Ch.45Palace Defense Battle (3)

I felt an inexplicable discomfort and tilted my head in confusion.

Since entering the palace, this discomfort had been steadily growing. Not only that, but it was spreading from my heart to my head like a burning fuse.

“Aaaaargh!”

“For a new world…”

“Lord Rastali…”

The black mages’ screams kept ringing in my ears. A viscous liquid coated my hands, giving off the thick scent of blood.

Kanarin’s spear blade ravaged the enemy while Serin’s monstrous strength demolished every obstacle in their path. Behind these two women, Luca provided solid support with various spells.

“It seems there’s no source of contamination in the banquet hall.”

“I didn’t expect to find anything at this point… I guess we have no choice but to capture Rastali, the leader of the black mages, and interrogate him.”

Serin and Kanarin expressed their disappointment. I stared blankly as their opinions converged on capturing Rastali.

That’s when Serin suddenly turned her attention to me.

“Rian.”

“Did you call for me?”

“Yes. You seem to have an unpleasant expression.”

I gasped at Serin’s words and touched my face. When I hurriedly checked, my rigid mask was still firmly in place. When Serin mentioned my expression, I thought it might have slipped without my knowledge.

“Ha… really.”

Serin chuckled at my flustered reaction. Though the time and place weren’t appropriate, it was an understandable response.

“How can someone so big be this cute?”

“Ugh.”

I was embarrassed.

My thoughts had been slow because I was distracted by the mysterious discomfort. That’s why I made a mistake I wouldn’t normally make.

This was the heart of enemy territory, where I should never let my guard down.

What was scattering my mental focus like this?

I asked the still giggling Serin:

“How did you know my expression was bad?”

To my question, Serin answered lightly, as if no explanation was necessary.

“Have I only seen Rian’s eyes once or twice? I’m not an amateur—how could I not notice?”

“Hmm.”

I let out a groan.

Even though I knew it was an absurd statement, it was somewhat frightening because I felt Serin might actually be capable of it.

Would she notice every time I made a foolish face from now on?

While I was worrying about the future, the duchess and Luca were looking at us with slightly disgusted expressions.

“That’s not normally possible, is it…?”

“I don’t know… Serin is starting to scare me more and more.”

I silently agreed with the duchess’s words.

When my eyes rolled toward Serin’s direction, she detected my gaze like a ghost and turned her head toward me.

She possessed a monstrous quality that made me feel like I would be bound to her for life.

“… Let’s continue the search.”

The discomfort seemed to have subsided slightly, perhaps because the atmosphere had been refreshed momentarily.

The rest of the party also ended their brief rest and moved away from the banquet hall.

‘… Haah.’

Throb, throb.

A headache persistently tormented me.

Along with the discomfort that clung to the surface of my skin.

For reasons I couldn’t understand.

The pain that had been lingering in my head seemed to be spreading down my throat and into my chest.

Enough to ache.

◇

The Imperial Palace of the Bellonin Empire.

Emperor Harum Literion, the ruler and conqueror of the era, was walking hurriedly while clutching his pounding heart.

Bang!

The door opened with such force it bordered on rudeness.

Having finally reached the audience chamber, he shouted:

“Is the content of the report truly accurate?”

“Well…”

The prime minister of the Carnar Kingdom, who was still staying in the empire, trembled. He had a premonition that today he might not be able to guarantee his life.

‘I have no regrets, but before those eyes, my resolve is being trampled…’

What remained in the emperor’s eyes was unmistakable fury.

It was the heart of a father worried about his only daughter.

‘Second Prince… Duchess… You must hurry.’

Black skies were visible even in the empire, indicating the prevalence of corrupted magical power. Surely something had gone wrong.

The prime minister of the Carnar Kingdom was one of the few people who knew all about Luca and Kanarin’s plan. That’s why he had agreed to the duchess’s request that Princess Seriniel’s help was absolutely necessary. That was the reason why the prime minister himself had delivered the letter.

“Your lord—my friend who studied with me at the Academy—is in a semi-puppet state, and most of the court officials are pawns of the black mages. Are you telling me you knew all this and still concealed it? Going so far as to make me send my daughter to your country?”

The emperor’s roar erupted.

“Don’t be ridiculous!!!”

Many ministers were present, but not one dared to even think of opening their lips.

“This is a blood-boiling insult and humiliation. Do you truly believe you can bear the weight of the crime you have committed?”

“Your Majesty…! Though my words may not offer any comfort, the Second Prince and the Duchess are strong individuals. They would never endanger the Princess’s safety…”

“Shut your mouth!”

“…!”

Indeed, the prime minister was a loyal servant of the kingdom.

Even while receiving the emperor’s fury that would make an ordinary person faint immediately, he maintained the conversation before the emperor.

In reality, the prime minister was barely holding onto his consciousness, unable to even wipe away the cold sweat flowing down his face.

“Take this man to the underground prison right now…”

Just as the harsh imperial order was about to fall.

Bang!

The door to the audience chamber was once again opened with forceful rudeness.

The emperor’s fury subsided momentarily as he saw the woman approaching from beyond the door.

“You.”

The emperor called out to his companion in bewilderment. The empress nodded and walked past the prime minister to the emperor’s side.

“Calm down, Harum.”

“How can I calm down? Seriniel is now…”

“No matter what anyone says, she’s your daughter.”

Then she added:

“And my daughter too.”

The emperor understood the meaning well.

Seriniel was a strong child, reminiscent of his stone lotus. She was not the kind to be held back by mere black mages.

Nevertheless, the emperor’s heart was in turmoil because he was worried.

Though his companion’s intervention had calmed him somewhat, that was all.

A father’s concern couldn’t simply disappear.

“Huu…”

The emperor let out a heavy sigh.

“I withdraw the order.”

At those words, the prime minister’s fear subsided somewhat.

When he looked up at the throne with a slightly hopeful observation, he almost collapsed at the sight of the emperor’s unyielding gaze.

“Instead.”

The conqueror of the continent declared:

“Two days.”

“… Pardon?”

“If there are no signs of resolution within two days… I will personally set foot in the kingdom.”

Even if there were to be any sacrifices.

No matter what awaited him.

He would face it all head-on.

Even if it meant one-sided annihilation, washing blood with blood.

◇

The duchess cut through the blazing flames to create a path. Serin sprinted along the cleared way. She climbed the stairs of solidified air created by Luca and focused on her target.

A group of black mages in formation. In the center was positioned their executive.

A skilled individual who had repeatedly thwarted Luca and the duchess.

They had lost evidence they had almost secured and were often hindered during battles.

“Hyah!”

Serin extended her foot.

However, her attack drew a futile trajectory and failed to reach them.

An application of the spatial magic used at the Mansion of the Sorcerer. It was a technique that slightly twisted space for self-protection.

“Rian!”

Serin called my name with familiarity. In response, I jumped onto the top of her foot as she fell from the air.

Whoosh!

Using her kick as propulsion, I flew toward them like a bullet. They hadn’t expected this, and terror descended upon their faces.

“Huk…!”

As they swallowed empty breaths in fear.

Throb-!

‘Ugh…?’

For a moment, my vision blurred.

My body lost strength, and I began flailing in midair.

It took only an instant to regain my senses.

As soon as I regained consciousness, I moved my eyes frantically.

One. Two. Six. Seven.

The approximate number of black mages in sight.

Although they were merely a front line put forward as meat shields, I had no choice but to deal with them after making a mistake.

Swish.

I concentrated my pou.

I stepped firmly on the pou that I had solidified to exactly the size of my foot. Of course, they couldn’t see the pou from their perspective.

Shrill screams echoed as I moved in a way that utterly defied the laws of physics.

“Heuk…!”

A flashing blade as I ran counter to gravity.

The weapon lent to me by the duchess was being dyed a savage red.

Crack.

The blade cracked. It couldn’t withstand the use even though I had merely swung it.

Clang!

With the final strike, the sword shattered into pieces, sending fragments flying. Despite being far away, many were hit by the flying fragments.

“Haa… Huu…”

My breathing was rough.

It was strange.

Even I was bewildered by my breathing becoming rough for the first time in my life. It felt as if some strange change was occurring in my body. It was frustrating that I couldn’t determine whether it was a good change or a bad one.

If someone could see into my mind, they might find it strange.

A hundred out of a hundred would assert it was a bad change.

Yet for some reason, I couldn’t declare the positivity or negativity of the change like others would.

I didn’t understand. Understanding was truly impossible.

‘I don’t know…’

“I don’t know” as an answer was forbidden.

It was a mysterious phenomenon enough to casually break the promise I had made with Rodrick.

It was while I had been lingering on the blood path for quite some time.

“It’s dangerous, Rian!”

Boom!

Flames accompanied by smoke surged forward. The red flames blazed with enough force to burn objects without a trace.

“Rihart!”

Luca urgently drew up magical power to respond, but it was too late.

The flames, which seemed to be rushing along an oil path, were already before my eyes, and I couldn’t regain my senses from the mysterious phenomenon.

Thump.

My heart skipped a beat.

Dark clouds gathered densely to form a shield-like shape.

It was unmistakably pou.

The pou that had emerged without my permission protected me as if it had a will of its own.

Kwaaaaa!

The intense flames were helplessly blocked and sparks flew in all directions. Only then did I turn my eyes to my companions. From a distance, Serin exhaled as if relieved.

“Rian!”

After clearing away all the black mages who had targeted me, Serin approached with a worried expression.

“What’s wrong? Hm? Are you feeling unwell?”

“Not at all…”

…

……

No, it was futile to delay admission.

For the first time in my life, I uttered the most awkward sentence.

“I think… I’m not in good condition.”

“Ugh…”

Serin groaned painfully. Then she grabbed my shoulder and said:

“I’ll try my best. I’ll help clear them all away quickly so we can go back. So… please wait for me, Rian.”

Her tone was like someone trying to reassure a child.

It was pathetic for someone hired as a guard.

The situation had become so dire that she, the one I was supposed to protect, was offering to deal with the enemies for me.

But even such comfort was precious given how rapidly my condition was deteriorating.

‘This… shouldn’t be happening…’

While I was barely managing to stay upright, the duchess’s spear pierced through her long-standing enemy.

The confined space and the fact that they had nowhere to retreat seemed to work in our favor, leading to a direct confrontation.

From the beginning, they would have employed various methods since they couldn’t win in a fair fight, so this was an expected outcome.

“Rihart!”

“Sir Rihart.”

Luca and the duchess, having finished the engagement, approached cautiously.

They too seemed to immediately recognize my condition, as they remained silent for a while. They appeared reluctant to suggest continuing the search, concerned that I might need rest.

“I’m… fine.”

“…”

Though I tried to feign calmness, it seemed useless against Serin, who could read minds with just a glance.

Serin firmly gripped my arm and quietly asked Luca and the duchess:

“Rastali, was it? The leader of the black mages.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I’m sorry, Sister Narin. I’ll be leaving briefly.”

“Serin?”

“Contamination source or whatever, I need to kill that bastard first. Right now.”

The duchess tried to dissuade Serin, who had made up her mind.

“It’s too dangerous. Not because Rastali is dangerous, but because I’m worried about ambushes and traps from hidden forces.”

“I won’t die. Those ambushes and traps, I’ll take them all head-on.”

“Even so…!”

“I will protect. The reason I live is to protect… no matter what happens, no matter what it takes…”

Serin rambled. Luca and the duchess revealed their astonishment at this dramatic change.

“Rastali…”

I’ll kill him and come back. Right now.

Just after Serin spoke:

“Kuk, ahah.”

A pleasant female voice was heard.

It was a woman’s laughter.

“Kill me? Just because you’ve had some success against mere pawns?”

“Rastali…!?”

Kanarin was startled.

It was understandable, as she hadn’t expected to reunite so quickly.

A checkmate situation that Rastali herself had brought about.

It was natural not to believe it easily.

“It’s neither an illusion nor an auditory hallucination…”

Luca correctly discerned. The woman visible from the distant entrance was unmistakably the leader of the black mages.

“Well, I suppose this attrition warfare has gone on long enough? It seems the blonde on your side is quite tired too… Ahaha.”

Rastali’s mockery transformed into cold laughter in an instant.

“I’m tired of this.”

She pronounced.

“The kingdom must fall into my hands by the end of today.”

Rumble…

An entire floor shook. It trembled dramatically as if an earthquake had occurred.

Roooar!

Behind Rastali, black magic surged endlessly. Black particles overflowed like a waterfall, almost giving the illusion of infinity.

“Was Rastali this powerful…?”

Kanarin widened her eyes.

Even for her, who had long been at odds with the black mages, Rastali’s full power seemed to be beyond expectation.

But Serin was different.

“Bullshit, showing off in front of a chrysalis.”

Serin’s fist clenched tightly.

She put so much strength into her ankles that the tendons became clearly visible.

Her heroic body, transcending humanity, exuded dark hatred.

She stomped on the ground.

Tang!

Before her, running like a bolt of lightning, lay a magnificent flow of black magic.

Rastali, while modulating that immense power,

“Hmm, that’s right. A full-scale battle is still premature, isn’t it?”

Quickly raised both hands.

Flick.

Like extinguishing a dim lantern, Rastali’s black magic dissipated all too easily.

“What…?”

Serin momentarily expressed doubt.

Rastali’s lips drew a curve that seemed about to tear.

Whoosh!

In an instant, the ground Serin had been stomping on disappeared without a trace.

Below the sunken floor, numerous black hands clamored.

Each twitching finger writhed as if desperately trying to violate her.

No matter how extraordinary Serin was, she didn’t possess the ability to fly.

“Ah…”

As she fell helplessly, Serin tried to move her lips.

There was no way I could stand by and watch her.

Kwang!

I leaped.

With all my might.

I, who had been protected by Serin’s warmth until now, jumped in.

The array of black hands approaching like bullets.

In the slowed time, as I reached out my hand, she also extended hers.

Our hands intertwined like a knot.

I threw Serin outside the deeply sunken ground.

While watching her move away, I gathered my pou.

If I used pou as a foothold, I could still escape even now.

“…”

For some reason, it wouldn’t listen.

Was it karma?

Suddenly, such a thought invaded my mind.

Serin, moving away, looked at me.

“No, Rian!!!”

Feeling the persistent touch of black hands all over my body, I reached out to her.

There was no way we could reach each other.

From inside the closing floor, I watched Serin reaching out her hand until the end.

Her anguished cry etched a cold mark on my heart.