***Arc 10 One Who Doesn't Acknowledge, Chapter 248 One Who Doesn’t Acknowledge***

"Don't worry. There's no pain."

She caressed her cheek and felt its smooth texture.

Because of her narrow shoulders, her body looks delicate despite her fleshiness.

When she took off her apron dress and put on a white negligee, her body looked even thinner.

Combined with her pale skin and gaunt appearance, her figure was that of a sick person.

Fatigue showed on her face, yet there was a definite resolve there.

"...Argan-sama will die just like falling asleep."

As she said that, Kreschenta looked at her.

Then, Bery Argan widens her large eyes.

Her flowing red hair tickled her fingers.

Her large light brown eyes stared intently at her, as if searching for the truth behind her words.

Her gaze wavered with slight hesitation.

Her usual relaxed demeanor was gone――what's left was agitation.

Was she thinking she was just joking?

or was she pondering whether to shout or hit her?

"What's the matter? Fufu, I'll forgive any rudeness today. This will be the last time we see each other. Do you want to yell at me, or hit me? I want to see the moment when your true colors are revealed."

Bery didn't say anything, she just stared at Kreschenta.

She then closed her eyes and took one deep breath.

――Then, she spoke with a smile.

"...Then the battle is my victory."

"...?"

“Currently, I am number one for Krische-sama. If I die, my ranking inside Krische-sama will remain unchanged. Inevitably, Crescenta-sama will lose in this match...”

Kreschenta frowned, dumbfounded at what she was saying.

To Kreschenta who froze, Bery cupped her cheeks with both of her hands,

"Kreschenta-sama is now both, in name and reality, a loser——a loser puppy, if you will."

‘Kusukusu’, Bery giggled.

Amused and cheerful, she further confused Kreschenta, who furrowed her brow even more.

"...You will be killed by me. Do you understand?"

"Yes, of course I understand. ...I am afraid I also have an idea why."

Bery embraced Kreschenta’s head and rubbed her cheek against her hair.

"...Please forgive me, Kreschenta-sama."

"..., Why are you apologizing?"

“Because, I always interpret Kreschenta-sama in the most convenient way.”

Bery said, patting her head.

Like always, with a gentle hand.

“... Kreschenta-sama is a bit of a foul-mouthed person who only curses at me whenever she opens her mouth. Originally, I should have seen it as Kreschenta-sama hating me――but that Kreschenta-sama is just hiding her shyness. Kreschenta-sama loves me from the bottom of her heart."

‘Something like this, I guess?’ she said happily, lovingly.

“There is only one thing I can think of as to why Kreschenta-sama is trying to kill me.… Therefore, the first thing I should say is an apology.…It is not Kreschenta-sama who is at fault, but mine.”

‘Aah’, she almost let out a sigh.

“...Please, never blame yourself. Whatever the outcome is――Kreschenta-sama's choice is definitely not something to be blamed for.”

Even Kreschenta couldn't understand it.

Bery Argan was a crazy woman through and through.

‘...Please, never blame yourself. Whatever the outcome――Kreschenta-sama's choice is definitely not something to be blamed for.’

“You're really hopeless huh. ...Even though you’re about to die, is it the time to be worried about others?”

“Yes. About to die, that is precisely the reason, I think. ...I love Kreschenta-sama from the bottom of my heart.”

――Just like how Kreschenta-sama loves me.

But somewhere in her heart, Kreschenta had realized that those would be the words Bery returned to her.

One person and one thing in a bed.

Just repeating, as if ruminating.

It seemed like the more she repeated it, the more it would wear out over time, but her memory never faded.

They lingered in her mind as vivid as yesterday, as if it was just a moment ago.

The more she repeated, the clearer it became, vividly, even her breath felt like a ringing in her ears.

"...hate you."

The girl whispers to the magic crystal hanging from her neck――to something inside it.

There was hatred, just as the words she had said, but her hands were lovingly holding it, as if it were a treasure.

Her purple eyes narrowed as if she were looking at something dazzling.

"...hate you."

Like a child, hoping that if she keeps repeating it, it would someday become true.

The only person who heard her echoing words was only her alone.

As if conveying, telling, convincing herself, just repeating words.

She kept repeating she hated the most useless task.

As she lovingly looked and held the radiance, she cursed.

Believing that if she did that, the brilliance would eventually dim.

However, contrary to her wishes, the brilliance within the magic crystal was simply beautiful, piercing her eyes.

And the more her eyes were drawn to it, the more the sludge inside her was writhing.

A helpless feeling of discomfort crawled inside her chest.

“——I believe that Kreschenta-sama can just live happily without accumulating sins. That's why I would like to settle all the sins that have been committed here and let Kreschenta-sama find happiness without a single sign on Kreschenta-sama.''

She recalled the words that were once said.

Every memory, as if it just happened moments ago, was so vivid that she hated it.

――She won't forget.

She never forgets what she saw or the words she heard.

Everything she touched, everything she felt.

The little girl didn't have the ability to forget a single thing.

"...I hate you, Berry."

Looking at the light inside the magic crystal, trace her lips with her fingertips.

Closing her eyes, she curled up as if embracing the girl inside the magic crystal.

That was, much like a baby that was sleeping.