The cold wind howled fiercely, accompanied by booming thunderclaps. Rain relentlessly pounded the ground, turning the road into a quagmire as heavy steps pressed forward, one after another.
Blood from his wounds dripped continuously, drop by drop, staining the forest floor with a splash of red.
Gerard, whose face was battered beyond recognition and with one arm broken and powerless, could only let that limb swing erratically. Exhausted to the point of collapse, he gritted his teeth, struggling to stay conscious, breaking into a desperate jog in an attempt to escape—to survive.
Stay alive. I don’t want to die…………… I don’t want to die.
After the sudden turn of events, he was no match for the fully recovered Sieg. Held completely in the other’s grasp, he had no choice but to flee to save his life. Survival was paramount—women were just external things after all.
He glanced back from time to time, eyes fixed on the powerful man behind him who advanced like the Grim Reaper. Each step seemed to herald death drawing ever closer. This was none other than Sieg, the Hakimi Demon King, who held the upper hand.
Ignoring the rain soaking his body, Sieg lifted his head and straightened his chest, expressionless as he followed Gerard leisurely, as if accompanying an old man on a casual stroll.
He wasn’t toying with his prey, nor was he complacent with his advantage. He didn’t have the hobby or boredom to let his guard down. The reason he kept some distance was fear that the other might choose a desperate, all-or-nothing fight. That would ruin the fun.
Even in his current state, Sieg was nearly comparable to his former complete form. The power of the Holy Water continuously nourished and repaired his body, making him stronger and more energetic with each strike.
Yet he was still somewhat wary of the hero’s desperate last stand……………..
Better to stay steady. Besides, he himself didn’t have much strength left either…………
The plan was to slowly drain Gerard’s stamina and patience. As long as the prey had a chance to live, there was no way he would fight to the death. He would keep running away, just like any man or beast.
“This is… really… so long.”
It was clear Sieg had been following for a long time. His tone revealed a trace of impatience, his steps grew heavy, and fatigue showed deep in his eyes. His clothes were tattered and ragged, proof that this battle had dragged on through countless hours and darkness, yet it was finally reaching its end.
Taking advantage of this lull, he silently sensed the silver-haired girl’s presence. Knowing she was still unharmed, he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. His gaze then locked back on the hero Gerard, who was still fleeing nearby.
Gerard, barely holding on, stopped and slid down against a tree, sitting heavily. He panted deeply, also staring fixedly at Sieg.
Clutching his wounds, blood continued to gush out.
His voice carried a hint of pleading, no longer caring about pride or desire. He even made promises he would never have dared before. As long as he could live, what did Emilia matter…………………
“Please, spare me, Hakimi Demon King. I swear I won’t come after you anymore, nor Emilia, and I won’t speak a word of you to the outside world. Really, I can make a contract. You know contracts bind strong warriors like us tightly. The cost is huge, and breaking it is nearly impossible. You should feel assured now.”
“You said some pretty sweet things before, about not being able to live without Emilia……………. Looks like it was just empty talk. But this offer of yours is quite… interesting.”
Sieg shrugged and teased casually, standing silently in place without closing the distance. His arms crossed over his chest as he quietly scanned the surroundings for ambushes.
He didn’t seem surprised. He probably understood that, at his core, Gerard was selfish and self-centered. Saying such things now was not unexpected, even reasonable considering his previous desperate behavior.
The contrast made Sieg chuckle.
After a pause, he gave a slight nod, as if not rejecting the offer, though at this point there was no reason to stop. His real intention was to play a particularly ruthless trick.
“Alright, Gerard, let’s shake hands and call it a truce. I’m tired too. If we keep fighting, no one benefits. It’s really not worth it over a woman.”
He prepared to make his move again, but his words were only to lull Gerard into a false sense of security and lower his guard. After all, trickery and dishonor are the norm in battle.
Carelessly raising his hand to gather power, hidden by the rain, Sieg smiled and stepped forward as if genuinely ready to make peace.
Then, suddenly, a light strike cleaved the unsuspecting Gerard—and the surrounding trees—into two halves. It seemed all was over; the hero no longer existed. Dust swirled around them.
Before the dust settled, Sieg quietly added one last remark.
“Gerard, watch yourself in your next life.”
He pinched his fingers and frowned.
“Something’s off. He escaped again? He really is like an eel.”
Just as he thought it was over, Sieg sensed something amiss and glanced toward a figure flashing not far away.
It was the familiar scent—Gerard had once again escaped death.
If only he had used half that will to survive on Emilia, or sought redemption for her, he wouldn’t have ended up in such a pitiful state.
His thoughts cut off abruptly as he dashed after Gerard.
The cat-and-mouse chase resumed: Gerard ran, Sieg pursued, until the hero was finally cornered.
Everything had been going smoothly—until an unexpected man appeared who shouldn’t have been here.
The Duke Ole of the Empire appeared before them, holding an umbrella. His elegant, lavish clothes and polished shoes didn’t soil even a speck of mud. A faint, knowing smile played on his lips, yet his overall demeanor was grim. He seemed rather pleased with the scene before him.
The three seemed to have different objectives, but all were connected by Emilia. Truly, she was a woman burdened with sin—in every possible way.
Her excellence in every aspect, though flawed, only made her more alluring. Naturally, she attracted many worthy men, Duke Ole being one of them.
Soon his low voice echoed through the storm, rain and wind breaking the fragile balance of the scene.
“Good evening to you both. His Majesty Gerard, I have come to escort you home. Though, your condition looks quite poor…………”
Before he could finish, Gerard, as if seeing a savior, scrambled over and clung to the duke’s leg.
He had no strength left. The continuous fighting and endless running had drained him completely.
Moreover, he had been poisoned by the enemy. His situation was dire.
“Save me! Save me, Duke Ole! You did well, really well. Take me away, quickly!”
Perhaps realizing something, he glanced at Sieg, who was just as exhausted.
That meant… well, this was a good opportunity.
Shouting with newfound confidence, Gerard regained hope of reclaiming Emilia.
Staggering to his feet, he ignored the meaningfully smiling Duke Ole and raised his hand to issue a commanding order as usual.
“Duke Ole, let’s join forces to take back Emilia, together…………”
But before he could finish, blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
Lowering his head, a bloodied hand pierced his chest. Excruciating pain surged through him, yet he couldn’t utter a sound or move even an inch.
He could only watch himself die helplessly.
Normally, he could have broken free easily…………… But now, he was utterly powerless…………………
Damn it. If only I were at full strength………….. I definitely—
Feeling the hero’s power and life fading away, a dark voice whispered behind him, like a farewell dagger—Duke Ole’s words.
“Farewell, Your Majesty. You’ve become useless. You have no value in living anymore. You’re far less capable than I expected—more a failure than a success. No wonder everyone hates you, you worthless piece of trash.”
It was clear he had prepared many contingency plans against Gerard, yet none had been used. The situation was far worse than he had predicted.
Duke Ole’s gaze fixed intently on Sieg not far away.
Sieg met his stare with a smirk and, without hesitation, raised his middle finger in reply.