Old Testament Ballads (Old Virgin Ballad Guild).

ch. 54. Sad Memory's.

But it turns out the trap is two-layered. The room was also an Anti-Crystal Area - so our crystals weren't working.

There really were too many monsters to hold back. The other members fell into total confusion and ran around aimlessly.

I tried to pave the way by using the high-level sword technique I had hidden to a close, but the panicked members were unable to escape in time.

One by one, their HPs fell to zero, and they shouted before exploding into pieces. I thought I could at least save Sachi and swing my sword nonstop.

But it was too late. I saw Sachi trying to reach me with his hand while a monster cut him down mercilessly. His two eyes still trusted me even as he split like a glass statue and disappeared.

He had trusted me and depended on me to the end; but because my words were so weak and shallow, they had become nothing more than an empty promise, a lie.

Keita had been waiting for us inside the inn that had been used as our temporary headquarters with the key of the new main headquarters in his hands.

After returning to the inn alone, I explained to Keita what had happened. He continued to listen silently until I was done, then asked me:

"How did you survive?”

Then I revealed my true level and that I had become a beta tester.

Keita glared at me as if I was something disgusting, then said one thing.

"A beater like you has no right to join us."

Those words had pierced through me as if they were a steel sword.

"...what happened... with that person..?”

"He killed himself.”

Angela's body shook on her chair.

I felt my throat narrow. While I was counting back those memories that I had locked deep within my heart, the painful emotions of that time came back with

the perfect purity.

I grit my teeth. Although I wanted to reach out to Angela for comfort, a voice in my mind whispered,

“You don't have the right to do that,” who left me with the only option to clench my fist tightly.

"I killed them. If I didn't hide the fact that I was a beta tester, I would definitely be able to persuade them to ignore the chest. The one who did it was me... I'm the one who killed Keita.. and Sachi.

With both of my eyes wide open, I forced these words out of my teeth that were grinding.

Angela suddenly stood up, took two steps towards me, and rubbed my face with both hands. She pulled her beautiful face closer towards me with a warm smile.

"I won't die.”

He said it in a whisper, but the voice was very clear. I felt the strength leave my body tense.

"Because, I. I am someone who will take care of you.”.

After saying this, Angela brought my head to her chest and hugged her. I felt a soft and warm darkness cover me.

While I closed my eyes, my mind pierced through the dark veil of my memory and saw the faces of the Black Cat members; they were all sitting at an inn table, bathed in an orange glow.

seriated.