Chapter 89: Charlotte and the Moment of Awakening

…I honestly don’t know what just happened.

One moment, the Earth Dragon was glowing brightly; the next, it collapsed as if crumbling apart.

Did Riven do something?

From here, it’s hard to tell. All I can see is Riven still standing while the dragon’s form disintegrates.

Is it safe to get closer now? It feels like it’s over. I’ll move in.

"Riven! Are you alright?"

"Charlotte? Yeah, it’s over."

Looks like it really is finished. I break into a run toward Riven.

By the time I reach him, the dragon has completely crumbled away, leaving nothing behind.

The only one left lying there, arms and legs spread like a starfish, is Trichel.

Riven and I stand over her, looking down.

Strangely, Trichel’s expression is calm—almost relieved.

"Ahhh, I lost."

"…Says the one who never intended to win in the first place."

"What!?"

From where I was watching, it had looked like a close fight—but apparently not.

While I’m still reeling, Riven addresses Trichel.

"Why were you trying to get yourself killed? Because this is a dream?"

"Even if you call it a dream, this place is built from souls. For guests like Charlotte-chan and you, it’s one thing, but if I’m killed here, I’ll probably die in reality too."

"Then why?"

"Geez, you see right through everything. It’s exhausting, you know?"

Wait… so Trichel really was trying to die?

Why? How come?

If she never planned to win, then why go this far?

"…Probably just what you’re imagining. Sorry it’s so simple."

"If you wanted to play the villain, why didn’t you commit to it from the start?"

"Huh?"

"You’re going to die, aren’t you? Wasn’t this all preparation for that?"

Huh? Hold on. I’m not following this conversation at all.

Why are we even talking about dying?

Dying? Who—Trichel?

When I glance at her, Trichel still has that half-smile—the look of someone who’s already given up.

"The first thing that felt off was that after I entered this dream, there were no attempts to obstruct me."

Riven explains that since Trichel could summon multiple golems right in front of us, it wouldn’t have been hard for her to set traps or interference.

If this dream world really belonged to Trichel, it wouldn’t have been strange for her to know exactly where we were at all times.

"The next strange thing was that after I joined up, there was no action at all. For example… she could have at least told you there was a chance I was an imposter."

"Ah!"

There’d been plenty going on before Riven arrived, but once we met up, there hadn’t been a single word casting doubt on him.

Because of that, once I’d decided he was real, I never questioned it again.

That’s what was weird. Normally—even if it was pointless—someone would still try to shake our trust.

"The decisive point was the order to come here. That paper you used could have been anything—an illusion, a bluff. Yet you deliberately showed yourself, right when suspicion of you was highest."

"But… how does all that connect to Trichel… um, dying?"

I get that it was strange she didn’t try to stop us.

But how does that link to her death? Isn’t that a stretch?

Riven pauses, thinking for a moment, then speaks again.

"I’ve just been laying out the evidence for my theory—that she was trying to play the villain’s role. What convinced me was during the fight just now. She kept leaving openings and steering things, practically begging me to aim directly at her."

"I thought my acting skills were better than that."

"Then you should’ve held back more against Rosalind."

"I was pretty desperate back then, you know. Oh, so you’re comparing it to that."

I get why she was trying to be the hated one now.

But how does that lead to dying?

"…Dragging someone like her into your own world must be excruciating, right, Trichel?"

"Huh?"

"Who told you that? Wait—judging from the situation, your sister, isn’t it?"

"Yeah. Rosalind said it. She said curses don’t work on Charlotte anymore. Her soul’s rank is too high."

Curses don’t work because her soul rank is high?

I don’t really get it. But—ah, the blood-drain curse wore off by itself before. Maybe it’s related.

"To trap a monster-like opponent inside your own dream world… the caster must bear a massive burden, right? Even if you’d spent years preparing for it."

"Hahaha, maybe it’s not that bad?"

"Could be. But you deliberately tried to get me to kill you—as if you wanted to die while still being the villain."

Trichel opens her mouth a few times, searching for a response, then closes it again when she can’t find one. Even so, the smile never leaves her face.

Everything Riven is saying is circumstantial. It’s only speculation.

But Trichel doesn’t laugh it off as ridiculous. If anything, she looks like she’s desperately trying to cover it up.

Is this real? Is it true?

"Why?"

"Hm?"

"Why would you go so far and do something like this?"

If she knew it was going to hurt. If she still caused this incident anyway…

Then what meaning did it have? Was there something she wanted so badly she’d throw her life away for it?

I don’t understand.

If you’re hurting—hurting so much you want to die—I can understand that.

But that’s not what this was, right? You did this because you wanted something, right?

Then what was it?

"…Charlotte-chan, you said you’ve been desperately living by your mother’s last words, right?"

"Y-yes."

"For me, starting this whole thing… that was my reason for existing. The purpose I was created for."

I can’t help noticing how pale Trichel looks. Her face is drained of color, yet her expression is almost serene. That contrast only makes her harder to read.

"I was raised from the very beginning as a pawn for this plan. That’s why I couldn’t back out—because fulfilling it is the meaning of my life."

"I see. So you’re saying all the times you helped her were just to ensure this plan succeeded."

"Exactly. Everything was for the execution of this plan. I couldn’t let her stumble elsewhere. Everything—everything I’ve done has been to fulfill the purpose I was born for. To reach a satisfying end—"

Trichel suddenly grows talkative, as if she’s finally found the words she’s been holding back. As if she’s stumbled upon a reason that feels right. Yet it still sounds like an excuse cobbled together after the fact.

"That’s a lie."

That’s why I say it plainly.

"...Lying? Come on, I told you over and over, didn’t I? From the start, I only got close to Charlotte-chan to carry out this plan."

That might be true.

But there’s one thing that tells me for sure it’s not the whole story.

It was recent—an action of hers that contradicts everything she just claimed.

"Then why, back in Salem, were you willing to throw your life away? If you’d died then, none of this would’ve happened, right?"

"That’s…"

Yes. During the fight with Salem.

I remember it clearly. By the time I arrived, Trishel was a heartbeat away from being killed.

If I’d been even a little later, she probably would’ve died.

If this plan meant everything to her, why would she risk her life like that? She couldn’t have.

"See? You have no answer for that. That’s why it’s a lie."

I drop to my knees and gently touch Trishel’s body.

I focus on where my hand rests. My fingertips begin to glow white, and the light spreads outward.

"H-hey, what are you—"

"I don’t understand the details."

What Riven said about souls, about Trishel suffering and maybe dying because of it—I don’t grasp the specifics.

"But today, I’m selfish."

If that’s the case, then right now she and I are connected by our souls. That much I understand.

So I’ll think about it more simply.

If my power is what’s hurting her, then I’ll use that same power to save her.

I won’t let her die. I refuse an ending like this.

"I’m not going to let go of anything I’ve taken hold of, anything I’ve gained. I absolutely won’t let you die. I won’t let you die, got it!"

Now I finally remember.

What happened in this place. Who it was, in this town, that first reached out and helped me.

Back when I’d just arrived, with no one I could trust—someone extended a hand to me. She hid her face, didn’t she? Thinking back, she probably wore that hood low because her hair color stood out.

Hey, come to think of it, you asked me once if I hated you. Was this the reason?

You figured if I hated you, it wouldn’t hurt as much to part ways, didn’t you?

Don’t mess with me! I won’t accept that!

The selfish me will seize what I want, at least here in a dream!

"Trishel! Don’t wait for me in a dream—wait for me in reality! When we meet again… you’re getting a lecture!"

Wind whirls around us, whipping our hair violently.

Before I know it, my hair is shining with a brilliant, pure white light.

Just like with Salem—that feeling of power overflowing. Only now it’s even stronger.

I can feel something warm flowing from my fingertips into Trishel. I’m giving her something, just as I wish.

Trishel looks truly shocked, as if she’s shouting something from the bottom of her heart. But I can’t hear her voice.

Even as that happens, the white light spreads, swallowing us both.

Its momentum doesn’t stop. The white light engulfs the dream world—and we wake up from the dream.