episode_0047

The sword passed by at a speed close to the speed of sound, and an explosion like a sonic boom erupted from the spot.

Ppaang-!!

The shock wave generated there shattered stained glass windows placed throughout the ceremony hall.

Even the darkness could not withstand the pressure and had to roll backwards several times.

I quickly got up, but he was already right in front of me and swung his right hand.

Crash-!!

My head turned so much that I thought my cervical vertebrae would break, and the recoil sent my body flying into the air.

The girl stopped suddenly, using the butterfly wings that were sticking out from between her backless dress, just before she hit the wall… .

I had already caught up with him from the moment he flew away, and I extended my foot and slammed it into his abdomen.

BANG!!

“Huh!?”

As she was slammed into the wall behind her, her internal organs were crushed, and tears were clearly visible in her delicate eyes.

I looked at the sight calmly and landed safely, thinking.

Julian… no, he saves her.

‘That’s what I said, but no method comes to mind.’

If I keep holding on to it like this all day, for days on end, I might just get tired and give up.

‘Time is running out for that.’

A topic I discussed with the dean before I set foot here.

The fact that if we delay too long, the Spirit Gate may be destroyed and the entire Academy City may be destroyed.

The moment you enter here, all communication is cut off, so you don’t even know what’s going on outside.

So what I was concerned about right now was not to exceed the one hour time limit that Aria had told me.

‘And there’s only about 10 minutes left until then.’

If Aria or Rene were here, they might have come up with a clever idea that I couldn’t have thought of.

They were all exceptional talents in their respective fields, and so the amount of knowledge in their heads was enormous.

But they also won’t have the luxury of going that far to capture the higher spirits who won’t die even if they’re killed.

Even if you render them incapacitated like the Titans, the upper spirits of the earth, they won’t be able to enter here.

The dark spirits and my two assistants were also on guard, and they had already cut off the space of this ceremony hall from the space of Dustin’s mansion.

‘In the end, do we have no choice but to repeat what we’ve done so far?’

As I was thinking that, the red longsword I was holding in my hand began to tremble.

[Looking at the situation, it seems like things are really difficult.]

“… Ignis?”

The voice of the guy was heard from the sword that Ignis, the superior spirit of fire, had handed over to him.

But just as I was wondering why he only spoke to me now, I received a friendly reply that I hadn’t even asked.

[Because the sword I gave you is like a part of me. I have been observing the situation up until now through that sword.]

“I don’t mind that. Why are you telling me now?”

[When the spirit of darkness was in its full power, it was difficult to resist the contamination and there was nothing we could do… but thanks to your efforts, its control has weakened.]

Does that mean that because he was beaten up, he didn’t have time to focus on anything else?

“If everyone was watching, there would be no need to explain the situation in this urgent situation.”

[Yes. However, it is fortunate that it is not the worst case scenario. It seems that we failed to fully assimilate due to your interference.]

My eyes lit up as I realized the hidden meaning behind those words.

“Does this mean there is a way to overcome this situation?”

[As I said, if your efforts have weakened the bastard’s power and he is not fully assimilated in his current state, it is possible to separate him from his contractor.]

I asked, keeping my eyes fixed on the guy who was struggling to get up from the wall he had been pinned against.

“How?”

[You just need to awaken the spirit of the contractor who has been consumed by the guy with an external shock. Because the moment the contractor refuses to assimilate, the spirit can do nothing.]

But I shook my head at that primitive solution.

“I’ve already beaten you up enough, but nothing happened.”

[That’s not enough. You have to make sure that the darkness doesn’t interfere with the contractor’s mind, and that the immortal being doesn’t really think he’s going to die.]

In addition to that.

[It would be more efficient to attack using me.]

“… Are you talking about this sword I received from you?”

[Yes, I am the spirit of the contractor. If there is a stepping stone called the country when I attack, I can more definitely reach the contractor who is in a deep sleep.]

Up until now, I’ve swung my sword without actually cutting the body or anything.

At best, it was used to slash or threaten hordes of summoned polluted spirits.

Even though he didn’t die and the spirit of darkness was controlling his body, his face and body were his friend’s.

Compared to striking with fists and feet, there was bound to be a sense of rejection from the act of cutting with a sword.

‘But now, isn’t it time to be picky about such things?’

I nodded, steeling my resolve.

“Okay, let’s do it.”

[It is a wise choice. If so, I, although weak, will give you strength.]

At that moment, flames burst out from Ignis’ longsword.

[There is nothing better than fire to defeat darkness.]

“… Does this have any special effects?”

[It’s just for decoration. However, it might become special if you use it.]

I laughed in vain at that absurd statement and then turned my gaze away.

He took a stance towards the darkness that was constantly summoning swarms of shadows similar to his own body shape, glaring at him fiercely.

“Go.”

The next moment, a blaze of flames engulfed the group of shadows.

***

In front of the entrance to the wedding hall.

There was Julia and Jace Dustin in their wedding dresses.

“It seems like only yesterday that I was crawling around with you… But I never thought the day would come when I would have to send you away.”

Just like the person involved, her father, Jace, also seemed to have a different feeling as he said those words.

“… I will make sure to show my face to the family often.”

“If you do that, it would be perfect.”

“We’re not going to a faraway place, and we’re all in the northern part anyway, so what could be difficult?”

With those words, the conversation between the mother and daughter was cut off for a moment. They didn’t know what to talk about on a day like today.

“That’s true.”

At that moment, Jace broke the silence and spoke first.

“Your older brother was the eldest son, so he became the successor to the family and in many ways, he was bound to receive more attention from those around him.”

“That’s right.”

“One, I swear. I have never given your brother more love than I give you. And neither has your mother.”

That statement was absolutely true.

No matter what others said, Dustin and his wife tried to give their twins as much love as possible.

‘lie.’

But, why did I have that thought, even if it was just for a moment?

“… I know, I’ve been watching you from the side the whole time.”

“Thank you for saying that. It’s something I wanted to say to you at least once before you leave our arms.”

“Yeah, thank you too. For raising me with love until now.”

But I couldn’t throw cold water on it by spewing out such useless thoughts, so I answered as nonchalantly as possible.

“It’s almost time to go in. Well then, shall we go?”

When it was her turn to enter the bride’s house, Jace reached out to her.

Julia stared at the hand for a moment, then carefully took it in her hand.

‘Creepy.’

This time too, those negative emotions welled up fiercely, but I didn’t bother to show them.

“Today is a very happy day.”

Julia, holding hands with Jace Dustin, who was smiling faintly, slowly passed through the opening door of the wedding hall.

Squeak!

A long, pure white Virgin Road was visible, stretching all the way to the stage.

Around the blessed path, on both sides, were numerous guests who had gathered to celebrate the couple’s marriage.

“Wow! Julia, you’re so pretty!”

“They say the quiet cat gets into the hut first… How nice, girl!”

“You are so beautiful, Sister! No, from now on I will call you Sister-in-law!”

“Damn! Eugene, I envy you! Be happy, both of you, the groom and the bride!”

Those who sat in the most seats were none other than the children of the northern nobility, friends who had been through thick and thin together.

Julia’s lips slightly smiled at their sincere blessings, sharing the time they spent together on the battlefield, laughing and crying.

She leisurely walked through the audience where her acquaintances were gathered and then arrived at the audience where her family was sitting.

“Keuheuheuheuk-!!”

“Oh my! Why is he like this?”

“Julia!! Think again! If you go, who will I play with!”

“No, that guy!?”

“Aren’t you worried about your brother who will be left alone? If I have to go, I have to go first!”

“On a nice day like this, please take care of yourself! You’re really being a jerk, a jerk!”

Until yesterday, Julian had been teasing her by saying that now that she was free, he could use her empty room as a storage room… .

When the moment to leave actually came, I tried to hold on to her, even while getting hit on the shoulder by my mother.

“My daughter, if you are having a hard time, you can come home anytime. Mom will always be there waiting for you.”

Aile Dustin smiled kindly at her while repeatedly hitting her brother with the palm of her hand.

Just as my eyes were about to turn red, a voice was heard from the groom’s family seat.

“Miss Julia, please take good care of the prince. At least to me, he is someone I can’t help but love.”

The person who sat in that position in place of the Archduke and his wife was the former Knight Commander and Head Butler of the Everhart family.

In fact, he was the one who took on the role of Eugene’s parents in place of the Grand Duke and Duchess, so he was fully qualified to sit in that position.

Julia nodded her head slightly to the butler to indicate her agreement, and soon passed by where her family was sitting.

And the person waiting at the top of that blessed path was the priest of the church who had stepped forward to officiate the ceremony.

“Julia.”

The groom entered the wedding hall before her and waited.

…Eugene Eberhart stood there smiling.