Chapter 103: Breaking Free
I almost stumbled over myself running over. The Sword of Kanli instinctively tried to block me, but was swiftly stopped in its tracks by Rect.
Clang.
Captain Gray was tossed aside like a rag doll onto the bed.
I flopped onto the pristine white sheets, my small hands stretched ahead, flapping them in a panic before freezing in mid-air.
I wanted to lift the sheets, check her injuries, see if she was breathing, hug her, touch her face… but after pausing for what felt like an eternity, I ended up doing nothing. I had no idea how badly she was hurt.
I wanted to hear her scold me: “You fool, you almost died this time!”
But Victoria kept her eyes tightly shut, ignoring me.
She looked… so weak…
I was completely lost.
“At that moment, three people were attacking at the same time…”
Rect seemed to shuffle closer to me. His voice was a distant echo, like something out of a dream.
“…two swords aimed at the chest… Her Majesty dodged one, but the other was blocked by her heart protector… There was another person behind her… the wound is actually quite shallow, but the sword was poisoned… the attack was so sudden… I was off on another mission at that time, I…”
I craned my neck closer to Victoria’s face; her breaths were sometimes quick, sometimes weak, rising and falling slightly, then stopping… for two seconds before starting again.
But for that brief moment, I thought she was dead.
My hands and feet turned cold.
I had no idea what expression I wore.
Thank goodness she was still alive…
I found her…
What do I do now…
Buzz buzz buzz…
My head was a muddled mess.
I slapped my cheeks and shook my head to snap myself out of it.
“Where is she hurt?”
“Her side… the wound has been treated, but the problem is the poison… It’s not something recorded in the Royal Academy’s medical tomes; this isn’t from the Western Continent. We’ve tried everything… but still…”
“It’s just poison…”
I interrupted Rect.
“Just poisoned… and you all, so many of you… can’t do anything!?”
I couldn’t help but turn around, glaring fiercely at Rect: “You are! The Sword of Kanli! The kingdom’s protector!”
My hands were shaking.
My throat felt scratchy, and my voice sounded horrible, cracking and breaking.
But I still scanned the room, looking at everyone.
“Then why! Your Queen! She’s lying down! And you’re all just standing there!”
“Speak! Why!”
My fierce accusation, combined with my soft voice, echoed in the room, creating an awkward silence. No one spoke, not even dared to meet my gaze.
To some of them, I might just be a “junior.”
Even so, they didn’t seem to know what to say.
The Sword of Kanli would not make excuses.
And I…
I was just venting the emotions bubbling inside me.
They understood that, so they chose to stay silent.
Because right now… it wouldn’t change anything.
What happened? Why did it come to this? Questions like that were pointless.
I took a few deep breaths, feeling my heart rate stabilize, and my head gradually cooled.
First, save her…
We’ll figure out the rest later.
So I looked up and asked Rect, “Who can cure the poison?”
He answered immediately, “It’s not who; it’s a Divine Miracle… perhaps it can.”
A Divine Miracle? Then…
“Why not go to the church and ask for help?”
“The streets to the church have been blocked by rebels. We’ve charged in several times; many have died…”
So a Divine Miracle might really save her.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t be defending so stubbornly…
Ah, now it made sense.
No wonder the Iron Guard wouldn’t let us into the city.
They were afraid I or Margaret would find out and come to save Her Majesty.
“Giggling…”
For some reason, I felt like laughing.
I really regretted it…
I particularly regretted not killing them back then.
I should have killed them all…
“We need to figure out a way to notify the Saint, so she can…”
“I’ll go.”
I glanced back at the sleeping face for a moment, then slowly stood up, lifted the sheets, and gently cradled Victoria in my arms.
She was so light…
Much lighter than Captain Gray… Her hair was silky, gliding over my arms soft and ticklish… Ah, she frowned…
Victoria, are you feeling unwell?
Don’t be scared; I’m back…
“Don’t be reckless!”
I turned around to find Rect frowning deeply, blocking my path.
“The palace is already surrounded; the outside is full of enemies. If you carry Her Majesty out like this and get caught, they will attack without hesitation… Even if you’re the Pope Knight, you can’t fend off that many; it’s too risky. We should get the Saint here—”
I took a deep breath and stared straight into Rect’s eyes.
“Do you see how I got here?”
“Uh…”
Rect hesitated. His mouth half-opened, his right hand waved uncertainly in front of him, as if trying to point but couldn’t make up his mind.
“You…”
“That flame…”
“I can fly.”
After saying this, I sidestepped past him and headed quickly to the small terrace outside.
“Captain…”
Someone seemed to want to say something.
I did not look back, ignoring everyone, and rushed forward holding Victoria. There were no footsteps pursuing behind me.
“What is that flame… what kind of power…”
By the time I reached the terrace, Rect finally couldn’t hold back the question.
Having never faced the Abyss, he clearly didn’t recognize that it was Chaotic Power.
“Scythe, leave it here.”
Since Rect didn’t recognize it, I certainly didn’t feel the need to explain.
After all…
Soon they would all know.
“I’m leaving.”
“…thank you. Do you need us to do something…”
“No need.”
The next moment, black flames burst from my back.
This time, unlike before, the black flames did not wrap around me. The blazing fire shimmered with piercing white light, curling black smoke billowed as if opening up, twisting like a snake, and quickly extended, forming a pair of nearly two-meter-wide wings of black fire.
“Exhale—”
I took a long breath and looked up at the sky.
The dawn broke through the clouds, the sky washed clear.
The long black night had long faded.
At that moment, something in my heart shattered along with the wings that stretched open, cracked open like glass with the sunlight breaking through.
I had always tried hard to restrain myself.
Because of the terrible power I possessed and the fear it instilled in humanity, I was desperately trying to obey the rules of this world.
Margaret said that the Pope Knight couldn’t do this, couldn’t do that.
Okay, I listened to her.
She said the church’s internal struggles were very complex, that Bishop Nero was extremely powerful, and that I shouldn’t pursue him. I was important; nothing could happen to me.
Okay, I listened to her.
She told me not to act against those outside the city. Because for the church, that was against doctrine; we had no standing and did not participate in the war, only saving civilians.
Okay, I listened to her.
I listened to all of her rules.
I didn’t want to be seen as an uncontrollable monster. I wanted her to see that I understood the rules of human society and was willing to obey. I was a sensible, understanding creature with no threat to humanity — I wanted her to understand that.
I wanted her to feel that, compared to the monsters of the Abyss, I had more of the “human part.”
I’m not a monster. I’m human, one of your companions.
I wanted her to know this.
I wanted the Pope behind her to know.
I wanted everyone to know.
No matter what happens, I stand with humanity.
I didn’t want them to feel fear, I didn’t want them to be overly concerned. I began to think like Margaret, to view the situation from the church’s perspective, to see it from the “God’s eye view.” I kept my emotions hidden and did what they hoped I would, showing them that it was also what I wanted.
Except, I almost got killed by Nero.
But it was fine; I could ignore him for now. I was willing to listen to Margaret, even though I was actually quite frightened, fearing I’d leave myself in a worse situation, afraid Nero might suddenly appear by my side and take me down when my guard was down.
When leaving the city, I considered just killing the Iron Guard’s captain and leaving, but I thought of Margaret. I was afraid I couldn’t dodge her watchful eye and she’d wonder what I was up to. More importantly, it felt like if I did that, I’d somehow… lose something.
So, I did nothing.
And then what?
I was so obedient, so compliant, wanting to k*ll the Abyss to save the citizens of Ethanbel but nearly got killed as a monster myself.
The power of the Gate of Truth saved me; the Chaotic Power of the Abyss nearly killed my enemies… I even devoured a few who tried to attack me.
But maybe that was wrong…
With that thought, I changed into a nun’s outfit and returned to the Royal City.
Then I found Victoria lying on the brink of d*ath.
All along, I hesitated about this, worried about that, always holding back.
The enemy wanted to k*ll me, and I held back.
Someone wanted to k*ll my precious ones, and I held back.
Holding back, holding back, holding back… over and over…
I…
[Sometimes, not spilling bl**d doesn’t solve the problem.]
I recalled Carlos, with his stubbly face, sitting at the bedside, his eyes half-lidded, speaking to me.
[If you can’t muster the resolve for necessary actions, it may lead to even greater tragedies… can you understand?]
[You are the Pope Knight, not those indecisive fools.]
He wasn’t wrong.
So, Margaret, I don’t plan to listen to you anymore.
I want to listen to Carlos.
Or perhaps…
I won’t listen to anyone, only to myself.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh—
The wings behind me spread wide, the black flames surged and flickered, embers drifting before me as I held Victoria close.
There was a commotion and gasps from the room behind me, mixed with Rect’s shocked tone: “Peilo… you…”
The next moment, the fire wings beat.
Boom—
A fierce wind howled, blowing the potted plants off the terrace, tearing the vines clinging to the railing into shreds, the black flames surged high, trailing tails of fire into the sky, my petite figure darted up like an arrow through the air.
I made a quick turn, heading swiftly toward the palace entrance.
…k*ll first, then save.
Or perhaps save while killing.
Most heroes do just that, don’t they?
