Chapter 228: It’s Been a While (8)

Chapter 228: It’s Been a
While (8)

“Your
Highness. It’s time.”

Celsia
let out a silent sigh at the servant’s voice.

Finally,
this day had come.

After
her body had changed, she hadn’t held birthday parties, but there was
a limit to how long she could postpone them.

As
a princess of the nation, she had to make an appearance and show that
she was well.

‘Me,
being well?’

Her
hands trembled as she looked down at them.

Her
once large and broad palms had transformed into a child’s hands
without any calluses.

Her
view, which used to be like looking down from the sky, had changed to
that of a small child’s, requiring her to look up at everyone she
saw.

On
that day when her body of twenty-some years suddenly changed, how
desperate she had felt when everything she had achieved seemed to
disappear like bubbles.

“Princess.”

A
different voice from the servant’s made Celsia turn around.

There
stood a woman in armor with closed eyes.

Diana
Ordia, the explorer who had saved Celsia from the sudden attack of
the Ain Gott.

Celsia
had grown her dreams watching her and gained the courage to enter the
labyrinth.

“…Do
you think I can do well?”

So
she sought advice from her.

“Since
receiving this blessing, I’ve become broken. Whenever I stand before
people, my whole body trembles in fear, and without armor as a
medium, I can’t even speak properly.”

Bitterness
tinged her small voice.

With
each word she uttered, the frightened girl’s body trembled.

“Can
I…really do this when I’ve changed like this?”

Even
to this desperate question, there wasn’t much Diana could do.

She
could only gently pat Celsia’s back.

Celsia
used that as momentum to stand up.

As
she walked through the curtains that the servants opened with
graceful movements, she saw the people filling the banquet hall,
accompanied by gentle yet enveloping music.

-Thud.

Celsia’s
steps halted.

Some
people would sometimes stop walking or have their breathing disturbed
just by encountering others but in Celsia’s case, this was maximized.

When
such a person suddenly has to face many people, their steps freeze
like ice.

Amid
the stabilizing songs, disturbing murmurs began to be heard.

“Is
that really the Second Princess? She looks so different from my
memory?”

“Yes.
Just a few years ago, the Second Princess I saw had an almighty
physical appearance…”

“Now
it feels like seeing the Second Princess from when she was young.”

“Did
she receive some blessing from the labyrinth? No, is that really a
blessing…?”

“Could
this be why she hasn’t held birthday parties for years…?”

Small
murmurs began flowing from everywhere.

Confusion
and doubt bloomed in the eyes of those looking at Celsia.

Only
a select few knew that the princess had transformed into a child’s
body.

Almost
none knew that her personality had become extremely timid as well but
now was the time to acknowledge and accept it.

Since
even the temple priests couldn’t remove this blessing, it had become
a heavy shackle she must bear for life.

As
a member of the royal family ruling the labyrinth city, she had to
show that she could shoulder such shackles lightly.

“Uh,
ah…”

She
had to.

She
had to, but.

Words
simply wouldn’t come out.

The
questioning gazes looking at her, the numerous mouths talking about
her.

Piiiiing—

The
more she heard those gazes and small voices, a ringing grew in her
ears and her vision began to shake.

As
her focus wavered like the debris of a shipwreck hit by fierce waves,
blurring like watercolors, Celsia unconsciously stepped backward.

She
wanted to run away to a place where no one would talk about her, into
that comfortable bed in her bedroom.

That
place where no one could enter was always a paradise that allowed her
to escape from cruel reality but just as there is no paradise in
places you run to, even the seemingly comfortable bed was ultimately
just a place that would eat away at her future.

Celsia
knew that if she didn’t take steps forward with courage now, she
would never be able to rise again for the rest of her life.

Though
she knew this in her head, her body wouldn’t cooperate.

“I,
I…”

A
small voice flowed from her tightly bitten lips, but it was already
after the surrounding commotion had grown too loud.

The
small courage that had risen amid fierce waves faded away without any
meaning.

“…”

Celsia
looked around with confused eyes.

The
countless gazes looking at her seemed to hold only questions but
there was a place that didn’t cast such questioning gazes.

Or
more precisely…they weren’t looking at Celsia.

The
princess’s birthday party was held after several years.

In
a situation where the princess who had changed so much appeared, it
was difficult not to look at Celsia.

Yet
they couldn’t give their attention to Celsia.

“Ah…”

Diana’s
small sigh was heard from behind, but it was already inaudible.

Celsia’s
gaze turned to the center of that strange flow.

There
stood a man where those who weren’t looking at her had fixed their
gazes.

“Ah…”

Celsia
recognized him immediately as the man she had saved in the past.

The
man who had been coughing blood and dying from a goblin horde attack.

—I’m
truly grateful to you for saving my life.

When
they had met by chance at the Academy graduation ceremony, he had
said he hadn’t forgotten that grace, and in his hand…was a
half-mask.

There
was no one around him looking at Celsia.

Everyone
was busy staring blankly at his face, as if hypnotized, as if
enchanted by something.

Among
such people, only Balkan held her in his gaze.

Those
eyes shining with blackness held an upright mindset.

Why?

“Today.”

The
moment she met his eyes, unwavering words sprang from Celsia’s lips.

“I
express my deep gr-gratitude to all of you who have gathered to
celebrate my birth.”

Though
it stuttered slightly due to extreme tension, those who heard that
voice had light shine in their eyes.

Although
her appearance was that of a young girl different from their
memories, that voice belonged to the Second Princess they had
believed in and followed in the past.

Those
looking at Celsia looked up at the girl who wouldn’t even reach their
chest as if she were a giant.

Such
a gap dwelled in that voice.

A
voice befitting a leader of a kingdom that ruled over the labyrinth
where all manner of dangers, malice, and despair lay dormant, filled
with courage and dignity.

It
was clear that the girl before them was someone they should follow.

“It
wouldn’t be proper to keep having you just hold your glasses.”

Celsia
received a glass from a servant and raised it to the air.

“To
the Kingdom of Arlonia.”

What
followed was the enthusiastic cheering of those drenched in hot
fervor.

“To
the Kingdom of Arlonia! To the guardian kingdom that imprisons vile
demons!”

“Long
live Second Princess! Long live Princess Celsia!”

With
resounding cheers, glasses were raised for toasts as a song that
began to grandly fill the banquet hall to match the occasion.

The
princess’s birthday party that suddenly became lively began to emit
heat worthy of a festival.

Amidst
such festivities, Celsia endured the rushing shyness and
embarrassment while trying to look at the one who had encouraged her.

More
precisely, she tried to look.

“What
bullshit.”

-Crack.
Crackle.

“Throwing
those who should be revered as high as the heavens into deep
underground prisons, and what the fuck, a festival? A birthday?”

Until
a dimensional distortion was detected along with a vulgar curse.

“You,
you royals have no right to exist. Descendants of filthy blood who
brought in the disgusting hero.”

Everyone
looked up at the air at that strange phenomenon and voice full of
malice.

The
air that began to crack like breaking glass, as it began to ripple
unstably with distortion, a black oval began to be drawn in the air.

Those
who had encountered the labyrinth muttered blankly as they recognized
the identity of that oval.

“…Portal…?”

-Shwaaaaaaak!

Following
that, an ice arrow shot fiercely toward the inside of the portal.

Though
it was at a speed most people couldn’t even perceive, the arrow left
a trajectory.

People’s
gazes turned to the direction the arrow was shot from.

Diana,
with a hardened expression, spoke in a cold voice while aiming her
bow.

“Get
everyone to evacuate to the prepared ‘guest rooms’. Quickly!”

“Yes!”

Diana,
who had been given the request in anticipation of any situation, gave
orders to the knights behind her before glaring at the portal.

‘Opening
a portal is the power of Pride’s worshipper. Then their companion
is…’

“Such
hospitality from the start. Thank you, Diana Ordia!”

-Crack.
Crackcrack!

A
reddish-brown forearm shot out from the unstably shaking black
portal.

It
was far too large to be a human forearm, with an ice arrow stuck in
it.

As
the monster’s arm full of ferocious muscles tore apart the portal,
its massive body began to appear.

-Crackcrackcrack!

Simultaneously,
several attacks struck.

From
the Academy professor’s lightning magic to the sword strike of one
called the Sword Saint.

“Ungh…”

“Tch.
What kind of skin…!”

But
what was heard were voices of frustration and surprise.

That
monster’s flesh absorbed all attacks directed at it, and finally
emerged completely from the portal.

Even
in a situation where a monster appeared from a portal that formed in
the air, no one screamed.

The
weak-hearted fainted upon facing the thick malice and demonic energy
that was being emitted and were carried to safe places by the knights
while those still standing until now were frozen and couldn’t move
even slightly.

Celsia
glared with eyes full of anger at the two who had invaded the banquet
hall.

A
peacock beastkin who spread their wings proudly and the red-haired
minotaur Ain Gott who nonchalantly shattered the ice arrow stuck in
her forearm.

“Ignorion,
Gott…!”

No
matter how much time passed, there was no way she could forget those
faces.

After
all, she was the one who had ruined Celsia’s most precious memory.

“Well
isn’t it just fucking honorable that the princess remembers me.”

Gott
smiled sickeningly with her face full of scars as she drew the axe
from her back.

“Of
course you should remember the person who’s going to kill you.”

-Kuuuung!

The
special large axe that even the minotaur over 2m tall had to hold
with both hands struck the marble floor, causing cracks and dust to
rise.

“No
time for chat. Can’t maintain the portal for long. End it in 3
minutes.”

“Tch.
Got it.”

Though
Gott clicked her tongue at Ignorion’s words, she nodded.

Though
it was a short time, it was more than enough to dirty someone’s
precious memory into the worst experience.

Besides,
the time she could maintain full power wasn’t even 3 minutes.

‘Moreover,
there’s no saint or anyone with comparable holy power.’

This
place was now her stage.

-Shwaaaaaaak!

Gott
opened her mouth toward the ice arrow flying at her brow and

“Uwoooooooooo!!!!”

She
roared with fierce rage.

The
blessing of beast roar caught and crushed dozens of ice arrows flying
faster than sound.

The
roar didn’t stop there but shattered the ice arrows and caused fierce
winds.

The
band’s instruments fell and flew away, and the luxurious feast items
were blown by the wind as dishes shattered.

The
scenery of the splendid banquet hall instantly blurred with broken
glass shards and spreading dust as if it had been bombed.

-Puwuk!

Lightning
bolts and sword energy flew through the dust.

Gott,
who simultaneously took the counterattacks of Professor Manko Steel
and Duke Rohart, swung her massive forearm to knock away the two.

Right
after, another ice spear flew.

As
the thick dust cleared, Gott’s eyes caught sight of the woman who
flew holding the ice spear.

-Puwuuk!

A
strike imbued with powerful magic pierced through Gott’s neck skin.

Even
with her neck pierced by the spear, a smile spread across Gott’s
face.

Though
it had been a fatal strike that would have severed her just by
touching the spear in her prime, now it merely pierced the skin.

“You’ve
gotten weaker!!! Diana Ordia!!!!!”

Though
the retired Diana had grown slightly weaker, Gott’s skin had grown
tougher as she had sharpened her blade for revenge.

-Kudududuk.

Diana,
who hardened her expression at the spear stuck in her muscles and not
coming out, hurriedly raised her arms to guard.

Through
the gaps in her guard, she saw a fist wrapped in wrathful demonic
energy flying.

-Jeoooooork!

The
fist that struck above her guard lifted Diana’s body into the air.

Diana,
blown away by that recoil, crashed into the wall raising thick dust.

“…Ah…”

Celsia,
who had been gathering magic power to prepare great magic while
others bought time, blankly stared at Diana who had flown next to her
and crashed into the wall.

She
couldn’t believe seeing the one who had saved her from the same
opponent in the past being defeated like this but there was no time
to deny reality.

The
opponent was still charging toward them.

-Kung,
kuung!!

The
ground shook like an earthquake every time the red-haired minotaur
holding the axe took a step.

Finally,
she took to the air.

The
leap that started from the ground reached the banquet hall ceiling
and accelerated further, falling at a fierce speed.

The
axe held in those massive arms fell targeting Celsia.

Celsia,
who instinctively spread a barrier, sensed it.

‘Ah,
this will be pierced…’

-Kaaaaaaaang!!!!

When
she instinctively squeezed her eyes shut, a different sound than
expected rang out.

Celsia’s
eyes that looked up blankly squinted slightly at the tremendous
amount of light.

It
felt as if there was a huge mass of light before her eyes but soon
she could notice that it wasn’t a mass of light but a human figure.

“This
holy power, could it be…”

Gott’s
voice muttering something about the one who had blocked her attack
was not clearly audible.

Celsia
just blankly stared at the one who had protected her with all his
might.

That
man wearing ice armor made of magic.

The
armor he had created looked exactly like the armor she had worn when
she saved him in the past.

Balkan,
who glanced at Celsia, smiled with a gentle face.

“It’s
been a while, Knight.”