Chapter 77
Kendrick narrowed his brow, focusing his mind.
There couldn’t be a single gap anywhere in the mansion.
“Please leave the smallest gap in the barrier. I’ll freeze every insect that comes out.”
“Then I’ll finish them off afterward.”
“I’ll join you.”
They used ice magic as much as possible to prevent the insects from escaping.
The only question was how long Tristan, who had been holding the insects for so long, could endure this process.
The barrier, originally meant for healing magic, was being used in a completely different way now, so the side effects were severe.
He had been summoning the barrier ever since the battle with the butterflies; there was no way his body could withstand it.
‘Finishing this quickly is the best option.’
After everyone took their positions, they signaled Tristan.
Tristan took a deep breath and opened the barrier.
Kendrick froze the insects emerging from inside, and Alec and Maya struck them down.
Maya used her sharp eyesight to kill even the ones trying to slip through the cracks.
For Maya, it was as easy as pie.
The problem lay with the others.
Three hours had passed, but only about half of the swarm was gone. Sweat beaded down Kendrick and Tristan’s faces as they strained.
Their faces were so pale it was almost pitiful.
By comparison, Maya was relatively fine. All she had to do was swing her sword.
The current method was safe, but it didn’t make effective use of Maya, who was the strongest and had the greatest stamina.
There were limits to leveraging their strengths this way.
‘This is too slow.’
Kendrick and Tristan had reached their limits.
‘We need a new plan.’
At least the swarm was smaller than before.
‘If it’s down to this level…’
Maybe it was time to use Maya’s idea.
“Tristan, Kendrick.”
Maya gripped White Dragon tighter and stood in front of Tristan’s barrier.
“Let’s do it this way.”
It wasn’t that Kendrick and Tristan were weak. Nor was Alec, who was panting behind them, weak.
It was simply that the stamina and strength of a Pendragon couldn’t be compared to any other human.
If your brain is lacking, your body suffers.
Conversely, if the body works hard enough, even a poor strategy will work.
“Everyone, clear the area and release all the insects at once.”
Of course, this reckless method would probably destroy the mansion…
But the mansion, tormented by Kendrick’s freezing magic, was already soaked and filled with a strange chill, making it uninhabitable.
“You… you mean to blow up the mansion?”
“Yes. To cut them all down in one stroke, that’s the kind of power I need.”
Hayden’s face turned deathly pale at those words.
Destroy the mansion? This place…?
“…But this place…”
Hayden hesitated. Even if it was for everyone’s sake, he couldn’t ignore the memories he shared here with Clyne.
“Is something wrong?”
Maya tilted her head and asked.
“This mansion is a bit small for a Marquis, isn’t it? Perhaps this is a good opportunity to prepare a new one…”
“It’s a place full of memories with my wife.”
Maya knew how much Hayden loved his wife.
‘A place full of memories with a lover.’
She didn’t have a lover, so she couldn’t fully understand.
But if she were suddenly told that the northern castle or the capital mansion filled with memories of Tristan had to disappear, she would be sad.
Wouldn’t she hesitate, just like Hayden?
‘I want to respect Hayden’s feelings.’
Maya decided to look for another way.
“Then let’s do it outside the mansion. There’s a park behind it. Is that okay?”
The mansion, located at the edge of the city, had a small backyard that connected to a public park.
“If it’s there, the mansion will remain safe, but…”
As Hayden hesitated, Kendrick spoke up.
“Outside, I won’t be able to hold them.”
“You’ve already reached your limit.”
Maya stopped Kendrick.
“Everyone.”
Maya turned around and looked at Tristan, Kendrick, and Alec, who were standing there catching their breath, and patted her own shoulder.
“I’ll finish this in one strike.”
Maya spoke with confidence. Her crimson eyes shone like the morning sun.
Like sunlight that warms the earth even in the depths of winter.
“Not a single one will survive.”
Maya believed in her own skill—she believed in the power of Pendragon.
“No. I can’t allow the Duchess to take a risk for my selfish reason.”
“This isn’t taking a risk—it’s finding a more effective method. You’re all at your limit.”
Except me. Maya swallowed the words. She didn’t want to dampen the morale of those who were putting in all their strength to fight the monsters alongside her.
‘They’re sharp enough as it is; no need to make it worse.’
Was this the effect of having Tristan as a contractor? Maya thought proudly.
“…What exactly are you planning to do in the park?”
Tristan already seemed inclined to accept Maya’s idea.
But he needed to hear the plan—to support it perfectly.
“I’ll cut them all down at once with my sword.”
Her bond with White Dragon had deepened. Through mutual trust and understanding, Maya wielded her sword freely.
“Isn’t the sword too small?”
Alec, listening carefully, asked cautiously.
“I’ll summon a giant blade.”
Her plan was to enlarge the sword and strike all the insects in a single blow.
Normally, even a huge sword couldn’t kill them all. But the Pendragon family’s sword was different.
If Maya poured all her strength into summoning a perfect blade, the aura surrounding it would be enough to finish off the remaining insects.
“We should’ve used this method from the start.”
White Dragon grumbled beside her.
But Maya couldn’t agree.
“This method is only possible now.”
It was thanks to Tristan, Kendrick, Alec, and Hayden working together to reduce the swarm so drastically.
“Still inefficient.”
White Dragon was still full of energy and muttering complaints.
“I don’t mind.”
Maya shook her head in response.
“We have comrades now.”
When she first joined the knights, even when she became captain, even when she became the Emperor’s hound—Maya had never had comrades.
Most people either feared her or looked down on her.
‘I’m not used to solving problems together…’
But it felt good.
Seeing Maya’s determined eyes, everyone decided to follow her lead.
They left the mansion and quickly headed to the park through the backyard gate.
The park, part of an abandoned ghost town, had not a soul in sight.
Only withered leaves blew in the cold wind.
Maya gripped White Dragon and focused her mind. Nothing could break her concentration now.
Nothing mattered more than this.
Carrying out this task perfectly.
The holy sword emitted a pure white light, growing beyond Maya’s height until it stretched as long and wide as a mansion.
It was so massive it seemed impossible for a human to wield—except for the small section where Maya could hold it.
“Open it, Tristan.”
Maya drew in a deep breath as she spoke.
Tristan clenched his eyes shut and released all his power.
The barrier vanished, and a torrent of insects burst forth, so many they darkened the sky for a moment.
Maya opened her eyes. Her crimson gaze gleamed with a chilling brilliance.
The Pendragon sword traced a graceful arc like a crescent moon, and in an instant, every insect in that space dissolved into light.
Those flying toward the sky, those scurrying into the earth—all vanished as if burned away.
Descending amid the pure white radiance, Maya looked like a divine figure.
She held her sword, now returned to its original size, and exhaled raggedly.
No one present could speak easily about what had just happened.
The sight was so sacred and beautiful that it hardly seemed like the act of slaying monsters.
…But they weren’t the only ones who had witnessed Maya’s power.
“So, you’ve finally awakened your strength.”
Focused solely on the monsters, they had failed to notice the approaching presence—a fatal mistake.
Risserfield appeared, his eyes gleaming.
“Maya Pendragon, you truly are the sole hope of the Pendragon line.”
Maya’s face hardened instantly.
