Chapter 109: 109: has been resolved
After wandering in endless loops, Slude finally reached her destination—Brunhilde, her sister.
And she personally shattered the chains that had bound Brunhilde, breaking the seal that had restrained her for so long.
This pivotal moment marked a significant transformation in Brunhilde's so-called "fate." Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that the drastic change had already begun when Kevin returned the Rhinegold to the Rhine Fairy.
As the shackles fell away, Brunhilde slowly opened her dazzling eyes, wide with disbelief. Her gaze fixated on Slude, who stood before her with a soft smile on her face.
She blinked in a daze, unable to believe her eyes. For so long, she had convinced herself that she would never see Slude again in this lifetime.
Hearing her sister softly call her "Onee-sama" while winking playfully at her, Brunhilde instinctively rubbed her eyes, as though trying to banish an illusion, before looking at her again.
"You…?" Brunhilde tilted her head slightly, her voice hesitant, unsure of how to respond. Her thoughts were tangled and chaotic. At that moment, all she wanted to do was press her hands against her temples and collapse onto the ground.
Slude, who had been watching her intently, seemed to understand the confusion flooding her sister's mind. The slight curve of her lips turned into a faint chuckle.
"Onee-sama," Slude said softly, grasping Brunhilde's hand and pressing it gently against her own flawless face.
The warmth in her smile deepened as she continued, "You're not dreaming. It's me, Slude. I'm really here. Though, unfortunately, I am not the great hero who braved the flames you had been waiting for all this time."
"Is it… really you?" Brunhilde murmured, her voice tinged with doubt as she gradually accepted the reality of what she was seeing. Her gaze was filled with questions as she studied the girl standing before her.
In her memory, Slude had been a mechanical puppet-like figure, much like Kevin when he first arrived in Asgard. Yet the Slude standing here now seemed entirely different—radiant, lively, and full of emotion.
The two feathered adornments on Slude's head swayed slightly, their subtle movement almost reflecting her joyful mood. Far from being upset at her sister's incredulous response, Slude appeared utterly delighted by it.
"I know you must have a thousand questions, Onee-sama," Slude said, her voice carrying a teasing lilt. "But before we dive into that..."
She guided Brunhilde to sit upright, carefully taking out a pure white dress from her belongings. Draping it over Brunhilde's bare skin—smooth and flawless like polished marble—Slude smiled and said, "You should put on some clothes first. Otherwise, someone might wander in and accidentally see you like this."
Indeed, Brunhilde wasn't wearing anything. The absence of any covering left her completely exposed.
Although Slude's words carried a warning, her actions betrayed a sense of calm assurance. She never even glanced toward the door. She trusted Kevin entirely, and truthfully, even if someone were to stumble in, it wouldn't matter much to her.
If anything, a part of her secretly wished Kevin would show up at this precise moment. That way, he might feel obligated to "take responsibility."
Of course, Slude wasn't implying marriage between Kevin and Brunhilde. Rather, she knew Kevin's nature all too well by now. He was the type of person who lived with an almost stoic detachment, unmoved by the grandest of catastrophes, yet fiercely protective of those he cared about. If someone close to him needed help, he would rush to their aid without a second thought.
Slude wished for Kevin to be that pillar of support for her sister, Brunhilde. Yet, throughout their journey, she never explicitly asked Kevin for help on Brunhilde's behalf.
Instead, she had framed the situation as part of their contract, telling Kevin that they couldn't separate without her permission and asking him to accompany her.
Was it pride that held her back from voicing her true request? Certainly not.
It was simply that, when weighing the safety of Brunhilde against the risks of dragging Kevin into danger, Slude instinctively chose the latter. What she hadn't anticipated, however, was how Kevin's straightforward personality would lead him to act on his own.
As Brunhilde sat still, allowing Slude to slip the dress over her body and comb her long, silken hair, she remained enveloped in a haze of disbelief.
The whole experience felt surreal, like a dream that could shatter at the faintest sound. Fearing she might wake, Brunhilde stayed silent, not daring to utter a single word.
Slude stood behind her, gently untangling her sister's soft, flowing locks. Her movements were tender as she began speaking. "Onee-sama, I've wanted to see you again for so long. There's something I needed to tell you. I've found my heart. I've found the feelings you once spoke of before you left."
Brunhilde froze at these words, her fingers tightening slightly. Slowly, she lifted her head to look over her shoulder, meeting Slude's gaze with wide, astonished eyes.
"Sister," Slude continued, her voice as soft as a lullaby, "After you left, someone remarkable came to Asgard—a human from another continent. His name is Kevin. Though he is just a human, he was raised by the God-King of Erin, far across the sea. He came here under unique circumstances, and, well..."
Slude raised her wrist, revealing a delicate red rope tied around it, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Through the blessings of Lord Balder and under the guidance of Lord Loki, I became Kevin's guardian Valkyrie. We forged a contract—one that binds us to each other."
As Slude recounted her journey, her tone grew vibrant, tinged with pride and excitement. She spoke of the incredible experiences she'd had, the trials she faced, and the ways she had grown and changed since they last saw each other.
Slude had so much to share, and she poured her heart out to Brunhilde, painting vivid pictures of the life she'd led. Yet, as she spoke, one thing remained clear: she wasn't seeking help or sympathy.
She hadn't come here to ask Kevin to rescue her sister or to beg Odin for leniency on Brunhilde's behalf. No, Slude had come for one reason only—to reconnect with her sister and share her newfound happiness.
Because, in Slude's eyes, Brunhilde's decision to sleep in this crystal sanctuary had been her own.
Now, with the emotions she had discovered for herself, Slude couldn't help but ask: if she had been in Brunhilde's place that day, faced with a choice that revolved around Kevin, would she have made the same decision?
The answer was unmistakable: she would have.
For hours, Slude's gentle voice filled the room, weaving tales of joy and sorrow, triumph and change.
As time passed, the dim blue-green light of the crystal sanctuary glowed softly, creating a serene, almost otherworldly atmosphere.
Finally, three hours later...
"Ha..."
Outside the dark castle, Kevin stretched lazily on the grass, bathed in the warm golden light of the setting sun.
He let out a bored yawn, rubbing his eyes before flicking a stray blade of grass in his hand. Nearby, a small bird, Neil, stood with a look of exasperation.
Kevin smirked as he dangled the grass before her, teasingly waving it in her face.
Neil, unimpressed, rolled her eyes—yes, rolled her eyes—before lunging forward to peck his hand. Kevin yelped and dropped the grass, watching as Neil stomped on it indignantly.
"Stop it already," Kevin grumbled, only to pick up another blade of grass moments later.
Before Neil could retaliate, Kevin's expression shifted. His body tensed slightly as if sensing something. He turned his head toward the castle, his gaze sharpening.
"Finally done?" he murmured to himself, standing up and brushing off his clothes.
Neil, realizing her torment had ended, flapped her wings and perched on Kevin's shoulder with an air of relief. Together, the man and the bird strode into the castle.
Inside the crystal sanctuary, Kevin's gaze immediately fell upon Brunhilde. She sat in the crystal pool, her light-green hair cascading like a waterfall.
Her ethereal beauty and poise momentarily left Kevin stunned.
Brunhilde's amethyst-like eyes studied Kevin with quiet curiosity. Slude had spoken endlessly about this human during the past few hours, and now, she couldn't help but feel intrigued by the one who had changed her sister so profoundly.
"Are you Kevin?" she asked softly, her voice like a gentle breeze.
"Yeah," Kevin replied, nodding politely. He gestured to the bird on his shoulder. "And this is Neil."
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