Chapter 35
“It’s cumbersome. I think it’s time to wrap this up.”
“Even so, tearing your clothes like that—”
“What does it matter? Who’s watching?”
Rafaella tore the fabric up to just above her knees so she could run more easily, then gave William his instructions.
“Duke. When I draw it toward the head, stab just one of its toes. Think you can manage?”
“The scales are extremely tough, so I can’t guarantee anything.”
William replied as he raised his sword, its blade jagged like a saw.
“But it should endure at least once. I’ll do what I can.”
“Be careful.”
“The one who should be careful is Your Highness. Please don’t overdo it while luring it.”
“Tch. You nagging bear.”
With a sigh, Rafaella shot forward like an arrow. William also ran, sword in hand, aiming for the opposite leg.
[Graaar… this slippery wench…!]
The fire salamander, brimming with malice, stomped the ground and charged with its maw wide open, trying to bite Rafaella. Its sharp teeth snapped close behind her back.
Rafaella vaulted swiftly over the collapsed rocks, swinging her spirit-tree club.
Thud—
The club struck the salamander square on the bridge of its nose, but not even a scratch appeared on its smooth scales.
“Tch. Disgustingly hard.”
Her knees trembled with fatigue as she narrowly dodged another incoming tail swipe.
Then suddenly, the fire salamander let out a loud cry and shook its head violently in pain.
[Grraahk! You bastard—!]
William had driven his sword into the salamander’s hind foot—more precisely, into the narrow gap between claw and scale.
As the creature writhed in agony, the sword wedged between its claws snapped in two. The salamander shook its leg with all its might, sending William flying backward, clutching only the hilt.
“Urgh.”
The duke barely managed to land on one knee, dragging it across the ground, but the impact sent a sharp pain through his kneecap as if it had slipped out of place. Without pause, the fire salamander bared its fangs and charged at him.
[I’ll chew you to pieces!]
In that instant, Rafaella climbed onto the creature’s back. A palm-sized red scale came into view ahead. She struggled to keep her balance as she ran precariously over the slick surface.
She swung the spirit-tree club at the red scale.
Kraaak—
But the scale was still too hard. Only a harsh scraping sound echoed uselessly through the cavern.
Sensing her, the fire salamander violently shook its neck. Rafaella lost her footing and was flung into the wall of the burrow.
“Kh—cough!”
Blood trickled from between her lips.
It felt as though the rib broken earlier by the knuckle strike had pierced her lung. The pain surged like a tide, making even breathing agonizing as her vision swam.
“Your Highness!”
William limped toward her. At the same time, the fire salamander lumbered toward Rafaella with heavy thuds. Between its gaping jaws, a new mass of flame was forming.
William threw himself over Rafaella’s fallen body, shielding her completely.
[Kwaaah!]
Inside its mouth, the fireball grew larger and larger. The blazing heat filled the burrow, as though it would fire at any moment.
Then—
KWAANG—!!!!!!
A deafening roar shook the entire cavern.
Rocks and dirt rained down from the ceiling, and the ground beneath the salamander cracked violently in jagged, lightning-like patterns, as if an earthquake had struck.
[Gu… gurk…]
The fire salamander’s eyes slowly rolled back, leaving only the whites. The flames in its mouth were swallowed back down its throat.
Its massive body twitched briefly before collapsing sideways with a thunderous crash. At that moment, a small pink figure hopped down from its body.
It was Rosalie.
Holding a bow snapped cleanly in half from smashing scales, Rosalie ran toward Rafaella.
“S–Sister! Duke! Are you okay?”
Rafaella could barely keep her eyes open.
Something hot and metallic kept surging up from her stomach, making it hard even to respond. If she moved her lips, she was certain she’d vomit blood.
With trembling arms, Rafaella raised her hand and gave a thumbs-up.
Only then did Rosalie truly see her condition—and gasped.
“B–blood! What—what do we do?!”
Tears welled up in Rosalie’s eyes as she clutched Rafaella’s hand.
“I—I’m sorry. If I’d just been a little faster…”
Rafaella shook her head faintly, forcing a small smile.
No—it was fine. She wanted to say she did well. That they endured it.
“Kh—cough.”
But the coughing wouldn’t stop, and her consciousness began to blur.
She felt indignant thinking about how pathetic she must look, but she had no strength left.
“Your Highness. Just… just endure a little longer.”
Forgetting the blood streaming from his own knee, William removed his jacket, wrapped Rafaella in it, and carefully lifted her into his arms.
“Your Highness.”
“……”
“Please stay conscious. You mustn’t lose consciousness!”
But even the slightest movement caused her pain. Her face twisted involuntarily as her eyes squeezed shut. The world spun, then sank into distant darkness.
The last thing she remembered was the sound of something massive collapsing with a harsh, shattering roar.
In the pitch-black abyss of her consciousness, Rafaella crouched into herself.
It was a void with no sense of up or down—only darkness. Yet voices whispered from all around.
“Oh dear, that troublemaker.”
“To seat that thing in one of the few precious goddess positions…”
“What was Lord Taratius even thinking?”
“She’s got nothing but a pretty face.”
The voices echoed from every direction.
“I heard she overturned the human realm again.”
“This is why beings born human are hopeless.”
“It’s not the origin that’s the problem. Other gods fulfill their roles just fine. Look at Giliphus.”
“True. That’s why he rose to be the youngest direct envoy of the chief god. He deserves respect.”
“Then she’s the strange one.”
The voices grew more numerous with time.
At first, Rafaella could guess who was speaking just from their tone—but soon there were too many to distinguish.
“I heard she toyed with the male gods again?”
“How many times is this now?”
“That’s why she’s the Goddess of Corruption—she corrupts even gods!”
“Cheap goddess.”
“A reckless goddess. The shame of the divine realm.”
Rafaella buried her face between her knees, trying to escape the swelling voices. No matter how tightly she covered her ears, they pierced through.
“Strip her of her rank!”
“Throw her into the cycle of reincarnation!”
“…Ella.”
Amid the furious voices, someone called her softly.
“Rafaella.”
She slowly raised her head.
Only that voice carried warmth in the darkness. She looked around, desperately trying to locate its source.
“Rafaella… you will… again… remember…”
The more she listened, the harder she tried to find it, the farther away it seemed—crackling like static.
Who are you? Please, speak louder.
She wanted to shout, but her throat was blocked, no sound emerging. The more she strained, the more her chest burned with a metallic screech.
“…Ella… please… promise…”
Wait—please, just wait!
But the voice faded, growing smaller until it disappeared completely.
With all her strength, Rafaella screamed as though her throat would tear.
“Wait!”
Her eyes flew open.
An unfamiliar ceiling came into view.
“Master! Waaaah!”
Something slapped onto her face with a wet smack. Perry had latched onto her, crying so hard that tears quickly soaked Rafaella’s forehead.
“Huff… Perry?”
“Yes! Master, I’m here!”
Rafaella breathed heavily, trying to gather her senses. Her chest felt prickly and hot, the urge to cough rising again.
“Cough—cough!”
When she tried to sit up, a sharp pain stabbed through her side and chest. A groan escaped her lips at the suffering of this frail human body.
“Ugh.”
“You must not get up yet.”
A firm voice came from beside the bed.
Turning her head, Rafaella saw William sitting there, his face gaunt.
He was covered in dust, dotted with small wounds, looking like someone who had just survived a brutal battle. Even the bandage around his knee was stained red with blood.
In a hoarse voice, Rafaella asked,
“Duke… what happened? That creature—”
“…You don’t remember?”
