C714
Although his face was covered by a mask, Alisa recognized Wratch upon seeing his curved sword.
“Codename Wratch, leader of the Third Division of the Vermont Special Forces. I’ve heard you were crippled on the Gaifa Islands. There’s no way the imperial family would have used Numerus’ blood to benefit the Special Forces... It seems you’ve become a Demon Man.”
Alisa’s words were correct.
After Wratch’s tendons were cut on the Gaifa Islands, he underwent Demon Man surgery under Amir Vermont’s orders.
And after Amir Vermont’s fall, all the technology and resources he possessed at that time were handed over to the current imperial family, led by Airan Vermont.
In other words, it wasn’t just Wratch blocking Alisa at that moment.
Chris, leader of the Fourth Division of the Special Forces, and Beui, leader of the First Magic Division of the Special Forces, were also surrounding Alisa with the Demon Man unit composed of the Special Forces.
“You’re the undefeated Alisa, right? I’ve heard you were treated as a legend until you left the Empire with Kashimir.”
“Thank the imperial family for that. They’ve ordered me to dispose of you in the least painful way possible, considering your past contributions.”Although Alisa possessed power of at least a Five-Star level, she was vastly outnumbered to face all of them.
However, Alisa maintained her composure and took her stance with a calm gaze.
“If they truly wanted to kill me without causing me any suffering... it’s not because of my merits, but because they fear Young Master Jin’s retaliation in the future. And their goal here is to eliminate me instead of rescuing the Imperial citizens who were brought here? They should be ashamed of themselves.”
“How can you call those who show no loyalty to the imperial family ‘Imperial citizens,’ Alisa Badger? In any case, I’ve heard your last words; I’ll remember them well.”
Alisa rushed forward and threw a punch.
The clash between her gauntlet and Wratch’s curved sword created a shockwave, but the exchange with Wratch didn’t last long.
Chris, Beui, and the pressure from the Demon Man unit continued to increase.
As soon as they joined the battle, Alisa was overwhelmed.
She probably couldn’t last even five minutes. Truly, for the first time in a long time, she felt the threat of death.
‘After all, I was once a member of the Imperial Special Forces down to my bones.’
In the face of death, the first thing that came to mind was not her family or comrades.
It was the Imperial citizens waiting to be rescued in Rikalton.
The thought that her death would reduce the number of surviving citizens weighed heavily on Alisa’s heart.
Although she had left the Empire long ago with Kashimir and even established the Kingdom of Tikan, her feelings for the land and people she called the “Empire” still shone like gleaming steel.
Her loyalty had always been directed not only at the imperial family but at the Empire itself.
“Commander of the Defense Corps!”
Just as Alisa was about to fall to the ground once more, someone broke through the Demon Man unit and stood before her.
It was Kuzan.
Fortunately, he arrived immediately to support her.
Seeing the Demon Men falter before Kuzan’s poisonous mist, she knew Kuzan’s poison was crucial in combating the Demon Men.
“Kuzan!”
“I’m spreading the poisonous mist so Quikantel-nim or Hedo-nim can recognize it and come to support us.”
Thud!
Kuzan took out a highly toxic pill from his pocket and bit into it.
He believed that without enhancing himself through the poison, he couldn’t stand against the Demon Men.
“Kuzan! That’s too reckless...”
“Calm down. If the roles were reversed, wouldn’t you have done the same? The other comrades would have too. So control yourself and fight.”
The Demon Men dispersed the poisonous mist and began entering one by one.
However, unlike before, they couldn’t easily threaten the two.
Kuzan was now fully covered in highly toxic poison.
Even though they were Demon Men, if affected by Kuzan’s poison, it would take a considerable time for them to regenerate.
“And if the opportunity arises, leave me behind and escape without hesitation. Fighting alone in this state is much easier and more effective. Besides, I can easily escape using the poison. Those bastards won’t be able to pursue us beyond a certain range.”
Alisa nodded heavily.
Thus, everyone became entangled in a fight to the death.
For them, it was very easy to kidnap tens of thousands of innocents, but sending them back home required a sense of duty and determination.
‘Since Lady Mary departed for the inner castle, a great battle has begun. Given how the aura is spreading, it’s very likely the remaining Flagbearers of the evil god have appeared. Furthermore, it seems a battle is taking place near Sir Luton’s division and the younger ones, as well as in the area Lady Alisa is responsible for...’
Gilly.
As she crossed the advancing troops, she observed the battlefield, trying to deduce the overall situation.
Since this was an area close to the Tona brothers, there were no more surviving prisoners in the area Gilly was responsible for.
She now needed to retreat to the rear and continue the rescue operation.
On the way back, she needed to assess the areas where battles were taking place and provide support if necessary.
‘Sir Luton is too far away. Moreover, Kuzan’s poisonous mist has spread in Lady Alisa’s area, so it must be a more urgent situation. I should head there quickly and provide support...’
Just as she was thinking that and about to move, a man suddenly appeared in front of Gilly.
He was wearing black armor, the symbol of a Black Knight, but wasn’t wearing a helmet.
And he was someone Gilly knew very well.
“Dox... Oraboni?”
Dox McRolan.
The eldest son of the McRolan clan, he was the Black Knight of the Runcandel Family and had not been in contact since leaving Tikan on a mission to investigate Rikalton.
Gilly had expected that Dox had gone to Rikalton and probably met his death there.
Alternatively, if he hadn’t gone to Rikalton and simply returned to the Garden of Swords, Gilly believed that Dox would have been executed by Rosa.
Especially Gilly wanted to believe that.
The appearance of Dox, consumed by chaos like other traitors, pointing his black claw at herself and Jin, was something Gilly never wanted to witness.
But in the end, it had come to this.
[Don’t call me that, you miserable monster.]
Thump, thump.
Gilly’s heart pounded painfully.
Dox had already drawn his black claw and was pointing it at Gilly.
She needed to regain her composure.
Although he was tainted by chaos, her opponent was a Black Knight.
Unlike Gilly, who had lived her life as Jin’s nanny, Dox had trained in combat his entire life, surpassing ranks and limits.
While Dox’s claw remained steady, Gilly’s trembled.
“Stop, Oraboni.”
[You keep calling me that. Do you think I need to tear your mouth apart to make you listen to me?]
Sssht!
With a sound like the tearing wind, three slashes appeared on Gilly’s left cheek.
If she had reacted even a bit slower, her left cheek would have been completely ripped off.
[Oh, so Gilly is still Gilly. It’s been a long time since you stopped training, yet you managed to avoid this.]
“Why did you succumb to chaos? No, it couldn’t have been your will. Surely you were forced into this by the prophet or the evil god... It’s not too late, Oraboni.”
[Really? It’s not too late?]
“As long as there’s no physical transformation, you can return with the Purification device. It means there’s still a chance for you, Oraboni. Please, stop and regain your senses.”
[Haha... you’re the same as when you were younger. Still under the illusion that you’re in a position to show me mercy, just like back then.]
“I’ve never been in a position to show you mercy, Oraboni. Not when I was younger, nor now.”
[Is that so? Then what were all those compassionate looks you gave me back then? Sometimes it seemed like you were intentionally losing to me, almost as if you were mocking me.]
Dox, consumed by chaos, was poisoned by the inferiority complex and hatred he harbored toward the young Gilly.
The commoner girl his father had brought home had surpassed him in less than a year of training.
After that, Dox couldn’t defeat Gilly until she left the family to become Jin’s nanny.
It was an unexpected turn of events, even for the McRolan patriarch, who had brought Gilly in, believing she was a talented but dispensable shadow.
From then on, the McRolans experienced awkward moments. Although Dox was supposed to be the one to shine, it was Gilly who did so instead.
Gilly’s rapid growth became widely known, making it impossible for the McRolans to deal with her.
Naturally, Gilly became isolated within the clan. Dox grew increasingly furious and lashed out at Gilly, who offered no resistance.
However, Gilly was grateful for having escaped poverty and survived thanks to being adopted by the McRolans.
She was grateful to the clan that had treated her well during the first year.
She still hoped that someday she could become a member of the clan and live in harmony with everyone.
Above all, Gilly didn’t hate Dox, who treated her harshly.
Gilly is someone who could never be cruel to someone who had once shown her kindness.
Runcandel recognized this aspect of Gilly's character and appointed her as Jin’s nanny.
“Compassion, you say? I only wanted to get closer to you, Oraboni. I was young and naive, and I didn’t know what I should do. It wasn’t until later that I realized my actions must have hurt you. If given the chance, I wanted to apologize someday…”
[Apologize? There’s no need. You were simply stronger than me. But I, unlike you, am a miserable human, so I have no intention of showing you mercy now. You will die here today, along with the people you love.]
As Dox resumed his attack, the trembling in Gilly’s eyes gradually hardened.
Desperation.
If she died here, Jin would be consumed by despair.
So she had to defeat Dox somehow.
Even if it meant plunging herself into despair, she had to prevent Jin from suffering.
After all, she was Jin’s nanny.
“...There’s no other choice. I’ll show you why Oraboni could never defeat me in those days.”
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