“Is it over?”

Muen looked at the space that had suddenly fallen empty, unable to stop himself from letting out a long sigh of relief.

The Silent Moon had already been dragged back outside this world by the Withering King. In such a direct, one-on-one confrontation, the ending that awaited the Silent Moon could be guessed at. Which meant, from here on, it would no longer be possible for it to free a hand to harm Senior Sister.

Its plan had been utterly ruined.

And yet, as Muen lifted his gaze toward the dark moon mist that had already sealed shut, a faint realization passed through his heart.

No.

It wasn’t over yet.

Muen lowered his head, looking at the girl in his arms.

Her eyes were still closed tight, her willow-brows faintly knitted.

Black scales covered her pale skin as the cost. Beneath the hem of her violet dress, that strange serpentine tail swayed ever so lightly in rhythm with her breath.

The moon was about to meet its end.

But the girl had yet to receive her deserved redemption.

How could Muen ever accept such an ending?

“So...”

Muen bent down until his forehead touched hers.

“Don’t be afraid, Senior Sister. I came to save you.”

...

...

“Monster!”

“Monster!”

“You little monster!”

Amidst the chaotic blur of light and ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) shadow, Anna heard people cursing.

The voices were unbearably harsh, mixed with filth and venom, as though facing a sworn blood enemy, spewing out hatred without restraint.

They were...

Ah. They were my parents.

Anna had to think for a long while before she could pull their figures up from the depths of memory and match them to an identity.

—Those biological parents who had abandoned her completely when she was very young.

Too much time had passed. She had even forgotten what they looked like.

But even though these curses at her ears were words that would anger even the kindest of souls, Anna didn’t really feel angry.

She lowered her head, looking at her arm.

Scales, twisted and hideous.

That’s right. She was a monster. So even if she was abandoned, how could she hold resentment? How could she be angry?

Fearing monsters—wasn’t that only human nature?

She had long since grown used to it.

Anna covered her ears and kept walking forward.

The road stretched far.

She didn’t know where it led.

As Anna walked, the crowd murmured on either side, blurry figures speaking the same words as her parents.

“Monster.”

“Monster.”

“Look, that’s a monster.”

Even with her ears covered, those voices kept pouring into her mind.

It was nothing serious.

Nothing worth being angry about.

They were just strangers.

What did their words have to do with her?

As long as...

“Monster!”

Anna’s expression flickered.

A figure blocked her way ahead—but that face was no longer blurred.

It was... the matron from the orphanage.

At this moment, the face that had been endlessly kind in memory had twisted with rage and ferocity. She fixed her eyes on Anna and screamed:

“Don’t come near, monster!”

“...”

“Monster!”

More and more faces became clear.

The companions from the orphanage.

Passersby she had once brushed shoulders with on the streets.

Seniors and upperclassmen after she entered the Academy.

And then...

That old man.

“You monster!”

The old man pounded the armrest of his rocking chair, face dark as iron, and roared:

“Get out of here! You’re not welcome here!”

“Yes, that’s right, you’re not welcome!”

“Get lost, there’s no place here for monsters!”

Everyone began to shout, wearing the faces from Anna’s memories, loudly saying what seemed only natural.

That’s right.

It was only natural.

Monsters not being accepted—wasn’t that exactly how it should be?

There was no one to blame. It was only that her fate... was unlucky. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

That was all.

...

At last, Anna escaped the countless curses and arrived before a black sea.

Through the water, Anna stared at her own reflection.

In that ocean’s mirror, she was covered in black scales, her pupils vertical and cold, a serpent’s tail swaying, radiating endless strangeness.

No wonder everyone loathed her. The monster reflected on the sea’s surface was so ugly, so... revolting.

At that moment, as Anna looked at this endless dark sea, she suddenly understood.

“So that’s how it is.”

She gave a self-mocking smile.

“Fine.”

Then, her tail twisted, and she slowly stepped into the water, allowing herself to be swallowed little by little by the black sea.

【Senior Sister.】

But just as she was about to be completely submerged, Anna suddenly turned her head, looking back at those faces on the shore, some blurred, some clear.

“It feels like... someone’s missing.”

It seemed like someone very important.

But who was it?

She couldn’t remember.

【Senior Sister.】

...Forget it.

Even if she remembered, it would only be one more person cursing her as a monster.

Anna smiled faintly and let her body sink deeper into the sea.

The endless darkness gradually drowned her.

Yes.

This was fine.

【Senior Sister.】

She wouldn’t trouble anyone.

She wouldn’t hurt anyone.

And she wouldn’t bring destruction to the world.

Just like this—alone, solitary, quietly, silently—

buried deep within the darkness.

【Senior Sister.】

It was only that she herself would never see the light again...

【Senior Sister.】

Not painful at all.

Not sad at all.

Not lonely at all.

【Senior Sister!】

So noisy!

Anna suddenly lifted her head, turning toward the voice she had been forcibly ignoring.

“Can’t you just... let someone rest in peace?”

As her voice fell—

Boundless light pierced through the surface of the sea, descending here with overwhelming force.

It tore apart all the darkness.

And the blond-haired boy, wearing a blurred yet warm smile, reached out his hand in that blinding radiance.

“You finally answered me, Senior Sister. Come back with me.”

“I...”

Anna wavered, but before she could say anything, that hand seized hers.

Tightly—unrelentingly.

“This time, I won’t let you escape again, Senior Sister.”

The blond-haired boy spoke firmly, riding the endless light. Regardless of the girl’s struggles, he pulled her free from the darkness.

...

...

“Where... am I?”

Upon the shattered altar, Anna slowly opened her eyes.

The first thing she saw was that familiar face—the blond-haired boy.

“Junior Brother?”

“Senior Sister, you’re finally awake.”

Looking at the still-confused Anna, Muen smiled.

He reined in the crimson flames burning within his eyes and let out a faint breath.

“Good thing you didn’t really forget me. Otherwise, I truly would’ve been heartbroken.”

“Forget? Junior Brother, what are you talking about?”

Anna furrowed her brows slightly and rubbed her temples without thinking.

“I think... I had a strange dream?”

“A dream, huh? That’s fine...”

Muen chuckled. “Senior Sister, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

“Uncomfortable? No, nothing like that. It’s just...”

Anna was about to say more when she suddenly froze.

Because she suddenly realized—at this very moment, she was being held tightly in Muen’s arms.

The two of them were so close, she could clearly feel his warmth and breath.

No matter how one looked at it, this posture was far too intimate.