"Oh, I wouldn't be so naive as to think you'd tell me that."
"Of course."
Julia responded calmly and quickly looked around.
Chiara had nothing in her hands. She might have hidden a weapon in her clothing, but unlike her own, it was not thick and was already torn, so there was no weapon among the fabric.
Julia narrowed her eyes.
It was a bad sign. Not having a weapon meant there was another source of trust.
'I was hoping...'
After the incident at the hunting grounds, Julia started carrying a self-defense weapon without anyone knowing.
Usually a dagger, and on official occasions like today, a magic tool revolver that can be reduced in size. No matter how much she thought about it, the relationship between Groven and Chiara, who had disappeared, was suspicious.
'It was an unprecedented event, and it had already disappeared without a trace, so it could not be traced.'
Julia also tried to find out secretly, thinking that maybe Chiara had summoned Grovan. However, there was information that Chiara had failed the entrance exam for the Magic Tower when she was young. Unfortunately, Chiara was not a magician, and there was no connection between the two.
Julia stopped investigating at that stage, fearing that if she delved any deeper and made it public, it might reveal that she had magical powers.
However, even though it was the work of a mutant, the fact that the demon that slaughtered all humans without discrimination had rushed at her at the crucial moment was too uncomfortable to ignore, like a thorn stuck in the throat.
'So... I thought I might make one Iast move before I die.'
It was fortunate that she had prepared a self-defense weapon. However, she had expected that it would be a hired assassin. She had not expected that Chiara would personally infiltrate the palace and lure her.
That was understandable, as Semele's castle was heavily guarded and always surrounded by the best knights.
With their family exterminated and the Duke and Duchess of Soare now awaiting their imminent execution as first-class criminals, there was absolutely no room for them to sway anyone.
In addition, on days like today when there were many outside visitors, there were royal knights known for their loyalty all over the place. There were also detectors to filter out magical tools, so if you brought in magical tools that were not approved in advance, you wouldn't even be able to pass through the gates.
Therefore, It was logically impossible to expect that a fallen rebellious family would break through the tight security and attempt rebellion again.
Julia, who carried a revolver as a habit, also felt at ease with the escort of the familiar knights who were always nearby.
However, it was a mistake to come to a secluded place secretly without bringing an escort knight when Killian was said to be sick.
...I would like to solve this problem without using it as much as possible.
The reason Julia carried a revolver. However, it was a last resort, so she had. to keep it hidden until the very end.
Julia opened her mouth without showing it, hoping that the matter would be resolved by using only bullets.
"There's been no news of your escape, so whoever is in prison under the name of Chiara Soare must be someone else. It must be the work of an insider."
"You're so smart. And yet you've been pretending not to know anything until now?"
Chiara clapped her hands and taunted Julia. Julia held the revolver firmly in her palm and spoke quietly.
"I will give you one last chance. If you confess your accomplices and kneel, I will show you mercy and let you drink poison instead of the guillotine."
"Ha."
Chiara sneered. Her olive eyes glared venomously and slashed sideways.
"You have that as a weapon? I thought you had a dagger, but it's just a small gun that you can use to set off firecrackers?"
That's right. The revolver Julia was holding was a magical tool with additional functions, but the gun's own killing power was significantly low to begin with.
Gunpowder and bullets, which had been overtaken by the development of magic, did not have enough destructive power to be used in battle. Chiara, who knew this well, laughed and arrogantly imitated Julia's tone.
"I'll give you one last chance. If you apologize to me and kneel down, I'll kill you in one go."
"Poor thing. Why can't you let go of your foolishness?"
But Chiara's face hardened at the unexpectedly calm voice.
"Do you still think I stole your man?"
Julia responded with a grin, without even nodding.
"I should have told you from the beginning that it wasn't yours. Why are you clinging to a man who is already someone else's?"
"This, you damn woman."
"If it were me, I would have dreamed of something bigger with that kind of ambition."
Julia stomped on her with a haughty face. Chiara glared at Julia as if she was going to kill her, her chin shaking.
"Yes..."
The most important thing in a one-on-one confrontation is to remain calm. No matter what Chiara is hiding, if she takes advantage of the confusion to make the escort knights rush towards her, the situation will be over.
Even if Groven showed up again, there was no chance of winning since the castle was lined with knights.
'I have to subdue her first before I can use my numbers.'
Julia don't know how she managed to get through the tight prison security, but aside from her changed face, Chiara didn't seem to have any special magical tools or weapons.
Judging by her physique, it wouldn't be difficult for Julia, who had mastered martial arts, to subdue a weak lady. It wouldn't be possible to kill her, but it would be powerful enough to buy her some time.
First, she'll have to shoot her in the shoulder or hand to subdue her while she's still confused. Then, the royal knights near the ballroom will hear the sound and come running.
It was at this moment that Julia, who had quickly calculated the situation, put strength into her finger on the trigger.
Chiara, who was shaking with excitement, burst into a creepy laugh.
"Big dream! That's why I came here! Do you think I crawled all the way from hell just to have a man covered in someone else's spit?"
"...What?"
"Hahaha. I was so upset that things went wrong after I called Groven out from the hunting grounds without any reason, but it turned out well!"
I'll pay you back for that too!
It was creepy to see her burst out laughing like a madman. Julia frowned.
As expected. it was Chiara's doing.
'But I've definitely confirmed that she's not a wizard, so how on earth...'
"I'll destroy everything. You damn bitch, and you stupid, blinded, tyrannical men."
An olive eyes gleamed with venom.
"I received a potion from 'him' that changes my appearance. With this, I will take your appearance and become a noble Queen, and you will die with the false accusation of a traitor in my appearance. Oh, and the moment I give birth to the heir to the throne, I will send the foolish man you were fooled to by my side, so you can regret it to your heart's content in hell!"
Julia furrowed her brow at the evil that permeated every word.
Last time it was just a desire that came from Endymion, but now it was a more twisted and grandiose plan.
'That person, Ira.'
It's the key.
Julia, who remembered the existence of her accomplice and the appearance-changing potion, thought that she had to end this situation quickly.
"Huh, why? Are you afraid of dying? Let's see, then what are you going to offer? Oh, if you offer your man directly, you won't have any particular worries..."
Julia ignored the provocation and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Bang!
Finally, the crater flashed and the bullet fired with a recoil.
Yes.
It was a moment when the sound, spread loudly throughout the surroundings.
Sssss.
A cloud of turbid silver smoke suddenly rose and caught the bullet flying towards Chiara's shoulder.
At the same time, the sound of the bullets died down as if they were being eaten.
"Kick."
A satisfied laugh was heard in the smoke.
Julia, with her eyes wide open, took a step back, then rolled to the side as she felt a chilling sensation coming from the greenhouse behind her.
Good luck! Pfft!
The ground caved in from the attack of the thick, whip-like tail that burst through the greenhouse. Exactly where Julia had been standing just moments ago.
"Cute, is that all?"
Chiara appeared.
As she stretched out one hand, the silver smoke that had surrounded her entire body swirled around and soon rose up in a spiral around her arm. And...
The murky silver smoke that had leaked out of the greenhouse changed into a Groven. At the same time, two pitch-black snakes coiled around Chiara's arms.
It was Diano.
A high-ranking demon is known for blocking out sounds within a certain space to instill fear in its prey and kill them.
"Chiara Soare, what is your identity?"
That's not something that can be done with the help of a simple accomplice. She's gained abilities that she didn't have last time.
Julia's face hardened and she aimed the revolver again. Chiara smiled sinisterly at her.
"I am the Queen who will humiliate you and torment you."
Diano had silenced all sounds in this place. He had blocked out all nearby sounds, as the knights showed no sign of moving despite the commotion.
The higher the rank of demons, the less likely they are to listen to the orders of their leader, but these Dianos were acting as if they were Chiara's own limbs. This was something Julia had never heard of from any prominent scholar, book, or confidential document.
"Now, die while imagining my child becoming Semele's master!"
Of course, no one will hear you!
Chiara exclaimed as if she was excited just thinking about it, then laughed and pointed at Julia.
Shhhh..
As if they had been waiting, the Dianos began to pounce on the ground with their bellies out. At the same time, Groven with his mouth wide open and howling, began to run towards them.
Julia didn't run away but stood straight in front of them.
'If you can't hear what we're saying...'
Grrr!
"You're saying that they can't even hear the sound we make..."
From the moment Julia first saw the revolver, she had been picturing it in her head many times out of curiosity. Although it was just a theoretical method that she had never actually tried.
But even though it was her last time as a child, she always followed her will and achieved what she wanted....
She felt an instinctive conviction.
Diano and Groven opened their mouths at the same time. Their tongues came out like ropes, along with a terrible smell.
In the blink of an eye, a venom-dripping tongue was about to engulf Julia's torso and limbs in one breath.
Julia took off her ring.
Bang-l
A dazzling golden aura poured out and shot outwards through the revolver. It was an earth-shaking sound and impact that was incomparable to when the bullet was fired earlier.
Kkieeek!
Kilik!
The golden magical power that bounced off the revolver split into three and pierced through the demons. Flesh flew everywhere and blue blood poured out of Diano and Groven.
Chiara's mouth was wide open, visible through the tangled silver aura and golden magic.
"Wow, wizard?!"
Chiara's once proud voice was tinged with shock.
Wheeeeeek-!
The murky silver aura that seemed so huge was nothing more than a haze compared to the brilliant golden magic. As the strong and infinite golden light rippled like waves and dug into the silver light, it wavered as if trying to resist, but was eaten up helplessly.
“Kwaaak!”
As if the recoil had been fully transmitted, Chiara's body collapsed. Black lines were etched into her skin as if she had been struck by lightning.
Crunch.
Julia turned the gun.
The magical power that vigorously stirred throughout her entire body protected her from head to toe. Finally, a deep golden light filled the center of her purple eyes.
"Ugh. Sa... save me! Have mercy..."
"It's late."
Julia aimed at Chiara, who was screaming and pulling away and pulled the trigger.
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