Chapter 71 : Square (7)

The statue crumbles.

With a deafening crash, it shatters into rubble.

In this world, there are many religions, each with its own unique beliefs. Religious followers adhere to their doctrines and worship their gods.

But despite their differences, religions that venerate statues share one unwritten rule:

Never destroy the statue.

For religious devotees, the statue represents their god. Thus, they care for it with utmost devotion.

Even across different worlds, this rule remains consistent. In the Faith of Origin, crimes involving the destruction of statues are met with the harshest punishment.

And yet, just now, I destroyed one.

“Oh my, destroying a sacred statue? You nearly caused a catastrophe! Hey, Ruina, are you sure this is okay? Isn’t this blasphemy?”

Kairen emerged from the smoke left by the crumbling statue, taunting me.

Yes, it’s absolutely blasphemy.

But so what?

After my battle with the Hero, the people behind me must have realized I’m a demon. That alone is already a grave sin against the Faith of Origin.

So, it doesn’t matter. Adding blasphemy to my list of sins changes nothing. In fact, once you’ve broken the rules, breaking more becomes easier.

“Shut up,” I said coldly.

“Aw, why so harsh? Don’t we share a special bond?” she teased.

I didn’t bother replying. Instead, I raised my hand and spoke sharply.

“Release Reina right now.”

Reina was still in Kairen’s grasp. I had deliberately commanded the giant to strike the statue’s body to free her, but it hadn’t worked.

“Why should I?” Kairen asked, her tone dripping with mischief.

I tried to stay calm as I replied, “I won’t ask again. Let go of Reina this instant.”

“And if I refuse?”

I didn’t answer. Instead, I whispered a single word, and sparks began to dance at my fingertips.

“Oh, so that’s how you want to play? Fine, then,” she said with a sly grin.

Kairen tightened her grip on Reina and pressed a blade to her neck.

“Hey, Hella, are you really in a position to make threats? Or do you trust your magic that much?”

“If you let her go now, I’ll let this slide,” I offered, keeping my voice steady.

“Ha! Sure, your magic is fast and strong, but what do you think will be quicker? Your spell or my blade? Don’t you want to find out?”

She laughed mockingly as she pressed the knife closer to Reina’s throat.

Instinctively, I took a step forward.

“Ah, ah, ah! Move one more step, and I’ll stab her right away,” Kairen warned, her voice sharp.

I clenched my teeth as I stared at the blade hovering dangerously close to Reina’s neck.

My body reacted instinctively—

My hands trembled.

My vision blurred.

My heart raced, and my breath grew ragged.

The world around me darkened as my focus narrowed to Kairen and Reina.

And then, I heard a voice.

“Hela, you’ll never be able to forget me.”

Reina’s voice—taunting, haunting—echoed in my ears.

“The taste of her blood was exquisite,” another voice sneered.

Voices from my past, voices I never wanted to hear again, assaulted my mind.

“Hela, you’ve failed to protect her again.”

“Shut up!”

“Is this how you repay your faith?”

My vision cleared, and two figures burned into my mind.

A young girl with long black hair.

A man with long white hair.

The girl was trembling in fear as the man loomed over her, threatening to kill her.

“Kneel,” the man commanded.

My breath caught as he spoke.

“Why do you always lose what matters to you? It’s because you’re weak. You were too weak to resist, and so everything was taken from you.”

“No,” I muttered.

“You’re still weak.”

“No!”

“And so, you’ll lose again. Just like you did back then.”

“Shut up!”

“What’s so funny? You can’t do anything, can you?”

“No!”

“You’ll lose again, just like before.”

“I said, NO!”

My vision flipped, widening as the faces before me shifted.

The black-haired girl’s hair turned white, and the man transformed into Kairen.

Gasping for breath, I felt lightheaded, as though I’d been holding my breath the entire time.

I panted like a starving beast, inhaling greedily.

Through the haze of desperation, I made my decision.

I would use the strongest magic at my disposal.

The kind of magic that changes the world itself.

“Someday, when you reach that level, let me know what it means to change the world,” a mentor’s words echoed in my memory.

Back then, I hadn’t understood. But now, I did.

I shouted, “As the heir and master of the runes, I command you! Runes, take your price from me and fulfill my wish!”

Rune Magic.

The highest form of magic, known to rewrite the very laws of reality.

With Rune Magic, anything is possible. Even the impossible can be made real by twisting the fabric of the world itself.

This power allows me to command the world’s rules, to alter them as I see fit.

But such power demands a price:

First, Mana. Writing a single rune consumes half my total mana.

Second, the Soul. Each rune saps the energy of my soul.

Third, Consequences. Every rune requires a fitting price to be paid later. Failing to pay results in death.

And there are rules to follow:

1. Do not harm life.
2. Do not attempt creation.
3. Only manipulate physical forms.

Despite these restrictions, I would use it.

Because this power was worth the cost.

I wished for one thing:

That the woman before me, Kairen, would be rendered completely immobile, no matter what she tried.

As I invoked the spell, searing pain erupted in my arm.

Black symbols etched themselves into my skin, glowing ominously.

The runes were ancient, unfamiliar even to me, despite my vast knowledge of languages.

Because these weren’t human or demonic letters—

They were the runes of an ancient civilization.

As the first rune appeared, my mana drained rapidly.

“Guh!”

Blood trickled from my mouth.

The second rune emerged, bringing a fresh wave of unbearable pain.

It felt as though my heart were being squeezed by an unseen force.

And yet, I continued.

The letters emerge, one by one, carved into my skin with searing pain.

It feels as though my flesh is being branded, a red-hot iron pressed into my arm.

Yet, I do not stop the magic.

The inscriptions continue to appear, and so does the excruciating agony.

I have no idea how much time has passed, but it feels like an eternity.

Finally, the seemingly endless torment comes to an end.

Barely holding myself upright, I glance at my arm. A sequence of symbols is etched into my flesh.

Calmly, I read them and smile.

“Success.”

The runic inscription reads: Kairen Canis shall not move, no matter what she tries.

“What are you doing? Are you even listening to me?!”

Kairen’s voice cuts through, tinged with irritation and disbelief.

I smile at her.

Everything is ready now. All that remains is to execute.

I take a step toward her.

“If you take one more step, I’ll stab her! I’m serious! Stop!”

Her voice rises with every step I take, but I ignore it.

“Fine! If that’s how it is, then let’s see! You don’t need this girl anymore, huh?”

Kairen’s blade presses closer to Reina’s neck.

Still, I keep walking.

“This is your fault! You didn’t listen to me! You’ll regret this forever!”

As she raises the blade to strike, I mutter softly:

“Execute.”

In that instant, Kairen’s body freezes mid-motion, as if she’s become a lifeless statue.

I take another step forward.

Standing before her, I look into her frozen eyes. Her gaze is vacant, her expression locked in place, as though time itself has stopped for her.

Gently, I grasp her hand—the one holding Reina—and begin to pry her fingers away.

Though stiff and resistant, her hand yields with some effort, as if she’s unwilling to let go.

“She’s still conscious,” I think.

With a bit more force, I manage to free Reina from Kairen’s grasp.

I lift Reina into my arms and examine her closely.

Fortunately, she appears unscathed. Her pale skin is flawless, her petite face serene, and her snow-white hair glimmers softly.

She seems to be sleeping peacefully, her breathing steady, her eyes closed.

But the faint murmur that escapes her lips betrays her unease.

“Don’t leave me… Please, help me… I don’t want to be alone…”

I hold her tightly and begin to walk away.

As I move, I look for someone who can keep Reina safe while I deal with Kairen.

“Stop.”

Arthorius steps in front of me, his spear pointed at my chest, his eyes filled with distrust.

“Move aside.”

“I can’t do that. You’re—”

Bliss interrupts, her voice firm.

“Let her pass, Arthorius.”

“But, Bliss!”

“Just do it. It’s fine.”

Reluctantly, Arthorius lowers his spear and steps back.

I walk past him and approach Bliss.

“Ruina, you saved me once,” Bliss begins, her voice trembling slightly.

“Honestly, I’m shocked. You’re using demonic magic… Normally, I’d be compelled to stop you or condemn you right now.”

“So, this is how it ends,” I think bitterly as I summon my mana.

But Bliss shakes her head.

“But I won’t. I trust you. You pulled me out of the darkness and saved me.”

She clasps her hands together and smiles.

I’m taken aback.

It had been a coincidence, really. I hadn’t saved her out of any noble intention. It had simply been convenient at the time—a matter of pragmatism.

And yet, to her, it had meant the world.

“You must have something important to do, right? Leave Reina to me!”

“Thank you,” I reply, carefully handing Reina over.

Bliss receives her just as cautiously.

With Reina safely in her care, I turn back to finish what I started.

As I walk, my eyes fall on the Hero, still lying unconscious. His wounds appear to be healed, no doubt the work of his companions.

I hear faint murmurs from them, but I ignore it and continue.

Reaching Kairen, I mutter under my breath:

“Release.”

In an instant, Kairen’s body begins to move again.

“What did you do to me?! This doesn’t make sense! Impossible!”

Ignoring her rant, I grab her by the neck and lift her into the air.

Her face twists in pain as she struggles, but I hold her firm.

“[Flame].”

A blinding light erupts as flames burst forth.

“Aaaghhhh!”

Her screams echo across the square.

And so, it begins.