Chapter 97

"Stone Wall!"

A stone wall appeared in front of Justy.

The metal prosthetic leg, which had been approaching at a terrifying speed, instead shattered the stone wall instead of destroying Justy’s head. Due to the sudden activation, there wasn’t enough magic power to form a wall of sufficient hardness, and it crumbled with a loud noise.

Defending with earth magic was not a conscious decision. It was a reflexive defensive action from years of combat experience.

If the magic had been even a moment slower, Justy’s skull would have been crushed like an egg dropped on the ground.

"Oh? You managed to block it. That’s not what we agreed on."

Lowering the prosthetic leg that had delivered the high kick to the ground, Angelica said with a puzzled look.

"Didn’t you say you would listen to my wishes? I would have preferred if you died quietly…"

"Milady Angelica… why… why are you doing this…"

"Why? If you ask me that, I have a question for you too. ‘Why did you betray the Empire?’"

"…!"

Justy was taken aback by Angelica’s question.

The man, whose spine trembled with fear, was glared at by Angelica’s cloudy right eye.

"If the Oigist family hadn’t betrayed and had sided with Ilkas, my family might not have been destroyed. If all eight families in the eastern region had cooperated, we might have been able to push back the Empire. Tell me, why did you betray us?"

"I… I…"

Justy almost reverted to his natural tone but couldn’t bring himself to say anything more and fell silent.

The decision to betray the Empire was made by his father, and he had advocated for a thorough resistance.

Even if the eight families in the east had united, they couldn’t have defeated the Imperial Army, which possessed the Holy Sword.

Shouldn’t the royal family and the national army, who failed to send reinforcements when the border was breached, be blamed?

There were several excuses he could have made, but he didn’t think Angelica would be convinced by them.

Moreover, the fact that the Oigist family had betrayed the enemy wouldn’t change.

Therefore, Justy said something different.

"…It’s true that the Oigist family betrayed the Empire. We deserve the punishment. However, I am now serving Prince Raidor and have shown my loyalty. Attacking me would not be in your best interest or Ilkas’s. I understand your anger, but can you hold back for now?"

"Hold back? No, I don’t think I can."

In response to Justy’s persuasion, Angelica sneered.

"If Ilkas is restored to its former status as a vassal of the royal family, you, as a retainer of Prince Raidor, will lose the opportunity for revenge. So, it has to be done before the full restoration is achieved."

"Milady Angelica, you…"

"Come on, let’s get this over with. After I take care of you, I need to go and kill the Elladin father and daughter. I used to treat Shirley like a sister, so it pains me to have to kill her."

Angelica spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, declaring the ruthless execution of her former friends.

Hearing her unwavering tone, Justy realized that the woman in front of him was no longer the female knight he once admired, Angelica Ilkas.

She had already gone too far, transformed into a demoness driven by revenge and madness.

"…I would have been willing to offer my life, but since others are involved, I cannot allow myself to be killed. Milady Angelica, if you continue on this path, I will have to stop you with this spear."

"Oh… So it ends up this way. Fine, I thought about not blowing you to pieces because you were an important friend, but it hurts to kill an unresisting opponent. I’ll do my best to shatter you with all my heart."

"…Farewell, my days of youth."

With a voice filled with despair, Justy murmured and pointed his beloved spear at the woman he once admired.

Angelica also drew a short sword hidden under her clothes and pointed the slender blade at Justy.

'The Lion of the East' and 'The Butcher Princess of Ilkas'

The two strongest warriors in the eastern border region of the Zain Kingdom. The battle between them had begun.

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