My Wife is a Dead Villainess, and I'm Her Living Weapon-Chapter 61: Fault

A cold wind blew; ice particles flew about like snow. The sun high above made the scenery quite beautiful. That was if one could ignore the sea of black fluid wriggling about. Like a tide, it covered the entire forest. But it also stopped after a certain distance.

Forming a large circle the sea of Liquid Metal waited. There were only two living beings present within it. A pair of Snow Wolf Alphas by the name of Bastion and Silent. Yet even they could hardly make a sound.

After all, despite all their strength, they almost died to the black skinned warrior in front of them. His eyes lost whatever emotion they once had. If the Wolves didn’t see how it tried so hard to save their daughter, they would have run away the first chance they got.

Whisper, just who the hell are these people you call family? The two wolves couldn’t help but think.

***

"Thank goodness... Thank goodness..." Like a broken record, Bianca kept repeating her words. Unable to hold the actual soulgem, it was kept afloat by a small puddle of floating water. ƒгeewebnovёl.com

Her eyes were puffed up and swollen from crying so much. Even now, Elian couldn’t understand how she showed such intricacies, despite being nothing but soul and memory.

Her ghost body must follow rules of its own—just like mine.

Elian looked down and noticed his own physique. The armor he crafted with care got melted down and joined the sea of Living Metal beneath his feet. His own body shed off all excess armor and now looked sleek, like a diver wearing a black wet suit.

His anatomy should be that of a golem, but somehow, he still had internal organs shaped from metal and bled molten ore. He had a heart, but it did not beat, it only housed his golem core.

Unlike the rest of Living Metal, I do not actively think about shaping my internals. It’s like it is done automatically. I wonder if I have something like a genetic code... a design buried in metal.

Elian’s musing was cut short when Bianca called for him.

"ELIAN! ELIAN! LOOK! I DID IT! I SAVED FLUFFY!"

His master flew toward him, her face and voice full of life.

"You were amazing, Bianca. Good job." His tone, however, was colder than metal.

The woman furrowed her brows in worry, she locked Fluffy’s gem in a box of ice and set it down. She then slowly approached Elian with small steps.

"Elian? What is going on? What happened to your face?"

My Face?

Elian checked and found his eyes. They were still warm, like burning coals. But there wasn’t anything else left in his face. His faceplate seemed to be missing.

Bianca took one of his hands and placed it into hers, "Elian. What happened?"

"Nothing happened. I just did what I had to do."

Bianca grew flustered at his tone. Few would forget the sight of the Witch breaking down like a wailing child. Elian’s calm instructions were the only reason they could act as fast as they did.

"Indeed, you have." Bianca nodded and placed his hand onto her cheek in an affectionate gesture. "I am so glad you are here Elian, otherwise I might have not been able to save Fluffy. But you can stop now, stop being so stiff. It’s unsettling. I don’t like it."

"..."

Elian gazed at the beautiful face of his master. It used to bring him joy and peace. Her touch and the cold chill she brought gave him comfort. But now... there was nothing.

"I can’t." He replied curtly.

"What do you mean you can’t? This is no joking matter Elian, you are acting too stiff. It’s like you..."

"This is Adamant-Heartless. A mode for my Talent. When Fluffy died earlier, I lost my reason. Adamant tried to calm me down, but it didn’t work. So, I asked for more."

His answer caused Bianca to grimace, given her immense intellect, Elian knew she would be able to understand the situation.

"I-Is it permanent?" She fretted.

"No. It lasts only twelve hours."

As Elian explained his condition, Bianca sighed in relief, "Good. So it’s only temporary. This is a good card to have, but please use it sparingly. Seeing you like this makes me uneasy."

"I will try."

"Then what about how you found Fluffy? She and I spoke at length earlier, you were right. What skill or talent did you use?"

"Driven - Hopeless. It’s a mode that marks all my enemies with a brand on their soul. Until they all die, I can fight them forever. At least that is what it sounds like."

"Yet another powerful card. And its cost?" Bianca probed.

"I lose one of my core memories. But it doesn’t tell me which one."

"W-What? You lost one of your core memories? How? Why?"

"I don’t know. But I cannot remember what I lost so it’s fine. It must have not been important."

Bianca’s face warped in annoyance as she placed her hand on her temple, "Elian, memories do not work that way. Core memories even more so. Memories are what shape a person’s individuality. Forgetting them is like becoming a different person."

"I see."

"Why can’t you see how bad this is? Using Driven Hopeless will slowly make you forget that you were even Elian Reed! STOP BEING A DAMN ROB—"

Unable to finish her words, Bianca turned silent. And then her tears began to fall once more. Gritting her teeth she wiped the tears away in a fluster.

"Tsk. This is all my fault. I didn’t just lose Fluffy. I’m losing you—and I’m the reason you needed to be this... thing. Why do I have to hurt those I cherish like this...it’s so unfair!"

Seeing Bianca breakdown, Elian quickly took her into his arms. He felt nothing. No love. No warmth. No desire.

Yet something remained—some conviction buried deeper than any emotion.

He would still die before letting this woman suffer.

"Ssh, it’s going to be okay. This is not your fault Bianca. You did not force me to do anything. I chose of my own will. And given the same choice I would do so again. I am sure even Fluffy felt thankful that she took the blow in your stead. She said so, right?"

"H-How did you know? Did she tell you?"

"No. She didn’t but I know how much Fluffy loved you. So, I can imagine her sighing in relief that she died and not you. If you are gone, then it would have all ended there."

"But Elian..."

"Ssh, it’s going to be okay—we are okay, Bianca. We are all still here, a little worse for wear but all in one piece. Once we give Fluffy a body similar to mine, she will be running around like always. So don’t blame yourself anymore, okay?"

"..."

Although Elian’s body could no longer feel her chill, nor her flesh, he continued to act as if he did. Bianca visibly calmed down and hugged him tighter.

Even if I lose my emotions and my memories that is fine. I am still here. And I can still protect you.

Elian didn’t pull away. Neither did Bianca. A mere second later, the Witch broke down anew—her voice lost, her shoulders trembling. Elian understood why.

The one who used to make inappropriate jokes when they hugged was no longer here. The silence drove home what they had almost lost.

Fluffy was safe—but Elian knew that the kind, broken woman in his arms would still find a way to blame herself for it. Still crying as if guilt was all she had left.

When I find out who placed that trap, I will rip his body from the inside out.

The silence continued, Elian hugged Bianca a bit tighter as he added.

"Bianca, what’s done is done. They got us this time. But next time we will be ready. And we will make them pay. For everything. So just focus on that for now, okay?" His tone remained flat, but both of them knew that blood will be spilled as consequence.

She sniffled. "Okay... We’ll make them regret being born."

"Yes. We will. Now, what do you need to turn Fluffy into a golem like me? Can we just put her back into her own body?"

Bianca shook her head, "No, soulgems are considered constructs. So we cannot mingle with flesh or bone. Forged makes you a special case but normally we have to build Fluffy a body. And then synchronize her soulgem to it."

"Okay, making a wolf form for her doesn’t seem too hard. I did that already before, although it didn’t move. But can I ask you something Bianca?" Elian paused, "I know I am a special case, but what about you? How are you able to act so human?"

"Ah, it’s because of Eternal. The talent needed for the Job Psychomancer. It allows me to create a semi-physical body from mana. It behaves like a real one but has no weight nor mass. It’s also how I can talk to you even without an actual body."

"Makes sense. So Fluffy finally shutting up, is because she doesn’t have Eternal."

At his joke, Bianca chuckled, "Yes, that would be the case."

Feeling the mood lighten Elian and Bianca began to brainstorm on bringing back their beloved family member.

Only this time, their hands would not revive a sister.

They would awaken something far worse—the first of many, beings whose mere presence caused wars to start and end.