I looked back at him, who had suddenly appeared and was supporting me from behind, and was startled.
'Oh my god!'
His armor and cloak were covered in blood, showing how fiercely he had fought the demons.
But instead, Rudnine's face, which was looking me up and down, was distorted in pain.
“Yvonne, you're hurt!”
Oh, right. I got hurt too.
But that's not important right now.
“Rudd, hurry up and help me.”
"... Yes."
As I urged him on, Rudnine bit his lower lip tightly and held onto my arm and body, which were poking Toylat's neck, to keep me from falling.
Only then could I focus solely on pouring out my black magic.
“Ugh, ugh ..."
The screams of Toylat right in front of me were so loud that my eardrums were swollen.
The bastard's body began to swell up to a huge size.
Just a little more...!
The bastard spat out crimson blood and ground his teeth at Yvonne and Rudnine.
“Hey, you guys...!”
Toylat couldn't continue. His swollen body split open, and a plume of crimson smoke rose. The creature's red pupils dilated as he trembled in pain.
Eventually, the body of the man who could no longer endure it exploded like a bomb and was torn to pieces.
'Ugh.'
In an instant, Rudnine, who had pulled his sword out of the bastard's body, surrounded me.
When the surroundings became quiet, and I raised my head, the remains of the bastard were scattered all over the ground.
A black smoke billowed from within, but soon disappeared without finding a body to return to.
Then, the bastard's torn body turned to black ash and fell limply to the ground.
So Toylat finally disappeared.
Only a black stain remained on the ground, signaling its demise.
I blinked blankly and stared at the eerie stain, but Rudnine pulled me around the waist and hugged me, supporting me.
“He died.”
"Ah."
“And the entrance to liberation has also disappeared.”
As he spoke for me, my tension completely relaxed, and the sword I was holding fell to the floor.
When I raised my head, the portal of liberation that had been swirling terribly in the sky as he had said, had disappeared, and golden sunlight was shining down on every corner of the world.
The sun appeared calmly, as if asking when hell would come, and sent warm light to every corner of the destroyed Verbent Palace.
The world I desperately wanted to protect.
We fought fiercely without rest. And we won.
My eyes turned red as I realized that my wish had finally come true.
'It's all over now.'
Rudnine hugged me tightly from behind.
"I survived thanks to Yvonne. Thank you, Yvonne. You worked hard. Really, really."
I nodded silently at his affectionate words whispered to me.
My whole body ached, and I was tired and exhausted.
But I was so happy to be spending this moment, the one I had been longing for the most, with Rudnine Iels that I cried.
“Rudd, uh...”
I was about to say something to him, but suddenly my vision turned yellow, and my body tilted over.
He quickly helped me up, and I was startled.
“Yvonne!”
“Thank you. For coming.”
I still have a lot I want to say.
I was upset because I couldn't see the man I loved very well.
I finally saved the world I live in with you. But why am I so sleepy?
“Yvonne! Yvonne, please! Yvonne...Yvonne...”
His desperate cries calling out to me also gradually faded into the distance.
I couldn't open my eyes at all.
I'm sick and so, so tired. I'm going to sleep.
I want to rest now...
The burning pain that felt like my body was being torn apart gradually subsided.
After a while, I was finally able to breathe comfortably and slowly opened my eyes.
It's dark.
Where the hell am I?
It was a quiet night here, with nothing around. It was a wonder I could see clearly ahead, even though there was no light, no moon, or stars.
Clank, clank.
Looking down, I was standing in a black river that came up to my ankles.
I was wearing the same clothes I had been wearing when I fought with Toylat, and I was also wearing the key necklace of the Iels family that Rudnine had given me.
What...?
A chill ran down my spine as I realized that this was not the ordinary world I lived in.
Am I dead? Or am I trapped somewhere?
I don't know. Just in case, I decided to destroy the space with black magic and escape.
But I was flustered as I was raising my black magic.
What the heck. Black magic...
“There isn’t any.”
Feeling so empty and absurd, I raised my head and looked up at the dark sky, laughing in vain.
“Why on earth?”
Tears flowed endlessly down both cheeks.
I was lonely.
I'm scared, I don't want to be alone. Someone save me. I don't want to die.
Rudd, please save me...
Those who witnessed the terrifying great demon flapping its four huge wings and sending down terrible black lightning, and the black demons flying around, wailed, saying that the end of the world had come.
Because it seemed so powerful and evil that humans could never defeat it.
But then a miracle happened.
The battle that had driven everyone into extreme fear ended in human victory.
“I survived...”
Someone muttered first at the sight of the suddenly pouring golden sunlight, and then everyone cheered.
The short but terrifying fight was over.
Many people died, but because of that, many more people survived.
The magnificent Imperial Capital was destroyed, with the massive Verbent Palace at its center, where a terrifying battle took place.
Monsters, warlocks, and even demons.
The marks left by those who appeared in the center of the capital were very large.
Thus, the group of warlocks who gathered to summon the Great Demon and all those who cooperated with them were punished for treason.
Empress Giselle Cardin Verbent, the leader of the Black Mage clan, was found in the Palace of Peace in a rather gruesome state.
Her shattered body was barely a remnant. Among the rubble, the only recognizable part was the finger where the Empress's ring had once been.
In contrast, the bodies of Princess Cordelia Mare and Crown Prince Adrian were found intact in a glass greenhouse.
Because Princess Mare was a warlock, she was treated as a traitor, and her body was cremated and returned to the Kingdom of Mare. The Crown Prince was buried quietly with the respect due to his royal status.
Most of the warlocks died in battle, and the fifteen or so who survived were immediately detained and awaited trial and investigation.
The war against the great demons, including the warlock, was over, but the capital was still being restored, and the aftermath was being handled.
The people and nobles who had left the capital quickly returned.
And they heard vivid accounts from those who remained in the capital and witnessed the horrors of that day firsthand.
They were afraid, yet they wondered who had led them to victory in this memorable battle.
"His Highness Prince Felix commanded this battle? The one who has been living in seclusion in the old palace?"
“They say that the Demon Empress noticed that our Prince was very clever when he was young, and that she deliberately planned to ruin him!”
“Oh my gosh! This is scary!”
“And you say His Majesty the Emperor is not in his right mind? Then shouldn’t His Highness the Crown Prince ascend to the throne immediately?”
“Hmm. Right!”
"Thank goodness! Even if the Great Demon appears, our Verbent Empire is strong and will be fine! I'm proud!"
The people praised Prince Felix and the knights and wizards who helped him fight bravely against the monsters, demons, and warlocks.
In particular, the praise for the achievements of Duke Iels, the Sword Master, and Duke Argenthoz, the Magic Tower Master, was never-ending.
But rumors began to circulate secretly that there was another real hero.
It was ten days after the battle ended.
Residents of the capital who had just returned from evacuation gathered in the market to greet each other.
Among those happily eating, one man looked around cautiously and lowered his voice.
“But did you guys hear that too?”
"What?"
“When the Great Demon appeared! They say a truly formidable wizard appeared on our side and single-handedly killed the Great Demon?”
"Alone? A formidable wizard? Then isn't that the Grand Wizard, Duke Argenthoz?"
"That's not it. They said she was Princess Argenthoz. The Duke's daughter."
“Oh, really?”
“Oh, but listen. My cousin’s next-door neighbor’s son was selected as a knight soldier during this battle, and while fighting, he happened to witness it up close... That Princess was using black magic!”
The faces of those listening to the man turned ashen.
“What?! So the Princess is a warlock?”
"Yes!"
"Eek! Why is the daughter of the Magic Tower Lord a warlock?! Then, the Princess will have to be dragged to prison too?"
“Oh, but doesn’t something seem strange? The Princess is a warlock, so why did she kill the demon leader?”
"Hmm?"
"Uh?"
“Were you on bad terms?”
Amidst the gathered residents whispering with puzzled expressions, a middle-aged man at the next table suddenly poked his head out and joined the conversation.
“That’s because... that Princess is extremely righteous and an incredible warlock.”
“Oh my, what a surprise! Who are you?!”
“I am a passing guest who has not evacuated from the capital and has been staying here all this time.”
"No, by the way, the great warlock? Do you know anything about Princess Argenthoz?"
"My goodness. She's the great warlock who appeared to deal with the warlocks and demons who are wreaking havoc on this world. Don't you know that? Tsk tsk."
The men's faces turned bright red as he clicked his tongue and rebuked them.
“Uh, we... went into hiding and only returned last night. Anyway, is that true? But why a warlock of all people?”
“She said that shameful black magic should be replaced with proper black magic.”
“Proper black magic...”
Those who were captivated by the middle-aged man's smooth speech nodded.
The man continued speaking.
"Anyway, they say there's no other great warlock as outstanding as her right now. We're still alive and well, thanks to the Princess who killed the Great Demon, so be grateful."
“Ha. Well, I guess so.”
“That’s right.”
“The real hero was the Princess.”
Among the gossiping crowd, a middle-aged man sighed deeply, his eyebrows drooping.
"I bow to the Argenthoz Capital Townhouse every day before eating. I thank her for keeping me alive, and I pray for her speedy recovery."
“No, what happened to the Princess?”
Those who asked in surprise flinched at the shadow cast over the man's face.
“Haa. Princess Argenthoz... fought that great demon on our behalf, and now she’s been in a coma for ten days!”
“Really? Oh, my goodness. The demon captain is so evil!”
“She's been in a coma for ten days... She must be badly injured. Well, I heard she fought the Great Demon.”
“What should I do! Oh my god!”
“No, Mr. Lawson. What’s going on?”
"Oh, Madame Soleri! Listen, did you know? That Princess Argenthoz defeated the Great Demon on our behalf."
“Huh? Not the Duke?”
As more and more people gathered, a small woman standing behind the middle-aged man burst into tears.
“Sob.”
“Hey, Miss Carol.”
“It hurts my heart to keep listening. I guess I’ll just go in and see.”
As the little woman turned around and ran away, shedding tears of sorrow, the hearts of the villagers watching her also sank.
“I can’t believe this. Princess Argenthoz was a true hero...”
“It doesn’t matter if she's a warlock or something!”
“A truly great warlock was hurt because of those bad warlocks.”
"Shouldn't we send her something to help her get better soon? I heard there's some amazing elixir in the Lawson family heirloom!"
“You want me to give her that?”
“No. We should offer anything to the one who saved our lives!”
“I have to do something too!”
The middle-aged man, who had been watching the excited residents clenching their fists, quietly moved to another location.
The man who was waiting for him in the alley said.
“Miss Carol has finally gone to the mansion.”
“Well, since you followed the Princess so closely.”
“I’m worried.”
“Let’s go do our job.”
The two quickly moved to another operational area.
They were one of fifty special groups consisting of Demirant Guild members and New Moon Intelligence agents, working behind the scenes to ensure that Yvonne, now a warlock, would be recognized as a hero who defeated the Great Demon.
The rumor spread in the direction they wanted.
But Carol Demirant, the person in charge of swaying public opinion, looked almost like a corpse.
As Carol trudged back to the Argenthoz mansion, she stared blankly at the white lace tied around her wrist like a bracelet.
The first gift the Princess gave her.
She kept it like a treasure, but she couldn't stand it because she felt uneasy if she didn't look at it.
"Princess, please wake up. You promised to return safely."
'Oh my god!'
His armor and cloak were covered in blood, showing how fiercely he had fought the demons.
But instead, Rudnine's face, which was looking me up and down, was distorted in pain.
“Yvonne, you're hurt!”
Oh, right. I got hurt too.
But that's not important right now.
“Rudd, hurry up and help me.”
"... Yes."
As I urged him on, Rudnine bit his lower lip tightly and held onto my arm and body, which were poking Toylat's neck, to keep me from falling.
Only then could I focus solely on pouring out my black magic.
“Ugh, ugh ..."
The screams of Toylat right in front of me were so loud that my eardrums were swollen.
The bastard's body began to swell up to a huge size.
Just a little more...!
The bastard spat out crimson blood and ground his teeth at Yvonne and Rudnine.
“Hey, you guys...!”
Toylat couldn't continue. His swollen body split open, and a plume of crimson smoke rose. The creature's red pupils dilated as he trembled in pain.
Eventually, the body of the man who could no longer endure it exploded like a bomb and was torn to pieces.
'Ugh.'
In an instant, Rudnine, who had pulled his sword out of the bastard's body, surrounded me.
When the surroundings became quiet, and I raised my head, the remains of the bastard were scattered all over the ground.
A black smoke billowed from within, but soon disappeared without finding a body to return to.
Then, the bastard's torn body turned to black ash and fell limply to the ground.
So Toylat finally disappeared.
Only a black stain remained on the ground, signaling its demise.
I blinked blankly and stared at the eerie stain, but Rudnine pulled me around the waist and hugged me, supporting me.
“He died.”
"Ah."
“And the entrance to liberation has also disappeared.”
As he spoke for me, my tension completely relaxed, and the sword I was holding fell to the floor.
When I raised my head, the portal of liberation that had been swirling terribly in the sky as he had said, had disappeared, and golden sunlight was shining down on every corner of the world.
The sun appeared calmly, as if asking when hell would come, and sent warm light to every corner of the destroyed Verbent Palace.
The world I desperately wanted to protect.
We fought fiercely without rest. And we won.
My eyes turned red as I realized that my wish had finally come true.
'It's all over now.'
Rudnine hugged me tightly from behind.
"I survived thanks to Yvonne. Thank you, Yvonne. You worked hard. Really, really."
I nodded silently at his affectionate words whispered to me.
My whole body ached, and I was tired and exhausted.
But I was so happy to be spending this moment, the one I had been longing for the most, with Rudnine Iels that I cried.
“Rudd, uh...”
I was about to say something to him, but suddenly my vision turned yellow, and my body tilted over.
He quickly helped me up, and I was startled.
“Yvonne!”
“Thank you. For coming.”
I still have a lot I want to say.
I was upset because I couldn't see the man I loved very well.
I finally saved the world I live in with you. But why am I so sleepy?
“Yvonne! Yvonne, please! Yvonne...Yvonne...”
His desperate cries calling out to me also gradually faded into the distance.
I couldn't open my eyes at all.
I'm sick and so, so tired. I'm going to sleep.
I want to rest now...
***
The burning pain that felt like my body was being torn apart gradually subsided.
After a while, I was finally able to breathe comfortably and slowly opened my eyes.
It's dark.
Where the hell am I?
It was a quiet night here, with nothing around. It was a wonder I could see clearly ahead, even though there was no light, no moon, or stars.
Clank, clank.
Looking down, I was standing in a black river that came up to my ankles.
I was wearing the same clothes I had been wearing when I fought with Toylat, and I was also wearing the key necklace of the Iels family that Rudnine had given me.
What...?
A chill ran down my spine as I realized that this was not the ordinary world I lived in.
Am I dead? Or am I trapped somewhere?
I don't know. Just in case, I decided to destroy the space with black magic and escape.
But I was flustered as I was raising my black magic.
What the heck. Black magic...
“There isn’t any.”
Feeling so empty and absurd, I raised my head and looked up at the dark sky, laughing in vain.
“Why on earth?”
Tears flowed endlessly down both cheeks.
I was lonely.
I'm scared, I don't want to be alone. Someone save me. I don't want to die.
Rudd, please save me...
***
Those who witnessed the terrifying great demon flapping its four huge wings and sending down terrible black lightning, and the black demons flying around, wailed, saying that the end of the world had come.
Because it seemed so powerful and evil that humans could never defeat it.
But then a miracle happened.
The battle that had driven everyone into extreme fear ended in human victory.
“I survived...”
Someone muttered first at the sight of the suddenly pouring golden sunlight, and then everyone cheered.
The short but terrifying fight was over.
Many people died, but because of that, many more people survived.
The magnificent Imperial Capital was destroyed, with the massive Verbent Palace at its center, where a terrifying battle took place.
Monsters, warlocks, and even demons.
The marks left by those who appeared in the center of the capital were very large.
Thus, the group of warlocks who gathered to summon the Great Demon and all those who cooperated with them were punished for treason.
Empress Giselle Cardin Verbent, the leader of the Black Mage clan, was found in the Palace of Peace in a rather gruesome state.
Her shattered body was barely a remnant. Among the rubble, the only recognizable part was the finger where the Empress's ring had once been.
In contrast, the bodies of Princess Cordelia Mare and Crown Prince Adrian were found intact in a glass greenhouse.
Because Princess Mare was a warlock, she was treated as a traitor, and her body was cremated and returned to the Kingdom of Mare. The Crown Prince was buried quietly with the respect due to his royal status.
Most of the warlocks died in battle, and the fifteen or so who survived were immediately detained and awaited trial and investigation.
The war against the great demons, including the warlock, was over, but the capital was still being restored, and the aftermath was being handled.
The people and nobles who had left the capital quickly returned.
And they heard vivid accounts from those who remained in the capital and witnessed the horrors of that day firsthand.
They were afraid, yet they wondered who had led them to victory in this memorable battle.
"His Highness Prince Felix commanded this battle? The one who has been living in seclusion in the old palace?"
“They say that the Demon Empress noticed that our Prince was very clever when he was young, and that she deliberately planned to ruin him!”
“Oh my gosh! This is scary!”
“And you say His Majesty the Emperor is not in his right mind? Then shouldn’t His Highness the Crown Prince ascend to the throne immediately?”
“Hmm. Right!”
"Thank goodness! Even if the Great Demon appears, our Verbent Empire is strong and will be fine! I'm proud!"
The people praised Prince Felix and the knights and wizards who helped him fight bravely against the monsters, demons, and warlocks.
In particular, the praise for the achievements of Duke Iels, the Sword Master, and Duke Argenthoz, the Magic Tower Master, was never-ending.
But rumors began to circulate secretly that there was another real hero.
It was ten days after the battle ended.
Residents of the capital who had just returned from evacuation gathered in the market to greet each other.
Among those happily eating, one man looked around cautiously and lowered his voice.
“But did you guys hear that too?”
"What?"
“When the Great Demon appeared! They say a truly formidable wizard appeared on our side and single-handedly killed the Great Demon?”
"Alone? A formidable wizard? Then isn't that the Grand Wizard, Duke Argenthoz?"
"That's not it. They said she was Princess Argenthoz. The Duke's daughter."
“Oh, really?”
“Oh, but listen. My cousin’s next-door neighbor’s son was selected as a knight soldier during this battle, and while fighting, he happened to witness it up close... That Princess was using black magic!”
The faces of those listening to the man turned ashen.
“What?! So the Princess is a warlock?”
"Yes!"
"Eek! Why is the daughter of the Magic Tower Lord a warlock?! Then, the Princess will have to be dragged to prison too?"
“Oh, but doesn’t something seem strange? The Princess is a warlock, so why did she kill the demon leader?”
"Hmm?"
"Uh?"
“Were you on bad terms?”
Amidst the gathered residents whispering with puzzled expressions, a middle-aged man at the next table suddenly poked his head out and joined the conversation.
“That’s because... that Princess is extremely righteous and an incredible warlock.”
“Oh my, what a surprise! Who are you?!”
“I am a passing guest who has not evacuated from the capital and has been staying here all this time.”
"No, by the way, the great warlock? Do you know anything about Princess Argenthoz?"
"My goodness. She's the great warlock who appeared to deal with the warlocks and demons who are wreaking havoc on this world. Don't you know that? Tsk tsk."
The men's faces turned bright red as he clicked his tongue and rebuked them.
“Uh, we... went into hiding and only returned last night. Anyway, is that true? But why a warlock of all people?”
“She said that shameful black magic should be replaced with proper black magic.”
“Proper black magic...”
Those who were captivated by the middle-aged man's smooth speech nodded.
The man continued speaking.
"Anyway, they say there's no other great warlock as outstanding as her right now. We're still alive and well, thanks to the Princess who killed the Great Demon, so be grateful."
“Ha. Well, I guess so.”
“That’s right.”
“The real hero was the Princess.”
Among the gossiping crowd, a middle-aged man sighed deeply, his eyebrows drooping.
"I bow to the Argenthoz Capital Townhouse every day before eating. I thank her for keeping me alive, and I pray for her speedy recovery."
“No, what happened to the Princess?”
Those who asked in surprise flinched at the shadow cast over the man's face.
“Haa. Princess Argenthoz... fought that great demon on our behalf, and now she’s been in a coma for ten days!”
“Really? Oh, my goodness. The demon captain is so evil!”
“She's been in a coma for ten days... She must be badly injured. Well, I heard she fought the Great Demon.”
“What should I do! Oh my god!”
“No, Mr. Lawson. What’s going on?”
"Oh, Madame Soleri! Listen, did you know? That Princess Argenthoz defeated the Great Demon on our behalf."
“Huh? Not the Duke?”
As more and more people gathered, a small woman standing behind the middle-aged man burst into tears.
“Sob.”
“Hey, Miss Carol.”
“It hurts my heart to keep listening. I guess I’ll just go in and see.”
As the little woman turned around and ran away, shedding tears of sorrow, the hearts of the villagers watching her also sank.
“I can’t believe this. Princess Argenthoz was a true hero...”
“It doesn’t matter if she's a warlock or something!”
“A truly great warlock was hurt because of those bad warlocks.”
"Shouldn't we send her something to help her get better soon? I heard there's some amazing elixir in the Lawson family heirloom!"
“You want me to give her that?”
“No. We should offer anything to the one who saved our lives!”
“I have to do something too!”
The middle-aged man, who had been watching the excited residents clenching their fists, quietly moved to another location.
The man who was waiting for him in the alley said.
“Miss Carol has finally gone to the mansion.”
“Well, since you followed the Princess so closely.”
“I’m worried.”
“Let’s go do our job.”
The two quickly moved to another operational area.
They were one of fifty special groups consisting of Demirant Guild members and New Moon Intelligence agents, working behind the scenes to ensure that Yvonne, now a warlock, would be recognized as a hero who defeated the Great Demon.
The rumor spread in the direction they wanted.
But Carol Demirant, the person in charge of swaying public opinion, looked almost like a corpse.
As Carol trudged back to the Argenthoz mansion, she stared blankly at the white lace tied around her wrist like a bracelet.
The first gift the Princess gave her.
She kept it like a treasure, but she couldn't stand it because she felt uneasy if she didn't look at it.
"Princess, please wake up. You promised to return safely."
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