Unrequited Love, Lost for the Better - Chapter 29

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※ This work contains depictions of coercive relationships, explicit language, and other graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.

“…….”

Collette was hanging her head, fists clenched, trembling. Valerian’s heart sank. Had she been hurt somewhere?

“Collette. Look at me.”

Even at his words, Collette didn’t lift her head. Instead, she shook her head and stepped back.

Growing alarmed, Valerian began checking her condition. Her clothes weren’t torn, and there were no signs of abrasions—thankfully. But she was hiding her clenched fists behind her back—suspicious. He deliberately pointed over her shoulder and said.

“Hey, look over there.”

“……?”

The moment Collette turned her head, Valerian seized her wrist. Finding her reddened, black-stained hand, his face hardened.

“You—what is this?”

“It’s nothing.”

Collette tried to pull her hand free. Valerian’s brow furrowed deeply. He hadn’t even noticed Collette had gotten such a wound—he was disqualified as her protector.

“If you were hurt, you should have said so right away! When did this happen? Just now?”

“Let go.”

Collette pushed Valerian’s hand away and spoke quietly.

“This kind of thing heals with ointment. Unlike other things, there’s no medicine.”

A bitter smile touched her lips as she added briefly. Just as Valerian’s crimson eyes widened, Meliano limped over and grabbed Collette’s hand.

“Senior! Are you hurt?”

“Ah, Somerset. It’s nothing—this will heal with ointment. Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine too.”

Meliano sighed in relief as he touched Collette’s hand. Seeing this, Valerian narrowed his brow—but Meliano whipped his head around and glared at him.

“You should have been more careful so Senior didn’t get hurt like this.”

“What?”

Valerian’s face turned fierce. Pulling Collette behind him to separate the two, he growled.

“Apparently the Somerset family doesn’t teach that loose lips shouldn’t speak carelessly.”

“Are you insulting my family now?”

Flustered by the tense atmosphere, Collette blinked. Why were they suddenly fighting?

“What are you doing—”

Just as she tried to step between the two men growling at each other—

Shwoosh—

“……?!”

Something long and slender wrapped around Collette’s mouth and body.

“Senior! Senior, please—Senior?!”

Meliano, who had been about to ask Collette to take his side, grabbed at her as she was dragged away by some black tentacle-like thing. But the moment his hand touched the tentacle coiling around Collette’s body, he remembered the moment he had nearly died when the Shadow Puppeteer had grabbed his ankle.

“…Huk!”

Startled, Meliano reflexively let go of Collette. At the same time, her wide green eyes disappeared into the cave.

“Ah… no…….”

Meliano’s legs gave way and he collapsed. A large shadow passed over his head. At the same time, Woodrow’s shout came from behind.

“Commander! No!”

Despite Woodrow’s restraint, Valerian disappeared into the cave without a moment’s hesitation.

Meliano belatedly tried to rise.

Rumble…….

The ground shook and the Galaxy Stones from the ceiling began to fall. Sharp stalactites rained down like hail. Painful screams and shouts to take cover erupted everywhere.

“Damn…!”

Dodging the falling Galaxy Stones, Woodrow spotted Meliano standing frozen. He grabbed the back of his neck and yanked him.

“What are you doing! Move!”

“B-But…”

“Only for now!”

Woodrow showed him the compass, now activated, and nodded toward the direction the needle pointed. Just then, a loud crash echoed as the cave collapsed inward. Meliano’s face went pale.

“Don’t worry—the Commander will bring Miss Verna back!”

Woodrow shouted with conviction. But at the thunderous sound of boulders falling from all directions, Meliano’s face turned ashen.

What have I done.

It was clearly the Shadow Puppeteer that had dragged Collette away. The same creature that had grabbed his ankle and tried to drag him into the darkness when he was alone.

What have I done, Meliano Somerset…!

In the end, he hadn’t overcome his fear.

Thump, thump. Even as his heart pounded violently, the situation didn’t wait for his self-reproach.

“Run!”

Fleeing the collapsing stalactites, Meliano followed behind Woodrow, his face buried as if he might cry.