✠
……Of course, I hid my dark intentions well and put forward a justification.
“Odellit Marcellion is dead and Morifis Marcellion cannot come forward, so the only legitimate Marcellion now is Miss Hilde. Since it will be inconvenient for both the Republic’s and the Church’s diplomatic relations, let’s just hold the conversation in the Principality of Hispenril.”
“B-but I am an illegitimate child, and my family is probably under a collateral branch now…”
“Who knows, maybe the collateral might be crazy too? It looks like you’re trying to deny that you are from that family, but such irresponsible remarks don’t work.”
I deliberately pretended to be misleading and blocked Hilde’s rebuttal.
Of course, it was a means to an end, but I didn’t want to push Hilde too much. I momentarily dropped my accusatory tone and spoke softly.
“Let’s go to the Principality of Hispenril and decide on the waiver of inheritance. Come with me, Miss Hilde.”
“……”
Hilde’s eyes trembled slightly. It means that she understood the intention behind my words.
From then on, I whispered softly so that only Hilde could hear.
“There is no one there who will treat you poorly. If anything happens, I will protect you. I promise in my grandfather’s name.”
So, let’s go, hm?
I held out her hand, stroking it lightly.
[‘The Critic who Adjusts the Balance’ grumbles about how hard it is to recruit healers.]
Fortunately, my efforts paid off.
Hilde, who had been looking at my hand with shaking eyes for a while, finally made up her mind.
“Yes……!”
She held my hand back.
Her grip strength is better than I thought. I like it.
<I would like to at least compliment her.>
I feel the same way, for Hilde has just shown great courage.
“Good job.”
The problem of getting Hilde out of the evil lair of the Magic Replubic was also resolved.
The nagging and arguing are finally over. Now is the time to conduct post-war settlements per the duties of the punitive force.
First, I gave instructions to my paladins.
“Vice-Captain Thesilid, please take care of the loot.”
“I already got it. Here.”
“Well, there are a lot. It’s plentiful. Distribution will have to be done slowly after we return.”
Of course, the Kingdom and the Republic did not object to us taking all the loot.
I swept it into my inventory without a second glance. At that moment, I saw an exit gate being created in the throne room.
“Good timing. Ash, Ephael, and Hestio take Hilde to the principality first and wait. This is a transfer stone to the Royal Castle, so take it.”
“What about you?”
“I’m going to close the dungeon with Terry and then go. I have some things to take care of.”
“Okay, we’ll make room for you. You two should spend some quality time together.”
“Hey, Hestio!…Ugh, let’s not talk. Anyway, go before the exit closes.”
“Yes, Captain!”
“Hilde, go quickly too. I’ll follow you in a moment.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtI gave Hilde’s cowering shoulders a good pat on the back and sent her on her way.
<Hmm, the kid is really skinny right now, but her bones are pretty good……>
Before the hell instructor could aim at Hilde, I quickly pushed her back.
After sending off my companions, I went to discuss the disposal of the dungeon with Marquis Lecandro.
“Marquis, as you can see, there are no resources in this dungeon and since it’s the territory of a high-ranking demon, it’s dangerous to leave it behind.”
“I agree, Your Holiness.”
“I will close the dungeon after dealing with the remaining demons. If we let the mirrors in the castle fall into the dump, they’ll likely be picked up by other high-ranking demons as slaves, so we need to destroy them as soon as we see them.”
“Please leave that task to our Kingdom’s army. We’ll regroup the scattered troops in the castle, smash the mirrors, and then head down to find the exit.”
“Then we will close in an hour. Is that okay with you, Marquis Lecandro?”
“That’s enough.”
Marquis Lecandro returned to the Kingdom’s army and gave various instructions.
As I watched from a distance, she seemed to be ordering Frintz to take Bianca and get out of the dungeon first.
Bianca, who had already reached her limit, fainted in my brother’s arms.
I made eye contact with Frintz from afar and watched Bianca until they disappeared from sight.
It seems like I stayed like that for quite some time.
[‘The Eyes that Watch Over the Chaos of All Things’ loves your wistful gaze.]
At that time, a deep bass sound rang in my ears.
“Friend?”
“Yeah.”
“I see.”
Thesilid asked, knowing it. For some reason, it seemed like he just wanted to talk to me.
I felt like I should look back at him, and I did.
Then our eyes met and he smiled kindly.
“Eli, I feel that you really care about her. I’m jealous.”
“Hmm…It’s not something you should be jealous of, is it?”
“Huh?”
“……No, never mind.”
If we continued this conversation further, the atmosphere would become awkward.
While interrupting the conversation to blur the topic, Thesilid muttered bitterly to himself.
“Because what is precious and what is necessary are different.”
……I never imagined I would hear something like this.
When my lips reflexively tensed to refute.
“Your Holiness.”
Thesilid and I turned our heads at the same time to see a lady with white blonde hair and peacock-blue eyes.
“Your Royal Highness.”
Celestide came to greet me before heading out to the exit gate.
We are of equal ceremonial ranks. But Celestide bowed to me with the courtesy.
“Please understand that I can only give a brief thank you to the savior of my life. I will formally express my gratitude at a later date.”
“Yes. I look forward to seeing you again.”
“I hope to see you with Bianca then, and…”
Celestide’s eyes glanced at Thesilid.
“If possible, the Owner of the Holy Sword too.”
“……”
Thesilid seemed quite embarrassed when he was confronted with her mysterious shimmering blue eyes. Then he noticed me.
“Oh, this, no, I don’t really……”
I could see how he interpreted the attention given by the beauty in front of him.
I suppressed my laughter and answered on his behalf.
“Of course. I will go with Sir Thesilid.”
“Thank you in many ways, Your Holiness the Chosen One.”
We wished each other a cordial reunion. And with that, I felt that the subjugation had ended safely.
But.
Accidents always happen in moments of relaxation.
<Ellet!>
“……!”
Agnes’ urgent warning went off when I felt something.
The space swayed roughly like waves and the exit gate disappeared. But it’s not just that.
“Mercury’s Barrier……!”
It was the quickest reaction I could muster. But it was too late, and the price was terrible.
An unrealistic scene unfolded before my eyes.
Pachang!
The silver fortress that was not fully created shattered into pieces.
Shwwwwuwu!
Black Auror blades dug into the scattering light powder.
and.
“……!”
Thesilid, who was right in front of me a moment ago, within arm’s reach was snatched by five aura blades and thrown against the wall of the throne room.
Kwoong!
All of this happened in an instant.
My eyes fluttered open in disbelief. Soon the dust cleared from sight and Thesilid was revealed.
“……Ah.”
His back was pinned to the wall, and a dark red waterfall ran down his back.
“……Terry?”
There was no answer. His head bent forward, his body limp. He doesn’t move.
“Terry.”
Why is Thesilid……
You were right next to me just a little while ago……
<Come to your senses, Ellet!>
“……!”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmFor a moment, I almost got eaten by the shock that exceeded my threshold. My mental barrier kicked in late but quickly calmed me down.
The situation was clear.
The 100th Thesilid Argent.
‘Newborn Chaos and Evil’, Reed.
He is coming.
No, he’s here.
Then, what had to be done was decided. I immediately activated the Queen’s Might.
“Your Holiness……Aaaah!”
My right arm pushed Celestide as if throwing her.
She slid all the way across the doorway, and Marquis Lecandro caught her safely. And at that moment
Kwaaaang!
The door slammed shut, isolating the space.
[‘The World-building God’ is tense.]
[‘The Scales that Judges the Soul’ stops breathing.]
There were still knights left in the throne room who had not been able to escape. They murmured in confusion.
“Wh-What on earth is this….”
Pshh!
A jet-black Auror Blade cuts off someone’s words and that knight’s death was the beginning.
Swiiih!
“Huk! Th-the swords are pouring down……!”
“What kind of attack it…Guah!”
“W-What, get away from me! Aaahhhh!”
Dozens of Auror blades took over the throne room.
They sliced through the air in straight lines and curves, drawing black trajectories that snuffed out life.
Psh! Puk! Psook!
“Cough!”
Bodies fell, mangled, and pierced by the carnage of the swords. A soggy red carpet was spread across the entire floor of the throne room.
<Ellet!>
Nine Aura Blades were attacking me.
I was frantic parring them off with Serpens. In this situation, it was impossible to reach Thesilid.
“Terry…!”
The dozen steps between him and me seemed incredibly distant.
Then it happened.
The nine Aura blades stopped attacking and moved away from me at once. They were aimed at me with their sharp tips from a reasonable distance.
I was in a state of solid siege. Instead of making a hasty move, I rolled my eyes and scanned my surroundings.
Before I knew it, the Aura Blades that had been slicing through the throne room had become quiet.
Twenty knights had been annihilated in a matter of seconds.
I barely managed to suppress the sound of my breathing becoming heavy, sharpened all the senses in my body, and absorbed all environmental information.
But my state of vigilance which seemed like an eternity ended faster than expected.
Jeopuk, Jeopuk, Jeopuk…
What made my ears ring was the sound of laid-back and gentle footsteps.
My hearing immediately pinpointed the location and I slowly looked back toward the platform where the throne was.
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