After Isavel left, Merrick’s figure vanished along with the dissipating magic.
Just as Yuri tried to get up and run, Leanna’s longsword was already at his neck.
Without any dignity, he dropped to his knees at once, tears and snot streaming down his face.
Leanna frowned, pressing her sword a bit harder and nicking his skin. “Your name is Yuri, right? Have you decided how you want to die?”
“N-no, don’t kill me, please! I—I had no choice! Taking Teresa away was an order from the family, I—I was forced into it!”
It looked like Yuri wanted to hug Leanna’s leg and beg for mercy, but the sword at his throat forced him to stay put, not daring to move.
Of course, Leanna wasn’t about to trust him just because of what he said.
“Oh? Your attitude before didn’t exactly look like you were forced, did it?”
“I—I…”
When Teresa walked over, Yuri hurriedly turned to her, begging,
“Teresa! I never betrayed your parents! I was forced, they threatened me, you—you remember when we were little, right? I used to sneak you treats…”
“You can go.”
“Teresa?!”
Teresa’s face was calm, unmoved by Yuri’s pleas, but her decision still left Leanna and the others baffled.
“Teresa, why are you letting him go?”
Pella was furious, but Teresa only shook her head at her, then looked at Yuri and said quietly, “Return to the Preston Family.”
“Thank you, thank you! Lady Teresa, you’re so kind!”
Leanna withdrew her sword from Yuri’s neck.
After bowing his head to the ground over and over, he scrambled away into the nearby forest as if terrified Teresa might change her mind.
He’d already been scared out of his wits by Isavel.
Lord Merrick of the Preston Family had always been his greatest source of confidence, the foundation that let him act arrogantly even in the Capital of the Ost Empire.
But today, all that confidence had vanished like smoke.
Divine Family? Divine Grace? Demigod?
What a joke.
They’d hidden away for so many years, the world outside had changed completely, and the power they once took pride in was now nothing but brittle glass.
Watching his figure disappear from sight, Teresa lifted her head, gazed at the sun above, and explained,
“When I have the power to take revenge, I’ll go back to the family myself. For now, I’ll let him live a little longer.”
Though her voice was soft, it was unusually resolute. Pella walked up, giving her chest a solid slap.
“Here, your badge. You dropped it.”
Teresa hurriedly caught the badge as it slid from her chest, fumbling a bit.
The cold metal burned her palm, and as she looked down at the badge she’d once left behind with her own hands, her fingertips trembled slightly.
“Pella… Sorry.”
“Hmph, liar. I’m not the only one you owe an apology to.”
Pella crossed her arms and gave a haughty snort, holding her chin high.
It was a rare moment to see their squad captain looking guilty—she wasn’t about to miss it.
But, well…
“Forget it. I won’t hold it against you today.”
She stretched her hand toward Teresa, whispering,
“Come back, Teresa.”
Looking at the small hand before her, as if taking part in a solemn ritual, Teresa pressed the Rose Knight badge firmly over her heart.
Then she placed her hand in Pella’s and nodded gently.
This time, she would not let go again.
……
Night. Oracle Hall, in the Saintess’s resting room.
Renia was reporting the latest news to Isavel.
“Miss, most of the Norwich Empire’s agents in the Capital have been dealt with, but a few escaped. Her Majesty the Queen is still ordering the hunt for them.”
“Mmm. The Preston Family was able to learn about Teresa so quickly—all thanks to those agents.”
With a trace of mockery, Isavel sighed.
“I just wanted to properly train the Rose Knights. Why does it have to be so difficult?”
She still couldn’t understand it: the Rose Knights were the only hope of resisting the Abyssal invasion.
These people could at least not help, but why were they actively sabotaging her efforts?
Could it be… had they already formed some connection with the Abyss?
She rubbed her temples. In fact, Isavel almost hoped they really had.
If that was the case, she could use the Goddess’s name to make these people disappear from the world for good.
But unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.
At least, not yet.
After all, the Abyssal seal hadn’t truly been broken, and the demons that had managed to slip into the human realm were only low-level ones—not nearly capable of corrupting hearts.
While Isavel was puzzled, Renia seemed to see things even more clearly.
“Not everyone is as noble as you, Miss. In their eyes, the fate of the world means nothing—they care only about their own interests.”
Actually, she’d realized this back when the Rose Knights attacked Sand Fortress: those so-called imperial nobles had gone so far as to stand with the Abyssal Demon just for their own gain and wagers, turning openly against humanity.
Utterly absurd!
If you asked her, the Oracle Hall was far too kind.
Such pigs, who betrayed all of humanity for their own interests, ought to be considered potential Abyssal Demons themselves—and burned at the Execution by Fire alongside the heretics who opposed the Saintess.
“By the way, are the instructors at Mills Academy ready?”
“They’re ready. They hope the Rose Knights will go to Mills City tomorrow. Once everyone is settled, they’ll set aside their other work and focus on teaching the knights.”
“Mills City, huh…”
Just from the name, anyone could guess it was a city founded by the Mills Family.
Propping her chin in her hand, Isavel considered for a moment, then agreed.
It was good for the Rose Knights to get out for a bit.
Keeping those girls cooped up in the training hall all the time wouldn’t do—after all, they were still young, and no one could lock away a heart yearning for the outside world.
As for the next goal for the Order of Knights, she’d already made up her mind.
In three months, everyone’s magic level must reach at least level 30. They would then represent Mills Academy to defeat Galwin Magic Academy and pass the Final Magic Examination.
“Come in, there’s no point eavesdropping out there.”
As Isavel spoke, there was a soft footstep outside the door, followed by a quiet click as the resting room door opened.
Upon seeing the girl enter, Renia stepped back and vanished from the room.
Cool moonlight fell upon the girl, draping her in a thin veil of white. Her pale blue hair shimmered and swayed softly, like ripples on a lake.
Isavel glanced at Teresa, composed herself, and asked with a hint of coldness, “What is it? Coming to see me so late—do you have something to say?”