Chapter 110
It felt like the experiments at the old mansion all over again.
“Right. If I shoot one more time, you’ll end up like all your countless friends in that mansion. I’ll ask again—how did you know a saintess was here—”
Thud.
The pressure around his neck released.
“Hah…hah—”
Belya gasped for air and leaned against the person holding her.
But just like her, the one holding her was breathing unevenly as well.
“Carlton?”
Cough—
Carlton, seemingly too exhausted even to reply, pressed himself against the wall, gritting his teeth.
His arms tightened around Belya.
Soon, dark, thick blood flowed from the corner of Carlton’s mouth.
“Khk…”
Vayne laughed, glancing at the spot where he had been standing moments ago.
The deep dent in the ground looked like it could have been made with sheer strength.
“You’ve really grown, Carlton.”
With an unusually pure tone of admiration for Vayne, Carlton’s body slowly tilted.
“Hah—”
Carlton, barely supporting himself on one knee, very slowly lowered Belya to the floor.
“Spouting that kind of nonsense—”
He swallowed the rest of his words and gritted his teeth.
Belya was startled by the irregular thumping of Carlton’s heart so close to her.
She reached out and grabbed his left arm.
Crackle—
“Ah!”
Cough—!
“Carlton!”
Startled by the shock, Belya pulled back her hand, only to see Carlton vomiting blood without warning.
His face was pale from the blood he expelled onto the floor, looking like he could collapse any second.
His breathing was labored.
Seeing Carlton in such a perilous state, Belya trembled, frozen, unable to do anything.
“Carlton, are you okay? Carlton!”
Something was wrong.
Carlton was acting strangely.
Before she realized it, Belya’s hands were shaking uncontrollably.
Watching them, Vayne’s eyes fell on Carlton’s left arm, which had brushed against his own magic.
The skin beneath his clothing glowed as if scorched.
“If only he’d done this at the mansion… then your friends wouldn’t have ended up like that.”
It was genuine admiration.
Vayne briefly glanced at Carlton, intrigued despite not being particularly interested in Belya.
“You bastard! Cut the crap!”
Above him, Karin’s furious shout rang out.
“Carlton! Belya! I’m coming! Stay with me! Hey!”
Karin approached, clutching the Holy Grail.
Hurry!
Karin stomped impatiently as she witnessed the Grail’s slow effect.
With anxious eyes, she looked at Carlton, slumped to the ground.
Magic and holy power intertwined, producing a strange energy that suppressed Carlton’s magic.
Using magic to protect Belya likely had the worst possible effect on his body.
The scars from the Misty Forest hadn’t healed yet.
If left unchecked, the markings on Carlton’s left arm would worsen before Vayne’s.
Vayne ignored Karin and stared at Belya.
“Belya, I’ll ask again. How did you know a saintess was here? Have you awakened?”
“You—!”
Vayne shook his head lightly.
“Answer quickly. Before I unleash this magic in all directions.”
A black sphere formed at the tip of Vayne’s finger, alternating its aim between Carlton and Lude.
“This is basically a death sentence anyway, so… this one—”
“Shut up.”
Whoosh—
Vayne dodged as Carlton’s hand deflected the sphere.
“Carlton!”
Belya barely supported Carlton as he toppled to the side.
His breathing was rapid, his body hot.
“Carlton, th—!”
Belya wanted to tell him to stop and catch his breath, but she couldn’t speak.
The crimson anger blazing in his eyes was too intense.
A rage that could consume everything radiated from him, and Belya couldn’t open her mouth.
“Almost there!”
Hearing Karin’s voice nearby, Belya turned.
Whatever it was, she hoped the Grail’s effect would stabilize Carlton a bit.
“Vero?!”
Belya noticed Vero trying to bring Lude over.
“Hey, hey, put some effort into it too!”
Karin shouted at Vero, hurrying her movements.
She held a small potion tightly in her hand.
It was something she had brought just in case.
Determined to at least buy some time, Karin looked at Vayne.
Vayne stared at the spot where Carlton’s magic had dissipated moments ago.
The cave trembled slowly as his brow furrowed, sensing the damage from the form and color of the magic.
Thinking it was just tremors from a magical explosion, Vayne lifted his head.
“Hm?”
As he turned, bang— an explosion occurred.
Whoosh—
Dust rose as a brilliant light enveloped the group.
“What… what is this!”
Startled, Karin quickly shielded her eyes.
“Ah, thank you.”
“Huh?!”
Karin looked down at her empty hands, then saw the delicate voice nearby.
Without needing to confirm, the woman radiated a divine aura with her bright silver hair and eyes.
“Saintess?”
Smiling gently at Karin, the woman clutched the Grail and murmured something.
“Freyo. Nice to meet you. Let’s say hi later and get out of here first!”
Flash—
As she finished speaking, Belya, Lude, Karin, and Carlton vanished from the cave.
At the same time, the cave collapsed.
Then, a massive explosion sent a brilliant light radiating beyond Levron across the entire continent.
In ancient texts, the “Saintess” was only mentioned in records, but her appearance shook the entire continent.
The saintess’s holy power, awakened in the abandoned lands of Levron, spread instantly across the continent and even the seas.
The intense light lasted about five minutes, emanating warmth and divinity.
People stopped their daily work to pray toward the light.
The sick who were exposed to it were healed and regained their strength.
When the light disappeared after five minutes, empires and kingdoms were thrown into chaos.
Envoys to the Holy Kingdom realized through various diplomats that the light originated in Levron, and its source was the saintess.
Most initially doubted the existence of the saintess, but the miraculous power of the light forced them to accept it.
Soon, the Holy Kingdom officially acknowledged the saintess.
The entire continent celebrated, and clergy swarmed toward the Holy Kingdom for pilgrimage.
Donations poured into temples, and official letters from various nations arrived daily.
But strange rumors began spreading across the continent.
[The saintess does not reside in the Holy Kingdom. No one in the Holy Kingdom has seen her since her awakening. So where is the saintess now?]
Initially, people ignored the rumors.
But since no clergy had seen her and the temples remained silent in response to foreign letters, the rumors gradually became accepted as fact.
Another rumor emerged.
[On the day the saintess’s power spread, a strange event occurred at the Crown Prince’s palace in the Lenin Empire.
A light as bright, if not brighter, than her holy power lingered there, causing chaos in the palace.]
The rumors, overshadowed by the saintess’s presence, resurfaced and spread across the continent.
[The saintess is staying not in the Holy Kingdom, but in the Lenin Empire.]
[The saintess appeared at the Crown Prince’s palace. The Crown Prince of the Lenin Empire is a divine messenger.]
The rumors spread rapidly.
Observations of high-ranking priests from the Holy Kingdom in the continent confirmed the rumors.
Consequently, nations that had sent letters only to the Holy Kingdom now began sending letters to the Lenin Empire as well, including marriage proposals.
After some time, the emperor of the empire, who had remained silent on the matter, spoke unexpectedly.
“That’s right. The saintess is staying in our imperial palace.”
This was said during a banquet where envoys from across the continent had gathered to learn about the saintess.
The first to react were the Holy Kingdom priests.
“Of course!! Bring the saintess—!”
“Quickly, bring her! She’s been dining uninvited at the palace, and it’s causing me tremendous trouble.”
Seeing the priests’ red-faced anger, the emperor nonchalantly confirmed the rumor.
That morning, there had been a commotion at the Crown Prince’s palace.
One of the people who had suddenly appeared six months ago at the palace had finally awakened.
