Killed Me? Now I Have Your Power-Chapter 82: A Smile of Sorrow [2]

Chapter 82 – A smile of Sorrow [2]

Asterion – The Tycoon’s Merchants

Inside the alchemical room, Meris stood behind Viviette, who was in the process of crafting a common-rank health potion to demonstrate the technique to her.

She watched closely as the different ingredients were mixed together within the purple flames that Viviette controlled inside the alchemical cauldron. The process was seamless—smooth, practiced, almost poetic.

It was like watching something that was meant to be together finally reunite—only this time, to create something entirely new, a creation that carried within it the distinct properties of each individual component it was made from.

And at the end of the process, inside the cauldron, a soft green glow flowed beneath the surface. The scent it released was subtle... and strangely relaxing.

It was magical.

It was awe-inspiring.

Even Meris—who had initially chosen to learn this craft just to pass the time while waiting for Kaden—found herself completely enamored by the process.

"Master, this is incredible! Let me try, let me try!" Meris exclaimed, her eyes bright with excitement and joy. She smiled wildly, like a young maiden finally discovering something worth her full attention.

In that moment, there was no trace of the cold, emotionless Meris who had once been ready to kill an innocent girl for a man.

In that moment, she was simply... Meris Elamin, the mischievous cold beauty of the Elamin family.

Viviette smiled at her disciple’s enthusiasm. At first, she had been worried that Meris wouldn’t take alchemy seriously, given her nature, but now...

’I think she’ll take it even more seriously because of her nature,’ Viviette thought ironically.

After all, Meris was the kind of person who went all in when something caught her attention. There was no middle ground for her.

It was either zero... or far beyond a hundred.

Even in matters of the heart.

"Easy, easy, young lady," Viviette said softly.

"You can try now that you’ve memorized the process. Just stay focused, and also..." she paused and turned toward her. "Fire isn’t your natural element, right?"

Meris smiled mischievously. "Ah, yes. My origin is ice and water. But my family is an elemental one, so I have a technique that lets me have subtle control of fire." She said it lightly, as if it was nothing, even though she had deliberately kept that detail hidden when she first asked Viviette to take her on as a disciple.

She had only shown her a fire manipulation technique—and Viviette, aware of the Elamin family’s elemental legacy, had been easily fooled.

Viviette sighed.

"You’ll need more effort to create potions, then. But with enough practice, you’ll get there," she said.

Meris nodded eagerly.

"And who knows?" she added with a smirk. "Maybe one day I’ll find one of those heavenly fires."

"How do you—?!" Viviette caught herself and stopped mid-sentence, suddenly remembering the family Meris belonged to.

She sighed again.

"I heard your family has several. Ask them."

"Do we?" Meris replied innocently, tilting her head.

Viviette didn’t comment on that.

"Go ahead. Try it. I’ll tell you afterward what to work on," she said.

Meris nodded and stepped forward to begin—but suddenly stopped. "Where’s Kenan, by the way?" she asked, realizing she hadn’t seen him.

"His parents told me he’s in seclusion, refining his intent. He won’t be joining us for a while," Viviette said casually as she sat back in her chair.

Meris just nodded indifferently... and began concocting her potion.

And so, her journey in alchemy officially began.

...

City of Pain – Church of Sorrow

Inside a dimly lit room, Rea sat calmly on a simple gray chair, the soft light falling gently across her skin.

The room was filled with numerous other beings, but every single one of them was tied up—restrained, helpless, and trembling. Their faces twisted with terror.

They looked at Rea the way a commoner would look at a terrifying monster.

With pure, unfiltered fear.

They looked at her as if that’s all she was...a monster.

And maybe... to them, she truly was.

But to Rea?

She was just doing her job.

And now—it was time to perform her daily duty.

She stood up slowly and stepped toward one of the humans. He looked like he was in his thirties, but his hair had turned entirely white, likely from prolonged stress and overwhelming fear.

He flinched as she approached, trembling even harder.

"P-please... please... no, not today... please... mercy... mercy... mercy..." he muttered again and again in a broken, desperate chant.

Rea’s expression remained still—but inside...

’I don’t want this either... I’m sorry... I’m sorry...’ she repeated silently, again and again, as if the words could somehow ease the burden. As if they could make her guilt more bearable.

"Your fear... is pain," Rea said, her voice trembling slightly—but no one noticed.

They were too far gone in their own terror to see that this being before them... was in pain too.

Her pain was different. Her fear was different.

But she felt them both. As strong as any of them.

They couldn’t see that. And she didn’t blame them.

Without another word, she used her power—amplifying the fear already inside the man. Then, as she always did, she took a small knife and plunged it into his stomach.

"ARRRGGHHHHH!"

The scream was raw—full of agony and despair—as the man wailed from the depths of his soul.

The others flinched.

They trembled harder. They began screaming, begging, crying, shouting.

They vented their fear in whatever way they could.

It was suffocating.

Rea’s ruby eyes trembled as she watched them.

Their fear—it was immense, pure and heavy.

So much so that for a second, she nearly lost herself in it. Just from staring too long.

But she pulled herself back, forcing her mind to steady itself.

’I am Rea... I’m sorry... I am Rea... I’m sorry...’

Again.

And again.

And again.

Until the end of her shift.

Until she could finally escape that cursed room.

But as she stepped outside, she found Mother Esmere waiting at the door, smiling.

"How was your shift, my dear child?" she asked kindly.

Rea stood there in silence for a long moment. Then she slowly opened her mouth.

"It was fantastic, Mother Esmere," Rea said, smiling widely.

But that smile... that smile was filled with pain, fear, guilt, and sorrow too immense to describe.

It should’ve been concerning.

But instead—

"Oh, what a beautiful smile you have, my dear child!"

What a wonderful remark.

...

Unknown Location

Inside a beautiful, palace-like room—crafted entirely of interwoven trees—the air smelled like the heart of a lush green forest. It was peaceful, soothing.

The walls of the room—if they could be called that—were made of special leaves. Green leaves that were both rock-solid and soft at the same time.

The floor was made of the same.

And sitting atop a bed made of intertwined wood and leaves, a young man with soft blue hair and cold blue eyes sat silently.

In front of him, kneeling on the ground, was a girl who seemed around eighteen. Her golden hair flowed gently, like a leaf caught in the wind.

Her skin was pale, her ears elven in nature.

"Master... everything is ready," she said, her voice soft and melodic.

The young man stayed quiet for a long moment.

And then, in an emotionless tone, he spoke,

"Finally..."

—End of Chapter 82—

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l