CHAPTER 165
“Ughk!”
The mercenary didn’t even have a chance to cry out before his neck was twisted in a grotesque angle.
But Kaiden wasn’t satisfied with just that—he forced himself to draw a dagger with his left hand.
“Eek!”
“Quiet.”
Before a proper scream could escape, blood spurted from the man’s mouth.
When Adel covered her mouth in disgust, Kaiden stayed close to her and muttered as if making an excuse.
“I didn’t kill him. It wouldn’t be good for the baby.”
“…Well, thanks for that.”
Even as Adel waved him away, a huge figure charged at Kaiden. Without even needing to be told to look behind him, Kaiden extended his hand backward without turning his head and plunged his sword down.
“I’m serious. I won’t kill anyone in front of the little lady.”
“Y-Yeah.”
Thud.
The sound of something tearing was horrifyingly vivid, yet Kaiden’s eyes were pitiful, like a puppy’s.
Please believe me, sister.
Seeing his desperate, innocent gaze, Adel could do nothing but wipe the blood off his cheek.
“Please, don’t get it on me. Morning sickness is bad enough as it is.”
“Got it! I’ll try not to get any on you from now on!”
Kaiden quickly regained his energy, spinning around with the light, lively movements of an excited puppy.
He drew the slightly short, blunt sword at his waist and, as if familiar with it, twirled it once in his hand.
“I really won’t get it on you. I just need to hit the vital spot.”
“…Yeah. Ah!”
When did that happen?!
As soon as he sent one guy flying, the women became the target.
A man glanced at them and swung a huge hand at Noella, who had been alone. Just seeing that brute force was enough to make anyone think she would be done for if it hit.
“Noella! Watch out…”
“Kyaah!”
Adel tried to warn her sister with a shout, but the man’s loud scream made her stop.
Noella’s raised volunteer emblem pierced the man’s palm.
That thing wasn’t meant to be used like this.
“Ugh, ughk!”
Splat!
The blood from the man’s hand soaked Noella’s golden hair.
Noella tried to wipe the blood off her face with the veil she had been wearing, but instead shoved it into the man’s mouth.
“Could you please be quiet?”
“Guh…”
“Um, sister, what did you say?”
“Nothing… it’s nothing.”
She just continued what she was doing.
Adel smiled more gently at her this time, waving her hand.
That girl truly had the learning ability of someone who never forgets what’s been done to her.
Having experienced her hand being pierced—or perhaps piercing something herself—she was precise in both positioning and force.
“…I see. So this is what you meant, Kaiden.”
“Don’t say silly things.”
Noella and Kaiden glared fiercely at each other, plunging their weapons into the mercenaries attacking them.
Kaiden was far stronger physically, but Noella displayed abnormal composure.
No matter how her opponents attacked, she responded calmly with a clear sense of purpose.
“…What?”
There was no room for me to intervene.
Whether it was good or bad, Adel stowed her emergency sword. She wasn’t scrupulous enough to hesitate from harming someone, but she wanted to set an example for the baby as much as possible.
She couldn’t keep showing such brutal sights when she hadn’t even been able to prepare properly for the baby.
As she casually examined the villa while cradling her belly, something caught her eye.
She reflexively looked at her two siblings, but they seemed far too engrossed in the fight to notice anything else.
Amid twisted limbs and flying blood, Adel carefully pursued the flickering movement in the darkness.
…Yes, it’s time to appear now.
She almost forgot her original purpose.
Following the faint sound through the marble corridor, Chloe’s uneasy footsteps grew closer.
“…Ugh…”
Muttering, she came close enough to catch Chloe’s whispering. Though the words were unintelligible, one thing was clear:
The girl had gone all the way.
“…We’ll see about that.”
Chloe, having finally found what she was looking for, brought it to her lips. Adel appeared before she could do anything further, stopping her.
“That’s far enough.”
“Stop, Chloe.”
“Y-You… why are you here!”
“…Right. Why did you come?”
The basement was filled with raw hostility.
There were no reporters or nobles watching. Only the two of them on the cold floor—no need to worry about onlookers.
“Asking how you’ve been is pointless in this state.”
“Shut up! Thinking of what you did to me makes me want to kill you right now!”
“Am I the only one?”
Smiling, Adel stepped down the last basement stairs toward Chloe.
“I’m not talking about just killing. Thinking of our Balrog, I’d rather carve your flesh and offer it.”
“Overreacting for just one dragon, huh.”
“Shut up. Or… go ahead, say whatever you want.”
It’s the last day anyway.
Adel suddenly grabbed Chloe’s wrist and twisted it as she approached. Before finishing things, she had to secure the dragon’s heart safely.
“What are you doing! You’re taking this too!”
“I told you to relax.”
“Ughhh!”
Adel squeezed, and Chloe screamed so loudly it hurt her ears. Despite the horrifying sound, Adel was unmoved.
She had faced far sadder, scarier moments before.
There was nothing left to shake her or frighten her.
“Kyah! Let go! Let me go! You think I’ll leave you alone!”
“And if I don’t?”
“….”
Clang.
Before she could finish, a dagger appeared in Chloe’s other hand. There was no time to wonder when she had hidden it.
Adel dodged, protecting her belly, and Chloe realized the meaning, her eyes gleaming.
“Ha, ha! Fine! It’s only fair to do this all at once, right?”
“Who exactly are you sending away!”
Adel gritted her teeth, glaring at Chloe.
Even pregnant, she was physically superior. But she had to protect herself, making it dangerous to be close to someone with a weapon. Meanwhile, the other had completely lost her mind.
“Hahaha!”
The rotten arm holding the dagger reeked. Seeing black flesh drip like water, it was like a slice of hell.
“Stay there, Adelaide! I’ll take you to the end!”
“…Take me? Who, exactly?”
“….”
“Don’t tell me… my sister?”
“…Sigh.”
If only she’d said something when she appeared.
A calm voice from behind made Adel relax and close her eyes.
Noella, in her white volunteer robe soaked with blood, held a sword in one hand and smiled gently.
The grotesque sight was so overwhelming even Chloe, who had gone to extremes, seemed taken aback.
“H-Hey. Noella, why are you here again!”
“Why, you ask?”
“Ughk!”
Noella grabbed Chloe by the neck in an instant, looking her straight in the eyes with a smile.
“We’re friends, you brat.”
Thud.
Chloe dropped the dagger as she struggled.
Noella nudged it with her toe, and Adel picked it up and threw it far away.
It was the first time the sisters worked together so seamlessly.
“Sister, you must keep the promise you made to me.”
“…Of course. I value trust.”
“So I’ve received my answer.”
Few could smile so innocently while holding someone’s neck.
What would Aaron have said if he’d seen this?
Lost in unnecessary thoughts, Adel walked toward Chloe.
“Open your hand.”
“Sister, why speak? If you cut the wrist tendons, it’ll open automatically.”
“Ugh! No!”
Finally, Adel held the dragon’s heart in her hands.
This was it.
The key to saving me and lifting that man’s curse.
“….”
Compared to waiting for this moment, it felt unexpectedly light and warm.
Thinking of Balrog, Adel felt a surge of emotion, but Noella urged her to leave quickly.
“Maybe you should enjoy it outside, sister.”
“Ah, yes.”
Chloe almost seemed like she was trying to cling to Adel.
Adel looked at that despair-filled face and spoke.
“This really is the last time, Chloe.”
“Hmph! Don’t act so high and mighty! You’ve had everything!”
“….”
“How could someone like you understand my position? A woman living the life of a protagonist with everything!”
Chloe’s desperate struggle to maintain pride was almost pitiful.
Only now did a trace of emotion appear in Adel’s previously blank eyes—a sadness.
“Protagonist? Me?”
“Ha, don’t play dumb! You’ve always been the protagonist, and now you want to be empress too? Grr, if you’re going to hog everything alone…”
“Why would becoming an empress make me the protagonist?”
This time, she was genuinely puzzled.
Looking into Chloe’s red eyes, Adel held the dragon’s heart carefully.
“You misunderstand. Being the protagonist means I am the master, not anyone’s wife.”
“….”
“So yes, you’re right. I’ve always lived my own life.”
And I’ve learned what’s good from it.
With that, Adel turned cleanly and left the space.
Clutching her chest and letting go of all resentment and anger, Chloe exhaled in disbelief.
At first dazed, she now felt utterly confused, unable to distinguish reality from dreams.
“Hmm.”
Noella lightly tapped Chloe’s cheek.
“Snap out of it. Your friend came, so now you have to play.”
