CHAPTER 105 — DARE TO LIVE

The house was still crowded.

But for the first time...

The silence didn't feel heavy.

Empty plates sat on the table.

The Pillars occupied the sofas.

Arthur stood by the window.

Charlotte leaned against his chair.

Marcus silently studied the wall.

William was still taking notes.

Galahad perched on the edge of his chair.

Holar sat a little distance from Eleanor.

Very deliberately a little distance.

Sylvia had noticed.

She kept smiling.

Holar finally couldn't take it anymore.

"Say something."

Sylvia shook her head.

"No, Boss."

"Your face is talking."

"I can't shut my face up."

Eleanor looked at her.

Sylvia immediately faced forward.

"It's quiet now."

Richard snorted.

Just then...

Percy stood up.

Clara lifted her head.

Galahad's smile vanished.

Percy walked into the middle of the room.

He looked around at everyone for a moment.

Then took his hands out of his pockets.

"There's something I need to say."

Arthur:

"You're not going to yell at the Universe again, are you?"

Percy looked at him.

"Not for now."

William raised his pen.

"I've recorded the words 'for now.'"

Percy:

"Erase them."

William:

"No."

Percy rolled his eyes.

Then grew serious again.

"All of this..."

"Started because of me, one way or another."

Holar frowned.

Percy raised a hand.

"I'm not talking about whether I handled it well."

"Or badly."

"Just..."

"Somehow, I was the reason."

No one interrupted.

Percy continued.

"The way I reacted to our losses."

"What Leon did."

"Melanos's rise."

"And then you entering the battle."

Percy looked at the Pillars.

"The Universe talks."

"But it doesn't actually say anything."

Amelia nodded slightly.

Percy continued.

"I'd have been surprised if it did."

Then he looked up.

"And I'm still not convinced it really is the Universe."

Holar closed his eyes.

"Don't start again."

Percy:

"I'm just considering the possibilities."

Holar:

"You're treating the Universe like a con artist."

Percy:

"It never showed me any ID."

Sylvia burst out laughing.

Eleanor shook her head.

Percy shrugged.

"If I can teach abilities..."

"If I can develop resonance..."

"If I can change the rules of energy..."

"Why couldn't someone higher up do it?"

Holar's expression turned serious.

Percy continued.

"Let's not trust anyone blindly."

"Not even the Universe."

"Let's trust ourselves first."

William slowly put his pen down.

Percy turned to the Pillars.

"Honored Pillars."

Sylvia raised an eyebrow.

Richard straightened.

Percy bowed his head.

"I made you fight."

"I nearly upset a balance you'd maintained for years."

"I nearly made everything my grandpa had done count for nothing."

Holar looked at him.

Percy drew a breath.

"Luckily, the man's got some serious balls."

"Percy!"

Eleanor's voice filled the entire living room.

Percy jumped.

"I mean..."

He cleared his throat.

"He's very powerful."

Sylvia doubled over laughing.

Richard turned away.

Helen bit her lip.

Amelia closed her eyes.

Holar tried to look proud.

Eleanor turned to him.

"Don't you laugh either."

Holar immediately grew serious.

"I wasn't laughing."

Sylvia:

"Boss, your face is talking."

Holar looked at Sylvia.

Sylvia went quiet.

Percy bowed his head again.

"I'm sorry. To all of you."

"Next time..."

"So you won't have to get involved..."

"I'll do everything I can."

Eleanor's expression shifted a little.

Percy turned to his friends.

"First Spark of Hope."

Four people looked at him.

Clara did too.

Percy's voice grew smaller.

"I went out that night without telling you."

"I'm sorry."

Arthur's jaw tightened.

Percy continued.

"But that's not enough."

"The weight of those losses crushed me."

"It still hasn't gone away."

Charlotte's eyes filled with tears.

Percy looked at his hands.

"I was so scared."

"If something happened to you too..."

A quiet source reminder: this chapter came from where the author posts it, but this page copied it without approval.

"I thought I wouldn't be able to keep living."

Clara held her breath.

Percy looked up.

"Don't forget what I did."

"Not for the rest of your lives."

"But..."

"Forgive me."

Charlotte was the first to stand.

She walked over to Percy.

Stopped in front of him.

"You're a good person, Percy."

Percy looked away.

Charlotte took his chin.

"Look at me."

Percy did.

"Stop carrying burdens you don't need to carry."

"We're here with you."

Percy's eyes filled with tears.

Marcus left the wall.

He joined them.

"However big the spark grows..."

He paused.

"The light it casts is one."

Percy looked at him.

Marcus continued.

"We don't fight as a team."

Percy's eyebrow rose slightly.

Marcus:

"We fight as one."

Silence fell.

Percy was about to answer.

Arthur stepped in front of him.

And...

THUD!

A fist landed on Percy's shoulder.

Percy stumbled back.

"DUDE!"

Arthur narrowed his eyes.

"Do that again..."

"And there's more where that came from."

Percy rubbed his shoulder.

He looked at Arthur for a moment.

Then nodded.

"I deserved that."

Arthur:

"Yes."

Percy raised an eyebrow.

"You could've disagreed a little."

Arthur:

"No."

Percy fell silent for a moment.

Then opened his arms.

"Come here."

Arthur looked at him.

"No."

Percy:

"Arthur."

"No."

Charlotte stepped behind Arthur.

Arthur noticed.

"Charlotte."

Charlotte shoved him with both hands.

Arthur lurched toward Percy.

Percy caught him.

Arthur:

"Don't."

Percy hugged him.

Arthur held his arms in the air.

"Grant."

Percy didn't let go.

Arthur grumbled.

Finally hugged him back.

Charlotte joined the hug.

Marcus came over.

William adjusted his glasses.

Percy looked at him.

"You too."

William:

"This is physically inefficient."

Charlotte pulled him in.

William:

"All right."

Clara came last.

They all tangled together.

Percy lowered his head.

Closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry."

Arthur:

"We heard you."

Charlotte:

"Just don't do it again."

Marcus:

"Don't do it alone."

William:

"Statistically, it was a terrible idea."

Percy:

"Thank you, William."

William:

"You're welcome."

After a while, they pulled apart.

Percy looked at Galahad.

Galahad was looking at him too.

Percy walked over.

"Big brother."

Galahad waited.

Percy took a deep breath.

"I said some unforgivable things."

Galahad's lips moved slightly.

Percy:

"I'm sorry."

"I know that's not enough."

"I can't say my pain was the reason."

He paused.

"But I can't say it wasn't, either."

Galahad thought for a few seconds.

Then touched Percy's shoulder.

"Next time..."

"If something like this happens..."

"Stay calm and think."

Percy looked at him.

Galahad continued.

"If you try, I'll forgive you."

Percy pursed his lips.

"I can't promise."

Galahad raised an eyebrow.

Percy quickly added.

"But I'll try."

Galahad laughed.

"That's enough."

Percy smiled too.

Galahad ruffled his hair.

Percy:

"Bro, my hair."

Galahad:

"You're alive."

Percy fell silent.

Then smiled.

"True."

It was Holar's turn.

Percy hesitated a little.

Then stood before him.

"Grandpa."

Holar:

"I'm here."

Percy clasped his hands behind his back.

"First..."

"I acted like you didn't deserve your titles."

Holar said nothing.

Percy continued.

"Then you..."

"Made me eat my fucking words..."

Eleanor:

"Percy."

Percy corrected himself at once.

"Uh..."

"In a very impressive fashion..."

"Killed an Emperor."

"Cut down about two dozen Kings."

"Wiped out six hundred thousand monsters."

"And finished by telling Lucifer to fuck off."

Eleanor:

"Percy!"

Percy:

"HE REALLY SAID THAT!"

Sylvia started laughing.

Richard nodded.

Holar's chest swelled with pride.

Eleanor saw it.

"Don't you dare look proud."

Holar:

"He's stating facts."

Percy continued.

"I'm not fit to hold a candle to you."

The smile vanished from Holar's face.

Percy:

"But I'll keep trying."

He paused.

"Forgive me."

Holar looked at Percy for a long time.

Then set his staff aside.

Stood up.

"Fate..."

"Longs for effort."

Percy listened closely.

Holar continued.

"And Percy..."

"You're my grandson."

"No matter what happens..."

"I can't stay angry with you for long."

Percy's eyes filled with tears.

Holar raised a finger.

"But."

Percy waited.

"You were right about some things."

Percy looked surprised.

Holar touched his chest.

"Not the insults."

He grimaced.

"Those really hurt."

Percy's face fell.

"I know."

Holar smoothed his hair.

"Don't do it again."

Percy:

"I'll try."

Holar:

"Is that what you told Galahad too?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Holar:

"Clever little thing."

Percy smiled.

Holar pulled him close.

Hugged him briefly, but tightly.

Percy hugged him back.

Then...

Percy turned to Eleanor.

"Auntie."

He stopped.

Lowered his head a little.

"I mean..."

"Mom."

Eleanor's face softened instantly.

Percy walked toward her.

"I couldn't look after your daughter."

Eleanor frowned.

Percy continued.

"I couldn't protect her."

"They took her away from me."

"I—"

Eleanor raised a hand.

Percy fell silent.

"Percy."

Eleanor stepped closer.

"You brought her home."

Percy lowered his eyes.

Eleanor lifted his chin.

"More importantly..."

"You're my child now too."

Percy's eyes widened.

"I don't make a distinction."

Percy's lip trembled.

Eleanor took him into her arms.

For the first second, Percy froze.

Then...

He fell apart completely.

Rested his head on Eleanor's shoulder.

Held on.

And began to cry like a child.

Eleanor stroked his hair.

"It's all right, son."

Percy hugged her tighter.

William watched from behind them.

He commented quietly.

"Just like a child in his mother's arms."

Galahad nodded.

"Seriously."

Arthur:

"A total kid."

Charlotte:

"He is a kid."

Marcus:

"Definitely."

Percy and Eleanor turned at the same time.

"WE HEARD THAT!"

The living room erupted in laughter.

William adjusted his glasses.

"Data confirmed."

Percy:

"William."

William:

"Yes?"

Percy:

"Run."

William actually retreated two steps.

Percy finally pulled away from Eleanor.

Wiped his eyes.

Then looked at Clara.

All at once...

The entire living room fell quiet.

Clara noticed.

"What?"

Percy walked toward her.

Clara raised an eyebrow.

Percy stopped in front of her.

"Clara."

"Hm?"

"There's one more thing."

Clara waited.

Percy looked at his hands.

"I separated our beds."

Clara's expression changed.

Percy continued.

"Because..."

"The way we loved each other wasn't the same anymore."

Clara listened in silence.

"Or..."

"I couldn't get used to how things had changed."

Percy's ears reddened slightly.

"For example..."

"I'd get embarrassed if I saw your underwear."

Holar coughed.

Galahad looked at the ceiling.

Arthur turned away.

Clara went scarlet.

"Percy!"

Percy covered his face with his hand.

"I'm giving an example!"

Sylvia:

"Excellent example."

Eleanor looked at Sylvia.

Sylvia went quiet again.

Percy turned back to Clara.

"It's not like that anymore."

Clara's eyes softened.

Percy:

"I know what I feel."

Clara:

"So do I."

Percy drew a breath.

"Besides that..."

"I hurt you."

"I separated us."

"I ran away."

"I waited."

"Then I pulled away again."

Galahad interrupted.

"He was breaking the wall in the next room."

Percy spun around.

"BROOOOOOO!"

Galahad laughed.

Clara looked at Percy.

"Really?"

Percy:

"No."

Galahad:

"Yes."

Percy:

"Shut up."

Galahad:

"The wall was innocent."

Clara smiled.

Percy's face fell.

Clara stepped closer.

"Perc."

Percy looked at her.

Clara took his hand.

"You dared to die for me."

Percy's expression grew serious.

Clara continued.

"But..."

"If you dare to live..."

"Maybe you can really start saving people."

The living room fell silent.

Holar lifted his head.

Eleanor looked at Clara.

Galahad's smile slowly faded.

Even Arthur began to think.

Percy...

Didn't move at all.

The words settled deep inside him.

Dying.

Was easy.

So was sacrificing himself.

Running.

Attacking.

Burning.

But living...

Keeping going.

Getting back up after failing.

Carrying the weight of those he'd lost.

And loving again anyway.

Percy's eyes filled with tears.

Clara continued.

"And also..."

"My heart belongs to you."

Percy held his breath.

"All of me belongs to you."

Clara smiled a little.

"And..."

Percy raised an eyebrow.

"Because you weren't here..."

"I might have torn your black pillow apart."

Percy froze.

"What?"

Clara gave him an innocent look.

"But there's a pink pillow."

"You can use that."

Percy's mouth fell open.

"Traitor!"

Clara giggled.

Percy pointed a finger.

"We can dye it."

Clara:

"It's staying pink."

Percy:

"I'm dyeing it black."

Clara:

"Try it and I'll strangle you."

Percy:

"Is that a threat?"

Clara:

"A promise."

Percy smiled.

Then...

Suddenly grew serious.

Clara noticed too.

Percy looked into her eyes.

"I don't love you anymore, Clara."

The living room froze.

Galahad's mouth fell open.

Arthur:

"Grant."

Eleanor was about to stand.

Clara just looked at Percy.

Percy continued.

"I love you so much."

Clara's eyes widened.

"More than anything."

Percy's voice trembled.

"The word isn't enough anymore."

Tears spilled from Clara's eyes.

Percy turned his head.

Walked over to Eleanor.

Eleanor understood when she saw him.

Immediately.

Percy stopped in front of her.

Said nothing.

Neither did Eleanor.

They looked at each other for two seconds.

Then Eleanor sighed.

"You won't hurt my daughter."

Percy answered at once:

"I won't."

Eleanor looked at Clara.

Clara still hadn't understood.

Eleanor:

"And you won't hurt my son."

Clara frowned.

"What?"

Eleanor looked at Percy again.

"On that condition..."

"You have my permission."

Percy's face lit up.

Clara:

"Permission for what?"

Percy didn't answer.

He raised his hand.

Fire formed.

Lightning appeared in his other hand.

Holar raised an eyebrow.

"Not in the house."

Percy didn't listen.

The two elements combined.

Shot out the window.

Burst in the sky.

Crimson and white lights...

Filled the night.

Fireworks spread across the sky.

Everyone looked at Percy.

Percy didn't care.

He turned to Clara.

Stopped in front of her.

Clara's breath caught.

Percy took her hand.

"Clara."

Clara looked at him.

"The meaning of my life."

Clara's eyes filled with tears.

"My reason for living."

Eleanor brought a hand to her mouth.

"My darling."

Percy's voice broke.

But he continued.

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

Silence.

Complete silence.

Clara was crying.

But she was smiling.

Percy waited for an answer.

Clara took both his hands.

"Percy."

"The one who holds my heart."

Percy's eyes filled with tears.

"One of the reasons my life is longer."

"The one who makes my path beautiful."

"The person I'm happiest with."

She stepped closer.

"The man I want beside me..."

"As I walk into the future without fear."

Percy wasn't breathing anymore.

Clara smiled.

"Yes."

Percy's eyes widened.

Clara said it again.

"I will."

Percy pulled her close.

And kissed her.

Clara kissed him back.

At first, no sound came from the living room.

A minute passed.

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

Two minutes passed.

Charlotte was smiling.

Three minutes passed.

Galahad checked the time.

"Still not done?"

Four minutes passed.

Sylvia started laughing.

Five minutes passed.

Holar cleared his throat.

The sixth minute...

Everyone shouted at once.

"ENOUGH ALREADY, DAMMIT!"

Percy and Clara broke apart.

Both were out of breath.

Galahad spread his hands.

"You're going to break Holar and Eleanor's record!"

Eleanor went scarlet.

Holar:

"We didn't go that long."

Sylvia:

"There's broadcast footage, Boss."

Holar froze.

Richard:

"Wasn't it deleted?"

Sylvia:

"I saved it."

Eleanor looked at Sylvia.

Sylvia slowly walked toward the door.

"I'm leaving."

Holar:

"Run."

Sylvia actually ran.

Percy started laughing.

Clara leaned against him.

Eleanor covered her face.

Holar:

"There's no privacy in this family."

Galahad:

"There never was."

A little later...

Percy took Clara's hand.

They headed for the stairs.

Galahad:

"Where are you going?"

Percy:

"To our room."

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

Percy immediately turned.

"TO SLEEP!"

Arthur:

"I didn't say anything."

Percy:

"Your face did."

William:

"Faces can talk today."

Holar:

"Absolutely."

Eleanor looked at him.

Holar:

"I'm shutting up."

Percy opened the door.

Their old room...

Was still the same.

Two beds.

The familiar desk.

The familiar wall.

In one corner...

A pink pillow.

Percy looked at it.

Clara smiled.

Percy:

"You really did tear the black one apart."

Clara:

"Yes."

Percy:

"Why?"

Clara shrugged.

"I was angry."

Percy picked up the pink pillow.

"I'm dyeing it."

Clara:

"Don't try it."

Percy put it on the bed.

Then looked into the middle of the room.

Took a deep breath.

"I've missed this place."

Clara came to his side.

Percy looked at her.

"With you."

Clara's smile softened.

"I've missed it so much too."

Percy rested his forehead against hers.

They stayed like that for a little while.

Then kissed again.

This time, there was no rush.

No fear.

No running away.

Only...

Coming home.

Percy lay down on the bed.

Clara settled beside him.

Rested her head on Percy's chest.

Percy wrapped his arm around her.

Clara closed her eyes.

Percy stroked her hair.

Then kissed the top of her head.

"Clara."

"Hm?"

"I'm going to try living."

Clara's hand tightened on his chest.

"Good."

Percy:

"You too."

Clara smiled.

"You."

Percy:

"Don't start."

Clara:

"You."

Percy sighed.

"Even more."

Clara answered without opening her eyes.

"Even more."

Percy's lips curved.

"Even more."

Clara:

"Percy."

"Hm?"

"Sleep."

Percy closed his eyes.

"All right."

A few minutes passed.

Clara's breathing evened out.

Percy's hand...

Grew still in her hair.

They both fell asleep.

An hour passed.

Neither woke.

Six hours passed.

They were still asleep.

Twelve hours...

Twenty-four hours...

Galahad eased the door open.

Saw the two of them.

Closed it quietly.

Holar:

"Are they asleep?"

Galahad:

"Yes."

Eleanor:

"Don't wake them."

The second day passed.

Percy didn't wake.

Neither did Clara.

Charlotte checked on them.

"They're both fine."

Arthur:

"How can anyone sleep this much?"

William:

"Percy made it to seventy hours awake."

Arthur:

"True."

Galahad:

"Let them sleep."

The third day...

Holar stood outside the door.

Eleanor came over to him.

"Don't peek."

Holar:

"I was going to check on them."

Eleanor:

"Galahad already did."

Holar:

"I'm his grandpa."

Eleanor:

"I'm his mother."

Holar fell silent.

Then they both walked away.

The fourth day...

The sun rose again.

Light filled the room.

Percy was in the same spot.

Clara was still on his chest.

Percy's arm was still around her.

Clara's hand gripped his shirt.

For four days...

For the first time, they had done nothing.

They hadn't fought.

Hadn't run.

Hadn't saved anyone.

Hadn't thought about any world.

Even the Universe hadn't disturbed them.

They had only...

Slept.

Together.

Alive.

And home.

CHAPTER 105 — DARE TO LIVE

END