Chapter 18 Part 3
Entrie and Raphla answered amicably and immediately flew into the sky.
This is so absurd… who would have thought the birds would become friends with each other, excluding me?
Thanks to reclaiming the magic I had given to the magical beasts, although not much, I had regained some strength.
The booming sounds from outside continued incessantly.
Immediately leaving the breeding grounds, I rushed urgently toward Hyle.
“Hyle!”
“Rosiel, stay away from me!”
No sooner had Hyle finished speaking than bright red flames poured down from the sky like rain.
This was the Infernal Flame from the demon realm, a demonic magic that would burn the flesh of anyone normal who touched it.
“Look, I’m still not a Holy Maiden.”
Since I still had demonic power remaining, such things wouldn’t greatly affect me.
But it was different for Hyle.
As I cast my magic over him, the falling flames began to bounce off one by one.
“Oh? So you’re not yet the Holy Maiden.”
Seeing this, Mattio seemed surprised, making a “hmm” sound and showing a momentarily contemplative face.
It was very brief, but his relentless attacks ceased for an instant.
“Hyle, don’t think about counterattacking. You need to conserve your strength. I’ve called for priest reinforcements…!”
“But Rosiel, I can’t save you that way.”
I wanted to tell him not to push himself since support would arrive soon, but Hyle seemed to have different thoughts.
For a moment, a fleeting smile seemed to cross his lips.
Shortly after, Hyle vanished from before my eyes.
Instantly moving near Mattio, Hyle created a long, sharp blade with divine power and thrust it directly into Mattio’s abdomen.
The reason he had been defending passively until now was apparently to conserve his strength for that one strike.
And when Mattio showed an opening because of me, he seized the opportunity.
But Mattio wasn’t the type to succumb so easily.
While coughing up blood with the blade still in his abdomen, he let out a slight laugh and summoned venomous snakes from the demon realm beneath Hyle’s feet.
The magic Mattio used was all from higher demons, equivalent to first-class level attacks compared to magical beasts.
The snakes that bound Hyle’s feet bit his legs all over and wouldn’t let go.
“Hyle!”
“Rosiel, I’ll give you a chance.”
As I was about to move to save him, Mattio, who had somehow approached behind me, uttered chilling words.
“What…!”
“Abandon divine power and consume magic again. If you haven’t been purified as the Holy Maiden yet, it’s not too late.”
“Since when have you needed me so much?”
“Isn’t it obvious? You’re my daughter. If you give me the divine power in your heart, you can return immediately.”
I was at a loss for words at this unexpected statement.
To hear the word “daughter” from Mattio’s mouth… it was as astonishing as Raphla’s cute “tweet” earlier.
“Haha… what nonsense.”
With a scoff, I immediately shot an arrow made of divine power toward Mattio.
Caught off guard by my close proximity, Mattio once again coughed up dark blood.
Already deeply wounded by Hyle’s attack, he seemed to have received another fatal blow from my arrow just now.
“Hyle, are you alright? The snake bites are all illusions, so don’t suffer. Things that don’t really exist…!”
As I urgently approached Hyle to save him from Mattio’s attack, a cold finger rested on my lips as I continued my explanation.
“Rosiel, you’re the only thing that exists for me. Such tricks don’t work on me.”
“…Do you have to joke at such a critical moment?”
Hyle, who had quickly shaken off the snakes, smiled smoothly.
He had deliberately remained caught by the snakes until I approached. This fox-like man, really…!
“You’re bleeding.”
Suddenly, Hyle’s fine forehead creased visibly.
Perhaps from defending against Mattio’s fierce attacks, blood was now flowing from between my lips.
It didn’t hurt much so it was fine, but… Hyle’s languid hand gently wiped my mouth.
His gaze, intently following me, made me dizzy.
“Ugh, Hyle. This much is fine.”
“It’s not fine for me. Rosiel, if someone has to get hurt here, it should all be me.”
It was a sweet statement that made the wounds in my mouth, which had only been stinging until now, feel sweet.
“You’ve grown a lot while I wasn’t watching.”
Just as the tension was about to ease, a low voice penetrated my ears from behind.
Turning my head, Mattio, whom I thought had fallen, was standing there perfectly fine as if nothing had happened.
I guess that level of attack wasn’t enough? I had roughly expected this, but it’s still a bit disappointing to see him so unaffected…
“Let’s stop this childish play.”
Unfortunately, he didn’t seem willing to quietly watch Hyle and me worry about each other.
Despite having clearly suffered critical damage, Mattio, still with a calm face, was even showing a leisurely smile.
So, to face that man on equal terms, Caligo needs to appear…!
“Cali-.”
“Rosiel, no.”
As I urgently tried to call Caligo, Hyle quickly blocked me.
His green eyes, imbued with darkness, emitted a strange flash in the darkness.
“If you use any more magic, your body won’t be able to handle it.”
“But…!”
“It’s alright, Rosiel.”
Reassuring me once more, Hyle smiled slightly and continued to withstand Mattio’s attacks.
Stepping back so as not to interfere with his fluid and broad movements, I had suddenly become a spectator.
I couldn’t remain helplessly watching like an audience member, leaving everything to Hyle.
But as he said, using more magic here would certainly strain my heart.
Should I have reclaimed Raphla’s magic after all? Because my heart softened and I let him go… More importantly, when would the temple priests arrive?!
Raphla, Entrie! Hurry!
Without a moment to catch my breath, Mattio’s attacks once again rained down fiercely.
The endless blades were filled with malicious magic.
Though in human form, Mattio in battle mode could easily be mistaken for a demon.
Every one of his attacks exuded a terrifying force solely intended for killing.
Hyle was fighting better than expected. However, it would be difficult to endure for a long time.
He might be fine for a short while, but in a prolonged battle, the advantage would be with Mattio.
This was the Laté mansion, a center filled with demonic power, making it even more so.
Sure enough, Hyle gradually began to be pushed back.
“Ugh…!”
“The new head of the family is terrible at handling divine power. Has he not awakened yet?”
Mattio’s words toward Hyle, who was groaning from the attack, were unbearably harsh. Moreover, even I flinched at those words.
After all, I was the one who had prevented Hyle from awakening his divine power…
“I’ll give you credit. But you’re far from being a match for me.”
“Well… that doesn’t seem entirely true.”
Hyle, who had managed to stab his sword into Mattio’s abdomen again, smiled smoothly.
And that spot… isn’t it the same place I shot with my divine arrow earlier?
Stabbing the same spot again! It’s incredibly cruel, but that wasn’t important right now.
Whatever happens, as long as Hyle doesn’t get hurt…!
“It’s about time to end this.”
Mattio roughly wiped the blood flowing from his lips with his sleeve and distanced himself from Hyle.
Instantly, a large red magic circle was broadly drawn between the two men who had moved apart.
“Wait, that’s…!”
Recognizing the identity of the magic circle, I froze on the spot.
It was the summoning circle for “Bergo,” the demon who was Mattio’s contractor.
I had inwardly hoped he wouldn’t manifest that, but perhaps Mattio was struggling more than he appeared, as he had already pulled out his last resort.
Bergo was one of the great demons in the demon realm, like Caligo.
