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~Chapter 142~
Once I realized they were after the dragon’s body parts, my imagination turned darker, more vivid.
Those bastards—daring to touch my Karl!
“Damn it!”
Bang! I slammed the iron door so hard that Captain Ista flinched and grabbed my hand.
“Elaine, look at your hand!”
“….”
The skin had split open from pounding the door so much.
But I couldn’t even feel pain.
“Karl must be hurting more than me.”
I had dragged him all the way here in that condition, and yet I failed to protect him.
While I was catching my breath, Captain Ista glanced at the Eyeball and asked carefully:
“That thing… is it…?”
“It’s a dragon… oh, right!”
I snapped my head toward it.
Hey, you fixed the city wall before. Can’t you open a door with magic?
Blink, blink.
But the Eyeball only blinked, like it didn’t know what I was talking about.
“You useless dragon head!”
Squish.
It scrunched up like it was sulking. That only made me angrier.
“You don’t even know what’s happening to your descendant outside!”
“If you can’t use magic, then at least smash it with your body!”
“Elaine!”
Just as I raised the Eyeball to smash the door—
Click, click!
The handle turned.
We froze at once.
Enemy? If so, we were trapped in the worst way possible.
But then—
“Young Lady!”
…Beth’s voice?!
“…A hallucination?”
“Of course not!”
And soon, her face popped up through the bars.
Tears nearly sprang to my eyes.
“Stand back! I’ll open it!”
“Okay!”
Click!
In no time, Beth had picked the lock and swung the door open, twirling a hairpin with a grin.
“See? My skills aren’t rusty.”
That smile was unbearably lovely today.
I gasped.
“I almost kissed you!”
“Told you, didn’t I? You should’ve taken me along.”
“You’re right.”
“Leaving a capable maid like me behind is why this happened.”
“You’re right again. You’re absolutely right.”
“I said it before—at the crucial moment, I’d show up out of nowhere.”
“Beth, you’re the best.”
I nodded repeatedly.
“But it was dangerous. How did you get here…?”
“You think Eliza only taught you disguise magic?”
Now that I looked, Beth was dressed in a stolen nun’s robe.
“I learned while you were away. And, well, stealing clothes is easy for a pickpocket.”
“….”
“Even Jeremy helped you back in Saint Portu. How could I sit this out?”
She tapped her chest proudly—more reliable than ever.
“Since the day that slippery guy showed up, I’ve been preparing too.”
“Since then?”
“Actually, since way before that.”
For a moment, I was back in that alley where I first met her.
Ten years old, a ragged pickpocket—I had reached out my hand.
“This time, I’ll help you.”
Beth’s eyes shone with determination.
“I’ll be the one to reach out my hand to you.”
“Beth…”
I wanted to praise her more, but there was no time.
Flash, flash.
Finally, the Eyeball started glowing, signaling it could guide us.
Good. It knew the way.
“Alright. Let’s go together!”
I grabbed Beth’s hand and dashed forward.
Kiiiaaaak!
A horrifying cry echoed through the underground halls.
Shrrrk.
Chills rippled over our arms.
“Monsters?” Captain Ista asked, shaken.
I turned toward the dark corridor and shouted:
“They summoned them!”
“How?”
“I don’t know! Somehow!”
It sounded like a baseless accusation, but it was almost certainly true.
‘Monsters react to dragon’s blood…’
They must’ve taken Karl and used the blood in his veins!
“If they leave a single scar on that beautiful body and face, I’ll never forgive them…”
Boom!
The ground shook.
Ista and I exchanged looks instantly.
“Go ahead. I’ll handle the ones coming this way!”
“I trust you!”
He drew the sword I had given him and ran the other way.
“Let’s go, Beth!”
“Yes, Young Lady!”
We sprinted deeper underground, following the Eyeball’s glow.
The prickling on my skin grew sharper the further we went.
Even with my weak divine power, I could feel it—that meant something enormous was happening inside.
‘Wait for me, Karl. I won’t let anything happen to you.’
My heart raced with dread as we ran.
Rumble.
Then, black-armored figures came rushing from ahead.
“…!”
I knew them.
“The Fourth Division?”
But only their Captain was at the front. No sign of Benji.
“Good timing. Monsters are here, so go—”
Before I could finish, their Captain glared at me.
“Knights of God! There is the traitor!”
“…What?”
The Fourth Division knights’ expressions turned grim, like they’d just spotted a wanted criminal.
Even with monster cries echoing around us—
“Seize her at once! For our honor—”
“Are you serious?”
“What?”
“You can feel it too, can’t you?”
The oppressive magic was strong enough to sting even my skin. That meant a huge number of monsters.
“You swore to hunt monsters. Arresting traitors is the Imperial Knights’ job.”
“….”
“In the middle of the capital, monsters are pouring out. And you’d rather waste time arresting me?”
Some of them hesitated. At least a few had sense.
But their Captain barked, “So what?!”
“So what?!”
“We are knights of His Holiness the Pope, and he ordered us to arrest—”
“You’re mixing things up.”
“…What?”
“You said it yourself: you’re knights of God.”
“….”
“You serve God, not the Pope.”
My voice turned cold.
“Did God tell you to ignore your duties and obey only the Pope?”
More of them faltered. Even the Captain froze for a second.
“I’ve only ever seen knights throw away their vows to curry favor with power once before.”
“….”
“The ones exiled to Saint Portu.”
I smirked. Their faces twisted as I lumped them with those failures.
“You’d really abandon the people to suffer and chase after me instead? Is that what you call honor?”
The hesitation spread further.
Good. Just a little more and—
“Wait! You’re not some powerless young lady!”
…Seriously? That’s the problem you pick out now?!
“Didn’t you hear me? Go help the people!”
“Silence! Stop lecturing me! This time, I’ll fix your attitude once and for all!”
He drew his sword, divine power gathering.
“Take this—Sacred Sword—”
“Open spot!”
Thwack!
I punched his jaw before he could finish. He collapsed instantly.
It felt just like smacking a villain mid-transformation.
‘No wonder he always lost to Captain Ista.’
Thud! The Fourth Division Captain dropped face-first.
The others gawked, eyes wide.
“Well? Go out there, fight monsters, and be heroes…”
“….”
“…or fight me and end up losers.”
I cracked my knuckles. The sensible ones bolted immediately.
Only the stubborn fools remained.
“I’ve always hated you, Elaine Pascal!”
“Move!”
I swung my musket like a club—
“Go, Young Lady!”
Beth shoved me aside, winking.
“Beth?!”
“Remember when you picked me up off the street?”
She spoke of the past even in this tense moment.
“You said it was impulsive, but to me, it was—”
Wait. No. This was bad.
“Don’t! Don’t say it, Beth!”
“That’s a death flag!”
“Don’t say anything. I won’t lose anyone. Not one person.”
Beth’s eyes widened—then she grinned.
“Got it!”
Before I could stop her, she charged into the knights.
“Beth!”
“Come on, you bastards!”
“What’s with this nun—”
“Didn’t you say even talking to a woman is dangerous? Then how about a kiss?”
“Waaah!”
“Get away!”
“A perverted nun!”
Her voice rang out as I clenched my teeth and ran forward.
