Then, the crow, which appeared secretly through the darkness, whispered, just loud enough for Johann to hear.
[No! That monster is our subordinate! It’s an important resource!]
“Damn it! What kind of subordinate comes and makes a mess without being called?”
Toulouse sat by the broken statue and looked at him with all three heads.
[It’s because your power has gotten stronger! It came as if it was being led. It also means that the Hell of demons, ‘Marsephone’s Gate’ is slowly being revealed to the world…!]
Hell of demons, ‘Marsephone.’
It was the hell where Toulouse was rejected and imprisoned by the demons.
A place where the worst monsters among demons gather.
Toulouse was transferring his power to this world through Johann…
As that power grew stronger, the ‘door leading to Marsephone’ finally revealed its presence, demonstrating its power to the world.
The ultimate goal of Johann and Toulouse was to open the door and summon demons to use them as their servants;
It was to unite the five continents and become the eternal emperor of this world.
When that time came, not only Marsephone’s demons, but also all the demons on this earth would be engulfed in madness.
Just like the current barbatus dragon.
[Originally, that monster doesn’t have the power to block magic, but it must have been Marsephone’s energy. It’s stronger than usual…!]
[I’m glad, I’m glad!]
Toulouse flapped its wings in joy that everything went according to plan.
[It’s proof that things are going well for us!]
But Johann was not happy.
“It’s going to destroy the Imperial Palace like this. Why doesn’t that monster listen to my orders?”
Johann tried to draw up the power of Toulouse flowing through his body, but for some reason the barbatus dragon did not reach his influence.
[Oh, you can’t…? Well, you haven’t fully inherited my power yet, have you?]
Toulouse frowned and rubbed its puzzled eyes.
[Anyway, enjoy! Because this is like a ‘taster’ for the festival that will take place on the day ‘The Gate of Marsephone’ opens.]
Just then, Barbatus widened its mouth and poured black flames on Berylia.
Johann cried hurriedly.
“Berylia!”
But it was Rixus who stood in front of her.
* * *
Whee— ook!
Even the last torch held by the guards was extinguished by the strong wind.
Only a shield covered with a purple aura glowed in the gloomy darkness.
Except for Rixus, whose power was not based on mana, there were few who could properly exert force here.
As soon as the long flame was over, Rixus put all his strength into a candlestick and threw it towards the emergency staircase.
It became a purple lighthouse in the dark waves.
“Berylia, over there!”
But I didn’t move, I stood still.
‘Am I going to avoid it alone?’
The exclamation of the captain of the guards sounded like a scream.
“Don’t back down! Protect the people! Don’t back down!”
The guards were prepared to die in front of the people and stopped them. They were trying to keep their duty until the moment of death.
As if ridiculing such struggles, large feet were hung over the heads of the panicked nobles.
It was then. When I spit out the starter of a spell.
《Niebe.》
Ice stretched out of my body, freezing one of the dragon’s feet that was the size of a house, and dug up to its knees. With the sound of cracking ice, its feet hit another place.
Koo-!
‘They are my people.’
Never once had I run away from my people.
I thought that was the monarch’s duty and lived. So even now, I would never run away.
As with any fate approaching me, I had to fight it.
Even if it resulted in death.
I stared at the wobbling Barbatus, then looked back at Rixus.
“Rixus, as you know, the core of the monster is in its forehead. Can you climb up there and cut it?”
“If there are stairs to step on. And if its movement is a little slow.”
Even though I didn’t explain it in detail, Rixus quickly recognized my heart and respected my decision.
Despite him being the man who wanted to keep me safe more than anyone else.
“Now.”
I gave him a signal and placed powers all over the dragon’s body.
Puk!
At the same time, Rixus ran towards the giant monster with outstanding speed.
My platinum hair fluttered wildly in the air, and my body was engulfed in a radiant and cold energy.
That moment when that energy was maximally strong.
《Magnus.》
Huge ice came out of the ground together with the spell starter and sprinted furiously after Rixus.
And it overtook him.
The body of Barbatus, who was trying to target Rixus, his whole body wrapped in chains.
Rumble—
Under the moonlight, the beautifully gleaming ice quickly gathered to create a staircase that reached the monster’s waist.
Immediately, Rixus stepped on the stairs, leapt in an instant, and flew into the air.
Chiiiiiik– chak!
The long purple sword flew wildly as if it could cut through the entire body of the monster.
A steely, eerie glare flickered from Rixus’ eyes.
“!”
The moment Barbatus twisted its body, Rixus’s sword came down, striking the monster’s body.
Bang!
The ground shook at the impact of the sword hitting the floor.
Kiyeeek!
Everyone held their breaths, looking at the scene.
After a while, slowly, very slowly, the cut section of the monster began to unfold.
“…did it.”
I didn’t know who said it first.
Barbatus’ massive body, which seemed about to burn everyone down, was torn in two and fell to the floor.
The people, who were terrified, wept and embraced each other.
In the ruined banquet hall, people shouted loudly.
The crown prince who protected them to the end, and the name of the odd-eye queen from the enemy country— No.