5. Fallen Princess Bellatrix
"Cheong-ah…."
Ju Cheong-ah lay in my arms, a battered mess. Along with her came an endless surge of self-loathing.
"Sorry."
Pathetic. Useless. No better than a fucking cripple—that was my reality. I wanted to string myself up and end it right then and there.
"Fuck…."
The curse slipped out naturally amid my helplessness and weakness.
"Please… give me something too."
I prayed to the goddess who had dragged me here—a woman whose name, face, or voice I didn't even know. All I knew was her gender, and I'd only learned that a few months ago. Didn't matter. Please, I beg you….
A thickening darkness swallowed my vision. A sticky, disgusting sensation enveloped my entire face. It soon hardened, forming a mask that fit perfectly—comfortable yet somehow off-putting.
No, it was a mask already. Made of black energy, covering my whole face. No holes for eyes or breathing, like a plastic bag. It strangled my breath—a single mask.
Text scrolled across my obscured vision.
Transferring all target's pain to self.
Healing target's wounds while converting most to pain and shifting to self.
Aa— Aa— Aa— Aa—!!!
The mask burned scorching hot, as if searing my face. I had to rip it off—I knew it instinctively. It was hot. So hot. It hurt.
"Gaaahhh…!"
I screamed in agony. But my cries didn't escape; the mask devoured them inside.
I clawed at the mask with my hands, yanking desperately. Each pull hammered my skull with pain like skin tearing off. Still, I couldn't stop. The mask's torment outweighed any flesh-ripping agony.
It hurt. I was dying. Yet I couldn't stop. Anything was better than this excruciating pain—better than my own pathetic helplessness, standing by like a useless fuckwit.
This mask was my incompetence. My powerlessness.
Krraaaack—!
"I…!"
"Me too…!"
Conductor's Authority - Protection activated.
Deploys shield on target to block attacks for a duration.
Impacts on shield are mitigated; portion transfers as pain to Conductor.
Crunchhh—.
"Uwaaaaaahhh…!!!!"
The mask peeled away bit by bit. Chunks of skin seemed to tear off with it.
Conductor's Authority - Body Enhancement activated.
Boosts target's physical abilities for a duration.
Movement during activation partially converts to pain transferred to Conductor.
A blue window filled my view.
Riiiippp…!
By the third activation, the mask tore free with the sound of flesh ripping clean off.
"Puha…!"
I gasped in the stale air, lungs burning at their limit. Thought I was gonna die for real….
"Hahk… Hah."
The mask vanished without a trace upon peeling. My face still burned, but no wounds remained. Not even skin-tear scars. Just the lingering agony.
"…Finally."
As it dissolved, knowledge of the first authority—and the other two—seeped into my mind like engravings. Not exactly what I'd hoped for….
But not bad. At least I could help Cheong-ah.
"…Cheong-ah."
Calling Ju Cheong-ah's name, I channeled the three authorities onto my tongue. Gripping her chin, I parted her lips gently. Leaning in, I kissed her blood-tasting mouth.
A thick metallic tang filled her mouth. Yet no fishiness—just sweetness as I slipped my tongue inside.
Lip to lip. Tongue to tongue.
Wake up.
The authorities flowed from me into her. Thick black mana seeped into Cheong-ah's body.
"Cough…!"
She hacked violently, spitting pooled blood from her throat. At the same instant, fierce pain exploded inside me.
"Urk…."
Fucking hurts.
From liver and heart to stomach and intestines. Ribs, lower belly—every organ throbbed. Even my arms felt torn off. This was just a fraction of Cheong-ah's suffering.
A trickle of blood dribbled from my mouth too—the price of shifting some wounds via the first authority.
Cheong-ah's eyes fluttered open.
"H-Husband?"
I wiped the blood from my lips quick. Meeting her black eyes, I forced a calm smile.
"Awake? Anywhere hurt?"
"Y-Yes… Seems so. Amazing. Was that you, husband?"
"Yeah, me. Got new powers. What do you think?"
Her eyes widened round at my answer. She bolted up, twisting and testing her body, then stared at me in wonder.
"Incredible. How is this possible? Feels lighter too."
"Right? Took some effort. Heh. But hey, Cheong-ah."
"Yes? What is it, husband?"
"Over there—Aria and Sierra look like they're struggling."
I pointed at Aria barely holding against Bellatrix, with Sierra assisting.
Cheong-ah turned to follow my finger.
"Think you should help."
"Oh, you're right. Gotta go. Revenge time too."
"Yeah, go get your payback."
"Yes, be right back. Wait just a bit, husband."
"Sure. Win this time."
"Hehe… Obviously."
I watched Cheong-ah dash off, then slowly pushed up from the ground on my palms, collapsing forward.
"…Fucking hurts, for real."
Unfortunately, no blacking out. Couldn't, even if I wanted to.
If Conductor faints, all authorities on target deactivate.
Now I had a reason never to pass out.
Just a brief blackout and wake-up, yet all my wounds were gone. Body felt even lighter.
Most organs inside had been wrecked, but Ian's power healed them all. Even shattered arm and rib bones mended clean, like it never happened.
"Incredible."
What kind of ability let him do this? I'd thought it amazing when he restored my congenital blindness….
My choice was right. Choosing Ian as husband was spot-on.
At first, learning he had no mana—couldn't have any—crushed me.
But now? Irrelevant. Knowing he had this power changed everything.
"…Can't let him go. Ever."
For my goals alone, never.
First things first: Block the Fallen Princess Bellatrix, who'd just smashed Aria's shield and was swinging her greatsword down on her head.
Kwang—!
Aria's shield shattered after blocking dozens of greatsword strikes. Her arm, braced all that time, was mangled bloody pulp.
Even channeling all her mana into shield and arm wasn't enough against the Fallen Princess's onslaught.
No—surviving this long was the real feat.
"Hoo… It's over."
"Grraah…! Damn it!"
"A-Aria! You okay?!"
Sierra screamed her lady's name in despair.
"Sierra, defense spell quick…!"
"Y-Yes…!"
Block the malice before me…!
She gathered mana in her staff for a spell, but the princess's sword swung faster than her incantation.
"Sorry, Aria. My dear friend."
"W-Wai…!"
With only the spell's end left, the greatsword bore down on Aria and Sierra.
Aria closed her eyes, accepting her end.
"Farewell."
No miracle? Then death.
And right on cue, the miracle arrived.
"Sorry, but no."
Claaang…!
A far thinner sword than the princess's greatsword clashed mid-blade, shoving it aside.
Aria snapped her eyes open at the sound.
Ju Cheong-ah stood there poised, flicking the blade away effortlessly. She'd looked half-dead moments ago?
"Ju Cheong-ah! You okay?!"
"Yes, thanks to my husband."
"Ian? What do you…?"
Aria blinked in confusion, but Cheong-ah shushed her with a finger to lips.
"Details are secret. Don't wanna share my husband."
Leaving Aria puzzled, Cheong-ah raised her sword, eyes locked on Bellatrix.
"Huh, all fixed? How?"
"Eh, who knows. Not your business."
"True enough. Doesn't matter anyway."
Bellatrix barked her usual hearty laugh, slinging her sword over her shoulder.
"Get ready. No mercy this time."
"You too. I'll kill you proper now."