Ch.249-9. Release (3)

# -9. Release (3)

Albert stared intently at Gremory standing before her. It was understandable, given how difficult the war had been because of that demon, that he still harbored ill feelings even now that everything was over.

For Albert, who rarely held grudges, this showed just how significant the matter had been.

Looking at the utterly detestable demon, he thought:

‘I wish he would just drop dead…’

Of course, he only thought it and didn’t act on it.

If such actions were discovered, the already negative perception of him would be completely shattered.

Besides, maintaining Babylon Kingdom’s military strength to some extent was beneficial.

Regardless of past conflicts and wars, they were now allied nations bound by a peace treaty.

“What a shame…”

The duel between the two began immediately.

Given Lilith’s terrible condition, the fight was more intense than expected.

Fortunately, Gremory couldn’t use his abilities in this situation, which was somewhat of a relief.

Lilith, aware of her current state, swung her sword frantically at the half-human, half-beast monster.

Lilith’s elegant sword strikes met his fists.

-CRASH!!-

Naturally, Gremory had the upper hand in the impact, and Lilith, lacking strength, dropped her sword and staggered greatly.

Albert wanted to help her right away, but he didn’t.

Even in that moment, and afterward, he merely watched the scene unfold.

“Haa… Haa…”

She had lost all her stamina due to the relentless battle.

Even in such a situation, Lilith didn’t give up.

However, the situation wasn’t looking good.

“I’ll kill you right here, since that’s what everyone wants!”

“Haa…”

Gremory’s fist struck her hard, and she fell helplessly to the ground.

As Gremory approached her, some spectators cheered while others jeered.

He clenched his fist as he came right up to her face as she lay unable to move.

Then he swung his fist toward her.

‘That looks a bit dangerous…’

Even Albert, who had been merely observing until now, decided to offer a little help this time.

Just a slight, subtle assistance that others wouldn’t notice.

He muttered in a low voice.

“Just a little…”

-Whoosh!-

The Abyss crept up onto the arena as he commanded. Gremory’s gaze turned toward it, drawn by its overwhelming presence.

But there was already nothing there.

Gremory stared at that spot as if entranced.

Forgetting even what situation he was in…

“Aren’t you lucky? Getting distracted?”

In that moment, her sword pierced Gremory’s abdomen.

Blood burst from the wound, soaking the arena floor, and the spectators erupted in cheers.

“Argggh!! What a dirty trick…!!”

“What exactly was dirty about it?”

With the battle situation suddenly reversed, she grew confident.

She knew what had happened, but naturally wouldn’t speak honestly about it.

“Isn’t it your fault for getting distracted?”

Gremory clutched his abdomen, which was still bleeding profusely.

She absolutely wouldn’t allow such an opening.

The massive magical power concentrated in Lilith’s sword created a wave that crashed over her opponent for all to see.

He tried desperately to avoid it, but… it was already too late.

Gremory was swept away by the wave and ejected from the arena.

“That’s a relief.”

As Albert said, fortunately it went well, and those who witnessed it began to form slightly different opinions about her.

Albert immediately went up to the arena and asked her as she lay exhausted:

“Can you move?”

“No…? I don’t think I can.”

It was obvious she couldn’t.

So Albert grabbed behind her knees and back, and lifted her up.

“Eh!?”

Lilith was flustered by his sudden action, her face turning completely red as she stared at him intently.

Albert said to her:

“Good job, well done.”

***

That evening, wearing pajamas with bandages wrapped around various parts of her body due to her wounds, she lay in her bedroom staring at the familiar ceiling.

She should have felt refreshed after completing all those battles, but she didn’t feel that way at all.

“No! I’m telling you it’s possible!?”

“What’s possible! Earlier he just carried me because I couldn’t move, that’s all.”

“If he had no feelings, wouldn’t he have just left you there?”

She held her head in her hands at Lu’s persistent persuasion.

Normally she would have ignored such words, but lately… she had begun to take them somewhat seriously.

“I’m telling you, he won’t accept me. He only has eyes for that lady…”

“You never know, you just never know.”

“What do you mean ‘never know’… If things go wrong, how am I supposed to face him again?”

“That’s a risk you have to take.”

These somewhat irresponsible words seemed like mere childish stubbornness from her perspective, with so many factors to consider.

Of course, she would want that too.

She would want to live happily with the person she loved.

Who would enjoy being alone, being lonely… But he already had someone. It couldn’t be helped.

Moreover, if she tried and failed, the distance between them would only grow.

She didn’t want that either.

The chances of success were extremely slim, yet the risk was too great.

“There’s nothing I can do…”

She dragged her tired body out of the bedroom.

Though she staggered slightly, Lilith walked reasonably well, and Lu asked her:

“Where are you going?”

“Don’t follow me… I’m just going out for some fresh air.”

“Okay… but please come back soon, it’s still dangerous!”

She dragged her tired body outside the castle and walked slowly, very slowly, admiring the beautiful garden.

This seemed to help clear her confused mind a little.

As Lilith sat on a bench staring at her surroundings, a man appeared behind her.

“What are you doing?”

Albert, in casual sleepwear, sat down beside her.

She jumped in surprise and turned her body in the opposite direction.

“Why… why!? It’s none of your business…”

“I was just curious.”

“… But why did you come out here?”

She thought of that subordinate who was probably watching this scene from somewhere.

It had to be his doing, without a doubt.

Otherwise, this situation wouldn’t have happened… right!

“No particular reason, just wanted some fresh air.”

“Then… why have you been taking care of me? I’m just! Asking because I’m curious! Just curious…”

He burst into laughter at her innocent question.

“Why… are you laughing!”

“It’s just funny, there’s no particular reason. It was beneficial enough for me too, and since the results were certain, I was just repaying the favor.”

“Is that also why you tried to set me up with men?”

She looked somewhat disappointed as she said this.

Albert stared at her as she openly showed her feelings.

“So… is that it… that and this…”

“It’s a bit different.”

“Different?”

“Yeah, I introduced you to men because you just looked pitiful.”

While most people would hide such a reason, he revealed it with brutal honesty.

And at those words that she looked pitiful… the emotions she had been suppressing began to gradually burst forth.

“I wanted you to be happy, both as the ruler of Babylon Kingdom… and as a woman.”

Her eyes quickly reddened.

But Albert didn’t notice because he wasn’t looking at her eyes.

Those emotions… that is.

He looked sometimes at the sky, sometimes at the ground, as he shared his thoughts.

“I roughly know how you’ve lived, and how you’ll continue to live. You might not believe me.”

“…”

“You’ve lived diligently, so much that someone like me can’t even compare… But in doing so, you never found your own happiness. I found that too pitiful…”

Having always lived for peace, she hadn’t experienced the happiness that she deserved as a person, as a woman.

And Albert, having lived a similar life, knew how arduous and unreasonable such an existence could be.

‘At least I had a wife…’

Though she wasn’t his wife or lover at the time, there had been someone who made him happy just by being seen… just by conversing with.

Compared to him, she didn’t even have anything similar.

That fact… created immense sympathy.

“So I wanted you to be happy, even now… Huh!?”

She suddenly pounced on him as he was continuing the conversation in a calm tone.

He fell over, and she mounted him as if riding a horse.

He panicked and tried to push her off. But a single drop of liquid that fell immediately paralyzed his actions.

She stared at him with reddened eyes.

Though she normally felt little emotion in such matters, this time was different.

His sincere desire for her happiness… made it impossible not to fall for him.

She spoke in almost a whisper, sobbing:

“Then… you could make me happy…!”

“Wait! But I…”

Even in this situation, Albert was trying to escape.

But naturally, she wouldn’t allow it.

As she lowered her upper body, their bodies overlapped.

Her crimson, glistening eyes seduced him, and she whispered in his ear as he remained frozen:

“Don’t move… Be quiet.”