Chapter 88
"......Understood."
Exchanging glances with me, Serenon gradually regained his composure and gave a small nod. The tremor in his eyes had already faded, replaced by a steely resolve.
"Truth be told, I still don't know how you're so confident, Lady Kashmir. I don't even know if you're trustworthy."
Serenon narrowed his eyes. His gaze deepened, as if weighing his options. His suspicion was justified, so I silently met it head-on.
"But even so, I'll give it a shot. My gut's telling me it's safe to trust you. And my instincts are pretty reliable."
Really, you've got some solid instincts.
I smiled faintly. Serenon flashed a hearty, bright grin like the one I'd seen when we first met, then added softly,
"Above all, anyone my brother likes that much can't be a bad person."
At his words, Leo and Rainer's auras turned menacing for a split second before quickly settling. I blinked in confusion at the two, who had exuded such intense killing intent, then thought briefly that Serenon must really get along well with Diego.
"Very well. But before we proceed with the plan, there's one person's permission we absolutely need."
To circle around the Basilisk while stirring up the surrounding mana flows and masking my voice, I scanned the area warily. As everyone's attention fixed on me, I turned my gaze to one person.
"Leo."
His absinthe-hued eyes, which had been obsessively locked on me since I arrived, darkened. After a brief hesitation, he cautiously opened his mouth.
"The plan I'm thinking of right now... it uses you as bait. You'll be in danger."
The Basilisk's target was Leo. I intended to exploit that fully.
Of course, I'll protect him with everything I've got.
Using someone else as bait was a rotten idea from the start. As I gazed at him with slightly downcast eyes, Leo's sharp gaze softened into a dramatic curve.
"What are you hesitating for? I'd be thrilled even if you shoved me into the jaws of death with your own hands."
His pale green eyes glinted dangerously. With a venomously alluring smile on his lips, he whispered,
"Do as you wish. I'll follow any order you give."
His low voice, laced with blind devotion, sent a shiver through me. Despite eyes like a beast's, Leo lowered them in submission—like a lion willingly donning its own collar.
"Alright. Let's do this."
I hated putting someone who trusted me like this in harm's way, but this was still the safest option. With a heavy nod, I began explaining.
"The Basilisk's breath carries poison. Deadly venom."
"Ah, so that's why... it felt so awful."
"Yes. Anyone without immunity is at risk just being near it."
Serenon let out a weary breath and gave me an odd look. Brushing it off, I continued,
"So first, we need to get you out of harm's way before the fight."
"I can still fight...!"
"If you don't leave now, you'll die before you even draw your sword."
I cut off Serenon's protest and fixed him with a calm stare. His skin was starting to take on a purplish hue—looking dangerously fragile. Serenon's pupils wavered; he bit his lip hard, then nodded heavily.
"......Understood."
At his compliance, I gave a short nod and turned away. Two pairs of eyes burned into me—different in color and intensity. After a brief deep breath, I spoke softly.
"Rainer. Escape from here with His Highness the Second Prince."
"Kashmir!"
Rainer's face crumpled at my firm command, staring at me in disbelief. Leo, leaning against a tree, grinned brightly in stark contrast.
"Well, looks like Shushu's plan doesn't need any heroes."
Rainer's aura flared menacingly at Leo's jab. I shot Leo a glare for his unhelpful provocation in this situation, then turned to Rainer, who was clenching his fists so hard they might shatter.
"You're the Captain of the Imperial Knights, aren't you? Protecting the imperial family comes first."
"But you're the most important person to me!"
His shout made my eyes widen. My heart plummeted, but that wasn't what mattered now. His blazing golden eyes felt like they could scorch my skin, but I hurriedly shifted my gaze to Serenon.
How can the Captain of the Second Imperial Knights say that in front of royalty!
It was the kind of statement that could get him punished for disloyalty, no questions asked. I tensed, worried Serenon might explode in anger.
"Ho...... But contrary to my expectations, Serenon looked utterly intrigued. His sparkling eyes fixed on Rainer, as if he found it endlessly amusing rather than infuriating.
Guess he won't punish Rainer for this.
Suddenly deflated, I exhaled and turned back to Rainer with slight relief.
"Rainer. I have a plan."
"Another plan where you charge into danger alone?"
"Not this time."
"Then how do you expect just the two of us to take on the Basilisk!"
"The two of us......" We took down Harabana—surely Leo and I can handle a Basilisk. I started to say, but caught Serenon watching us both with keen interest and clamped my mouth shut. Not something to say in front of him.
"This is getting messy. So nitpicky, anyone would think you two were ex-lovers."
As I pondered how to send off Rainer's stubbornly set face, Leo smirked and poured oil on the fire. Rainer's expression hardened coldly at the blatant insult. Their clashing auras—worlds apart—collided fiercely in the air.
"......This doesn't concern you."
"Why not? You're the one delaying Shushu's plan."
"It's between Kashmir and me."
"Kashmir's business is my business too."
What the hell are these idiots doing?
The Basilisk was probably tearing up the forest ahead, hunting us down, yet neither showed any sense of urgency. Their bickering was so absurd in this crisis that I alternated glances between them with a sigh, then stepped between the two.
"This isn't playtime...... Cut it out and both of you back off."
Only then did they rein in their killing intent. I turned to Rainer.
"Rainer. I'm not changing my mind. Go with His Highness the Second Prince."
"But......"
"Rainer Ainheart."
I intoned his name in a flat, unyielding voice, staring him down with overwhelming pressure. The first thing I'd learned as a mercenary was how to dominate others. Being small, I was always underestimated. With my gaze, my eyes, subtle movements, killing intent—I subdued them. Made them obey. With a hint of released killing intent, I fixed him with an icy stare.
"I said no objections."
His white teeth ground against his reddened lips. A faint trickle of blood seeped from Rainer's mouth.
"Any more defiance, and I'll make you go by force."
I had no intention of backing down. If Serenon collapsed from poisoning on the way out, someone would have to carry him. Leo needed to be bait, I the main counter—so Rainer had to go.
"Answer me."
I demanded curtly, voice devoid of emotion. Rainer swallowed the blood from his burst lip and slowly parted his mouth.
"......Understood."
His cracked voice was heartbreaking, but his bowed head was obedient.
He's got the power to grab and rip someone apart right now.
But I could see it. His surging golden eyes flashed with terrifying intensity, the mana around him raging wildly. His entire body screamed rebellion and refusal.
But there's no choice.
My resolve wavered, but it was unavoidable. Avoiding his fierce gaze, I pulled a silver mana stone and a sky-blue one from my pocket.
"......What's this?"
"Teleport mana stones."
All three sets of eyes widened. They seemed shocked I'd brought something like this to what was basically noble play-hunting.
Truth be told, I didn't bring them on purpose.
The silver one was from El—I carried it everywhere like an extension of myself now. The sky-blue one was a recent gift from Aria, her first creation.
'I wanted to give my first to my sister. It's not great since it's my debut, can't go far...... but perfect for emergency escapes.'
'Compared to El's gift, it's worlds apart...... but judging by the mana, it can reach about five meters beyond the barrier.'
For a first try, it was impressive. My little sister's a genius, I thought proudly for a moment, then handed the silver stone to Serenon and the sky-blue one to Rainer.
"You two must go together. Your Highness, don't stray from Rainer. Get out of here as fast as possible, then use the stones at the barrier edge. Agree on the same landing spot, then hurry back to the clearing, report the situation, and request backup. Bring holy knights and priests—no matter what, make sure to include them!"
"Not Duke Crisis the Sword Master, but holy knights and priests? Why specifically...... Kyaaak!"
The Basilisk's screech echoed right then. My mana barrier must have wavered during our talk, alerting it. Growing urgent, I rushed,
"We need them to dispose of the Basilisk's corpse! No time for details—go, now!"
Shing! My honed sword—gifted by Kaiser—slid from its sheath with a lethal ring. Still not channeling aura, I glanced at Serenon and Rainer.
"Go—now! Leo! Attack and draw its eyes!"
"Got it!"
The instant I dropped the barrier and the Basilisk whipped toward us, Leo's fiercely glowing aura engulfed it. The monster's mindless red eyes flashed coldly. Seizing the moment as it fixated on Leo, I bellowed at the hesitating pair,
"Go! Hurry!"
Only then did they bolt. I watched until they vanished toward the warded side.
So I couldn't miss Rainer's constant glances back.
'Kashmir, please...... don't get hurt.'
His brief telepathic plea echoed in my mind as his figure faded—no visual needed. With a sigh at the desperate resonance, I gripped my sword tight.
Boom!
Mana exploded from my body. A savage black current cloaked my blade. No reason to hold back with Serenon gone. Feeling my heart pound and mana surge through me, I eyed the Basilisk with fluorescent pink gaze.
Now, it was the time of the Black Calamity Mir.