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216. Beggar Siblings – Sacrifice

“Oh, big brother. What is this…”

“Stay still.”

Leo embraced his younger sister, who was adorned with a dress with a deep neckline and luxuriously decorated with precious metals gifted by the nobles. Startled by the piercing screams and the chilling ominous flames engulfing the palace, Lena trembled like a baby bird pushed out of its nest.

Her sister had lost her youthful innocence and had transformed into someone heartbreakingly changed, but Leo held her close, ensuring she couldn’t look up. He gently patted her back and head.

Lena gradually regained her composure, recalling her brother’s efforts to tuck her in at their miserable home in the alley,

Drip—

Pus dropped.

“Oh, oh, big brother?”

“I’m fine, so just stay still…”

Lena twisted her body. Pus was running down her brother’s chin.

Yet he continued to hold me tightly, refusing to let me look up. Sometimes he pulled me away a few steps, and something poured into the space he vacated. Lena screamed.

It was something unrecognizable—blood or filth? She had no idea whose it was, but something strange occurred on the floor drenched in muck.

A monster.

Though she couldn’t see it clearly wrapped in her brother’s arms, it was a monster. Hideous creatures resembling cows emerged from the pool of blood, covered in grotesque veins.

“It’s okay. Close your eyes. I’ll… handle it.”

Amidst the fear and worry, the only thing Lena could trust was her brother’s calm whisper. She staggered along as he led her, passing through the shouts and slashing blades. At times, he wielded a sword while still holding her.

Despite keeping her eyes shut as Leo instructed, Lena knew the grand banquet hall was a complete disaster.

The horrific roars of monsters and the sounds of flesh tearing. Warm liquid splattered onto her cheek.

It was hell. Yet from somewhere, a holy choir echoed.

“Are there any sons and daughters of the holy Lord here! Grant us trials. We shall endure and become your pride, proving our lives. So, O Lord! Watch over us, as your children fight!”

“Jenia Jaqueri! If you’re back to your senses, come here!”

“Prince! Are you alright?”

“Take my sister away. Under no circumstances, no matter what happens, do not leave her side.”

Only then could Lena open her eyes. Her knight, Jenia Jaqueri, supported her, and she saw knights battling the monstrous figures she feared might haunt her dreams, priests chanting, nobles and handmaidens fleeing in all directions.

“Don’t look.”

But her view was soon blocked by Reb’s palm. Standing side by side, the brothers were drenched in blood. Lena realized that the two had been protecting her all along.

Reb patted Lena’s head and said, “Stay back for a moment. I’ll be back soon.”

…What a strange person. Acting as if I were his little sister.

He didn’t change his demeanor even after having known she was a princess. Her brother tolerated it.

Though she had thrown a tantrum when he wasn’t around, he merely dodged with a puzzled expression. Later, he’d return, mingling around as if nothing had happened, and his presence got on her nerves.

A filthy man. The only one who acted concerned but then ignored her was him. For some reason, she was annoyed enough to later pretend not to see him.

Led by Jenia, Lena exited the blood-soaked banquet hall. Beside the ballroom, priests were tending to those who had fled, as if they were waiting for them.

Only now did she notice the faces of fleeing handmaidens and nobles smeared with pus.

Round, like a brand, their shapes were all different, perhaps indicative of hooves. Inferring from the faces of several people, it resembled the shape of a cow’s hoof.

Lena was the only one to exit the banquet hall with a clear face.

“Princess! Are you okay?”

At that moment, the servant, Santian Rauno, who had been waiting outside, rushed over.

He seemed extremely worried about the princess’s safety, but Lena merely nodded and shifted her focus back to Jenia.

“Jenia. Are you alright? Your face…”

Jenia Jaqueri’s face bore an ugly mark. She lightly touched the burst of pus on her face and replied coolly.

“I’m fine.”

“Quick, get treated. You can’t let a woman’s face be ruined. There, priest, could you treat her as well?”

Thankfully, after treatment, the mark on Jenia’s face swiftly faded. As if it had never happened, her face was restored, and feeling relieved, Lena steadied herself and began to help restore order in the chaotic ballroom. She commanded the arriving knights and royal guards to return to the banquet hall and inquired about the well-being of the nobles she had befriended.

Murmuring and confusion gradually gave way to stability among the nobles. One noble, amid the chaos, spoke up.

“I have dealt with this rotten smell before. I’m sure everyone here has as well.”

At his words, the gathered nobles nodded in unison.

The odor emanating from the sick king. They pointed to the same person as the culprit without communicating.

Prince Eric de Yeriel.

Could he wield magic?

Though the method was unclear, there was no doubt that Prince Eric was the source of this calamity. Angered nobles ground their teeth, vowing not to forgive the prince for this ordeal.

The furious nobles expressed their gratitude to Princess Lena.

If it weren’t for the princess and prince’s return, things could have taken a dire turn. Even the nobles who had sided with Prince Eric pledged their defection. A noble, who had played a part in driving the two siblings away in the past, sought forgiveness along with excuses.

As Lena was surrounded by thanks from the nobles…

“Duke Rupert Tertan! Get away! How dare you approach the princess!”

A tall old man, Duke Rupert Tertan, was approaching. His back was hunched over, and he wore a blank expression. The duke momentarily swayed, and then, with a suddenly clear gaze, he lifted his head. He urgently warned in a pale voice…

“P-Princess, run away…!!”

Kuhhh!

The old man’s eyeball popped out. At the moment everyone was stunned by the sight of the rolling eye, a dark red mist burst forth from its empty socket, engulfing the duke.

*

Leo and Reb, who had safely evacuated Lena, turned back.

The banquet hall was a bloodbath.

Monsters with cow heads and knights waged a fierce battle all around. The palm of a minotaur, as large as a door, swung powerfully, sending a royal guard crashing into the wall with a single blow.

However, Leo and Reb assessed the situation optimistically.

It wasn’t only because they had grown numb to the bloodshed and carnage from the horrific outings they experienced. In fact, the situation wasn’t so bad.

“Indeed… Cardinal Berg’s presence was necessary.”

When the “cow eyes” showed up, they’d lose.

But it was different this time compared to when they faced Oriax’s eye; back then, everyone had recklessly charged the monster under its curse.

They thought sheer numbers would win out. However, Prince Eric de Yeriel had offered sacrifices to summon more monsters, resulting in a vicious cycle where more people died, only to become offerings again.

In contrast, now?

“Soldiers, stay back and pierce with your spears! We’ll aim for its legs, and when it falls, then charge!”

The knights were sane. Non-combatants had fled, and the knights commanded the guards as they systematically took down the rampaging monsters.

This was all thanks to Cardinal Berg. Leo and Reb looked toward the center of the hall, where the cardinal performed his sword dance, and above him, a holy figure soared.

The form of a white giant holding a sword and shield. The upper body of ‘Lachar’ was blocking a hole in the ceiling with his shield. Blood was pouring from the hole, streaming down as Lachar pierced Oriax, who had peered into the gap.

The eye, filled with rotten blood, burst when struck by the sword.

At that moment, those who had lost their sanity regained their senses. Though marks of the curse remained on their faces, they were incomplete.

“Let’s go. To finish this.”

– Squish, squish.

Reb and Leo crossed the banquet hall, now a morass of Oriax’s blood. In the midst of the chaotic fray, near the steps, they spotted Prince Eric, desperately searching for bodies to offer in sacrifice.

“You bastard! What the hell have you done?!”

No reason to talk.

Reb nodded slightly to Leo and lunged at the prince. Just as he was poised to strike the prince’s neck,

“Rov qab los!”

Eric’s shout sent him flying back.

As if expecting this, Reb attempted to regain his footing but lost his balance on the bloody floor and fell flat.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Now it’s your turn.”

Eric’s magic pushed away those around him. He couldn’t use it repeatedly.

Leo de Yeriel walked forth, grateful to his friend for trying to shield him from looking foolish.

“Ugh!”

Eric ground his teeth. Calmly drawing his sword, he searched for a monster to block his approaching brother, but the monsters were entangled with the knights.

“Look at me!”

– Flash

Eric’s eyes glowed red, and an illusory cow head flashed by. He seemed to attempt to cast a spell, but it didn’t affect Leo. With a gag, Leo steadied his sword.

“Wh-What…? Who… who are you?!”

I get how you feel. It’s just as bewildering as when I first met you.

With a light swing, but enough to strike, Leo swung his sword at Eric’s neck. It collided with a red orb barrier.

It was the protective shield Oriax had granted his apostle.

Previously, he had retreated as he could do nothing against it, but now it was different. Eric, who had looked relieved, was hit with horror.

[ Achievement: Swordmaster ]

Leo’s sword blazed white.

As if reacting, the shield enveloping Eric turned even more red. Leo stepped forward, taking a stabbing stance. Short breaths were released as he thrust the sword in fiercely.

– Kaang!

It was blocked.

Even though he struck fiercely with the Oblivion Blade, it wouldn’t break through the barrier.

Yet, while the shield cracked, his sword remained unscathed. If one thrust didn’t work, he’d do it a hundred times.

– Jong!

After four thrusts, the barrier shattered. With a pale face, Eric clutched a dagger.

Leo was prepared, bringing his sword down on Eric’s arm.

“AAAH!!”

He intended to leave no room for negotiation. The moment the dagger fell away with his arm, he plunged the sword into Eric’s heart.

“Cough…”

How could it all end so emptily?

Eric de Yeriel gazed down at his chest. In the fading darkness, he saw the glowing sword and his mother’s necklace.

Mother.

She was a proud and good person. She raised her voice to boost the spirit of her son, who had been sidelined in the line of succession, soothing him as he tried to mask his sense of defeat with a smile. As they were literally exiled from the Tertan Duke’s territory, she said, “Let’s think together about how we should live from now on.”

She had a strong sense of self. Yet I realized that she had bent her will for her soft-hearted son. In that regret… I accepted the offer with fervor.

= Ua 되어라, tus 사도가. Kuv 왕이 되게 pad 도와주 vajntxwv. 단, 가져가겠다. 귀 가장 소중한 ntsig 대가로 koj rov qab.

Oriax’s words were hard to comprehend. Although I hadn’t learned it yet, I somehow managed to mimic his magic a bit, but then I couldn’t.

“Yes. Alright.”

Holding the dazzling red gemstone, I made the deal. I refrained from revealing my name, but at the moment the contract was struck, an overwhelming violence erupted within me, and I sought out my mother.

However, she was nowhere to be found. When I realized I had sacrificed my mother…

I felt no sadness. Only rage surged up, vowing to take revenge on the one who had made me this way.

Leo de Yeriel.

Yes, it was I who killed your mother.

If the queen had not given birth to you, all of this would not have happened. I cursed the queen, who was nearing the birth, and she died while giving birth. The trapped princess was born by splitting open the dead queen’s belly.

Shall I confess one more thing?

I intended to kill you too.

Yet, the curse did not affect you. Lord Oriax had said it wouldn’t be easy for children birthed under the gods’ favor.

Ha—!

You were born with everything I could not possess. Blue hair and golden eyes. Yet now I see…

“You were the sacrifice.”

If that’s the case, there’s a way.

Eric de Yeriel raised his remaining left arm, grasping the blade that pierced his chest. He willingly poured out his fading life force and squeezed out a cry.

“Oh, Lord Oriax. Accept this offering of a sacrifice…!”

This is my last gift. Damn little brother.

“What… what?!”

Leo took a step back in shock.

Even as Eric’s light faded, the counter for the achievement of killing royalty did not rise. As his exposed chest exploded with dark red flesh, Leo lost his sword, sent spiraling away.

Silence.

Monsters with bull heads kneeled down. They didn’t care whether a soldier stabbed a spear into their waist and deeply bowed their heads.

The knights and soldiers, who were just gaining the upper hand, were struck dumb, glancing back to the object of the monsters’ submission. Cardinal Berg, who had been continually performing his sword dance to block the hole in the ceiling, also halted.

The hole had vanished.

Flesh crawling with maggots.

With seventeen horns randomly sprouting from a half-melted bull head, the colossal pile of rotting flesh stood on four legs. The figure of a bull, blood sloshing about with no eyes, stared impassively at the humans…

Oriax.

Born from a banquet of slaughter and the madness of minotaurs, the descent of the most violent apostle in history had begun.