Chapter 364 : Miss Violetta’s Request

After Senior Vyn was pierced in the left chest by my sword and slammed against the tree-wall behind him, the black iron dragon that had engulfed me slowly began to vanish. It wasn't just that one; the two black iron dragons that had been battling my six summoned dragons also disappeared.

"It's finally over," I said.

Then, I looked toward the six dragons I had created, which were still right there with me.

"Thank you for helping me," I said to them.

They didn't seem to understand my words, yet I thanked them anyway. Afterward, I dispelled the magic, causing all six of them to slowly fade away. Once the spell was lifted, I inspected my body for any injuries. Aside from the wound on my left hand—sustained earlier when I gripped Commander Dayne's sword—I was completely uninjured. I then healed the wound on my left hand using my healing magic.

~Full Healing~

The wound on my left hand vanished instantly upon being healed. Next, I turned my gaze toward Senior Vyn, who was standing and leaning against the wall where I had slammed him. I pointed my right hand toward him. The sword piercing his left chest suddenly pulled itself free. It then flew back toward me, and I caught it with my right hand as it drew near. After that, I sheathed the sword at my waist.

Once the sword was put away, I looked back at Senior Vyn. He had slumped down from his standing position and was now sitting on the ground, leaning against the tree-wall where he had been thrown. He had been able to remain standing—even though he was already dead—because the sword piercing his chest had also pinned him to the tree-wall behind him. Once the sword was withdrawn, Senior Vyn collapsed into a sitting position. A significant amount of blood was visibly pouring from the stab wound in his left chest.

After glancing at Senior Vyn, I turned my gaze toward Commander Dayne. He, too, was lying there with blood gushing from a stab wound in his left chest.

"Forgive me for having to do this to both of you. You are free now; you may depart in peace," I said.

Afterward, I looked toward the connecting corridor where Miss Violetta was battling Duchess Arnett.

"It seems Miss Violetta hasn't finished her fight with Lady Arnett yet. Before I go after Charles and Chloe, I should check on Miss Violetta's condition. She did tell me not to help her against Duchess Arnett, but she never said I shouldn't go to see her. I’ll simply go over there; if she’s still fighting Lady Arnett, I won't intervene, just as she requested," I thought.

I immediately hurried toward the corridor where Miss Violetta was located. Upon arriving, I was slightly startled to see the area carpeted in white flowers resembling lilies. Further ahead, I spotted Miss Violetta standing and gazing down at Duchess Arnett, who lay on the ground before her. I quickly approached her and called out once I was within range.

"Miss Violetta," I said.

Miss Violetta, who had been looking at Duchess Arnett, turned her head toward me.

"Rid?" she said.

As I drew closer to Miss Violetta, I could clearly see the state of her body. She was covered in numerous wounds—most notably, a stab wound right in the center of her chest that had pierced all the way through to her back.

"You have so many wounds, Miss Violetta," I said, slightly taken aback.

"Yes, I sustained these injuries while fighting her," Miss Violetta said, glancing back at Duchess Arnett, who was lying nearby.

"I will heal you right away," I said.

I then extended my right hand toward Miss Violetta.

~Full Healing~

Miss Violetta's body healed instantly once I restored it.

"As always, your healing magic is truly amazing. Thank you, Rid," Miss Violetta said.

"You're welcome, Miss," I replied.

"Hmm, seeing you here... have you defeated Uncle Dayne and Vyn?" Miss Violetta asked.

"Yes, I have defeated both of them, Miss," I said.

"It is truly impressive that you managed to defeat both of them. If we include King Albert, as well as Commander Marshall and Florian whom you fought earlier, just as you said that means you have defeated five individuals who had transformed into demons. Yet, after taking down those five, you don't look the least bit tired," Miss Violetta remarked.

"Well, let's just say I possess greater stamina and Mana than most people, Miss," I replied.

"Hmm, I see," Miss Violetta said.

After saying that, Miss Violetta fell silent and turned her gaze back to Duchess Arnett, who lay before her. Seeing her silence, I decided to ask her something.

"Are you alright, Miss?" I asked.

"Hmm? What do you mean? Of course I'm alright; you healed me earlier, after all," Miss Violetta said.

"That’s not what I meant, Miss. I wanted to know if you are truly okay after defeating Lady Arnett, your own mother. Seeing her lying there like that... it means you defeated her, doesn't it?" I asked.

"Yes, I defeated her. You don't need to worry, Rid. I am fine, even though I killed my own mother," Miss Violetta said, looking toward Duchess Arnett.

After that, Miss Violetta fell silent again. I followed suit, as I had nothing left to say. Besides, she seemed to want to focus on the body of Duchess Arnett—her mother—so I didn't want to disturb her.

After a minute or two of silence, Miss Violetta spoke again.

"Rid, since you happen to be here, I’d like to ask a favor of you," Miss Violetta said.

"What kind of favor, Miss?" I asked.

"You can use ice magic, right? Please freeze my mother's body with your ice magic. I want to keep her remains preserved because I intend to bury her once all of this is over," said Miss Violetta.

Upon hearing Miss Violetta's request, I immediately agreed.

"Very well, Miss. I will freeze her remains," I said.

I then walked over to where Duchess Arnett's body lay. I extended my right hand toward Duchess Arnett, preparing to freeze her. However, before I could do so, Miss Violetta suddenly stopped me.

"Wait a moment, Rid," said Miss Violetta.

She then raised her right hand to chest level. Suddenly, several white lilies—identical to the ones covering the ground here—appeared from her palm. She placed the white lily from her hand onto Duchess Arnett's chest, then gently positioned Duchess Arnett's hands so they rested against her chest, touching the flower.

"It is done. You may freeze her now, Rid," said Miss Violetta.

"Very well, Miss," I replied.

I once again extended my right hand toward Duchess Arnett to freeze her.

~Ice Magic: Ice Coffin~

I froze Duchess Arnett just as I had previously frozen King Albert. Her body slowly began to freeze over. Before long, she was completely encased in ice; Duchess Arnett was now inside a rectangular block of ice.

"I have frozen her, Miss," I said.

"Thank you, Rid," said Miss Violetta.

"You are welcome, Miss," I replied.

Afterward, Miss Violetta glanced back at Duchess Arnett, who was now encased within that block of ice. Moments later, she turned her gaze back to me and spoke.

"Where will you go from here, Rid?" Miss Violetta asked.

"I’m going to catch up with Charles and Chloe. The three of us were together before we were attacked by Lady Arnett, Commander Dayne, and Senior Vyn. I had told them to go on ahead, promising to join them once I’d defeated Lady Arnett, Commander Dayne, and Senior Vyn. Now that the three of them have been defeated, I’m going to catch up with Charles and Chloe... and head to where Lord Remy is," I said.

Lady Violetta looked surprised when I said that.

"Prince Charles and Princess Chloe are currently heading to that man's location?"Miss Violetta asked.

"Yes, Miss. After I killed King Albert—their father—they suddenly appeared where I was. They were shocked to discover that their father, who had been missing all this time, had suddenly reappeared transformed into a demon. I told them that Lord Remy was likely the one who had turned their father into a demon. So, the two of them immediately rushed off to where Lord Remy was, and I decided to go along with them," I said.

"I see. In that case, I’ll come with you to see that man," Miss Violetta said.

"You want to go to Lord Remy?" I asked.

"Yes. I have to see him; I have to make him pay for what he did to my mother and to Amelia—whose whereabouts in this labyrinth remain unknown. I will kill him with my own hands," Miss Violetta declared.

I could sense a murderous aura radiating from Miss Violetta after she said that.

-

Back on the first floor of the central building, where Duke Remy and Queen Kayana were.

Duke Remy was currently lifting Queen Kayana up and strangling her with his right hand. Tree branches growing from his back writhed around Queen Kayana as she was being choked. She struggled to break free from his grip using both hands, but she was unable to do so; she was weak and had run out of strength.

"No matter how hard you try to break free from my grip, you won't be able to escape, Your Majesty."

"I will keep strangling you until you suffocate to death—or, before that happens, I’ll impale you with the branches sprouting from my back. Which method of death do you choose, Your Majesty?" Duke Remy asked.

Queen Kayana did not respond to his question; she continued to struggle against his grip.

"So, you won't answer? In that case, I'll just choose for you. I choose to keep strangling you until you suffocate to death," said Duke Remy.

Duke Remy then tightened his grip on Queen Kayana's neck. Queen Kayana struggled violently, trying desperately to break free, but she could not shake off his hold. A few seconds later, she appeared increasingly limp; her hands no longer had the strength to pry Duke Remy's fingers away. Having previously been raised in an attempt to break his grip, her hands slowly fell back to her sides. Seeing that Queen Kayana was no longer clutching his right arm or fighting to escape his hold, Duke Remy smiled.

"It seems you are running out of breath. It is only a matter of time before you die," said Duke Remy.

Duke Remy continued to strangle Queen Kayana. Her eyes slowly began to close.

"The time has come, then. In that case, farewell, Your Majesty," said Duke Remy.

Duke Remy continued to strangle Queen Kayana with immense force. Her eyes were already nearly closing. However, just before they shut completely, a massive slash of water and an arrow wreathed in powerful fire magic suddenly struck at Duke Remy from the side. Both attacks hurtled rapidly toward him. Caught in the act of strangling Queen Kayana, Duke Remy was unable to react; he took the full force of both attacks, which sent him flying until he slammed into a wall some distance away.

*BOOM*

A cloud of dust and smoke instantly enveloped the spot where Duke Remy had struck the wall. Meanwhile, Queen Kayana—previously held in Duke Remy's grip—was freed the moment those sudden attacks hit him and sent him reeling. Now released, she lay limp on the floor, gasping heavily for breath.

As she lay there, two figures suddenly approached her.

"Mother!" cried the two—Charles and Chloe.

Weak and prone, Queen Kayana looked up at Charles and Chloe as they drew near.

"You two... why did you... come here?" she asked.

"We came to help and save you, Mother," said Charles.

"That's right, Mother," added Chloe.

"You must leave... right now. I don't mean to... underestimate the two of you, but... you won't be able to... help me, especially against that man. He... is a very dangerous person. Besides... you won't be able to... save me, because... that person won't let you," said Queen Kayana.

"That's right," said Duke Remy, who was still where he had slammed into the wall.

The area was still shrouded in a cloud of dust and smoke. Upon hearing Duke Remy's words, Charles and Chloe immediately turned their heads toward him.

"That voice... At first, I thought the person attacking Mother was someone else, since they were clad in full-body armor. But after hearing that voice, there is no mistaking it—it is Lord Remy," said Charles.

"Yes, you're right, Brother. So, it really was Lord Remy who did all this," said Chloe.

Then, the silhouette of a walking figure suddenly appeared amidst the billows of smoke still surrounding Duke Remy. The figure seemed to be stepping out of the haze. Moments later, the person emerged from the smoke, revealing himself to be Duke Remy. He appeared completely unscathed by Charles and Chloe's attacks; their strikes hadn't even managed to scratch the armor he wore.

"I never expected that the ones attacking and interfering with my attempt to assassinate Your Majesty would be her own beloved son and daughter. What brings you two here? Do you wish to die alongside your mother?" Duke Remy asked.

Upon hearing Duke Remy's words, Charles and Chloe immediately readied their weapons for an attack.

"Neither of us is going to die, and neither is our mother. The one who is going to die is you, Lord Remy!" Charles and Chloe declared.

-To be continued