A dull longsword and a heartbroken villager

There was more than one orb of light; far away, there was another, dark orb of light, full of life.

There were also sobs.

Bray frowned and walked toward the sound of crying.

When Bray got closer to the source of the crying, he froze on the spot.

A woman whom Bray felt was a stranger was crying.

The weeping woman had long, brown hair and a naked body with fair skin.

However, Bray had no interest in appreciating it.

Because the woman was crying out her own name.

“Bray…Bray…” the woman choked back tears as she wiped them away.

“Who?” Bray asked.

The crying suddenly stopped, and the woman looked up at Bray, her expression filled with joy.

“Bray!” The face was incredibly familiar to Bray.

Despite the slight differences, Bray still recognized the woman's silhouette.

“Marlene…” Bray’s pupils trembled, unable to comprehend what was happening before him.

"Bray!" But the woman ignored Bray's dazed expression and hugged him directly.

The moment he was embraced, Bray was certain that the woman was Marlene.

That intensity... that feeling it conveyed.

Bray didn't know why he was able to understand.

“There’s nothing here, only terrifying sounds,” Marlene said to Bray, her voice choked with emotion.

"Ah."

"Being alone is terrifying." Marlene's tears continued to flow, falling onto Bray's clothes.

Bray wanted to say something, but in the end he remained silent.

He simply held Marlene gently.

Then Bray gently pushed Marlene away, focusing on the dark ball of light.

Within the ball of light, there was a face.

That was Levi's face.

Reeve's face was contorted, as if it had been dissolved into water and submerged in a vortex.

"Aaaaaaahh ...

This is the will of Rivi, who controls the "divine source" of the polluters.

But that will had already collapsed.

The Black Iron type cannot control this power; even if there are so-called chosen ones in this world, they cannot do it.

"Aaaaaaaahhhhhh!!! Adorable Marlene!!! Look!!! This is!!! Us!!!!"

"We!!! We're already gods!!!!"

The chilling, maniacal screams reached the brain.

Marin was pale; he had heard such voices far too many times.

"Hahahaha!!! No longer insignificant, no longer foolish! So-called god!!!"

The voice was chilling, and it could only be vaguely discerned as Levi's voice.

However, compared to the polluters outside, Reeves' voice was relatively clear here.

"God? Don't be ridiculous," Bray said expressionlessly.

"This is just a false god."

Bray's words made Reve's face in the ball of light even more distorted.

"Aaaaaaaahh ...

"It's so noisy," Bray said calmly, reaching out to crush the ball of light.

"Aa ...

Of course, the "divine source" cannot simply disappear; it will only subside for a short while.

The annoying noise stopped, and Marin's expression softened considerably.

“Bray…” Marlene called softly, her little hands gripping Bray’s clothes tightly.

Marlene now appears to be a mature and sophisticated woman, but her words and actions are no different from those of a young girl.

There is a serious inconsistency between his mindset and appearance.

Despite this, Bray didn't say anything.

"Hmm." Bray ruffled Marlene's soft hair.

"Bray, I can't get out," Marlene said, clutching her chest in anguish.

“Hmm…” Bray’s face darkened, but his voice remained gentle.

"It's impossible to get out now, no matter what." Marlene's voice was choked with emotion.

Bray didn't know how to answer that question.

Marlene has become one with the polluter, becoming part of its very existence.

In other words, Marlene is part of the polluters, and the idea of ​​separation is unrealistic.

"I'm sorry for asking such a question." Marlene lowered her head, as if blaming herself.

Because Marlene saw Bray's gloomy face.

The vast white space fell silent for a moment.

“You’re not getting out now,” Bray suddenly said.

“Yes…” Marlene raised her head and smiled, but tears kept streaming down her face.

Marlene's life as a vessel was accompanied by a cruel fate.

“Is that so?” Marlene’s voice trembled.

Marin knew this from the very beginning; he knew it better than anyone else.

Even so, Marin still harbored a small hope.

That means your feelings are just a lie.

"Marlene can no longer go out; she will never see the outside world again."

“…” Bray remained silent.

"Hey, Bray."

"Am I a monster?" Marlene folded her hands and touched her face.

It was placed in Bray's palm.

“No.” But Bray said very seriously.

“You’re not a monster.” Bray gripped Marlene’s hand tightly.

“Hmm.” Marlene suddenly squatted down and burst into tears.

"Marlene isn't a monster, is she?"

"No."

"Marlene, isn't she a monster?"

"No."

No matter how many times Marin cried and asked, Bray still gave a negative answer with a straight face.

“No matter how many times, I will answer ‘you are not a monster,’” Bray said.

The girl wanted to know what her existence truly meant, and Bray granted her wish.

In the end, only Marlene's sobs could be heard in the entire space.

“I love you, Bray,” Marlene said, her voice choked with sobs.

"I love you so much, Bray," Marlene said, sniffling and with red eyes.

"Hmm." Bray's face softened.

"I like you so much, so much, so much," Marlene murmured.

"Hmm." Bray touched his right eye, and before he knew it, his eyes were wet.

"Does Bray like Marlene too?" Marlene asked earnestly, her eyes red-rimmed, looking up at her.

“I like it.” Bray nodded.

Marin smiled broadly, her face streaked with tears.

“No matter what anyone says right now, Marlene will feel like the happiest person in the world.” Marlene stood up and moved her face closer to Bray.

“Hmm.” Bray’s heart grew heavier, and he had nothing left to say.

"Thank you for making this man-made monster so happy."

"You are not a monster."

But Marlene didn't say anything; instead, she awkwardly pressed her pink lips to Bray's lips.

"I like you so much..."

Marin's voice became muffled, and the white faded in an instant.

---

Bray lay on the ground, writhing in excruciating pain.

Opening his eyes, Bray touched his face.

It's a little damp, as if it's been rained on.

"Blind man!! Get up!!!! This is not the time to sleep!!!!" Eric roared.

The snapping of fingers was so loud that Eric was almost completely exhausted.

Now they are only using their remaining magic to painstakingly contain the polluter's rampaging actions.

Bray suddenly lost his focus and fell off the polluter, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Fortunately, Bray was in relatively good physical condition and was not seriously injured. Of course, the main reason was that Eric built an ice ladder to cushion Bray's fall.

Bray struggled to his feet.

Unfortunately, the greatsword was too heavy, and it took Bray a lot of effort to stand up.

“Mr. Bray!” Sass helped Bray up.

“It’s still here…” Bray said weakly.

“I saw your sister,” Bray suddenly said.

Sass paused for a moment after hearing Bray's words.

“I’m going to kill this guy,” Bray said, raising his hand and pointing at the corrupted man’s frenzied figure.

His expression was serious, more focused than ever before.

"..." Sass paused for a moment, then calmed down.

"Why…"

"I don't want to make a girl who confessed her feelings to me continue to suffer."

Upon seeing Marlene, Bray knew there was no hope of saving her.

“You cried,” Sass said.