Chapter 25: Expectations you create on your own often end in disappointment

“It’s because you’re so useless that we had to flee like dogs!”

Lila gritted her teeth as she lashed the whip in her hand, tearing Simon’s back open with each strike.

Pain surged like a tidal wave. The world reflected in his eyes blurred, flickering like broken slides. His pupils shrank, everything fading, except for a pale face looming closer, amusement undisguised, lips curled in mockery.

‘Why are you treating me like this?’

Simon knew he wouldn’t get an answer.

“Still looks like you’ve got some spirit left, Simon.”

As her voice fell, Lila brought the whip down again. It cut through the air with a sharp whistle and landed precisely on his already blood-soaked back.

In this remote corner, no one would ever know what was happening.

Simon’s vision went black. His knees buckled, and he collapsed heavily onto the gravel, his hands pressing weakly against the rough ground. Sharp stones cut into his palms, blood seeping out and mixing with the blood on his back, soaking into the earth.

Lila smiled faintly as she coiled her whip and stepped closer.

“Stay kneeling. That’s the posture you’re meant to have.”

Simon knelt silently on the gravel. He knew that if he spoke out now, something worse would follow.

Looking down at him, Lila’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. She lifted one long, silk-clad leg, smooth as carved jade, and used the tip of her foot to lift his chin, forcing him to look up.

“I’m doing this for your own good, Simon. You need to recognize your mistakes. Do you admit them?”

Simon exhaled slowly before answering in his usual respectful tone.

“Young Lady, it’s my fault. If I weren’t so weak, I wouldn’t have been chased by the earth dragon.”

“Hmph. At least you know your place.”

Lila snorted and withdrew her foot.

“I’ll give you a moment to rest. Then we’ll continue training, to make you stronger.”

“…Young Lady, may I ask you something?”

Simon lowered his head, his black hair hiding his eyes.

Lila didn’t care what emotions were hidden in those obsidian-like eyes. She could already feel the resentment within him, and she even looked forward to more of it.

“Go ahead.”

“Why did you come back to save me back then?”

Like a flicker of light in darkness, only to vanish again.

‘If you were just going to treat me like this… why risk your life to save me?’

Amid the sea of resentment, a strange bitterness rose in Simon’s chest as he waited for her answer.

Silence fell. Only the faint sound of wind brushing sand filled the air.

Then…

Lila burst into laughter.

The sound echoed harshly through the empty corner.

Everything she did was for herself. Whether she chose to torment or to save, it was all for survival. Saving Simon had simply been necessary.

There was no sudden kindness. Only calculation.

“You don’t actually think I came back just to save you, do you?”

She laughed breathlessly, then continued:

“You know Yuli is the princess of Greenhill. I already knew she was nearby. Opportunities to get close to her don’t come often.”

‘That was a lie.’

But Simon didn’t know the truth. And Lila didn’t care about adding another negative mark to her name.

Simon’s gaze dimmed.

At least now he understood, there had never been kindness. Only endless cruelty and manipulation.

So he would endure.

‘Gather strength. Wait.’

One day, he would repay everything.

“Rested enough? Let’s continue.”

Lila smiled lightly, clearly amused.

She ordered Simon into a push-up position. Then, after placing a cloth over his back, she sat down on him.

Her idea of “training.”

“Begin. Show me everything you’ve got.”

Simon’s arms trembled. The moment he pushed up, the torn flesh on his back burned like fire. Cold sweat poured from his brow, dripping onto the ground.

He gritted his teeth and forced his body upward, but her weight felt like a mountain, crushing the air from his lungs.

Each rise tore his wounds further. Blood slowly soaked through the cloth.

Lila sat casually, swinging her legs, her long black-sheathed limbs catching the light as she mocked him.

“That’s it? How disappointing, Simon.”

Emotion didn’t grant strength.

In the end, Simon collapsed, face down on the ground.

Lila stepped off easily, as if she had expected it.

“Tch. Boring.”

She looked annoyed.

“See? You’re weak. That’s why you need training.”

At that moment, a bird landed beside her.

She glanced over.

A crow tilted its head, its bead-like eyes staring at her.

‘…That looked familiar.’

Before she could think further, the crow suddenly flew up and landed on her head, tugging at her crimson hair.

“Stupid bird!”

Lila swatted it away angrily.

The crow hopped a short distance away, watching her with one eye, almost as if confused.

She wasn’t that girl anymore, the one called Cornflor. She wouldn’t show kindness to random creatures.

Better to chase it off.

Lila turned back to Simon, pretending to admire his miserable state.

“That’s enough for today. I assume you’ve learned your lesson?”

“…Yes…”

Simon forced the word out through clenched teeth.

He weakly raised his head, watching her figure walk away, arrogant and untouchable in his broken world.

And he remained behind, drowning in pain and humiliation, waiting for change.

But this time, he wasn’t alone.

“Brother, your illusions should end now.”

A voice echoed.

“That young lady’s ‘support’ is just a way to control you. Everything she does is filled with malice.”

His “younger brother” extended a hand, pity in his eyes.

Simon hesitated, then took it, letting himself be pulled to his feet.

“Why did you only appear recently?”

“Because I felt your desire for power… or rather, you were waiting for it.”

The boy smiled gently.

“So, will you accept me?”

“…What will I become?”

A monster?

The strangeness of this dark magic, Simon had already sensed it.

“And why does that matter?” the boy replied softly. “We’ll take revenge on every look of contempt… until they fear and respect you.”

Simon refused.

That kind of respect… he didn’t want it.

“…I see. One day, brother, you’ll accept me.”

The figure dissolved like dust in the wind.

Simon walked toward the shop.

He knew… there was at least one person who would accept him.