The number of silver claws cutting through the void was a staggering seven.
The Golden Lionsword, reaching the peak of its form, could not be stopped. Seven sword strikes were delivered simultaneously, leaving only one choice for those who faced it.
To run away.
However, the woman had all four limbs bound except for her right arm.
That meant it was over.
A predetermined future was declared.
With a pop, thick blood vessels burst forth in all directions.
Moreover, an unanticipated future arrived.
Boom!
With the sound that shook the ground,
Thud thud thud thud thud thud!
The whole world began to tremble.
It was an unexpected earthquake.
And unforeseen variables tend to bring about unexpected results.
“Damn…!”
With a clear ringing sound, the chains binding the woman were shattered all at once.
But by then, all but one of the blades had already pierced the woman’s body. Her arms and legs were in tatters, and there was even a long gash on her abdomen.
But there was an important fact to note.
It was shallow.
In other words, she was still alive. It was due to her posture being disrupted by the earthquake.
Kyaaaaah!
The wounded beast let out a sharp scream and started to dash away. It was at the moment when I had yet to regain my stance.
I had no choice but to shout with my last hope.
“Senior Elsi!”
“I know, you fool…!”
Fortunately, Senior Elsi was aiming her index finger. She seemed to be preparing a spell just in case.
No matter how robust the body, it was in a state of deep cuts to the abdomen and limbs. The moment she allowed for an additional strike, even if she didn’t die, the possibility of losing combat ability was high.
Just as I started to feel at ease.
The direction of the silver-haired woman, running like the wind, turned strangely.
Realizing her intention, a scream escaped my lips.
“Don’t, Senior Elsi!”
Bang! With a gunshot, the bullet from the Emperor was fired.
However, it missed the woman. This was because a hostage was located at the end toward which the woman turned.
The Fifth Imperial Princess, Sien.
The girl, still trembling, stood there dumbfounded, while Senior Elsi could only preemptively keep watch in the direction the woman was running toward in case of emergency.
Precisely as intended by the silver-haired woman.
As the light bullet was fired, the woman seemed to have been waiting for it, leaping back and then starting to run in another direction. At this point, there was no one left who could catch her.
Not me, not Senior Elsi, not even the princess, who was standing there in a daze.
But there was someone who could awaken my fading consciousness.
“Chase her now!”
Senior Elsi shouted, roughly pointing in the direction the woman had disappeared.
“She’ll be severely injured! There’s no way she can sustain that speed for long! She can’t have gone far!”
Only then did I snap back to my senses and stomped the ground.
Senior Elsi was right.
Among the people present, I was the fastest on foot. The other two were mages.
If anyone was going to chase her, it had to be me.
Maybe thanks to my full sprint.
I was able to spot the silver-haired woman shortly thereafter. She was walking hesitantly, approaching Ceria.
With all my strength, I threw my hand axe.
Bang!
The terrifying acceleration added to the hand axe made it nearly akin to a projectile. With a loud explosion, dirt burst forth in all directions, and the silver-haired woman, who had been approaching Ceria, had no choice but to stop in her tracks.
The axe blade lodged between the silver-haired woman and Ceria trembled.
I prepared to throw my sword as a warning.
“…Step away from Ceria now.”
If her body were fine, it would be one thing, but she was already in a severely injured state.
If I threw even a sword, there was a high chance the woman could meet her death.
Yet, I couldn’t carelessly throw my sword either.
It was because the distance between Ceria and the woman was closer than I had imagined.
If I threw the sword, the woman would die, but at the same time, she could still threaten Ceria from that distance.
Moreover, Ceria only looked confused and showed no signs of wanting to distance herself from the woman.
It was understandable.
After all, her long-lost mother, in tatters, would evoke any sympathy, prompting anyone to act.
“Ceria, my daughter….”
And the woman attempted to take another step forward.
I had no choice but to shout again.
“I told you not to come closer!”
The expression on Ceria’s mother morphed into one of sorrow at my threat.
It made it seem as though I was the villain of the piece. I was ready to lose my mind, but right now, Ceria was clearly showing hesitation.
Her blue eyes darted back and forth between me and the woman.
The gaze was heavy with reluctance and doubt. I sighed and began to persuade Ceria.
“I’m sorry, Ceria. Step back… your mother isn’t the person you think she is!”
“My daughter.”
But I wasn’t the only one attempting to persuade Ceria.
When the woman spoke in a tender voice, Ceria jumped, looking at her mother with trembling eyes.
Her cowering figure was painful to behold.
“When have I ever lied to you? I’ve always lived for you.”
“Don’t believe her!”
“Will you allow yourself to be taken away again?”
The words struck at the core of Ceria’s heart.
My junior’s breath caught. The gentle tremor in her eyes grew uncontrollably larger.
I gritted my teeth and raised my voice.
“Don’t listen to her, Ceria! And you, shut up!”
But Ceria’s mother remained unresponsive.
She was simply keeping her distance, fearful of my sword, while her eyes and mouth were solely directed at Ceria for a long time.
“I’ve heard that you have lost everything to that girl, Delphine.”
“All, everything…?”
“Yes, everything. How could I not know your feelings?”
The woman clasped her hands to her chest, pouring out a heartfelt plea that multiplied her persuasive power.
The sincere plea flowed endlessly from the woman’s lips.
“I, too, experienced losing your father. I loved him truly, but some human woman was jealous of the bond between your father and me and caused discord. I wanted to be your father’s only match.”
“Only match…”
“Isn’t that the desire of everyone?”
With a gentle smile, the woman gazed back at me, even shooting a thinly veiled reproach in my direction. I felt like shouting to make her stop, but I couldn’t do that.
Ceria’s upper body leaned slightly toward the woman.
She didn’t take a step forward, but the choice meant that the distance would inevitably diminish.
I felt like screaming.
“Everyone wants to be the only match for the one they love. Don’t you?”
“The only match for Senior Ian…”
“You’ve lost everything until now. So, would it be wrong for you to take one thing now?”
The light in Ceria’s pupils began to fade gradually.
Her solitary mutterings were like a fragrance of flowers, as dark energies began to creep toward Ceria. I could no longer hold back and shouted.
“Step back! Ceria, you too! Or else…!”
“I’ll take it from Delphine.”
“From Sister Delphine…”
No, I couldn’t let it happen.
I hesitated one last time.
Was it right to throw my sword now? Ceria might be in danger, but still, she was none other than Ceria’s mother.
Could she truly treat her child as a companion in the end?
Even as I was gathering strength in my arm.
“…Damn it.”
I couldn’t muster any more strength beyond that.
The thought that Ceria’s life could be in danger became a stumbling block, and no matter how I tried to swing my arm, it wouldn’t move.
How could I gamble with Ceria’s life?
Meanwhile, the woman continued her persuasion.
“Indeed, you need only listen to me. How much has Delphine taken from you until now?”
“The sword, the love of spirits, my mother, and… Senior Ian.”
“Hmph, Delphine has been too greedy. That’s why this happens.”
A dark desire began to swirl in Ceria’s eyes.
The girl recalled the nightmares of long ago, trembling with wrath, hatred, enmity.
And jealousy.
“It’s time for you to take back what is yours.”
“Me…?”
“Yes, everything… just as I did.”
It was at that moment.
“Guh?!”
With a thud, the hand axe shot up and lodged in Ceria’s sternum. Naturally, it was the handle and not the blade, but the pain of being hit in the vital area was crippling.
Ceria’s hazy eyes regained their shine. Looking startled, she glanced around until she finally saw her mother, who had bared her fangs, and began to step back nervously.
But before anything, her mother spoke.
“Yes, Ceria. Just as I did… although I faced a small issue in the end, you won’t.”
“Wh-what do you mean, mother?”
“Regaining what was lost.”
I could only squeeze my eyes shut upon hearing those words.
Ceria wouldn’t have known, would she?
Senior Delphine had wanted to keep this fact hidden from Ceria on purpose. That’s why she wanted to have a conversation without Ceria included, and I’d heard that Ceria had gotten angry and left.
While blaming her own sister.
I struggled to utter a plea.
“Stop, stop… don’t listen, Ceria! Just take a step back! I’ll handle what’s left!”
“Oh, you didn’t know, did you? For both of us, how much effort I put in.”
“I told you to step back now!”
Sensing something was off, Ceria’s body stiffened.
Swallowing dryly and silently staring at her mother, Ceria’s gaze was filled with fear and curiosity.
“Wh-what are you doing…?”
“About Delphine’s mother.”
With a bright smile, the woman spoke proudly, revealing the truth.
“…I killed her.”
It was the secret of the Yuridina Clan buried in the blizzard long ago.
And the circumstances under which Ceria’s mother had to be cast out.
Ceria’s trembling eyes froze entirely.
