My Maid is Cute Chapter 33 : What Was Saved (Patreon)

The large shadow enveloping Wendy flickered and grew even larger. The atmosphere in the room felt as if it were instantly freezing over, causing Tatiana to gasp. Feeling pain all over her body, she trembled at the terrifying power of the curse and almost closed her eyes for a moment, but desperately endured.

"Big Sister...!"

True rushed toward Tatiana, raising her voice. Grasping the outstretched hand, Tatiana unsteadily stood up. Grimacing in agony, Tatiana spoke to True.

"True, don't worry about me. Take the sword and get ready."

"But—"

"Hurry!! I will manage the purification somehow!"

"But, but it's going out of control like this! To subdue this is—"

True shouted in dismay while glancing at the large shadow. Lauren also spoke, his face pale.

"It looks like the core of the curse is resisting... Sis, just rethink this for a moment..."

"We don't have time for that! The curse is already on the verge of completion!!"

At Tatiana's words, Christopher stood stunned for a moment, then,

"Wendy!!"

Raising a loud voice, he tried to rush toward the black shadow in a panic. Evan, who was beside him, hurriedly stopped him again.

"Chris! Stop!!"

"Evan, let go!"

Christopher moved to shake off Evan's hand with a desperate look.

"My sister, my sister is in danger! I have to save her!!"

"Stop it!! If you touch that, who knows what will happen—"

Tatiana also shouted toward Christopher.

It was then.

"Eh?"

True let out a surprised voice. Tatiana involuntarily looked in that direction at the sound, and,

"——Ah?"

She too opened her mouth in shock.

Everyone present turned their faces toward the sound as if reacting to it, and then stood dumbfounded.

Lauren's sword, which should have fallen on the floor, was floating in the air. In the dark room, it drifted fluffily while emitting a pale blue light.

"——Sis, what did you do to that sword?"

Lauren asked Tatiana, his lips twitching. Tatiana answered, bewildered.

"I haven't done anything..."

In the next moment, the sword moved significantly.

"Wait, what the—"

Reflexively, Lauren tried to grab the sword to stop it, but the sword easily repelled Lauren's hand.

"Ouch!!"

Ignoring Lauren's scream, the sword swayed in the air as if wandering. Then, as if being sucked in, it dove vigorously into the black shadow.

"E-Eeeeeh? What is that?"

True shouted, but no one could answer her.

***

"My Lady!"

Rebecca was desperately trying to rush toward Wendy. However, she was obstructed by something like an invisible wall and couldn't get close no matter what. At that moment, Heidi turned her face toward her.

『This is my domain alone.』

She pointed one hand toward Rebecca.

『I will not allow interference.』

At that moment, Rebecca's body was forcefully shoved backward by some unseen force.

"Kyaa!"

She screamed involuntarily, but for some reason, she felt no pain.

"M-My Lady!!"

Raising a loud voice, she stood up again. She frantically racked her brain.

What should I do? Far from stopping Heidi, I can't even get close. Ah, but if I don't hurry, My Lady's life is in danger—!

Just as she was about to rush forward again in desperation.

She felt the presence of "something."

"Eh?"

She involuntarily turned her gaze in that direction. She couldn't see anything. Just darkness spreading endlessly. But she definitely felt it. "Something" was approaching.

"——What?"

Just as Rebecca voiced her confusion.

"Ah."

"It" came flying toward Rebecca.

"It" was the long, slender sword Lauren had brought. The sword approached Rebecca and hovered in the air right before her eyes. It floated there as if waiting for Rebecca to take it.

Rebecca gasped, then took it without hesitation.

The sword didn't repel Rebecca's hand; it fit perfectly in her grip. Feeling as if she had gained a powerful ally, Rebecca exhaled deeply. Then, sword in hand, she stepped forward again.

"Lady Wendy!"

She didn't really know how to use a sword. Still, she moved it frantically. She swung the sword as if to break the invisible wall in front of her.

She saw nothing, heard nothing. However, she felt a distinct sensation of something shattering—Clang.

『Wha—』

Heidi reacted, opening her eyes wide in surprise. Rebecca ran straight up to Heidi and grabbed the white arm that was reaching for Wendy's neck.

"Let go of her...!!"

At that moment, something unexpected happened.

A sensation of mysterious heat rushed forcefully from Heidi's arm where Rebecca touched it.

"Eh?"

Something was flowing into Rebecca's body, being absorbed.

"This, this is..."

This warm, mysterious feeling. Rebecca knew what this was.

"This is,"

Magic power? Just as she was about to say it, Heidi screamed.

『A-Ah, aaaaaahhhhhh!!』

Heidi quickly shook off Rebecca's hand. She pressed her hands to her face. Then, pulling away from Wendy, she collapsed backward.

『Aaaaaahhhh—』

"Wait!"

Instinctively, Rebecca touched Heidi's arm again. The moment she touched it, she felt the heat again. At the same time, a mysterious sensation assaulted Rebecca.

***

Paule

I love you so much

I'm sorry for being such a sister

I wanted to be a better sister

I should have stayed by your side

I should have been closer to you

I was the only one who could have done that

But I couldn't

Even though I was the one who said our hearts are connected

Paule

I wanted to protect you

I love you, I love you, I love you

I want to see you one more time

Paule

Are you still waiting for me?

***

"What happened?"

Christopher muttered in confusion.

The sword had disappeared as if sucked into the shadow.

Just as everyone stood bewildered, not knowing what to do, the large shadow undulated greatly, flickered, and then shrank slightly.

"Wha-, what's going on?"

Ignoring the agitated Lauren, Tatiana readied her wand again.

"Now! We will purify it one more time!!"

She waved her wand with strange movements. The shadow moved as if resisting for a moment, but it no longer attacked. Its movements had definitely become dull.

"I don't know exactly, but it seems weakened. There is hope!!"

Tatiana shouted loudly while waving her wand. True frowned, staring at the shadow and muttering.

"What on earth is happening inside there—?"

***

Heidi's feelings felt as if they were being transmitted directly into Rebecca's brain. The sheer desperation of those emotions made her chest ache.

Trembling, Rebecca released her hand from Heidi.

『U-Uughhhhh』

A groaning voice could be heard.

Heidi was crouching on the spot, sobbing uncontrollably. Her figure was so frail, like a small child.

『Just a little more—』

Heidi muttered amidst her sobbing.

『Just a little more, and it would have been complete... Paule...』

Hearing those words, Rebecca sat down beside Heidi and spoke to her.

"...Your true wish isn't to cast a curse. It's to see your sister, to see Ms. Paule again, isn't it?"

Heidi's shoulders twitched. Watching her, Rebecca continued.

"...It was painful, wasn't it? It was agonizing. How much regret you must have felt..."

『What do you understand!!』

Heidi snapped her head up vigorously, directing a sharp glare at Rebecca.

『No one can understand!! My, our feelings, no one!!』

"——Yes. That may be so. But..."

Rebecca lowered her face slightly and continued.

"I think the desire to be with a precious person forever is the same... Please, don't let resentment and anger dominate your heart... Please stop tormenting My Lady... She has nothing to do with this. She is just a small girl."

Rebecca bowed her head deeply on the spot.

"...I offer my life in exchange. So please... end this. I... don't want you to suffer anymore either."

Hearing those words, Heidi shed tears again. It was then.

"...Becca?"

A small voice was heard. Surprised, Rebecca turned her face in that direction, and before she knew it, Wendy was standing there.

"M-My Lady...?"

Wendy, her entire body marked with reddish-black bruises, toddled toward Rebecca and Heidi. Then, standing next to Rebecca, she tilted her head and stared at Heidi.

"——It's you."

At Wendy's sudden words, Rebecca looked blankly. Heidi also frowned.

"My Lady?"

"The one who was crying inside me all this time, it was you, wasn't it?"

She spoke with conviction, surprising Rebecca. Ignoring Rebecca's surprise, Wendy suddenly reached out toward Heidi. And as if to envelope her, she hugged her tightly.

Heidi stiffened her body in confusion. To reassure her, Wendy slowly spoke.

"...When I am sad or lonely, you see, Becca hugs me tight like this. So, I will do the same for you. I've wanted to do this for a long time."

Though bewildered, Rebecca simply watched Wendy's actions. She saw Heidi's eyes widen greatly.

"I will do anything I can. So please, don't cry anymore. It's going to be okay, so..."

Large drops of tears slowly rolled down from Heidi's eyes.

Watching over them from nearby, Rebecca spoke in a whisper.

"——You can't do it."

Heidi turned her gaze toward her.

"...Because, the truth is, you are a kind person... Earlier, when I touched you, I don't know exactly how, but... it came through. Just like Ms. Paule, you are a very, very kind person... So, you cannot complete the curse. ...Because you know."

Heidi pulled away from Wendy. While pulling Wendy close with one hand, Rebecca continued speaking to Heidi.

"You must know the feeling of suffering from unreasonable things. ...So, let's end this."

Heidi lowered her face while shedding tears and let out a small voice.

『...If I do that, will I be able to see Paule again?』

"——Yes, surely..."

When Rebecca answered, the surroundings were enveloped in light.

Heidi made a faintly relieved expression and closed her eyes. Meanwhile, Rebecca instinctively hugged Wendy with one arm.

"Becca!"

"Stay like that, don't move!!"

Answering the screaming Wendy, Rebecca re-gripped the sword with strong force.

***

True desperately supported Tatiana's body as she swayed unsteadily but continued to wave her wand in large motions.

"Big Sister, are you okay!?"

"Somehow—look, the purification is almost over!"

The black shadow was gradually shrinking. Watching it, Lauren called out to Tatiana.

"But, Sis, even if the purification ends, if we don't harvest the core of the curse, the dispel won't be complete, right? We don't have the sword, so what do we do?"

Hearing those words, Tatiana clicked her tongue softly.

"...The sword should be inside this. Once the purification is over, if we can just get the sword back somehow—"

At that moment, a sound like something popping—Pop—was heard. Everyone reflexively closed their eyes at the impact.

Christopher, opening his eyes immediately, shouted loudly.

"Wendy!!"

In the bathtub in the center of the room, a soaking wet Rebecca was sitting. She held the sword in one hand and supported Wendy's body with the other. Wendy seemed unconscious, but a mysterious small light was floating from around her chest.

"Wendy!"

"Rebecca!"

Just as Christopher and Evan tried to approach, Rebecca moved her hand while still sitting. She swung the sword as if severing the light from Wendy's body.

"Ah..."

Tatiana and True cried out simultaneously.

"——It is finished."

Rebecca muttered softly.

"It is finished..."

The light shone small as if conveying something to Rebecca.

"...May your soul be saved this time, please."

As Rebecca whispered this, the light swayed softly and then vanished.

"Wendy!!"

Christopher rushed over quickly. Without looking aside, he jumped into the bathtub.

"Lord Christopher..."

Rebecca held out Wendy's body to Christopher. Seeing Wendy's appearance, his eyes widened.

"——This is."

The bruises had completely disappeared from Wendy's body. It was pure white skin with nothing marked on it.

"Wendy...?"

When Christopher called out softly, Wendy slowly opened her eyes as if reacting to that voice.

"...Brother?"

She spoke groggily. The moment that voice reached his ears, Christopher shed tears on the spot from sheer relief.

"W-Wendy... Thank goodness... thank goodness... truly..."

Watching Christopher break down in tears while saying this, Rebecca also shed tears.

And then, she slowly collapsed on the spot as if crumbling. Seeing this, Evan and Lauren hurriedly rushed toward her.

Rebecca slowly closed her eyes.

She heard voices from somewhere.

***

——Big Sister.

Yeah, Paule.

——Big Sister, will you stay with me forever?

Yes, of course. My other half.

I am here. I will always be here.

Right next to you.

——If you aren't by my side, I’ll be so lonely, I’ll cry……

Don’t cry. There is no need to cry.

I will absolutely never leave you again.

My one and only little sister.

I will never let you, who are so kind, suffer again.

Hey, Paule.

The world isn't kind at all, is it?

It remains pitch black. I can't see anything anymore.

There is no light anywhere.

But, even in such a world, there is something absolutely unchanging and certain.

——Big Sister, I love you.

Paule, Paule.

That I love you too.

This feeling belongs only to me. It will absolutely never be taken away.

Because we have been together since before we were born.

No matter how hard it is.

No matter how painful it is.

If I can be with you, I will surely accept it all.

Right, Paule.

——Big Sister, Big Sister Heidi.

Paule, Paule.

Let's go home now.

It's pitch black, but it's okay.

This time, I'll hold your hand, so it's okay.

Paule.

This time, let's go home together.