Declared Dead, Exiled, and Betrayed— Now I Walk Away, but I'll Save One Who Cared - Chapter 73

In the end, we found nothing more.

Claire, now silent and in shock, said nothing as we brought her back to Riofendarl’s territory.

“Welcome home, Lax.”

“Yeah.”

Shifa’s warm welcome was a comfort.

I cherished her.

For the next few days, we stayed at the viscount’s estate to rest.

It had not been a pleasant journey.

If this were a simple story, where I could just defeat evil monsters, bask in glory, and be praised, how much easier life would be?

Of course, fighting a powerful enemy while protecting my allies was no simple feat.

But in a battle where I couldn’t even see the enemy clearly, where I kept cutting them down without certainty of my own righteousness—

That was far more exhausting.

“Prepare yourself!”

“Holy Ray!”

“Gyaaahhh!”

At least with the Ruin Demons, I knew they were nothing more than a threat to humanity’s survival.

Those creatures, at least, I could annihilate without hesitation.

Claire had locked herself away, silent.

She didn’t even drink herself senseless at the tavern anymore, which had the adventurers murmuring in surprise.

…Maybe try worrying about her instead?

“Die, human!”

“Shining Slash!”

“Gyaaahhh!”

Meanwhile, the Ruin Demons never seemed to learn.

They were all the same—overconfident, shrieking as they lunged at me.

Honestly, dealing with them was too easy.

What were they even thinking?

For creatures that lurked in the shadows, cowering within Disemna’s domain, why were they so self-assured?

It made no sense.

“Shining Slash—huh?”

“Kukuku… I’ve sealed your skills! Now you have no means to resist! DIEEEE—gahh!”

…Well, at least they had tried something new.

Not that it mattered—I just punched it into oblivion.

Did they think sealing my skills would accomplish anything?

Maybe they assumed that because I used light and holy magic against them, removing those abilities would leave me helpless?

If so…

They were even dumber than I thought.

How had such idiotic creatures multiplied in such numbers?

And yet, they kept coming, throwing themselves at me without hesitation.

So I kept knocking them down.

One after another.

Were they really this foolish?

No…

Something wasn’t right.

Looking around, I realized we were completely surrounded.

The number of demons was overwhelming.

But that didn’t make sense either.

I had already slaughtered so many of them—at the former Horneld Duchy, too.

So where the hell had all these demons come from?

“Gahaha!”

“Dieee!”

There was no end to them.

And now, my arms were growing heavy.

It wasn’t exhaustion—so what was this?

“Kukuku… It took time, but it’s finally working!”

So they had a plan.

A battle of attrition.

I wasn’t down yet, but my movements were sluggish.

What had they done to me?

“Your magic, your skills, your body—all have been sealed! You cannot move! Now you die!”

“You bastards—!”

Their next target was Shifa.

They had the nerve to gloat, yet their strategy amounted to this?

Sure, going after me would be pointless, so targeting Shifa made sense—

But I wouldn’t let them.

…Wait.

“Claire?”

“I won’t let any more of my allies die. Shifa, step back. I’ll erase them all.”

“Holy Burst!”

“Ggaaahhhhhh!”

Claire’s expression was resolute as she declared her intent.

The massive holy spell she unleashed wiped out the demons around us.

The remaining ones fled in terror.

“Claire… Thank you for protecting Shifa.”

“It’s fine. Even if I hadn’t, you would have.”

“Still, you did protect her. That deserves my thanks.”

“…Fine.”

At least she accepted the gratitude.

“So, you really are the ‘Dreaming Mage.’”

“That’s right.”

“Why did you hide it?”

“I didn’t want anyone to know.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve committed sins. Because I failed to protect Eranda.”

Claire’s expression turned somber again.

“She betrayed us, didn’t she? Why did you need to protect her?”

“Because I made a promise. To Shifa’s ancestors. Disemna will always target Riofendarl. If it ever gains the ability to bypass the magic meant to divert its attention, someone must be sacrificed. I was asked to protect those who could be affected. But I failed.”

“Claire… I’m sorry. I knew nothing of this.”

Shifa bowed her head to Claire.

And I, too, knew nothing.

Just like her.

And yet, Claire knew something.

Perhaps she knew everything.

Even so, I couldn’t bring myself to blame someone who looked this pained.

“But why go so far for Riofendarl?”

Shifa asked gently, her voice filled with concern as she looked at Claire’s sorrowful expression.

“Because I loved them…”

Claire whispered.

“That’s why they asked me. And I agreed. But in the end, I failed to fulfill their wish.”

So that was why she regretted it.

Even after all this time, she was still trying to bring down Disemna.

Had she been by Eranda’s side, not out of betrayal, but because she suspected Disemna’s influence and had been trying to stop it?

If that was true, then I…

“Was this Riofendarl such an incredible person? Someone worthy of your devotion, even now? But… wait a second. I heard it was sisters who wielded that power together.”

I didn’t want to outright praise Claire, but I also couldn’t retract my suspicions entirely—so I muttered something vague.

“That’s right. Selenea and Rifalia were sisters. They were very close.”

Claire answered seriously, as if she didn’t mind my tone.

But…

“Wait… didn’t you say they were your lovers?”

“What’s strange about that? Am I not allowed to love a woman?”

“…So you were involved with one of them?”

“Not one. Both of them.”

“…I shouldn’t have asked.”

“How cruel~! Both of them adored me. Every night, they would cherish me until I passed out from bliss~.”

“Enough! I don’t need to hear that. Keep those feelings locked away in your heart. I get it—you were serious about them. That’s all I need to know.”