NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 132
As Maren Burstian (Male) and the outsider (Female) faced off, their minds occupied with each other, I took a moment to check on the Knight Commander (Female).
Even in this situation, the Knight Commander had her head bowed.
But upon closer inspection, I realized her expression was different from the look of sheer terror she had earlier.
It was a look that, if I were to describe it, seemed like she was expressing pain while contemplating something.
“Commander?”
When I carefully called out to her, she only turned her eyes slightly to glance at me.
For a moment, I almost gasped.
Her gaze was unusually calm, quite different from her usual demeanor.
Now that I thought of it, she had been trembling until the moment she got slapped by the outsider, and it seemed that her shivers had subsided once she was forced to make eye contact with the outsider.
Bang!
At that moment, the Deputy Director’s (Male) great sword clashed with the outsider’s dual axes.
The impact made the hearth shake as if it were about to collapse.
As debris began to fall from above, I threw my body over the Knight Commander to shield her, having no protective gear.
The Deputy Director and the outsider were glaring at each other, their distance closing in as if they intended to consume one another.
Despite that, the outsider still wore a sly grin, as if she thought she had the upper hand against the Deputy Director.
I wasn’t oblivious to the meaning behind that gaze.
After all, if the God of War (Male) were to fall, it would be a loss for us.
Since she believed she held the reins of that God of War, she must have thought she could manipulate the situation however she pleased.
“Haaah!”
It seemed the Deputy Director’s strength was greater than the God of War’s physical form.
With their weapons locked, the Deputy Director unleashed a surge of energy and dragged the outsider out into the open beyond the hearth.
She must have judged that if they continued fighting inside, the hearth could collapse at any moment.
I felt a pang of guilt for leaving the Knight Commander behind, but since the one in immediate danger was the Deputy Director, I had no choice but to follow her outside.
“Commander, I will follow the Deputy Director!”
With that, I dashed out into the open.
But perhaps it was just my feeling.
I thought I caught a glimpse of a sad, hollow laugh briefly echoing.
#
Once outside the hearth, the clash between the Deputy Director and the outsider intensified dramatically.
The Deputy Director’s sword was vibrating so fiercely, it felt as if it resonated with the Meditatio, creating afterimages.
It transformed into something akin to an electric sword, producing a deafening sound with each clash against the outsider’s axes.
The outsider, battling against such a sword, was no lightweight either.
No, to be exact, it was the God of War’s physical form.
If she hesitated even for a moment, she might lose her grip on the axes. Despite grimacing, she somehow managed to endure, almost striking the Deputy Director’s throat.
“Deputy Director!”
It didn’t seem wise to leave things as they were.
From the Knight Commander’s (Female) expression, it was clear that both the Deputy Director and the God of War (Male) were on equal footing.
The God of War, now infused with the outsider’s strength, had the advantage at this moment.
I charged toward the God of War, swinging my sword, and even in the chaos, managed to deflect an axe directed at me.
Seizing that opening, the Deputy Director lunged forward with her sword, and yet again, I managed to block with my other axe.
But clearly, keeping up with the strength of two was proving difficult, as the outsider was trembling and gradually losing her posture.
Had she finally reached her breaking point?
“Graaah!”
With a loud roar, she suddenly spread her body wide, propelling herself backward with force.
It wasn’t strong enough to throw off my balance fully, but it allowed the outsider to create an opening.
Upon recovering quickly, the outsider wore a relaxed expression.
“How long do you think you can capture me, you foolish girl? Do you still not realize that even attacking with intent to kill leaves your odds in doubt?”
It seemed the God of War didn’t care to hide her identity anymore, her exaggerated dialogue causing the Deputy Director to grit her teeth.
Having had her identity revealed, perhaps she intended to take us down with her.
What a malicious outsider.
But I couldn’t deny that her words were all too realistic, causing both the Deputy Director and me further distress.
The God of War’s physical form was far too powerful to capture.
Even if we managed to restrain her, she would somehow escape and turn on us.
And the crux of the problem was how to extract the outsider from that body.
“Deputy Director.”
“What’s with your gaze, Tanton (Male)? Are you suggesting we give up on the God of War? We were nearly successful just now! If we bind that body and extract the outsider…”
“How do you intend to extract the outsider?”
In response to my question, the Deputy Director gritted her teeth.
“That’s…”
“It’s the worst possible idea, but… if we retain control over that body, it’s nothing more than skin…”
“Stop!”
The Deputy Director shouted, cutting off my words.
When had she last displayed emotions so openly, having lived with such suppressed feelings?
But it was unavoidable.
At this point, we had no way to stop the outsider.
I knew how deeply painful it was to lose a comrade right before my eyes, especially to have to do it by my own hand…
But to protect Rondan, to prevent a greater loss…
This was the only way.
“I extend my regrets, Deputy Director. But I have no choice…”
“No, there’s no need for that.”
As I spoke, resonating with the sorrow I sensed in the Deputy Director, a familiar voice rang out from behind.
No, the voice itself was very familiar.
However, the power within that voice felt oddly out of place.
Hearing that voice, the Deputy Director’s eyes widened, and she slowly turned to confirm the owner of that voice with her own eyes.
In the direction the voice came from…
“From now on, I will take care of it, Deputy Director.”
The Knight Commander appeared.
She moved with a distinct air, quite different from the clueless demeanor I had known.
“I’ve caused you a lot of trouble.”
With a nostalgic smile, the Knight Commander soon furrowed her brow as she glared at the outsider.
Upon noticing her, the outsider’s face contorted as if she were filled with unimaginable rage.
“Y-You filthy bitch! Are you pretending to be fine now? Because of you, countless comrades have suffered…!”
But the outsider couldn’t continue her rant.
The Knight Commander had reached her in an instant and seized her mouth.
For some reason, the outsider gazed down at the Knight Commander with an expression never seen before—one of pure contemplation.
The Knight Commander gently embraced the outsider.
“You, who suffer so much because of me. Now, return to where you originally belonged.”
As she spoke, both the outsider and the Knight Commander began to shine together.
Staring at the deep blue light, I felt momentarily lost in thoughts.
And could that be heralding the outsider’s end?
As soon as she saw that light, the outsider began to struggle violently.
“Let go, let go! I said, let go! How dare you end it like this? I won’t forgive you!”
But it seemed she could not break free from the Knight Commander’s strength, merely flailing about in her arms without the ability to flee.
“No, no! This can’t be how it ends for me…!”
Eventually, the outsider could no longer speak, her strength wilting away.
After maintaining her grip on the God of War for quite a while, the Knight Commander finally withdrew the light and laid the God of War flat on the ground.
The God of War’s complexion appeared so pale with her eyes closed, that it almost seemed she faced a dire conclusion.
The Deputy Director’s expression was a jumbled mess.
Questions regarding the Knight Commander’s condition, the fallen God of War.
These two emotions seemed to be consuming his reason.
To reassure the distressed Deputy Director, perhaps the Knight Commander said, “The God of War is alive. After about a week of sleep, she should return just fine.”
Hearing those words, the Deputy Director let out a deep breath, finally breaking free from the turmoil of conflicting emotions.
However, the sudden event that followed left the Deputy Director breathless once more.
In an instant.
Time stood still.
No one could open their mouths.
To some, it might look like a silly romantic comedy, while to others, it might seem like a serious romance.
But I could say this as I witnessed the scene.
What unfolded before my eyes was undoubtedly a heartwarming, touching story.
“Deputy Director.”
“Commander.”
The Knight Commander, having pulled the Deputy Director down into an embrace, closed her eyes quietly while smiling.
Despite her joyful appearance, tears were slowly flowing from her eyes.
“I’m glad I could keep my promise.”
In the midst of her tumultuous emotions, the Knight Commander spoke in a clear voice, “I’ve returned to your side, Deputy Director.”
The Deputy Director did not utter a single word.
She simply remained silent in the Knight Commander’s arms.
But I understood.
Through the moisture gradually spreading on the Knight Commander’s clothing, I could sense the Deputy Director’s current feelings.
“I’m sorry for making you wait.”
I quietly watched the God of War gradually regaining her complexion, allowing them to reunite.