Chapter 99

"Because I don't have the magical talent you do, I can't even use my specialty, water magic, as well as other mages. I can manipulate existing water, but I can't create new water with my magic."

"……"

"That's why I pushed my ability to manipulate water to its limits. Thanks to that, I can control the water inside an enemy's body to make it explode, and I can even turn my own blood into a sword like this."

"A blood sword…?"

Justine looked at Angelica's shoulder. There was a gash as if cut by a blade, staining her plain dress red. It seemed she had cut her own body to create a sword from the blood that flowed.

"Don't think it's just blood. You might not know, but blood contains a lot of iron. If you manipulate it well… look."

Angelica swung the blood sword. The remnants of the stone wall that had collapsed were cut through as if by a paper cutter.

"This sword vibrates in small movements due to magical manipulation. It can easily cut through stone or iron. And because it's water, I can change its shape like this."

"…!"

A chill ran down Justine's spine, and she leaped back.

The sword in Angelica's hand, moving like a snake striking, pierced the spot where Justine had been. The ground was deeply gouged by the thin, elongated blade of blood.

The sword created by Angelica's blood was flexible and could extend, allowing her to attack distant enemies by extending the blade.

"I see… You used this sword to cut my back. It seems you, too, were holding back your trump card."

Murmuring with a shudder, Justine gripped the spear in her hand tightly.

"Captain Oystein…!"

"Stand back! No one else is to interfere!"

Justine sharply ordered the soldiers gathering around.

Against the current Angelica, any half-hearted assistance would only be a hindrance. It would be better to fight alone rather than increase the number of unnecessary casualties.

"Lord Angelica, I will no longer attempt to capture you alive. I will fight you with all my strength, with the intention of killing you."

"I've had that intention from the start. You're taking too long to get serious."

The light of madness and killing intent in Angelica's right eye. Justine stared it down while building up her magic power within her body.

(If I'm lucky, Prince Raidor might hear the sounds of battle and come to my aid… but no, I shouldn't count on it. Now, it's only a matter of killing each other.)

Justine resolved to kill Angelica in earnest.

"Hah, hahaha…"

Angelica also sensed Justine's seriousness.

With a ghostly expression, she curled the corners of her mouth into a chilling smile. She readied the blood blade, preparing to clash with all her might.

The tension was palpable, and the surrounding soldiers watched the impending duel, holding their breath.

"……"

"……"

Their intense gaze lasted only a moment before they both moved without a word.

"Wait!"

However, the voice of restraint came from an unexpected source.

A young boy pushed through the soldiers watching the battle and stepped between the two.

"Sven…!"

Justine called out the boy's name.

The one who interrupted their fight was Sven Arbeil, the strategist of the Raidor army.

"The town of Kartreis has already surrendered to Prince Raidor and is under his control! Know that private duels in this town tarnish the prince's reputation!"

"Stop it, Sven! Lord Angelica is not in a state to reason with…!"

"Sven Arbeil…!"

Justine tried to stop Sven, but Angelica moved faster.

She kicked off the ground with her right foot and approached Sven, who stood in front of Justine as a shield.

"…!"

Sven's eyes widened.

Angelica, who had moved in front of the boy in an instant, swung her blood sword with her right hand.

"Sven…!"

Justine shouted.

The high-frequency blade of blood, capable of cutting through steel, was brought down on the boy.

"Sven…! I'm glad you're alive!"

…But that didn't happen.

Angelica threw the blood blade, which had turned into a dagger, and hugged Sven from the front.

She cradled the boy's head in her ample chest and embraced him tightly with both hands.

"H…?"

Justine's spear fell from her stunned hand, clattering to the ground.

Ignoring the person she had just been fighting, Angelica hugged Sven even tighter.

"Oh… Sven! I'm so glad you're alive!"

"H-Huh…? Um, Miss Angelica?"

"I heard that the Arbeil family was destroyed, but I'm so relieved that you're alive! What a wonderful day this is!"

Where had the bloodthirsty expression from just a few minutes ago gone? Angelica's tears were streaming from her good eye.

Her face, like that of a loving mother, was the very image of the woman Justine had once admired, and she was momentarily captivated by it.

Raidor, hearing the commotion, appeared from the mansion, with Daren and the guards behind him.

"…Hey, Justine. What's going on here? What's our strategist doing?"

"U-Um, Your Highness… It's, well, how do I put it…"

Justine hesitated in response to her lord's questioning.

There were clear signs of a battle at the Raidor army's camp, and Justine was bleeding from a cut on her back.

And for some reason, her young strategist was being hugged by a woman with a bandaged face, who was crying loudly.

It would be impossible for even the wisest scholars in the continent to accurately guess the situation from this scene.

"Man, is this maybe a cheating scene?"

Brad Ilkas, who had caught up a bit later, murmured.

"To be cheated on by a young man so soon after marriage… I might develop a new fetish. Even I don't have such a broad strike zone…"

For the usually nonchalant fox, his voice sounded genuinely troubled.

"I'm so glad you're safe…! Sven… I'm so glad…!"

Ignoring the bewildered men, Angelica Ilkas continued to cry like a child.