Symphony for the Insect Princess

York felt empty inside.

"..."

Let's put aside the unnecessary sentimentality and deal with this guy as soon as possible——

Crack! ! ! !

The waving silver light brought up scattered blood flowers.

Just as he approached Lux, the latter suddenly turned over, and with a flash of silver light in his hand, York's pants were torn, leaving a shallow scar on his calf.

"Ha! How foolish, York! I would never approach a fallen enemy unguarded!"

Lux sneered and got up from the ground, tearing off his coat.

"Do you think you're the only one who has a hobby of collecting artifacts from another world?"

What was revealed was something like a thick black vest, with three burn marks on it, which were three bullet holes.

"...Bulletproof vest!? You—ow!?"

York suddenly felt dizzy and had no strength left in his body. He fell straight to the ground and couldn't move at all!

The wound on the leg -

poison--

This was the last thought that came to his mind.

Then, York's consciousness sank completely into darkness.

--------------

"It's done!"

Lux let out a long sigh and gently stroked the bulletproof vest on his body.

...How lucky.

This bulletproof vest is of the thin type. Fortunately, York used a portable small-caliber gun. If the caliber of the gun was larger, it might not be able to protect him.

However, the troublemakers were finally dealt with.

Ellen's brain was damaged, Chloe's almost as bad, and Lillian was probably killed by Nia. As for Nia? That guy could kill her anytime.

Lukes removed his body armor and his inner shirt, revealing his bare chest.

There were three hideous scars on his left chest that had not yet healed and were still throbbing with pain, but it didn't matter. As long as he felt the quadruple heartbeats coming from his chest, he felt extremely at ease.

To break the seal, the heart engraved with the magical seal had to be alive, which was why Lux had to resort to this method: using the research left by Astroy, he implanted three hearts into his own body one by one. To do this, he even removed his left lung before the operation to make room for the heart. Now he had four hearts in his chest: his own, plus those of the three family heads. Although only the original heart was truly functional, the other three were merely "alive." This was also why he didn't resort to poisoning the food and killing everyone at once, as that would have contaminated the heart.

victory is in sight.

There is no longer any obstacle between him and the great secret treasure.

Apart from--

"This poison is weaker than I thought, Lux."

"--ah?"

Chapter 22 Monster

York had a dream.

A dream that is a little warm and a little sad.

A few years ago, when we were all still young.

She and Lukes were in the large room upstairs, studying with books under the stern gaze of their specially hired tutor, and from time to time they would secretly make faces at her when she turned her head.

On the lawn of the manor, Chloe, eager to show off her new magic, got herself covered in dirt, making Ellen laugh.

Near timidly followed Lillian, watching her play pranks on the servants.

Anhans and Molly were led by their respective parents and had a cordial conversation with their father.

Nelris and the child sat quietly under the largest tree, watching everything quietly.

What a long time ago, and what a beautiful scene.

Everyone is living a good life, laughing and having fun.

I really hope this scene can last forever.

--------------

"Um...uh..."

York woke up in a daze.

I felt so tired all over, so exhausted that I couldn't muster any strength. I could only lie limply on the bed and look at the ceiling. This seemed like my own room.

The blue-green light shone through the window, and the sky seemed to be just getting light.

In the end what happened?

I remember that I relaxed at the last moment, was counterattacked by Lukes, and was poisoned, and then...

And then...what happened?

"Did you sleep well, Brother York?"

"——!?"

The sudden greeting perked him up, and he immediately came to his senses. It was truly a beautiful voice, the uniquely young woman's graceful and graceful voice laced with a wonderfully mature aura. The combination of the two was incredibly enjoyable just to hear.

The sound is like this, but what about the owner of the sound?

"Please don't move yet, you are still very weak..."

The owner of the voice came closer and looked down at him.

At that moment, York thought he saw the goddess in human form.

How beautiful.

What a charm.

The soft silver-gray hair reflected the early morning light.

The blue eyes are like gems born from the sea.

The long eyelashes seem like crystals stretched into thin strands.

The small nose, the light-colored lips, the thin eyebrows, and the porcelain-like skin are all exquisite to the extreme.

Looking down, one can see a beautifully shaped chin, a slender yet not frail collarbone, and a chest that can just be called plump, wrapped in a simple sweater.

Although she didn't make any provocative movements, every detail implied an indescribable sexiness. However, this sexiness was adorned with her quiet and elegant temperament. Instead of arousing ill will, it made people unable to help but appreciate her beauty as if she were a work of art.

If there is anyone who can bring out the elegance and sexiness that women are born with to the fullest, it must be her.

He couldn't help but feel heartbroken just thinking about how this extreme beauty had been ignored and covered in shadows for years.

"Neil...Liz..."

"Yes, Brother York."

"Has the charm that was taken away been fully restored?"

"Maybe."

"...You are really, beautiful."

"Thanks for the compliment."

"Um……"

York blinked, suddenly coming to his senses.

"No, wait... where are the others? Why only you? Where's Lukes? And... where's the Great Secret Treasure?"

"..."

But the beautiful girl did not answer him.

"Nellys? Nelly... huh?"

Suddenly I felt a tingling sensation on my arm, as if... someone was giving me an injection?

His exhausted body was unable to sit up, and he could only lift his head with difficulty.

Nelris was giving him an injection with a thin syringe.

As the piston pushed, a light green liquid flowed into his body.

At the same time, an irresistible drowsiness came over him and he fell into darkness again.

"Don't be afraid... This is the hallucinogenic drug Lux uses to control Nia... It won't be fatal..."

Her voice seemed to come from far away.

But then it was close again.

Warm breath brushed past her ear, she moved closer, leaned down, and whispered to herself.

"Remember...from now on...remember..."

Remember... Remember...

"The great secret treasure has been lost... Everyone is dead..."

Lost... Dead...

"Including me, Nelris... everyone... is dead..."

Nelris is also... dead... also dead...

"You are the only one left alive in the Zelah family... Remember... you, York Zelah, are the only one who survived..."

I am the only one who survived...

--------------

Watching York fall into a deep sleep again, I took back the syringe and tiptoed out of his room.

More than half of the house was destroyed, and there was rubble everywhere, making it difficult to walk, and I had to erase my footprints as I walked. Through the corridors, through the halls, through each room, every place was filled with memories, memories of my growing up.

But it's not a pity.

Because this is just a cocoon after all.

I took a last look at the room I had lived in for seventeen years. It had simple furnishings and books piled everywhere... It was a bit of a pity, as there were too many books to take away.

Then, I picked up my pre-packed luggage and left the mansion as quickly as possible.

Can't leave yet.

Need to take a detour to go somewhere first.

Behind the mansion is the stable, which usually houses many famous stallions, but during the three days of the Harvest Festival they are all sent to outside stables for care, so it is now empty.

The second haystack from the left is here——

I lifted down the canvas and a large bundle of hay on top of the haystack, revealing the person I had tied up and hidden inside.

"Good morning, Lukes. Did you sleep well?"

"..."

"I'm very sorry that I can't prepare a better place for you. Please—"

"...Stay away from me, monster!"

"sorry."

"..."

"..."

"...Where's York? Still alive? Did you save him?"

"Yes, and I borrowed the hallucinogenic drug you gave Nia without permission and performed a simple hypnosis."

"Hypnosis?"

"Make him believe that everyone, including you and me, is dead."