215: The real end always comes from somewhere you never saw coming, huh.

Lucas, the bee-like demon, sprawled on the ground, unable to rise, his body smeared with fluids.

No one knows just how stubborn demons can be, but he’s beyond help now. He’s split clean in two, after all.

“Lucas-san. I’ve got so many questions for you.”

Kyle, shielded by Alphard and the others, stepped forward slowly.

“…And you, miss. I’ve got questions for you too.”

His gaze landed on Bela, the one they’d been ignoring until now. He’d noticed her earlier, but she hadn’t seemed like a threat—so they’d prioritized the demons and simply forgotten her.

In fact, she’d been squawking like a mad thing during the fight, so he’d deliberately blocked her from his mind.

“Long time no see, Mother… no, wait—Bela.”

“Kyle! It’s all your fault! All because of you!”

The Holy Knights pinned Bela to the ground, her wild with frenzy.

Hair a mess, eyes bloodshot, deep lines carved into her brow—no trace of her former seductive aura remained. Her fancy clothes looked like they’d been crying.

Kyle glanced away for a split second at the dirt-streaked stepmother face, then snapped his gaze back, dead ahead.

“Bela. You planned this war?”

“Yeah! All of you! You! The traitor Zaid! The one who didn’t follow, Raidock! Everyone—everyone gets to see hell!”

Raidock, right—Kyle’s father, Lord Bairoroad’s eldest daughter. Mother was her—Bela.

Kyle remembered now. Raidock had acted cold toward him, but that was just because she’d been scared of Bela.

They called her the Black Rose Princess for a reason—she was a sight beyond compare.

...But not a scheming princess, right?

Right. So when Bela fled the kingdom, she tried to take Layra with her. Got rejected by her obedient daughter, and now she’s bitter. Though honestly, she’s just bitter at Kyle and Zaid too.

I didn’t forget I cursed Kyle, Maina, and Zaid in the first place, did I?

...Ah. So she didn’t curse Layra because she’d been obedient all along.

How Bela managed to cast such a complicated curse without even a crest was a mystery. But I glanced at Lucas, and I knew the answer.

There’s no other way. This guy had to have helped her.

“Were you already linked to those demons in the country when you were here?”

Kyle seemed to have reached the same conclusion. He went straight to the point.

So what if I am! What about Alphard! Tell your soldiers to stand down!

Alphard, caught off guard, just gave a cold stare.

"Bel. You’re a criminal in this country. As the Holy Knights, we’re bound to apprehend you."

"I’m Lady Bairoroad, aren’t I!?"

"No. Your name’s already been struck from the rolls. And I hear you go by Valterk now?"

"Then you should show proper respect to an imperial noble!"

"I don’t care about foreign titles. You’re just a criminal in this land. A commoner."

"Y-you—impudent! Kyle! Unhand me this instant!"

Kyle grimaced.

"Seems we’re not in the mood for polite talk. Too bad. Alphard. Take her away."

"Yes, sir!"

Looks like Kyle’s made up his mind to treat his stepmother, Bella, as a criminal and haul her off to jail.

If she’d shown even a shred of remorse… or just cooperated a little… he might’ve given her some basic treatment, even if she was a criminal.

“Let go of me! You insolent fools! I am! I am the daughter of an imperial ducal family! The kingdom should be a vassal of the empire! I am—!”

“Alphard! Shut her mouth!”

Kyle shouted, pressing a hand to his chest.

“Yes! Clamp on that monkey’s muzzle!”

Alphard barked an order to his men instantly, gagging Bella.

I step beside Kyle, gently wrapping an arm around his trembling shoulder.

No words come. How much pain he must be in.

Then— a roar splits the air.

“AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Lucas, still trembling, forced his head up and threw something with his remaining arm.

I instinctively shielded Kyle and cast a defensive spell.

“Rainbow Barrier!”

“Rainbow Barrier!”

“Angel Twin Wings!”

“Rainbow Barrier!”

“Earth Rise Shield!”

“Rainbow Barrier!”

Not just me—defensive spells flew from every direction, wrapping around us like layered barriers.

“Damn it! “Thunder Strike Slash”!”

Raidock didn’t hesitate. He shattered the swarm of insects into dust, finishing them off. There’s no time for intel gathering now.

I stayed frozen, protecting Kyle, but felt no impact.

……?

Before I could react, Camille screamed.

“No! Not Kyle—he threw the needle at Bellar!”

I don’t think I’ve ever heard her scream like that.

“Shit! A silencing spell!”

All eyes snapped to Bellar. Closer look—there was a tiny needle stuck in her arm.

“Ah… ah… gah…!”

No time to react. One second she was coughing up foam, the next she just collapsed face-first into the dirt.

“…well, that’s that.”

“Damn shame.”

“Should we try to antidote it?”

I asked. Alphard checked her pulse, then shook his head.

All of it happened in an instant.

Not that we were careless—maybe we just underestimated the demon’s resilience a little.

“Lost a useful source.”

I muttered. Kyle slowly rose to his feet.

"There are still survivors from the Empire. A large number of soldiers surrendered. We might at least grasp a bit of their intentions."

"True. Some of them probably fled to the great bridge. There are likely people among the surrendered Imperial troops who know the ins and outs."

"Yes. No time to dwell on despair."

What the hell. Shouldn’t I be the one cheering you up? Now you’re doing it backward.

"There are still Imperial soldiers skirmishing at the fortress."

"Yes."

Raidock arrives, dropping to one knee.

"Forgive me, Kyle-sama. I have no excuses."

"No, that was beyond our control. We never imagined they’d still have that kind of strength."

We were fighting a demon from ancient legends. We should’ve been more cautious."

"I... I never truly believed in demons myself..."

"That’s... right."

Yeah. That’s exactly it.

It was undeniably monstrous. Terrifyingly strong. But still… I couldn’t bring myself to believe it was the kind of vile, ancient abomination from legend.

Maybe somewhere deep inside, I just didn’t want to believe the Demonkind still lived.

“Alphard. Take the demon’s remains to Jabil’s place with the Holy Knight squad. Keep an eye on them—have Raidock and the others go with you.”

“Hai!”

“Send a few of them to me. I need to transport Mother’s… Bella’s body back to the castle.”

“…Yes. Craft. Stay with me.”

Saluting, Alphard barked orders in rapid succession. The Holy Knights scrambled into motion, beginning careful handling alongside Raidock and the others.

It was shattered beyond repair—wouldn’t be getting up again. But still, thanks to what happened earlier, Raidock and the crew kept their guard up, watching the corpse like it might twitch back to life.

The remaining knights carefully lifted Bela’s corpse onto a stretcher and carried it away.

“Wait.”

Kyle called out to the knights, stepping beside the body.

“At least… this much.”

Kyle bowed his head in prayer toward the corpse. Seeing him, I and the knights did the same.

I’d been forced to go through empty prayers since I was raised in the church orphanage, but this was the most serious prayer I’d ever made.

(You were a villain… but rest easy now… please…)

I closed my eyes and whispered the words in my heart.

“…Huh?”

Kyle made a small sound.

Before I could open my eyes to see what was wrong, a violent jolt tore through my body.

“What—!?”

I had no idea what was happening. My chest burned.

My balance shattered. I couldn’t tell where the ground was. Pain shot through every inch of me.

All I could make out were the voices around me.

"Lord Kyle!"

"Gyaaarrrgh!"

"What the hell is happening!?"

"Stop that monster!"

"Save Lord Kyle... gyaah!?"

"Kyle! Kyle!"

"Craft!"

"Rrrroooaaarrrgh!"

"Die, but protect Lord Kyle!"

"No! No! No!"

"Evie! Calm down! Chii! Follow me, Camille!"

"Got it! I'll kill him for sure!"

"Craft! Why! You're covered in blood—"

My consciousness snapped there. Fell into darkness.

How long I slept, I don’t know. But I must’ve survived, because I slowly crawled out of the dark.

But I wished I’d never woken up. I regretted being alive.

Because when I came to, I learned the truth.

Kyle was dead.

—— Chapter Seven Complete ——