You really did like it

You really did like it

Minced meat… I think she speaks quite roughly even when talking, and I let out a chuckle.

Well, it’s not entirely wrong, so I nodded silently and fell into thought.

‘Perhaps the reason for attacking Espin was to attack Delia in the first place.’

Unlike Espin, the Herdi family to which Delia belongs is quite a powerful family.

From their perspective, it would have been quite difficult to attack.

‘But if I, who has recently caused all their plans to fail, get involved as well.’

It would be particularly troublesome for the Heaven God Cult, so I thought they might have done this deliberately to separate us.

‘They’re doing quite an interesting thing.’

As I decided to remember this incident, I quickened my pace.

The Herdi family mansion can be faintly seen in the distance.

Seeing this, I approached even faster to examine it, and I realized that the condition of the mansion was more serious than I had expected.

‘Did they actually blow up the building itself?’

Not just an ordinary noble family, but the mansion of the prestigious Herdi family would have multiple layers of protective magic.

It’s hard to believe they broke through and blew it up.

Realizing this fact, I understood that the situation was more serious than I thought and hardened my expression.

‘I hope Delia is alright.’

There would be numerous security personnel within the Herdi family, so it wouldn’t have been as devastatingly ransacked as with Espin.

Still, due to various worries, I quickly moved my feet.

As I stepped on the blackened, burnt trees and entered inside, what I saw was.

“… Kyaaaaaah!”

It was a scene of people who appeared to be Herdi family employees dying miserably.

Seeing this, I sensed that if even the employees were dying, most of the security personnel must have been killed, and I drew up my mana.

‘The most important thing right now is the safety of Delia and those around her.’

Deciding to protect Delia first, I decided to move as quickly as possible.

* * * * *

Delia couldn’t help but freeze at the screams and groans coming from everywhere.

Given her position in a high-ranking family, she understood that having many enemies was inevitable.

‘Even with many enemies, everyone knows that fighting against the Herdi family would result in absolute loss.’

Regardless of how they felt about each other.

There had never been such blatant attacks like this before… This time, it was incomprehensible how they were attacking as if trying to annihilate the entire Herdi family.

‘How do they plan to deal with the aftermath? Even if they succeed, there won’t be a future after this. Why go to such lengths?’

As long as there are relatives remaining.

Those who attacked the Herdi family would eventually pay for their crimes.

While biting her lip and wondering why they were doing such a foolish thing, someone chopped at the door with an axe and said.

“We’ve found Delia!”

Given that they specifically mentioned her name and said they found her.

It seems they were looking for her from the start.

Feeling something strange about the situation, she activated her protective magic.

‘Could it be… they’re doing this because of me?’

Because of her, who was merely an Academy student?

Of course, her position as the young lady of the Herdi family wasn’t insignificant.

But it wasn’t enough to warrant terrorizing a high-ranking family’s mansion to kidnap her, and she couldn’t understand why they were acting this way.

The entire situation felt not only beyond common sense but also destructive.

I felt dizzy and had a blank expression on my face.

I could see a man with a strange smile on his face breaking down the door with an axe and entering.

“……”

A sense of tension comes over me.

I had passed all kinds of studies and tests with excellent grades at the Academy to prepare for such combat situations.

But being in this situation directly, I realized that all of those things were meaningless.

‘… Hah.’

Trying hard to hold back a sigh, I cast Frozen, a magic that freezes the entire target area, the moment he entered.

But the man who came in smashed the magic itself with his axe, breaking it, and let out a laugh.

I knew it would be blocked.

But I didn’t expect it to be blocked so easily, I thought as I gritted my teeth.

The guard knights gesture for me to step back as they block my front.

“Miss, please step back.”

I nod at those words and step backwards.

I can see dozens of people outside, each grabbing weapons and pouring in.

‘… Could it be that everyone outside has been taken down?’

Seeing how easily they’re coming in, it might be so.

I was worried about my family’s safety in this reality.

But there was no way to check, so I could only worry in my heart.

‘Now I have to find a way to survive somehow.’

What would be the best thing to do?

While pondering such thoughts, I suddenly remembered the magic formula that Deren had modified for me earlier, and my eyes widened.

‘If I use this strengthened magic, I might be able to break through.’

Since there were knights guarding me anyway, I just needed to create an opening.

Moreover, since this incident was happening in the middle of the city, support personnel would likely be sent from the central government or allied families.

Deciding to hold out for a little while, I recalled the magic I learned from Deren.

‘Rapid Freezing Magic, Ice Age.’

The reason I learned this was simple.

The ice magic that never melts… somehow.

It seemed like proof that I had endured my sickly childhood and stood firm and strong.

Recalling this fact, I drew up all the mana in my body, raising a chill to the point where the surroundings slowly began to freeze.

The main weakness of this magic was maintaining composure while completing the spell.

So, just as I was slowly continuing the magic.

“Urghhhh!”

Starting with the scream of the knight guard who stood in front to protect me.

The hired men surrounding us began to fall one by one, each letting out screams.

“M-Miss… run away.”

Although I was slightly shaken by the sight of red blood bursting everywhere.

I tried to calm myself and slowly continued the magic, focusing mana on one spot.

‘……’

Since it was a power that normally could never be drawn out.

A more intense recoil than usual magic hit me, causing a feeling of my internal organs being mixed up.

When I was slowly continuing this while suffering in pain.

“… Kyaaaaaah!”

I saw the guard knight who had been protecting me until the end collapse covered in blood.

At that moment, the magic was suddenly cut off, and the mana was shaken, scattering the magic I had created and dispersing it in all directions.

“……”

Seeing this, the remaining nanny, thinking this wouldn’t do, grabbed my hand and pulled me back.

Looking out the window, she speaks with a conflicted voice.

“Young lady… if it comes to it, it might be better to fall outside. I’ll jump first to draw their attention, so please escape while the enemies are focused on me.”

I shook my head, momentarily choked up at the words of sacrifice.

But the nanny held my hand tightly and asked me to do as she said.

“I’ve been truly happy to serve young lady Delia for such a long time. There’s so much I want to say, but…”

Before she could finish her words, a loud voice is heard from the side.

“As long as she’s alive, arms and legs don’t matter!”

At those words, the nanny smiled awkwardly and said.

“Then, thank you for everything until now.”

With those final words, the nanny picks up a weapon and tries to jump out the window first.

Being on the second floor, jumping alone wouldn’t kill her.

But all the enemies would focus on her, so she would ultimately die.

Because such a future was so clearly pictured in my mind.

I spat out the blood that had filled my mouth due to the aftermath of the failed magic and once again drew up mana.

‘There’s not much time left, so it’s impossible to manifest it perfectly, but.’

If I compromise on this and maximize the speed, I might be able to succeed.

So I chanted the magic spell faster than usual and drew it out.

White frost begins to swirl around and fill the room.

Seeing this, I slowly called out the name of the magic.

“… Ice Age.”

As befitting a rapid freezing spell, it’s magic that freezes everything in place.

All the surrounding enemies freeze into ice flower shapes and solidify as soon as they touch my magic.

Since it’s such a powerful spell and beyond my level.

The aftermath hit strongly, freezing my hands and making my whole body tremble.

But the joy of success and the fact that I protected others suppresses the pain.

‘… It worked.’

I’ve frozen at least dozens of people, so we should be safe for a while now.

While thinking that we’ve survived and other reinforcements will come to help us soon.

Kwaaang!

Someone starts walking out slowly, shattering the frozen people without hesitation.

Even at a glance, this person looks like a formidable opponent.

Most of the Herdi family’s security forces must have been taken down by this guy, I thought as I gritted my teeth.

‘Can I win?’

There was no way I could win.

Even if I were in perfect condition, I wouldn’t be able to win, let alone escape.

After using magic beyond my level, I’m in a tattered state… I’ll probably lose no matter what.

I let out a hollow laugh at this realization.

‘I’ve heard that you never know how life will turn out.’

Biting my lip, I thought about how I never expected to die like this.

Feeling somewhat resigned, I let out a bitter laugh as if to shake off the complexity of the situation.

I realized there was nothing more I could do.

‘I wish I could see Deren one last time.’

The moment I think about how strangely I want to see Deren, I feel odd.

I’ve always said I liked him, but…

I never thought Deren’s face would come to mind in my dying moments.

‘I really did like him, huh.’

As I was thinking it must be serious if I’m thinking of Deren even at a time like this.

The person in front of me starts charging at me with a huge sword.

Seeing this, I squeeze my eyes shut and wait for what’s to come.

Crunch. Bang!

I hear the sound of bones being crushed and someone being slammed into a wall.

Curious, I open my eyes slightly.

I see a mace embedded in the head of the man who was charging at me.

“… A mace?”

As I stare blankly at this unexpected turn of events.

Deren was approaching with a visibly angry expression.