The Protagonists of Romance Fantasy Novels Have Escaped

161 – 161. Eternal Sleep (4)

A clash of power erupted, surpassing not only all creatures of the lower realm but even the arrogant gods of the celestial realm.

The explosion of crimson currents.

Monochrome flames dyed in shades of gray.

The strike exchanged between war and death delivered a definitive end to the crumbling Demon King’s castle.

—Kugh!

The clash of power was enough to warp space itself.

This phenomenon occurred because space could not fully contain the mercilessly expanded force. Miraculous phenomena, such as a dazzling array of colors enveloping the space like backlight reflected on stained glass, were captured.

The brilliance of backlight.

It felt as if I had entered a room of mirrors, spewing forth countless glimmers.

Despite the disorienting interference of the backlight, Edanant continued to glare at the monster. I forced my battered body to move, determined not to miss a single movement of the creature.

Monster.

A mutation born from the miracle of the saint and the cursed liquid of death.

Was it due to the shock from the explosion?

The monster trembled all over, its wings spread wide.

—D-Damn…!

The armor, now emptied of all its internal bullets and missiles, had become a burden even a junk dealer would openly disdain.

Like a rocket that had exhausted its thrust.

The rocket motor, designed for one-time use, would simply detach from the main body once its purpose was fulfilled.

I chose to part ways with the armor.

With a cold metallic sound, the metal plates that had become mere scrap began to fall away, one by one.

Buuum—.

With the sound of something slicing through the atmosphere, an object flew in.

Surprisingly, it was the great sword wielded by the coldness that had possessed Elizaveta.

Kwaak.

I reached out, grasping the hilt of the great sword.

It was the only variable that could revive me, now stripped of the divine essence of war and the armor itself. Accepting the favor offered by the essence of death, I let the sharp blade hang down.

* * *

The wingless monster fell into the abyss of a thousand-foot precipice. The creature, defeated in the clash of power, was temporarily stripped of all its abilities.

Kuuung—.

It collapsed to the ground amidst a cloud of dust.

In the process of plummeting to the bottom, it collided with various obstacles. The weak body of the monster, completely drained of power, resembled a butterfly that had its wings torn off by the playful hands of children, falling to the dirt.

“Are you… going to kill me?”

The beautiful monster, lying on the cold ground, opened its mouth.

Before the pitiful question could fully escape, a sharp blade was aimed at its slender neck.

“Then go ahead and kill me. I’ve lost.”

-…….

The voice, filled with regret and lamentation, evoked the image of burnt ashes. Edanant, who had been looking down at the monster for a long time, hesitated, the tip of the sword trembling.

Had some change of heart occurred?

After all the twists and turns, having grasped the long-desired victory, why hesitate at the end?

It was an uncharacteristic sight for Edanant, who always appeared flawless.

No,

Perhaps it suited him better.

Though meticulous in nature, he also showed signs of being bound by emotion. The monster, recalling the memories of Edanant stored in the mind of the saint, let out a bitter smile.

“Is it… because of that woman? Are you worried that if I die, she will die too?”

-…….

“Indeed, Edanant only cares for that woman. No matter what I say…, she will never look at me instead of you….”

-…a pointless statement.

As if it would crumble in its grasp, a faint beam of light reached the very bottom of the void. Lying on the cold ground, the monster gazed at the light, letting out a sigh soaked in regret as it slowly raised one hand.

The power was still paralyzed.

The monster lifted its hand because it wanted to seize the softly shining beam of light.

It was a futile effort.

The light could never be confined within its grasp, no matter the method.

Eda-nant…

The monster, observing the beam of light with a vacant stare, whispered softly as it opened its mouth.

“The damned empty shell used a weapon… If I use that, I could save her… Of course, the power of the command… the miracle of the saint will be completely erased, but…”

– Why tell me that?

The great sword handed over by the calamity of death was a weapon meant to utterly annihilate Beatrice’s power, the miracle of the saint.

Once the miracle of the saint perished, the divine essence of death that had been subjugated would return to its original master. And the pitiful soul that longed to be the beloved saint would vanish from the world without leaving a trace.

Did it instinctively sense its own end?

The beautiful monster let out a voice tinged with regret.

“I’m tired, I’m exhausted now. So, I want to rest…”

– ……

Nodding, I firmly grasped the hilt of the sword.

And aimed the sharp tip at the monster that sought rest.

– I understand; I won’t ask for it. Blame me as you wish.

I decided to cast aside any hesitation.

Further hesitation would only be the mark of the irresponsible, and nothing more than hypocrisy.

The cold sound of metal rang out.

At the same time, the sharp tip pierced through the chest.

Kki-ki-!

Crack-! Crackle──!!

As the chilling great sword penetrated, a horrifying explosion erupted.

Moreover, as a pitch-black crack formed in the chest it pierced, pure white radiance poured forth.

The miracle of the saint.

It pronounced death upon the divine miracle symbolizing the Second Saint, Beatrice.

The pure white radiance struggled, spewing forth a brilliant glow, but the shadow of death would not allow it. The white light was consumed by the dark shadow, and the miracle of the saint met its complete end.

And—

“Eda, Nante….”

Would Beatrice have been able to be loved?

If I had been born as Beatrice, could I have monopolized your attention and love?

Regret lingered.

The fact that I ultimately received no love was lamentable.

I wanted to become the benevolent saint loved by everyone, but it was an impossible desire. For a mere imitation born from sacrifice and misfortune, nothing could be permitted but a mere illusion.

—I’m sorry.

Eda Nante offered a dry apology.

The monster smiled faintly as it gazed at the face of the man twisted with torment and anguish.

* * *

The miracle of the saint had vanished.

The suppressed divinity of death escaped from Beatrice’s body.

Swoosh—.

Black shadows surged up like the night sky.

The divinity of death, having accepted the outcome of the battle, decided to return.

—Oh, in the end, the war has defeated the monster.

Like waves crashing against rocks, the scattered shadows converged again around the misfortune that had possessed the body of the villainess.

The misfortune, feeling a sense of elation as it reached out its hand, spoke.

—By the way, our princess is truly soft. If she had accepted the plan I proposed, she could have led both the monster and the saint to death at once. What a pity.

Ending Beatrice’s life would have been the most efficient course of action.

Mediocre.

It was truly unbearably dull.

Wasn’t it the mastermind who not only sealed him but also turned him into a powerless puppet? The hypocritical saint even had a history of stealing the precious vessel’s fiancé.

He attempted to deal with Beatrice using Eda Nante’s hands. However, as soon as Elizabeta heard him, she flew into a rage and opposed it, resulting in a lukewarm outcome where only the miracle of the saint was extinguished, leaving Beatrice behind.

—Hmm.

I watched as Eda Nante quietly cradled the unconscious Beatrice. The misfortune, observing him, felt a tumultuous emotion as if its insides were twisting.

Jealousy.

An intense envy and a soft hatred.

It was akin to the pain of having one’s heart sliced open by a sharp blade.

This must be the emotion Elizabeta felt as she looked at Eda Nante. Sharing her thoughts through the physical medium, I could read her innermost feelings.

It would have been better if I had killed her.

Despite deeply hating and envying the saint, I refused to kill her.

Why is that? I cannot understand.

Facing Elizabeta’s frustrating demeanor, Jaek let out a sigh, revealing his dismay.

-Hmph, it seems you’re finally trying to open your eyes.

How much time has passed?

The woman, who had been trapped in a long slumber after losing her body to the monster, finally awoke.

“Eda… Nand?”

-…Beatrice.

The saint opened her mouth, her expression clouded with confusion.

In response, Edanand answered with a voice that seemed to carry mixed emotions.

KWA-aaaNG──!!!

At the moment their reunion was achieved after countless twists and turns,

A wave struck.

The deity of the One God, who had been observing the situation, finally intervened.

As the monster that had monopolized the control of the body perished, Beatrice was able to once again fulfill her role as a vessel containing divinity. Gael, who could not afford to miss this opportunity, instantly possessed Beatrice.