The Protagonists of Romance Fantasy Novels Have Escaped

66 – 66. Where the Blade Points (3)

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Despite being torn apart by the merciless hail of gunpowder, the vampire miraculously clung to life.

She narrowly escaped death.

It was thanks to activating mist form just before her heart was pierced.

If a vampire avoids a fatal heart wound, they can activate their superhuman regenerative abilities to resurrect. Arielle, who had narrowly saved her life through a split-second decision, raised her head, vomiting in agony as her bones contorted.

‘Where in the world is this…! Could it be that they purposely spared me?’

The ceiling overhead.

The walls blocking all directions.

Arielle sensed that she was imprisoned.

But that wasn’t all.

Dozens of pistols were suspended in the air.

They were likely set to fire upon detecting any movement. If she acted rashly, she would turn into a beehive in an instant. Confirming that the threat of death still loomed, Arielle swallowed dryly, gazing at the guns.

“Oh my! The vampire has already risen!”

“I’ve heard that if you let a naughty vampire drink blood, they turn into a dried-up anchovy!”

Young girls began to scream and wail.

Arielle looked towards the direction of the commotion.

Beyond the iron bars, she could see the girls.

What on earth are they?

With their pointed ears, they looked like fairies… a race she had never seen before.

Just as the Louinongs feared Arielle, Arielle chuckled while watching them.

“Whoa!”

“If the pretty princess catches us, we’re in trouble!”

The Louinongs, who had sneaked in to watch the vampire, suddenly screamed and ran off. Arielle, who was caught off guard, turned her head and caught sight of something scattered on the ground.

Colorful candies.

It seemed like the fairies she had just seen had thrown them and fled.

Chuckling to herself, Arielle picked up the candies while keeping an eye on the guns surrounding her.

‘The disaster god of war…! Facing the disaster god of war, could it be real? Then was the prophecy related to the realm of the dead true?!’

Recalling the shiver of fear that once covered the vast emptiness, Ariel trembled all over. And she remembered the moment when countless bullets rained down.

War.

She faced the disaster god of war.

In the scarlet eyes of the vampire, a deep fear and fervor rose.

The realm of the dead, once treated as a distant myth, was real. Witnessing the myth before her eyes, Ariel finally realized that the prophecies the priests of the disaster god had been shouting about were true.

“Someday, the realm of the dead shall descend, pulling humanity from the sole throne of the unknown god and bringing about the destruction of the greedy race.”

Ariel whispered the prophecy in a soft voice.

The rise of evil.

The prophecy related to the realm of the dead was eerily similar to the ultimate goal of the cult’s rise of evil.

It couldn’t be helped.

The rise of evil was a plan mimicking the prophecy.

Blaming herself for daring to defy the enemy to the apostle of war, Ariel regretted her own foolishness. She was willing to do anything if only she could turn back time.

“But why did the vanguard…?”

Thinking of Edanant, who had desperately stood in the way to protect the Baltaria Empire, Ariel was puzzled.

If she had pressed on, she could have torn the emperor apart… Why did the vanguard stand in the way?

Vanguard.

Before she knew it, Ariel started calling Edanant the vanguard.

As she pondered, the vampire who had been lost in thoughts while playing with candy stood up. She seemed to like the scattered barley sugar on the ground and carefully picked them up.

***

They boasted of hiding their true identity meticulously.

However,

Why on earth…?

How could the saintess know about the war fanatic’s true identity?

-From long ago…! I’ve known for a long time!

Recalling Jéblinne’s enraged appearance when confronted with Rudmilla, Ariel pondered in bewilderment.

It was hard to understand.

Knowing the true identity ‘from long ago.’

She hoped the saintess, who had made the atmosphere chilly with her bombshell declaration, would reveal it candidly. So, whenever they were alone together, Ariel would discreetly watch for any clues.

“Phew, today is just as busy as yesterday.”

“Indeed.”

Yet Jéblinne turned her head, feigning ignorance.

Truly a formidable opponent.

She was as obstinate as any in the realm.

Despite Ariel’s obvious hints, Jéblinne shamelessly ignored her. Watching Jéblinne sip sherbet while sitting on a rocking chair, Ariel stuck out her tongue.

“I’ll rely on the protection of the delicate and graceful saintess again tomorrow. You will oblige, won’t you, Edan?”

“…..”

The saintess, dressed in pure white robes, smiled mischievously.

Goodness.

Is she trying to blackmail me by using the war fanatic’s identity?

An impulse arose to grab the head of the impertinent troublemaker, who teased Edan every time. Rudmilla, who was teased as an old maid by Jéblinne every time, probably felt the same way.

“Ahahahaha, I’m sorry, but Edan’s reactions every time I tease her are just too amusing.”

“…..”

Am I really so easy to tease?

It seemed like another saintess had said something similar.

“But I won’t tell you. Edan not recognizing me is a bad thing.”

“What? What does that even mean…?”

As Jéblinne finished her break and approached, Ariel pondered. Then, leaning forward, Jéblinne spoke in a low voice.

It was the same this time.

Every time Ariel looked at Jéblinne, someone else came to mind.

As if projected with a superimposed figure. As time passed, it started to become clearer.

‘Another headache. Just like last time…’

At the same time, a headache struck.

It wasn’t so painful as to split her head. It was just a slight pain in her forehead.

But for some reason, as the headache came, the memories that became clearer with each headache seemed to blur like mist. As if refusing to sift through all memories at once.

“It’s okay if you don’t remember everything. I’ll always be by Edan’s side, waiting. I’ve been searching for Edan for so long…”

“…..”

She knew.

Jéblinne knew something unknown to her.

The true identity of the war fanatic,

The reason why I can’t remember the past,

The result of a splitting headache every time I try to forcibly extract memories.

Despite knowing all the details, Javelin never clearly explained. I thought Javelin was extremely cowardly and pitiful at the same time.

Every time she glanced at me, she would smile sadly.

“Sigh… Anyway, I understand. I’ll try to remember gradually someday.”

“But don’t make me wait too long.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Alright.”

Javelin reached out her hand.

It was an overt gesture, like asking to be held gently like lovers.

It was a habit Javelin had developed since the scene of Rudmila and Waltz dancing was exposed. It seemed like watching a pet dog seeking affection by reaching out while hinting sharp jealousy towards its owner.

“It feels a bit frustrating, but… in a way, I’m happy. Ethan is always by my side.”

“Your words are truly an honor.”

Our white hands intertwined.

At that moment, Javelin let out a soft laugh.

***

The Pug Kingdom managed to survive the onslaught of dark wizards thanks to Rudmila’s actions.

From Noble mtl dot com

But the outcome was grim.

Most of the farmland was scorched by the monsters that had attacked from all directions. With agriculture, the kingdom’s sole source of income, collapsing, its very existence was in jeopardy.

The royal family and nobles declared a levy to somehow recover from the losses. It was a reckless decision to extract losses from the citizens due to natural disasters.

“A levy is out of the question!”

“They abandoned the city and fled to the fortress!”

The unilateral declaration by the royal family eventually sparked a large-scale rebellion. Thousands of citizens set fire to the mansions and farmlands of the nobles, threatening the ruling class.

In response, the Pug royal family mobilized the troops stationed in the fortress.

It was just a momentary disturbance.

As soon as regular troops were deployed, the flames of the rebellion, which had been burning fiercely, were swiftly extinguished.

The citizens were a tribe inherently filled with discontent. Therefore, if ignorant people started a rebellion, it was enough to mobilize the army and crush them. The harsh whip was always a necessary tool for ruling.

“The enemy has attacked the fortress!”

“Don’t retreat! There’s just one enemy!”

While the king and nobles were celebrating the successful suppression, the enemy appeared.

Surprisingly, there was only one enemy.

Clad in a black hood, the villain displayed a swordsmanship close to mastery, cutting down the guards. Astonished by the unexpected sight, the guards repeatedly stepped back, making way for the villain.

“A hired assassin from the Socius!”

“To attack the Kingdom of Swords… Unforgivable!!”

Armed with full-body armor, the knights drew their swords and charged.

It could be won in a single stroke.

The knights of the kingdom expressed strong conviction.

The villain who attacked the fortress boasted extraordinary swordsmanship but did not draw the Manablade. Clearly, they were unable to use the Manablade. They were nothing more than a swordsman overconfident in their mundane power.

“….”

The villain firmly gripped the hilt of the sword.

And then, they targeted the entire “fortress,” including the charging knights.

────────!!!

The sword swirled.

It was an ordinary stab without drawing the Manablade.

However,

That ordinary stab was enough to split the Pug Kingdom’s fortress in two.

With a thunderous roar, the pillars supporting the heavy weight of the fortress cracked. Countless nobles who had hidden in the banquet hall were swept away by the attack.

There was no time to scream.

From the waist down, the nobles fell to the ground, spilling blood and dying instantly.

“Who are you! A ghost! If not a ghost…!!”

Witnessing the massacre that unfolded in an instant from his throne, the king of the Pug Kingdom paled in shock, asking in disbelief. The results unfolding before his eyes seemed so unbelievable that he seemed on the verge of fainting at any moment.

The villain approached.

Approaching with a sharp sword tip extended was truly eerie.

Then, the king let out a scream and made a final stand.

“The Pug Kingdom is a country that has expelled the Kingdom of Swords! If you kill me… the Kingdom of Swords will undoubtedly find you and seek revenge! I am no different from the father who trained the Kingdom of Swords!”

Perhaps due to death looming so close.

The king issued a threat that was difficult to confirm.

The name left by the Kingdom of Swords is absolute.

Therefore, he tried to protect his life by relying on the Royal Knight Regnas. No matter how many underlings he had, they couldn’t reach the anonymity of the Royal Knight.

“You talk so well. For over ten years, you and your mother have been treated like slaves!”

The hooded criminal lowered his hood.

At the same time, the king’s face twisted in astonishment.

“Reg, Regnas…!”

Thick autumn-colored hair like maple leaves.

Sharp eyes reminiscent of a beast and distinct scars crossing his face.

The king knew the identity of the criminal.

Of course, he had to know….

Regnas Pavon Pug.

The Royal Knight expelled from the Pug Kingdom stood before him with blood stained on his sword.