Chapter 20
“……”
I kept silent.
It was unsettling that my lie had been caught, but it wasn’t completely exposed yet.
Werner wasn’t certain either, that’s why he was probing me like this.
‘He’s wondering if I’m a spy sent by the Papacy, pretending to read traces of black magic.’
And since I had pointed at something as vague as the ground—something too difficult to properly investigate—his suspicion was only growing stronger.
‘For now, I’ll just play dumb.’
“I don’t quite understand what you mean…”
I tilted my head as if clueless about Werner’s suspicions, as if I hadn’t even noticed he was doubting me.
At this point, the advantage in this game of wits was mine.
Would Tristan and Werner really jump to the conclusion that the daughter of Duke Walker was a black magician? Not unless they wanted to circle endlessly around the truth without touching it.
When I flashed them a bright smile, Werner stared at me in silence for a while, then turned toward Tristan.
“Your Highness, what will you do?”
“It’s underground, beneath the building. If we dig to reach it, there’s a high risk of collapse.”
In other words, it would be hard to verify whether I was telling the truth.
“Then, for now, we’ll just hold it off…”
“Wait a moment.”
I suddenly felt a strange sensation. At first, I thought I was mistaken, but when I checked again, it was still there.
“What is it?”
“…It’s moving.”
“Pardon?”
“I said, it’s moving.”
When I pointed at the ground, they seemed to understand what I meant.
“Where is it moving to? Is the trace vanishing?”
“No. The opposite.”
“The opposite?”
My lips barely moved as I forced the words out.
“It’s coming closer. This way.”
“……!”
The presence I had sensed so far away was now directly beneath us.
‘There’s no avoiding this.’
It was moving far too fast. There was no way to evacuate everyone in time. Before that could even happen, the thing would already be here.
There wasn’t much time. My eyes darted between Edmond and Julia on one side, and Andrea on the other.
Andrea was closer to me.
As always—my hesitation was brief, my decision instant.
“Wait, my lady, where are you going…!”
Before Werner could grab me, I threw myself forward. The class hadn’t even ended, but I had already bolted, startling everyone into staring at me in shock.
At that very moment—
KWA-A-A-ANG!!
A massive explosion thundered behind me. I felt my body lift off the ground.
Startled, Andrea shot up from his seat. I wrapped my arms tightly around him and rolled across the floor.
Shattered floorboards flew in every direction. My cheek burned—a shard must have grazed me.
Warm blood trickled down my face.
‘Don’t move.’
I forced myself to hold the blood down. If I lost focus for even a second, it would writhe like a snake with a will of its own.
That would be a sight no one could explain away.
“S-sister!”
“You’re not hurt, are you?”
“I’m fine, but you…! What about Ed and Julia?!”
I could feel Andrea squirming in my arms, panicked. Hugging him tighter, I whispered—
“Stay here. I’ll go check on them.”
“But—”
“Shh.”
I covered his mouth and shoved him beneath a desk.
Only then did I look around me—and saw chaos. Parents frantically searching for their children, several already injured by flying debris.
But something else made my blood run cold.
—Kerrrrrk!
It had the head of a wolf, yet walked upright like a man. Long, gleaming claws flashed menacingly.
Twice the size of a grown man, it reeked of rotting corpses.
And to my eyes alone, it was shrouded in seething black energy—thick, malignant miasma swirling around it.
“A monster…!”
Someone cried out its name.
Yes. A mamul—a creature born from the residue of black magic. A mockery of life, mindless but for its endless lust for slaughter.
—Keeeaaaah!!
Its glowing red eyes locked onto me as it roared.
Why was a mamul here, of all places? There were too many questions, but no time to ask.
Its gaze was fixed on me.
I froze in place, every muscle stiff with tension. If I made a wrong move, it would pounce.
The standoff stretched tight—
Rustle!
“Hiccup!”
A small noise sounded behind me. I turned and saw Juri, backing away with a terrified face.
—Kerrrk!
The monster noticed too, snarling viciously.
‘No…!’
I leapt backward at once. As it lunged toward the child, I grabbed her into my arms and rolled us away.
Kwak!
The spot I had been in a moment earlier was raked apart by its claws—shaped like a mole’s, made for tearing through the earth.
The gouged-out hole it left made my spine crawl.
“Hh-hiccup…”
The trembling child in my arms forced me to keep my fear hidden.
“Sis, this way!”
Andrea’s voice called nearby. I quickly shoved Juri toward him.
“Juri, are you okay?”
Andrea’s voice trembled as he asked. The little girl looked ready to burst into tears, but at least they were together now—and safer.
I was about to put distance between them and the beast, when a tiny hand grabbed my sleeve.
“Where are you going…?”
“I’ll be back soon if you stay here.”
“Leaving us alone?”
They were scared to be left behind. But keeping them with me was even more dangerous.
The beast had almost wrenched its claws free from the ground.
“If you close your eyes and count to a hundred, I’ll be back. Can you do that, Andrea?”
“…Yes!”
Andrea nodded resolutely, then shut his eyes.
—Keeeaaahk!
The beast rose with a deafening roar. I drew out black energy and wound it around my ankles.
A red serpent slithered down, hidden beneath my clothes.
‘This should buy me some time.’
Thud!
Another crater opened where I had just stood. A near miss.
Crash!
“Ugh!”
This time it was too close—its claw grazed my arm, blood dripping down my sleeve. I bit down on the pain and tried to rise, only to feel something snag.
“…!”
My skirt had caught on its claw!
Already torn and dirtied from rolling on the floor, the fine fabric—crafted by skilled artisans—was too strong to rip easily, even against the sharp talons.
‘Of all times!’
I tugged desperately, but it was useless.
—Kerrrr…
It bared its teeth, looming closer.
Jagged fangs, ready to tear flesh and crush bone. For a second, it looked almost like it smiled. Maybe it was just my fear playing tricks.
The wolfish beast thrust its snout inches from my face.
Sniff. Sniff.
It flared its nostrils, as if to confirm something.
‘What is it checking for…?’
Tilting its head, as though uncertain.
Sniff sniff sniff.
It shoved its muzzle into the crook of my neck, sniffing intently. I squeezed my eyes shut, enduring it.
Lick.
“?!”
Its tongue slid across my cheek. My fear was replaced by sheer disbelief.
Slash!
—Keeeaaahhhk!
A wet tearing sound rang out behind it. The beast howled in agony, thrashing violently.
“That’s far enough.”
Tristan!
I had never been so glad to see him. Pushing through fallen rubble, his body was covered in cuts and scratches.
His once-neat hair was a disheveled mess—yet somehow, it only made him look more striking.
He tossed aside the severed tail of the monster and leveled his blade.
Its shining steel shimmered faintly, radiating a holy glow. I felt the unsettling aura immediately.
The Sword of Samuel—the legendary holy blade infused with the sacred power of the paladin who had once vanquished black magicians in the holy war.
‘So that’s why it cut the monster so easily.’
Even though Tristan wasn’t a paladin, he could stand so confidently before a mamul thanks to that weapon.
—Kerrrk…
The beast sensed the sword’s ominous aura and faltered.
Then suddenly, it spun around and bolted the other way!
“You won’t escape!”
Tristan chased after it, but despite its size, the monster was unnaturally fast.
Still, it no longer had its eyes on me. Relief washed over me—I needed to get Andrea and Juri out while I had the chance.
“Duke Walker!”
Tristan’s voice rang out harshly.
Instinctively, I looked in his direction—just in time to see the beast charging straight at Edmond and Julia.
“!”
I couldn’t even shout don’t. Edmond seemed to realize instantly that they couldn’t dodge its speed.
He wrapped Julia in his arms, shielding her with his back.
I saw Julia struggle against him, but he held her down firmly, protecting her even as the beast bore down.
Its jaws were about to snap shut over them—
“Ed…!”
I cried his name before I could stop myself.
Everyone braced for Edmond’s death—
Hop.
“?!”
The beast leapt clean over Edmond and Julia, ignoring them completely!
