CHAPTER 48: INHERITANCE DIMENSION (3)

[The refined blood drop had finally settled inside your body, and you grew far stronger than before.]

[Even so, you hadn’t assimilated even a small part of it yet, and your body was left in a broken state — badly injured, barely able to move.]

[Your gaze drifted toward the second drop — the one that radiated an even greater sense of danger. Despite your reluctance, you couldn’t deny the pull. You wanted to consume it.]

[And at the same time, a heavy premonition pressed on your chest. If you didn’t consume it now, you felt you would lose it forever.]

[But knowing your condition, you also understood that taking it now would almost certainly lead to your death.]

[That’s why you hesitated — torn between desire and reason — when suddenly, the ground beneath you began to shake.]

[The trembling grew stronger by the second, and as you clenched your hand, you knew... that ominous feeling wasn’t wrong. Something had definitely gone wrong outside.]

[Still, staying here wasn’t a solution. In the end, you made your choice — and moved to leave the hall and see what was happening yourself.]

[As soon as you stepped back through the same door you’d entered from, you saw them — Lilith, Selena, Serah, and Elysia — all standing in front of the door, guarding it.]

[Before them stood a massive crowd. Countless people, all gathered like a wave of pressure.]

[You noticed the injuries on them — and they, in turn, noticed yours.]

[What followed was a brief but touching reunion, where they asked after your condition, and you returned the question with genuine concern.]

[But then, Elsa’s voice rang out cold and sharp: "Hand over the inheritance you just obtained, and you can walk out alive. Otherwise, all of you die here."]

[You tightened your grip on the two books and the box in your hands. Then, slowly, you straightened your back, stared her down, and said flatly — if she wanted it, she could kill you.]

[You had no intention of compromising — no matter the consequences. And more than that, you didn’t believe they had the gut to actually kill all of you.]

[You were nearly right. After your words — which none of the girls objected to — the atmosphere turned tense, but no one made a move.]

[You stood facing each other like that for a while, until one of the smaller doors, suddenly opened. Someone stepped out and whispered something to the Ravelli group and their allies.]

[Whatever was said must have been serious, because once they heard about the content of the inheritance, everyone’s gaze changed. A kind of madness seemed to take over — especially in the middle-aged man beside Elsa, who had the strongest presence among them.]

[It really looked like they were going to attack this time. You could see it in their eyes, and with a steady breath, you braced yourself as well.]

[But then, Elsa’s gaze shifted again — this time back to Selena — and she asked once more if they were really going to keep being stubborn.]

[Selena didn’t respond. She simply turned her gaze toward you, silently asking if this was truly your final decision. And you didn’t say a word either. You just kept your eyes locked on the enemy, your silence delivering the answer.]

[Despite being the weakest and most injured in your group, you were clearly the one making the decisions. That surprised some of them, and murmurs began to ripple through the crowd — until finally, someone recognized you, and whispered your identity to the others.]

[For the first time, you heard fragments about your own past from their mouths — pieces you hadn’t known. Along with that came three titles you had apparently held once: the Monstrous Prodigy, Heir of Ruin, and Bloodstorm.]

[Even so, none of that moved you. Your eyes remained fixed on the enemy — unwavering.]

[Everything was boiling up, and it seemed like a battle was inevitable. But then, suddenly, a change happened — and it came from your side.]

[Elysia, without warning, lightly knocked the three young women away and stepped toward you.]

[You tensed slightly but didn’t back down. You immediately attacked — no hesitation in your strike. But Elysia received your punch without even batting an eye, then took the two books and the box from your hands.]

’So, everything can’t go right even once, all the way through?’ Noel thought.

He sighed, seemingly unbothered by what happened... by Elysia’s betrayal. After all, he could always run more simulations and get what he wanted next time.

At least, that’s how it seemed — unless someone noticed the armrest of his chair had actually broken at some point.

[Serah screamed at Elysia, her rage boiling, a swirl of white and black flames rising around her. But Elysia didn’t pay her any mind. She simply tossed the items to Elsa, then said, "There. That’s what you wanted. Whether it’s worth becoming the enemy of our Sun’s Bride... I don’t know though."]

What kind of title is that?

Noel’s eyes gleamed as he wondered.

Did it mean she was the bride of some figure revered as the "Sun" of their cult?

Or was it just a figurative title — one holding a deeper, hidden meaning?

Noel, who had only assumed the Hollow Sun cult Serah belonged to was more powerful than the Cross or Everen families — and that she simply held a high position within it — hadn’t thought much of it before.

His latest thoughts were that he just needed to build up his strength, and everything else about the world would reveal itself in time.

But now... it seemed he might need to make a change of plans once again.

[Elysia didn’t wait for any reply from the other side. Without hesitation, she moved — grabbing the struggling Serah — and left.]

[You, on the other hand, were left behind with Selena and Lilith, still surrounded by enemies.]

[You thought that was the end of it. But then, to your surprise, Elsa stepped forward and mediated the situation, her cold gaze practically glued to you the entire time, before finally allowing you all to leave.]

[You returned to the United States — to your home — with both shame and anger simmering inside you. And on the way back, not a single word was exchanged between you, Selena, or Lilith.]