Chapter 6 (Part 3)

Screech!

The divine power had no effect on the monsters. The faces of the cheering people turned pale. Rybid’s was no exception.

“Why aren’t they dying?”

Rybid’s pupils trembled violently.

“There are no monsters immune to divine power…”

Even Monica, who always had a stoic expression, tilted her head in confusion at the monsters unaffected by the divine power.

“Your Majesty, please step back. Lia and I will deal with the monsters.”

Anthus stepped forward and spoke to Monica. Monica nodded and retreated.

“Lia, I will cut the new type of monsters into small pieces with my sword energy. Can you burn them with the power of the spirits? Burning smaller pieces will consume less mana than burning them all at once.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“I will cut them into small pieces to minimize your mana consumption.”

“Ifrit, you heard what the Duke said, right? Burn the new type of monsters he cuts into pieces.”

[Understood.]

Anthus began to send sword energy at the new type of monsters. Yuliana started burning the pieces of the monsters that were cut off.

“Indeed, it consumes less mana.”

“In that case, I will fully dismantle the new type of monsters.”

Anthus took a deep breath and turned around. He spoke to those holding swords, ready to fight.

“I will deal with the monsters now, so everyone step back.”

“We want to fight too!”

“I appreciate your willingness, but you cannot face these monsters without using sword energy.”

“Are you trying to hog all the glory in this situation?”

“Young Lord Kellevolons, can you take responsibility for such words in this situation?”

Anthus sent sword energy at the approaching monsters, knocking them down. Seeing the monsters slowly regenerating, he gestured with his chin.

“As you can see, these monsters have regenerative abilities. Do you think I would send you to your death, knowing you can’t even swing your dull swords at the new type of monsters? If you can kill at least one monster before dying, I might consider sending you.”

The male nobles holding swords slightly recoiled at the pressure exuded by Anthus.

“Furthermore, the monsters are poisonous, so we might not be able to retrieve the bodies of the deceased. Those who wish to retreat now, please help evacuate the people.”

People swallowed hard and slowly retreated.

“They never listen when spoken to nicely… Tsk.”

The monsters bound by the earth spirit began to scream one by one. The sight was gruesome and disgusting.

After confirming that people had somewhat evacuated, Anthus raised his sword high. Red mana swirled violently, enveloping both the sword and Anthus’s body.

“Lia, let’s do this in one go!”

The red mana vortex shot up high into the sky. Yuliana instinctively recoiled at the immense amount of mana emanating from him.

Anthus, who had jumped high with his sword raised, plunged it into the ground where the monsters were. The impact of Anthus’s powerful strike caused the ground to crack, and the tremendous noise made people cover their ears.

“Ifrit, burn them!”

[It’s an easy task.]

Seeing the monsters being broken into pieces, Yuliana didn’t miss a beat and asked Ifrit to burn them.

As Ifrit burned the flesh, a foul smell began to spread. The burning flesh produced thick smoke, obstructing the view.

“Sylph!”

[Yuli.]

“Blow away the foul smell and smoke with the wind.”

[Got it.]

Sylph’s refreshing wind began to blow, dispersing the thick smoke and foul smell. As the smoke cleared, Anthus and Yuliana’s figures were revealed.

People, who had been stunned by the sudden appearance of the monsters, the injured nobles who had been fleeing, and all the participants of the hunting competition, quietly watched Anthus and Yuliana, who had swiftly dealt with the monsters. Then, they began to cheer one by one.

“As expected of the war crazed—no, the war hero of the Sirius Empire and the Saint of the Battlefield!”

People clapped and cheered for the two.

Anthus’s uniform was covered in red blood and green liquid, and Yuliana’s face had turned pale, likely due to the large amount of mana she had expended.

Anthus planted his sword in the ground and quickly approached Yuliana, pulling her into his arms with strength.

“Are you alright, Lia?”

Yuliana slightly raised her upper body and reached out her hand towards Anthus’s face.

“Are you alright, Yan…?”

Yuliana’s hand caressed Anthus’s cheek, and a surge of emotion welled up within her.

Honestly, she was scared. Even though she trusted Anthus, seeing him charge at the monsters with just a sword, something unsettling and suffocating enveloped her more than the trust she had in him.

“The monsters are all gone. You can relax now, Lia.”

“They might come out again.”

Anthus buried his face in Yuliana’s trembling shoulder and hugged her even tighter.

Even though Sylph had blown away the thick smoke, the ground, soaked with the monsters’ blood, began to turn black as it became increasingly contaminated.

“The ground…”

Looking at the blackening ground, Monica frowned.

“Lady Loengrin is right. We don’t know when the monsters might appear again, so quickly evacuate the people and call for the knights who can use sword energy and the Imperial Wizard Arden!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After giving the order, Monica approached Anthus and Yuliana.

“I will reward you generously for today’s events. Now that we know how to kill the new type of monsters, we will eliminate them with the Imperial Wizards if they appear again. Take Lady Loengrin and return, Duke Rockbellion.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

With the urgent situation resolved, Yuliana suddenly felt an overwhelming fatigue. It meant she had expended a lot of mana. Understanding her condition, Anthus lifted her up and walked towards the people.

From a distance, Matthias, Louis, and Selenia approached with worried faces, crying.

Matthias, crying as he approached, insisted on carrying Yuliana, but Anthus refused to yield.

“Father, I’m alright.”

“Lia, do you know how worried I was?”

“As a noble of the Empire, I have the ability to protect people, so I can’t just run away cowardly. I know what you’re worried about, Father. But neither Mother nor you raised me to be a coward.”

“Lia…”

“Father, since I have to get Lia out of here, could you take care of things for me? The Imperial Wizard will arrive soon, so even if the new type of monsters appear, they will be able to deal with them.”

Anthus spoke to Matthias.

“Duke, please take care of my sister. Father, we will handle the aftermath.”

“Young Lord Louis, Father, do not worry about Lia.”

“Then… I entrust Lia to you, Duke.”

With a reluctant expression, Matthias agreed to Anthus’s words and left with Louis.

“Then, I leave Lia in your care, Duke Rockbellion.”

“Yes, Lady Selenia. Congratulations on your engagement today.”

“Thank you.”

Anthus headed towards the Duke’s carriage.

Sitting inside the carriage, he conveyed their destination to the coachman with a single knock. The coachman understood where Anthus wanted to go. There was only one place it could be with a single knock.

“Lia, we’re departing. You should sleep a bit until we arrive.”

“My eyes… are closing. I used too much mana.”

Yuliana leaned her head on Anthus’s thigh and fell asleep. Anthus looked down at the sleeping Yuliana in a daze.

“Sleep well, Lia.”

“Yes… Wake me up when we arrive at the mansion.”

Yuliana thought the carriage was heading to the Earl Loengrin’s mansion, but it was actually heading to the Rockbellion ducal  mansion. Unaware of this, Yuliana fell asleep inside the carriage.

* * *

‘No one asked me where I was going anyway.’

When Anthus arrived at the Duke’s mansion, Butler Ferrell and Head Maid Sydney came out to greet him. They were surprised to find Yuliana in Anthus’s arms.

“Master, what happened?”

Seeing the unconscious Yuliana, Ferrell and Sydney’s eyes filled with deep concern and worry.

“A new type of monster appeared at the hunting competition. She fainted after using a lot of mana to defeat it. Don’t worry.”

“Understood. We will prepare her room immediately.”

Anthus took Yuliana to a room that only the Duchess could use. He gently laid her on the wide bed and caressed her pale cheek.

“You overdid it, Lia.”

He looked at her sleeping peacefully and softly kissed her forehead. Anthus smiled, feeling content that his beloved was sleeping in the Duchess’s room.

“Sleep well.”

With those words, Anthus didn’t leave the Duchess’s room. He stayed by her side for a long time, lightly kissing her cheeks and forehead while watching her sleep.