Re:Zero -Starting Life in Zero

Faced with Green's resounding rebuke, Pandora's pale cheeks trembled slightly, and a ripple finally appeared in her empty eyes.

She remained calm, maintaining an almost obsessive composure, and spoke softly, her tone carrying a stubborn self-justification and a sense of isolation from those she felt misunderstood:

"There has long been undercurrents and conflicts between demi-humans and humans. Even without my instigation, war would have broken out sooner or later."

"The Witch Cult is riddled with factions, greedy and violent, and has long been corrupt. My existence merely amplifies these latent influences."

As she said this, she lowered her eyes slightly and gently clenched her slender fingers.

When that mysterious door was mentioned, a rare hint of extreme determination and solemnity appeared in his usually indifferent eyes:

"As for Emilia... I admit, I hurt her. But I have to open that door, I have to do it."

"If you cannot open that door and break the shackles of the world's origin, the annihilation of this world will be imminent, even before you do anything..."

Her voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable certainty.

It's as if all the evil deeds I've done are desperate measures to save the world.

Even if it means bearing a heavy burden of sins, I am willing to do it.

As Pandora finished speaking, the sea of ​​flowers fell into a deathly silence. A gentle breeze carried the petals to the ground, and even the sound of breathing became clear.

Emilia, who had been quietly hiding behind Green, filled with reliance and reassurance, only belatedly came to her senses at this moment.

Following Green's gaze, she finally saw Pandora standing quietly to the side, pale and weak.

The woman before her was the one who destroyed her home, altered her memories, and burdened her with a century of pain and guilt.

Emilia clenched her fists slightly, a hint of grievance flashing in her eyes, which was then replaced by a faint anger.

She leaned forward, looked at Green beside her, and asked softly, her tone serious yet frank:

"Wait, Green."

"I was so focused on you that I didn't notice this guy at all..."

Her gaze fell on Pandora, without fear, only with an open acceptance of past pain. She then turned to Green, her eyes clear, and spoke frankly:

"Can I kill her now?"

Jiafeier, who was standing nearby, immediately panicked, raised her hand, and rushed forward, urgently trying to stop her: "Wait, Princess, you can't do this!"

He glanced at Green instinctively, his tone resolute: "The King said this woman is still useful; we can't touch her now!"

Emilia blinked her clear purple eyes upon hearing this.

She then turned her head obediently to Green, gently tugged at his sleeve with her fingertips, and softly asked him for confirmation:

"Really? Green?"

Green looked down at the obedient girl in front of him, who was completely following his instructions, and couldn't help but raise his hand to gently stroke her soft, silver hair.

"It's not very useful, you can do whatever you want."

Emilia nodded solemnly, the grievance and anger in her eyes fading somewhat, replaced by a more serious expression. She loosened Grin's sleeve and walked step by step toward Pandora.

Her pale purple skirt swept across the fallen flowers as she stood before Pandora, her posture upright, her gaze fixed on the woman before her, her voice trembling slightly yet unwavering:

"Don't you have anything to say, Pandora?"

Pandora stared blankly at Emilia in front of her, who simply tilted her head blankly, seemingly deep in thought.

A moment later, a faint smile appeared on her lips, and she said softly:

"Miss Emilia, you've grown up so much, but your personality is still as adorable as it was when you were a child..."

These words struck a chord with Emilia, reminding her of her altered memories, the destroyed elven village, and the confusion and pain she had endured for centuries.

He gritted his teeth, stepped forward, and gently cupped Pandora's pale cheeks in his hands, forcing her to look him in the eye.

A thin mist welled up in her eyes, her tone was a mixture of anger and grievance, and she couldn't help but add a touch of coquettishness:

"Don't talk about irrelevant things!"

"You've done so many bad things, destroyed my home, hurt my people, and made me suffer so much. Shouldn't you apologize to me?!"

As she finished speaking, Emilia's eyes reddened slightly, and she tightened her fingers a little, but ultimately did not harm Pandora in the slightest.

My heart is filled with anticipation for this belated apology, and resentment towards the past pain.

Watching this scene from a short distance away, Green raised his hand to his forehead with a mixture of helplessness and indulgence, muttering under his breath, "Good heavens, Leah, what are you doing?"

He originally intended to indulge Emilia's whims, but seeing the girl's aggrieved state, yet still unable to bring herself to harm her, he insisted on demanding an apology. He immediately strode towards the two of them.

He walked up to her in a few steps, and ignoring the astonishment on Pandora's face, Green reached out and grabbed her silver hair, lifting her up without any mercy.

Green lowered his eyes, his gaze icy, radiating an irresistible pressure. His tone was cold and ruthless as he directly urged:

"Hey, Pandora, apologize to Leah right now, or I'll shove you upside down into the ground."

Pandora slowly looked at Emilia, whose eyes were red-rimmed, and spoke in a weak but incredibly clear voice a sentence that was a hundred years overdue:

"...I'm sorry, Miss Emilia."

This apology, which had been awaited for a century, landed lightly in Emilia's ears, yet instantly shattered all of her strength.

She stared blankly at Pandora before her, and the tears that had been welling up in her eyes finally spilled down her cheeks like beads from a broken string.

The grievances, pain, and confusion that had been suppressed for a century erupted at this moment, and she couldn't help but sob softly.

"Waaaaah..."

The soft, delicate sobs made Green's heart tighten instantly. He immediately released his grip on Pandora's silver hair and, without hesitation, opened his arms and tightly embraced the sobbing girl in front of him.

He gently patted Emilia's back, his fingertips softly wiping away her tears, his voice low and tender, full of heartache and affection, as he soothed her gently:

"Horiya, don't cry, don't cry..."

Emilia buried her face in Green's chest, clutching his clothes tightly, tears soaking a large part of the fabric, her soft sobs continuing for a long time.

After crying for a long time, her sobs gradually subsided.

Her eyes were still red-rimmed, and the tip of her nose had a pitiful pink tinge.

Emilia tilted her head slightly, her eyes blurry with tears as she looked at Grin, her voice hoarse from crying, full of unease and anticipation:

"Green, is there really any hope for Fortuna and the others?"