Chapter 145………………………………………..
Just as he was about to ask what was happening, the dark, muffled space suddenly burst into light.
Sunlight and noise assaulted Elio. He blinked, disoriented.
In the next instant, he realized that he was clutching his sister by the neck.
“Ugh…!”
He had no idea when it had happened. Surrounded by the thick, dark aura, he found himself gripping Duke Lacheize’s neck tightly, strangling her.
It must have occurred while he was in that so-called “mindscape.” Elio twisted his lips into a grim smile.
“This… feels better than I thought…”
A power that fulfilled his grudges even before he consciously realized them.
“E-Elio…”
The Duke’s face under his hands had turned dark red, almost black. It was natural—he was strangling her with immense strength.
The confident, loud proclamations he had made moments ago were now meaningless, as foam formed at the corner of her mouth. She was on the verge of death.
“Ugh…”
<Strangling is easy enough. How about plucking out the remaining eye before killing her?>
Leviathan whispered in his mind. It was a tempting idea. Yet, at the same time, Elio felt a strange, conflicting emotion.
Even as he experienced the power coursing through him, he did not feel joy.
He realized why. The one he truly hated was not Duke Lacheize.
I will go to him by my own will.
It was because of the woman who had truly humiliated him—the saint who had jumped away before his eyes, declaring her choice. He had thought he had her firmly in hand, yet she slipped through his fingers like grains of sand.
<Ah, yes.>
Leviathan whispered, seeming to understand everything.
<You are right. The one who truly deceived you was that saint. Pretending to love truly, yet leaving without ever considering what true love is…>
Elio’s hands trembled. For the first time in his life, he could not claim what he desired, despite all his effort.
The emotions that had gripped him were surprisingly genuine. Steady, powerful. Unhesitant to the extent of offering his soul to a demon.
Yet Elio could not comprehend his own loss.
<Didn’t I say that forcing possession is not true possession? That is not the way of a demon.>
Indeed.
<Why did you value only that woman, when she is not the only creation of hers? Her arrangements are far crueler than mundane creatures; what humans truly crave is stolen. She does not hand it to your lowly hands.>
Thinking back, it was true. The gods had never granted him what he desired. Whatever Elio held in his hands had been given to him by demons.
<But what can you do now? They have fled far away.>
Loss is common in human life. Yet Elio was rare—someone who had never truly experienced loss.
And misunderstanding often festers into destruction.
So fragile, fragile Elio Poldenbach became obsessed with Erishi Ahen.
The tips of his fingers whitened with force.
<Trivial things, even now, are running far away.>
His younger sister’s strength was even greater than he expected.
“Your Grace!”
From behind, Count Norwich shouted.
But no one could approach the demon-possessed Duke Lacheize. Elio’s suffocating black aura lurked everywhere, choking any who dared near.
“Ugh…”
Of course, Duke Lacheize could not breathe.
It had been one mistake to underestimate the demon’s power her brother had contracted.
Elio, with emotionless eyes, gripped her neck and lifted her into the air.
The force was so great that the Duke’s tongue was instantly pulled inward. Her struggle was futile. Her face turned pale from the overwhelming pressure.
Ah… this is it. I’m really going to die.
Just then, she was suddenly released from the demon’s grip.
She fell to the ground with a thud, but first she gasped for air.
“Huh… huh…”
Desperate for breath, she sucked in the air greedily. Saliva ran from her mouth as she rolled on the floor.
Yet she could not tear her eyes from her brother. The oppressive black aura was gradually dissipating.
“El…io.”
Even speaking a single word left her gasping. But Elio, unfocused, stared blankly into the air.
Duke Lacheize instinctively sensed it: he was no longer even human.
“Duke Lacheize!”
Akihm Norwich intervened then. As soon as the Duke was released, he charged into the arena and aimed his sword at Elio.
It was useless.
Clang!
Elio’s aura effortlessly deflected Akihm’s sword.
Akihm stepped back, shielding Duke Lacheize’s shoulders. His goal had always been to protect her more than to confront Elio.
“Are you all right?”
“I… cough… I’m fine. More importantly…”
Duke Lacheize looked at Elio. Akihm still held his sword, keeping Elio in check.
She instinctively knew she could not oppose him, yet she could not simply turn and flee.
Elio laughed coldly at them. Once, he had felt that his sister was the enemy he must strike first.
But now, Duke Lacheize—or even the emperor—was no longer his concern.
Elio muttered quietly. The Duke watched her brother, slack-jawed, as the black aura continued to curl and dissipate around him.
And that was the last he said.
Pop. Elio’s body scattered like sand. Everyone present stared, dumbfounded.
Even normally composed Akihm Norwich could not hide his shock.
“Wh-what was that?”
“What…?”
“Did he… just disappear?”
“The demon?”
The only one who remained rational was Duke Lacheize. Or rather, she assessed the situation quickly.
She rolled her eyes briefly and sprang to her feet with lightning speed, yelling:
“Count Norwich saved me!”
Akihm’s eyes widened in astonishment.
Her?
But Duke Lacheize raised her clenched fist high.
“Everyone, hear this! I, Yvette Lacheize, and Count Akihm Norwich have defeated Elio Poldenbach, who sold his soul to the demon!”
The crowd fell silent. Then, gradually…
“Wooooaaah!”
“Duke Lacheize!”
“Count Norwich has defeated the demon!”
“Wooooaaah!”
Thousands of spectators and soldiers cheered. Duke Lacheize continued shouting.
“Rejoice! Elio Poldenbach, who deceived the world and worshiped demons, has fled!”
Akihm’s mouth slightly opened, but he could not oppose Duke Lacheize. She pinched the waist of the man who had held her, still supporting her.
When the startled Akihm jumped back, she whispered sharply:
“You foolish man. That’s enough for now. Understand?”
“But, Your Grace!”
“I will leave the rest to your brother. Our story ends here.”
“But…”
“Do you intend to continue causing chaos, chasing that madman?”
Finally, Akihm looked around. Under the clear sky where the black aura had vanished, people were cheering.
“Count Norwich has driven out the demon!”
“Long live Count Norwich!”
“Long live Duke Lacheize—no, the Emperor!”
Akihm pressed his forehead. Duke Lacheize snorted. She was certain: Akihm could never ruin other people’s celebrations.
Instead, he whispered desperately to her:
“Even so! What if he appears again?! Didn’t you see how he scattered?! He’s no longer human…”
“He won’t appear.”
“How can you be sure?”
Duke Lacheize laughed.
“There are two types of those who care nothing for victory: those who were never meant to fight, or those who never intended to.”
When her brother—though she had never truly thought of him as such—had said this, Duke Lacheize realized:
“He is someone who cannot admit defeat.”
The outcome was already clear. The one holding the final sword was her “real brother.” And he would surely win.
She believed it and shouted again:
“I, Lahan Norwich, representative of Yvette Lacheize, will chase that mad Elio Poldenbach to the ends of the world!”
“Wooooaaah!”
The people erupted in cheers. Duke Lacheize knew better than anyone that the joy and desire for conquest would fill the void left by the fear that had disappeared.
“Now, let’s go settle the wages for the soldiers of Count Norwich.”
At her cheerful words, Akihm sighed. But it was exactly what he had wanted, so he made no objection.
