Chapter 106
“There’s definitely something ahead. There are things that can’t be seen with the eyes.”
It seemed to be an energy that only Kaiden, who had good sensory perception, could feel.
Upon hearing his words, Reina used Ritsi’s power to examine the room.
Right at that moment.
“Gasp!”
Reina was startled and clung closely to Kaiden.
‘What is that?’
As he had said, an unknown energy was lurking in the room.
That energy was similar to what had been felt from the restraints that had bound Mikael and Jeffrey, yet it was thicker and more sinister.
Reina had never seen such a vivid darkness energy before.
An unpleasant emotion arose, as if facing heavily contaminated energy.
The energy stretched out like threads throughout the room, taking the form of a spiderweb.
In particular, egg-like things, presumed to be prey, wrapped tightly in threads and hanging from the spiderweb, caught her eye.
Fortunately, the owner of the spiderweb was not visible in the room.
As Reina looked at the empty air with a bewildered expression, Kaiden asked.
“What’s wrong?”
“……It’s a spiderweb. There are spider threads and eggs hanging everywhere.”
“Is it a demonic beast?”
“It seems a bit different from a demonic beast. This is just like……”
Reina trailed off and glanced at Ritsi.
It was because, amidst the sinister energy, she faintly felt the power of a divine beast similar to Ritsi.
‘So that’s why it’s only visible to me?’
But that couldn’t be possible. Divine beasts are beings who receive God’s love.
Yet there was no way such sinister and gloomy energy could belong to a divine beast.
It was a heterogeneous energy, as if a divine beast had been forcibly subordinated to something.
It seemed proper confirmation was needed.
“Ritsi.”
The moment Reina called its name, Ritsi fluttered and flew over.
And the instant it touched its beak to Reina’s hand. Along with a feeling of strength draining away, Ritsi’s body sparkled.
Flash—!
Shortly after, Ritsi transformed into the form of a gigantic bird.
As a result, the divine power enveloping Ritsi became faint, and Kaiden also began to vaguely see Ritsi’s appearance.
“!”
Kaiden’s eyes widened at the majesty of the gigantic Ritsi.
The true form of Ritsi, encountered for the first time, was beyond what Kaiden had imagined.
A strong pressure that he had never felt from Ritsi in its sparrow-like appearance enveloped his entire body.
The red feathers were like a blazing sun, and the eyes, like those of a raptor, emitted a bright golden light like pure gold.
Meeting those eyes gave a sense of awe, as if all truths would be pierced through.
A presence on a completely different level from when facing Mikael’s divine beast.
This must be what it truly felt like to be overwhelmed.
“So this was Ritsi’s true form.”
“It seems it’s hard to completely hide the true form with divine power.”
– It’s not easy to completely conceal my presence with mere divine power. Still, that child seems to have cared for you quite a bit.
The child Ritsi referred to was Isabelle.
Ritsi was strangely favorable toward Isabelle. Probably because she was one who received God’s love.
Reina pointed to the empty air and asked.
“How does that look in Ritsi’s eyes?”
– It’s best not to think about purifying that. If possible, it would be even better to do nothing at all.
Ritsi pompously warned Reina.
Ritsi, returned to its true form, seemed like a different personality from the usual Ritsi.
If the usual Ritsi was cute and lovable, the Ritsi in its true form felt somehow distant.
Reina spoke politely.
“In my eyes, the owner of that spiderweb seems like a being similar to Ritsi. Is that correct?”
– Well. I’m not sure if that can be considered the same kind of existence as me.
Ritsi quietly scanned the empty spiderweb as if looking at something pitiful.
– Human greed has no end. How can they be so cruel.
The moment a single tear dropped from Ritsi’s eye.
A curtain unfolded in the room, and something caught in the spiderweb came into Reina’s view.
“……!”
It was the owner of the spiderweb.
A spider with a pure white body was rolling its glass-like eyes and staring this way.
Seeing that it hadn’t been visible until now, it must have been under concealment magic.
It was likely the same principle as when Ritsi’s presence became faint in its sparrow form.
Strangely, it was bound in its own spiderweb. In an appearance no different from other prey.
The moment Reina’s eyes met the white spider’s, its faint voice was heard.
– Kill me……
“……”
– It’s better to die than to live like this……
The white spider looked extremely tormented. Now that she saw it, the energy flowing from its body seemed to be managing the eggs through the spiderweb as a medium.
From the circumstances, it appeared closer to being forcibly exploited.
The response came faster from Ritsi.
– I’m sorry, but I can’t help you. You violated a taboo.
– It wasn’t because I wanted to violate it. I was deceived too…… Kuh!
At Ritsi’s cold refusal, the white spider tried to say something but swallowed its breath. The pain seemed that extreme.
Ritsi, looking down at it coldly, added.
– In any case, it was your choice.
– ……
The white spider said nothing.
Reina and Kaiden held their breath and eavesdropped on the conversation between the two divine beasts.
After a moment, the white spider opened its mouth.
– Your master won’t be much different.
The divine beast, muttering gloomily, continued with eyes full of hostility.
– Humans are all vicious and horrific! All of you disappear! This is my domain!
“Ugh.”
As Reina flinched at the strong killing intent, Kaiden blocked in front of her.
He then used an aura barrier to protect Reina, but suddenly the white spider’s killing intent abruptly stopped.
– Crencia……?
– It seems you’ve gone blind and only now noticed this energy.
Ritsi blew a breath as if regretting it and temporarily opened the white spider’s eyes.
The white spider, who had spent a long time in the dim room, blankly stared at the three beings that appeared before it.
– Julid Mernie and Crencia.
By then, its momentum had dropped sharply. The voice that sounded hollow was full of exhaustion.
Moreover, the hostile atmosphere had become unrecognizably gentle.
The white spider said.
– Ho. The two have become one. I’ve lived long enough to see such a thing.
At the words “become one,” Kaiden frowned. He understood the meaning of the unity it was referring to.
– Ah, so you were Reina.
The white spider muttered while tilting its head. That appearance was extremely grotesque yet eerie.
Reina suppressed her discomfort and opened her mouth.
“Do you know me?”
– Of course I know you well. You’re the child they’ve put effort into. My master has a lot of interest in you.
At the word “master,” a crack appeared on Reina’s face.
“Is the emperor your master?”
To her question, the white spider simply flicked its tongue and did not answer.
Leaving the non-answering white spider behind, Reina carefully examined the eggs hanging in the spiderweb.
It was because a familiar sensation was felt along with the sinister energy.
‘In those eggs, Jeffrey’s power……’
Sensing that gaze, the white spider said.
– Do you want this?
It openly held out an egg that seemed related to Jeffrey in front of Reina.
– If you free me, I’ll give you this. How about it?
At the proposal like the devil’s whisper, Ritsi stepped in to block.
– You mustn’t be deceived. If you kill a divine beast while it’s under restraint, you can never release the restraint forever.
The white spider narrowed its eyes as if Ritsi was interfering.
Reina fell into thought for a moment.
Mikael had said there was something here that was “good only for me.”
If it was something that could release the restraint, Mikael wouldn’t have missed the opportunity.
It meant that while the restraint couldn’t be released immediately, a clue to save Jeffrey could be obtained.
In the end, it meant there was a point where Reina and the white spider could negotiate.
Through this, it was likely hoping to find a way to save Mikael as well.
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