Chapter 96

They had already expected that if Laila and Linus clashed, the surrounding damage would be enormous. At Enoch’s signal, the mercenaries quickly carried off the fallen knights they had been fighting and evacuated the building. Enoch lifted me into his arms, and his spirits carried us far away before setting us down.

I couldn’t take my eyes off Laila.

She had been enduring all this time.
Before she even came to find me, she had lost the person she loved most, and she struggled desperately against the emptiness that left behind. Maybe she had wanted to die all along.
More than Linus, more than Jang Hyunji—she could never forgive herself for not protecting that person when she was right beside them.

I only came to know Laila after losing Marie.

“Are you really that great?”

Laila shouted as she charged madly. Linus blocked the attack, looking startled.

“Are you so great that it’s natural for people to die for you?”

“I never told them to die for me.”

“They did it on their own? So you hold no responsibility?”

“Hah? Why are you so angry, then?”

“…”

“Dying for me was what they wanted. Did they ask you to avenge them?”

“Shut up…”

“I don’t know what right you have to be angry at me. Laila Green—you’re clearly just taking it out on me.”

“I said shut up!”

Her attacks, once playful and mocking, turned razor-sharp and merciless. Every strike went for a vital point. Each clash of their swords sent booming shocks through the air.

“Evacuate, far away! And make sure people know we’re the victims!”

“Are those things even human?”

Keith clicked his tongue.

“At least the woman is human…”

“If you’ve got time to chat, move!”

At Enoch’s roar, Keith and the mercenaries snapped out of their daze and ran like scolded children. Enoch and I landed not far from where Laila and Linus were fighting. I tried to run closer to Laila the moment my feet touched the ground, but Enoch held me back.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, Florence.
But you won’t be able to shake me off.”

He squeezed the hand he was holding. I didn’t bother shaking it off—but I had no intention of keeping hold either. At that moment, Keith returned after evacuating the mercenaries.

“What now? Should we jump in?”

“We wait.”

Keith strengthened his shield as he spoke.

“I followed you this far without complaint because you said you had a plan, Florence. You’re not thinking of doing anything reckless, are you?”

“…”

Both Keith and Enoch had followed without asking questions. From the start, the only one who could stand against Linus was Laila. Sometimes they complained, but it never worked on her. And though I always claimed not to know, I think they suspected I had some idea.

But there was no more time to talk.

“Ghhhk!”

Laila rolled hard on the ground, colliding with a crumbling wall. In a short time, she had taken visible damage. Keith rushed in, pouring healing magic on her, while Enoch summoned dozens of mid-level wind spirits, Shuriel, and earth spirits, Clay, to shield her.

Through the dust, Linus stood tall. He had injuries, but nothing like Laila’s battered state. He casually swatted away the spirits like flies.

“I don’t understand. You’re not stupid, Laila.”

“Ugh…”

“Why cooperate with Florence when you know you can’t beat me?”

Since the building collapsed, Linus no longer seemed to hold back. Whether it was because he no longer feared I might be crushed, or because he felt freer without the restraint—I couldn’t tell.

“You knew you couldn’t be my match. Then why do this? Gathering those useless allies who can barely help, wasting strength in a pointless fight—why?”

He walked slowly toward Laila, but his eyes flicked to me. Then, seeing Enoch still holding my hand, he ground his teeth.

“Didn’t I say I’d never forgive you for cheating on me, my love?”

I gripped Enoch’s hand tighter. Linus, glaring murderously at Enoch, spat a warning:

“You’re next.”

Enoch didn’t answer, summoning two more high-level wind spirits instead. He launched attacks in sync with Laila as she staggered to her feet. Linus deflected them easily.

“If you really want to die…
I’ll grant your wish.”

Laila’s breathing was ragged. Even with Keith pouring healing and buffs on her, the gap was clear. She couldn’t win alone, just as Linus said.

He hadn’t even needed his knights—they were only here to deal with Enoch and Keith. Not even Laila’s curse slowed him down.

It didn’t matter that he’d been cut off by the Lindquists or lost the Crown Prince’s trust. None of that mattered to him. He was strong enough to kill everyone anyway. Linus had been born with cursed talent.

Keith could only use up to 4th-class offensive magic. Enoch’s wind spirits shot arrows, and earth spirits hurled spears of stone, but Linus dodged them, pressing Laila further into a corner.

I steadied my breathing as Laila had taught me, waiting for the right moment. She had taught me what to look for: weaknesses, openings, flaws.

Laila rolled along the ground, and in that instant Linus’s sword strike shattered Keith’s shield. Enoch reached toward Keith, but Linus kicked off and closed the distance to Laila in a blink.

This was the moment I had been waiting for.

I tore free of Enoch’s grip.

Florence! — his voice sounded distant, fading.

Time seemed to split apart. Sounds vanished.

I appeared between Laila and Linus, wrapping my arms around Laila. Linus noticed me too late. Just as his sword was about to pierce my back, the artifact “Lamsa” activated.

The ancient relic, which blocked any attack once a day, repelled even Linus’s strike. The vibration rattled my ears and blurred my vision. Linus faltered from the rebound, and I seized the chance to snatch Laila’s dagger and slash at him.

“Die, Linus!”

“Foolish Florence—you think this will—”

He brushed aside my dagger like it was a child’s toy, scoffing, and grabbed my throat, slamming me to the ground. Then his huge hand cupped my face gently, stroking as though it were fragile porcelain. It was absurd—ignoring the pain he’d inflicted on my body, while pretending to cherish the shell.

His voice was desperate, almost pleading.

“Hyunji… come back.”

He called her name.

“Hyunji. My love.”

“…Disgusting…”

He pulled me into a passionate embrace, as if I were really her. His massive hand cradled the back of my head. His hot, solid body pressed against me—I couldn’t help a bitter laugh.

My body, drained nearly empty of mana after using Lamsa.
And in front of me—the man Jang Hyunji loved.

Linus. Ah, Linus!
I’ve been waiting for you, Jang Hyunji.

My mind boiled over like countless droplets bursting at once. I yielded my body willingly and glanced aside. Laila was dragging the unconscious Keith and Enoch away.

Now it’s your turn to taste my hell.