“What happened?!”
As soon as they returned to Barungenia, Lin Siart rushed out from the lab.
“Beatrice!”
She ran to Beatrice, who had collapsed to the ground with Clay still in her arms.
“Clay, was it her that did this to you?”
“Yeah,” Clay answered quietly. “It was Nael.”
“She beat the crap out of her!” Lin shouted, clearly in disbelief, “You actually fought Nael directly? Beatrice isn’t even built for that kind of close combat…!”
“Lin,” Beatrice spoke as she looked up at Lin, who was lifting her up, “Being Dragonoid doesn’t mean I only specialize in magic.”
“No, but still—you should’ve avoided a physical fight with Nael!”
“The damage she took was far greater.”
Not just physically, but mentally as well.
“I got everything I needed, so that’s good enough.”
“Ugh!” Lin grumbled in frustration but didn’t argue any further, “Let’s go! First, we need to treat you!”
As Lin tried to help Beatrice walk, Clay stepped in and placed a hand on her other side.
“I’ll help too.”
Lin gave Clay a brief side glance before silently moving with him.
♧
“Can this ‘Doctor White’ guy be trusted?”
They had brought Beatrice to the infirmary located at the far end of the first floor of Barungenia.
The one waiting there was an eccentric demon—wearing white clothes, white shoes, white gloves, and even white-tinted lenses.
He seemed delighted by the arrival of a new patient and eagerly took Beatrice inside.
Clay, now seated on a long bench in the hallway, turned to Lin beside him and asked.
“Don’t worry. He may not seem all there, but he’s completely serious about healing. You’ll probably owe him yourself sooner or later.”
“Is that so?”
“Yep.” Lin looked at Clay with a slight pout, “You pushed yourself way too far this time. You haven’t even fully gained the Demon King’s power yet.”
“If I hadn’t stepped in, she would’ve pushed all the way into Barungenia.”
Clay didn’t want to see the place he’d finally come to call home turned into a battleground.
“The location of the fight changed, that’s all. I could’ve sent the rest of you out instead, but if we wanted to minimize damage, we had to bait her into dropping her guard.”
“Exactly—that’s why it was reckless.” Lin jabbed her finger at Clay, “To us, you’re a new symbol. Even if everyone else here has to die, you have to survive. If you fall, we’ll lose our rallying point all over again.”
“I’m sorry I made you worry that much.”
“W-Who said I was worried about you? I’m worried about our future!”
It was the same thing in the end, but Clay didn’t press her on it.
There was something more important.
“Lin.”
She blinked, startled by the sudden seriousness in his tone.
“W-What is it?”
“The restraint placed on my body… when can we resolve it?”
“Ah.”
Lin sighed and cleared her throat awkwardly.
“Well, um. About that… I don’t think I can handle it alone.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean… it’s technically possible, but I’d need some help.”
“Whose help?”
Clay asked plainly.
Lin sighed again, twisting her body as if trying to dodge the topic.
Seeing her reluctance, Clay spoke for her.
“You mean Goltche the Butcher, don’t you?”
“Ghk.”
Lin averted her eyes.
“T-That’s…!”
“You already brought him here to assist, didn’t you? Goltche’s already conducted extensive research on my body.”
At that, Lin’s cheeks flushed.
“I-It’s not like I couldn’t do it alone, okay?! It’s just—your body’s so complicated, so I needed more anatomical data, that’s all!”
“I know.” Clay replied calmly, “Given enough time, maybe you could’ve done it on your own. But I don’t have time to waste. That’s why I brought Goltche here ahead of time.”
“Ugh…”
“Beatrice also assigned my escort to help him retrieve anything he needed.”
Cardin.
Lin’s breath hitched as she finally noticed his absence.
“You—when did you…”
“It doesn’t matter. What matters now is that you and Goltche cooperate to produce results. So tell me—just as you said—if the two of you work together, can you finally lift the restraint on my body?”
“That’s…”
Lin turned her head, unable to hide her disgust.
But she had already said it.
Clay had set the board—there was no backing out now just because she didn’t like it.
“…Fine,” she muttered with a sigh, nodding reluctantly, “He makes me want to puke just by looking at him, but… I’ll endure it for your sake.”
“Thanks,” Clay said plainly.
Lin glanced away again, her expression sulky.
“But why don’t you ever use honorifics with me?”
“…Huh?”
“Did you speak the same way to the former Demon King?”
He asked out of genuine curiosity about her status, but Lin froze like a statue.
“W-What?!”
“I’m just trying to gauge where you stand in all this.”
“N-No, I—I will use honorifics! If you actually become the Demon King!”
Clay let out a soft sigh.
“So basically… you’re just doing whatever you want.”
“…”
“I’m not criticizing you. Even the Gargoyles only show me respect—they don’t speak with honorifics.”
Even though he had said it was fine, Lin still couldn’t bring herself to speak.
“Lin.”
“…”
“Just talk to me however you’re comfortable.”
He needed Lin’s help to truly become the Demon King.
“Considering the merit you’ll earn, I can allow that much.”
“R-Really?”
“Yeah.”
At that, Lin straightened her back confidently.
“R-Right! I mean, without me, you wouldn’t become the real Demon King!”
“You’re adorable.”
“D-Don’t treat me like a kid!”
While Lin yelled not to be treated like a child, Clay sank into his thoughts.
Nael.
He’d inflicted serious injury, but hadn’t rendered her completely incapacitated.
Next time they met, she wouldn’t be as careless as before.
If I’m going to eliminate all the hypocrites, I can’t afford this kind of mercy anymore.
The ones he most wanted revenge on… were his former comrades.
But they were also the ones who shook him the most.
Tighten.
Clay clenched his fist.
The time when forgiveness could be exchanged… is long gone.
That part of him had already sunk deep into the mud—back when he was buried without even a coffin.
Don’t beg for forgiveness so freely anymore.
That was nothing more than one-sided violence.
Clack.
How much time had passed?
The door to the infirmary opened.
♧
Those who arrived for Nael were none other than the Royal Guard knights of Ezer.
“Lady Nael! Are you all right?!”
They had been tracking her movements.
But they had witnessed the moment Nael was defeated.
Beatrice had been there—making it hard for them to intervene. But they had no choice but to try and save Nael. When they rushed forward, Beatrice had already withdrawn.
In a way, it was a stroke of luck.
“Take her, now!”
They hurriedly carried Nael away from the scene.
When they returned to the Imperial Palace, they were met by none other than the Empress—Tia. Royal Guard Captain Lilien was nowhere to be found.
“…As I thought. It was too much for her alone.”
Tia murmured while looking at the unconscious Nael.
Everything had unfolded just as she expected.
Nael had acted emotionally, so Tia had simply let her do as she pleased.
Calling for Yelena had been the right choice.
If Nael had returned unscathed, she could’ve been a valuable addition to their force—but that wasn’t how things turned out.
After all, their opponent had been Beatrice—once the strongest asset of the Demon King’s army.
The fact that Nael returned alive was a miracle in itself.
“I’m sorry… I’m the one who did this. I’m really sorry…”
Yelena, who had come to check on Nael’s condition, mumbled in a panic. She looked utterly terrified.
The knights fidgeted awkwardly as Tia gave an order.
“Take Nael away for treatment, immediately.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
They carried Nael off, practically fleeing from the deranged Yelena.
Tia watched for a moment as Yelena muttered to herself, trailing after Nael.
Then she turned and walked off.
One of the remaining knights stepped forward and reported what he had learned.
Clay might still be alive?
It was absurd.
But there was also word that Nael—who briefly regained consciousness while being transported—had babbled something about Clay not being dead, and that he had been brainwashed by Beatrice.
Clay…
Tremble.
Her breathing faltered.
There’s no way he’s alive.
Clay was dead.
She had confirmed his corpse with her own eyes.
It’s just someone pretending to be him.
Somehow—almost perfectly—Beatrice must have reanimated his body.
But if that was true…
Did that mean Clay’s consciousness still existed within?
“Hhk!”
Tia clutched her chest and collapsed to her knees.
Cold sweat ran down her pale skin.
“Y-Your Majesty!”
The maids rushed to her side in alarm.
She pushed their hands away, pressing her palms to the floor, bowing her head.
Only after letting the weight that crushed her flow into the ground did she find a shred of breath.
No… it can’t be… it can’t…
If Clay was truly conscious—if he remembered the entire process leading to his death…
Would he be able to forgive her?
Would he be nothing but a shell of hatred and despair, wrapped in darkness?
If that was the power Beatrice was using to move him, then…
Then she had no idea what she should do.
Clay…
She clenched her fists tight.
Clay…
Grinding her teeth, she rose to her feet.
The moment of choice had passed.
She had chosen to bear the weight of the crown and fulfill her duty as Empress.
There was nothing left she could take back.
Whether past or present, she would simply do what needed to be done.
“When Nael’s treatment is finished, inform me. Also, notify me immediately if there’s any word from Lilien.”
She issued her commands and moved forward. She waved off every maid that tried to follow.
Where she ended up was her bedroom.
Unable to take another step, she collapsed onto the bed.
“Ugh… ngh…”
She buried her face in the blanket, shivering, her groans barely audible.
Yet her breaths grew heavier, harder to contain.
Eventually, she lifted her upper body and revealed a face drained of all color.
She stood and walked to a nearby cabinet.
There, embedded in one compartment, was a cross symbol.
Clack.
She opened the small box inside.
What emerged was a necklace adorned with a golden cross.
“……”
The Hidden Artifact of the Royal House of Ezer.
It promised great power, enough to turn the tide in a crisis—but in exchange, it subjected the user to a constant trial by divine voice.
A judgment upon their greatest sin.
And she…
“…I didn’t do anything wrong. I had no choice. I really… had no choice.”
Her voice wavered, lacking conviction.
She simply clutched the necklace tightly in her hand.
(End of Chapter)