"I'm sorry, August. Even if you could use the Eternal Life Machine now, it's too late to save him—he's already dead."
August was stupefied into silence. Huai Shi lowered his head and told him seriously, "Only then did I understand. He lingered not because he wanted to live, but because he couldn't let you go."
At the moment Condra bid farewell to the world, Huai Shi clearly saw the silent parting of his lips.
Those were his last words.
—I'm sorry.
Was it an apology to Huai Shi or a final message for August? Perhaps it was both.
He was unable to prevent his adopted son from falling into despair, nor could he alleviate the pain and torment that filled Hell. The man left his final apologies and welcomed his own end with a smile.
But one thing Huai Shi could be certain of was that, until his death, Condra had no regrets about his actions.
He had no regrets about being consumed by Hell in place of August.
He had no regrets about sacrificing his last hope to save Huai Shi.
