Ch.86Crescendo (1)

“…Oh, I see you’ve already woken up. I was hoping you’d stay quiet a little longer.”

The familiar voice made Aileen slowly open her eyes as it echoed in her throbbing head.

Her memory was… hazy. She was certain she had been in the office,

but her memory was cut off, and she couldn’t properly recall anything.

When she opened her eyes, Aileen gasped at the figure before her.

“You are…”

Duke Roman, Biltain.

Seeing those purple eyes, Aileen easily recalled his name,

and only then did she realize what situation she was in.

Suddenly overcome with dizziness, her vision blurred. As her head spun,

blood trickled from Aileen’s lips as she bit them.

Her clothes remained unchanged. Perhaps he hadn’t touched her body.

When she glared at the man before her, Biltain let out a soft laugh.

To think she could give such a look in this situation. But it was all futile now.

His son might be dead… but he remained.

He could easily kill one exhausted knight.

Just for a bit of entertainment, Biltain gathered his thoughts and spoke.

“You seem quite angry. Rest assured, I have no intention whatsoever of touching you.”

“…Why on earth, no. What about the others—”

“I didn’t kill them. Hmm, if you ask why, would it be sufficient to say because there was no need?”

Biltain grinned as he looked at Aileen bound in midair.

He was reminded of an old knight who had stood in his way. His target was only Aileen Yuris.

There was no need to kill unnecessarily. He had merely put them to sleep.

He didn’t want House Yuris to collapse yet. House Yuris… still needed to hold on a little longer.

Wouldn’t it be more natural for it to fall later?

Aileen looked at Biltain and calmly organized her thoughts.

Though her body was bound by something invisible and floating in midair, there was no need to provoke him unnecessarily.

His claim that he hadn’t killed anyone was likely true. Being skilled at reading people’s eyes,

she could quickly tell he wasn’t lying.

If so, what was his reason for bringing her here?

“Do you… plan to use me as a sacrifice?”

“That’s half correct. Having answered this much, shouldn’t you have figured it out by now? Why I specifically brought you here.”

At those words, Aileen thought of one person.

Her knight who had led the campaign against Roman. She knew he was special compared to others.

When he said her answer was half correct, didn’t that mean he would use Evan as a sacrifice, not her?

As Aileen’s expression suddenly turned pale, Biltain smiled faintly and tapped the sword at his waist.

“It won’t take long. That knight is heading here now. I wonder why. He knows the odds are low. Why is he rushing here alone?”

“……”

All Aileen could do was bite her lip.

She tried to summon mana to struggle, but the darkness constricting her body was draining it away.

Biltain snorted at the sight of her maintaining a composed expression.

Struggling was futile. The reason he had bound Aileen Yuris here

was to show her Evan Fried’s death, after all.

Aileen’s gaze shifted to Biltain’s mouth.

A chilling smile—the Roman Duke she knew was nowhere to be found.

Madness flickered in those purple eyes.

What she could do now—Aileen pretended to glare at him while deep in thought.

She couldn’t remain bound here like this.

If Evan came here alone, Aileen heard footsteps as she glared at Biltain.

Thud—

As the sound echoed in this quiet space, Biltain turned his head toward it.

In the upper level filled with darkness, there was a streak of light in the fog-like gloom.

The sound of flames crackling was heard.

Light flashed, and simultaneously a figure wrapped in white radiance began to appear.

“…My lady.”

Evan, whose eyes met Aileen’s, smiled faintly.

Aileen frowned as she saw his blood-soaked shoulder.

His black cloak was drenched in blood, staining his white uniform red.

Rough breathing, he looked quite exhausted to anyone watching.

Yet seeing the knight smile at her as if nothing was wrong, Aileen squeezed her eyes shut.

She felt tears threatening to spill. She shouldn’t cry here.

If she showed weakness, he would surely worry.

He had clearly come to rescue her. Despite having no need to come alone, he had climbed up here alone.

It must be because Evan had sensed she was here.

She felt guilty. If she had been more careful, he wouldn’t have had to risk his life like this.

“It’s alright. Didn’t I promise?”

As Evan smiled and drew his sword, Aileen could only keep her eyes tightly shut, avoiding his gaze.

Nevertheless, feeling a rising sense of relief, Aileen bit her lip and swallowed her tears as she met Evan’s eyes.

Clear green eyes were looking at her. Eyes that showed no anger, but rather gratitude that she was safe, gently curved.

Her heart ached. But since there was nothing she could do now,

Aileen quietly watched Evan. Hoping that at the end of this battle, he would be safe.

#

Hiss—

…As expected, the pressure emanating directly from Duke Roman was beyond imagination.

Darker than any darkness he had seen before, he could see large eyes within the black fog.

Evan’s body trembled slightly as he sensed “something” glaring at him.

The killing intent from those eyes, the murderous aura clawing at his entire body, made his heartbeat gradually quicken.

“Evan Fried… this is our first meeting.”

The composure in his voice made Evan think his attitude was justified.

He had the right to such confidence.

Even without deploying a Master’s domain, the mana he emanated made it seem as if the entire mansion was under his control.

Evan tried to dispel that aura by drawing on his own mana, but there were limits.

“Have you come to kill me?”

Evan didn’t answer. Instead, he simply held his extended sword and quietly drew upon his mana.

How should he attack? Targeting vital points for a quick end would be best.

But it wouldn’t be easy to strike those vital points. Mana flowed from his heart and began to course through his entire body.

His muscles swelled. Thump—his heartbeat reached its limit, and the space around him seemed to slow down.

It was a good sensation. His sharply honed senses were warning him.

His body, enhanced by the light spirit, was incomparable to before, and even if Roman was a Master, he could fight.

He felt that certainty. With a whoosh, flames that split the darkness blazed fiercely with a flash.

He had no intention of prolonged conversation. Evan placed his hand near his heart and quietly felt its pulse.

Winning chances—he didn’t think about them. The more he thought about it, the more disadvantaged he would be.

Erasing his thoughts, he rekindled a sensation he had felt quite some time ago.

No-self (Mu-a), Evan recalled the sensation when fighting Lord Theorad. What he had wanted to do then.

Grip the sword. Swing it. And, dodge.

That was enough.

“It seems you have no intention of talking.”

As darkness began to gather around Biltain, Evan immediately stepped forward.

Bang! He had no intention of dragging this out. As quickly as possible—the best scenario was to avoid seeing a Master’s domain.

His swollen muscles generated explosive power.

Chains made of light—as Biltain’s movements momentarily slowed when the chains restricted his movement as Evan swung his sword,

Evan didn’t miss the opportunity and continuously changed the trajectory of his sword.

A rushing flash split the darkness. Roman Duke’s sword was different from Lord Theorad’s.

If Lord Theorad’s sword bent space,

Roman Duke’s sword was so fast one couldn’t even perceive it.

Quickness and speed.

Though the chains broke and were regenerated to wrap around Biltain’s body, Biltain swung his sword as if unconcerned.

In an instant,

countless sword exchanges occurred in that brief moment.

Evan blocked a sword thrust aimed at his neck and twisted his body to pull his arm back.

Clang! Sparks flew from the colliding sword surfaces, and he focused on avoiding the sword being swung again.

He couldn’t take a direct hit. Though the sword was fast, even a graze could make him lose what little advantage he had.

In the darkness where nothing was visible, his field of vision relying solely on the flames rising from him was quite narrow.

Rather than sight, he focused on hearing, concentrating on the sound of swords crossing this space.

‘This is… more manageable than I thought.’

It might be because he hadn’t deployed his domain yet, but Evan had the upper hand in this series of exchanges.

Light enveloped his body. His speed increased further, now leaving afterimages with his movements, momentarily confusing Biltain.

Added to that was the blood activation. It was clearly effective. Gaining confidence, Evan put more strength into his attacks.

As Biltain’s body was pushed back by the heavy sword, his collar was slightly cut in the immediate follow-up attack.

However, ironically, Evan had suffered more wounds.

Blood flowed from cuts on his face, arms, shoulders, and chest, soaking the floor.

Blood activation healed the wounds to some extent, but his body enhanced by the light spirit was reaching its limit.

Gritting his teeth, Evan twisted his waist. Bang! As Biltain was pushed back by a single strike and caught his breath,

Evan retreated slightly and slowly assessed Biltain’s complexion.

‘Hah.’

Biltain’s complexion was calm. Despite being pushed back in the previous exchange,

he was calmly catching his breath and handling his sword as if nothing had happened. He couldn’t drag this out for long.

But he also didn’t have the strength to end it in one blow.

Evan felt frustrated by the deadlock. What he could do right now.

At most, all he could do was clash swords with him again.

—Whoosh!

The wings of light drawn from Evan’s back fluttered.

Maximum speed—as Evan’s form disappeared, Biltain quietly gripped his sword.

It was a formidable speed. However, that was all. Speed alone couldn’t give him an advantage.

Pure swordsmanship, technique, mana quantity, density, quality. As Biltain smiled quietly and swung his sword, Evan gritted his teeth as he was caught in the sword strike.

“Did you think I couldn’t see?”

“…Shut up.”

Evan wiped the blood from his mouth and sneered.

Even without taking a direct hit, his muscles were screaming throughout his body.

His heart felt like it was about to burst, gradually tearing.

His joints creaked, and his internal organs were ruptured, spewing blood inside.

His breathing was rough. But he couldn’t show it. His now golden eyes turned toward Aileen.

…He couldn’t give up. If he died here. Evan squeezed his eyes shut.

He didn’t want to imagine it, but he had to get Aileen out somehow.

“You look tired. Can you still swing your sword? I don’t mind giving you some time to rest.”

“Huff.”

Ignoring Biltain’s words, Evan exhaled softly.

Trying to calm his impatient heart, he slowly looked at Biltain.

The “domain” hadn’t been deployed yet. If he could end the fight before that, there was still a chance.

Rumble—darkness gathering around Biltain was slowly creating a vortex.

As the mana changed, Evan simultaneously kicked off the ground and charged forward.

Bang! Light colliding with darkness caused an explosion.

Hiding his body in the dust created by the explosion, Evan appeared behind Biltain.

No-self (Mu-a), instantly erasing all thoughts, Evan’s sword accelerated once more in midair.

Whoosh—the sword that cut through the darkness sliced Biltain’s forearm.

Simultaneously, Biltain narrowly avoided the extended sword, his mouth corner twisting.

Golden eyes emitting brilliant light, there was nothing visible in them.

That made it all the more thrilling. The fact that he too had reached a certain level.

As Biltain’s sword absorbed blue mana, the darkness began to wander, losing its footing in the increasingly rapid exchange.

The wind tore, darkness split, and eventually the air exploded as the sword exchange became too fast for even sound to follow.

Slash—!

Light clusters drew chaotic trajectories whenever Evan moved his sword.

Dodging the sword thrusting at him while simultaneously advancing his sword toward Biltain, countless swords crossed.

Clang, swords collided, gazes met. It was an exchange that transcended everything that could be drawn with a sword.

Not now but later, not later but one move ahead.

Senses pushed to the limit made them predict each other’s moves, reaching the level of foresight.

Crossing swords, looking one move ahead, Evan roughly twisted his shoulder to change the sword’s path.

Biltain was the same. What they were seeing wasn’t simply the exchange of swords,

but the future they drew by observing the minute movements of muscles.

Like a rehearsed play, the meeting swords emitted shockwaves.

Boom—! Occasionally colliding mana emitted waves that shook the space, and simultaneously blazing flames devoured the darkness.

Each was trying to have their domain acknowledged by the other. Feet entangled. Swords entangled.

No thought, no image, in this melee where both thought only of the sword, they sought only one thing,

a move toward victory that would pierce the opponent’s heart.

However, Evan was gradually being pushed back. His breathing became rough, and his elbow was cut.

Switching from holding the sword with both hands to one hand, he forcibly maintained balance through muscles inflated with mana.

He felt a dull pain from his broken arm bone. But he didn’t let go.

Gritting his teeth, ignoring the blood seeping from his mouth, he simply continued to swing his sword.

If he lost here, everything would end.

The flames burning the last embers were emitting an unparalleled radiance.

…Not much left. Evan bit his lip as he gauged his body’s condition.

At most, a few more exchanges. Feeling Aileen’s gaze, Evan readjusted his grip on the sword.

He couldn’t collapse. Because Aileen was there. Hadn’t he promised?

That when she was in danger, he would be by her side.

Could he… be by her side? At the sudden question, Evan laughed.

No, perhaps he couldn’t. But if he could still move,

if he had hands to grip the sword, if he had legs to run. It was still too early to give up.

He caught his breath. Blood seeped from his torn heart.

Flames rose again in his gradually cooling body.

Probably the last. Evan gripped his sword tightly to not let go.

“How amusing. Is Aileen Yuris so precious that you would risk your life for her?”

Biltain sneered. The knight before him was clearly losing.

Yet he felt some respect for his refusal to give up.

Noble and steadfast, wasn’t the name “demon” fitting for this knight?

Having once been loyal to the Emperor, Biltain admired how fitting he was for the name Yuris.

“She is precious.”

Evan calmly opened his mouth. If asked whether Aileen was precious, the answer was obvious.

As for being amusing… perhaps he could think so. He was struggling like this because he didn’t want to regret.

“Fighting like this won’t change anything. Bound to Aileen Yuris, you’re making a meaningless sacrifice. Can you truly say you won’t regret it?”

“Regret?”

At those words, Evan twisted the corner of his mouth. He had experienced regret to the point of nausea.

Wasn’t he here to avoid it? Because he didn’t want to lose,

because this time he wanted to protect with his own hands. Evan placed his hand on his pulsating heart.

Count Kasim had said if he pushed himself any further, he might die… but what did that matter?

Whoosh, flames burning his heart intensified the flash.

Biltain realized that flame was the last.

Evan, slowly rising from that flame, moved his lips.

“…I don’t care if she’s a villainess. I don’t care if she’s someone rejected by many, yet craving affection. Even if she’s sometimes lonely, crying alone. Even if she pretends to be cold outside while harboring different thoughts inside. Because in the end, she’s the person I swore to. The person I chose.”

Because she’s the person I pitied and felt sad for. Swallowing the last words, Evan quietly raised his head.

He recalled that night when he had pitied the villainess in the novel. How did it come to this?

If he had experienced this at the beginning, he might have just run away.

But now he couldn’t even imagine such a thing.

Hadn’t Aileen Yuris become too precious to him for such thoughts?

“I’ll carry it all. Even this situation, even if I die and can’t see her again.”

Whoosh—a streak of light rose in the darkness.

The last light, Evan, with strength in his heart, opened his mouth one last time.

“Because I am Aileen’s knight.”

It might be a bit regrettable. What expression would Aileen make if he died?

He hoped she wouldn’t be sad. Someone like him should be forgotten quickly… wouldn’t it be okay for her to live a bit happier?

With breath rising to his chin, Evan quietly smiled. His throat choked up.

He hadn’t wanted to imagine it. What could he do now that the situation had come to this?

He heard someone sobbing. Evan quietly shook his head and ignored the sound.

Tears flowed down his cheeks, mixing with blood and falling down, stained red.

No, it must be sweat. He remembered the knighting ceremony. He remembered the clear sky of that day when he swore to protect her.

…The sky wasn’t bright. There was neither the clear sky nor the warm sunshine that covered the sky back then.

Only the black shadow-painted sky had no stars or moon,

and only the flame burning within him was brightly illuminating the surroundings.

But it wasn’t over yet. Evan, moving his creaking body, slowly stepped on the ground.

Biltain’s eyes shone brightly. Purple twilight rippled.

It had become like walking to hell on his own feet, but he thought that wasn’t so bad.

What had happened to Rophena? Lord Chris? The tea he always drank was fragrant.

There was no Darjeeling, but somehow its scent seemed to linger in his nose…

Crash!

Evan, avoiding the sword extended toward him, looked at Biltain with a calm gaze.

It was a paper-thin difference. Biltain’s sword was fast,

and he vaguely realized he still couldn’t fully grasp that sword.

But now, he could avoid it. At least now, he could meet this sword.

Clang! The sword melee continued. As the act of trying to take each other’s lives continued, the darkness momentarily turned red.

Whoosh—! Darkness and light collided. The sword cut through darkness, and the sword tore through light.

Their actions were restricted by the slashes dominating this space. His arm broke.

He grabbed the sword again, supporting his broken arm with mana. His ribs broke, piercing his lungs.

He stopped breathing. Converting his remaining breath into maximum power,

Biltain swallowed hard as he saw Evan’s face turning pale.

‘…To think he’d be this desperate.’

Though his kneecap was shattered and his leg gave way, Evan struggled to maintain balance with his remaining leg and swung his sword.

His stomach was torn, and his intestines were slowly leaking out.

But he continued to move, stopping his intestines from flowing out with his developed muscles. A little more, just a little more.

Evan gritted his teeth. His heart was torn, and blood was leaking out.

The blood gushing from his mouth seemed to have spilled all the blood in his body.

He heard someone whimpering. They didn’t need to cry… for him.

In this situation, Evan was angry. Because he was weak, because he couldn’t reach. Afraid he would regret again.

Even as he watched his own flesh being torn and scattered in the air, he didn’t lose focus.

Even when his broken arm dangled and only one arm remained, Evan didn’t stop swinging his sword.

Despite being overwhelmed in the continued exchange, Evan’s arm didn’t stop.

He could do it.

That’s what Evan thought. Even if he used his domain, if he killed him before that, he could do it.

Though he was clearly at a disadvantage, he hadn’t completely failed to harm the Roman Duke.

He knew that faint mana was rising from Aileen’s body. At least Aileen… he could get her out of here.

The last strength, Evan didn’t burn the last ember he could still burn.

Would he win if he burned this? No, it would be better to use it for Aileen.

Strangely, despite his body being in such a mess, he felt no pain.

If he had felt pain, wouldn’t he have perished long ago?

Bang—! A strike engulfed Evan.

With even his supporting arm completely broken, unable to grip the sword, Evan flew through the air.

Hitting the ground and rolling several times, Evan slowly opened his eyes.

His vision… was blurry. Now he could barely distinguish shapes.

As his heartbeat grew weaker, he thought he might die like this.

…He couldn’t die. White flames seeped into his broken arm.

The flames that had covered his body were now gone.

With his somewhat recovered arm, Evan picked up the sword and staggered to his feet.

A body in tatters, bones protruding, twisted—Biltain quietly watched the knight who still gripped his sword.

“I… acknowledge you. You are my match, Evan Fried. Since becoming a Master, I’ve never acknowledged anyone, but only you in this world could be called a knight.”

“……”

“I won’t use you as a sacrifice. But… I cannot let you live.”

Rumble—

Darkness began to gather around Biltain’s heart.

Evan could only stare blankly at the sight that seemed to devour the black fog engulfing the surroundings.

The presence of mana gathering in the heart was even greater than when he first saw Maloric.

Cough, after spitting blood once, Evan quietly gripped his sword.

He seemed to be saying something, but he couldn’t hear.

His burst eardrums no longer allowed him to hear any sound.

With a ringing sound, he heard a gradually diminishing throbbing.

It was his heartbeat. With a hollow laugh, Evan quietly looked at Biltain holding his sword.

Domain.

A unique skill only Masters could possess.

The darkness wrapping around was slowly approaching Evan.

Movement ceased. As if time had stopped.

In a world where everything had stopped, Biltain slowly began to move.

Darkness spread like wings on his back.

It was an immense darkness incomparable to the flames that had surrounded Evan’s body.

Darkness that devoured this mansion and even the earth below, extinguishing starlight.

Rising blades of darkness, like a conductor. Darkness swayed according to Biltain’s extended hand.

Evan’s body had long been surrounded by darkness.

Completely devoured, now only his chest and body were barely visible, with his legs and arms bound by darkness.

Green eyes, now almost lifeless, turned to Biltain.

Yet unextinguished fighting spirit. Darkness was the counterpart to light,

but that also meant darkness could devour light.

Clang! He swung his sword momentarily, but Biltain’s sword was blocked by Evan.

Biltain’s eyes flickered at the sword swung unconsciously.

Even in this state, he swings his sword? But Evan’s body no longer moved.

As he tore away the darkness wrapping his arm, even the nerves supporting his arm were completely severed.

…If Evan Fried had been a Master, could he have won?

Merely an Expert had made a Master deploy his domain.

The wounds inflicted by Evan ached all over Biltain’s body.

Because darkness and dragon mana were completely opposite, these wounds would forever remain as scars.

Biltain quietly looked at Evan, who had now completely ceased movement.

The knight who had left such wounds on him.

Now, like a statue, had become just a target in the darkness that had completely engulfed the space.

Blood flowed from the sword that slightly pierced Evan’s chest.

If he thrust just a little more, his heart would be pierced, and he would die.

Evan’s gaze turned to Biltain. Meeting the purple eyes,

somehow he thought Biltain was smiling at him.

Was it an illusion? No, being this close… couldn’t he swing his sword and stab?

He swung his sword. But his arm wouldn’t move.

Despite gritting his teeth and trying to move his arm, the completely severed nerves no longer responded.

“My…”

Biltain, realizing Evan’s intention, let out a small sneer.

Even now, this knight was trying to move. He didn’t want to mock him any further.

Zing, mana flowed through the sword. Eventually, the deeper penetrating sword finally pierced Evan’s heart.

Thud—

A complete rupture sound, and as the darkness lifted, Evan realized something was wrong with his body.

Contrary to his will, his body was collapsing. Thud, his fallen body touched the floor.

He felt the stickiness of blood soaking his body as he collapsed onto the blood that had flowed from him.

He could still… fight more. He tried to move his fingers, but they wouldn’t move.

“Evan!”

A voice was heard. A familiar voice. It was Aileen’s voice. But he couldn’t answer.

No sound escaped from his throat where blood was leaking. His eyes met Biltain’s.

Why was he so high up? Had he grown taller in the meantime?

No… Evan finally realized the state of his body.

I’ve collapsed. He felt emptiness in his hollow chest. My heart has been pierced.

“Cough.”

Blood gushed from his mouth. His thoughts kept… breaking.

He needed to protect Aileen… but he couldn’t quite remember what state Aileen was in.

There was faint mana left in his body. Perhaps he could regenerate his heart.

But if he used it to repair his heart. Then what? The corner of his mouth twisted slightly.

Very slightly, with his fading breath, Evan’s hand moved.

Evan’s hand, grasping at the air, turned toward where Aileen was.

Faint mana, mana squeezed from his everything, headed toward Aileen.

Crack—!

The darkness constricting Aileen’s body began to disappear.

Seeing Evan collapsed, Aileen bit her lip.

She wanted to curse this situation where she could only watch. With him collapsed like that,

looking like he might die at any moment.

Even as she watched Evan with his heart pierced,

she burst into tears as she realized Evan’s mana was directed at her.

“Get… up. Evan. Please… please.”

She shouted like that for a long time, but Evan showed no movement, just staring into space.

He was growing cold. Blood leaked from his torn lips. Aileen sobbed for a long time.

But she couldn’t reach him. There was nothing more desperate than that fact.

‘Aileen.’

It wasn’t difficult to realize the voice calling him was Aileen’s.

But unable to move, Evan quietly closed his eyes. He had sent his last mana to Aileen.

It was enough mana to momentarily confuse Biltain.

Aileen, too, though just at the entrance, was an Expert,

so perhaps she could escape with Lord Theorad.

Thump—

It was the last beat. Through his narrowed eyes, all he could see was pitch-black darkness.

Not a single star visible. He remembered the night sky he had seen with Aileen.

He had thought the stars looked lonely, but ironically, it was he who was perishing alone. How ironic.

He closed his eyes. With no strength left even to breathe,

in his fading consciousness, Evan recalled one person’s face.

The tragedy that would befall her… could he not have prevented it? In the end, he had failed.

In that painful reality, Evan’s consciousness faded.

Biltain’s eyes also grew cold as he looked at the body that had grown cold.

After quietly covering Evan’s blood-soaked body with a cloak,

Biltain looked at Aileen, who had collapsed on the floor, wailing.

…Everything was now over.

#

Quietly, and calmly.

Perhaps what might feel like a melancholy melody echoes through the void.

Diminuendo, or in other words, Decrescendo.

But since the performance hasn’t ended, the melody undergoes a change.

As if disappearing, yet not disappeared, the sound ignites like a flame.

Music crossing the staff once again brings joy in the darkness.

We play. A melody more turbulent than ever.

We sing. Someone’s wish for a miracle more fervent than ever.

Eloim Essaim, Eloim Essaim. This I shall crave and appeal.

Thump.

With this faint beat that one might have thought extinguished,

the melody continues to change.

Again,

Crescendo.