirit,' actually gave her a different feeling when interacting with those adventurers who were covered in the stench of money.

It's purer, and also...warmer.

She truly felt a sense of belonging.

So much so that by contributing to the team, her beautiful aspirations seemed to bring her closer to reality...

"Screw you, stop being so self-righteous."

Fied turned his head away.

They are the enemy, and I even died at their hands once. The conflict in the village has not yet been resolved.

Now that she's admitted it, isn't it like she's surrendering?
Tang Qi ignored her insincerity and instead looked hesitantly at the dense forest outside the castle.

It was a downward slope, with a carpet of white bones on both sides, and dense fir trees shrouded in mist, a vast expanse of white before my eyes:
"But why, even after draining all the blood, has the blood mist still not appeared?"

I remember when I slit Fide's throat, it didn't even take a minute before the mist began to suck the blood from her throat, turning into a red mist that permeated her body.

Until finally, it revealed its true form, as vast as the ocean.

But now, under the successive [Healing Spell] and [Vibrant Aura], Fide's blood has soaked into the earth, and the strong smell of blood in his nostrils makes him feel uncomfortable all over.

The fog still showed no sign of revealing itself.

“He’s afraid to go near here,” Lilith wrote.

"Because you're afraid to face Van der Fleur?"

Tang Qi listened to the continuous music behind him and said knowingly.

Even though he was reduced to a mangled corpse by the sunlight, surviving only on the thirst for blood, he still harbored remorse for killing his brother, to the point that he dared not approach him...

But if he doesn't take a step closer, he won't be able to get Van Frien's forgiveness.

"Isn't this a dead end?" Arthur gritted his teeth, somewhat at a loss.

Fied's sense of satisfaction vanished abruptly, and he stammered:
"Wouldn't that have been a pointless wrist-cutting?"

Lilith's interest in blood waned considerably, and she failed to come up with an effective solution.

If she had, she would have done it already.

"So they need a bridge."

Tang Qi slapped his forehead, realizing the key point.
"A bridge that can convey feelings."

"Have you come up with a solution?" Arthur asked.

Tang Qi nodded, turned the lute on his back, and looked at Fed:

"Keep your blood delicious, enhance its allure, and let's move forward."

"How can you guarantee that!?"

Fied opened his eyes wide, thinking it was a nonsensical request.

"Recall that feeling just now, and I believe you can do it. You need to know that this can't be done without you."

Tang Qi patted her shoulder, a rare occurrence for him, and responded solemnly.

"Can't it be done without me?"

For a moment, Fede felt like he had been tricked.

But then I thought about it.

The feeling of being misled doesn't seem so bad?

This sense of being recognized and needed, along with this affirmation, isn't it the remedy she has been searching for all her life but has never been able to find?
Only in this moment, when they try to achieve their goal together.

Fied sensed that they had put aside their grudges and discord.

It's as if it really is a single entity.

Lilith gently blew her nose, and the sweet, warm blood, like a spring of sweet water, flowed into her nasal cavity again.

But this time she didn't pounce. Instead, she transformed into a bat and silently flew to the top of the castle wall, watching Tang Qi and his group step into the mist.

A touch of blood gradually appeared in the churning fog.

That sweet scent of blood had long since drawn Sean away from the castle.

But his lingering regret held him back.

As Fede stepped into the mist, he no longer needed to suppress his thirst for blood, allowing it to flow freely throughout his body, letting the color of the mist gradually deepen over time.

Seeing that Fide was growing weaker, Arthur quickly raised the Holy Symbol, which enveloped everyone in a radiant glow.

It's like a thin veil on a bed, shrouded in a pink hue, a blend of deep blue and orange-red at the cusp of dusk—

【Vibrant Brilliance: Three Rings, Shaping Energy】

The healing energy emanating from you forms a 10-meter radius aura. Within one minute, this aura will move around you, continuously restoring vitality.

Being shrouded in spiritual light ensures that each of them remains safe and sound in the blood mist.

Arthur quickly looked at Tang Qi:

"Two beams of light, two minutes, is that enough?"

"enough."

Tang Qi closed his eyes and, in the silence, began to play the first note.
"I am the eldest grandson of the Night Raven, the beginning of reincarnation, and the soul of obsession. Fortune and misfortune befell me at the same time, sweeping through my life like a torrential downpour."

My grandfather, disgusted with his good-for-nothing son, stroked my newly formed forehead with his fingertips.

'He is the true heir and must not be weaker than my son.'

He will take the helm of the future Night Raven, replacing his incompetent father.

Husband, father? I never thought he was qualified.

He would rather abandon himself and only care about indulging in pleasure.

My mother was depressed and he never came to see her until he died.

He was indulging in debauchery like a drunkard, forcing Valesa—the unfortunate girl—to have sex with him.

I became a big brother for the first time.

I was filled with doubts when I saw this newborn child.

Love him, hate him, what should I choose?

Arthur listened to the melody played on the lute.

The melody is leisurely and melodious, just like the tranquility at the beginning of the movement.

He was very familiar with this piece of music.

Since stepping into the castle, the same melody has been constantly echoing in his ears:

"Is this 'Sylvie in My Dreams' and the story of Van Frien?"

Fede sensed that the mist, so eager for the blood on his wrist, seemed to be beginning to linger—

Like a traveler standing hesitantly in place, listening to music and tracing the sounds of home.

"But the mist doesn't even have ears, so how did he understand?"

Tang Qi was unable to respond to her question.

But using the 'song' itself as a magical element of 'eloquence' was a plan he had made long ago.

As a true bard, he possessed the magic of music.

So much so that the song that triggers the magic network is itself a spell to unleash magic.

As a second-circle spell, [Eloquent Tongue] has the ability to directly alter the memory of a creature—a creature affected by the spell will only remember the words that are part of the spell's verbal components.

This gives his singing the potential to touch the soul.

Now, he wants to tell everything about Van Frien to this lost remnant:
"This is the consequence of that man's evil deeds."

I cannot direct my hatred and anger at the mistakes of that mother and son.

He has the same father as me, and I don't want his fate to be as difficult as mine.

Give him all your tolerance and love, and give up everything to build a beautiful eggshell for him.

I imagined everything would continue like this, until I drifted into the love river of the wilderness.

She is the spirit of harvest, bringing blessings to the fields.

The vibrant dance steps drew me into a whirlpool of love.

I wasn't the only one who noticed her uniqueness.

Even my younger brother wanted to spend his life with her.

Brothers or lover, how should I choose?

Tang Qi gradually retreated, along with Fide and Arthur, heading towards the castle.

Fied realized that the line of blood connecting the wound and the mist had suddenly broken.

This means that the fog has hesitated.
Memories even overshadowed the most primal craving for blood.

Because these remains bear witness to Van Frien's choice—

That was actually Sean's choice:

"My brother saw my dejection and his decision to leave made me even sadder."

Not letting her down is the only thing I can do, but I forget that everything should be decided by the girl.

The immense pressure tormented her, and she could only escape by taking her own life.

I should have realized that we were estranged from each other; this was not the life she desired.

The crimson dance skirt fell before my eyes, and I realized that I could not undo the predetermined outcome.

I was too ashamed to face my brother's questioning, until the dagger pierced my heart with trepidation.

I never imagined he would turn against me; after all, I am his brother.

My throat was filled with the warmth of fresh blood, but my heart was as cold as an ice dagger.

Resentment or forgiveness? How should I choose?

The blood mist stopped in its tracks once again.

But this time, he found himself standing in front of the castle again, without even realizing it.

As dawn broke and Kulu pushed open the castle gates, they exposed the fortress's gardens, corridors, red carpets, the wedding that had been held together through reincarnation, and everything else, to the blood mist.

Tang Qi knew the reason for his stop.

Sean is waiting for an answer.

Resentment, forgiveness...

My brother.

What did you ultimately choose?
"clank--"

The melodious sound of the piano wafted from the corridor.

The lute's continuous, flowing rhythm echoed the music, bringing the melodious piece to a climax in harmony:
"The boundless fog trapped me, made me fall, and turned me into the beginning of reincarnation and the soul of obsession."

This is a prison of sin, and I am willing to accept the harshness of punishment.

Even if I am imprisoned, I deserve my punishment.

You hurt me, but I still hope you can be happy.

—I sang a hymn of tolerance on my deathbed.

Until the truth shattered everything, the song turned into self-loathing.

You have your reasons, and you are doing your best for your family.

How can I, a selfish person, have the right to talk about tolerance?

I am willing to let go of my obsessions and leave, yearning for the pardon of reincarnation.

But how can I easily sever the bond of blood?

I should help you find peace, as your brother.

Waiting for your arrival is as nerve-wracking as it was back then.

Dying or letting go, which would you choose?

Hanging upside down on the wall, Lilith vaguely remembered everything she had written down—

"I once gave you all my love and patience, and now I only hope that you can give her to me."

Van Frien thus received Sean's transfer.

But when the outcome was already decided, he probably had moments of regret.

He regretted using family ties to force Sean to back down.

Regret for his choice inadvertently imprisoned Elizabeth's freedom.

So he willingly remained trapped in the cycle of weddings, reliving his painful past of losing his beloved day after day, as a form of punishment.

Now, it is realized that Sean has also lost his way in regret.

He realized that all of this should end.

The mist is a prison that confines sinners, but they can grant each other forgiveness.

Blood Mist seemed to understand her brother's attitude from the song.

That unbearable fear seemed to dissipate with the sound of the piano.

So much so that the pervasive mist gathered in front of the castle gate, transforming into a crimson blood-red shadow.

He stopped in his tracks and suddenly turned around to look.

Lilith, transformed into a bat, simply whispered:

"Go."

They are friends.

But friends don't have to be together forever.

Blood Shadow nodded to her and to Tang Qi.

Finally, after some hesitation, I crossed the long corridor of 'home' and headed towards the banquet hall on the right.

"Guest...name..."

The zombie in front of the hall emitted a hoarse voice.

Those were servants who recorded the guests' information.

"Sean Night Raven".

The banquet hall doors creaked open as they were slowly pushed open.

"Sylvie in My Dreams" has finally come to an end.

Arthur used his spiritual light to give Fide, who had lost too much blood, a final layer of life, and gently leaned her against the wall.

Looking into the castle, I tried to hear the final ending of the story.

The surroundings were so quiet that even the sound of the wind couldn't be detected.

They probably said a lot.

Or perhaps they said nothing at all.

But when they heard the banquet hall doors slam shut with a loud bang...

The guards wandering in the castle, the red dress falling repeatedly, and the servants greeting guests in front of the hall all seemed to vanish into the mist like smoke.

Lilith flapped her wings and flew into the sanctuary beyond the corridor, then slipped into the underground tomb.

Tang Qi looked out of the castle and saw that the fog seemed to have thinned a little. He simply turned his lute back onto his back.

"The cycle of reincarnation has ended."

He breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let's go back."

(End of this chapter)