Part Two, Section Four: “A Chain of Bonds Weaves Love”
Chapter Seventy-six
I realized Prince Oswald and the others were nearby, watching the situation. The bracelet I gave Lina vibrated ever so slightly and indicated the general direction and distance when those close to me approached. A function I added in case we got separated during my duties, but I never imagined it would prove useful like this.
Klaus probably erased his magical presence, and Prince Oswald and the rest didn’t have the magic power to begin with, so Asmodeus didn’t notice them.
That’s why I was able to calmly resign myself to being captured. I firmly believed they would attack at the perfect moment.
If they hadn’t arrived yet, I might have had to buy time even at the cost of my parents. I would have had to think of a way to somehow save them and myself at the same time.
"Miss Philia, I’ll cut those restraints for you now.”
"Please do.”
Prince Oswald cut the black rope with his spear. It was a special rope, quite tough and coated with magic, but… Prince Oswald’s skill in wielding weapons was truly impressive.
I could understand why he effortlessly severed Asmodeus’s arm.
"Don’t get too cocky, prince of Parnacota!”
The instant my bindings were cut, Asmodeus rushed toward us. Prince Oswald had his back turned, so even if I tried to erect a barrier with magic now, it would be too late.
"Nooo! Stay away from Lady Philia and His Highness! You scoundrel!”
“Fire Art!”
"What!? You all! Out of nowhere!”
Philip blocked Asmodeus’ advance with his spear, and Himari blasted flames in his face. Asmodeus seemed taken aback, closing his eyes.
“What incompetence. Only third-rate warriors close their eyes.”
"Ugh!?”
Then Leonardo kicked Asmodeus in the back of his head, knocking him to the ground.
So many people rushed to my aid. With no guarantee that we could even return from the Interstice.
"Lady Philiaaa! Are you hurt anywhere?”
"I’m fine, Lina. Thank you for coming.”
"Of course, I’d come! I want to perform my duties with you again, and make sweets again, and drink tea! I have so much I still want to do with you!”
Lina smiled, saying she had more she wanted to do with me. And I still have much left unfinished as well.
I can’t end my life here. And I don’t need eternity.
"What’s the meaning of this? Why are ordinary people who aren’t even exorcists come here!?”
"I-I’m sorry. But Senior Alice said…”
"No buts! Isn’t that person a prince of Parnacota!? If something happens, it’ll cause an international incident! An international!”
"Y-yes, I understand…”
Elsa scolded Klaus for bringing everyone here.
Mr. Klaus, I’m truly grateful. Thank you for bending your stance and bringing them here. Seeing everyone’s faces strangely filled me with strength.
"Now now, Sister Elsa. We can gang up and beat on Lord Asmodeus now.”
Mammon rebuked Elsa as the devil that captured my parents was lying on the ground.
He was right. For some reason, Asmodeus was alone and didn’t seem to be summoning any allies. The only ones he was summoned were low-level devils said to be weak. Yet he called many mid-level devils to the royal palace of Parnacota previously. It was strange.
"Together we might be able to win like this. I don’t understand why he isn’t calling allies.”
Elsa said that if the eight of us united our strength, there was a chance we could defeat Asmodeus. It might be true. If Asmodeus’s power was at this level, the odds of winning were certainly not low.
"Hahaha, do you really think you can defeat me with just eight of you gathered together!?”
"We won’t lose!”
"Asmodeus! As commander of the Parnacota Knights, I will slay you! Prepare yourself!”
Against Asmodeus’ taunt, Lina and Philip charged at him.
But I had a bad feeling like I was overlooking something important.
"Arrogant humans! Grovel before me!”
"Kyaa!”
"Urgh!?”
Suddenly, enormous black wings sprouted from Asmodeus’ back, swatting aside Philip and Lina. There was hardly any trace left of Julius now…
Purple fur covered his entire body; eyes appeared on his forehead and the backs of his hands; black wings on his back. His nails and fangs elongated, glowing eerily silver… he no longer resembled a human in the least.
"Hahahahaha, this human body is splendid! The impurity of the soul blends well with my own! There’s no need to release the seal on my own body anymore! The man named Julius has completely transformed into a devil!”
Several tornadoes manifested inside the room, and the atmosphere was shaking more violently with his every shout. No, not just the atmosphere; the ground itself was shaking significantly. It was on an entirely different scale than just moments ago. I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming force from Asmodeus as if we had angered a god.
It was said humanity was only saved four hundred years ago thanks to Fiana’s extraordinary power. Until she appeared, his existence was regarded as a natural disaster, and people had given up resisting him.
Senseless violence. This was Asmodeus’ true nature.
"You didn’t find it strange for there to be no devils in this castle!? They’re all inside me! Because this body wanted it! Wanted the devil’s blood that blackens everything!”
Did he devour his own kind?
I’ve heard that across the sea in a certain land was a monster. It was not a devil, but it brought calamity devoured its own relentlessly, gaining power that eventually made it known as a goddly beast.
The scale of Asmodeus’ power was indeed abnormal.
Even though I already felt that he was beyond our ability, I didn’t expect he had an ace up his sleeve.
"What a grotesque form…”
"Himari, for now just unlock the cages and rescue everyone captured. It seems their magic power was drained, but they don’t seem injured.”
“As your command!”
I handed half of the cage keys to Himari. Moving fast enough to make me think she split into multiple people, she freed the prisoners in the blink of an eye.
"Miss Philia, let me help too.”
"Your Highness Oswald…”
The prince and I worked together to unlock the rest of the cages and free the victims of mysterious disappearances. Asmodeus continued laughing maniacally as gusts of wind and tornados made even standing difficult. The walls and ceilings cracked, starting to crumble. Was he planning to let this place collapse even with Fiana’s doll here?
"Ahhh!”
"No more… it’s over…!”
Over there were my parents. Cracks in the ceiling were causing it to collapse on them.
"Holy Barrier!”
““Wha—!?””
“Father, Mother, hurry, please. This castle will collapse in the not-so-distant future.”
Just in time.
My barrier of light shielded them from the debris. They look at each other with surprised expressions.
"Philia… do you not resent us?”
"I want you to atone for your crimes. However, I personally harbor no resentment. I don’t know how Master feels, though.”
"I-I see. So you know about that—”
Living with them was disastrous from the moment I gained awareness. I believe the rift only deepened after I was sent to the monastery to train. However, holding resentment towards both of them now would also mean denying the encounters and experiences I’ve had since then. So I didn’t resent my parents. And unfortunately, I was unable to harbor any feelings for them.
"Kukukuku! Philia! Last warning! Surrender your soul to me if you don’t want me to slaughter everyone! Otherwise, all your friends will die!”
“““…!?”””
The instant he demanded my soul, Prince Oswald and the rest were all blown back by a sudden gust, smashing into the wall. It looked more like an ultimatum than a mere threat. He seemed ready to force compliance even through violence.
"Asmodeus, if you keep rampaging, Fiana’s doll will be damaged.”
Grasping at a straw, I mentioned the doll he went to such lengths to protect behind the sturdy door. The exquisitely crafted doll that puppet masters worked on for an absurd 200 years. Moreover, he was only able to recreate Fiana accurately after reading countless memories. Surely even he wouldn’t want something so extravagantly made to be damaged.
"Hahahaha! Your calculating nature is nothing like Fiana’s, Philia! Fine then! You’re clearly not Fiana after all! I’ll shred you to pieces and rip out your soul by force!”
“…”
"Don’t underestimate Fiana’s body with absorbed magic power! It won’t sustain a single wound even if the castle is reduced to rubble!”
So you’ve finally realized I’m not Fiana.
Perhaps the worst possible timing, but…
As Asmodeus claimed, Fiana’s doll had absorbed an immense amount of magic power. He could wreak havoc with the confidence, or rather conviction, that the doll won’t break with things like rubble. He delivered such a declaration to us, tantamount to despair.
"Everyone please take whatever defensive measures you can. It will likely be beyond comparison to the royal palace—”
“Catastrophe…!”
As I hurriedly warned them, beams of red light fired from Asmodeus’ five eyes and the room exploded.
“Holy Barrier!”
I have to get to the front—step forward, even one step.
To protect everyone, I squeeze out all my magic power to hurriedly erect a barrier. But my feeble barrier could only hold back the blast for an instant. Before I knew it, I was buried under the rubble. Unlike the surprise attack on the royal palace, now I was putting all my effort into self-defense, but it was utterly meaningless. My whole body was in tatters, with intense pain coursing through my limbs.
A despair-inducing power gap.
In the brief exchange of attack and defense, I was painfully reminded of it.
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