Chapter 121 Kirota Head
As Erwin\'s hand sliced through the creature\'s delicate skin, The small knife caused its insides to spill and within A crimson tide seeped out, staining his once clean hand, His eyes turned red, not with anger, but from a heart that could barely stand.
"I never wanted to die...I didn\'t deserve to die," he whispered, His voice quivering with immense pain, his heart utterly blistered. The memory of the event that led to his death and brought him to this world flooded his mind, and he was once again overwhelmed and twirled.
"Why?...why?...why?" Erwin\'s anguished cry echoed in the deserted land, As he continued to mutilate the lifeless creature with his hand. With each passing moment, his heartache grew deeper and his tears fell. A never-ending stream of sorrow, as the blood and the grass melded into a red swell. The skin of the creature slowly peeled off, revealing its innermost secrets. As Erwin\'s own anguish was laid bare, his emotions were at their highest peaks.
"I loved my life there...even if it was dull...I was happy even alone," he said, reminiscing about his life in the other world. Which, despite being dull, kept him content in his stead. The constant feeling of loneliness, the hard work, the disdainful looks from girls, And various other painful experiences that had left his heart in whirls, Did not matter to him, for he had a few like-minded friends who shared his plight, And that was enough to make him happy, even in the darkest of nights.
Erwin\'s heart was heavy with the weight of his memories, and his soul was burdened with the pain of his past. His tears flowed freely, like a river that had burst its banks, and his cries echoed across the barren field.
His hand continued its gruesome work. He could feel the warmth of the creature\'s blood against his skin, staining him red like a mark of Cain. With each slice of the knife, he relived the moment of his death, the unfairness of it all, and the cruelty of fate that had brought him here.
The sun began to set. Erwin finally stopped mutilating the creature\'s body and collapsed onto the ground, his body wracked with sobs. The once peaceful field was now filled with the sounds of his cries, the blood of the creature, and the gentle rustling of the wind. It was a scene of sorrow and despair, a stark contrast to the beauty of the surrounding landscape.
Erwin gazed upon the approaching darkness that painted the sky. He rose from the ground and freed the creature\'s head from the tree. With a heavy heart and solemn steps, he began his journey towards the city, his mind weighed down by the memories of his past and the pain of his present.
He trudged through the dense forest. The head of the creature dangled from his grasp, blood oozing from its neck, forming a macabre trail of crimson drops that followed in his wake.
The trees towered over him, casting deep shadows that seemed to swallow him whole. The forest was alive with sounds - the rustle of leaves, the chirping of crickets, the hoot of an owl. But Erwin heard none of it. His mind was consumed with the events that had led him to this point.
The trail of blood left behind him seemed to mock him, a reminder of the violence he had just committed. Erwin couldn\'t help but wonder what kind of person he had become. Was he a monster now, like the one whose head he carried? As he walked, he tried to push away the memories that threatened to drown him. But they persisted, unrelenting.
Erwin\'s mind was now a jumble of memories, a chaotic mix of the past and the present. His first recollections were of this new body, one that was imbued with a deep sadness that had driven its original owner to an untimely end. Then he was pursued by crazed lunatics in the jungle, sold into slavery, and just yesterday he had plunged into an abyss.
It was not a place filled with dark creatures or anything like that, but a pitch-black void. Even if such creatures were present, Erwin wouldn\'t have been able to see them. It was just a long, never-ending path to nowhere, a journey to eternity. He was terrified, scared every second in that place.
His actions in this world were foolish and cowardly. He acted recklessly, doing whatever he wanted, knowing that he would eventually die in this world too, just like in his previous lives.
So why not die for something he had done, instead of perishing for something he had never done?
The city loomed in the distance, its twinkling lights a beacon of hope. Erwin quickened his pace, desperate to escape the forest and the ghosts that haunted him. The head of the creature bounced against his leg, a gruesome reminder of the violence he had just committed.
Erwin\'s journey through the forest continued, his mind consumed by the weight of his memories and the sorrow that clung to him like a shroud. As he walked, his thoughts drifted back to the creature he had just killed, and the guilt he felt threatened to overwhelm him once more. But as he looked up at the night sky, he saw a glimmer of hope in the stars that twinkled above him.
As Erwin stepped into the city, the night had already fallen, and there were few people on the streets. Yet, those who spotted him, with his bloodied clothes and the gruesome creature\'s head he was carrying, displayed a variety of emotions. Some were sympathetic, some afraid, while others showed signs of disgust.
Erwin tried to ignore them as he made his way through the city, his goal fixed on finding some semblance of peace and understanding in this strange and unfamiliar world.
The city was a labyrinth of streets and alleys, neon lights illuminating the darkness, and the scent of food wafting through the air. Erwin\'s stomach growled, reminding him that he had not eaten in some time. He made his way to a food stall, hoping to find something to eat and, perhaps, some answers to his questions.
However, Erwin remained unaffected by their reactions, for he had completely forgotten the reason for his visit to the city.
As he looked down at the pouch filled with herbs in his hand, the realization hit him. "Oh yes, I was here to sell these herbs," he muttered to himself. With that, he headed towards the Alchemic Association, determined to complete his task.
Upon arriving at the association, Erwin found it closed and began to make his way back home. However, his mind was preoccupied, and he found himself wandering aimlessly around the city.
The city was a labyrinth of streets and alleys, neon lights illuminating the darkness, and the scent of food wafting through the air. Erwin\'s stomach growled, reminding him that he had not eaten in some time. He made his way to a food stall, hoping to find something to eat and, perhaps, some answers to his questions.
"Hey kid, where are you going at late this night?" a voice called out to Erwin, interrupting his aimless wandering in the late night. He turned to see a beautiful woman dressed in dark, form-fitting clothes that resembled those of assassins. Erwin would have noticed the outfit if he were feeling well, but at the moment, he couldn\'t even appreciate the woman\'s curvy figure. Instead, he simply stared at her face.
With a face full of concern, she approached Erwin and wiped the dirt from his mouth. "What happened to you? And where did you get that Kirota\'s head?" she inquired.
"I killed him," replied Erwin.
The woman was visibly shocked but remained silent. "Where are your parents?" she asked.
Erwin was unsure which set of parents she was referring to - his parents in his previous world or his current one. However, he didn\'t know the whereabouts of either of them. So he simply replied, "I don\'t know."
"Where do you live?" she asked again.
Erwin simply pointed in the direction of the academy. The woman followed his gesture and realized it was outside the city. And she even didn\'t think Erwin was from academy and just thought he lived in some village near the forest.
She was right in her own assumption because even the academy\'s servants had decent clothes, which was in stark contrast to Erwin\'s worn-out outfit. Even the city\'s beggars had clothing that was in better condition than his.
As the woman realized that the place was outside the city, she became concerned about Erwin\'s safety, especially since he was carrying the head of a creature and had blood on his clothes. She hesitated for a moment, thinking about what to do, then made a decision.
"Come with me," she said, taking Erwin\'s hand.
Erwin didn\'t resist, allowing the woman to lead him through the dark alleys of the city. As they walked, Erwin noticed that the woman was constantly looking around, as if she were afraid of being followed.
As they approached a shabby and diminutive structure, the woman unlatched the door and gestured for Erwin to enter. "This is where I reside," she declared, guiding him inside. The building was discreetly positioned, making it nearly impractical to locate for those unfamiliar with the city\'s layout.
The interior was sparsely furnished, with only a few pieces of furniture scattered around. The woman motioned for Erwin to sit down on a small couch, then disappeared into another room.
Erwin sat there for a few moments, his mind still consumed by the events of the day. He couldn\'t help but wonder what the woman\'s motives were, why she had taken him in.
After a few minutes, the woman returned with a damp cloth and a bowl of water. "Here," she said, handing them to Erwin. "Clean yourself up."
Erwin nodded and began to clean himself, grateful for the woman\'s kindness. As he washed away the blood and grime, he began to feel a sense of calm wash over him. The woman sat beside him, watching him with a thoughtful expression.
Erwin removed his garments and put on the outfit given to him by the women. Although he carried out the task in the presence of the women, he did not completely disrobe and left his undergarments on.
"What\'s your name?" she asked suddenly.
"Erwin," he replied.
"Erwin," she repeated. "That\'s a nice name. My name is Leila."