Episode 60
Despite the ensuing mockery, Athanas remained unshaken, pointing his sword at her as he spoke.
"I am not standing here as a weak human."
A strange light began to emanate from the tip of Athanas's sword. But unaware of it, he continued.
"I am rely a parent who ca to save my child."
Flora felt fortunate she was pretending to be asleep.
'A parent who ca to save their child.'
Her past self, who had tried to push away soone so devoted to their child simply because they were a Lucifer descendant, now felt foolish.
'It's impressive that he can say sothing like that without any sha.'
Even after so much ti had passed, humans were still full of fascinating traits.
Flora recalled why she had beco interested in humans.
'It was because of that fool who kept trying to take care of , even knowing I was a Great Demon.'
That truly foolish and brave human who persuaded his old friends, saying you shouldn't treat a child like this, and argued for accepting the enemy of humanity as a friend.
"It's okay, Flora. Everything will be fine. Father will definitely save you."
Benio swallowed his tears, adjusted his hold on Flora, rested her head on his shoulder, and began to move from his spot.
'There are two foolish blockheads over there and here.'
Thanks to Benio changing his position, Flora could open her eyes slightly again.
He had to deal with the ice dolls approaching him with awkward movents while holding Flora.
'Be reasonable. The difficulty level is too high, Janet.'
Swallowing words she couldn't bring herself to say, she subtly cast her gaze toward where she felt a massive power.
Even from a distance, she could see an imnse power swirling around Athanas.
'Divine power......'
No matter how much he was called the Hero of Disgrace, this was undeniable proof that Etar Lucifer was a Hero. The powerful divine power had been safely passed down through Lucifer blood to the present generation.
'If others could see it, it's a power shining so purely it would astonish everyone.'
Flora confird that the knights around her were too busy dealing with the ice dolls to notice, and she secretly peeked at the two who were fully focused on their fight.
'It seems Janet has noticed the divine power too.'
She saw Janet quickly stepping back from the power Athanas was emitting.
'Lucifer will always be Lucifer.'
As she quietly watched Athanas fighting desperately, she absurdly heard what sounded like Etar laughing beside her, as if he knew everything in her heart, asking, "How is it? Not bad, right?" making her chuckle inwardly.
'Yes, Etar. In this life, I think I'll try to be happy with them, just as you wished.'
How could she dislike these good people who, despite their fierce and threatening appearances, were pure, innocent, kind, and sotis naive, yet never lost their convictions? At least, Flora couldn't.
Flora belatedly realized that they had crossed the line she had drawn in her heart long ago. Then, her past self seed ridiculous.
Of course, that was only montary, and she soon felt proud.
'Yes, my weak blockheads. I have to protect you from the side. Who else will protect them if I don't?'
The world that would one day be destroyed and reborn needed good people like them.
And on a personal level, she didn't want to abandon them either.
Flora chuckled inwardly and simply closed her eyes comfortably. The end of this tedious play was approaching.
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·
Janet flinched and stepped back from the energy emanating from Athanas's body.
'Divine power?'
She hadn't expected divine power, one of the forces that could defeat demons, to burst forth from a Lucifer.
'Hmm, I thought they couldn't use divine power? Well, it's none of my business.'
What mattered now wasn't whether the Lucifers could use divine power or not.
The end of their enjoyable play was approaching.
'It's unpleasant, but his skills aren't bad. Desperately engaging in battle to save my master isn't bad either.'
But it still wasn't enough.
The one to end this play shouldn't be Janet, but Athanas.
'If he can't end it, I can't hand over my master.'
No matter how devoted he was, she couldn't allow soone incompetent to be Flora's parent.
This was, unbeknownst to anyone, no different from Janet testing Athanas alone.
She had long resolved that if the Lucifers failed this test, she would never hand Flora over, even if it was the king's will.
Holding a subtle expectation, Janet continued her attacks even faster than before.
In response, the rugged sword without a single special gem embedded in it was imbued with a resilient power.
As she moved around, dodging attacks, Janet deliberately showed her back at the mont his attack intensified, making an uneasy expression.
It was a fleeting mont of a few seconds, but Athanas's keen eyesight noticed where her gaze landed.
"I've heard demons have a core that serves as their weakness."
He muttered quietly.
"I don't know what you an."
"You'll find out soon."
Like a madman, Athanas began charging forward, only looking ahead. It was a rough advance without the slightest hesitation, even against Janet's movents trying to stop him.
"Stop, stop!"
He paid no mind to the countless wounds accumulating on his body or the ear-splitting screams. He just ran forward, then raised the sword he was gripping so tightly his hand veins threatened to burst, and brought it down forcefully.
Crash!
"Aaagh!"
As the sword struck the empty throne, a scream burst from Janet's lips as she chased after him.
Kwaang!
Sharp ice shards embedded themselves in the hand gripping the sword, but Athanas didn't stop.
The ice throne was already shattered, but Athanas swung his sword for a long ti as if he intended to erase the throne before him from this world.
Only when the ice throne had crumbled beyond recognition did his movents cease.
When he turned around, he saw cracks like ice forming on Janet's body as she sat collapsed on the floor, and black smoke enveloping her.
"What is your na?"
"I have no na to give a demon."
"Is that so?"
Athanas raised his sword. As if anticipating her end, Janet closed her eyes and muttered in a small voice.
"Ah, my king. Soday, I shall return to your side……"
The rciless sword ca down relentlessly upon her before her final words could even finish.
As Janet disappeared, the ice dolls moving according to her will stopped. And soon after, like puppets with their strings cut, they crumbled with a crash.
"I-Is it over?"
At one knight's question, silence fell over the ice banquet hall where they stood.
Athanas, who had been silently staring at the spot where Janet disappeared, let out a long sigh.
"It's over."
It was a short statent, but the resonance it carried was imnse.
The knights raised both hands high and shouted loudly, "Wooaah!"
Athanas let them enjoy their victory instead of reforming their ranks amidst the clamor echoing through the empty hall.
The mont he confird Janet's disappearance, he imdiately turned and hurriedly moved towards where Flora was below.
"Father......"
Benio, who had fought to protect Flora and sustained wounds all over his body, didn't show his pain and called out to him in a trembling voice.
"Flora's body is still so cold."
"Show her to ."
"Yes, yes."
Benio slowly lowered his trembling hands and carefully laid Flora across his knees.
"Flora, it's Dad. Dad is here."
A warm, scarred hand grasped one of Flora's hands.
"Please, please open your eyes."
The voice, pleading desperately from a kneeling position, made the surroundings fall silent again. The sobbing voice was filled with deep regret, and tears began to well up in everyone's eyes.
"Flora, please......"
Benio, holding her other hand, also began to pray fervently, just like Athanas.
Yet, Flora didn't stir.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry Dad was late."
Athanas was consud by deep regret.
If he had known this would happen, he would never have gone to the capital.
'This happened because I, not knowing my place, desired money.'
His resolve to change for his family's happiness had led to the worst outco.
'If only I hadn't left......'
The word "if" was like a curse showing an irreversible reality.
At the unattainable wish, Athanas's eyes reddened, and tears began to fall, drip, drip, from his one eye.
The warm tears fell onto the back of Flora's hand that he was clutching so desperately, and worked a miracle, as if by magic.
Flora's hand twitched and moved.
Feeling the movent in the hand he held, Athanas and Benio's eyes widened.
"……Ah, Oppa?"
The small voice that followed was unmistakably the voice they had so desperately longed for.
"Where is this place? Why am I......"
Before Flora's question could even finish, Benio pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Whoa."
And then, without hesitation, Athanas embraced them both.
"Sob, h-hic."
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