Ch.73Chapter 73 – Madman (2)

I threw a big punch toward Beatrice, who blocked it by crossing her arms.

“Urgh!”

She grimaced and flew backward.

I hadn’t actually sent her flying.

She had jumped back on her own just before my fist made contact.

Still, the impact must have been greater than expected as she kicked up dust while being thrown back.

“You, damn bastard!”

Looking toward the source of the voice, I saw Beatrice quickly getting to her feet.

A blue energy began to form around her.

The same energy I had seen when she used magic before.

Back then, she had saved it like a trump card until the end, but this time she seemed intent on using it from the start.

Soon she swung her arm widely, and people and corpses around her flew somewhere.

A space clear of obstacles for fighting had been created.

I stepped right into that space.

And we began staring each other down.

“……”

“……”

We silently circled each other, facing off.

Both ready to pounce at the slightest opening.

“……”

In the midst of this, what came to mind was Christina’s pale face covered in blood, and the fear that people around me might get hurt in the same way.

And anger.

Forgetting that we were in the midst of sizing each other up, I immediately kicked off the ground hard, causing it to dent slightly.

Feeling the red lightning suddenly emanating from my body beginning to spark, I approached Beatrice.

Beatrice soon raised her arms, and long chair fragments, signs, and stones around her began to float in the air.

She swung her arm widely, and soon the floating objects began flying toward me.

I swung my fist to deflect a long chair that was flying straight at me.

-Crack!

My strike must have been too powerful, as the incoming chair broke in two.

I continued swinging my arms and lowering my stance as I approached Beatrice.

Then I jumped up and threw a punch.

-Thud!

Though I clearly hit her arm, it sounded like striking steel.

I could see that blue energy had wrapped around Beatrice’s arm.

“This is, really!”

We began exchanging punches and kicks.

Beatrice with blue energy surrounding her body.

My body with red lightning sparking.

Soon the blue and red energies began colliding with each other.

During this, I noticed something different from last time.

‘Her attacks are lighter.’

Compared to before, Beatrice’s attacks were somewhat lighter.

Was she not using her full strength?

No, that wasn’t it.

Her movements weren’t like those of someone drunk, and she had been using magic from the start.

If anything, the energy surrounding her body was even more intense than before.

It was clear that she was stronger now, in her right mind, than when she fought while drunk.

Then there was only one answer.

‘I’m stronger now.’

As I struck down with my arm, Beatrice retreated with a strained expression.

“…How, when did such power…”

Somehow she had a cigarette in her mouth and had lit it, the smell spreading.

Still, her expression remained fierce, as if things weren’t going her way.

“…I see. It’s because of that heart.”

Beatrice said this while exhaling smoke.

Smelling that cigarette made me feel a bit calmer.

I gathered my thoughts and looked at her.

Not now. This wasn’t the time to calm down.

“Seems like I touched a nerve.”

Beatrice said with a frown.

“Someone close to you got hurt, huh?”

“…Yes.”

Beatrice looked at me while exhaling cigarette smoke.

She seemed lost in thought for a moment.

But before long, she raised her head again and spoke.

“I wasn’t planning on being forgiven anyway.”

As if having made some decision, her eyes looking down at me were sharp and cold.

“I’ll say it again. Step aside.”

Despite knowing from our earlier exchange that my side had grown stronger, her eyes remained undefeated.

So I stared back even more directly.

“I’ll say it again. Get past me.”

Taking a small breath, I said.

“You think I can’t get past you?”

“You can’t get past.”

“I will get past.”

“You can’t get past.”

The same exchange from when we started fighting played out again.

The conversation was at a standstill.

No more words were needed.

She put the cigarette back in her mouth and took another breath.

Fists began crossing with fists again.

We started pummeling each other as if trying to devour one another.

But for whatever unclear reason, I had become a bit stronger in this situation.

Beatrice gradually began to be pushed back.

Not letting the opportunity slip, I kicked her, and she rolled across the ground.

“Ah, really!”

Beatrice shouted in frustration.

It was at that moment when I was quickly running to deliver a follow-up attack.

-Clank.

Suddenly there was a strange sound from my leg.

‘Chains?’

Chains that hadn’t existed until just now were wrapped around my leg.

It was the moment I was examining where these chains were connected to.

The chains had emerged from the ground.

Quickly glaring at Beatrice, I saw chains of the same color as those wrapped around my leg now wrapped around her right arm.

“I get that you’re rampaging because you’re angry.”

Beatrice grins fiercely.

“But watch where you’re stepping!”

Soon Beatrice pulled the chain, and more chains rose up through the ground.

And I was lifted into the air in sync with that movement.

In that state, Beatrice swung the chain in a large circle, and I was slammed into walls and the floor.

After spinning me around like that, Beatrice threw me into the air.

And as if it was the finale, the chain unwound itself.

“…Damn it!”

As the chain unwound and I tried to position myself in mid-air, I saw blue spheres flying toward me.

I took a defensive stance, and the spheres exploded upon contact with my body.

With the explosion, my body plummeted toward the ground.

“…Cough!”

The air was forcibly expelled from my lungs due to the fall.

Pain was felt all over, likely from being bound by chains and colliding with various surfaces.

‘Danger.’

That thought suddenly flashed in my mind, and I quickly rolled across the ground.

-Boom!

“Ha, I thought you’d get hit while you were still dazed!”

Beatrice had swung her chain.

If I hadn’t suddenly rolled just now, I would have been hit directly.

Having failed her attack, Beatrice slightly lifted the chain.

The chain automatically shortened in length.

“Try dodging this too!”

And as she swung again, this time the chain split into 9 strands.

At the same time, sharp hook-like objects formed at each end.

“What a bizarre thing!”

I focused on dodging as the chains tried to pass over my body.

I managed to grab one and tear it off with my hand, but it probably didn’t mean much.

Sure enough, the chain became a single strand again.

Glaring at Beatrice, she smiled and shook the chain.

“A witch using a magical tool, what’s so strange about that?”

“…Damn woman.”

Once again Beatrice swung the chain, and I dodged it as it flew toward me in a stabbing trajectory.

Then the chain rapidly shortened, and suddenly Beatrice was flying toward me.

She extended her leg and delivered a kick to me, and I rolled across the ground once before quickly regaining my stance.

Beatrice was already swinging her chain around and beginning to reposition herself.

“Round two.”

Soon I dodged as she flew at me again using the chain.

Feeling the red lightning racing through my body again, I charged at Beatrice.

+

Kara was standing in the shelter with a dazed expression.

No one recognized her as the Saint.

The barrier that automatically deployed when the explosion occurred had saved her, and she had quickly changed her clothes.

Suspecting that if someone was targeting her, it might be a terrorist attack aimed at her, she had rapidly changed her outfit to make it appear as if she wasn’t there.

This was all taught to her by her mentor, Somnus.

Thanks to that, she had been able to reach the shelter without being caught by anyone.

Quickly scanning her surroundings, she looked for any familiar faces.

She continued searching for that scary and annoying helmet-like person and others.

‘Where are you?’

But what she had been searching for most diligently was that blonde-haired nun who had fed her various things and treated her kindly.

‘Please be safe.’

Seeing some nuns and priests gathered safely, she searched among them, hoping Christina would be there too.

Of course, her expectations were betrayed.

“Chris…tina…”

Christina was lying down with a pale face.

Bandages were wrapped around her head and various parts of her body.

Unable to change her clothes, her already worn nun’s habit was torn in places and stained with blood.

All of it was her blood.

Kara approached Christina, barely stopping herself from collapsing.

“Open your eyes, please.”

There was no answer.

Though the wounds themselves had healed, her skin was cold.

It seemed that treating her properly in this place was beyond their capabilities.

Kara looked at her own hands for a moment.

“…Perhaps I could wake her up.”

She was the Saint of the Emiris Order.

Her holy power was several times greater than others’.

If not others, perhaps she could help this woman…

“You cannot.”

She turned around with a start.

“Somnus.”

“Haven’t I told you repeatedly? Unnecessary things must be discarded.”

Somnus said with a benevolent smile.

“Is this small, injured nun necessary to you?”

“That’s…”

“I don’t think so.”

Somnus said with a bright smile.

“…She is necessary.”

“Necessary, you say?”

“It’s a bit difficult to explain.”

Kara looked at Somnus.

“…Yes. This nun gave me great teachings.”

The words she came up with sounded like an excuse.

But whatever it was, Kara had to keep speaking.

She believed that perhaps he could be persuaded to help save Christina.

“Teachings, such as?”

“That sad days make happy days more precious, so emotions should be cherished.”

Kara looked at Somnus.

“That there’s no need to forcibly deny one’s own emotions.”

After a brief pause, Kara spoke again.

“I thought that someone who could think differently from me might be able to give me good teachings in different ways.”

“I see. That certainly sounds like good advice.”

“Then…”

She sighed slightly.

Fortunately, Somnus seemed to have accepted it.

‘He won’t interfere anymore.’

Kara moved to sit in front of Christina.

“…’As I caress the beautiful one.'”

A simple incantation and hand sign.

Holy power emanated from her and began healing Christina.

Compared to the other priests earlier, her incomparable holy power became a warm light that touched Christina’s body and began to heal her.

Soon Christina’s face began to look more peaceful.

“…Originally, I was planning to surprise you today by revealing that I am the Saint of the Emiris Order.”

She had asked Christina to come on this last day not only because she couldn’t bear to see her depressed about the helmet group’s absence, but also because she had developed a desire to reveal her identity.

A thought she would never have had before.

But in this short time, she had prepared this small event for those who had spent time with her.

It was Kara’s own way of playing a prank and showing gratitude.

“…Wake up soon. So my gift won’t be in vain.”

Soon Kara removed her hand.

Christina’s body was clean.

Though she still lay as if asleep, not having regained her strength, with this level of recovery, the other priests here should be able to wake Christina up.

Kara looked at Christina with a hint of regret.

“…Go ahead. I will stay with her a little longer.”

“Hmm.”

Somnus looked down at Christina with a benevolent smile.

“Your skill is truly impressive.”

“…I’m glad. Thanks to you, I’ve saved an innocent life.”

A feeling of joy unexpectedly washed over her.

In the past, she would have immediately suppressed it, but Kara didn’t resist.

Be more honest with your emotions.

Following that girl’s words, joy at her accomplishment washed over her.

‘How strange.’

She thought about how she had already been influenced by that nun in this short time.

And she didn’t dislike this version of herself.

The backlash from releasing feelings she had suppressed all this time hit her hard.

She felt strength draining from her entire body.

‘For now, I’ll do my best to enjoy this joy.’

When Christina woke up, she would surprise her by revealing her identity.

Thinking this, she smiled slightly.

‘Yes, it wasn’t unnecessary after all.’

Without emotions, she might have left Christina to die.

But because she had emotions, she had desperately searched for Christina and, as a result, was able to save her.

Just for that, she felt proud of herself.

Somnus looked down at her and smiled.

As always, it was a benevolent smile.

“Hmm, such errors can occur too.”

With those words, Kara felt an intense pain in her heart.

“What… is…”

Kara lay on the floor due to the sudden pain.

‘My heart… my breath…’

In a position where others couldn’t see, Kara began to die.

And looking at Somnus, she saw a ring on one of his prosthetic hands glowing red.

“I’ve taught you repeatedly, haven’t I? You must learn how to cut off and discard when necessary. Whether it’s a human life or your own emotions.”

Somnus gently stroked Kara’s head.

“So, I discarded it. You’ve become useless now that you’ve learned about useless things.”

“I am…”

“Don’t worry. There are others who can replace you. I just need to bring them out again.”

Kara couldn’t understand Somnus’s words.

His attitude was as if people were objects to be used and discarded.

“What do you mean…”

“Ah, but out of respect for you, I won’t touch that nun beside you. It was an interesting sight… seeing you heal her, you might have made a good mother. It’s a shame, Kara.”

Somnus smiled benevolently.

And suddenly, Kara found that smile terrifying.

“Sleep well, Kara. I have important matters to attend to first.”

As if no longer interested, Somnus turned his back and walked away from Kara.

“My goodness. With so few people to work with, I wish I could multiply myself. This is the optimal time in many ways, but I’m short on bodies.”

The moment when the dog chasing her and a girl’s guardian tear at each other.

The moment when a girl becomes defenseless.

“Her name was Seraphina, wasn’t it?”

Somnus began to leave the place.