Chapter 112

Sohee once said something to me.

– It would be difficult for a Heaven-level, but for an Earth-level, one would be a sure win, two would be a fair fight, three would be unfavorable, and four would be a certain defeat.

According to that, if Eve represents an S-level, then one A-level magical girl would be a sure win, two would be even, three would be unfavorable, and four would be a certain defeat.

Seeing how Sohee appeared and instantly took down two angels, it seems those angels weren’t even A-level magical girls.

But Escario is on a different level.

Talking about A-level or S-level is meaningless when it comes to him.

That’s what I said.

– Clang!

The sound of the scythe cutting through the air as it flew far into the distance.

“Ugh.”

Sohee, with one knee on the ground, had Escario’s sword at her neck.

“Not bad… but not enough to say you were even close. Can this really be called an escort? Truly, you are a disgrace to the gods. To call this an escort.”

Escario smirked and glanced at me.

Well, what now? Just quietly become mine—his annoying gaze said.

I clenched my fist tightly, grabbing a handful of sand along with the grass roots.

“Damn it!”

“Ugh?!”

I threw the sand into Escario’s face, and while he was wiping it off, I lunged and rolled with Sohee.

“Sohee, are you okay?”

“Older sister, why did you…?”

“Why this and that, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Older sister, please step aside. We must defeat the villain.”

But anyone could see, Sohee was no match for Escario now.

“I haven’t used my full power yet. Older sister, please step aside. My duty is to protect you. Let me fulfill my role. Your orders are heavier than my life.”

There’s no hierarchy in life, but priorities exist depending on the situation.

And unfortunately, in this situation, Sohee was right. I had to return safely.

What’s left is two angels and Escario.

Me, with almost no combat power left, and Sohee, ambiguously between S-level and A-level.

“Sohee.”

“Yes, older sister.”

“Can you take down those two angels?”

We should deal with the quick ones first.

Understanding my thoughts, Sohee nodded lightly.

“I will handle them. Please buy me some time.”

“Alright. I trust you.”

With a whoosh, the scythe returned to Sohee’s hand.

Sohee glanced back at me, and after I nodded, she disappeared.

“Now, how do you plan to handle me when you can’t even fight? Why not give up here?”

“That’s right. Giving up… I don’t know what that means. It seems better to die than to give up.”

I named you wrong.

Damn it. What’s a Mother-Body?

It gives me chills when you say you’ll live up to your name.

“It was my mistake to trust you in the first place, you bug-like bastard.”

Escario didn’t seem to care about my insults.

Instead, with a smile full of amusement, he just stared at me.

“Curse all you want. Soon, you’ll forget everything and fawn over me. I won’t blame you for venting now.”

Wow, really.

It’s creepy.

How can a human be so disgusting?

Maybe because he’s not human in the first place.

“Now, let’s stop.”

Escario charged at me.

Even so, I’m in a dress with no armor or anything, and it’s hard to move, while he’s fully armed with armor, a shield, and a one-handed sword.

Bullying a delicate woman like this, where has the justice of the Light Realm gone?!

I managed to dodge the flying sword here and there, but it won’t last long.

Pain started to rise all over my body.

“You dodge well. Let’s see if you can dodge this.”

Escario’s sword tip pointed at me. He’s going to stab me.

The sword charged straight, and just as I stepped to avoid its trajectory, my shoe slipped on a stone.

“Ah…!”

Tears welled up from the pain in my ankle.

Whether it was sprained or not, my leg gave out, and I collapsed on the spot.

And Escario’s sword came right in front of my neck.

“Now, give up.”

I looked up at Escario.

A cold sensation touched my neck.

A sharp pain ran through my spine, shaking my brain intensely.

Escario’s sword lightly grazed my neck.

I felt warm liquid trickling down.

“How is it?”

“What?”

“The human body you’re using is so weak. Vulnerable to pain, even a small wound makes it hard to move. Like now. Who would have thought the great Vesprede would be so helplessly collapsed in front of me?”

“Maybe.”

But what can I do?

“I’d rather die than fall to you.”

At my words, Escario frowned for the first time.

“Do you know what happens if you die? All those bugs in the human realm will meet their deaths at my hands.”

“Huh. Do you think that’s how it’ll go?”

I stared straight at Escario.

You can’t even imagine.

“Even if I die.”

Yes.

“Even if you kill me.”

I have faith.

Even if it’s a bit foolish and naive, still.

In a corner of my heart, there’s that guy who protects light and justice.

Stupidly, for ten years, forgetting even his true form, stubbornly moving for the sake of people.

“Eve will definitely kill you.”

“…Fine. Let’s see. When you open your eyes, a new world will be waiting.”

Escario raised his sword.

Huh.

Is this the end?

I closed my eyes tightly.

Just like this, I’ll become his puppet…

But no matter how long I waited, nothing happened.

“Lord, my older sister often said something.”

Sohee’s voice came.

Hearing that voice, I opened my eyes slightly, and Sohee was standing there, holding her scythe, blocking the sword that was about to strike me.

“Sohee…?”

You came just in time.

Thank goodness.

“Step aside, you’re just an escort, you shouldn’t be here.”

“That’s the difference between you and my older sister. My older sister never treated me like that.”

– Clang!

The scythe pushed the sword away with force, and Sohee kicked Escario.

Whether he was hit or not, Escario stepped back.

“If you won’t step aside, fine.”

Escario’s voice came. But a little faster, Sohee’s voice came.

So low that only I could hear.

But a voice I couldn’t understand.

Sohee was chanting.

“You, what are you…?”

Black liquid started to drip from Sohee’s hanbok.

The black liquid dripped from the hanbok, turning the collar, shoulders, jacket, and skirt slowly white.

The black liquid that dripped from the hanbok began to soak the ground.

All black, black, black, spreading across the ground.

“What are you trying to do…! No, how can you use Dark Magic Power on a Full Moon Night?!”

Escario’s urgent voice came.

From where I was sitting behind Sohee, I couldn’t understand what was happening, but judging by Escario’s voice, something completely different from his expectations was unfolding.

“You’re even more foolish than I thought. You don’t even know that the Full Moon Night can’t block the Holy Name Ritual…!”

– Whoosh!

Suddenly, a black curtain rose from the ground.

The curtain rose high into the sky, swirling and eventually covering the entire area like a dome.

A space of complete darkness where even moonlight disappeared.

In this pitch-black space where I couldn’t see an inch ahead, Sohee’s voice came to my ear.

“Older sister. I will threaten him to open the gate. Please escape alone.”

A very small, tiny voice that only I could hear.

“What…?”

Even as I exclaimed in shock, I couldn’t see Sohee’s figure.

In the darkness where nothing was visible, a bright light flashed from one corner and then faded.

“It’s useless…! In this Dark Heaven of Sohee’s Holy Name Ritual, no light can exist without my permission…!”

Sohee’s figure, holding two scythes, appeared for a moment and then disappeared, followed by the sound of swords and scythes clashing.

“Ugh, you, you…! Such a strange technique…!”

Escario’s voice.

“Saving techniques for later is just foolishness!”

Sohee’s fierce voice.

“Ugh!”

Again, Escario’s groan.

“Open the gate…! Now!”

“You, you!”

“Will you open the gate, or will you be killed by me?!”

In this situation where I couldn’t see anything.

What should I do?

In this unpredictable situation, I was just frustrated.

“You… you won’t return safely…!”

“That’s what I want…! Open the gate now!”

“Ugh!”

And then, a blue gate opened with a loud sound in one corner.

In the blue light, Sohee was holding Escario from behind with one hand, threatening to cut his waist with the scythe, and with the other hand, threatening his neck with another scythe.

Escario, having lost his original weapon, was struggling helplessly against Sohee’s threats.

“Older sister, please go!”

“Sohee, what about you?!”

“If you go, I will too! Please go!”

Now was not the time to hesitate.

I moved as if waiting, barely getting up and starting to run.

Only when I reached the gate did I look back at Sohee.

“Go quickly! Don’t hesitate!”

“Sohee, you have to come quickly too!”

“Go quickly!”

Leaving Sohee behind, as I jumped into the gate, Sohee’s voice came to my ear.

“Tell Kabe I’m sorry I couldn’t make her more snacks…”

What…?!

At those words, I turned back, and what I saw was the gate slowly closing and finally shutting completely.

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