Protagonist! Please Stay Away from Me!
Chapter 95: The Birth of New Species and a Gift for the Only Friend

Chapter 95: The Birth of New Species and a Gift for the Only Friend

Third POV—

Over the course of time, Erica had accepted Klurench’s words. It was hard to digest but eventually she did. It had been twenty years since that day. Being the high priestess, her lifespan is quite higher than the normal humans.

Both of them were constantly moving and changing places. The gods had issued the order to have them killed as soon as possible. The constant need to hide had made them tired. They felt as if the whole world was trying to separate them.

"Where are we going, Klurench?" asked Erica.

Klurench replied, "We are going to a special hiding place."

Erica raised her eyebrows at his words. "And do tell me, where is your special hiding place is?"

Smirking, Klurench answered, "It’s in a special forest called ’Lezarte Forest.’ And let me tell you one thing. The gods will never set their feet on that forest."

She was intrigued by these words. She asked, "Why is that?"

"Because in this very forest, we found those five weapons. They shudder just by hearing its name. So, don’t worry. They would never think that we are hiding in this forest."

A smile bloomed across her face. She believed that they didn’t need to constantly change places any longer.

◆◇◆◇◆

Fifteen years passed again. Erica and Klurench were hiding in the Lezarte forest without any trouble. They had made that forest their inner world. Sometimes her lover went out of the forest to gauge the outer world situation.

While Klurench was cooking, Erica was sewing their clothes. It was very dangerous for them to form any sort of contact. His ’travel’ was only limited to gauging information... nothing more.

Suddenly, Klurench said, "Erica, during my last travel... I have found something."

"Hmmm? What did you find?" Erica asked. She didn’t even raise her head to look at him. Instead, she focused on sewing.

"Gods have created new species."

Erica’s hands stopped moving. She jerked her head up in the air and exclaimed, "What?!"

Klurench turned towards her and said, "They have created two new species to replace the human beings."

Erica lowered her gaze and rubbed her hand on the sewed clothes. "How did you find out?"

"I had my suspicions. You know it very well that I don’t roam around dangerous places. But I should have searched there, I guess. If I am correct, the gods have created these two species almost twenty-five years ago."

"What are those species? They aren’t humans, right?"

"Yes, they are not humans. They have created ’demons’ and ’demi-humans.’ It seems gods don’t want to take risk any type of risk. They don’t want to repeat their mistakes. This time, they have even given them abilities. Their policy of fulfilling desires have been ceased. That means no more unnecessary ’blind’ devotion."

Erica nodded her head. So, those new species didn’t worship them. "They don’t worship them, do they?" she asked with a definite tone.

"No, they don’t."

"Any particular reason?"

Shaking his head, Klurench replied, "Unlike with you all, they have yet to establish a close relationship with them."

"You mean, ’parasitic’ relationship?" Erica mocked him, without showing any mercy.

"I would say ’symbiotic’ relationship." Klurench tried to justify himself. It was obvious that Erica was taking a shot at him.

"Whatever that helps you to sleep~" Erica teased him, "I have to say, these two species’ name have an ominous ring to it."

Klurench nodded his head in agreement. They did sound ominous. It was as if the gods had created two ’anti-human’ species.

◆◇◆◇◆

Erica was sitting on the bed. A few days ago, she had created a song with Klurench. It had both happy and sad ring to it at the same time.

Suddenly, Klurench burst through the door. He had a pale face. His eyes were full of fear.

"Erica! Let’s go!! You need to hide!" His tone held urgency to it.

Was he running from someone?

He rushed towards her. Grabbing her hand, he started pulling her.

Erica was shocked by his behaviour. She asked, "What happened?!"

He didn’t answer anything and continued pulling her towards a cave. Entering the cave, he brought her to a place akin to paradise.

"Klurench! Did something happen? Why do you look so afraid?"

Klurench caressed her face. His eyes were full of tears. With a sob, he said, "Erica, I-I need... you to do o-one thing."

Erica could feel in her bones that something bad had happened. She asked, "What are you... saying? Why do you look like this?"

"DON’T ASK ANY QUESTIONS!!"

Erica flinched in shock. As She couldn’t believe that Klurench shouted at her. Before this, he had never shouted at her.

Klurench eyes widened in realization. Guilt was written all over his face. Softening his tone, he said, "Erica, please would you stay here for some days. And then, leave this place."

"Where are you going?" Erica asked.

Klurench tried to give her a smile but he couldn’t. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t smile.

He gave her a box.

"What is this?"

"This something to protect you" Klurench hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead, "I... am sorry for e-everything. My p-promises... were e-empty... nothing but full of lies."

Erica’s throat tightened with emotions. He released her and started to walk away.

"W-why are you... doing this to me? L-let me... come with you... please..."

Klurench stopped but didn’t look back. With a low voice, he said, "Erica, I-I couldn’t keep any of my promises... but let me keep this. Let... me protect you." His figure trembled. Anyone could say that he was crying.

"Don’t... w-wait for me." With those parting words, he left the cave.

Sharon’s POV—

I opened my eyes and looked at her. Erica’s memory was anything but happy. Sure there were some happy moments... but it was fleeting.

"You said that his drawings depicted the slaughtering of the gods, right?" asked Erica.

I nodded.

"After he left, I created a wall to block anyone from entering. He told me not to wait for him. Yet, I did. And I will always do."

I asked, "You really love him, don’t you? He must be very lucky to have a lover like you."

Erica shook her head and said, "No, it’s me who is lucky," her eyes turned sad, "while I aged slowly then the humans, I couldn’t defeat death. Even after death, I lingered as a spirit, waiting for him. Somewhere in my heart, I knew... he was... dead. But I couldn’t accept it. The song which we created, was my only companion in this lonely place."

I always believed that no one can truly love someone. It goes for me as well. My love is something like... a fake type. I truly can’t love anyone. I should consider my love as a modern love. Yet, in front of me there is a woman, who waited forever for her love. Then again, I saw a man who sacrificed himself for his love. Not only that but also, he sacrificed his godhood for love. My love pales in front of their love.

Suddenly, I saw her hand had faded a lot. Looking at her reaction, she knew what was happening.

"It seems my time has come," Erica smiled sadly, "Sharon, was it? Thank you. It has been a long time since I have talked to anyone."

"No, I should be the one to thank you. Because of you, I have got some of my answers. Also, you are a very friendly ghost."

"Did you expect me to hurt you? If yes, then you are wrong. I was a high priestess, and we have taken the sacred oath. Whether the gods are alive or not, I will always abide by it."

Half of her body had already disappeared.

Erica looked into my eyes and asked, "Do you think I will meet him in afterlife? This world has no concept of afterlife... but I couldn’t help but believe in it. I have forgiven him long ago for his abandonment. That idiot! Who told him to sacrifice for me? I... want to meet him once again. Will I ever meet him?"

"Yes, Erica. I am pretty sure you will meet him."

Erica gave me a toothy smile. Her body had entirely disappeared except her head. "Thank you once again for meeting me. Also, I am very grateful for you to give me company before my spirit completely vanishes from this world. Because of you, my ’second’ death is... not lonely. Ah, I forgot one thing. As a parting gift, you can take the pendant. It is no longer useful for me. It’s behind that big rock."

Confused, I asked, "Why are you giving that pendant to me?"

Showing all of her teeth, Erica replied, "Because you are my friend. And Klurench told me about the pendant usage. So, I want it to protect you. Goodbye, my only friend. Maybe in some other life, we will meet again."

These were her last words before she finally disappeared.

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