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“…Chloe Anette, is it?”

“Indeed! I am Commander Chloe of the First Legion. What do you think? I’ve become a much more gallant knight, haven’t I?”

“What have you done to her, Allen?”

“Of course, I used her as the most significant sacrifice for the dark magic that enveloped the mansion. But now that you and Shianella have come to this room… it might be best to let her power spread widely and touch the mansion instead of—”

Allen’s eyes glimmered with madness.

“I think it’s better to leave my sister in the hands of the complete Anette.”

His knight was already consumed by magic and was no longer alive.

She merely raised her sword as if by habit, showing hostility toward Eunice and the Elite Guard.

“You’re too close to her… I misjudged how long Mother could endure. If I had just trusted her and killed Anette right away, this would all be over by now.”

A deadly standoff unfolded.

Eunice and Anette. As endless nerves tangled over who would strike first, I scanned the surroundings.

‘Was that knight the medium of dark magic?’

As I had heard, she stood before us, having pierced through Shione’s magic in her complete form, confirming that all the scheming spread throughout the mansion had vanished.

By the way, to use one’s strongest knight as fodder for dark magic. It seemed that all the enemies embodied the knight’s manifestation due to the dark magic completed around Anette that had devoured the mansion.

“The structure of the mansion has returned. We will move to a safe place.”

“Yet Lady Eunice is still—”

“Do you intend to help in that state?”

“Ah! Why hit my head…!”

“Enough of that useless talk; we must retreat in case that knight comes this way.”

Even if Anette is exceedingly strong, that location is grounded in Shione’s magic. The enemy’s momentum would be diminished there. Given that the stage is set like this, it would be strange if countless knights couldn’t capture just one Anette.

Even if Allen’s struggles may bring danger to the Marquis family.

“For me, preserving the Marquis family’s safety is less critical than ensuring Princess Shione’s well-being. Soon, Lady Siabel will arrive, and then it won’t be too late to support.”

Naturally, prioritizing Shione’s safety is my first concern.

And right now, the Elite Guard is—

“Eunice.”

“Mother, this is…”

“Take my sword.”

They were filled with a resolve of never accepting defeat.

*

Eunice grasped the family’s sacred sword.

A sword granted solely to the Head of the Family. Upon wielding it, she instinctively understood how to utilize this blade. It felt as if she had used it comfortably for ages.

Holding the sword, she spoke to the most trusted knights among the Elite Guard.

“Take Mother to a safe place.”

“Understood!”

As some knights tried to break formation, Anette blocked their way.

Eunice immediately pushed back the knights and maintained her stance, presenting her sacred sword. Allen seemed visibly displeased, as if he had witnessed something intolerable in Eunice taking up the blade.

“Anette, kill her now.”

Anette’s attack launched.

With incredible speed and employing the full length of her sword, she targeted Eunice’s chest. The fierce thrust was already too powerful to be blocked with a sword or shield.

Thud─!

As Eunice swiftly maneuvered, she dodged the attack while simultaneously blocking the follow-up slash.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

With a sharp shout, she thrust her shield against the sword.

A shield imbued with mana met a sword filled with magic.

The two clashed, creating strong recoil that stirred a wind.

The victor was Eunice.

Shione’s magic had the power to significantly destabilize magic, and the stronger shield, thanks to the combination with the sword and shield, could not be defeated.

Anette exposed a moment of vulnerability.

Eunice was about to counter with her sword when she saw Anette horizontally bouncing her sword away. In the same motion, Anette readied her arm to strike Eunice’s temple with the butt of her sword. Illyana quickly perceived the danger and shouted.

“Get back!”

“……!”

Eunice reflexively retreated.

Swish─!

Anette’s strike landed where Eunice had just stood.

It was a dangerous attack that could have seriously injured her.

Eunice resolidified her stance again after a nerve-wracking exchange.

“The knights should encircle Allen properly to prevent his escape. I think it’s best for Anette to face Mother and me.”

Just as her words finished, Anette charged.

Not a poke, but a heavy strike aimed to crush. Illyana ordered.

“Block with your shield and deflect!”

Trusting her leader’s words, Eunice raised her shield to block.

As the hefty attack slammed down, she braced herself against the pressure of Anette’s sword, her knees buckling under the weight.

“Twist your body! Use your shield more offensively!”

Heeding Illyana’s words, Eunice twisted to deflect the attack and then thrust her shield against the side of the sword, charging forth.

The current situation entailed the clash of sword and shield, leading to a struggle of strength.

The answer was simple.

“Use your feet, Eunice!”

Before Anette could respond, as soon as the command came, Eunice repositioned to adjust her balance.

Bam─!

She struck first, gaining the advantageous position with a kick. The hit from the iron guards on her shins sent Anette staggering.

“Don’t be careless!”

Anette perfectly disregarded the injury to her left leg, diving to target Eunice’s throat.

Eunice parried Anette’s attack not with her shield but with her sword.

A tingling sensation surged through her hands, and she felt her heart pounding fiercely, yet her mind was colder than ever. Her mother had once been the kingdom’s finest knight, and she had trusted her over anyone else.

She had no hesitation or rejection about walking the path her mother had forged.

“Where do you think you’re going…!”

An intense exchange continued.

As the battle prolonged, fatigue mounted for her, unlike the knight before her who showed no sign of weariness. Bruised and battered, Eunice sensed her diminishing skills while still presenting her damaged shield.

She loosened her left hand’s grip on the shield, placing a gamble for a single opportunity.

Bam─!

Clashing the sword and shield.

As Anette’s powerful downward strike tore the outer part of the shield, Eunice swiftly discarded the shield and kicked at the trajectory from which the sword was descending.

As Anette was rising off the ground, Eunice drove her foot down and grasped her sword with both hands.

With her footwork combined with her grip on the blade, she pulled her elbow downward. The moment her sword connected with the target, her arm fully extended for a clean cut—a natural motion.

“Anette…!”

With that attack, Anette ultimately fell.

Eunice Kalia approached Allen, who was flailing to draw forth the remaining magic to survive, leaving the fallen Anette behind.

“Why! Why are you obstructing me? I will make our family the greatest on the continent! Why!?”

A terrible surge of magic erupted from him.

Everyone present felt the impact of his anguished cry.

“God has chosen me! Do you know what will happen if you kill me?!”

It was clear that letting him live would lead to a greater catastrophe.

“Why are you doing this? For fame? Power?”

“He promised me! If I deliver the Marquis family, he’ll not only grant me power but will even revive my deceased father and my closest friends, Del and Kran! He can do anything! What’s wrong with me!?”

Answering Allen’s cries was Illyana, who had already approached Eunice’s side.

“Brutally killing the people of the Marquis family and making a pact with a demon cannot be forgiven, no matter what you’ve done. Especially not your father, who is my husband, Allen.”

She pointed her sword at her son, continuing.

“You have never met anyone named Del or Kran. No slave, commoner, or noble.”

“…What?”

“You’ve been properly ensnared by a demon.”

“That can’t be! Don’t talk nonsense in front of me!”

Allen Kalia had truly become the absolute evil.

Illyana reached her resolution.

“…Rest now.”

Illyana’s sword slashed across Allen’s neck.

As his scream crumbled, a terrible surge of magic erupted forth.

Amidst the rapidly dissipating magic, fragments of the demon were visible. Everyone could sense it—the demon that had manipulated Allen. In one magic storm, Illyana’s garment adorned with the highest blessings turned to tatters.

After standing still for a moment, she turned her gaze to Eunice.

“Eunice.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“The reconstruction of the territory will be your first task as Head of the Family.”

A cold rage settled on Illyana’s face.

“By announcing a new enemy of the Marquis family, you must investigate this demon’s origins thoroughly and ensure that it is slain.”

While the manifestation of the demon had been halted, it wasn’t completely obliterated.

Halfhearted victories carry a bitter taste.

Finding understanding, Eunice solemnly replied, pledging to secure the next great victory.

“I will follow your command.”

As the conversation concluded, the elder head of the family gazed quietly at the sacred sword still in his daughter’s hand.

Sensing his gaze, Eunice extended the sword, which Illyana accepted cautiously.

“Eunice, prepare for the succession ceremony.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“This sword will be passed to you on the day of the ceremony.”

The chaos that began with Allen Kalia had finally come to an end.

 

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