Brand
The day after I learned the chilling truth behind Cristelle's intentions.
Cristelle appeared at the training grounds with the same cheerful smile she'd worn when we first met.
Oh, good morning, Captain.
I, Cristelle de Montua, stand ready to give today's training my all!
She didn't say it outright, but she seemed to want us to avoid bringing up what happened yesterday.
But I couldn't do that.
Cristelle. About your revenge...
Cristelle gave me a scornful look.
A man without tact is rarely popular, you know.
Go on, then. Do you intend to lecture me on the futility of revenge?
You're right. Revenge is pointless.
But I'll help you.
That caught Cristelle off guard.
...Why? You're not going to try to stop me like everyone else?
You may need revenge before you can start over.
I'll help you get your revenge as soon as possible.
Her surprise quickly gave way to a grin, and she thanked me in her usual theatrical tone.
Ufufu! Splendid, Captain! Yes! That is precisely how it should be!
As ever, you exceed even my expectations!
Use me however you want. Throw me away when you're done.
But on one condition.
Name it! I could even buy you an entire city!
What will you do after you've had your revenge?
It had been bothering me for a while.
I didn't care if she inherited the Star Savior's power and used it for her own ends.
That was fine, as long as it was what she truly wanted.
I only hoped it would be enough to make her happy.
But once she'd achieved her revenge, would she be happy with nothing left but a blank canvas?
We've come this far. There's no point hiding it now.
I'll disappear without leaving a single trace that I ever existed.
I told you, didn't I? Even my life is nothing but a tool for revenge. Once I've achieved my goal, I won't need anything else.
Ah, but before that, I'll grant you anything you desire. Now, name your condition!
I only have one.
If you're going to use me, use me to the very end.
I had never intended to stop Cristelle from taking her revenge.
But she was dismantling the Morrel Ocean Traders she'd built over a lifetime, calling it all meaningless. What would become of her once she had her revenge?
Would she be able to find meaning in life?
Probably not.
Then, as her Captain, was I supposed to keep this Journey going even if it ended in her ruin?
After a great deal of thought, I reached one conclusion.
Don't use me just for revenge.
Keep using me even after it's over.
Cristelle's gaze sharpened.
Whatever it is, let's find you something to come back to once your revenge is over.
If you have trouble finding it, I'll help.
If this Journey leads to her ruin, and she's using me to bring it about, then all I can do is take responsibility for what happens to her, right to the end.
But Cristelle only scoffed at my words.
You truly do surpass my expectations, even in the worst ways...
To me, life is nothing but a curse and a nightmare. The sooner it ends, the better.
I'm only clinging to life so desperately because I need it for my revenge.
Why are you so ready to throw your life away?
Ah, so that is what you wish to know...
You were the one who asked, so don't blame me if you regret it.
Cristelle revealed the right eye she'd kept concealed until then.
This is the curse Morcerf branded me with.
Then an ominous light flashed in Cristelle's right eye.
At that moment, I plummeted into the abyss.
The sky and ground kept trading places as crimson droplets blurred my vision.
I couldn't hear a thing, and every attempt to breathe felt like my lungs were being torn apart.
The sky was nothing but red, and a darkness that was neither liquid nor air swallowed me whole.
All I could do was flail helplessly in that darkness.
Quite the sight, isn't it? This is what this eye shows me every night.
It's a hell that will never end as long as I live.
And yet, do you know why I still cling to life so desperately?
Not a trace remained of the smile or composure Cristelle kept even when she was furious.
I could feel the bitter hatred she'd hidden behind every forced smile but never once forgotten.
To make Morcerf endure every last thing she put me through!
These hands exist so I can put a bullet through Morcerf's heart myself.
This one remaining eye exists only to watch Morcerf die.
The reason this wretched body still draws breath, the reason this rotting heart keeps beating...!
Every drop of my blood, every shred of my flesh, and every speck of my soul exists only to bring about Morcerf's ruin!
*Gasp*
The vision Cristelle had shown me vanished.
My heart, locked in a vise moments ago, suddenly began to race.
A violent wave of dizziness hit me, and I would have collapsed if Cristelle hadn't caught me.
As I staggered, Cristelle clamped a hand on my shoulder and smiled coldly.
I only opened it a fraction, just enough to give you a taste. Don't accuse me of attacking you.
After all, weren't you the one who wanted to know?
*Cough! Cough!*
My voice still wouldn't come, so I couldn't answer.
As I struggled to recover, Cristelle muttered bitterly.
To wake from a nightmare, one must open one's eyes.
But what do you suppose one should do when life itself is the nightmare?
Enough of that nonsense about life after revenge or something to come back to.
With that, Cristelle spun on her heel and left the training grounds.
My hands were still trembling as I wiped the cold sweat from my brow.
Now I understood why she called life a nightmare she could never wake from.
But that was all the more reason I couldn't abandon Cristelle.
Because life should be a chance for everyone, not a curse.