Why Should I Live?

"GR-GRA-GRAND MASTER?!!"

The girl was startled. She unconsciously took a few steps back then falling and sat down on the floor.

"... I feel strange being called Grand Master. But yes, I am the Grand Master, Cien Millard," Cien tried to convince the girl in front of him.

He reached out his hand, wanting to help her stand up. However, he saw the girl shaking her head quickly, rejecting the reality in front of her.

"It's impossible! It's impossible! The Grand Master is already dead! You can't be him! You're fake! The Grand Master went to heaven ten years ago!"

Cien closed his eyes, feeling his heart instantly cry.

"... please don't kill me in your mind. I'm still alive. Hmm, this is complicated. How can I prove that I'm genuine?"

Cien was truly confused.

First of all, why should he prove himself? I am Cien! Who would want to go through the trouble of being him? Someone who is no longer a noble without any influence.

Want to enter the Millard family? Oh, great! Being Cien is the worst option! Instead of being accepted by the Millards, he would end up dead!

"..."

"..."

Both the man and the girl could only stare at each other silently. Silence enveloped them.

"Honestly, I don't know how to prove myself. But I am Cien. Ethel's husband and Kirana's father."

"..."

"Sigh... can you just show me where Lilinette's room is?"

The girl frowned, "But I'm not sure if you're the Grand Master. I can't let a suspicious person meet Lady Lilinette. Even at the risk of my life!"

"Ugh, I know! You're following Ethel's orders, right? Your loyalty is commendable. But I'm not a suspicious person. I just want to meet my own niece!"

"! How do you know it's Madam Ethel's order?"

"Hmmm... ah! Maybe Cherry can convince you!"

Cien thought but was rejected immediately.

Bringing Cherry along would be too tiring. Going back to the inn, coming here, and then going back again. Just thinking about it made Cien lazy.

"Cherry?!! Do you know where Cherry is?!"

"... oh yes, I forgot to inform C-Owl. Cherry is safe with me. I forbid her from going out because the situation is not conducive."

Cien said, looking at the confused maid in front of him.

In the end, he explained in more detail that he was the one who rescued Cherry from the Millard Family's residence the other day.

Cien also informed her that Cherry was at his lodging. Hiding, and probably wouldn't return to the Ashur branch of C-Owl.

This place was no longer safe for Cherry because if she returned to C-Owl, not only Cherry would be in danger, but C-Owl itself would be affected.

They would be considered as one of the attackers of the noble.

Cien tells briefly about his life as well. The reason he has been absent for the past ten years. He is also convinced that he is indeed Cien Millard.

Time has passed. Cien is tired of having to convince the girl in front of him. But it seems like he succeeded. Because now he sees a pair of sparkling eyes that he once saw in Cherry.

A pair of eyes that seem to idolize him.

"Whoaaa…! You really are the Grand Master..."

"Umm, yeah. You know, morning will come sooner or later, so can you...?"

"Whoaa..."

"...come on—"

"WHOAAA...!!"

"..."

"Wow! The Grand Masterrr~"

Smack!

Cien finally taps the girl's head in front of him because he feels the conversation isn't going well.

But instead of the girl realizing it, she just rubs her head and looks at him again with shining eyes.

Once again, just like Cherry. Suddenly, the girl hugs him tightly. No tears this time. Just a hug, like a child to her father.

Cien stares blankly.

'What's with these kids, seriously?'

About three minutes later, the girl released her embrace.

She then shook Cien's hand firmly and swung it up and down quickly. After finishing, she stared at her own hands.

"Yay! I won't wash these hands for the rest of my life!"

"No. Please wash it, it's gross."

"Oh, Grand Master. Why did you come here?"

"..."

The girl, who had returned from her euphoria, finally started to act normal.

She asked about Cien's purpose, instantly making Cien want to bang his head against something. He had already mentioned his goal several times. Did the girl just forget it?!

"Take me to Lilinette's place, please." Cien replied wearily.

"Ah! The Grand Master wants to visit his niece... The Grand Master is so kind!"

"..."

Now the girl immediately knew that Cien wanted to visit his niece!

'Ethel... did you not make a mistake in sending this person?'

That thought crossed Cien's mind at the moment.

At least Cherry didn't bother him too much. But the girl in front of him… Cien felt like he was communicating with someone who spoke a different language.

The girl agreed to escort Cien to Lilinette's room.

The girl's name was Casey. Just like Cherry, she was an agent of C-Owl from the main headquarters in Almarin.

When Ethel learned about the situation of Lilinette, she immediately instructed Casey to take care of Lilinette and inform her of any developments regarding Millard's daughter.

Ethel might have the same feelings as Cien towards the situation Lilinette was facing. Sympathy.

Lilinette was still a child and shouldn't have been burdened with all the expectations from her parents.

Along the way to Lilinette's room, Cien began to wonder why Ethel sent Casey.

The girl's thoughts were somewhat eccentric. Not to mention, there might be dangerous situations that could threaten Casey's life, just like what Cien did earlier.

Didn't Ethel care about her foster children? Why did she send someone weak?

Yes, those were Cien's initial thoughts. Before he suddenly saw Casey swing her hand very quickly. Very quickly indeed. Cien couldn't even see it clearly.

Then, after that swing, a stabbing sound was heard from a corner of the corridor.

Thud!

Accompanied by the squeak of a mouse. Cien turned towards the source of the sound, quite far away. He saw a dead mouse, stabbed with a military knife.

"..."

Something was wrong! Cien turned back to Casey, seeing the girl snorting in annoyance.

"Hmph! This place is rotten. There are always mice! Damn food thieves!"

Without paying attention to the dead mouse in the corner, the girl continued walking.

Cien was somewhat speechless as she watched.

'...so she's not as weak as I thought. No! She might be strong! What did I just witness? If she can do this, why was she scared earlier?!'

Cien had yet to realize that it was his aura that made everyone fearful.

The aura of Death and Hela's presence enveloped him intensely.

Those with sensitive or perceptive instincts could clearly feel the terrifying atmosphere. It made Cien, who always hid under his cloak like an enigma.

"Grand Master, this is Lady Lilinette's room. Please come in, I will stand guard here, keeping watch for any visitors," Casey said, pointing to a sturdy wooden door that appeared aged.

"Thank you."

"No need for thanks. It is my duty as a child of C-Owl, Grand Master."

"..."

Cien felt burdened by the statement. He had done nothing to deserve their loyalty. It was all Ethel's doing. Not his.

Cien opened the door without asking Casey if Lilinette was still asleep or not. But it seemed unnecessary to inquire.

As soon as he entered, Cien saw a woman with long reddish-brown hair sitting in a chair, holding a book in her hands.

Inside the room, there was only one dimly lit lamp, casting a shadowy atmosphere.

A teenage girl, perhaps only fifteen or sixteen years old, raised her head from the pages of the book she was reading.

She stared at Cien with a pair of dark red eyes, empty and devoid of any spark of life. The girl then offered a thin smile, as if welcoming her visitor.

Then, with a melodic voice, Lilinette spoke, "Have you come here to fetch me, O Death?"

"..."

Cien couldn't utter a single word. He remained silent, only gazing at a teenage girl who had lost all hope.

Cherry was right. Lilinette Millard was merely a lifeless doll. The girl was just a shell, waiting for the day when she would be embraced by the figure of Death.

Was she truly hopeless?

What had led this teenage girl to fall into such profound despair?

Cien couldn't fathom what kind of experience had turned Lilinette into a mere husk of a person.

Cien had been removing his hood and taking off the veil that covered his mouth. He had revealed his face. However, his niece didn't recognize him at all.

Cien could understand, as they had only met a few times.

But this... Cien felt that Lilinette no longer cared about who she encountered. Whether it was an enemy or a friend, she had given up.

"Lily, do you recognize me?"

"The Angel of Death?"

"...unfortunately, no."

Cien approached, setting down his coffin and sitting on the bed, facing Lilinette.

"My name is Cien Millard. Do you remember me?"

"...Cien? Uncle Cien?"

"Yes, I am your uncle."

"But didn't Uncle pass away? Is this your spirit, Uncle Cien? Did you come here to take Lily to the Afterlife?"

Cien fell silent for a moment. He looked at Lilinette with a melancholic gaze.

The teenage girl in front of him had indeed given up on her life.

She was far from the rumors that labeled her as a conspirator. That was why Cherry referred to her merely as a puppet.

"Why do you want to die so much, Lily?"

"Why?"

Lilinette lowered her head, thinking for a moment. Her face was pale, like a corpse. Then she continued.

"Then, why should I live, Uncle? My life's purpose has been fulfilled. Only death remains as my next goal."

Cien assumed that the purpose she referred to was the purpose typically expected of a noble daughter. To be married off to elevate her family's status.

Lilinette, who no longer had any passion left, had fulfilled her family's wishes.

She was engaged to the Duke Bahman's family. Although the marriage had not yet taken place, Lilinette already knew the path of her future.

That's why she felt she had fulfilled her family's desires and now only wanted to distance herself from the bustling world.

One way, of course, was through death.

"Sigh... Lily, I don't want to take you to the Afterlife."

"Hmm, okay. Thank you for stopping by, Uncle."

Lilinette said, and a moment later, her faint smile disappeared.

The girl returned to reading her book, no longer caring whether Cien was still there or not.

Cien observed Lilinette's behavior and a plan arose.

If his niece truly desired death, instead of letting her lose her life, why not take Lilinette to a place where the Death resided?

Cien had been able to bring objects inside his coffin with him when teleporting.

If he kept Lilinette inside it, wouldn't there be a possibility that he could take Lilinette to Death Valley?

It was a gamble, but Cien was confident it would succeed.

Therefore, with a faint smile, Cien made an offer.

"Lily, do you want to accompany Uncle to the Land of Death?"