Blood 8 Decision

"You"

"Forgive me. My inadequacy."

"No. You have done your best for us."

Mother gently embraces Father, supporting him as he bows his head.

"Sophia, I wished I could stay by your side until you reach adulthood. Forgive this unworthy father."

Father gently lifts me into his arms.

Perhaps this is the first time I can recall being carried by him.

Yet his affection reaches me clearly.

As I am held by him, I receive a kiss from my mother.

To be honest, the bond between parent and child has always felt thin.

The memories of my previous life make it difficult to feel truly like a biological child.

Thus, I have felt a faint sense of guilt for receiving such care.

But now that I realize this is our final moment together, I regret it.

I should have leaned on you more.

I have not yet repaid any of these people for their care.

Because I remember my past life, I think I have been rather indifferent.

If I had leaned on them more, perhaps they would have engaged with me as parents more actively.

Then we might have become true family.

But that is too late now.

"Melazofis, Noiria. I leave the rest to you."

"Yes."

"Yes."

Melazofis and Noiria straighten their spines at their father's voice.

They have changed from their usual servant attire into clothing typical of common townspeople.

To escape, they will pretend to be a married couple, exploiting the chaos of the enemy's assault.

As an ordinary child of the streets, I might have a chance to flee.

A desperate measure, forced upon their father in a cornered situation.

There were no other humans remaining within the manor.

All had been concealed among the laborers transporting crops and evacuated from the city.

Yet, the surveillance over my mother and me was strict, unavoidable.

To escape, one had to exploit chaos.

As for my mother—her face was exposed, her condition severe—there was no chance she could flee.

Whether I would succeed in escaping depended entirely on fortune.

My father and mother would not survive.

This was our final parting.

Those remaining in the manor now were mostly elderly servants who had resolved to follow my father and mother.

Younger servants had been forcibly sent away by my father to distant regions.

Melazofis and Noiria had also declared they would remain until the end.

Thus, I was entrusted with the critical task of escaping.

I believe my father knew Melazofis admired my mother.

I think he knew, and still trusted.

Melazofis understood that too, and served my father.

I cannot comprehend my father’s feelings, nor Melazofis’s, since I have no experience with love.

Yet there was an undeniable bond of trust.

"Miss, I will protect you, without fail."

"Then I rely on you."

Mother embracing Noelia, tears streaming.

Father gently handing me into Melazofis’s hands.

His fingers trembled slightly.

And I parted from my parents.

A farewell with no return.

Slipping out the back gate of the manor, I saw flames already rising near the city gate.

I slipped into the tide of fleeing people.

Followed the flow, heading toward the city’s outskirts.

But the gate leading outside was already occupied by enemy soldiers.

"Clear the way."

Melazofis dragged Noiria's hand, forcibly cutting through the crowd and dashing into an alleyway.

Then, my awareness detection activated.

"Wait."

Wait for me.

A figure appears without warning in the alleyway.

Deep within the alley, and at the alley’s entrance.

Four individuals stand in their way, one for each.

This should be seen as marked the moment they left the manor.

Trapped with no escape.

Something is amiss.

Who are you!?

No obligation to answer. Protection of the child.

Target is the infant! Hold the line!

Men from both the front and rear of the alley surged forward simultaneously toward them.

The situation is unclear, but the four in front and the four in back— are they from different organizations?

Perhaps, amidst this chaos, one could still escape.

That faint hope was crushed when Noirelia was cut down by the man approaching from the alley’s depths.

"Noirelia!?"

"Give me the child!"

The man on the opposite side intercepts the blade advancing toward Melazophis.

At the same moment, he pulls Melazophis’s body toward himself.

Using that momentum, Melazophis counters by slamming into the man.

Proceeding forward, he attempts to sprint out of the alley.

His body collapses into the alley instead.

Even as he falls, he positions himself to prevent me from being crushed.

Melazophis lies on his side, face twisted in agony.

Peering closely, a short blade is deeply embedded in his back.

Fighting continues in the alley, conducted by unknown men.

At their feet, Noelia lies motionless.

Blood seeping from her body, eyes vacant—her life has already ended.

If this continues, Melazophis will not survive.

Her small hand frantically pulls the dagger from Melazophis’s back.

Blood gushes forth.

If this continues, she will die.

If Melazophis dies, it will be my turn.

A way to reverse this outcome.

Only one possibility exists.

But doing it will end my life as a person.

And success is uncertain.

Even if successful, I do not know if I can escape this place.

Looking at Melazophis, on the verge of death.

In her eyes, a terrible emotion—cursing her own helplessness.

"Miss... I am sorry."

A voice barely audible.

I make my decision.

I drive my fangs into the neck of the fallen man.