Chapter 128

Being in the same space with both of us completely naked was, admittedly, a rather stimulating situation.

I hadn’t bothered to imagine his body since I couldn’t see anything, but it seemed he was thinking differently.

“…I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

But if you say that, now I end up imagining it too.

Feeling my face heat up, I quickly said:

“Shall we go now?”

“Wait.”

Then I heard him open the window.

We were planning to escape through the carriage window.

Once he gave the signal, the coachman would slow the carriage down enough, making the jump safe.

The carriage had been prepared so that even with the window open, no one could clearly see if passengers were still inside.

So when we slipped out, no one would notice.

“Should you go first, Duke? No… I should go first to catch you.”

“Yes, do that.”

“When I tell you to climb out, that’s your cue.”

I nodded, then realized too late and quickly answered, “Yes.”

Soon I heard the window creak.

It rattled as he climbed out.

A moment later, his voice came from outside the window.

“Now.”

I hurried over and climbed onto the open frame.

Since sight plays such a big role in balance, it felt like stepping through blindfolded.

I can feel my arms and legs, but I can’t tell where I’m stepping.

It wasn’t as easy as I thought, but I somehow managed to get over the frame.

Yet, I stumbled and nearly fell when I landed.

At that instant, a firm hand caught my shoulder.

And my forehead bumped into a man’s chest.

“Ah…”

I could feel his pounding heartbeat and the rise and fall of his chest with every breath.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes…”

Slowly, I lifted my forehead from his chest.

I had almost fallen.

But just now…

Something brushed my stomach, and the memory flashed in my mind—but I quickly shook it away.

It must have been his elbow.

“Anyway, we escaped successfully. Shall we go?”

I cleared my throat, trying to act as if nothing had happened.

“It’ll only take about ten minutes walking from here. Follow me.”

“Yes.”

Footsteps appeared ahead of me, the sound of them guiding the way.

We couldn’t see each other’s bodies, but I could follow him by watching the footprints.

“What about the coachman and soldiers?”

“I told them to run if they see Rift monsters. Since the watchers’ eyes will stay fixed on the carriage, they’ll just think we abandoned it and fled.”

Now the carriage only needed to lure them properly—toward the hill where Etias and the Imperial soldiers were waiting.

I needed to hurry, change clothes, and rejoin them.

“…I’m sorry.”

Hearing Lancelot’s voice from ahead, a chill suddenly ran down my spine.

Wait, isn’t that the kind of thing someone says before betraying you?

“For not being able to hold your hand while walking.”

Ah. So that’s what it was.

Placing a hand on my chest, I let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Don’t say things like that in such a tense situation…

“I hope you understand. It just isn’t possible right now.”

Maybe his hands are sweating, I thought, brushing it off lightly.

“Yes,” I answered, continuing to follow him.

Before long, we reached the tent we had hidden near the forest, camouflaged to blend with its surroundings.

“Your clothes are on the left. Mine are on the right,” he said.

“Yes, see you soon.”

Inside the tent, I found underwear and the light armor I had asked to be prepared beforehand.

I put them on quickly, but since the potion hadn’t fully worn off yet, my hands and feet were still slightly translucent.

When I stepped out, Lancelot hadn’t emerged yet—it seemed he needed more time.

Stretching, I looked around at the unfamiliar scenery.

Soon, I’ll have to say goodbye to this foreign land.

If only today’s plan goes well…

Finally, after the potion’s effect faded, Lancelot came out of his tent, now in military uniform.

He brushed back his slightly messy hair and stood in front of me.

I smiled softly at him.

“It’s time for us to split up now.”

At my words, Lancelot nodded.

“See you later.”

A cool breeze swept through, ruffling our hair.

The plan had gone smoothly.

Now I stood in Etias’s camp, bow drawn and aimed at the Emperor of Gran Orden.

“W-Wait.”

The Emperor, caught in the trap, staggered with a panicked expression.

“I-I surrender! I’ll surrender!”

But Etias didn’t care. He raised one hand and gave a signal forward.

It was far too late for surrender.

The Imperial army charged, unleashing arrows coated with Heros’s special poison, effective only against monsters.

The number of creatures was large, but they were no match for our army. The Emperor fell into chaos and stumbled backward.

I aimed my bow at him.

I had shot many arrows before, but I had never struck someone’s heart or head to kill them. Yet with this man… I thought it would be fine.

He was no human.

He had turned countless of his own people into monsters.

The images of small child-like creatures crawling on the ground flashed through my mind.

And now, this butcher who had slaughtered his citizens begged for his life by surrendering?

Whoosh—

My arrow struck the chest of a wizard he had tried to hide behind, dropping the blue figure into black liquid. The Emperor’s face twisted in horror.

I nocked another arrow and drew the bow again.

This time, I would hit him for sure.

“….”

My lips trembled, my heart pounding fiercely.

And then—

“Stop.”

A low voice seeped into my ear.

I looked at Etias with wavering eyes.

“I’ll do it.”

A moment ago, I had wanted nothing more than to kill the Emperor myself, my body trembling with rage.

But now, with those words, it felt like a heavy weight pressing on my chest suddenly lifted.

Maybe I’m not as strong as I thought.

With a shaky breath, I slowly lowered my bow.

Etias stepped forward.

At his feet, the black shadows that hadn’t been able to act against the lifeless Rift creatures began to stir.

The Emperor was human—shadows could bind him.

Like dozens of serpents, the shadows shot out and wrapped around his body.

“…Kughhk!”

The Emperor of Gran Orden turned pale, his feet lifted as he hung in the air.

His clouded eyes filled with despair, and he pleaded:

“Spare me! Please, let me live…!”

There was no room for pity.

Kill him, Etias.

Just as I thought that, Etias turned to glance at me.

He stretched one arm toward me, casting a shadow between my eyes and the sight of the Emperor.

“….”

As if to say: Don’t watch something so cruel.

It was overly protective, like treating me as a sheltered princess.

But I couldn’t help smiling faintly. I nodded and closed my eyes.

“Graaaahhh!”

The Emperor’s agonized screams echoed across the battlefield.

Then silence fell.

I could tell—the one who had committed such atrocities was dead.

Thud—his body hit the ground. Only then did I open my eyes.

“….”

Etias stood across from me, his gaze meeting mine.

His lips moved softly.

“It’s over.”

His quiet, gentle voice made my heart race.

I smiled faintly at him and nodded.

The threat of Gran Orden… had ended.

Soon after, an Imperial officer retrieved a ring from the Emperor’s hand.

It seemed to be the very core of sorcery that had controlled the Rift Wizards.

And just as Etias took hold of it—

the sound of heavy boots came rushing toward us.

I lifted the corner of my lips.