“Use you?”

Clay frowned, the question clear in his expression.

“What do you mean by use?”

“Exactly what it sounds like.”

Tia pointed to herself with one hand.

“I’m saying you can use my power for whatever it is you’re trying to do.”

“Absurd.” Clay’s face twisted with displeasure, “I don’t know how you came to possess the power of the Saintess, but I have no desire to use your strength.”

“Even if I’m offering it willingly?”

“Yes.”

Honestly, he had no qualms about using Yuru, Nael, or even the now-dead Yelena. But Tia was different. He knew full well how advantageous it would be if he could truly make use of her, but emotionally, he had no will to do so.

“So go back.”

Of course, fighting her here and now would bring more loss than gain. Clay had no intention of crossing that line either.

“I expected as much, but I had hoped you’d at least consider it.”

Tia seized that opening and pressed forward.

“If you refuse to use me, I won’t just walk away.”

She gripped Excalbren tightly.

“Then let’s settle this right here.”

At her words, the surrounding soldiers tensed. That’s when Neville stepped forward.

“Your Majesty—no, Lady Tia. If you didn’t come here knowing Clay was present, then you didn’t come intending to fight him.”

“Yes.”

Tia replied without emotion, as if that no longer mattered.

“That may be true, but now that it’s clear you’re moving with Clay, Neville, this outcome is inevitable.”

If Clay refused, there was no way she could proceed with any negotiations with Neville.

“If you don’t want to see me go wild here, then try convincing Clay instead.”

“…”

Neville looked helplessly at Clay, who let out a quiet sigh at the sight.

“Very well.”

He raised Syltanaro in his hand.

“Neville, withdraw the soldiers.”

“Pardon? But Lord Clay—if people see you fighting the Saintess…”

“Withdraw them.”

Clay was resolute. Neville, clearly troubled, still turned to the soldiers and gave the order.

“Fall back. Return to the inner palace.”

The soldiers exchanged nervous glances, but slowly began to retreat, recognizing they had no choice.

“Neville, you too.”

“Lord Clay.”

“I can’t protect you and fight at the same time.”

The Saintess was an unknown entity. Clay had only read about her in records and had no accurate gauge of how difficult she’d be to face.

“…Understood.”

Neville’s expression was dark as he withdrew along with the soldiers. Clay turned to Naiad.

“Naiad, possess Syltanaro.”

He intended to muster every ounce of available strength. Understanding his intent, Naiad quickly merged with Syltanaro.

“Potentia.”

He formed the sigil to amplify his potential and chanted the origin prayer to boost that power even further.

“You’re going this far, huh.”

“I have no choice but to.”

Clay looked straight at Tia.

“I don’t fully understand your power. But if you’re offering yourself like this, I can tell it’s no small thing.”

“Don’t you think I might be holding something back?”

“That’s possible. But it would only make me angrier.”

She had that kind of power, yet when he was dying, she didn’t intervene.

Maybe she had been thinking of Ezer’s future. Maybe she didn’t realize the extent of her power at the time.

Still, she could have stepped in without overthinking it. But instead, she had chosen peace and stability—refusing to speak up for an old friend’s unjust death.

“I don’t expect your help now. If you truly want to help, go back to your country and stay put. I’ll come for you eventually.”

“If you’re able to reach me.”

She locked eyes with Clay.

“Lutan is not an easy opponent. You may be able to surround Krata and isolate it, but even if you get inside, not even you can be sure of winning.”

“You saying I’ll lose?”

“There’s a chance.”

Tia raised her sword high into the air.

“If you can’t defeat me, then reconsider. I’ll give you plenty of time.”

KWAaaaaaAH!

A beam of light descended upon her.

Divine Blessing.

The blessing of the gods poured over her like a waterfall.

“Here I come.”

Tia’s figure vanished in an instant.

♧

The Saintess—just like the Hero—was someone chosen by divinity. In the eyes of the world, both were seen as superhumans imbued with the power of Elhaen.

KWAANG!

But from atop the ramparts, Neville watched as Tia instantly moved behind Clay—and could no longer doubt she truly was someone akin to the Hero.

‘Unbelievable.’

Clay stepped back to evade Tia’s strike. She rushed at him head-on. Already off-balance, Clay blocked her sword with his own and was knocked back.

CRACK!

He twisted midair and skidded across the ground, then swung his sword again as Tia charged once more.

Blades clashed, erupting in dozens of flashes. Light and magia mixed, making the surrounding air chaotic. Neville felt dizzy from the blinding flashes and thundering noise.

“Lord Clay…!”

He understood better than anyone how betrayed Clay felt by Tia. Becoming the Demon King was born of that betrayal—of his comrades not believing in him and sentencing him to death.

But Clay was pushing himself too far. He wasn’t fighting because he had to—he was fighting because he couldn’t suppress his emotions.

There was no expression on Clay’s face, but Neville could still sense the chaos raging within him.

He couldn’t swing his sword calmly. Every time Tia struck, his counterattacks were too rushed. It wasn’t like him.

Of course, Tia’s attacks weren’t clean either. She deliberately avoided vital points, choosing blows that wouldn’t cause serious harm. Her intention to avoid wounding him was all too clear.

KWAANG!

Even so, the damage was immense. The castle’s front gate was half-destroyed by their clash. This was too much to handle with no preparation. Two overwhelming presences colliding suddenly—it was more than anyone could bear.

‘I have to stop them…!’

This wasn’t the time to act on personal emotions. Neville descended from the wall and hurried toward the battlefield.

“Lord Clay! You must stop!”

Right now, he had to persuade him. If Clay stopped, Tia would as well.

“If this keeps up, everyone here will be caught in the crossfire!”

KWAANG! KWA-AANG!

Magia and divinity clashed, cracking the air. If it continued, the space itself might warp and explode.

“Lord Clay…!”

He shouted, but Clay didn’t seem to hear.

Just as Neville stood there, at a loss—

KUUUUUUUNG!

A sudden roar rang out.

CRAAASH!

A projectile came flying like a missile and crashed into the ground before Neville.

“Urgh!”

Dirt exploded around him. Neville shielded his eyes, gritting his teeth. When he reopened them, he saw a familiar woman standing before him.

“You two are already fighting?”

Athanasia

One of the ancient gods, and currently the head of the Athna Faith gaining influence in Yaphenon. She surveyed the scene, then immediately unleashed a wave of pressure at Tia.

“!”

Tia slashed the pressure wave apart with Excalbren. Seeing that immense power, Athanasia let out a breath.

“That’s impressive.”

But she didn’t back down. Instead, she leapt forward, closing in on Tia.

“I don’t know what you came here for, but you can’t just bully our Demon King~.”

BOOM! BAM!

She unleashed her signature pressure attacks, compressing the very space around Tia. Tia tore through several of the walls formed by the force—but in the end, she was flung away by the few she failed to block.

KWA-AA-AANG!

When Tia crashed into something far off, Athanasia turned to Clay behind her and asked,

“You okay, Demon King?”

“…”

“You haven’t even launched your campaign against Krata yet. Why are you wasting yourself like this?”

“This is a fight I need to have.”

“No.”

Athanasia looked him straight in the eyes.

“This isn’t the time for you to be fighting. You’re not even ready yet.”

Having been someone who acted purely on emotion when she was released from her seal, she understood it better than anyone.

“I get that you can’t forgive her. But you don’t have to thrash around like a madman just because you won’t forgive her.”

At her words, Clay’s body flinched. Athanasia continued.

“In the end, you’ll gain nothing and only hurt yourself. So even if you want to fight—do it later.”

She gently clasped his shoulder for a moment, then let go and walked toward where Tia had fallen.

“Tia de Mezelef.”

She spoke as she approached the dust-covered figure lying on the ground.

“Saintess of Elhaen.”

“I am not.” Tia rose to her feet, expressionless, “Don’t call me that.”

“You’re not Elhaen’s Saintess?” Athanasia chuckled.

“But the divine power you’re using—doesn’t that come from her? And still you say you’re not?”

“Yes.”

“Then whose is it?”

If that divine power wasn’t from Elhaen, then Elhaen wouldn’t have tried to reach her through the mark.

“I can’t tell you that now.”

“You could just admit it. That you’re using Elhaen’s power.”

Clay was also converting divine power into magia. So Athanasia had no intention of mocking someone just for using Elhaen’s power.

As long as she could use it for her own ends, that was all that mattered. Just because she disliked Elhaen didn’t mean she had to reject power that was useful.

“Still… it’s strange.”

There was one thing she couldn’t shake.

“You and Clay are both using divine power however you want… so why is Elhaen staying quiet? Do you know?”

“I do not.”

“Come on, give me something.”

“I really don’t know. And I’m not using Elhaen’s divine power. I’m only making her believe it is.”

Athanasia tilted her head.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You don’t need to understand.”

Tia replied coldly.

“For now, I’ll withdraw. But since I’m here, I’ll leave you with one thing.”

Her negotiations with Neville had failed. Even so, she left behind a unilateral proposal.

“I will attack Marfane one week from now.”

“What?”

“Do with that information as you see fit.”

With that, Tia turned and began to walk away. She glanced over her shoulder at Clay.

“Clay. It’s late, but I still want to say this.”

“…”

“I was a fool.”

A calm confession. A solitary utterance, buried in silence without reply.

“Then I’ll be going.”

And Tia descended the hill.

Clay watched her retreating figure.

For a long, long time.

(End of Chapter)

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.