Trissha woke up.
She stared blankly at the water, as if marveling at the fortune of surviving a disaster.
"..."
Castorice stood gracefully by the river, gazing intently at Ryuga who was fishing in the water, a hint of hope flashing in her eyes.
"Want to join?"
Ryuga turned his head and smiled gently at her.
He was waiting for Cerydra's legion. When they arrived, he would slaughter the entire city-state of Aidona, leaving no one alive.
The fish he caught were taken by Sakura, who skillfully gutted and cleaned them.
Then she sprinkled spices from her bag and roasted them over the fire.
The firewood crackled, flames licked the fish, and oil seeped out.
Soon, an enticing aroma filled the air.
The children stared eagerly at the golden-brown, crispy fish skin, their throats bobbing, mouths watering.
After a week of continuous escape, their dry rations were exhausted, wild fruits were sour, and their physical strength had long been overdrawn.
They were tired and hungry.
"No, I, I can't catch them."
Castorice took a deep look, her curled fingertips lightly pinching her skirt. Though she yearned, she softly refused.
"..."
Ryuga remembered that any living creature Castorice touched, whether bird or beast, would instantly turn to ash. She indeed couldn't catch them.
Since the day she left Aidonia, she could only pick fruits to eat.
"You're also a Chrysos Heir, right?"
Tribbie took small steps forward, and then...
"Huh?"
In an instant, a chilling aura rushed towards her, the cold penetrating to her bones, making Tribbie feel uneasy.
In the darkness, a vast expanse of darkness seemed to be about to engulf her.
"Uh, sorry!"
Castorice suddenly snapped back to reality, retreating in a panic.
Her attention had been entirely on Ryuga, and she hadn't noticed anyone approaching.
"I... I am the shadow of 'Death', burdened by Thanatos's curse."
"Please, please stay five paces away from me."
Five paces?
Tribbie: Are you Cerydra too?
The young woman felt a bit self-reproachful.
Unfortunately, the spot she moved to was right by the river. And she retreated too quickly, the moss on the riverbank was extremely slippery, so she lost her balance and tumbled into the cold stream.
"Watch out!"
Ryuga reacted extremely quickly, throwing the fish in his hand onto the bank, stepping forward, and extending his long arm to firmly pull Castorice into his embrace.
"Are you alright?"
"I, I'm fine, you, you let go."
Castorice's face was red, and she struggled to twist her body. Because Ryuga's hands were around her thigh and waist, shame filled her heart.
But soon, an even stronger shock replaced her shyness.
Boom—
It was like a lightning strike piercing through her entire body.
"You!?"
Castorice's eyes widened abruptly, her pupils rapidly and violently contracting. Only then did she realize she was hugging Ryuga!!
But?
She suddenly opened her beautiful purple eyes wide, staring intently at Ryuga.
Their skin was touching.
But he didn't wither.
He didn't turn to ash and vanish.
He didn't die.
Thanatos's curse, had it failed?!
At this moment, all her struggles, shame, self-reproach, and fear froze.
She stared blankly at Ryuga, why?
"You, you didn't die?"
Castorice tilted her small head, her beautiful purple eyes seeming to breathe.
Ryuga smiled.
Castorice's kindness, goodness, and self-loathing were a strong contrast.
She carried out executions in Aidonia with painless death, seemingly merciful, but she could only suffer alone, unable to touch others.
And the warmth of the Chrysos Heirs was shattered by Trianne's sacrifice.
She was truly a kind girl.
"Strange? Because my authority is above yours."
Castorice's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly: "Ah? You, no, are you... Death Titan Thanatos?"
After hundreds of years of journey, was it finally coming to an end today?
What the heck?
"No! I am the 'Desert Reaper', you can also call me the 'Creator Demon God'."
"Between life and death, there is immortality."
"Your 'death' has no effect on me."
Ryuga said, feigning a hoarse voice.
"Demon God, you are the Demon God of the Holy City?"
Castorice was surprised.
Ryuga was curious: "You know me?"
"Mm, the news of the Demon God striking down the Titan of Strife has already spread throughout Amorpheus."
"Um, can, can you let go of me?"
Castorice mustered her courage to speak, her pure eyes darting away, her cheeks already flushed, and her ear tips burning hot.
Although she still didn't understand the meaning of 'Creator Demon God', she had no time to think about it now.
Because she was still in Lord Demon's arms.
His arm around her waist, his hand on her thigh, the posture was quite ambiguous and intimate.
The more she struggled, the softer her body became.
Her heart pounded, thump-thump.
The key was that everyone around them was watching.
But, it felt so good.
"Your 'death' has no effect on me."
This sentence was the most beautiful and pleasant sound Castorice had heard in her long life.
Since the day she gained consciousness, she couldn't see people's faces.
Whenever she appeared before others, they would lower their heads, no one daring to meet her eyes.
She moved forward, they retreated, and she still couldn't see.
Until their death arrived.
That was the closest she ever got to them.
She finally had a chance to see their faces, but at that moment, she wished she hadn't.
Every life she sent off, whether they were grateful, resentful, or relieved, was a torment to her soul.
Until she personally sent off her adoptive mother, and her only best friend.
Until Aidonia was destroyed, and she embarked on a journey to meet Thanatos.
Ryuga released his embrace.
Castorice retreated a few steps, crystal tears welling up in her beautiful eyes: "That's great, you won't die because of me."
She was excited, she was happy.
"I, can I touch your hand?"
"Cough cough~"
By the bonfire, March 7th, who was pretending to help Sakura roast fish but was actually staring at Ryuga, almost choked on her own saliva.
(Stealing! My! Man!)
"No, is it not allowed?"
Castorice asked weakly.
"Of course it is."
Ryuga nodded, and explained to March 7th, after all, she was the first 'meat sandwich'.
"For hundreds of years, Castorice has carried the authority of the 'Death Titan', unable to approach within five paces of anyone, unable to touch anyone."
"Even her best friend could only embrace her at the last moment of her life."
"You have to understand her, March."
March 7th was so moved she almost cried. She turned her head and stubbornly said: "Hmph! I, I'm not that petty. I, I just suddenly feel like she's Blanca."
The world is destroyed, but your mouth is still working, right?
Ryuga smiled, but March 7th wasn't wrong.
After all, 'Griseo', right?
It's somewhat similar.
Ryuga looked at the girl's gloves with interest: "A very well-designed accessory. Did you learn it during your journey?"
"Mm, I thought... at least it would make goodbyes more solemn."
Castorice shyly intertwined her fingers.
The next moment, her eyes widened.
Ryuga held her hand.
1 second, 2 seconds, 10 seconds... one minute...
Nothing happened!
Nothing happened!
Truly nothing happened!
Castorice smiled happily. She finally found someone she could hold hands with for a lifetime.
...
[Customer Service Miss Pink Elf♪]: "@Desert Reaper, Ryuga, I think I've found the 'Vill-V' you're looking for."
Ryuga, who was holding Castorice's hand, instantly brightened.
What?
As expected of Teacher V, she infiltrated Moth of the Flame so quickly.
To be continued…