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Rose is plodding through the dark underground.
The wound on her back that she had received while escaping is even now still oozing blood. Though it is not deep, it is also definitely not shallow.
She needs treatment urgently, but with pursuers on her tail, she has no time nor opportunity for that.
She is concentrating her magic on the wound as a makeshift measure, but the pain is only increasing along with the passage of time. And in inverse proportion, she is expending both magic and physical strength.
Her breathing is ragged.
Even while keeping her senses sharpened to pick up signs of pursuers, she has been thinking the entire time.
That moment, what was the truly correct choice?
What was the best choice?
This question without an answer is merely going round and round in her head.
Stabbing Doem, her fiancé, was an on-the-spot decision. But it was by no means an impulsive action. Within the limited amount of time allotted to her, she had concluded that this was the best choice. Or at least, it was supposed to be.
But her plan had failed.
Doem still lives, and she is now a fugitive.
But hindsight is 20-20. Her mistake was in mis-gauging Doem’s true strength. But that does not necessarily mean that her choice to eliminate Doem was also a mistake.
It can even be said that she had no other choice. The instant she saw her changed father…… the instant she saw the eyes of the king of Oriana Kingdom, Rose had decided to eliminate Doem. The connection between Doem and the Order and all other rumors involving the Order had instantaneously turned into confirmed truths in her mind the instant she saw the father who had lost his self and been turned into a mere puppet.
That’s why she drew her sword.
Was she impulsive at that moment?
Was she too impatient?
Was she not moving in haste and anger?
At the time, Rose had thought herself calm.
She did not want to borrow Alexia’s nor Natsume’s help. To the very end, this matter must have handled purely within Oriana. That’s what her intuition told her, and that’s what she followed.
This political intuition of hers was not wrong.
Although she ultimately failed, this is Rose’s own mistake, and a problem of Oriana Kingdom alone. The sparks have yet to spread to Midgar Kingdom. She had unconsciously avoided the worst case scenario.
But that, too, is merely a matter of time.
The words that Doem had shouted when she fled reverberate inside her mind.
“Surrender yourself before the end of the Festival of the God of War! Otherwise, I’ll make the king of Oriana Kingdom start killing VIPs!”
If the Orianan king truly kills VIPs as Doem threatened…… war will break out. Rose could not tell how serious he was, but she gets the message that the Order sees her Oriana Kingdom as no more than a mere pawn.
If that really is so……
Rose gnashes her teeth in vexation.
Her father was not a particularly enlightened monarch, and Oriana Kingdom is not that big of a country.
But he is her one and only father, and it is her one and only motherland.
And that’s why she wanted to protect them both.
That feeling was what fueled her agitation.
Rose slams a fist into the wall of the underground tunnel.
All that can be said at this moment in time is that she had let her emotions free rein and acted impulsively. If she can eliminate Doem, then all would be resolved. Such had been her misreckoning.
But after all is said and done, Doem himself is also a mere pawn. The Order has most likely spread its roots deep into Oriana Kingdom, so getting rid of Doem alone would not resolve anything whatsoever.
There should have been a different choice.
A magical choice that could have solved everything altogether……
Rose sinks into a sitting position in the damp underground tunnel.
If only she had chosen the absolute best solution, and everything had gotten resolved…… Catching herself thinking such impossibilities, Rose laughs in self-derision.
Everything is already done and in the past. She does not even know why she is fleeing.
What does she plan to do after fleeing?
What should change if she flees?
Should she not surrender?
Oh yes…… surely that would be best.
“I see…… I should just surrender.”
She still does not know what she should have done instead at that time. However, what she should do at this moment in time is clear to see.
If she surrenders, at the very least, war would be evaded.
She feels just a little bit lighter. But then she is immediately assaulted by an overwhelming sense of loss and sorrow.
Rose takes out a wrapping paper from MagRonald out of her pocket. She’s already eaten the contents, but there’s still a faint smell of bread coming from it.
Then she thinks of a certain black-haired boy. Surely he has already heard of her incident by now. What does he think about it?
Is he worried for her?
Does he believe in her?
Could it be…… that he is searching for her?
If she had successfully eliminated Doem and restored the king’s sanity…… if there had been such a future where everything is resolved perfectly…… could she had spent her entire life with him?
Surely that was merely a dream that she had wanted to see.
“I’m so sorry……”
Rose apologizes.
A single tear rolls down her cheek.
The dream that she had painted has already crumbled into dust.
Rose carefully folds the MagRonald wrapping paper, then returns it to her skirt pocket. Almost as if it is the last fragment of her dream.
“Ow……!”
A sharp pain runs through Rose’s chest. She peeks into her shirt to see a pitch black patch of skin.
That is the proof of demon possession. The symptoms have appeared only recently.
At the very start, her dream was already an impossible one. Rose hangs her head and laughs.
That moment, a soft sound reaches Rose’s ears.
Is it the sound of a pursuer?
But the sound is too gentle and beautiful to be footstep. When she strains her ears, she recognizes it as the sound of a piano.
“Moonlight Sonata……?”
As someone well versed in music, she knows that song. This song that had been exceptional well received even in Oriana the country of arts is now coming from the tunnel in front of her.
“How beautiful……”
The performance is so deep and perfect that it is as if the performer is pouring everything of his whole life into it.
Rose begins walking towards the source of the sound, as if led by moonlight.
This place is called the Royal Capital Underground Labyrinth, but Rose feels that it’s more of a historic site than a labyrinth. The ground is properly paved with stone, and there are carvings of reliefs and ancient letters on the walls.
On the way here, she’s come across several doors in the walls, but none of them could be opened. Either a key was required, or some ancient mechanism had broken down.
The sound of piano grows closer.
Then Rose turns a corner, and sees a big, broken door in front of her.
The sound is coming from beyond.
Rose ducks through the large hole in the door, and finally arrives.
The space she finds herself in is a cathedral with fantastical light shining through. The sky high stained glass depicts the three heroes and the defeated demon.
Radiant light is falling from the stained glass.
And in the middle of the light is a single grand piano.
“Shadow……”
In this long forgotten cathedral, he is here, playing Moonlight Sonata by himself.
First
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Thanks for the new chapter
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First
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Thanky you for the chapter
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(T^T)
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Tenshi-Sama… Sadist?
…
Give me a moment while I rewrite the Holy Book…
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So cheesy😂😂😂 shadow
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But still, it is high quality cheeses.
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Rose Next Shadow Followers And WAIFU?
GG Tenshi-sama & Pls Bless Me Ur Holy Land..
Waaaaaaaa…
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Phantom of the Opera time.
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I was just thinking the same damn thing lol this bastard… plagerizing bastard hahaha, gotta love him 😀
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YASSSSSSSS
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Will she become a shadow garden member?
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I hope so. **finger crossed**
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Demonic possession says yes.
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Does rose have demon possession?
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@zuizui321 Yeah, it says it in this chapter, that her chest has some black skin which is proof of demonic possession.
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Will she become a shadow garden member? I want to say yes — but it won’t necessarily happen. When Claire began to show symptoms, Sid prescribed some “stretching” exercises that headed off full possession.
Also Alpha seems to have plans for Rose and Alexia that are independent of Sid’s bucket list. It would be interesting if she were to do something like let Rose in on the secret without telling Sid, then have her keep tabs on, or manipulate, Sid’s public persona without him tracing it back to Alpha.
(Actually, it would be cool if Claire were in also without Sid knowing.)
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I believe so, she has that mark, as the other girls did, I think thats all you need to become a member, former demon possessed hehe
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Just wait a day and you’ll know it *impatience intensifies
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You should know better than to expect a one-day resolution from this series lol ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
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Thanks for the chap!
Really, cliff all the time 😑😑
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A part of me really wish he came as sid, but ofcourse he won’t
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I’m not sure if you’re gonna read this or not Translator/Tenshi but since you mentioned it,
Are you with the celebrating Warriors or with the raging Cavaliers ?
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I actually had no idea what you meant, had to Google it lmao.
Any and all sports-related things are completely beyond my knowledge lol.
So nah, I have no opinion either way.
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Ah lol I thought you were talking about the NBA’s finals back at chapter 67
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I did, but my focus was more on the gambling part than the subject of the gambling 😅
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so its not yandere impulse… and its suprisingly deep…
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And the winner is me. Damnnnnnnnnnn, why i late again !!!
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Just hoping she not being ntr by shadow(sid) from sid? It will be hilarious.
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So now the NTR cycle will actually never end. Sid is truely a genius.
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Playing piano at the depths of the moonlight, that man is here…. The hell is that? That’s way too cool for a trash character like you! Oh, wait. It’s the Shadow character this time? …Creep. I mean, you’re a guy alone with a full black on costume and you’re playing piano. No matter how you look at it, that’s just creepy! Huh, romantic medieval standards are different? Who the f uck cares about that?!
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Why do you think he study the piano all this time at the real world? Lol
Obviously its to get in his black suit and starts playing alone at night to suck in the coolness vibes in his mind..
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Instant Act Tough point!
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Don’t you dare mock shadow-sama!!
You’re in the presence of the Holy Tenshi!!!
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hilarious
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And ofc somehow Sid finds Rose before Natsume and Alexia does xD
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Tch tch, never underestimate plot-armor sama.
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This is the guy that threw a dagger at a map to find where his sister was being held prisoner…
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Its goddes/gods plan, remember when god admit he/she is the one whom implant the idea of rpg game to earthling?so deliberrately put sid and controlling his fate with sid whim
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Thanks for the chapters
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Another check on the list of things to do as a power in the shadows
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Man how did i not see this coming but yeah we got a new member everone and we get to see the other shadow 7 or 8 and everone agree’s with me when i say that sid will turn into a dragon of darkness or void or shadow before this novel endeds
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But then he’ll be redeemed at the last moment by the love of a beautiful woman, and finally check that last item off his bucket list.
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holy heck that’s pretty snazzy, thanks for the chapter
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I F***ing knew it!!!!!!!!!! Sid is making a solo harem for rose!!!!!!!! His three identity is already making rose very curious!!!!!!
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Thx for the Chapter~!!
(´。• ω •。`)
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“exceptional well received” -> “exceptionally well received”
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Uwoooooh so epic, i can imagine his epicness, the galant, the romantic moood its oveeeerrr 9000
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Thanks for the chapter~~
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Thanks for the chapter, but how did he pulled that out???
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Of course Shadow would be playing the Moonlight Sonata in the middle of nowhere. Thanks for the chapter!
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90% of me wish for Sid to come and not as Shadow but that’s just a wishful thinking I guess
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Thanks for doing this chapter!😆
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Thanks~
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…..what a creep hahah oh goodness what a frigging creeper
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Meatbun Delivery~
Thank you for the chapter ( ●w●)
Why did i think of rose as a mouse being lured by the smell of cheese?
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Was the right choice put Moonlight sonata while I was reading the rest of the chapter…
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Just WHEN the heck will happen a moment where MC convert at least one of princesses into Shadow Garden organization, they both have qualified as they are 1) have hero’s blood and what is more important 2) they are girls…
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What’s this? Did he plan this? I’d actually be damn impressed if he did…
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The piano alone in a cathedral Instantly reminds me of the opening sequence of this
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Shadow: Do You Want Power?? 😀
Thx for the chapter ^^
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Yep…as always cringy af and at the same time cool af
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