Cordelia was extremely meticulous and cunning.
'Everything you said about coming to me back then was true.'
“Is this the glass greenhouse? It’s so creepy.”
"Yes."
I gave a short answer to the grumbling Barden and stared blankly at the glass greenhouse.
The place Cordelia told me was the entrance to liberation, the glass greenhouse of the Palace of Peace.
This is the beginning and end of all events.
“Hahaha.”
Standing in front of the glass greenhouse, I felt possessed and let out a hollow laugh.
Barden glared at me and scolded me, wondering if I looked strange.
“Are you laughing now?”
“I’ve been here twice before, and now that I’m back again, I can’t help but laugh.”
“What? Why here?”
"I found out here that Empress Giselle was a warlock. I almost died."
“...What? When?”
“A while ago.”
When I answered calmly, Barden sighed deeply and was unable to continue speaking.
“Yeah. You’re on a different level than me.”
I was staring blankly up at the glass greenhouse when I patted my sullen older brother and said.
“Brother, wait here.”
"But wouldn't it be better if I went with you? I could at least provide a shield and help."
"Hmm. It seems so cramped inside. I don't know who might be there... It's harder to fight while protecting my brother like we did earlier."
“Well, I guess I’m less helpful now than usual.”
Barden looked at my limp legs with a dark expression.
'It's sad.'
His strength lies in his profound understanding of his own strengths and limitations. That's probably why he's been so jealous of me since we were kids.
I guess I've grown up, but now I find my older brother, who used to be like that, cute and pitiful.
I didn't show it and shouted brightly on purpose.
“It’s okay. What, you’re saying you can’t hear Princess Mare’s voice right now?”
“Yeah. Is she dead?”
“Well, I don’t know.”
I sighed slightly and gave Barden some serious advice.
"I'll be back as soon as possible, so wait here. If anything happens, run straight to the main gate or hide well."
"Yes."
"The Allied Forces might be arriving here soon. If you run into each other, please let them know I've entered the greenhouse."
"Yes."
“Yes, I’ll be back.”
As I was heading towards the glasshouse entrance with Velvet, Barden shouted behind me.
"Hey. If I could become a warlock and fight alongside you, wouldn't that be helpful?"
"Unfortunately, my brother doesn't seem to have any talent for black magic. You can't hear the voice of my familiar."
“...Damn it.”
“I’ll take care of it. Please wait.”
“Have a safe trip. I’ll be waiting here.”
It was a stiff greeting, but it still felt very sincere.
I gave a brief nod to Barden and quickly ran towards the entrance to the greenhouse.
As I passed through the long entrance hallway with its transparent arched ceiling, a glimpse of the dark interior came into view.
'Hmm.'
It was disgusting to look at, but I couldn't avoid it any longer.
As soon as I reached for the doorknob leading inside, an ominous voice echoed in my mind.
"Uninvited guests are not permitted to enter Giselle's space."
'Familiar!'
I quickly looked around, my eyes gleaming. Velvet, who had followed me, also perked up her ears, seeming nervous.
'Where are you?'
I thought of the piece of chocolate I had kept in my pocket, but quickly shook my head.
It won't be of any use to Empress Giselle's familiars. They are loyal to her, a pure warlock, and won't readily eat the food I offer.
'Not now. At least, maybe after I become a warlock...'
Is this place guarded by Empress Giselle's familiars?
How many could there be... Last time, I easily killed the familiar Omoko, but that was pure luck.
I killed a guy who was letting his guard down by biting my calf, so I can't kill him this time while giving up my body.
'Let's relax. Get our heads together.'
I glanced down at the sword I had snatched from the unconscious Emperor John.
It's the Emperor's sword, so it'll be quite useful.
Just in case, I've been practicing my swordsmanship consistently for the past few days, and I think it will help.
Using swords and magic, I approach Cordelia, who I believe is still alive.
Using one's body, manipulating magical power, and even calculating magical formulas. Only a genius could do that...
Damn. Can I do it?
It was a bit burdensome, but I had always considered myself a genius, so I decided to give it a try.
"Get out of here, intruder!"
I heard the man's voice warning me again in a fierce tone, but I backed away slightly and raised one corner of my mouth in a crooked manner.
“You don’t like it?”
And then I put magic power into my sword and struck the doorknob with all my might.
Crunch! Crunch!
It seems that some strong black magic was applied to it, as it wasn't just a simple cracking sound of a handle.
A thick cloud of blue smoke rose from the severed handle.
"There's a warlock inside."
“As expected. I understand.”
I nodded at Velvet's warning and pushed the door hard with my body to get in.
'What's this...'
I held my breath in tension as I saw the interior unfold before my eyes.
Although it looked a bit dark from the outside, I thought the inside of the glass greenhouse was full of many green trees and colorful flowers.
But it was an illusion.
In this place, where not a shred of warmth of life remained, withered, blackened branches and withered flowers that had lost even a hint of color awaited.
A bizarre glass greenhouse.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Ah..."
From the high, pointed ceiling, the sound of some liquid falling to the floor could be clearly heard.
'Red blood.'
Even without looking, it was clear whose blood it was. It had to be the traces of Cordelia Mare and Adrian Luden Verbent!
It gave me goosebumps.
I kept my mouth shut and looked up at the dark ceiling, which was barely visible.
It was clear that the altar that opened the entrance to liberation was on the roof of the glass greenhouse.
Looking around, I saw that to get to the roof of the glass greenhouse, I had to climb a spiral staircase leading to a veranda built above.
'Get over there quickly!'
The moment I was about to run to the spiral staircase in the right corner.
'It's magic!'
I felt the magical power waves of two attack spells.
Right, and behind me!
As soon as I finished my judgment, I quickly ran to the right, kicked off the wall, and raised my sword.
'Shield.'
As the shield I had calculated formed, the black magic attacks pouring down from behind towards me collided with it.
“Ugh!”
My magic and dark magic clashed against each other, and a storm of aftershocks came, but I didn't stop. I found the warlock on my right, who was about to unleash an attack spell, and stabbed the back of his hand with my sword.
“Ugh!”
He was one of the shadow wizards of Empress Giselle who had kidnapped Adrian and run away from Iel's Castle.
I smiled brightly.
“Long time no see.”
The guy with a pale face was preparing to attack again while bleeding, so I quickly kicked his head.
I muttered as I watched the guy fall without even being able to scream.
"You seem quite loyal and patient, don't you? Fromdy is a realist."
“Fromdy, you still have that traitor alive?”
I slowly turned my head to face him as another warlock approached from behind, gritting his teeth.
'That guy is the same guy from back then. He seems to have gotten stronger...'
The man who glared at me with glaring eyes was the most physically fit of Empress Giselle's five subordinates.
He was clearly not a high-ranking warlock, but the gleaming scythe he was wielding now looked extremely threatening, and the dark magic swirling around it was also ominous.
It was a wave much stronger than that of Lady Alentia, the high-ranking warlock I had fought.
'No way.'
My hand holding the sword hilt was filled with strength.
“You... how many people have you killed since you brought the Crown Prince back? Huh?!”
“Hmm. About a hundred? But what are you planning to do with them?”
“What? This vicious bastard!”
"Hehe. If I kill the Princess, your immense vitality will become my strength, right? Then I will become the first subordinate of Giselle and 'that person.' You will spare me, right?"
My ears felt like they were rotting as I listened to the nonsense being spouted by the guy who was approaching me, his tongue licking his lips.
The giant scythe he held smelled of blood. It must have been filled with the resentment and sorrow of those who died without a cause.
They may have been someone's precious person, or someone who lived hard for something.
Even if they are not someone's loved one, or even if there is no purpose for it, no one has the right to arbitrarily take the life of an innocent person and end that life!
Anger welled up.
Then, I noticed that with every step he took as he slowly approached me, a sinister black magic was rising and gathering in the scythe he was holding.
'It would hurt quite a bit if I got hit by that.'
I quickly turned around and started running backwards.
"Where are you running off to? I know you're not a sword master. You don't use auras. You just have good stamina, don't you? I was scared for nothing back then."
The bastard swung his black scythe, filled with dark magic, aiming for my back.
Terrified, I barely managed to escape by rolling under the flower bed.
“Ugh.”
Wow! Wow!
The large statue that had been placed in the center of the glass greenhouse was smashed to pieces in my stead.
Damn, that crazy kid! He's probably going to tear this place down.
I sprang up and glared at the bastard's black scythe.
First, I need to get that thing off him, so I can use levitation magic to get closer and attack him with my swords...
I made a plan and quickly tried to use levitation magic before the bastard could attack me again.
“?!”
But my feet wouldn't move.
"I should have warned you to back off."
'That familiar from earlier!'
I turned around and saw a large, blue spider familiar, hissing and entangling my ankle with a dark blue web.
“Let go of this...”
The familiar Omoko that bit my calf back then was like that, and this one is like that too... Why do Empress Giselle’s servants keep fixating on my leg?
“You perverts!”
I shouted at the bright blue spider with bloodshot eyes and charged the sword I was holding with magic power, cutting the spider web that was wrapped around my ankle in one go.
"What?"
I smiled at the spider familiar who was looking at me with eyes that seemed to want to see all the star monsters.
“Why? Am I so cool?”
"What?"
After a moment of shock, the spider familiar began to crawl at a frightening speed, followed by the warlock's scream.
“This time I will kill you for sure!”
I gritted my teeth as I stood between those who raised their sickles and simultaneously unleashed attacks.
'Damn, at this rate I'm going to die before I even meet Cordelia.'
Boom!
This time, I narrowly escaped and quickly looked around. I found the glass windows surrounding the greenhouse and quickly summoned Velvet.
“Velvet!”
"Yes."
Velvet, who had been badly damaged by Emperor John earlier, seemed unable to properly fight them, so she was left to rest at the entrance, but now there was work to be done.
“I’m sorry. Velvet, I need to ask you a favor.”
"Don't be sorry. I will naturally follow your orders no matter what you want."
“Thank you. You won’t get hurt. Just follow my signal...”
I was hiding in a corner, explaining my plan to Velvet, when the spider familiar that had spotted us along the way growled fiercely.
"There you are. What are you joking around about with that traitorous familiar!"
“Tch.”
I quickly ran away from him, hugging Velvet, but Velvet, who had been acting cool, suddenly got angry.
"Traitor! I've finally found peace, just like them. Don't judge me by your standards, Spine! How arrogant."
Then, it threateningly sprayed purple water towards the spider familiar.
As Velvet, who had become fierce and opened her eyes as if awakened, continued to spit out large sprays of water, the spider familiar hesitated and stepped back.
"Ugh!"
'Wow, even Velvet is scary when she gets angry.'
Spider-Familiar-Spine, who seemed to hate water, retreated in fright, and I thought this was the moment to shout at Velvet.
“Velvet, please!”
"Yes, Yvonne."
As Velvet closed her eyes and perked up her ears, I quickly poured magic into two magic formulas.
'Blow it all away.'
At that moment, the warlock's eyes flashed, and he swung a large black scythe at me, and at the same time, a rustling sound was distinctly heard in my ears.
'Gasp.'
To connect her mind to the kidnapped Barden through advanced dark magic and wait for me...
“Is this the glass greenhouse? It’s so creepy.”
"Yes."
I gave a short answer to the grumbling Barden and stared blankly at the glass greenhouse.
The place Cordelia told me was the entrance to liberation, the glass greenhouse of the Palace of Peace.
This is the beginning and end of all events.
“Hahaha.”
Standing in front of the glass greenhouse, I felt possessed and let out a hollow laugh.
Barden glared at me and scolded me, wondering if I looked strange.
“Are you laughing now?”
“I’ve been here twice before, and now that I’m back again, I can’t help but laugh.”
“What? Why here?”
"I found out here that Empress Giselle was a warlock. I almost died."
“...What? When?”
“A while ago.”
When I answered calmly, Barden sighed deeply and was unable to continue speaking.
“Yeah. You’re on a different level than me.”
I was staring blankly up at the glass greenhouse when I patted my sullen older brother and said.
“Brother, wait here.”
"But wouldn't it be better if I went with you? I could at least provide a shield and help."
"Hmm. It seems so cramped inside. I don't know who might be there... It's harder to fight while protecting my brother like we did earlier."
“Well, I guess I’m less helpful now than usual.”
Barden looked at my limp legs with a dark expression.
'It's sad.'
His strength lies in his profound understanding of his own strengths and limitations. That's probably why he's been so jealous of me since we were kids.
I guess I've grown up, but now I find my older brother, who used to be like that, cute and pitiful.
I didn't show it and shouted brightly on purpose.
“It’s okay. What, you’re saying you can’t hear Princess Mare’s voice right now?”
“Yeah. Is she dead?”
“Well, I don’t know.”
I sighed slightly and gave Barden some serious advice.
"I'll be back as soon as possible, so wait here. If anything happens, run straight to the main gate or hide well."
"Yes."
"The Allied Forces might be arriving here soon. If you run into each other, please let them know I've entered the greenhouse."
"Yes."
“Yes, I’ll be back.”
As I was heading towards the glasshouse entrance with Velvet, Barden shouted behind me.
"Hey. If I could become a warlock and fight alongside you, wouldn't that be helpful?"
"Unfortunately, my brother doesn't seem to have any talent for black magic. You can't hear the voice of my familiar."
“...Damn it.”
“I’ll take care of it. Please wait.”
“Have a safe trip. I’ll be waiting here.”
It was a stiff greeting, but it still felt very sincere.
I gave a brief nod to Barden and quickly ran towards the entrance to the greenhouse.
As I passed through the long entrance hallway with its transparent arched ceiling, a glimpse of the dark interior came into view.
'Hmm.'
It was disgusting to look at, but I couldn't avoid it any longer.
As soon as I reached for the doorknob leading inside, an ominous voice echoed in my mind.
"Uninvited guests are not permitted to enter Giselle's space."
'Familiar!'
I quickly looked around, my eyes gleaming. Velvet, who had followed me, also perked up her ears, seeming nervous.
'Where are you?'
I thought of the piece of chocolate I had kept in my pocket, but quickly shook my head.
It won't be of any use to Empress Giselle's familiars. They are loyal to her, a pure warlock, and won't readily eat the food I offer.
'Not now. At least, maybe after I become a warlock...'
Is this place guarded by Empress Giselle's familiars?
How many could there be... Last time, I easily killed the familiar Omoko, but that was pure luck.
I killed a guy who was letting his guard down by biting my calf, so I can't kill him this time while giving up my body.
'Let's relax. Get our heads together.'
I glanced down at the sword I had snatched from the unconscious Emperor John.
It's the Emperor's sword, so it'll be quite useful.
Just in case, I've been practicing my swordsmanship consistently for the past few days, and I think it will help.
Using swords and magic, I approach Cordelia, who I believe is still alive.
Using one's body, manipulating magical power, and even calculating magical formulas. Only a genius could do that...
Damn. Can I do it?
It was a bit burdensome, but I had always considered myself a genius, so I decided to give it a try.
"Get out of here, intruder!"
I heard the man's voice warning me again in a fierce tone, but I backed away slightly and raised one corner of my mouth in a crooked manner.
“You don’t like it?”
And then I put magic power into my sword and struck the doorknob with all my might.
Crunch! Crunch!
It seems that some strong black magic was applied to it, as it wasn't just a simple cracking sound of a handle.
A thick cloud of blue smoke rose from the severed handle.
"There's a warlock inside."
“As expected. I understand.”
I nodded at Velvet's warning and pushed the door hard with my body to get in.
'What's this...'
I held my breath in tension as I saw the interior unfold before my eyes.
Although it looked a bit dark from the outside, I thought the inside of the glass greenhouse was full of many green trees and colorful flowers.
But it was an illusion.
In this place, where not a shred of warmth of life remained, withered, blackened branches and withered flowers that had lost even a hint of color awaited.
A bizarre glass greenhouse.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Ah..."
From the high, pointed ceiling, the sound of some liquid falling to the floor could be clearly heard.
'Red blood.'
Even without looking, it was clear whose blood it was. It had to be the traces of Cordelia Mare and Adrian Luden Verbent!
It gave me goosebumps.
I kept my mouth shut and looked up at the dark ceiling, which was barely visible.
It was clear that the altar that opened the entrance to liberation was on the roof of the glass greenhouse.
Looking around, I saw that to get to the roof of the glass greenhouse, I had to climb a spiral staircase leading to a veranda built above.
'Get over there quickly!'
The moment I was about to run to the spiral staircase in the right corner.
'It's magic!'
I felt the magical power waves of two attack spells.
Right, and behind me!
As soon as I finished my judgment, I quickly ran to the right, kicked off the wall, and raised my sword.
'Shield.'
As the shield I had calculated formed, the black magic attacks pouring down from behind towards me collided with it.
“Ugh!”
My magic and dark magic clashed against each other, and a storm of aftershocks came, but I didn't stop. I found the warlock on my right, who was about to unleash an attack spell, and stabbed the back of his hand with my sword.
“Ugh!”
He was one of the shadow wizards of Empress Giselle who had kidnapped Adrian and run away from Iel's Castle.
I smiled brightly.
“Long time no see.”
The guy with a pale face was preparing to attack again while bleeding, so I quickly kicked his head.
I muttered as I watched the guy fall without even being able to scream.
"You seem quite loyal and patient, don't you? Fromdy is a realist."
“Fromdy, you still have that traitor alive?”
I slowly turned my head to face him as another warlock approached from behind, gritting his teeth.
'That guy is the same guy from back then. He seems to have gotten stronger...'
The man who glared at me with glaring eyes was the most physically fit of Empress Giselle's five subordinates.
He was clearly not a high-ranking warlock, but the gleaming scythe he was wielding now looked extremely threatening, and the dark magic swirling around it was also ominous.
It was a wave much stronger than that of Lady Alentia, the high-ranking warlock I had fought.
'No way.'
My hand holding the sword hilt was filled with strength.
“You... how many people have you killed since you brought the Crown Prince back? Huh?!”
“Hmm. About a hundred? But what are you planning to do with them?”
“What? This vicious bastard!”
"Hehe. If I kill the Princess, your immense vitality will become my strength, right? Then I will become the first subordinate of Giselle and 'that person.' You will spare me, right?"
My ears felt like they were rotting as I listened to the nonsense being spouted by the guy who was approaching me, his tongue licking his lips.
The giant scythe he held smelled of blood. It must have been filled with the resentment and sorrow of those who died without a cause.
They may have been someone's precious person, or someone who lived hard for something.
Even if they are not someone's loved one, or even if there is no purpose for it, no one has the right to arbitrarily take the life of an innocent person and end that life!
Anger welled up.
Then, I noticed that with every step he took as he slowly approached me, a sinister black magic was rising and gathering in the scythe he was holding.
'It would hurt quite a bit if I got hit by that.'
I quickly turned around and started running backwards.
"Where are you running off to? I know you're not a sword master. You don't use auras. You just have good stamina, don't you? I was scared for nothing back then."
The bastard swung his black scythe, filled with dark magic, aiming for my back.
Terrified, I barely managed to escape by rolling under the flower bed.
“Ugh.”
Wow! Wow!
The large statue that had been placed in the center of the glass greenhouse was smashed to pieces in my stead.
Damn, that crazy kid! He's probably going to tear this place down.
I sprang up and glared at the bastard's black scythe.
First, I need to get that thing off him, so I can use levitation magic to get closer and attack him with my swords...
I made a plan and quickly tried to use levitation magic before the bastard could attack me again.
“?!”
But my feet wouldn't move.
"I should have warned you to back off."
'That familiar from earlier!'
I turned around and saw a large, blue spider familiar, hissing and entangling my ankle with a dark blue web.
“Let go of this...”
The familiar Omoko that bit my calf back then was like that, and this one is like that too... Why do Empress Giselle’s servants keep fixating on my leg?
“You perverts!”
I shouted at the bright blue spider with bloodshot eyes and charged the sword I was holding with magic power, cutting the spider web that was wrapped around my ankle in one go.
"What?"
I smiled at the spider familiar who was looking at me with eyes that seemed to want to see all the star monsters.
“Why? Am I so cool?”
"What?"
After a moment of shock, the spider familiar began to crawl at a frightening speed, followed by the warlock's scream.
“This time I will kill you for sure!”
I gritted my teeth as I stood between those who raised their sickles and simultaneously unleashed attacks.
'Damn, at this rate I'm going to die before I even meet Cordelia.'
Boom!
This time, I narrowly escaped and quickly looked around. I found the glass windows surrounding the greenhouse and quickly summoned Velvet.
“Velvet!”
"Yes."
Velvet, who had been badly damaged by Emperor John earlier, seemed unable to properly fight them, so she was left to rest at the entrance, but now there was work to be done.
“I’m sorry. Velvet, I need to ask you a favor.”
"Don't be sorry. I will naturally follow your orders no matter what you want."
“Thank you. You won’t get hurt. Just follow my signal...”
I was hiding in a corner, explaining my plan to Velvet, when the spider familiar that had spotted us along the way growled fiercely.
"There you are. What are you joking around about with that traitorous familiar!"
“Tch.”
I quickly ran away from him, hugging Velvet, but Velvet, who had been acting cool, suddenly got angry.
"Traitor! I've finally found peace, just like them. Don't judge me by your standards, Spine! How arrogant."
Then, it threateningly sprayed purple water towards the spider familiar.
As Velvet, who had become fierce and opened her eyes as if awakened, continued to spit out large sprays of water, the spider familiar hesitated and stepped back.
"Ugh!"
'Wow, even Velvet is scary when she gets angry.'
Spider-Familiar-Spine, who seemed to hate water, retreated in fright, and I thought this was the moment to shout at Velvet.
“Velvet, please!”
"Yes, Yvonne."
As Velvet closed her eyes and perked up her ears, I quickly poured magic into two magic formulas.
'Blow it all away.'
At that moment, the warlock's eyes flashed, and he swung a large black scythe at me, and at the same time, a rustling sound was distinctly heard in my ears.
'Gasp.'
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