Chapter 27 - Fate to Some, Trap to Others
Chapter 27 - Fate to Some, Trap to Others
Damn it.
This wasn’t part of the plan.
No, seriously—how could none of the soldiers, generals, adventurers, or even the butler think to protect Parmela?
But what’s done is done.
The moment I saw the wyvern swing its claws toward Parmela, I reflexively drew upon my demonic qi.
By the time I regained my senses, I had already unleashed a sword aura at the wyvern lunging for her.
‘Sigh… How am I going to explain this away?’
I’d been diligently playing the role of a naive commoner who knew nothing, and now all that effort was wasted in an instant.
I shifted my gaze to Parmela.
“…”
She stared at me with a dazed expression.
“Theodor, what was that just—”
Even if others hadn’t noticed, Parmela had seen everything right beside me.
Hiding it now would be impossible, but—
“The rest of the wyverns are closing in! Everyone, prepare to intercept!”
For now, the wyverns took priority.
“My lady.”
“Huh? Y-yes?”
“I know you must have many questions for me. But I ask that you save them for later. This isn’t the time.”
Hoping she sensed my sincerity, I grasped both her hands and spoke earnestly.
“So… could you keep what you just witnessed a secret for now? I’ll explain everything properly afterward.”
“…”
For some reason, her cheeks flushed as she stared down at my hands holding hers.
“…O-okay.”
“Thank you. Then for now, let’s regroup with the general—”
SHWIIING—
Just then, the sharp sound of splitting air came from above.
“Ghk!”
I swiftly swung my sword, decapitating the wyvern that had tried to claw my head.
“…Hah. Now I see why people are so wary of demons. They just keep churning out monsters like these.”
The grotesque sight of a new head sprouting from the severed neck was beyond disturbing.
“SCREEEEE!”
The wyverns that had flown toward us must have been the vanguard.
When one of them shrieked sharply, about half of the remaining wyverns observing from the rocky mountain immediately joined the fray.
A chaotic battle ensued.
The wyverns circled above the extermination squad, taking turns diving in for attacks, while the squad retaliated with coordinated strikes.
“Lady Parmela! Are you unharmed?”
The general rode over urgently on horseback.
His right eye was covered in blood streaming from a head wound.
“General Kelton.”
“Is there an issue with the Black Flame Art? This operation hinges entirely on your Black Flame Art! Give me a clear answer—if you cannot wield it now, I must order an immediate retreat—”
‘Speaking of which, where did that Edgar guy go?’
I frantically scanned the battlefield for the crown prince, but he was nowhere in sight.
“…He’s right.”
In the end, I had to agree with the commander.
I didn’t know the reason, but earlier, Parmela had failed to invoke the Black Flame Art.
I wasn’t sure how skilled the crown prince actually was with magic, but without his intervention, extermination would be impossible.
“I’ll try one more time.”
But Parmela’s response was unexpected.
“Huh?” “What?”
Both the commander and I questioned her at the same time.
“I think I can do it this time.”
“But… if you fail again, the casualties among the extermination squad will be catastrophic.”
“Trust me. I think… I’ve found a solution just now.”
“…?”
What could have happened in that brief moment? I didn’t see anything…
“Can you buy me some time?”
“…”
After a moment of hesitation upon seeing the determination in Parmela’s eyes, the general finally relented.
“All units! Defensive formation!”
Under his command, the extermination squad formed a circular shield wall around Parmela.
Just then, the wyverns’ assaults began to wane.
Seeing us regroup, they seemed to decide it was time to assess the situation.
Eighty wyverns circled overhead in a wide arc, their sharp gazes fixed on us like predators eyeing prey.
It would have been a magnificent sight—if we weren’t the prey in question.
“My lady, are you truly certain? If you fail to summon the Black Flame this time, we’ll lose any chance to retreat.”
“It’s fine, Theodor. This time, I’m sure. But… um… I need to ask you for one thing…”
For some reason, Parmela hesitated, fumbling over her words.
WHOOSH—
“W-what the—?!”
Suddenly, a brilliant silver light cascaded down from above.
Looking up, I saw a massive, dome-shaped silver barrier enveloping the entire extermination squad.
SCREEEEE!
The startled wyverns clawed and pecked at the barrier in confusion, but the silver shield held firm, protecting the soldiers beneath.
As everyone’s attention was drawn upward, the sound of someone landing nearby reached my ears.
“What in the world is going on, Parmela?”
“Edgar!”
“You seemed to have failed the Black Flame Art. I hastily cast a defensive spell, but…”
So this barrier was Edgar’s doing.
“This isn’t like you, Parmela. If things had gone wrong, not only the soldiers but even your servants could have been hurt.”
“I’m sorry…”
“If there’s no other way, I’ll partially lift the barrier so you can retreat through—”
“No. This time, I can finish it.”
“Are you sure? You won’t fail again?”
“Yes.”
Parmela glanced briefly at me.
“…If you say so… I’ll trust you one more time. What do you need me to do?”
“I’ll summon the Black Flame again. Release the barrier the moment I do.”
“Understood.”
Hmm.
Seeing her so confident made me think she had something up her sleeve, but…
If she failed again, I might have to step in once more.
And if that happened… I’d have to abandon my position as a butler-in-training and leave before my true identity was exposed.
Sigh… Life.
“And Theodor.”
“Yes?”
“I need to ask something of you too.”
“??”
“Me?”
“Parmela, why him? Is there something you can’t ask of me?”
It wasn’t just me—even the crown prince seemed startled by her sudden request.
“…Your hand.”
“My hand?”
“Hold my hand.”
“Excuse me?”
“Then… I’ll begin.”
Parmela, standing to my left, extended her right hand toward me.
“…”
“Hurry up and take it.”
‘Is this really okay…?’
Reluctantly, I clasped her right hand.
“Ngh…”
“Are you alright?”
“Don’t mind it. Like I said earlier, don’t let go of my hand no matter what. That’s an order.”
“…Understood.”
“I’ll invoke the Black Flame Art again. Edgar, release the barrier when my incantation ends.”
“…”
Finally, the crown prince stopped glaring daggers at me and floated slightly into the air, quietly beginning his own incantation.
“Hah… Alright.”
She closed her eyes.
“O black flames that rage, O infernal fire dwelling in the heart of Herthe, O crimson-black mana that flows through blood-stained veins.”
“Pursue, blaze forth. Do not cease your fury until all is reduced to ash.”
A scorching aura radiated from near her heart, sending waves of heat through the air.
So far, it seemed similar to before…
[Warning. Parmela Herthe is absorbing demonic qi from your dantian.]
[Remaining demonic qi: 13%.]
Wait, what?
WHOOSH!
At that moment, I felt an intense suction from the hand clasped with Parmela’s.
Before I could react, fragments of demonic qi were forcibly drawn from my dantian, flowing through my meridians and into her.
“Gather and rise. Ascend as a sun above.”
ROOOOAR—
H-hey… what the hell…
The soldiers guarding Parmela gasped in shock.
The orb of black flame forming above her head grew larger and larger, until its radius expanded enough to cover the entire extermination squad and graze the barrier.
As it reached its peak, the crown prince flicked his fingers—and the barrier vanished.
But despite the disappearance of the obstacle blocking their feast, the wyvern swarm didn’t charge.
GWAHHK!
Terrified by the massive black flame orb, they scattered in panic, desperate to flee.
“Explode!”
BOOM!
The black sun detonated.
KOOOOWHOOOOOM—
A shockwave of black flame scorched the sky.
SCREEEEEEE!!!!
The fleeing wyverns were engulfed from behind, their bodies wrapped in crimson-black flames.
Of course, those of us standing directly below—the extermination squad included—were no exception.
“Tch!”
Parmela hastily raised her left hand.
[Warning. Parmela Herthe is absorbing demonic qi from your dantian.]
[Remaining demonic qi: 10%.]
‘Hey, you crazy—! Stop draining my demonic qi!’
Thus, the black flame shockwave that should have consumed us instead split strangely above our heads, guided by Parmela’s control, and crashed harmlessly into the ground.
A moment later, the aftermath of the Black Flame Art faded, and the sky returned to view.
Dozens of charred, crimson corpses plummeted lifelessly to the earth like shooting stars.
“WOOOOOAH!!!!”
Cheers erupted among the soldiers.
“Done…! Theodor! Did you see?”
Flushed with excitement, Parmela turned to me with a face full of smiles.
The crown prince stared back and forth between us with a dumbfounded expression.
As for me…
“…”
[Remaining demonic qi: 8%.]
‘My… demonic qi… My precious demonic qi…’
Despite the twists and turns, the extermination had ended in success.
Parmela Herthe’s feat of incinerating eighty wyverns corrupted into demonic familiars in one strike would be celebrated throughout Bainwood for some time.
The lord of Bainwood came to express his gratitude, and a small banquet was held at the Herthe estate to commemorate her triumph.
The commotion continued even after the extermination…
But what truly deserved attention was the secret meeting between two individuals in Parmela’s office several nights later.
“…You called for me, my lady?”
Theodor entered the office dressed in his usual butler attire.
“You’re here. Sit.”
Waiting for him was Parmela, clad in a thin, white nightgown—far too revealing for a proper noble lady to wear in the presence of an unrelated man.