Bellota’s attempt to salvage the situation was cut short as Seiden closed the distance between them and kissed her. His hot tongue instantly plunged through her parted lips, exploring her frozen mouth. Startled, Bellota tried to push him away, but Seiden’s large hand wrapped around her small, cold face and slender waist, refusing to let her go.

It was a hurried, desperate kiss, as if he were pouring out all the feelings he had been holding back. His grip left no doubt that he had no intention of letting her go, and Bellota, trembling slightly, finally surrendered. Her eyes fluttered closed.

The hot, wet sensation that bound her entire mouth sent a shiver down her chilled spine. The warmth on the tip of her tongue transformed into a poignant ache that squeezed her heart. The desperate longing in his grip, refusing to release her, melted away even the fear that someone might see them.

Lost in the throes of desire that threatened to overwhelm her, Bellota finally came to her senses and pushed Seiden away with all her might. This time, he released her without resistance.

“We can’t, if we do this……”

Bellota’s voice, whispering as if she couldn’t even bear to meet his gaze, was thick with confusion. Her eyes, on the verge of tears, met his for a fleeting moment before she finally turned away.

Seiden silently watched as Bellota disappeared back into the ship.

* * *

As dawn broke and brilliant sunlight bathed the snowy mountains, those who had fallen into a deep slumber began to stir.

Bellota and Seiden had spent the night without a wink of sleep. Unaware of what had transpired between them, the others bustled about, preparing to head to their final destination, while Bellota hid among them, avoiding any further encounters with Seiden.

Seiden felt regretful about it but thought it might be for the better. Right now, the most important thing for him was to safely take Bellota back to the capital. And finally, he could see the end in sight.

“At last, we’ve reached Kyle Gorge.”

The large ship teleported once again. This time, the ship landed in a narrow gorge. An eerie atmosphere descended upon the ship as soon as they arrived, creating a strange silence over the deck. As if it knew its destination, the ship skillfully glided through the narrow valley. There was a mysterious and strange energy here that they hadn’t felt anywhere else.

When the ship turned around a large cliff, the source of that mysterious energy was finally revealed. The holy knights and priests all gaped at the white minerals densely embedded in the gorge’s cliffs.

“Those things there, could they all be……”

“Magic stones. And the highest grade ones at that……”

Seiden also gazed at those dazzling minerals while recalling the map given to him.

[This is a map marking the source of dark magic. Let this serve as my apology for acting willfully towards you until now, Sir. As Rundhardt’s imperial princess and a citizen of the empire, I support you. Return safely.

— Hestina]

It was Hestina who had secretly passed him the map.

At first, Seiden doubted the true intention behind the map, but it bore the emperor’s seal of approval. The emperor’s seal was created with complex magic that no one could replicate or imitate.

Seiden had been certain that the imperial family already knew the location of the source. So Hestina had taken the risk to smuggle out the map and deliver it to him.

And now, proof of Hestina’s sincerity lay before Seiden’s eyes. The presence of such minerals was evidence that this was the source of dark magic. The magic stones had formed throughout the cliff due to the immense dark magic. Which meant that the source of dark magic was nearby, and that meant as he had expected……

As Seiden slowly turned his gaze to examine the fast-flowing river, he noticed a shadow that slipped out from the control room and raised his eyebrow. It was Yevar, wrapped in a silver robe from head to toe.

Feeling Seiden’s sharp gaze, Yevar flinched and made excuses.

“Just a little bit, just a little……”

“Not now. Get inside.”

When Seiden curtly ordered, Yevar twisted his lips looking terribly disappointed. Just then, Kabillon, who had discovered something, shouted loudly.

“Over there! It’s the source of dark magic!”

At those words, everyone rushed to where Kabillon was and looked where his finger pointed. Sure enough, they could see a vast black spring situated in the middle of the river where the ship was heading.

At Seiden’s gesture, Yevar grumbled again and went back into the control room to stop the ship.

“My goodness, this much dark magic……”

The priests exhaled in shock. There was no need to verify the dark magic violently gushing from that place. It was so intense that even monsters couldn’t handle it, to the point where not a single one lingered near the spring.

“If we block this spring, at least no more monsters will appear in the north. The ones that emerged from the north occupy half the continent. Just blocking this will make things much more peaceful.”

“But how do we block something so large?”

“That’s for the imperial family to handle. Ah, thank God. I just want to go back now. My limbs feel like they’re going to fall off.”

“The imperial family won’t be able to find fault anymore.”

Felton’s face became complicated for a moment as he watched the priests jumping around excitedly. As Seiden had said, they had completed this entire journey in just 3 days. But he still couldn’t understand Seiden’s plan. Or what he was looking for.

That’s when it happened. The ship that had stopped on the rippling water shook violently. This caused everyone standing unprepared to stagger and fall.

“Aaack!”

Felton also fell ungracefully and frowned in irritation. Was this also part of Seiden’s plan? He could have just told them nicely!

At that moment, someone shouted sharply.

“Take cover!”

Simultaneously, black arrows rained down over the heads of the holy knights and priests. Everyone dropped to the floor in surprise, covering their heads. However, for some reason, the numerous arrows couldn’t reach the ship’s deck and bounced off. It was as if an invisible shield surrounded the ship.

“It’s them!”

When one of the holy knights shouted while pointing somewhere, everyone’s gaze turned toward the top of the gorge. There they could see figures looking down at them. The identity of those wrapped in black robes was clear. They were dark mages.

A sharp glint flashed in Seiden’s eyes upon seeing them. They had finally taken the bait.

“Capture them, every last one!”

At Seiden’s order, Ren, who stood at the bow, pulled something out from inside his clothes. When he threw a glass orb the size of his fist toward the center of the cliff where they were standing, it exploded with a boom– and the cliff crumbled. The unsuspecting enemies fell into the river one after another.

“Aaaaargh!”

As the priests who hadn’t expected this at all screamed in shock, Felton quickly regained his composure and directed them.

“Everyone get your wits about you and cast barriers! Those who can attack, help the knights with their assault!”

The priests also quickly gathered themselves and followed Felton’s instructions, either casting barriers or supporting the knights. Under our attack, the dark mages clinging to the cliff began falling or getting captured and bound one after another. Seeing this tremendous sight, the dark mages standing on the opposite cliff immediately tried to escape. However, surprisingly, half of the Holy Knight Order had already arrived behind them.

When on earth? Hadn’t they all been on the ship?

“The Commander said we can kill them if capture is difficult!”

As Kabillon shouted while swinging his sword, the head of the dark mage blocking his path flew off. A sudden battle broke out above and below the cliff. The quiet snow mountain became covered in blood and screams.

The Holy Knight Order drove back the enemy lines as if they had anticipated this battle. In contrast, the dark mages who hadn’t expected this counterattack at all were being overwhelmed helplessly. Whatever preparations had been made, the dark mages’ attacks weren’t affecting the Holy Knight Order at all. It seemed their armor was enchanted to deflect their curses.

As half of the weakened dark mages fell or died in the river, and the other half were captured alive, the situation began to settle. Seiden was standing precariously at the bow, dealing with dark mages trying to climb onto the ship.

“Don’t leave the ship!”

Felton restrained the confused priests in Seiden’s stead while searching for Bellota. As he looked around frantically, he caught sight of Bellota supporting a priest who was gasping in panic.

Bellota laid the priest who couldn’t breathe properly on the floor, pressed her hands on his chest, and searched for Seiden with her eyes. When she finally spotted him fighting dark mages on the stairs, Bellota’s heart constricted distantly.