While Rubea was deep in worry. Without realizing it, Marquis Glever took a hesitant step back to avoid Randall. When his murderous light green eyes turned towards him, he felt like prey in front of a wild beast.
'How...!'
How is Randall here? He even led Auston Dosler and the knights as if he had expected something like this!
'Is it Rubia?'
The Marquis gritted his teeth with reasonable suspicion and looked back at his daughter. However, Rubia was also contemplating something with her embarrassed expression clearly visible on her face. Her attitude was such that it was impossible to believe that she was the one who informed Randall of the treason.
'Then who the hell is that?!'
Marquis Glever was confused and his face was distorted. Rapold, who was just as confused as him, raised his voice.
"What! How are you here?”
“That’s what I’m going to say, Rapold.”
Randall let out a cold laugh and moved his sword. He aimed the tip of his sword at Rapold and his eyes flashed fiercely.
“How dare you, in the land I rule. Low-level demons.”
“...!”
For a moment, a horrifying sense of death was directed at Rapold and the Marquis Glever. Rapold felt as if his throat was being cut just by looking at him, so he instinctively turned to the darkness.
"Shit! This is what happened anyway, all I have to do is take your head!”
Kieeeeek!
Auston was sweating coldly while maintaining the barrier but sneered at Marquis Glever. The Marquis of Glever swung his sword frantically, his face turning red. As a family head who had spent his entire life in the North, his sword was not easy, but it was not strong enough to change the course of the war.
“...!”
Rapold barely managed to block Randall's sword with his claws. However, he felt that the arm blocking the blade was trembling due to its strength. Randall whispered softly to him, his eyes shining darkly.
“Why, Rapold. You have to run away this time too. Shouldn’t you run away and save your worthless life for one more day?”
‘This bastard...!'
He set up barriers everywhere and then ran away. It was the ultimate mockery. Rapold tried to curl up the corner of his mouth, but it was not enough to erase the feeling that his death was getting closer by the minute. Randall spoke sarcastically as if he knew that Rapold was scared.
“Of course, I have no intention of letting you go.”
That can't be possible.
The Marquis curled up like a bug and struggled. Rapold, who had lost both of his hands and was confronting Randel, frowned at the sight. The thing that bit Marquis Glever's hand was clearly a monster that had already died. This is impossible according to common sense.
Sylvia furrowed her brows and then calmed down her expression again. Rubia still had her eyes closed. Sylvia was relieved by that fact and asked quietly.
“How was that possible?”
“What are you talking about...”
“It was the same when I hurt my back, and it was the same this time too.”
“...”
“You have always been proud of what you have. But did you ever feel like giving up all that in an instant?”
Sylvia still couldn't understand Rubia. Rubia was proud of the fact that she was Belfort's vassal and one of those who ruled the North. The evidence was that her neck and back were always upright. But how can she act like that even in a situation where she could lose everything, even her life?
Randall, who blinked curiously, immediately seemed to understand the question and smiled sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head with one hand. He answered Sylvia’s question with his eyes still warm.
"It's okay."
“....”
“Of course, I didn’t feel good, but still... It's okay."
She knew it instinctively. There is not a single lie mixed into what Randall is saying now. Saying that he was hurt, and saying that he was okay despite that. It's all the truth.
'How.'
How can you be okay? How did you... Can you be strong? Unlike me.
'How...!'
How is Randall here? He even led Auston Dosler and the knights as if he had expected something like this!
'Is it Rubia?'
The Marquis gritted his teeth with reasonable suspicion and looked back at his daughter. However, Rubia was also contemplating something with her embarrassed expression clearly visible on her face. Her attitude was such that it was impossible to believe that she was the one who informed Randall of the treason.
'Then who the hell is that?!'
Marquis Glever was confused and his face was distorted. Rapold, who was just as confused as him, raised his voice.
"What! How are you here?”
“That’s what I’m going to say, Rapold.”
Randall let out a cold laugh and moved his sword. He aimed the tip of his sword at Rapold and his eyes flashed fiercely.
“How dare you, in the land I rule. Low-level demons.”
“...!”
For a moment, a horrifying sense of death was directed at Rapold and the Marquis Glever. Rapold felt as if his throat was being cut just by looking at him, so he instinctively turned to the darkness.
"Shit! This is what happened anyway, all I have to do is take your head!”
Kieeeeek!
Rapold's shadow seemed to waver like a wave, and monsters and ghosts poured out of it. It was a demon's special ability that allowed him to subjugate monsters and ghosts that were lower level than himself, then summon them when he wanted and use them like limbs.
"Haha! Kill them all!”
Rapold burst into laughter filled with fear and excitement and rushed at Randall. He drew his hand down, scraping his blade with his steel-like nails. The forest quickly became a mess due to the battle. The knights were busy cutting down the monsters and ghosts that were clinging to them. Marquis Glever rushed to attack Auston but was blocked by the knight guarding him.
“Ugh...!”
“It’s ugly, Marquis. I can sell my morality to a certain extent for money, but I don’t sell my humanity as a whole.”
“You bastard, Dosler!”
"Haha! Kill them all!”
Rapold burst into laughter filled with fear and excitement and rushed at Randall. He drew his hand down, scraping his blade with his steel-like nails. The forest quickly became a mess due to the battle. The knights were busy cutting down the monsters and ghosts that were clinging to them. Marquis Glever rushed to attack Auston but was blocked by the knight guarding him.
“Ugh...!”
“It’s ugly, Marquis. I can sell my morality to a certain extent for money, but I don’t sell my humanity as a whole.”
“You bastard, Dosler!”
Auston was sweating coldly while maintaining the barrier but sneered at Marquis Glever. The Marquis of Glever swung his sword frantically, his face turning red. As a family head who had spent his entire life in the North, his sword was not easy, but it was not strong enough to change the course of the war.
Kiik!
The knights, who knew about the treason in advance and were fully prepared, calmly eliminated the monster. On the other hand, the military power of Marquis Glever and Rapold was very shabby.
Originally, it was planned to receive additional monsters from Torsion, but it failed. Although Rapold hastily summoned all of his subordinates, they is a low-level demon. Compared to other demons, the number of monsters and ghosts it could handle was significantly smaller.
Rapold gritted his teeth when he heard his family members screaming one by one. But before he had time to feel despair, a sword flew in with a heavy sound of wind.
Cheaeng-!
“...!”
Rapold barely managed to block Randall's sword with his claws. However, he felt that the arm blocking the blade was trembling due to its strength. Randall whispered softly to him, his eyes shining darkly.
“Why, Rapold. You have to run away this time too. Shouldn’t you run away and save your worthless life for one more day?”
‘This bastard...!'
He set up barriers everywhere and then ran away. It was the ultimate mockery. Rapold tried to curl up the corner of his mouth, but it was not enough to erase the feeling that his death was getting closer by the minute. Randall spoke sarcastically as if he knew that Rapold was scared.
“Of course, I have no intention of letting you go.”
Suddenly!
“Kaaaaak!”
The moment when light green eyes shine eerily. Randall, who flicked Rapold's hand away, slashed his sword long and cut off his opponent's arm. Rapold let out a shattering scream and frantically fired the blade-like darkness. However, he could not even cut off the hem of Randall's clothes and only dug into the ground. A moment of despair flashed across Marquis Glever's face as he glanced around at Rapold's scream.
'Is this the end?'
It was a situation where victory or defeat was clear to anyone. A ghost screaming silently and dispersing as if melting. A monster that cannot avoid the knights' swords and falls down after being injured. Even Rapold lost his remaining arm and rolled on the floor due to Randall. Everything he had desperately built was falling apart.
'I have to die... Like this?'
“Kaaaaak!”
The moment when light green eyes shine eerily. Randall, who flicked Rapold's hand away, slashed his sword long and cut off his opponent's arm. Rapold let out a shattering scream and frantically fired the blade-like darkness. However, he could not even cut off the hem of Randall's clothes and only dug into the ground. A moment of despair flashed across Marquis Glever's face as he glanced around at Rapold's scream.
'Is this the end?'
It was a situation where victory or defeat was clear to anyone. A ghost screaming silently and dispersing as if melting. A monster that cannot avoid the knights' swords and falls down after being injured. Even Rapold lost his remaining arm and rolled on the floor due to Randall. Everything he had desperately built was falling apart.
'I have to die... Like this?'
That can't be possible.
The eyes of Marquis Glever, who was cornered, sparkled brightly. He violently pushed away the sword of the knight guarding Auston, then turned and jumped into the midst of the monsters. What he grabbed with his outstretched hand was his daughter.
“Ugh!”
“Stop!”
Rubia, who was preoccupied with inferring Sylvia's whereabouts, was dragged away by the Marquis without any time to resist. The Marquis of Glever raised his voice, pointing the sword in his hand at his daughter's neck.
“My daughter had nothing to do with this! You wouldn't want to kill a child like that! Beat the knights, now!”
Randall and the knights reflexively stopped moving in that shocking situation. Rubia was not even able to breathe properly due to the shock and the blade that was close to the nape of her neck. Randall gritted his teeth.
'He seems like a person who is not even good at martial arts.'
He was so busy blocking Rapold's movements that he didn't even pay attention to Rubia. Randall asked in a cold, subdued voice.
"What do you want?"
“Prepare a horse and a moving magic circle so I can escape. If you do anything foolish, I will cut her down right away.”
Marquis Glever held his sword tightly as if to prove that what he said was not a lie. As a result, a stream of fresh blood flowed down Rubia's neck. Randall, seeing that, had no choice but to open his mouth.
“... Step back.”
“My Lord!”
“I told you to step back.”
The knights eventually took a step back, glaring at the Marquis. Rubia, who was looking at the scene, opened her eyes wide to hold back tears from anger.
“...Father."
Marquis Glever's arms trembled at the soft call. An emotion similar to guilt flashed across his face for a moment. However, Rubia, who was being held with her back to the Marquis, could not see his face. She muttered with a strangely detached look on her face.
“My father always said something to me.”
"Our lives are to protect the safety of our citizens and those who have given their loyalty."
Her father’s face when he said that was always sturdy and handsome. Even in this situation, his teachings never leave her mind.
“I will protect my pride.”
Even if it means sacrificing her life.
"What...”
Marquis Glever tried to move his lips, perhaps sensing something unusual. But Rubia was the first to close her eyes and take a big step forward.
“Rubi...!”
Randall's eyes widened in shock. Then, the moment the sharp blade of the sword penetrated deep into her neck.
“Juguuuun!”
A loud voice shook the forest. The voice was so loud that everyone stopped moving for a moment. Marquis Glever, Randall, and Rubia tried to tie Marquis Glever's hands and feet with his own death. A brief silence as if time had stopped. At the same time Jeffrey with a scared face pops out from the other side of the forest and crashes into the barrier. The monster that had fallen at the feet of Marquis Glever opened its teeth and rushed at him.
“Ugh!”
“Stop!”
Rubia, who was preoccupied with inferring Sylvia's whereabouts, was dragged away by the Marquis without any time to resist. The Marquis of Glever raised his voice, pointing the sword in his hand at his daughter's neck.
“My daughter had nothing to do with this! You wouldn't want to kill a child like that! Beat the knights, now!”
Randall and the knights reflexively stopped moving in that shocking situation. Rubia was not even able to breathe properly due to the shock and the blade that was close to the nape of her neck. Randall gritted his teeth.
'He seems like a person who is not even good at martial arts.'
He was so busy blocking Rapold's movements that he didn't even pay attention to Rubia. Randall asked in a cold, subdued voice.
"What do you want?"
“Prepare a horse and a moving magic circle so I can escape. If you do anything foolish, I will cut her down right away.”
Marquis Glever held his sword tightly as if to prove that what he said was not a lie. As a result, a stream of fresh blood flowed down Rubia's neck. Randall, seeing that, had no choice but to open his mouth.
“... Step back.”
“My Lord!”
“I told you to step back.”
The knights eventually took a step back, glaring at the Marquis. Rubia, who was looking at the scene, opened her eyes wide to hold back tears from anger.
“...Father."
Marquis Glever's arms trembled at the soft call. An emotion similar to guilt flashed across his face for a moment. However, Rubia, who was being held with her back to the Marquis, could not see his face. She muttered with a strangely detached look on her face.
“My father always said something to me.”
"Our lives are to protect the safety of our citizens and those who have given their loyalty."
Her father’s face when he said that was always sturdy and handsome. Even in this situation, his teachings never leave her mind.
“I will protect my pride.”
Even if it means sacrificing her life.
"What...”
Marquis Glever tried to move his lips, perhaps sensing something unusual. But Rubia was the first to close her eyes and take a big step forward.
“Rubi...!”
Randall's eyes widened in shock. Then, the moment the sharp blade of the sword penetrated deep into her neck.
“Juguuuun!”
A loud voice shook the forest. The voice was so loud that everyone stopped moving for a moment. Marquis Glever, Randall, and Rubia tried to tie Marquis Glever's hands and feet with his own death. A brief silence as if time had stopped. At the same time Jeffrey with a scared face pops out from the other side of the forest and crashes into the barrier. The monster that had fallen at the feet of Marquis Glever opened its teeth and rushed at him.
Crack!
“Kwaaaak!”
Rubia instinctively closed her eyes tightly at the mouth of the monster that was right in front of her. But she didn't feel the pain she expected, and the pressure that had been weighing on her shoulders disappeared. The monster's body had bitten off the Marquis' right hand, where he was holding his sword.
“Uh, ah! Off...”
“Kwaaaak!”
Rubia instinctively closed her eyes tightly at the mouth of the monster that was right in front of her. But she didn't feel the pain she expected, and the pressure that had been weighing on her shoulders disappeared. The monster's body had bitten off the Marquis' right hand, where he was holding his sword.
“Uh, ah! Off...”
The Marquis curled up like a bug and struggled. Rapold, who had lost both of his hands and was confronting Randel, frowned at the sight. The thing that bit Marquis Glever's hand was clearly a monster that had already died. This is impossible according to common sense.
The only thing that could make such a thing possible was the 'darkness' of the demon race, which could deal with all kinds of evil things, including death. But he's the only demon here, right?
‘Who on earth...?'
Rapold unconsciously followed the commotion and moved his gaze into the forest.
“My Lord! What is all this about?”
Jeffrey was pounding on Auston's barrier with his fist and making a crying sound. Rapold's gaze then landed on the woman standing behind Jeffrey. In contrast to Jeffrey, she had a strangely calm face.
‘That... !'
The moment when Rapold noticed a red glow in the center of her eyes and opened her eyes.
‘Who on earth...?'
Rapold unconsciously followed the commotion and moved his gaze into the forest.
“My Lord! What is all this about?”
Jeffrey was pounding on Auston's barrier with his fist and making a crying sound. Rapold's gaze then landed on the woman standing behind Jeffrey. In contrast to Jeffrey, she had a strangely calm face.
‘That... !'
The moment when Rapold noticed a red glow in the center of her eyes and opened her eyes.
Deep!
Randall, who did not miss the opportunity when his opponent's mind was distracted, pierced Rapold's heart straight through.
***
People were shocked when it became known that Marquis Glever was planning treason. Those who had only known the appearance of the Marquis to the outside world were initially suspicious and unable to believe it. But the content of the note in which his daughter, Rubia, attempted to reveal her father's treason. After the story spread that the Marquis had taken her daughter hostage to save his life, people's reactions turned to anger.
"Rapold, a low-level demon involved in this rebellion, has died. Additionally, Garnet Glever, the person responsible for plotting the treason, is executed, and his daughter, Rubia Glever, is spared punishment in recognition of her efforts to uncover her father's crimes."
Randall set a date for Marquis Glever's execution and imprisoned him in a dungeon. Not only was Rubia not punished, she was allowed, at Sylvia's insistence, to stay at Belfort Castle until her neck wound healed.
“...You don’t have to do this, Ma’am.”
“Anyway, it’s true that I didn’t deliver the note. I think it’s instead.”
Sylvia responded calmly and placed a cold, wrung-out towel on Rubia's forehead.
Randall set a date for Marquis Glever's execution and imprisoned him in a dungeon. Not only was Rubia not punished, she was allowed, at Sylvia's insistence, to stay at Belfort Castle until her neck wound healed.
“...You don’t have to do this, Ma’am.”
“Anyway, it’s true that I didn’t deliver the note. I think it’s instead.”
Sylvia responded calmly and placed a cold, wrung-out towel on Rubia's forehead.
"Randall...! You knew?"
When Sylvia entered the forest to deliver Rubia's note, Randall had already attacked Marquis Glever. Although she arrived belatedly, she secretly raised the darkness and freed Rubia from the clutches of the Marquis. Since this was something no one knew about, there was no need or meaning to say anything.
“By the way, you are very skilled. To the point where he looks like someone who has done this kind of thing often.”
“...It’s an illusion.”
Sylvia gave a pretense, secretly hiding her beautiful hands without any blemishes behind her back. Fortunately, Rubia felt much better as the cold towel touched her forehead, and she let out a soft moan and closed her eyes.
When Sylvia entered the forest to deliver Rubia's note, Randall had already attacked Marquis Glever. Although she arrived belatedly, she secretly raised the darkness and freed Rubia from the clutches of the Marquis. Since this was something no one knew about, there was no need or meaning to say anything.
“By the way, you are very skilled. To the point where he looks like someone who has done this kind of thing often.”
“...It’s an illusion.”
Sylvia gave a pretense, secretly hiding her beautiful hands without any blemishes behind her back. Fortunately, Rubia felt much better as the cold towel touched her forehead, and she let out a soft moan and closed her eyes.
For a moment, quiet peace came to the sunny room. Sylvia looked at Rubia's face, which was slightly flushed due to the fever, and then opened her mouth.
“Anyway, I want to ask you something.”
“I don’t like that.”
“...It's a pity, but it's the same for me. And that wasn’t even the question.”
“Anyway, I want to ask you something.”
“I don’t like that.”
“...It's a pity, but it's the same for me. And that wasn’t even the question.”
Sylvia furrowed her brows and then calmed down her expression again. Rubia still had her eyes closed. Sylvia was relieved by that fact and asked quietly.
“How was that possible?”
“What are you talking about...”
“It was the same when I hurt my back, and it was the same this time too.”
“...”
“You have always been proud of what you have. But did you ever feel like giving up all that in an instant?”
Sylvia still couldn't understand Rubia. Rubia was proud of the fact that she was Belfort's vassal and one of those who ruled the North. The evidence was that her neck and back were always upright. But how can she act like that even in a situation where she could lose everything, even her life?
Such questions were lingering in Sylvia’s mind. Rubia closed her eyes and frowned, replying casually.
“I just did what was natural as a human being, so do I need a reason? You’re asking a strange question.”
“...Is it."
Sylvia still couldn't understand Rubia. But a corner of her heart trembled strangely. Sylvia immediately smiled bitterly and stood up.
“Just take a break. I’ll go.”
“....”
Rubia didn't answer, perhaps because she fell asleep due to the effects of the medicine. Sylvia left the room, being careful not to make a sound.
“Sylvia.”
“...Randall.”
Randall, who was just crossing the hallway, saw Sylvia and approached her with a smile.
“I came to accompany you back to your room. Is the Lady of the Marquis of Glever asleep?”
But Sylvia stared at Randall’s smiling face in silence. Perhaps she is the most incomprehensible person here. She couldn't help but ask because the smile on his lips felt foreign to her.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes?... Ah."
“I just did what was natural as a human being, so do I need a reason? You’re asking a strange question.”
“...Is it."
Sylvia still couldn't understand Rubia. But a corner of her heart trembled strangely. Sylvia immediately smiled bitterly and stood up.
“Just take a break. I’ll go.”
“....”
Rubia didn't answer, perhaps because she fell asleep due to the effects of the medicine. Sylvia left the room, being careful not to make a sound.
“Sylvia.”
“...Randall.”
Randall, who was just crossing the hallway, saw Sylvia and approached her with a smile.
“I came to accompany you back to your room. Is the Lady of the Marquis of Glever asleep?”
But Sylvia stared at Randall’s smiling face in silence. Perhaps she is the most incomprehensible person here. She couldn't help but ask because the smile on his lips felt foreign to her.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes?... Ah."
Randall, who blinked curiously, immediately seemed to understand the question and smiled sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head with one hand. He answered Sylvia’s question with his eyes still warm.
"It's okay."
“....”
“Of course, I didn’t feel good, but still... It's okay."
She knew it instinctively. There is not a single lie mixed into what Randall is saying now. Saying that he was hurt, and saying that he was okay despite that. It's all the truth.
'How.'
How can you be okay? How did you... Can you be strong? Unlike me.
Thump, thump.
In the quiet hallway, only the sound of her heart beating loudly rang in her ears. Sylvia looked into Randall's eyes, feeling a little dazed.
'...Tree.'
Light green eyes that resemble sprouts. But today, the color was unusual and looked like a tree standing tall under the sky. Sylvia could not take her eyes off Randall for a long time after that.
Light green eyes that resemble sprouts. But today, the color was unusual and looked like a tree standing tall under the sky. Sylvia could not take her eyes off Randall for a long time after that.
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