Chapter 75
The chase between Luihart and Pemos continued relentlessly.
In the distance, the edge of the cliff—their destination—came into view.
After discovering this cliff, Luihart had practiced daily with his steed, Alexander, turning sharply at high speeds.
Even though they were now running faster than in practice, Alexander, being intelligent, surely recognized the cliff ahead.
Luihart pushed the speed even further toward the cliff.
“Just a little more! I have to make Pemos fall off the cliff!”
Only when they were right at the edge did Luihart turn.
As expected, Alexander, who had memorized the path after hundreds of practice runs, adjusted his direction at the very last second.
When Luihart quickly looked back at Pemos, the giant monster seemed already at the cliff’s edge, realizing the danger too late.
Pemos, focused entirely on chasing Luihart, had all his weight forward.
He tried to stop, but his massive body had already gone over. Pemos wobbled—and then plummeted over the cliff.
BOOM!
The ground shook with a deafening explosion-like sound.
The tremor was so intense that the birds in the forest scattered in fright.
The giant monster Pemos had fallen off the cliff.
Luihart increased his speed once more.
Now, only a direct confrontation with Pemos remained.
Would Pemos really fall from the cliff?
All the soldiers below were thinking the same thing, but no one dared to speak. They just stared up at the cliff.
“Please… let it work…”
Jaina prayed fervently, gazing at the sun above the cliff.
Thud… thud… thud—
“What… what’s that sound?!”
“Pemos must be jumping!”
Even from below, Pemos’ roars and footfalls could be heard.
The sound grew louder—then, Pemos fell down the cliff.
Although the soldiers were stationed beyond the attack range to anticipate the fall, when Pemos hit the ground with a thud, clouds of dust blew up like a whirlwind.
Once the dust settled, Jaina could see Pemos sprawled on the ground.
Without hesitation, Jaina commanded the soldiers:
“Attack!!”
Gyaaaaaaah!!!
Grrrrrrrr!!!
The prepared gunpowder weapons fired at her signal.
Covered in smoke and fire, Pemos was hard to see, but from his roars, it seemed the attacks had landed.
Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Pemos sprang back up.
His already grotesque face, now scorched, looked even more horrifying.
He was no longer just a “giant” monster—he had become an indescribable, massive creature.
Clutching his face in pain, Pemos limped toward Jaina and the soldiers.
The soldiers, stunned at first, began fleeing belatedly.
Pemos smashed everything within reach. The gunpowder weapons left behind were obliterated in his hands.
Jaina drew her sword and charged at Pemos.
She knew it was reckless, but if no one stood against him, the soldiers’ morale would collapse.
“You monster, die!!”
Jaina struck at Pemos’ limping left toes with her sword.
In pain, Pemos hopped on one foot but quickly decided to attack Jaina, stomping with the foot he was holding.
Agile, Jaina dodged the incoming foot, but she could feel her stamina depleting—she didn’t know how long she could keep dodging.
“Your comrade is in danger! What are you waiting for? Attack!!”
At that moment, Luihart and the knights appeared, charging on horseback.
Under the crown prince’s command, the knights fired arrows at Pemos.
Luihart and the other knights dismounted and joined the attack.
Overwhelmed by the relentless assault, Pemos wobbled and collapsed again.
Jaina saw this as an opportunity.
She climbed onto Pemos’ fallen body and approached his left chest—directly at his heart.
No matter the monster, this had to be the vital spot.
Jaina gripped her sword with both hands and thrust it down hard toward the heart.
Kyaaaaahhhh!!!
Pemos howled, swinging his massive hand at Jaina.
Jaina closed her eyes instinctively, but when nothing happened, she cautiously opened them.
“Your Highness!”
Luihart was holding back Pemos’ hand with his sword.
Even with the curse preventing him from breathing while gripping the sword, Luihart’s face was bright red, probably from either the struggle or lack of air.
It was clear he couldn’t hold out much longer.
“Your Highness!! H-how are you holding the sword…?”
“Jaina, drive the sword deeper!”
Since Jaina had hit the vital spot, Pemos would inevitably die.
But how violently he would thrash until his last breath was unknown.
This time, she had to make the strike count.
“…B-but…”
“Don’t worry about what’s ahead.”
“H-how are you doing that… I’m your guard!”
“No, you are my sword…”
Jaina remembered that summer night when Luihart asked her to become his sword.
She nodded and put all her weight into the blade.
“…Since you are my sword, I am your shield!!”
Luihart shouted, straining with what seemed like his last strength.
Trying to look heroic, he instead screamed with a face flushed bright red—far from looking graceful.
Pemos, using his final strength, flung Luihart’s sword away and grabbed his body.
Jaina pressed down harder with her sword, and Pemos let out a roar, tightening his grip on Luihart.
It was clear just from watching—Luihart’s bones were breaking under the pressure.
“Die!! I said die!!”
Jaina drove the sword in even deeper.
Finally, buried to the hilt, Pemos met his death.
Even in death, his hand didn’t release Luihart.
“Y-Your Highness…!!”
Only then did the surrounding knights and soldiers struggle to free Luihart from Pemos’ grip.
Unable to budge him, they chose to cut off Pemos’ fingers.
“…It’s finally over.”
Luihart, who must have been unconscious, opened his eyes.
The medic examining him panicked:
“All… all his ribs are broken! He can’t speak!!”
Seeing Jaina’s tear-streaked face, Luihart gave a crooked smile.
He knew he looked pitiful, but stopping Jaina’s tears left no other choice.
“By the way… the head… we need to cut off the head.”
The royal command was for the crown prince to bring Pemos’ head.
Luihart, unable to even hold a sword, much less walk, said to Jaina:
“Jaina, you cut off Pemos’ head for me.”
“Me? Really?”
Jaina, knowing he meant her, still looked around in disbelief at the soldiers.
“You defeated Pemos. I can’t even walk with this body.”
“B-but…”
“…Don’t make me speak any more.”
The knights brought the crown prince’s sword to Jaina.
She couldn’t stay here forever with Luihart in his ruined state, and arguing with him would only make it worse.
Jaina took the sword, exhaled deeply, and struck Pemos’ neck.
Something felt unusual.
Even when she stabbed Pemos’ heart earlier, her hands had felt hot.
When she struck, it didn’t feel like the sword was cutting—it felt like her own force.
Surprisingly, Pemos’ tough, beast-like neck was severed in a single strike.
Thud. Pemos’ head fell and rolled across the ground.
What… is this sensation?
But Jaina had no time to ponder.
“Y-Your Highness…!!”
As soon as she confirmed Pemos’ head was cut off, Luihart lost consciousness.
Jaina ran to him, seeing his body battered and broken in every way.
It was unbelievable that he had spoken and strategized with her despite such a ruined body.
