IDMH - Chapter 258

When the Emperor touched the Dragon Heart, a bright red flame rose up.

The flames quickly grew in size, using the monster's body as food.

“Kiaaaaak!”

The Emperor stepped back in great distress, writhing on the floor as if trying to put out the fire that had set him on fire, and screaming wildly.

I wasn't the one who would just sit back and watch.

I kicked off the ground and jumped into the air, then quickly fell down with my sword held vertically.

The monster's body was as hard as steel, so I thought I could pierce it with one blow by adding weight and acceleration, but the opponent was harder than I thought.

Kwajik-

The attack of conversion pierced the arm instead of the target's heart.

I didn't stop there, but swung my sword downwards, completely cutting off the arm.

The Emperor, who had lost an arm in an instant, opened his eyes wide and swung his other arm.

I quickly stepped back and avoided the Emperor's attack.

The Emperor roared in anger and struck the ground hard with his tail, perhaps resenting the fact that he had lost an arm while I had lost nothing.

Then, the corpses lying around began to rise one by one.

The way they walked was similar to the servants of the Duke's residence.

'As expected, it was the Emperor who controlled the servants.'

I readjusted my sword and cut off the head of the corpse that had approached me from behind.

It didn't stop there, I completely smashed their head in so that they would never get up again.

The servants were precious family members so I couldn't call them, but not these guys.

Besides, since they were already dead, I didn't feel any guilt at all.

I mercilessly slaughtered the corpses rushing toward me, then rushed back toward the Emperor.

***

It was a bit of a hassle to fight a ruthless monster that had given up on being human, but that didn't mean I was pushed back.

Is it because of the power of the Dragon Heart?

I don't know. What I can be sure of now is that Byblos can buy time until he completes his magic.

Boom, bang, bang-

I thought I could make it... but I was wrong.

As the Emperor's body grew as large as a house, I clicked my tongue and stepped back.

It was impossible to fight a guy like that, so I thought I would run away and buy some time.

However, the monster was much faster than expected, and I was too tired from the fierce battle to continue running away.

When on earth will it happen? I wondered, and then Byblos shouted.

“It’s done, come back quickly!”

“It’s good timing.”

If he had been any later, I would have been caught by the monster and beaten to death.

I kicked up a cloud of dust to obscure the Emperor's vision and ran towards Byblos.

But the Emperor quickly gained sight and quickly pursued them.

The distance narrowed sharply, just before a huge hand covered in blood and dirt grabbed my small head. 

I practically flew into the purple magic circle. Byblos immediately activated the magic circle.

Thanks to the defensive magic that was also set up, the Emperor was unable to enter the magic circle.

Boom, bang-

The monster struck down hard with its one arm or kicked with its foot as if trying to break down the invisible barrier.

The blow was so strong that I could feel cracks slowly forming in the invisible barrier.

“He’s a really annoying and annoying guy.”

With the last comment from Byblos, a purple glow enveloped them.

***

A purple pillar appeared in the barren land where not a single blade of grass grew.

The columns became thinner and eventually disappeared, leaving only Byblos and me.

I looked around me, my vision briefly blurred by the halo of light surrounding me 

A familiar sight. It was the volcano behind Duke Leopold's residence. Duke Leopold's residence was seen shrouded in silence beneath the volcano.

“We’re back.”

“I guess so.”

Byblos sat down on the dusty floor and wiped his sweaty forehead.

“What the hell was that? I’ve never seen such a hideous monster in my life.”

“It’s ugly. Because he gave up being human to live forever.”

Byblos looked up at me, raising his eyebrows.

“You know what that is, don’t you?”

“Yes. He is the Emperor of the Empire. But soon he won’t be.”

“That’s the Emperor of the empire?”

When Byblos asked in disbelief, I just smiled silently.

I too could not believe that the Emperor had become such a hideous monster.

“What will happen to the Emperor? Will he still be there?”

“Maybe. It seems like he doesn’t know much about magic, and using Diabolos seems to have consumed not only mana but also vitality, so he won’t be able to get out.”

“I thought humans couldn’t use Diabolos, but I guess I wasn’t.”

“Humans can’t use it.”

Byblos spoke firmly.

“That guy isn’t human. You said it yourself. He gave up on being human.”

“But still, he was born human.”

“The past doesn’t matter. What matters is what he is now. You too can use Diabolos if you use the power of Dragon Heart.”

At those words, I looked down at the dragon heart embedded in the hilt of my sword.

Is this really such a great thing? I can't tell just by looking at it.

“Why? Do you want the power of the Dragon Heart?”

"No."

My father said that the more I used this power, the more I would become inhuman.

Then there was no need.

Because I wanted to remain human.

I didn't want to become a monster like the Emperor.

As if to show my determination, I put my sword back into its scabbard.

“Oh, no, I should bring Lord Perdes.”

When I mentioned him, recalling that Perdes was here belatedly, Byblos tilted his head.

“What? That guy is here too?”

“Yes. his hand was badly injured due to the magical recoil from activating the teleporter to get here, so please rest for a while.”

“A teleporter that comes here? Could it be the one I use?”

“I don’t know about that.”

“That’s right. I showed that guy a teleportation magic circle before.”

Yes. Byblos literally just showed it to him briefly and didn't tell him anything about the magic circle.

But he made it work just by following what he saw for a moment? Byblos muttered in confusion.

“I felt it all along, but that guy is no ordinary guy.”

“Lord Perdes is truly amazing.”

“Aren’t you being too favoritism toward your fiancé?”

When Byblos asked back, as if he found it ridiculous, I shrugged my shoulders.

“I was just telling the truth.”

“I said that’s favoritism.”

“Think as you wish. Rather than that, I will bring Lord Perdes, so please take him to the temple in the capital.”

“If it’s because of magic backlash, I can cure it.”

It was a welcome sound to hear. I immediately set out to find Perdes.

I'm sure he was around here.

“Where are you, Perdes!”

As I was searching for Perdes, calling his name, I suddenly felt a sense of life from somewhere.

What the heck. Are there enemies around here too?

At that moment, I quickly drew my sword and looked around.

“...!”

The space shattered like glass, and a huge, dirty hand popped out.

I panicked and hurriedly tried to pull back, but ny arm was grabbed.

I couldn't attack because my hand happened to be holding a sword.

Then the face of the Emperor, half of whose human form had been lost, appeared.

The moment the Emperor bared his sharp fangs and tried to bite my nape.

“Adele!”

As I heard Perdes' voice, a pitch-black shadow fell over me and embraced me.

Thanks to this, I was safe, but instead, Perdes' sharp fangs were stuck in his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around me.

Not satisfied with that, the Emperor let go of the hand that was holding me and instead placed his hand on the shadow's back.

From the shoulder to the back, the flesh was torn off completely, and blood spurted everywhere.

Ny face turned pale as I watched the scene with my own two eyes from beginning to end.

When the Emperor tried to attack Perdes again, I cut off the monster's arm.

It was a strong arm that couldn't even be scratched before, but now it was easily cut.

Kieeeek!

The Emperor screamed in agony as part of his body was caught in the gap in space.

I picked up Perdes and quickly walked away from the Emperor.

Then I hid behind a nearby rock and checked on Perdes' condition.

Hot blood flowed from the wound, soaking NY clothes and the ground.

Meanwhile, his body gradually grew colder.

The situation is serious just by looking at it.

“Wake up, Perdes.”

“...”

“Lord Perdes, Lord Perdes!”

I called several times, but Perdes did not respond even once.

His heart, which had been rising and falling slightly, suddenly stopped at some point.

Could it be that he is dead?

My eyes shook aimlessly.

Tears ran down my cheeks.

"No!"

I screamed and hugged Perdes. I didn't care that his blood was all over my body.

“No! No! Don’t die, Perdes!”

My heart thumped and fell onto Pandora's box that I had kept hidden deep inside my chest.

As the box opened, the emotions contained inside overflowed.

The feeling is called love.

***

Why do people always realize how precious something is only after they've lost it?

I promised myself I would never make the same mistake again, so why am I doing it again?

If that's because I'm human, then I'll give up.

I would have become a monster if it were to protect someone precious to me.

***

The dragon's heart, which swallowed Adele's tears and will, emitted a brilliant light.

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