Chapter 187
Sionel hurriedly pulled his body back.
It was to avoid the axe blade that seemed ready to strike down at any moment.
The sight of him retreating without answering was utterly pathetic.
Cheshire swung the axe.
“Eek!”
The Holy King let out a terrified scream.
However, the axe embedded not in the Holy King’s neck, but in his arm.
With a sound like stone splitting, the Holy King’s prosthetic arm fell to the floor.
Cheshire followed up by axing the other side as well.
Looking down at the Holy King who had lost both arms in an instant, she declared.
“Let the humans bring this one to trial, reveal every single crime, and punish him accordingly. Otherwise, the entire continent will pay the price.”
“Evidence, the evidence…!”
“The Basilian family will prove the Holy King’s crimes.”
As the still-dazed Holy King stammered out frantically, a cold voice interjected.
Belzeon stepped forward, wiping the blood from his cheek.
On either side of Belzeon, Hata and Daren took their places with expressionless faces.
The three brothers, in their adult forms, openly revealed themselves as Basilians.
“Count Basilian, as the master of the underworld, possesses evidence that the Holy King committed heretical acts. This is also evidence to clear the Basilian family’s name.”
Belzeon turned his gaze to the Emperor.
“The Supreme Sun Emperor of Palen will vouch for the Basilian family’s honor.”
The Emperor, who had been blankly watching, belatedly flinched in surprise.
Pushed along, he stammered out.
“The claim that Count Basilian is the master of the underworld is true…”
As soon as the Emperor’s words fell, Belzeon glared at the holy knights who were still frozen in place.
Receiving his sharp gaze, they finally arrested the Holy King belatedly.
Having lost both arms, he was bound with ropes in quite a comical manner.
Seeing the Holy King being dealt with eased her mind a little.
Cheshire scattered the axe into flowers.
As the extreme excitement subsided slightly, the pain she had been holding back surged in.
A persistent taste of blood lingered in her mouth.
Along with it came a squeezing pain in her heart.
She knew she had consumed her life force, but it seemed she had used far more power than expected.
Cold sweat trickled down her spine at the abnormal state.
Her legs kept trying to buckle, so she forced strength into them to stand, prompting the crown to chide her repeatedly.
“How foolish.”
“You’ve gone and done something foolish after all.”
Cheshire squeezed her eyes shut at the crown’s sigh.
She had tried to control it, but it seemed she had poured out too much life force.
‘I’m going to die.’
The terror of death she had felt while being chased by slave hunters in the past resurfaced.
Oddly enough, in that moment, worry overshadowed fear.
What will happen to those left behind if I die?
Hailon, the Basilians…
She hadn’t even said sorry for lying yet.
The thought that this might be her last moment suddenly gave her courage.
Cheshire cautiously looked at those she had been avoiding until now.
Belzeon and the twins met her gaze immediately, as if they had been waiting.
All three looked like they had much to say, but that was all.
There was no hatred in the eyes directed at Cheshire.
Swallowing her relief, she turned her head.
The blue eyes staring at Cheshire were serene.
Unlike the three brothers, they were calm to the point of seeming indifferent at first glance.
But Cheshire knew.
That was when Hailon was at his most terrifying.
She involuntarily swallowed dryly.
Still, one thing was certain.
He would not leave Cheshire, Lichesia.
Finally, Cheshire looked at Kierne.
“…….”
Cheshire moved her lips several times.
She didn’t know what to call him.
Even in this state, was she still the Cheshire of the Basilian family?
Uncertain and hesitating, Kierne called her name first.
“Cheshire.”
It was a gentle voice, as if telling her not to worry about anything.
Emotion welled up at his voice.
The urge to throw herself into his arms and act spoiled surged, but she suppressed it firmly.
The moment she saw Kierne, it became clear what she needed to do now.
‘I can fulfill at least one lifelong wish.’
The process of making the decision was unhesitating and strangely calm.
Cheshire spoke carefully, ensuring her voice didn’t tremble from the pain.
“There’s no other chance but now.”
It was a statement cut off at both ends.
However, Kierne immediately grasped its meaning.
Looking into his red eyes flickering with complex emotions, she asked.
“Are you prepared…”
“I’ve always been ready. From a very long time ago.”
Cheshire slowly nodded to the one who asked nothing further.
And she extended her hand.
Kierne looked at the crown perched on Cheshire’s head, at the slender hand offered to him.
As if gripped by some profound emotion, he exhaled a short breath and slowly approached Cheshire.
The sound of his shoe heels striking the marble floor was distinct.
Cheshire and Kierne clasped hands.
With their hands firmly gripped, they faced each other.
At the same time, shadows surged from their feet.
Just as the shadows were about to engulf them both.
Clatter!
White chains wrapped around Cheshire and Kierne separately.
Her vision went dark, then brightened again.
Cheshire and Kierne were now in the flower field of the eastern Black Forest.
Along with Hailon.
It was the only place in the dark forest where sunlight poured down, filled with green leaves and vibrant flowers.
Standing beside the empty coffin in the center of the flower field, Hailon asked coldly.
“What do you think you’re doing right now.”
He glared, his eyes flashing while restraining Cheshire and Kierne with chains.
Kierne chuckled softly.
Then he drew shadows to shatter the chains.
Hailon, already internally injured from the demons, spat blood again from the backlash of the chains breaking.
In turn, binding Hailon with shadows, Kierne looked up at the sky.
He extended his hand toward the heavens.
Then, the darkness of the Black Forest began to be sucked toward Kierne.
It was an unbelievable sight.
As he endlessly devoured the vast darkness, the Black Forest regained its original verdure.
In the swirling darkness, Kierne looked at Cheshire.
At the same time, the ground trembled, and a massive magic circle formed centered on the coffin.
A fierce wind rose from the magic circle drawn in darkness.
Seeing the magic circle, Hailon revealed a rare look of dismay.
Kierne burst into laughter as he explained.
“I’m going to revive my dead wife.”
Amid the wind wildly whipping his hair and clothes, Kierne smiled brightly.
“It’s not something to do in front of a former Inquisitor, but circumstances are urgent on my end, so I ask for your understanding.”
A gleam flashed in Kierne’s eyes.
He began the magic he had longed for over so many years.
From the empty coffin, something small and white floated up gently.
The couple’s wedding rings were sucked into the black magic circle and vanished.
Kierne used shadows to cut a bit of his own hair.
Then he sliced his palm and scattered droplets of blood along with it.
His hair and blood were all absorbed into the magic circle, just like the wedding rings.
The gale rising from the magic circle grew even fiercer.
Enough to shake all the trees in the Black Forest simultaneously.
Now, only the final sacrifice remained.
Kierne looked at Cheshire.
Cheshire blinked slowly and opened her mouth.
“Count Basilian’s wife was the previous Fairy Queen.”
Her own voice slipping through her lips felt unfamiliar.
“The sacrifice needed to revive her isn’t the queen’s crown, but equivalent exchange.”
Walking toward the magic circle while watching his red eyes grow wider, Cheshire revealed the truth to Kierne.
“You have to offer me as the sacrifice.”
