"I see."
After listening to Shizuka finish her story, Duanmu Huai nodded, finally sorting out the whole sequence of events.
Simply put, there was a powerful mage named Rakaru who had set his sights on Shizuka's mother. He killed her father, forcibly took her mother, and Shizuka was forced to wander far from home as a result… Mm…
Could it be that this Mr. Rakaru's surname is Cao?
Wait?
"But isn't this the territory of that Heavenly King named Nagi? She's a woman, right? Does she have anything to do with the person you're looking for?"
"Of course she does. Her surname is also Rakaru, and Uruze already investigated it—she's Rakaru's daughter! The two of them must be connected! She definitely knows where Rakaru is. Even if I have to torture her, I'll force the answer out of her!!"
As she spoke, Shizuka clenched her teeth and stood up—then her body suddenly went weak again, and she was caught by Duanmu Huai.
"Alright, alright. Take a break."
"What are you saying? What if she leaves—"
"With your current condition, what can you even do if you go?"
Duanmu Huai glanced at Shizuka's haggard face, the clothes riddled with holes, and her exhausted expression.
"Don't you realize it yourself? In your current state, going up there is basically offering yourself on a platter. As long as the other side isn't a vegetable, a single finger would be enough to kill you. If you fail to get revenge and end up dying instead, wouldn't that be an even worse deal? Come on, come on. Rest a bit. Eat something, recover your strength first, then we'll talk."
"...…"
Hearing Duanmu Huai's words, Shizuka fell silent for a moment, then sat down. She took the water and bread he handed her and ate in big mouthfuls.
It was obvious that she was truly exhausted.
After finishing, Shizuka's complexion looked much better. She stared at Duanmu Huai, frowning.
"What? Are you also going to try to persuade me not to seek revenge?"
"Nope. Not a chance."
Duanmu Huai spread his hands and shrugged.
"A revenge for killing your father and taking your mother—how could you not avenge that? I think you're absolutely right."
"...…Really…?"
Hearing Duanmu Huai's response, the tension on Shizuka's face eased considerably.
"But other people don't think that way. Including Maria. They all think I shouldn't seek revenge… I know what they want to say. From childhood to now, I've lived for this very day… but… I will never let go of this hatred!"
"That's perfectly normal. Human nature, after all."
Duanmu Huai didn't think there was anything wrong with what Shizuka said. To be honest, he never understood the whiny, self-indulgent "after revenge, only emptiness remains" rhetoric common in many Japanese games.
In martial arts novels, protagonists who live for revenge are everywhere—revenge for a murdered father, a murdered wife, a murdered child. People of the jianghu should live fast and take revenge freely. What kind of bullshit is "after revenge, only emptiness remains"?
How is that any different from a CEO lamenting that he's so poor he only has money left?
At least you need to have money before you can lament it, right?
Emptiness? You need to actually get revenge first before you're even qualified to talk about emptiness…
"…Thank you."
Hearing Duanmu Huai's reply, Shizuka smiled, then stood up.
"I'm going to continue forward."
"We'll go together. Watching the show is fine too—and we can't exactly let you die here, can we?"
Duanmu Huai clapped his hands and stood up together with Aegis. Hearing this, Shizuka fell silent for a moment and let out a sigh.
"Do whatever you want. Just don't get in my way."
After eating and resting for a while, Shizuka had mostly recovered her strength and continued toward the top of the tower.
However, just as the three of them reached the top, suddenly—with a thunderous boom—the massive door ahead was blasted open. A Demon corpse flew out and splattered against the nearby wall, turning into a pile of bloody mush.
They leaned forward to look inside. The room was filled with Demon corpses, forming a mountain of bodies and a sea of blood. Standing amid this carnage was a girl who looked about the same age as Shizuka, with blond hair tied in a single ponytail and an aura of murderous intent.
Without question, she was one of Seth's Four Heavenly Kings—Nagi Ze Rakaru.
Upon seeing Nagi, Shizuka briefly showed a hint of confusion, but quickly steadied herself and walked in.
Seeing Shizuka and the others arrive, Nagi raised her head and stared at her.
"You're Nagi, right?"
Fixing her gaze on Nagi, Shizuka spoke. The latter snorted coldly.
"That's right. Nice to meet you, daughter of Mosō… Shizuka…"
"How do you know my name?"
Hearing Nagi's answer, Shizuka was shocked. Seeing her expression, Nagi let out a light laugh.
"You find it unbelievable? Why I know your name? Why don't you guess?"
"...…"
Shizuka's expression changed slightly.
"Could it be… Rakaru… knows about me?"
"That's right."
Nagi nodded.
"Father knows about you. About how Mosō and his wife… Ansumaize had a child. He only learned recently that the child was actually a girl. Oh, right—Father even investigated you and obtained a photograph."
As she spoke, Nagi's voice grew increasingly agitated.
"After Father saw the photo, he was practically dancing with joy. He said, 'My Ansumaize is still alive… my Ansumaize, who died from childbirth complications after giving birth to Nagi—her daughter, who looks exactly like her, is still alive…!'"
"...Eh?!"
Not only was Shizuka stunned, even Duanmu Huai looked at Nagi in shock. He had thought she looked familiar earlier. Now that he looked again—if Nagi dyed her hair green, she would look extremely similar to Shizuka…
Which meant…
"You're… Rakaru's daughter? My… younger sister?"
Even Shizuka, who had already steeled herself, was completely stunned by this development. She had never imagined that she had a half-sister from the same mother!
Meanwhile, Duanmu Huai grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and started cracking them on the side.
This plot development has strong Little Fish and Flowerless vibes!
Time to watch the show!
"That's right. After Mother died, Father became a completely different person. He blamed everything on you… blamed Ansumaize's child. If Mother hadn't constantly worried about you back then, maybe she wouldn't have died… So he trained me. He carved magic sigils into my body and made me take enhancement drugs. It was painful, but I endured it… because I wanted Father to praise me. To love me! So I had to become stronger! As long as I became stronger, Father would continue to love me! For Father's sake, I could endure any treatment!"
At this point, Nagi's eyes were bloodshot as she glared viciously at Shizuka.
"At that time, I was very happy. Next, all I needed to do was kill you—kill Ansumaize and Mosō's child—and Father would love me forever! But… but! When Father saw your photo! When he saw your photo, identical to Ansumaize, he actually said he wanted to take you in as an adopted daughter!!!"
"Uh...…"
Not only Shizuka, even Duanmu Huai couldn't keep up with this plot anymore.
Good lord. You killed her father, and now you want to adopt her? Is something wrong with your brain?
Unlike the silent Shizuka, Nagi grew even more enraged.
"This is utterly ridiculous! I worked so hard just to kill you! I endured so much! So much! All to please Father by killing you! And yet now, in Father's heart, you're actually more important than me! Then what was everything I did for?!"
As she spoke, Nagi laughed maniacally and turned to look to the side.
"So I can only do this… this is the only thing I can do!!"
Following her gaze, both Shizuka and Duanmu Huai were shocked.
Inside a tank resembling a biological cultivation chamber nearby floated the remains of a blond man—only a head and upper torso left. He stared blankly at everything before him. If not for his eyes occasionally blinking, one might have thought he was already dead…
"T-This…!"
Even Shizuka was stunned. Before coming here, she had imagined countless scenarios of meeting her father's killer—but even if she died, she never would have imagined him turned into something like a human specimen!
And the one who did it… was his own biological daughter!
Wow, this drama is really something.
At this moment, Duanmu Huai's eyes sparkled as he watched, clicking his tongue in amazement.
Just then, the man floating in the tank noticed Shizuka. His originally dull eyes lit up.
"Ansumaize… no, that's not right. Ansumaize is already dead… You must be Shizuka… right?"
"RAKARU!!!!"
Seeing her father's killer, Shizuka roared in fury. Yet at this moment, she didn't even know what she should do.
Hearing her roar, Rakaru closed his eyes in intoxication.
"Ahhh, the same voice as Ansumaize… To think I could meet Ansumaize again… what a miracle this is!"
"No… that's not…"
Looking at the deranged remnant before her, Shizuka shook her head. Nagi stepped forward, staring at her like a wild beast.
"No, Father. This one is Mosō Shizuka—your most hated enemy's daughter. And now, I will fulfill your wish here… by killing her with my own hands!"
"No, don't!!"
Hearing Nagi's words, Rakaru wailed.
"Don't kill my Ansumaize! Don't!!!"
"Hehehe...…"
Hearing her father's cries, Nagi burst into laughter.
"Ansumaize Ansumaize Ansumaize Ansumaize Ansumaize Ansumaize… You only ever cared about Ansumaize! You never once cared about me! But now, everything will end! Father, right before your eyes, I will have my final duel with Mosō's child!"
As she spoke, Nagi suddenly stretched out her hand, summoning a barrier that separated Shizuka from Duanmu Huai.
"Come, Sister! Let Father see once and for all which of us sisters is stronger!"
(End of Chapter)