“Do you know by any chance why my magic was broken?”
Sylvia was silent for a moment at the question, then answered smoothly.
“Well, when I came into the room, it was only Randall. There was nothing else strange.”
“I see. It seems that it was broken after colliding with the power of the Demon Tribe. I must work harder.”
Auston made a sour face. Sylvia looked away from him, pretending not to notice.
“Oh, I’m late! Sorry!”
The servant sent by Wilcott belatedly called the Duke's physician. The physician, who had rushed in in the middle of the night, examined Randall's condition in a disheveled manner.
“The trauma has healed well thanks to Mr. Auston, but he still has a high fever. He is also unconscious.”
The attending physician spoke quickly with a serious expression on his face. He looked at his assistant and said,
“Bring me the Teyrin herb.”
“Oh my, if it’s the Teyrin herb... there’s none left now.”
“What? I always told you to take care of yourself so that you don’t lack anything!”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! A few hours ago, there was a woman who was begging in front of the gate with a sick child...! I gave them the remaining Teirin herbs according to the Duke’s orders. I was going to refill them when the sun rose...!”
The assistant kept bowing his head with a sad expression. Thelma, who was watching him, clicked her tongue and rolled up her arms.
“Oh, that’s enough! I’ll go out and buy it right away instead of making a fuss...”
“I will go.”
A calm yet clear voice cut through the commotion. When Thelma turned around in surprise, Sylvia was already ordering the maid to bring her a cloak. Thelma and the other servants were startled and tried to stop Sylvia.
“Huh? What nonsense are you talking about...!”
“I will go.”
"Lady..."
“Let me go.”
“...”
The servants who had been startled and uttering words one by one shut their mouths as if they had made a promise. It was no longer possible to stop Sylvia because her face was paler than Randall's lying on the bed.
“...”
The servants who had been startled and uttering words one by one shut their mouths as if they had made a promise. It was no longer possible to stop Sylvia because her face was paler than Randall's lying on the bed.
Realizing that she could not stop Sylvia, Thelma personally put on the cloak that the maid had brought. Thelma gave Sylvia a pouch filled with silver coins and gave her a firm order.
“Exit the castle and go straight along the main street. You will see a large apothecary shop in front of you at the intersection. The door will be closed, but don’t worry about it. Knock on the door and say you are from the Duke of Belfort’s Castle. They will open it for you right away.”
“Yes..”
“...I will call Sir Cedars. Go to the main gate first.”
Thelma let out a sad laugh and pushed Sylvia's back. Sylvia nodded and started walking away. But the moment Thelma turned toward the Knights' quarters, Sylvia's figure disappeared, leaving behind only a small, sparkling afterimage of light.
“Exit the castle and go straight along the main street. You will see a large apothecary shop in front of you at the intersection. The door will be closed, but don’t worry about it. Knock on the door and say you are from the Duke of Belfort’s Castle. They will open it for you right away.”
“Yes..”
“...I will call Sir Cedars. Go to the main gate first.”
Thelma let out a sad laugh and pushed Sylvia's back. Sylvia nodded and started walking away. But the moment Thelma turned toward the Knights' quarters, Sylvia's figure disappeared, leaving behind only a small, sparkling afterimage of light.
***
“Cough!”
Bella covered her mouth in a hurry as she felt the blood flowing back into her body, but it wasn’t enough. Dark red blood flowed out through the gap between her hands covering her mouth. It was a reaction to the succubus’s powers being forcibly disconnected from her target.
“Hey, Bella!”
“Medicine! Bring me the medicine now!”
Bella's body collapsed. The dark bugs, startled by her convulsing on the floor, screamed and ran around busily. Bella dug her nails into the cabin floor in pain and ground her teeth. Her red eyes glowed with an ominous light.
‘What kind of guy is that...!’
The only ones who could cut off her powers were demons with greater darkness. However, as far as she knew, there was definitely no demon of higher rank than herself among the demons currently in the human world.
'But why!'
Even as Bella remained confused, the blood continued to flow out. The dark bugs guarding her side screamed nervously.
“How long has it been since I told you to bring me the medicine and it still hasn’t come!”
“I will go and check.”
One of the dark bugs rushed out of the hut under the leader's orders. However, he also did not return even after some time had passed.
“These bastards...!”
Finally, the leader lost his patience and was about to get up.
Crunch. Thump.
"...? What?"
A strange noise was coming closer from outside the cabin. The forest was quiet without a single scream. In the midst of all this, the sound of something breaking and twisting was repeated, which was rather eerie. The face of the leader and Bella, who sensed something ominous, changed. The leader urgently blocked Bella's path and drew his sword.
"...? What?"
A strange noise was coming closer from outside the cabin. The forest was quiet without a single scream. In the midst of all this, the sound of something breaking and twisting was repeated, which was rather eerie. The face of the leader and Bella, who sensed something ominous, changed. The leader urgently blocked Bella's path and drew his sword.
Kwaang!
And at that moment, the cabin door shattered with a loud noise. The one who appeared through the gap was a woman, wearing a black cloak.
“You were here.”
A voice flowed out of her beautiful lips. Blood splattered on her white cheeks like flower petals scattered on a snow field. The opponent was not even wearing a hood. The leader and Bella, who recognized the opponent's face, looked surprised at the same time.
“...The Duchess of Belfort?”
The intruder was Sylvia Florette Belfort. Over her shoulder, she could see the corpses of dark bugs strewn in grotesque positions along the forest path.
'Is Auston Dosler with you? Or the Duke?'
Bella rolled her eyes busily, trying to find reinforcements, but she felt no signs of life around her. As she began to question this, Sylvia looked down at Bella, who was lying on the floor with an expressionless face.
“I warned you.”
"What..."
“The Duke, don’t touch him.”
The golden eyes that turned their backs to the darkness glowed eerily. Bella instinctively held her breath at the indescribable awe.
“Eww! Die!”
At that moment, the leader of the dark bugs, unable to overcome his fear, kicked the ground and swung his sword. Sylvia saw a white light forming on the blade he was holding and muttered indifferently.
“Were you a swordsman?”
"Ughh...!"
“Even so, it seems like it’s only superficial.”
Ssuk-.
“You were here.”
A voice flowed out of her beautiful lips. Blood splattered on her white cheeks like flower petals scattered on a snow field. The opponent was not even wearing a hood. The leader and Bella, who recognized the opponent's face, looked surprised at the same time.
“...The Duchess of Belfort?”
The intruder was Sylvia Florette Belfort. Over her shoulder, she could see the corpses of dark bugs strewn in grotesque positions along the forest path.
'Is Auston Dosler with you? Or the Duke?'
Bella rolled her eyes busily, trying to find reinforcements, but she felt no signs of life around her. As she began to question this, Sylvia looked down at Bella, who was lying on the floor with an expressionless face.
“I warned you.”
"What..."
“The Duke, don’t touch him.”
The golden eyes that turned their backs to the darkness glowed eerily. Bella instinctively held her breath at the indescribable awe.
“Eww! Die!”
At that moment, the leader of the dark bugs, unable to overcome his fear, kicked the ground and swung his sword. Sylvia saw a white light forming on the blade he was holding and muttered indifferently.
“Were you a swordsman?”
"Ughh...!"
“Even so, it seems like it’s only superficial.”
Ssuk-.
It was a light, light gesture. However, with that light, careless gesture, as if calling a servant, the leader's head flew off. The light that had been dazzling the blade dimmed in an instant. The large body collapsed to the floor, creating a dull thud. Bella fumbled around, unable to believe what she had just seen.
“You were a wizard...? You?”
Meanwhile, Sylvia, who had killed the leader, took a step forward. With each step she took, a squelching sound could be heard.
“Oh, don’t come! I told you not to come!”
Bella, who came to her senses belatedly at that sound, struggled and tried to get away from her somehow. For the first time in her life, the fear of death appeared in her red eyes. However, Sylvia came right up to Bella and bent down. Sylvia reached out and grabbed Bella’s chin, making her look at her, and her eyes were furrowed without warmth.
“Bella.”
“Ah, uh...”
“You were a wizard...? You?”
Meanwhile, Sylvia, who had killed the leader, took a step forward. With each step she took, a squelching sound could be heard.
“Oh, don’t come! I told you not to come!”
Bella, who came to her senses belatedly at that sound, struggled and tried to get away from her somehow. For the first time in her life, the fear of death appeared in her red eyes. However, Sylvia came right up to Bella and bent down. Sylvia reached out and grabbed Bella’s chin, making her look at her, and her eyes were furrowed without warmth.
“Bella.”
“Ah, uh...”
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of killing you right now.”
"...What?"
Bella's eyes widened at the unexpected words. But at the same time, as she heard what followed.
“I can’t kill you that easily.”
Bella opened her eyes wide as she noticed a red glow in the middle of Sylvia's eyes.
“You should feel half the pain my husband has suffered.”
“...!”
“I hope you suffer for a long time.”
The moment the soft whisper ended, the black azalea that rose from beneath her feet enveloped Bella's body as if it were swallowing it up. Sylvia gracefully greeted Bella, who was in pain, unable to even scream as if she was engulfed in flames.
“Then goodbye.”
Hwaaak!
With that greeting, flames shot up from the forest and Sylvia disappeared. Bella tried to hold on to her somehow, but her body wouldn't listen to her because of the terrible pain. The body, free from the master's control, creaked and stood up. And it slowly began to move toward the cliff at the back of the forest.
'Stop...! Stop, please!'
'Stop...! Stop, please!'
As Bella watched the cliff approach, she tried to shake off the darkness that had enveloped her body. However, it was not enough to shake off the power of Sylvia, who was not just a demon, but a 'demon lord'.
'No...'
The bottom of the cliff was filled with sharp rocks that looked like someone had carefully carved them. At that moment, Bella's eyes filled with fear as she sensed the end. Her body fell down the cliff with a whoosh.
***
'I think I heard Sylvia's voice.'
Randall had a dream while he was unconscious. No, he doesn't know if he should call it a dream, but he 'experienced' something.
The warm sunlight shone on his head, and the cool wind caressed his hair. 'Randall' was dozing off under a tree standing tall in the wide plain. The weather was such that he could fall asleep at any moment, but he kept maintaining a state of half-asleep. No wonder...
Knock.
“...”
Knock knock.
“...”
Knock knock knock knock.
“...Ah, really! Why do you bother people like this! Go away!”
Randall, who had been silent with his brow furrowed, finally couldn't stand it anymore and roughly slapped the staff member who was touching his head. Then, the black-haired woman crouching in front of Randall's nose smiled brightly. Her red eyes narrowed gently as she smiled.
'What?'
The moment Randall looked into her face, he felt his heart pounding and furrowed his brows. His words, his actions. Although they were clearly his, he felt as if he were in someone else's body, unable to do as he pleased. In the meantime, the woman who had taken away the staff member who had been tapping Randall's head opened her mouth with a stern tone.
“Leo, you. You hit on Harold again?”
"...No."
“...”
Knock knock.
“...”
Knock knock knock knock.
“...Ah, really! Why do you bother people like this! Go away!”
Randall, who had been silent with his brow furrowed, finally couldn't stand it anymore and roughly slapped the staff member who was touching his head. Then, the black-haired woman crouching in front of Randall's nose smiled brightly. Her red eyes narrowed gently as she smiled.
'What?'
The moment Randall looked into her face, he felt his heart pounding and furrowed his brows. His words, his actions. Although they were clearly his, he felt as if he were in someone else's body, unable to do as he pleased. In the meantime, the woman who had taken away the staff member who had been tapping Randall's head opened her mouth with a stern tone.
“Leo, you. You hit on Harold again?”
"...No."
“Oh my. You have so many scars on your face.”
The woman clicked her tongue and swung her staff lightly. Then, Randall felt the bitterness on his face disappear without him knowing.
'Is this body's name Leo? This woman... is a wizard?'
There were only unknown things. Meanwhile, the boy called 'Leo' opened his mouth and grumbled.
“Harold, that bastard, started the fight first.”
“Oh, you should call him Brother.”
“What about Brother? That guy is totally unlucky and has a bad vibe. He curses at me every time he sees me and taps my forehead with his finger, saying that I’m a brat.”
Thinking about it again, Leo raised his hand and rubbed his forehead, feeling bad. The woman swallowed an awkward groan, leaned against the staff, and said.
“I know you have a good sense, but Harold is still your colleague.”
“...”
“They are all people who sacrifice their youth and lives for the peace of mankind. Even if they look a little rough on the outside, you know they are good people on the inside, right? Just like you.”
The woman reached out and stroked Leo's hair. He knew that this was all a ploy to appease him, but he couldn't help but feel his heart pounding and his mind relaxed. Leo pushed the woman's hand away so that his reddened ears wouldn't be noticed, and he changed the subject.
“...By the way, is your research going well? You’ve been so busy with it lately that you haven’t been able to meet me often.”
“Well? Maybe we can just do as much as we’ve been doing so far?”
“What? You’re saying there’s still half left.”
“There’s only half left. Do you see what I can’t do?”
The woman smiled confidently. Her smile was so bright and dazzling that Leo stared blankly at her for a moment as if drawn by the light. Soon, the woman withdrew her smile and stood up.
“Come to think of it, I think I’ll have to go to the forest soon to get some ingredients. Do you want to come with me? While I’m at it, I’ll teach you how to identify useful herbs.”
Since the woman had been busy with her research recently and hadn't even shown her face properly, Leo was excited at the thought of moving around together after a long time and immediately got up from his seat.
"Good..."
“If you call me Sister Lisa, I’ll take you.”
“...”
Leo's face suddenly crumpled. The woman who saw him burst into laughter as if she had been waiting for this. Leo, who was teased again, grumbled and stomped his feet.
“Don’t go! I’m not going!”
“Hahaha.”
“This kind of person is a great wizard... All the talented people in the world are dead, really.”
“Huh? Let’s go together!”
Leo, who was in a bad mood, strode out from under the tree. The woman blinked in confusion and then followed the boy. 'Randall', who was left alone under the tree, blinked in confusion. He thought about the words they had left behind.
'Lisa... Archmage..."
“Hahaha.”
“This kind of person is a great wizard... All the talented people in the world are dead, really.”
“Huh? Let’s go together!”
Leo, who was in a bad mood, strode out from under the tree. The woman blinked in confusion and then followed the boy. 'Randall', who was left alone under the tree, blinked in confusion. He thought about the words they had left behind.
'Lisa... Archmage..."
...Archmage Alyssa? The moment of lightning-like enlightenment. The scenery before my eyes disappeared like a candle going out.
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