Chapter 379: Bread and Dagger (77)
Chapter 379: Bread and Dagger (77)
Elsie Senior wasn't the only familiar face.
Delphine Senior and Emma came running toward me next. Even Isha, who had been walking hesitantly in the distance, joined them.
First, I savored the sensation of Elsie Senior in my arms.
The moment Delphine Senior saw me, her entire face lit up. It was such a rare display of emotion for her that she quickly cleared her throat as if she’d made a mistake.
It only showed how much she had been worrying.
Honestly, it felt good.
Delphine Senior was always so haughty and composed. To see a woman like her break into the brightest smile I’d ever seen the moment she laid eyes on me...
Was it because of the special bond we shared?
Looking at her, I felt a strange tickle in my chest as well.
While I was lost in sentiment, Emma reached me, panting and teary-eyed.
Her hands fumbled over my face several times as if she couldn't believe I was real.
Eventually, her legs gave out, and she sank to the ground.
"I-Ian... hic, I'm sorry..."
I had no idea what she was sorry for.
I could only offer a bitter smile and pat her comfortingly.
"It's okay, Emma. I'm fine... I'm just glad you're safe. You've had a hard time, haven't you?"
I instinctively moved to pull Emma into a hug, but I froze and glanced around at the others.
I was mainly worried about Elsie Senior.
She was a woman who could easily be called the incarnation of jealousy. Ever since she had confessed her true feelings to me, she had been expressing indiscriminate hostility toward any woman who approached me.
However, Elsie Senior's reaction was unexpected.
She simply snorted and turned her head away with a huff. It was an attitude that said she would tolerate it, even if she didn't like it.
"Hmph, I am a Lainella. I'm not going to fuss over a mere commoner girl."
It was a boastful tone typical of Elsie Senior.
Nevertheless, she couldn't hide the way her eyes kept darting back to me anxiously. I smiled wryly but decided to gratefully accept her consideration.
On the contrary, it was Delphine Senior who put the brakes on me.
"Master, there's so much I want to say... but we don't have time. Let's escape, quickly."
"Then what about that monster?"
"We have no choice but to leave it."
Patting the sobbing Emma on the back, I looked behind me with a low groan.
The flesh chunk was still watching me and my companions. It was the exact opposite of its previous behavior when it had been recklessly devouring the elves.
It felt as if it were observing us intently.
It was gauging the enemy's strength.
I had a feeling I knew why.
"That monster... it's growing in size by absorbing the elves. Right now, when it's just started multiplying, is when it's at its weakest."
Delphine Senior's brow furrowed, while Elsie Senior turned her blue eyes toward the flesh chunk.
Their reactions were polar opposites.
Delphine Senior seemed to be hesitating but leaning toward a retreat. On the other hand, the hostility in Elsie Senior's eyes as she glared at the flesh chunk was palpable.
The reason was obvious.
Elsie Senior's gaze flickered briefly over my side.
As if she had made up her mind, the girl in the pointed hat grit her teeth.
"Is that so? Then we have to teach it a lesson right now! Hey, you snake-head! Who do you think you're messing with, acting all high and mighty...!"
"You're injured."
It was a quiet remark.
At Delphine Senior's grave tone, Elsie Senior's voice immediately died down.
The woman's blood-red eyes reflected only my image.
"If you were hit in the side, there's a high possibility your internal organs were damaged. Especially if it's a burn... you need to see a priest immediately for proper treatment."
"I'm fine. More importantly, don't you see that guy? That house-sized thing is scared and just watching us! An opportunity like this will never come ag—Aaaargh!"
However, my protest was neutralized by Emma's touch.
Emma, who had been quietly listening to my argument, had pressed her finger firmly against my scorched side. Caught off guard by the sudden strike, I had no choice but to let out a scream.
Tears pricked my eyes.
I had been barely enduring the pain as it was. Having been ambushed by an unexpected opponent, I couldn't help but let out an unsightly shriek.
The moment she saw that, Emma's eyes turned resolute.
"Let's go back, Lady Yurdina."
Her tone was firm.
The gaze Emma directed at me was heavy. It was an attitude that suggested no counter-argument would be tolerated.
My lips went dry with anxiety.
I felt it instinctively.
This was the last chance.
That monster was an opponent that even the future 'me' had warned not to touch. If I didn't strike while it was at its weakest, disaster was certain.
Above all, I had seen that overflowing flesh several times in the memories of the 'me' from the future.
A disaster like a tidal wave sweeping over the North.
I remembered a gray-haired woman standing alone before it.
In the end, I had no choice but to be stubborn.
"Then you go first... just take this elf, this elf with you."
I said, gesturing toward Avian, whom I had set on the ground. Since it was a ridiculous suggestion, the atmosphere among the group turned grim in an instant.
I knew it. It was a cowardly tactic.
But the image of Avian and her younger sister kept flickering in my mind. And the eyes of the elves who had been dragged away by the flesh chunk while screaming.
Why did they scream?
Didn't they say life was hell? Didn't they say they didn't want to live anymore?
Yet, the looks I saw in their eyes then were all stained with nothing but despair.
I spoke with an even firmer voice.
"It's now or never, Delphine Senior."
In the end, it was Delphine Senior, not me, who declared surrender.
The expedition had been meant to rescue me in the first place. Leaving me behind and taking only an elf girl was out of the question.
A short exchange passed between Delphine Senior and me.
"...Can you win?"
"I don't know."
"Then, only this once."
That was the end of the conversation.
Only then did Isha creep up beside us. She seemed terrified by the hideous appearance of the flesh chunk, her legs trembling violently.
"H-Human... what is that monster? This is the headquarters, so why are there so few elves...?"
"Isha, I'm counting on you to look after Emma and Avian."
The formation was set in the blink of an eye.
As soon as I stood up and took the lead, Delphine Senior immediately moved to my side. Mana began to swirl in Elsie Senior's hands as well.
Comrades who had crossed the line between life and death several times were truly reliable.
No words were needed. A silent promise had been made between us.
The vanguard was Delphine Senior and me.
Elsie Senior would prepare a powerful finishing blow from the rear.
Most likely, it would be 'Gale and Thunderbolt.' It was the area-of-effect spell with the highest destructive power among the 5th Circle magic Elsie Senior could cast.
Until then, we had to eliminate as many variables as possible.
For example, the surrounding snakes that might escape the range.
The flesh chunk realized our intention instantly. Since we were radiating such sharp killing intent, it would have been stranger if it hadn't noticed.
The snakes cried out, their faces shifting.
"End... it... for... me... End... it... for... me!"
Then, tentacles of flesh struck the ground like lightning.
As if I had been waiting, I swung my sword and sliced through the tentacles. From my other hand, a hand axe was launched at a fierce speed.
The trajectory of the hand axe drew a half-moon.
The sound of blood bursting and splashing echoed. A few tentacles survived, but they soon had to face golden flames.
A golden aura, like the sun itself.
It was Delphine Senior's handiwork. The flesh chunk seemed particularly vulnerable to fire, as it twisted its tentacles frantically. No sound could be heard, but I could guess its agony.
Next, the snake skulls began to glow white-hot.
The sight of dozens of snake heads lighting up one by one was truly a spectacle. It would have been even more magnificent at night.
Leoric continued to howl.
"This... cur... sed... life!"
Beams of light drew lines, cracking the cubic space.
Yes, this was the last chance.
*
Seria's room was always shrouded in darkness.
The light leaking through the window had long been blocked by elegant fabric. Furthermore, Seria's blue eyes cast a faint glow even in the dark.
Even without light, there was no inconvenience in her daily life.
Thus, Seria imprisoned herself in her room like a sinner afraid of her own crimes. For several days, she met no one and abused her own body.
Suddenly, the Princess had come to find her.
To propose 'patricide.'
Seria had shaken her head in denial, but she knew better than anyone that the Princess would have no reason to lie. Even so, how could she accept such a fact?
Her father was Seria's only blood relative.
He was the only family she shared blood with. Although she had her respected older sister, Delphine, she was only a half-sister born from a different womb.
And yet, that father had lied.
He was the one who had cast her mother aside.
Inwardly, she thought she hated him. He was the villain who occupied the largest part of her childhood nightmares, after all.
But in truth, had she been unable to let go?
Of the bond of blood.
The voices of the women who had come to see her continued.
Facts, broken into fragments, pierced her mind.
"Marquis Yurdina was a traitor."
"Lord Ian did not lose his memory. Nor did he take the side of the elves. On the contrary, Alex was deceiving Lady Delphine."
"Sister Seria, you must make a decision."
Seria lowered her gaze with a bleak expression.
Make a decision? Me?
You're telling me to strike down the last blood relative I have left in this world?
I'll only hear that I betrayed my father because I inherited my mother's vulgar blood. Even if the power of the Yurdina family passed to Delphine, it would be a stigma that remained forever.
Without even thinking about it, she should refuse.
A decision would have to be made eventually, but Seria should not be the one to make it. In the first place, Seria did not have the power to oust Marquis Yurdina.
If there was anyone in the family capable of that, there was only one.
Delphine, who had controlled the family as the successor for a long time.
The problem was the choice laid out on the other side.
Her most precious Senior had been betrayed by her father.
And because of that, he might be in mortal danger.
Seria felt like she was going crazy.
Family, or Senior.
Haaa... Seria's breathing grew ragged.
"Senior, it must be painful, but the testimonies overlap too perfectly. There's little room for doubt—"
"So, you want me to cut down my only blood relative?"
At the sharp retort, the Princess fell silent.
The Saintess and Neris had long since remained quiet. No one was unaware that Seria's time had come.
However, the Saintess added just one more thing.
"It's for Ian."
There were only two things supporting Seria in this world.
The Yurdina family, bound by blood.
And Ian Senior, bound by connection.
She had to discard one of them.
Seria's hands trembled. Her eyes looked as if she couldn't understand why such a heavy choice had been placed in her hands.
She had to choose Ian Senior.
Her heart and mind were telling her so. However, the reason Seria still hesitated was the burden of having to choose the path of killing her parent with her own hands.
Her ragged breathing grew even harsher.
"I, I... I mean..."
She even dropped her formal speech.
The Saintess quietly closed her eyes as if she understood. Neris turned her gaze away as if she weren't even there.
Only the Princess held her two fists tight with an anxious face.
Her two sparkling eyes were pressing Seria for an answer.
Just before Seria could force out a single word.
"Lady Delphine has returned! Sir Ian is with her!"
At the sudden cheer, the group's heads snapped around.
Even in her confusion, Seria sprang to her feet. And she flung open the window she hadn't opened once in the past few days.
It was just as they said.
In the distance, Delphine and her party were walking unsteadily toward them.
Carrying Ian, who was clearly heavily injured.
Delphine spoke.
"Mobilize the army immediately."
It was a day when the blizzard was particularly severe.