Chapter 122: Chapter 122

The name I had momentarily forgotten froze me in place.

The creature wearing Minuet’s face curled its lips into a grotesque grin.

“What’s wrong? It’s only natural that my little brother is in my hands.”

A chilling weightlessness washed over me.

I locked eyes with Eden, and in that moment, I was forced to reaffirm the truth—

I swallowed the turmoil rising within me, forcing my voice to remain emotionless.

“Somewhere in this estate. Bound. You know the spell, don’t you?”

Fourth Spell—the same white chains I used to bind Qudil.

Gavotte wouldn’t be able to break free on his own.

“...You’re not planning to go find him, are you?” Eden’s voice dropped, feigning disappointment. “Don’t. If you slip out of my sight, I might not be able to hold myself back.”

“What are you going to do to him?”

“Haven’t decided.” He sighed dramatically. “I’m just tired of wasting time, so I’d like to end this here. If you die, your little brother gets to live.”

Then, in a whisper, as if slipping a knife into my ribs—

"Is he really that precious to you?"

The sound of his voice made my stomach churn.

I poured the spell into the air like a madwoman, but not a single attack touched Eden.

I can’t overpower him.

I can’t suppress him with a higher-tier spell.

Then... should I abandon Gavotte and run?

Even though there was no guarantee that things would be any better later?

What the hell am I supposed to do?

My thoughts twisted into a tangled mess.

My hands trembled as I tried to brush my hair away from my face.

A large hand grasped mine.

His voice was strangely gentle—so detached from my own panic that it felt almost comforting.

The warmth of his palm made my throat tighten.

And met Cruello’s gaze.

His eyes were no longer cold like before.

That wasn’t a good thing.

I bit my lip and turned my head away.

If I didn’t, emotions unsuited to this situation might spill out of me.

I didn’t want to be a fool who lost their grip on reality.

A tiny sound pierced through the chaos.

It was so faint—weaker than a person’s breath—

And yet, I heard it crystal clear.

Like someone possessed, I threw another divine spell to block Eden’s vision and turned toward the sound.

At my feet, a small, round creature had appeared.

A tiny, trembling spirit—

It leaped into my arms, much like a Winter Lynx in the dead of winter.

The little spirit was scared, but it tried to appear brave.

There was a fire in its tiny eyes—a determination far greater than its size.

Seeing it, I understood something.

I understood how Gavotte must feel right now.

And, at the very least—for now—

Nothing had happened to him yet.

Cruello’s eyes flickered «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» toward my arms.

Then, his voice slipped into my mind once more.

—[Do that again—just once more.]

Before I could even answer, Cruello was already laying down more ice mirrors.

From Eden’s perspective, it must have looked like another reckless attempt at an attack.

“...You two really don’t know when to give up,” Eden sighed. “I’m starting to get bored.”

To be honest, I didn’t understand either.

What did Cruello see in Pianissimo?

What could this tiny bird possibly do?

I stared at the round, trembling creature in my arms.

Pianissimo’s greatest strength was its silence.

Even Eden hadn’t realized it was here until just now.

But... a soft breeze couldn’t harm anyone.

Even if Pianissimo somehow reached him, it wouldn’t be able to tear into his flesh.

At most, it would leave a faint scratch.

As I absentmindedly stared at the little spirit—

Cruello’s trap was complete.

...But I had forgotten something.

I knew how to amplify a spirit’s power.

I knew how to turn a breeze into a storm.

It was ready to fight.

Just like Minuet’s eagle, Presto, had charged into a raging tempest.

“...Can I ask you for a favor?”

The spirit’s cry was steady.

I let go of Beatitudo.

Instead, I gathered the purest divine energy I had—

And gave it to the small, brave spirit in my arms.

From my soul, a stream of white light wrapped around Pianissimo.

It didn’t grow large like Presto.

Its round body only swelled slightly, and its tail feathers rippled like fins in water.

But it looked freer than anything I had ever seen.

A breeze visible to all isn’t a storm.

As Cruello locked eyes with me, I cast one more spell.

—Sixth Spell. Brilliance.

The light that erases black mana—

But more importantly—blinds the enemy.

A burst of radiant light engulfed the drawing room.

A small, fearless wind slipped through the blinding glow.

“...Hah! I’m not a dark magician! That kind of spell won’t—”

Eden’s mocking voice suddenly cut off.

For a moment, I thought I heard him groan.

I waited—watched—as the light slowly faded.

His chest, throat, head—not a single wound on any of his vital points.

There was one place where blood was spilling.

The magic circle that had connected him to the White Desert’s sacred power—

Pianissimo puffed out its chest, chirping victoriously.

But even though I had poured so much divine energy into it—

It was already returning to its original form.

The little bird froze, flustered—then flapped its tail feathers wildly and darted out of the room.

I looked between the retreating bird and Eden’s stunned face—

...I should finish this.

I prepared to cast Heaven once more.

Blood suddenly filled my mouth.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

The divine energy wouldn’t flow.

I shoved my hand back into my pocket, grasping for Beatitudo—

But no light surged forth.

Just moments ago, I had been fine. So why—?

I replayed my actions in my mind.

The answer was immediate.

Damn it. I shouldn’t have gone wild with my spells.

The pathways for divine energy had completely collapsed.

I have to finish this now.

Eden had already recovered from his momentary shock, summoning his serpent once again.

He could no longer distort space to evade attacks—

But that didn’t mean he was helpless.

I needed Heaven to finish him.

I tried desperately to force out another spell—

But the harder I pushed, the worse my condition became.

A grotesque sound echoed inside me, like a dam breaking apart.

Like sand in an hourglass, I had run out of time.

My time as Siora had ended.

Cruello caught me before I collapsed.

The life was draining out of me.

This can’t be the end.

After pushing Eden this far—

I refused to believe it—

But the way my body was unraveling made it undeniable.

If I die , who will remember this story?

You think the same, don’t you?

“Why is this happening?! Siora, stay with me!”

Her name fell from my lips—so easily, so naturally,

As if I had never denied her at all.

I didn’t expect an answer.

I had prayed to her desperately before.

She had never answered. Not once.

Like a miracle I had no choice but to believe—

Not on my body, but on my soul.

The shattered pathways inside me knitted back together.

Siora’s body was beyond saving—

But my soul remained.

I didn’t leave this third body behind.

Time itself had stopped for me.

I was preserved, frozen in the moment.

A strange numbness filled me.

I let out a soft, dazed laugh.

A final pillar of light surged forward.

No tricks, no redirections—

Just a relentless, single-minded force.

Eden’s serpent tried to shield him—

But this time, the beast crumbled instantly.

The divine energy engulfed Eden completely.

For one fleeting second—

The entire world fell silent.

When I blinked, he was on the ground.

My body gave out entirely.

Cruello was already holding me up, so I didn’t bother to resist.

Leaning heavily against him, I approached Eden.

And yet, it was Minuet’s body lying there.

A fresh wave of misery washed over me.

Eden stared up at the ceiling, his lips barely moving.

“...How?” he murmured. “How could Pebula choose you?”

Had he sensed the same divine presence I had?

The thought made reality feel even more distant.

“...Ha... Haha.” He laughed weakly.

“I see. I got too excited. The goal was so close, and I let it get to my head.”

He wiped blood from his lips, then tilted his eyes toward me.

“If I had stayed in this body for just one more month, this wouldn’t have happened. My own divine power alone would have been enough to crush you.”

“When you take someone else’s body, there are drawbacks. Even for me.”

“So what, are excuses longer when you live longer?”

Then let out a soft chuckle.

“Well, no matter. Next time, I won’t be careless. I’ll hide properly and tighten the noose around your neck slowly.”

“There is no next time for you,” I growled. “This ends here.”

“Haha. You misunderstand.”

“There is no such thing as an ‘end’ for me. Only nexts.”

Something distantly familiar flickered in my mind—

How did Eden take Minuet’s body?

Were there truly no conditions for his possession?

Logically, it didn’t make sense.

Even if it was a divine spell, he couldn’t just choose his next vessel freely.

But I had been wrong about logic before.

Was it really impossible to erase him?

Eden must have seen the doubt on my face.

“But you, Siora... are you sure you’re okay?”

His voice dropped to a whisper.

“...Minuet is still alive.”

Cruello must have felt me tremble—

Because his grip on my hand tightened.

“...He’s lying. He’s just trying to shake you.”

“...I know. I don’t believe him,” I muttered. “That kind of false hope—”

“Oh, come now,” Eden sighed, feigning disappointment.

“You truly have no faith in me. But it’s the truth.”

Even as his limbs shook, he raised his arm.

The same one that had been marked by the serpent’s fangs.

And a horrifying realization struck me.

Was that a spell anchor?

“...You’re the one who poured divine energy into this wound, weren’t you?” Eden mused.

“That must have acted as a barrier. Even though I completely devoured her, she’s still hanging on.”

He lifted his unblemished palm, as if proudly showing off a trophy.

“But don’t worry,” he added smoothly.

“If I die, Minuet dies too.”

He let out a low, cruel whisper—

“Are you ready to kill your sister?”

The words pierced through me like a blade.