Chapter 116
Chapter 116
What now?
Alice looked at Lady Rosetta collapsed before Hasis.
Her motionless body.
Impossible to tell if she was alive or dead.
And Alice would soon join her at this rate.
By that gleaming dagger in Hasis’s hand.
Seeing the glinting blade made Alice dizzy.
Her sole savior and ultimate weapon, the magic ring, rendered useless.
All that remained was her holy power. But even that wouldn’t work.
This place blocked both magic and holy power.
Of course they’d set it up that way.
The Empress knew about her holy power.
Damn, damn, damn!
Alice bit her lip at the hopeless situation.
Hasis readjusted his dagger. Then instantly lunged at Alice with the blade.
“Kyaaa!”
Alice screamed and dodged.
The dagger missed narrowly, clattering to the floor against a white wall.
“Killing you instantly wouldn’t be fun, right? Since my master specially cherishes you, Duchess, I’ll slice you piece by piece.”
“Slice what! You madman!”
Hasis drew the longsword from his side. Like a predator stalking prey, he approached Alice slowly.
“Kylus! Kylus!”
Hoping against hope, Alice desperately called his name to the ring, but Kylus didn’t appear.
“Dammit!”
“Just give up already. You’re unexpectedly stubborn for how you look.”
Might scream for quite a while.
Hasis charged at Alice with chilling words.
Whoosh—
His sword swung at Alice.
“Aaah!”
She dodged hastily but couldn’t avoid it completely.
Alice pressed her hand to her wounded shoulder while fleeing from Hasis.
But the subspace wasn’t large to begin with, and outrunning knight Hasis was essentially impossible for Alice.
Alice was cornered near where Lady Rosetta had fallen.
Backing up only brought impassable white walls.
Running was pointless.
Alice faced Hasis properly.
Too tense to feel her injured shoulder’s pain, Alice watched Hasis intently.
Nowhere to run.
No miraculous appearance of Kylus or sudden subspace disappearance.
Only Alice could protect herself.
Though she’d faced many situations, none this desperate.
Never had death been this close.
This time she might truly die—instinct sent chills down her neck.
But despite her tense body, oddly her mind grew calmer.
I don’t want to die.
Only strong desire intensified.
I can’t die like this here.
Then she heard a voice.
[You must believe in me.]
“Why should I believe you! You lunatic!”
Alice yelled at Hasis.
Hasis tilted his head questioningly.
“Believe? Believe what?”
As if to say ‘what nonsense.’
Alice paused. What? Wasn’t that Hasis speaking?
Then expectantly, the voice rang out.
[Oh, not him! You fool!]
Right in her mind.
Am I… going crazy before death?
Just as Alice panicked at the voice in her head, the unfamiliar voice shouted again.
[You’re not crazy! Not crazy! You’re driving me insane. Really. Alice, no, Han Soo-yeon. Focus.]
“…Han Soo-yeon.”
That was originally my name.
Her name before possessing Alice’s body.
Something knowing her otherworldly name… if I’m not crazy, then…
‘God?’
The voice responded expectantly.
[Yes! Right! I’m the deity!]
‘Really… a deity?’
[You skeptical thing, how else would I know your past life? Don’t doubt. Believe me to survive.]
Though confused, Alice heard one thing clearly.
She could survive this.
Nothing mattered more right now.
Alice asked urgently in her mind.
‘How can I survive?’
[Believe in me. Then you’ll feel the power within.]
This isn’t gather the universe’s energy—what cryptic nonsense.
But immediately her mind thundered with rebuke.
[With that irreverent mindset, you can’t fully connect with me! Focus!]
Utterly confused, Alice squeezed her eyes shut.
Then wholeheartedly repeated:
I believe in the deity.
“Believe! I believe!”
Alice’s clasped hands and declaration made Hasis hesitate.
But briefly—he frowned and corrected his grip.
“Clearly lost your mind from fear. Better to end this quickly. No hobby playing with lunatics.”
His eyes glinting with murderous intent, just as Hasis charged, Alice felt heat surge through her body.
“I believe, so please save me!”
Desperately crying out as if exploding power from her depths, immense light burst from Alice.
Light too brilliant to open eyes.
As Hasis shut his eyes tight, the light engulfed him.
Like being blown by fierce wind, his body flew. The subspace’s white walls shattered under light’s assault.
Thud—
Hasis’s body plummeted after flying meters.
As Hasis lost consciousness, light finally faded from Alice.
“Hah… hah…”
Grass scent.
Alice inhaled roughly, first noticing familiar grass smell.
Opening her eyes, she saw the hunting grounds minus the subspace.
Distant fallen Hasis and nearby collapsed Lady Rosetta.
I survived.
Really escaped alive.
Strong holy power enables both healing and attacks.
A passage from temple books flashed by.
Alice almost exhaled in relief, smiling joyfully.
Until immense agony struck her heart.
“Heuugh!”
Simultaneous nausea surged.
“Ugh—!”
Splatter—
Blood poured from her mouth, staining grass.
Thought I survived, escaped.
Her body convulsed.
“Ah…”
Thud—
Unable to lift a finger, Alice collapsed.
Coughing up more blood.
[Oh dear… excessive belief. Didn’t expect such strong connection. What now…]
And voices in fading consciousness.
Right before losing consciousness, Alice used all strength for one final thought.
Damn deity.
When Alice was pulled into the subspace, Kylus walked through forest paths with the man over his shoulder.
Kylus frowned, speaking lowly.
“…What exactly is she planning?”
Though missing a subject, Kylus was clearly thinking of Alice.
He knew Alice intentionally distanced herself.
Knowing everything, he’d pretend ignorance while carrying the man away.
No, he’d suspected her schemes from requesting competition entry.
Her reasons for participation were barely convincing.
So he’d focused entirely on Alice in the hunting grounds. Unsure when or where trouble might strike.
Especially fearing another bookstore alley situation, Kylus was reluctant to separate.
Though she’d handled those thugs fearlessly… that was luck rather than skill.
If they hadn’t underestimated her and properly restrained her, she’d never have won.
Despite efforts preventing such scenarios, he ultimately had to leave her side.
Alice wanted this, and Kylus couldn’t refuse her.
Though he could comply because he had assurance.
The ring he gifted. Unless blocked by extremely powerful dark magic, one drop of Alice’s blood would summon him anywhere, anytime.
Still, worry remained inevitable. Completely unpredictable what she planned today.
What in the hunting grounds… that noblewoman seems involved.
Kylus recalled the lady Alice followed today. Though Alice thought herself subtle, perceptive Kylus immediately noticed.
That Alice was trailing the unknown noblewoman.
A stranger to him.
Kylus remembered her face. Quite pretty but nothing remarkable.
Not high nobility either. Ladies from marquess-level families would’ve crossed paths before. Completely unfamiliar.
Who could this woman be? The man Alice chased in the bookstore alley was the veiled Third Prince.
Was this woman also hiding high status?
Brief contemplation before Kylus shook his head.
Someone needing concealment wouldn’t openly join hunting competitions.
“Sigh. Truly incomprehensible.”
Wish I could read that small mind completely.
Kylus exhaled frustratedly, adjusting the shoulder carrying the man. Just wanted to dump this person with companions and return to Alice.
Thud—
Something felt wrong. As he shifted shoulders, the man’s arm dropped limply. Like an unconscious person.
