ILDBL 45

Chapter: 45

Kiiiiiiiiiik—!

The once-still air churned violently, releasing a bizarre sound.

It was like the laughter of the dead.

Within that overwhelming surge, Karina—her black hair whipping wildly, her crimson eyes gleaming with a sinister aura—looked as though…

Yes. As though she were a demonic god incarnated upon the earth.

For a moment, everyone stood frozen in shock.

Then Karina’s figure vanished from where she stood.

Almost immediately, amid violently writhing black energy in the air, Karina’s figure reappeared.

Raising her sword high, she looked down from midair, an overwhelming tyrannical presence pouring out of her.

Gooooooo—!

Rather than the sound of a blade being swung, it was closer to the wailing of the dead as Karina shot downward.

She looked like a hellish demon descending from the sky to pass judgment.

“Ah…”

Like a demon descending while commanding countless souls.

Faced with such an unreal, unbelievable sight, Ellen could only stand there in a daze.

And then—

Slash—!

A chilling sound rang out, one that could not possibly belong to a friendly-match sword.

Ellen still stood there blankly, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Karina had already landed behind him, lowering the tip of her sword.

At that moment, the center of the uniform Ellen was wearing split open unsightly.

Yet there was not a single wound on his chest.

Even though there had clearly been the sound of something being cut.

Then—

Guhk—!

“Keugh—”

Ellen, who had been perfectly uninjured, suddenly spat out blood and collapsed forward.

Thud—!

As Ellen fell face-first, his eyes were completely devoid of light.

Isaac, who had been supporting him, panicked and checked Ellen’s breathing.

Thankfully, he seemed to have only lost consciousness.

But despite having no visible injuries, he had vomited blood and collapsed.

Unable to believe it, Isaac turned back.

There stood Karina, sword lowered, breathing roughly.

‘Did she… cut his soul or something…?’

Even he couldn’t understand the strange thought that crossed his mind as he stared blankly at Karina.

When Ellen showed no further movement, the referee, Largo, entered the arena and examined him.

Moments later, his booming voice rang out.

“Ellen is unable to continue the match! Victory goes to House Batius!”

The deathly silence shattered as screams of joy erupted from the waiting area!

“Kyaaaaaaah!”

“W–Wooooah!”

Isabella, wrapped head to toe in bandages, and Albin hugged each other tightly, jumping up and down.

Even the ash-gray puppy watching everything from the stadium roof stamped its paws excitedly, wagging its tail.

Meanwhile, the children on Ludovico’s side remained frozen, as though they couldn’t believe reality.

Then, Duke Ludovico, who had been seated on the platform, sprang to his feet, shouting as if having a fit.

“This is impossible!”

His trembling, rage-filled gaze landed on Callahan on the opposite platform.

Duke Batius, Callahan, simply sat there with his legs crossed, wearing a relaxed smile.

“Tch…!”

Grinding his teeth, Ludovico shifted his gaze to his unconscious son and Karina standing before him.

The absurd power displayed by that girl, Karina.

It didn’t feel like an ability—it was something alien, entirely different.

So powerful it could induce hallucinations in an instant.

To the point that the black energy filling the air and her very form looked like a colossal demon and the dead following it.

He had never seen or heard of such an ability.

By now, Karina was surrounded by Albin, Isabella, and Isaac, who had come running over excitedly.

A child who might one day become the next head of House Batius.

Clenching his molars, Ludovico spoke in a deeply suppressed voice.

“Darwin, remember that child well.”

At his words, Darwin, captain of the Ludovico knight order, nodded solemnly while staring at Karina.

“I will keep a close watch on her.”

Hearing the reply, Ludovico rose from his seat and left the arena, as though there was no longer any reason to remain.

He didn’t spare even a glance for his unconscious son.

Just as he stepped down from the platform without hesitation—

A man, clearly from House Batius, was waiting below.

“Greetings, Duke Ludovico.”

Behind the man blocking their path stood several soldiers who also appeared to belong to Batius.

Ludovico frowned and spoke irritably.

“What is this about?”

At his curt tone, Eric—who had been carrying out Batius’s orders in place of the knight commander—smiled faintly.

“Ah, it’s nothing much. We found some rats in the mansion, and they seemed to belong to your household.”

At that moment, the soldiers behind Eric dragged several people forward.

They were Ludovico’s knights, who had been searching the mansion for the prince on Darwin’s orders.

Recognizing them, both Duke Ludovico and Darwin stiffened.

Just then, the soldiers parted like the Red Sea, and Duke Batius walked forward with dignified strides.

Ludovico’s complexion grew even paler.

After losing the friendly match so thoroughly, and then getting caught plotting something shady with his knights exposed—he was beyond humiliation.

“Duke Ludovico, you seem quite interested in my mansion. Enough to release rats into it.”

“Th-That’s a misunderstanding—”

“Or perhaps you were looking for something?”

For a moment, Ludovico’s eyes flicked toward Callahan’s face.

Does he not know about the prince? Or is he pretending not to while hiding him?

Unable to read Callahan’s expression, Ludovico felt confusion creep in.

Then Callahan spoke leisurely.

“I believe this matter warrants a long, in-depth discussion between us.”

At that relaxed smile, Ludovico clenched his teeth, his expression saying he had been caught red-handed.

* * *

Ariel, who had been lying unconscious in a hospital bed, slowly opened her eyes.

Recalling how Gale had choked her unconscious, Ariel hastily sat up.

“The match!”

As she bolted upright, she saw Denian lying in another bed nearby, just like her.

He looked far worse than she did.

Seeing the bandage around his shoulder—where he had been pierced during the match—soaked red with blood, Ariel instinctively used her healing ability on him.

Thanks to that, Denian’s complexion eased, and he slowly began blinking his eyes open.

“You’re awake, Denian?”

Denian stared at Ariel, blinking repeatedly—probably asking about the match.

Faced with that gaze, Ariel could only shake her head.

“I was brought in unconscious too.”

At the realization that, despite Denian’s desperate efforts, Ariel had ultimately lost as well, Denian’s face stiffened.

“But Karina will definitely have pulled it off!”

At Ariel’s energetic words, Denian’s expression brightened.

To them, Karina was that kind of existence.

Unlike other children, she possessed a calmness as though she had mastered everything, the ability to turn the impossible into reality.

And somehow, an inexplicable presence that naturally drew people in.

To the children, Karina had already become an irreplaceable leader.

Just then, the door opened and a familiar voice rang out.

“A–Ariel!”

“Looks like you’re both awake now.”

Albin and Isabella entered, greeting them.

Seeing Isabella’s body practically wrapped entirely in bandages, Ariel’s face filled with worry.

“The match…?”

Albin and Isabella exchanged glances, as if checking each other’s reactions.

At their hesitation, Ariel and Denian swallowed nervously.

Then Isabella broke into a grin and spoke.

“Why are you so tense? Of course we won!”

“Huh?”

“Ka–Karina and Isaac defeated Ludovico’s Ellen, s–so we won!”

At Albin’s excited voice, tears welled up in Ariel’s eyes.

“Huh? Everyone’s here?”

Karina entered the room with her usual familiar voice.

“Why are you about to cry again?”

Seeing Karina’s calm expression, Ariel suddenly burst into loud sobs.

Waaah—!

Startled by Ariel suddenly throwing herself at her, Karina barely had time to react before Denian also scampered over and hugged her.

“W–What? What’s wrong with you guys?”

“It doesn’t make any sense that we won, really. Sob… That means all of us passed the sixth test, right? Right?”

Looking at Ariel and Denian clinging to her like magnets, Karina answered with a small smile.

 “Of course.”