< 307. I will protect it. >
#307
“I… don’t do it.”
Schlieffen said. Adeshan, who made eye contact with him, froze like a stone statue. The storm swirling around the Pale Castle had already subsided.
It meant that the fierce battle had finally come to an end. Adeshan, who had maintained his cool since his personality change, was embarrassed for the first time.
“You are really against the archbishops…!”
Instead of answering, Schlieffen made a gesture of throwing something. Tuk. A sphere flew in a parabola and landed at Adeshan’s feet. It was the head of Archbishop Le Tancier, the last person to be killed.
The cut surface was clean. Her beautiful face was frozen with a mixture of anger and shock. The savior behind him muttered in a voice full of admiration.
“This is a face I know.”
Letancier, a witch who has been infamous for hundreds of years. She was one of the three most powerful archbishops of Nebula Clazie. Ade Shan swallowed thickly and continued speaking.
“···You really killed them all. “Five people.”
I couldn’t believe it. Although she was not at the scene, she was aware of the energy coming from the top of the tower. The five archbishops who received the power of starlight were clearly stronger than Schlieffen.
It was a result that could only be called a miracle. Schlieffen’s appearance, covered in blood and reduced to walking rags, was proof of the terrible battle. He was breathing heavily and held out his hand towards Ade Shan.
“Give it to me quickly.”
Schlieffen’s gaze rested on the bottle containing the savior’s blood. Adeshan, who managed to regain his composure, firmly shook his head.
“no. Treating the wound comes first.”
“Miss Iril…does not harm people.”
“That’s right. But right now, if I just brush against you, you’ll die.”
Adeshan fired back. As she said, Schlieffen’s condition was now very serious. It wouldn’t be surprising if she collapsed and died right away.
I had to force myself to rest. It was just as Adeshan attempted to take control of his mind. Shriek! A strong wind blew from behind her and blew the bottle in her hand.
“oh!”
The bottle flew in a straight line and landed exactly in Schlieffen’s hand. It was the wind that came from his power. Schlieffen, who had put his bottle in his inner pocket, opened his mouth.
“Please trust me.”
“Stubbornness…! Anyway, if you go within a certain range, you will definitely become a fool like everyone else. “I fell into a false happiness that I could never have in my life.”
“···No, that’s not true. “I guarantee that.”
Adeshan frowned at the incomprehensible words. Instead of explaining the reason, Schlieffen focused his gaze on Iril again.
“Go, don’t come any closer…!”
She was still chopping down the approaching chase party to the point where she didn’t die. Her flowing silver-white hair was beautiful. Schlieffen, who was staring at Iril, smiled slightly.
“Because I’m already happy enough.”
“···What?”
Adeshan laughed. It was an absurd far-fetch. But Schlieffen’s eyes were burning with a determination I had never seen before.
It was the car she was confused about for a while. bang! Taking advantage of the opportunity, Schlieffen turned his back and ran out, kicking the ground.
“Now, wait!”
Adeshan hurriedly stretched out his hand, but it was already too late. It was surprising that he still had that much energy. As she watched Schlieffen quickly walk away, she clicked her tongue.
“shit.”
Now I couldn’t stop him even if I wanted to. Adeshan anxiously measured the distance between Iril and him. A thousand steps… seven hundred steps…
“what?”
Suddenly, Adeshan’s eyes widened as he measured the gap. Even though Schlieffen was within range of Iril’s abilities, he did not stop his steps.
He was enduring hallucinations that even Jaifa, Lorhorn, and Orsay could not overcome. In an instant, he reached Iril and stopped in place. Iril, terrified, pointed the tip of his sword at him.
“Who else is here?! “Why do you keep bothering us?”
“···Miss Iril.”
He looked like a scared cat. It was the moment when Schlieffen took one more step forward. Iril’s arm disappeared from sight and a storm of slashes swept around.
“Schlippen!!”
Adeshan shouted. At the same time, about fifty pursuers around Schlieffen ran out, spraying blood. Sigh! The rock walls that the dragons had installed with magic collapsed like trimmed carrots.
I couldn’t even see him swinging a sword. This was surprising to Schlieffen, who did not know that Iril had this kind of talent. A faint smile appeared on his lips, which had been frozen for a moment.
“···also.”
Iril’s sword did not reach him. Instead of moving closer, Schlieffen placed his hand on her waist. He carefully pulled out his sword and let go of the hilt. Kaaang…! The Pale Lord fell to the ground.
“what···!”
“···I’ll go now.”
Adeshan and the savior, who were watching the situation, sighed. Schlieffen, now defenseless, slowly began to take her steps.
****
“Haa…haaaa…”
Iril took a deep breath. Hundreds of men and women were spread out at her feet as she held her broom.
“Why won’t you just leave us alone…?”
Iril muttered. These goons suddenly stormed into Nimburton and tried to separate themselves from the kids. Contrary to his appearance, his body was weak, so it was fortunate that he fell with just one stroke of a broom.
“sister. are you okay?”
young Ronan asked. Iril wiped the sweat with her sleeve and turned her head. Her younger brother and his friends were huddled together, shivering.
“Sister…I’m scared.”
Little Marya cried. Iril, who had worked hard to shake off her difficult appearance, smiled brightly.
“It’ll be okay now. “Don’t worry too much.”
“Why did those people come? “What did we do wrong?”
Ronan grumbled. After confirming that there were no more intruders, Iril turned his back. she said as she hugged her little ones all at once.
“are you okay. “I will protect you.”
Iril laughed. As I was doing this, I somehow remembered the old days. Although it was brief, there were difficult times for her too.
It was around this time that my father left and my mother passed away from illness. Even though Nimburton was a nice neighborhood to live in, it was not easy for a young girl to raise a newborn alone.
– hey! You orphan bitch. Where else are you going in such a hurry?
– You must be very heartbroken to see both your parents pass away. Can I help you manage your property? Do you know what property is?
– You are really pretty. I’m looking forward to the future. Ugh…Would you like to go with uncle?
Moreover, at that time, the concept of evil people existed around her. This was because she had not yet awakened the ability to materialize her wishes.
In the few years it took for her abilities to awaken and for everyone around her to become good, Iril had to endure all the trials that came her way on her own. It was really hard for her a few times, but she still had her younger brother to protect, so she was able to get through it.
‘I’m glad I grew up properly.’
Suddenly, her eyes became hazy as she looked at Ronan’s face. Even though I didn’t do anything for him, I was just thankful that he grew up so proudly. Young Ronan tilted his head at her.
“Sister, are you crying?”
“no it’s okay.”
Iril shook his head. The shapes of the fallen assailants were disappearing. The damaged house was also being restored to its original state.
“Ahaha…”
An uncontrollable feeling of happiness was welling up in her heart again. As long as she could live here with her children, she was content. I felt like I could endure any hardship.
It felt like I had forgotten something important, but it didn’t matter. She was about to say something to her children. Thump thump thump. The sound of a knock on the front door echoed throughout the house.
“What…!”
Iril quickly turned his head. Someone was standing outside the door. She picked up her broom again and aimed it at her front door.
An unfamiliar, but familiar voice came from beyond the door.
“Miss Iril. “You need to wake up.”
****
“Don’t come any closer.”
“···Miss Iril. “You need to come to your senses.”
Schlieffen said firmly. The gap between the two had already completely narrowed. Iril was staggering in a dream right in front of him.
“Don’t disturb my happiness…”
Iril muttered while clutching the hilt of the sword. It seemed like she knew what she was looking at without having to explain it. Her happy illusions from her brainwashing were overshadowing her hardships.
“What you’re seeing right now…cough, it’s all a lie. Even though it is difficult… you must see the truth.”
“No… I take care of the children… here in Nimburton…”
Iril muttered to himself. Although she was in pain, she had to wake up. Schlieffen slowly took out her bottle from her belt.
“Now, put your mouth on…”
The savior’s blood was dripping inside the transparent glass bottle. He brought the bottle to Iril’s mouth with careful movements, as if handling a jewel.
“no no···.”
Iril shook his head. Her hand, clutching the hilt of her sword, seemed ready to shoot out at any moment. Schlieffen opened her lips with a natural movement, without any force.
“···oh my god.”
Adeshan, who was watching, closed his eyes tightly and then opened them. His entire body was emitting a deadly force so intense that a normal human being would instantly faint or go crazy.
Cold sweat ran down my cheeks. I was so nervous that I couldn’t see clearly. If Iril’s judgment was slightly distorted now, Schlieffen would be reduced to a cold corpse.
At that time, Schlieffen carefully tilted the bottle in his hand. The Savior’s blood slipped down his bottleneck and entered Iril’s mouth. gulp. She half-heartedly swallowed her mouthful and started coughing violently.
“Cough! Caw! Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
“Hey, Miss…!”
Perplexity appeared on Schlieffen’s face. It was a deep cough, as if my internal organs were going to vomit. He supported Iril, forgetting his own situation. A few seconds that felt like an eternity had passed.
“···ah?”
Iril, who was coughing, raised his head. Nim Burton and her children were still not visible in the blurry vision. She rubbed her eyes a couple of times and shrugged her shoulders.
“Shoo, Mr. Schlieffen…?!”
A familiar face was in front of me. My memories were sparse and disconnected. Behind Schlieffen’s scarred shoulders, a completely different landscape unfolded.
“W-what on earth happened…?”
The luxurious room had turned into a bloody and smoky battlefield. He couldn’t remember anything after putting the strange tiara on his head. At that time, a tear flowed down Schlieffen’s cheek as he was gritting his teeth.
“Gwae, are you okay? Tears···.”
“···Ugh.”
Instead of answering, Schlieffen wiped his eyes with his sleeve. The flowing water droplets were melting the stuck blood stains. He looked at Iril once again and opened his mouth.
“Fortunately, the….”
When Iril came to his senses, not a single wound remained on his body. The pain she had been experiencing since the moment she was kidnapped was subsiding. Memories of her swearing to Ronan that she would always protect her Iril flashed through her mind.
My spirit had reached its limit and was collapsing. Schlieffen, who had finally squeezed out her tears, suddenly held Iril’s hands together. The main voice came out between his parted lips.
“i love you···.”
“······yes?!”
Iril’s eyes widened. She showed her embarrassment, but Schlieffen still did not let go of her hand. The blood that had drained her to the point where she was delirious was helping him say the words he had been holding back for so long.
“Even though I have an insignificant life, I will sacrifice my life to protect you.”
“W-what do you mean all of a sudden… I am a commoner and Mr. Schlieffen… no, it hurts more than that…!”
Iril’s face turned red. At least it wasn’t a story worth telling in this place and situation. Although she was also delirious, she could tell that the Schlieffen in front of her was not normal.
Iril, who had managed to free his hand, was trying to tend to Schlieffen’s wounds. As she took one more step forward, he fell and hugged her. That’s pretty strong too.
“ah···.”
Iril’s eyes widened. Warmth was flowing beyond her arms. In a world where all sounds except her heartbeat were blocked, Schlieffen cried out loud.
“Please marry me…”
