At the time when Karina was rescuing Lucia with the help of the public, movements to rescue the Saintess were also taking place elsewhere. The main character was David. David was on his way to the Bahican prison to prevent Lucia's execution.
'To drive out the Emperor who is in league with the black magician, we need the holy power of the Saintess. We cannot allow the Saintess to die.'
If there was one power that could counter black magic, it would be divine power. The power to purify evil energy. Only divine power with holy energy could purify the polluted magic used by black magicians and drive out the ominous black magic that had stained the empire. However.
'I should have moved faster.'
David clicked his tongue in regret. The date of the Saintess's public execution kept getting pushed back, and even though he had set off earlier than scheduled, he couldn't guarantee that he would make it on time.
"I hope the Saintess is still alive."
Levy spoke with concern. By the time they arrived, the executions might already be over.
"Please, I hope you stay alive."
David's voice dropped low. If she could at least breathe, he would have to do whatever it takes to save her. But this morning, an imperial decree was issued to execute the Saintess immediately.
'It might already be too late...!'
David was inwardly resigned in a corner of his heart. He frowned and made a face. His mind was in turmoil.
'What if the Saintess is already dead? Is there anyone who can stop the Emperor and the warlock?'
He thought of Jeremiah, the Northern Grand Duke. He had received reports that he was currently struggling to deal with the Emperor in the capital. However, he could not do it alone. There were not only the Emperor, but also the rampaging monsters, the knights of the Imperial Guard who had been brainwashed by magic and unconditionally obeyed the Emperor's words, and even the Warlock. As time passed, it was clear where the situation would turn.
'It would be possible to deal with a Saintess with divine powers.'
His head hurt. David bit the tender flesh inside his mouth in nervousness. But...
"Uh?"
The sight he encountered upon arrival was completely different from what he had expected. He saw people hurriedly running away through the slightly open gate. And...
"Grand Duchess?"
Here, he saw Karina, a woman he had never expected to see. She was running out of the Bahican prison, holding Lucia's hand, her red hair fluttering.
"What happened?"
David approached them to figure out what was going on. Karina and her group, who escaped from the prison and passed through the gate, quickly hid in an alley they had previously mapped out. They planned to run away in separate directions to confuse the pursuit. At that time.
"Lady Karina!"
A voice was heard calling her urgently.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince?"
Karina looked back in surprise and was startled.
"Your Highness, why are you here?"
"That's what I want to ask. What happened? Why is a Young lady with the Saintess?"
"I needed Lucia. I'm going to take the Saintess to the capital."
Karina quickly and simply explained the reason and circumstances of her coming to rescue the Saintess.
“Ha.”
David swallowed his breath in surprise and looked at Karina with a bewildered face. It was surprising that someone had thought the same thing and had already saved the Saintess before him, but it was even more surprising that it was Karina. With no ability or support, what kind of confidence did she have to decide to save the saint?
What was the thought that made her sneak into the infamous Bahican prison and save the Saintess?
'I really can't take my eyes off you.'
Karina was curious and amazed.
'If only I had just a little more time.'
He wished he had had more time to get to know her. A bitter taste lingered in David's mouth. The regret lingered like a regret.
"Our final destination is the imperial palace in the capital."
Karina said, leaving David behind.
"Go and help Jeremiah save the sacrificed people and stop the Emperor and the Warlock's plans!"
The saint nodded resolutely in agreement with her words.
"Since you have divine powers, you should have no trouble dealing with warlocks, right?"
Karina naturally assumed that Lucia would be the one to deal with the warlock, but Mikhail intervened.
"I'll take care of the warlock. Leave it to me."
"Uh?"
Mikhail's eyes were blazing. While Karina was bewildered by his unusual aura, Lucia, who had been feeling the energy for a moment as if searching for something, closed her eyes and opened her mouth.
"But I think the warlock is in the Cursed Forest right now."
The one who possesses the most pure and pure power is the Saintess. It was not difficult for the Saintess to find the most evil and sinister energy in the empire. So, when it came to finding the black magician, the Saintess was even better than Mikhail, who had great magical power.
"The Cursed Forest?"
"Yes. That's where the ominous atmosphere is strongest. All the monsters running wild in the empire come from there."
The Cursed Forest was quite far from the palace.
'If we go to the Cursed Forest and deal with the warlock, we'll be late.'
Karina was worried about Jeremiah, who was left alone. Then as if he had read Karina's thoughts, Mikhail stepped forward again.
"Everyone, go to the palace first. I will go and deal with the warlock separately and then join you."
Karina asked back, seeming worried about that too.
"You want to face the warlock alone?"
The sky in the direction of the Cursed Forest was already dark, showing how strong the evil energy was.
"I have to pay him back. With my own hands."
Mikhail's eyes quietly boiled with vengeance. But Karina, who was still uneasy, asked him again.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Then Mikhail, who had been looking at Karina with worried eyes, smiled gently. At this moment, Mikhail was thinking of the collapsed tower, his fellow tower members who had died as if they were falling apart, and his teacher and father, Pavel. Just thinking about them made him heartburn. His whole body was filled with red rage, to the point where he didn't know how to repay them so that he could relieve even a little of this heavy grudge. And that damned warlock is reaching out to Karina?
'Absolutely not.'
Even if it meant his death, he could never accept that. Karina was the only precious person he had left. He couldn't lose her either.
'I will never let that happen as long as I live'
Mikhail took a deep breath, calming his racing emotions. Then he gently kissed the back of Karina's hand.
"I'm fine, don't worry."
Mikhail met her eyes and gave her a trusting look.
"Miss Karina, you must stay safe and not get hurt."
He took her hand in his.
"I will never let him touch Lady Karina. Absolutely."
It was a firm voice as if he was swearing to himself. On the other hand, Karina felt a strange feeling from his words. Karina quickly spoke, feeling a strange feeling suddenly coming to her.
"You have to come back safely too?"
Karina stared at Mikhail, unable to take her eyes off him.
"..."
Mikhail hesitated for a moment when he heard that. But then he nodded with a smile on his face as if nothing had happened.
"Sure."
He reassured Karina, telling her not to worry.
"Then I will show you the way to the capital."
David said he had no time to sort things out. Selena and Hasten stayed behind as bait to distract the soldiers chasing the saint. So Karina, Lucia, and David decided to head to the capital together. And just before they set off.
"Mikhail."
Karina called him again. She seemed to be struggling a bit with what to say.
"Go and kill them all!"
She clenched her fist and said, even though she had no confidence that he could win. Her words filled Mikhail's heart with confidence. It was something he could easily hear anywhere, but it felt completely different when she said it.
"Of course!"
Mikhail smiled brightly and shook his fist in the same manner. Then he stared at her back as she left for a long time before turning around. A firm will appear on his face. Everyone moved their steps toward their assigned tasks. Jeremiah headed to the capital to find the dragon's heart and finally arrived in front of the imperial palace. The imperial capital had turned into a hell with mountains of corpses everywhere. Not a single living person could be found in it.
"Eek! Eek!"
Only monsters with slitted eyes and vertical slits were swarming around, making creepy cries. The air was black and murky because of the polluted air they were emitting. Among them, only the imperial palace in the center of the capital was unharmed. No, the monsters were wandering around the area as if they were guarding the imperial palace.
"It's quite a sight."
A palace where demons control the palace. Jeremiah snickered and tried to enter the palace where the Emperor was. As expected, demons blocked his way. Abnormally large demons that emitted pitch-black magic energy from contaminated magic stones swung their tongues and threatened Jeremiah. However, it was of no use to Jeremiah. He cut down the monsters that rushed at him with one stroke and knocked them down. The monsters that constantly regenerated continued to attack him, but they just turned into blood clots and fell down again.
Jeremiah, who looked down at them with cold eyes, soon took a step forward. The palace was filled with an ominous and gloomy atmosphere. Even inside, there was no sign of people. Jeremiah crossed the empty hallway and went to the great hall where the Emperor was. He could feel it as he stood in front of the closed door in front of the great hall. A ferocious energy was flowing out from within the great hall. Jeremiah took a deep breath and tightened his grip on his sword. And then.
Boom!
He kicked the front door open roughly as if he was going to break it open.
"Are you here?"
The Emperor was sitting on the throne, leisurely drinking blood-red wine. He seemed to be in the palm of his hand, languidly swaying. And around the Emperor, there were fifty or so knights of the imperial guard standing in a single line on both sides. Their unfocused red gazes were all focused on Jeremiah. They were stiff as if they had been disciplined, and their eyes were wide open, but they were not in a normal state. They were all brainwashed by black magic, unable to think normally, and unconditionally obeying the Emperor's words. And behind them, a huge monster the size of a house, with eyes that were all black without any whites, was growling and baring its teeth. It had the appearance of a wolf-like beast, but it had three heads, a long neck, a mane like a lion, and a snake-headed tail. It was a monstrous monster.
"I've been waiting for you."
The Emperor was relaxed as if he had known Jeremiah would come and was waiting for him.
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