Then the water gradually receded from around Drukan’s sword.

“But it seems it will quickly return to its original state.”

“That’s enough. Let’s go up for now.”

If they stayed underground any longer, the only future would be death trapped in this unknown water.

Magnus looked at Drukan while embracing Serena with one arm.

In contrast to how they had been going around in circles, this underground prison was actually a straight path.

It seemed that if they just ran straight ahead to the exit, they could at least avoid dying by drowning.

“Then I’ll cut through.”

As Drukan put strength into the hand holding the sword, the pure white light spread even brighter.

He swung the sword down from top to bottom.

Kwaaang–!

The pure white light split the black water exactly in half, as if creating a miracle of Moses.

Simultaneously, Magnus and Drukan kicked off the ground and ran towards the door.

Kugugugu–

The black water that had been split in half suddenly spread like a wave towards Magnus and Drukan.

As though it wouldn’t let them escape.

Serena tightly closed her eyes. The fear of being engulfed by the black water was greater than expected.

Magnus looked at the firmly closed door and drew his sword, releasing a blade aura just like Drukan.

Kwang!

With a thunderous sound, the firmly closed iron door split in half and collapsed to the floor with a thud.

The two didn’t miss the chance and immediately stepped on the door.

Behind them came the sound of surging water. Swoosh, the black water that was pouring down precariously now began to creep out through the opened door.

“……I’m at a loss for words.”

“…This is a big problem.”

“……”

The three people who came out stood blankly, fixing their gaze on the scene unfolding before them.

“P-Put me down.”

“Ah, right.”

As Serena whispered softly, Magnus put her down.

She turned her body to look straight ahead.

Where there should have been a splendid imperial palace and people walking around, everything was trapped in pitch-black darkness.

The sun had disappeared and night had fallen, but there was no moonlight.

A darkness without a single point of light had descended upon the world.

Yet the world was silent.

It wouldn’t be strange to hear screams from here and there, but it was as quiet as if everyone had died.

There was not a single sound of insects, not a bird flying, and not even an ant in sight.

“…What on earth is this?”

Magnus muttered while standing blankly. They had only been inside for a short while, but…

“Look, someone has collapsed over there.”

Serena, taking a deep breath, pointed at something visible in the distance.

“Collapsed, you say?”

“Yes, over there…… isn’t that a person?”

Serena’s fingertip, with slightly furrowed brows, pointed somewhere.

As Magnus and Drukan shifted their gaze following her finger, there was indeed someone there.

But it was too dark to see clearly.

They were able to spot that person only because the collapsed individual’s hair was snow-white.

“I’ll go check.”

“Let’s go together.”

After all, they couldn’t just keep standing here.

Drukan took the lead, holding the holy sword, and Magnus followed.

Serena, clinging to his arm, walked on the darkness thickly spread on the ground.

Although the ground was just dyed pitch-black, there was a splashing sound with each step.

Even when she looked down, no water was visible.

It’s just that the fine soil-colored ground had already disappeared.

The world where Darkness had descended was quiet. As if no one was talking and no one was breathing.

“What is this, it’s scary.”

Even when a sound was made, it didn’t echo anywhere, just spread out and disappeared.

It felt strange.

The imperial palace was still there and the flower garden was the same, but the sun had disappeared and night had come without even moonlight shining, so only a step ahead was visible.

It’s fortunate that the view is even this open.

‘……A child?’

Serena frowned.

It’s a child she’s never seen before.

Drukan hurriedly approached and examined the child from various angles. He seemed to be checking the pulse by placing his finger on the neck, then nodded.

“It doesn’t seem to be dead, but asleep. And……”

Drukan slowly got up.

“Besides this child, there are people collapsed all around. It seems they’re all asleep.”

Drukan said, looking around.

Only then did Serena and Magnus look around as well. People were collapsed everywhere.

There were those who looked like servants, those who looked like gardeners, and those who looked like nobles.

All of them were lying face down or on their backs, deeply asleep.

‘…If there’s no darkness, there’s no night, so you can’t sleep, and if darkness descends, the night continues, so you only sleep?’

Serena thought, frowning as she looked around.

Whoever came up with this idea, it’s quite nasty. Night and day aren’t the only criteria for sleep.

“We’re not affected.”

“It’s likely either because we weren’t hit by that water or because of this holy sword.”

“…This is troublesome.”

It’s not just a matter of the government being paralyzed. We don’t know how far this darkness has spread, but the problem is that there are no properly awake people.

That’s when it happened.

“…Everyone here is asleep too.”

“Huh, what on earth is going on? Even Father has fallen asleep.”

“No matter how much we try to wake them, they won’t get up… It’s the same even if we share holy power.”

Unfamiliar voices were heard not far away.

Even though there was air, the spread of sound was much smaller than usual.

When Serena raised her head, Magnus had already drawn his sword and was holding it.

Drukan was the same.

Serena slightly let go of Magnus’s arm and stepped back so as not to interfere.

“It seems to be the same here. When we looked from above, the entire capital was in this state, so it must be the same outside.”

“…What on earth is happening? For now, let’s go to the temple… Huh?”

Just as Serena discovered them, they seemed to have discovered their side as well, and the approaching footsteps stopped.

The other party buried in the darkness was making a familiar voice, but their form couldn’t be confirmed.

“Your Highness. There, something……”

“……Is that His Highness the Crown Prince ?”

Magnus spoke first with furrowed brows.

“Duke Kelahinum! Is that you, Duke Kelahinum?”

“…Yes, it is.”

As soon as the words ended, the sound of rapid footsteps was heard from the opposite side.

The footsteps were surprisingly cheerful, not matching the situation.

“You were alive!”

Only when they were about two steps apart did the other party’s outline become properly visible.

Magnus didn’t react even when the Crown Prince opened his mouth happily.

“……Do I have any proof that Your Highness is really Your Highness?”

“……I could tell you the number of moles on your buttocks if that helps.”

“……Oh.”

Serena opened her eyes wide and blinked. She didn’t know about the buttocks because she hadn’t seen them.

“You have moles?”

As Serena asked, tiptoeing stealthily, Magnus’s face turned bright red.

He clenched his fist.

A fierce gaze landed on the Crown Prince.

“……I meant something other than that!”

“Well, we didn’t share any other intimate details, did we?”

Magnus raised his sword. Very high, as if he was about to cut down the Crown Prince right away.

“D-Duke?”

“I think he’s an impostor, Serena.”

His sword swung down sharply.

The Crown Prince was startled and stepped back. He seemed to have misstepped and fell hard on his bottom, then suddenly raised his head.

“What are you doing, Duke!”

“The Crown Prince I know doesn’t seem to have said such vulgar things.”

“Oh my, vulgar… Don’t we often do this when it’s just the two of us… Ugh! Alright, alright! I’ll keep it a secret that you cried your eyes out when you lost the Duchess in the marketplace at age 5!”

As the Crown Prince shouted, flames flared up in Magnus’s eyes.

He raised his sword with an irritated face.

“Wow… You had a time like that too?”

“I didn’t.”

“You did, when you were young, you used to stick close to the Duchess, not wanting to be separated… Alright, alright. You doubted me first, didn’t you?”

Magnus narrowed his eyes. As Serena giggled, the Crown Prince glanced at her.

“……Hmm.”

The Crown Prince observed Serena’s reaction. Suddenly, as the atmosphere became quiet, Serena also closed her mouth.

In fact, they weren’t supposed to be in a relationship where they could face each other like this. Although they knew it couldn’t be helped given the situation.

Magnus glanced at Serena and held her hand.

“Let’s go somewhere else for now. Then, I hope Your Highness the Crown Prince will also take care.”

Magnus turned around without any lingering attachment.

It was at that moment that the Crown Prince’s mouth fell open.