Chapter 67

There are scenes of blood and violence, so please be cautious if you are sensitive to such content.

Rufus restrained Mabel, and I began searching the room again.

"Where is it... where could it be..."

With trembling hands, I desperately searched through the shelves, behind them, under the bed, and everywhere else.

I had already searched everywhere possible last night. Despite all that searching, I couldn't find it, and the frustration and anxiety were almost overwhelming.

"Norman must be trying his best. Let's believe in him."

"Rufus..."

"Right now, it's better to calm down and think. It's okay."

Rufus, patting my back, spoke to me in a gentle voice.

Following his advice, I stopped my frantic search and took several deep breaths.

"...I'm sorry, thank you."

Thanks to Rufus, I felt a bit calmer, and my mind started to work again. I closed my eyes and thought carefully.

– If I were Mabel, I would never part with it.

Given her past actions, she wouldn't trust anyone, and losing the magical artifact would mean losing everything she had built.

However, when I searched earlier, there was no sign that Mabel was hiding the artifact. I had thoroughly searched the room, and the hiding places were limited.

Why is Mabel so confident?

"Rufus, where do you think is a place where it can't be found?"

"The only place I can think of is somewhere out of reach and invisible, but I don't believe such a convenient hiding place exists in this mansion."

"...Out of reach, invisible..."

Indeed, it would have to be something like that for the always-prepared Mabel to be so confident.

"Miss Eliza always said, 'The most important things should always be kept closest.'"

Then, Matilda's words suddenly came to mind.

"– Could it be?"

The dots connected, and I lifted my face as if jumping.

I stood up, went to the desk, and opened the drawer, taking out the dagger I had found a few days ago.

I then approached Mabel, who was still bound, and lifted her dress.

"Rufus, hold Mabel down! Please!"

Confused, Rufus quickly nodded and pinned Mabel to the floor.

"What the hell! It hurts! Damn it!"

Mabel resisted desperately, but she couldn't match the strength of Rufus and me.

"– There it is."

When I lifted the hem to her thigh, I saw a familiar thin cloth.

When I forcibly peeled it off, I saw a wound similar to the one on Eliza's body, confirming my suspicions.

"Ugh... Stop! Let go!"

Mabel, realizing I had figured it out, started resisting and thrashing, her earlier composure a lie.

I took the dagger out of its sheath, feeling my heart race, and aimed the sharp blade at Mabel – and at my own body.

"Sadey? What are you –"

As Rufus gasped, I plunged the knife into the wound on Mabel's thigh.

"Aaaaah! No, no, no, no! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts! Aaaaah!"

Feeling the sensation of the blade piercing flesh, I gritted my teeth and pushed it in deeper. I then pulled out the knife and, without hesitation, inserted my fingers into the bleeding wound.

Eventually, I felt a hard object with my fingertips, and I pulled it out with two fingers, causing Mabel's scream to echo throughout the room.

"This is it..."

In my hand was a golden rod, stained with blood – the magical artifact that had tormented us for years.

– Mabel had hidden the artifact inside her body.

After taking my body, it would have been possible with the help of a corrupt doctor. No one would suspect such a possibility, and it wouldn't be found by a normal search.

"...No way."

Rufus, with a disbelieving expression, stared at the blood-stained artifact.

"Aaaaah... Aaaaah... It hurts...! You bitch, I won't forgive you...!"

Unable to bear the pain, Mabel thrashed, trying to hold down her bleeding leg.

The thought of all this pain and injury returning to me was terrifying.

But losing my dear friends and my future was even more frightening.

"Give it back! Give it back! It's mine...!"

Despite the pain, Mabel reached out with one hand, desperately trying to take it back.

From her actions, I was certain this was the real artifact.

Norman's condition was critical, and I needed to return to my original body immediately.

"Rufus, I'm going to switch back to my original body now."

"...Okay. Once you do, let's tend to your injuries right away."

Rufus, with a pained expression, seemed worried about my injuries.

"..."

Since the artifact was already covered in my blood from Mabel, all I needed to do was insert it into this body.

– Honestly, I was scared.

Using the artifact that had ruined our lives was terrifying.

But this would solve everything. Norman would definitely be saved.

As I tightly gripped the artifact, Neil burst in, tears in his eyes.

"Sadey! Norman is really –"

The door opened, and Neil, seeing me covered in blood, was speechless. He quickly realized what was in my hand.

"You can't be... Sadey, hurry! The doctor has arrived, but Norman is really at his limit!"

"I understand!"

As I was about to plunge the artifact into my palm, I gasped.

"– What?"

The dagger I had just plunged into Mabel's abdomen was now embedded in my heart.

Seeing my stunned expression, Mabel spat out blood and smiled cruelly.

Now that the artifact was in our hands, she would lose everything. She would likely face the death penalty.

Realizing she was trying to kill herself along with me while our bodies were switched, I understood her plan.

"Damn it! No way! Neil, get the doctor –"

Rufus's voice echoed in the room, and Neil, nodding, ran out.

"..."

If I returned to my original body, I might die. But there was no time to hesitate now.

"Hey, Rufus."

I gripped the artifact and took a few steps back, away from Rufus, who was holding Mabel down.

"I, Rufus, I really love you."

As I said this, Rufus's eyes widened.

I felt relieved to have been able to say this, even at such a moment, and a smile naturally formed on my face.

"Sadey! Stop, please!"

Rufus shouted desperately and reached out to me.

"...I'm sorry."

– Please, let this end everything.

Praying, I plunged the tip of the artifact into my hand before Rufus could reach me.