Chapter 45

It was a kind of possessiveness.

There was a clear intention not to allow Claudia to recklessly throw away her own life, visible in his actions.

In terms of soul age, Noah, who was much younger, pleaded, and Claudia listened with a somewhat blank heart.

"As long as you live and need me, I will never leave you to die."

Noah's thumb wiped the blood from Claudia's lips.

"I promise. ... For that, I will become stronger."

Then Noah grabbed Claudia's shoulders, pressed his forehead against her collarbone, and whispered.

"Let me stay by your side."

"――――……"

Claudia blinked slowly again.

In just a second, numerous memories flashed through her mind.

"Please, you must survive above all others."

"We can all die. As long as you, Adelheit, live."

"For that, we will do anything."

She had always listened to their words with a lonely feeling.

But Noah had not only pledged to keep Claudia alive, but also to stay by her side.

"… Will you always be here?"

"!"

She asked this, placing her hand on Noah's fluffy black hair.

Noah lifted his face and looked straight into Claudia's obsidian eyes once more.

"Always. -- Because I know that's what you want."

"…………"

After that, Noah stood up and faced the mist that was transforming into a complete dragon form.

"If you're going to make me use magic, command me to show it, not to hand me over to the king."

"Noah……"

"However, as your servant."

Noah's hand, stained with Claudia's blood, gripped the sword tightly.

Then he declared clearly.

"Nothing else matters."

"……! Haha!"

Claudia smiled, as if it were breaking.

She found Noah's earnestness and sincerity endearing and adorable.

It was so ticklish that she momentarily forgot the pain in her heart, the intense nausea, and the headache that threatened to erase her consciousness.

"―So passionate."

Wiping the blood from the back of her hand, Claudia slowly stood up.

"I give in. When you plead so sincerely, I can't refuse you as your master."

Strangely, her body felt much lighter.

Despite being at her limit, she realized she was still fine. A simple but genuine joy made Claudia's eyes sparkle.

"Let's make a promise. I will share all my suffering with you. ... Swearing not to bear it alone, will you suffer with me and be hurt with me?"

Then Claudia touched the left side of his back, near his heart.

"My proud servant."

"――!"

Noah, in a very small voice, but clearly, said.

"… It is my wish."

"Thank you."

Smiling, Claudia pressed her forehead against Noah's back.

(The output of magic is influenced by physical strength and mental stability. ... It's much easier to use magic when fighting to live with someone rather than dying alone.)

If she had known this five hundred years ago, perhaps the curse would not have ravaged the country.

She thought about this trivial matter and mocked herself slightly.

Claudia slowly and gently chanted a spell, which she had visualized in her mind, towards Noah.

"―'Come, come, the bonfire at the end of the world.'"

The black mist dragon took form and let out a loud roar.

The air vibrated, and the children's cries could be heard. But the small children would be encouraged by their two older brothers.

"‘Rise from the depths of that blood, and become the foundation to dispel that evil.'"

Claudia, who usually used short incantations or no incantation at all due to her powerful magic, slowly and carefully spun this long spell.

The length of the incantation corresponds to the amount of magic power infused.

The weaker the person's magic power, the more of their own magic power they need to infuse, making the incantation longer.

Claudia's incantations were short, or she used no incantation at all, because of her strong magic power.

It is said that historically, only a handful of people possessed enough magic power to cast spells without incantations.

"‘Come, come, bonfire’―……"

Karlheinz might realize the significance of Claudia performing such a long incantation.

Thinking this, Claudia chuckled.

"‘Grant power to my servant.’"

"――!"

Through the palm of her hand touching Noah, she could feel Noah's heart beating.

(I will activate the spell I chanted within Noah, who is connected to me through the servant contract. -- By distributing the magical load, we will bear it together, but the result of the magical enhancement will be entirely for Noah.)

Her heart throbbed.

But it was much better than the pain she had felt earlier. Noah seemed to be fine too, as he only exhaled briefly without collapsing. She was genuinely relieved by this.

(I didn't know such a way to use magic existed.)

By choosing not to bear it alone, a new path opened before her.

By having the courage to share pain and suffering with a trusted person, perhaps she could gain the strength to do anything.

She smiled and lowered her eyes, having learned this from Noah.

"―Go."

As she gently pushed Noah's back, Noah stepped forward without hesitation.

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