Chapter 345: Defeated Dog?
The air became taut, filtering out the noise of the crowd and the waves outside, leaving only the words "Eric is my man" in Hancock's ears.
It was as if she needed to confirm it, as Hancock's eyes filled with tears, her gaze looking at Eric with the eyes of a helpless abandoned animal. Her delicate beauty made her look even more pitiful.
Kurumi looked at the scene with a half-smile, eagerly waiting to see how Eric would handle the situation.
"Akame and Esdeath were right," Eric nodded in agreement.
Eric's words were like a thunderclap, shattering the joy Hancock felt from their reunion. The sensation of the world spinning out of control swept through her nerves, hitting all her senses.
"Ah!" Hancock cried out in pain, her fragile wrist pressed to her forehead, her slender waist seemingly unable to support the weight of her upper body. Her thick hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall.
In her mind, the little love drama began to replay:
Eric turned his back to her and said in a tone full of sorrow, "Sorry, I can't be with you."
"Why? Why, Eric?"
Eric, with Esdeath and Kurumi in his arms, said, "Because I already have them."
The soft laughter of the two women felt like the perfect background music to mock Hancock's love failure.
The love drama ended.
Then, Hancock's body collapsed as though her spine had been pulled out. She slumped to the floor, her messy bangs covering her face. But everyone present could still clearly see the state of her mind.
The aura of a defeated dog seeped out from every pore, and her negative emotions churned and gnawed at her skin, with blackness slowly consuming her and spreading through the space around her.
'I'm not some herbivore harem protagonist from a Japanese light novel, flirting with women while putting on an Asa-shi tag, and then doing nothing at the end of the story. I'm not some useless good-for-nothing.'
Eric broke the chains of hesitation within himself. His once-restrained thoughts of universal love, bound by social norms, now ran wild like an unbridled horse. He was ready to expose everything, lay it all out in the open.
"I won't lose. I will never lose!" Hancock mumbled repeatedly to herself, trying to muster some meaningless courage. Her fragile shoulders heaved with every sob, her tears flowing in torrents, blurring her already hazy vision.
"Hancock." Eric squatted down in front of her, carefully considering his words. "I…"
"Did I do something wrong?" Hancock asked first, her blue eyes, now clearer through her tears, sparkling more brightly than the starry night sky.
"It's not your fault." Even Eric felt the weight of his own guilt, but this was his responsibility, and no one could replace it.
Pushing a beautiful woman who liked him into another man's arms? This was the kind of plot that only existed in trashy novels!
"Sorry, though it might sound shameless, Hancock, you're also my woman."
"Ho~" Everyone around gasped, and a few of them turned dark.
"Eh?" The sobbing stopped as Hancock looked up in surprise at Eric.
Thanks to the recent special training from Esdeath and Kurumi, Eric had developed the mentality of "I want it all."
"I hope your marksmanship improves faster than your skin thickens." Scáthach flipped her magic spear expressionlessly, and Eric even worried that the sharp tip would pierce him at any second.
Hancock wiped her tears and extended a weak, pale hand, "Eric, can you help me up?"
She looked fragile, entirely unlike the domineering Pirate Empress they all knew.
Eric reached out to pull Hancock up, and she collapsed into his arms, the warm, soft sensation immediately enveloping him.
After a moment of silence, Eric turned to the others and said, "I need to speak to Hancock alone. Please, leave for now."
Staying here would only serve as a pointless soap opera, and no one objected. Esdeath, with the air of a victor, was the first to leave the meeting room, while Kurumi, ever thoughtful, closed the door gently behind them.
Kurome glanced over, slightly uneasy: "Do you think they'll cause any trouble in there?"
Akame's words were blunt as usual: "Whether it happens sooner or later, it's going to happen."
"Oh?" Esdeath sized Akame up, "You make a valid point."
...
"Eric." Hancock affectionately nuzzled Eric, "Can you stay and spend more time with me?"
Eric lowered his head and looked at Hancock in his arms. She seemed to notice his gaze and quietly stared at him. She said nothing, but her eyes spoke volumes.
Hancock stared intently at him, her gaze filled with a pleading expression, and Eric, feeling uncomfortable under her intense stare, instinctively avoided her gaze.
He couldn't stop moving forward, because there were still ideals he wished to accomplish.
Eric steeled himself: "Of course... but no."
Seeing her beautiful eyes begin to well up with tears again, Eric hurriedly explained, "This is all for our future!"
"Our future?"
"Yes." Eric nodded, "As long as the World Government exists, there will always be an invisible wall between us. I can't stop moving forward; I must push down the walls that separate us."
A bitter feeling rose in his chest, and Hancock, disheartened, said, "How long will it take to overthrow the World Government?"
Eric smiled faintly, pulling a ring from his pocket. The dazzling golden light instantly filled the meeting room.
"This... this is...?" Hancock stared, stunned.
"This is pure gold."
Hancock's eyes widened in shock, "Pure gold? The super-rare metal that grants eternal life?"
"Yes." Eric took Hancock's right hand, straightened her ring finger, and slid the ring onto her. The golden light from the pure gold slowly dimmed as it disappeared under her slender fingers.
"Now, you never have to worry about time running out." Eric clasped her hands to his chest. "This represents our love — it's eternal!"
"Is this a proposal?"
"Yes, it's a proposal." Eric didn't deny Hancock's words. "From now on, you're my wife."
Eric looked at the happiness radiating from Hancock, and even the sun seemed to pale in comparison to the glow surrounding her.
In Hancock's mind, the little drama unfolded:
"Ding~ Ding~" The golden bells chimed, announcing happiness.
"Snake Queen!"
"Snake Queen!"
The citizens of Amazon Lily cheered her name.
"Sister, congratulations!" Her two younger sisters offered their sincere blessings.
Countless white doves, symbols of happiness, flew through the air.
Hancock, dressed in a snow-white wedding gown, holding a bouquet of blooming flowers, and wearing a transparent veil, stepped towards Eric.
Eric gently lifted her veil, "Hancock, you look so beautiful today."
"So happy—!" Hancock, overwhelmed by happiness, fell backward.
Eric caught her as she leaned back, "I'll make you happy forever, sweetheart."
Their silhouettes drew closer...
In reality, Hancock also closed her eyes, pursing her soft lips.
Facing the universal posture, Eric hesitated for a moment before pressing his lips firmly onto hers.
The imagined wedding shattered like bubbles, and Hancock opened her eyes to find the person she had dreamed of before her.
Hancock closed her eyes again in happiness, and happy tears welled up at the corners of her tightly shut eyelids.
(END CHAPTER)
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