<Episode 57>

“What do you think would happen if I got hurt, Eve?”

“I think I would hate it.”

“Hehe. Then just think about that feeling and transfer your energy to me. Healing and purification are almost the same.”

Eveline closed her eyes as instructed and imagined Abellard getting hurt.

He had been injured quite a few times before. He had been bitten by a jaguar because of her and had even fallen off a cliff.

“It’s not working well.”

“You’re worried about Elkais, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I’m worried that Rubellite Croppers will…”

Eveline suspected that Rubellite might not have known initially that the gods desired them to kill each other until only one was left. But now that he was certain of it, it was indeed dangerous.

“You know that Elkais is the strongest among us, right?”

“But he collapses even from sepsis.”

“That’s because beasts are filthy. In terms of raw power, he has nothing to worry about.”

Abellard was right. Elkais was a Sword Master, someone who could cut through rocks with a fork. He was also physically the strongest among the four of them.

There was no way the Grand Duke Croppers, who had taken over her body, could defeat him without even a gun, especially since he had a wound on his neck. <Eve body>

“The body seems to be transforming.”

“Oh, that’s… ugh…”

As Abellard’s voice choked off again, Eveline wondered how to break the restriction placed on him.

Since she had a similar restriction, Elkais must have things he wanted to say but couldn’t.

“The restrictions placed on us are probably to prevent us from sharing information.”

When Abellard nodded, Eveline sighed.

They continued trying to use divine power until nightfall. However, when it started raining, they had to stop.

They purified seawater to drink and roasted the caiman they had hunted for dinner.

Eveline tossed and turned until the early hours of the morning, when the rain finally stopped, and she fell asleep.

* * *

Abellard realized that Eveline was completely asleep. He gently brushed his hand over her lips, but she didn’t react.

Even though it was his own body, the thought that Eveline was inside it made him see it differently.

He couldn’t help but smile.

There was something he hadn’t told Eveline—something about divine power.

He carefully removed the blue note that had appeared on Eveline’s palm. Then he took off the clothes he was wearing and covered her with them.

After checking that the small fire at her feet was still burning well, he added more logs to ensure the fire wouldn’t go out in the wind and then stepped outside the cave.

Divine power.

It was granted by the gods and contained within the vessel of the soul.

Since Eveline’s soul hadn’t been recognized by the gods, the divine power within his body would soon dissipate.

Abellard confirmed that he could use divine power even in Rubellite’s body by feeling the strength around his heart.

He wanted to heal Eveline. But if he did, her soft heart might hesitate to kill Rubellite.

Abellard believed that Eveline wouldn’t understand what he had to do.

He checked the note he had taken from Eveline’s hand.

[“llegal intruder tolerance level: 1/0.

D-Day 1. Time limit: 2 hours.

Dispose of Grand Duke Croppers before sunrise.

Otherwise, Abellard Wilden’s wish (Eveline Wilden’s survival) will be nullified.]

Abellard ran towards the cabin as fast as he could.

He had been running so hard that when he finally reached the cabin, he felt like he was going to cough up blood.

“You should have at least hidden your killing intent, Your Highness.”

Elkais was standing there, holding a fork and exuding sword energy.

He was glancing at Eveline <Og Rubellite Croppers in eve body>, who was trembling in his arms, and glaring at Abellard <Rubellite Croppers body> as if he was ready to cut him down.

“I’m not here to kill. I’m just trying to purify.”

“You’re not a priest, Your Highness. How do you intend to do that?”

“Like this.”

Abellard reached out and used his power. Rubellite reverted to his original form and immediately attacked Abellard.

Bang!

“Eveline?”

Elkais was startled by the change in Eveline’s appearance but managed to avoid her attack.

“How annoying.”

Rubellite’s voice came out of Eveline’s mouth, causing Elkais to falter.

“Given the situation, there’s no other choice.”

“Get out of the way, Elkais!”

Although taken aback, Elkais quickly deflected Rubellite’s attack. He was about to strike with his sword energy but hesitated.

“If I die, Eveline Wilden dies too.”

Those words stopped Elkais from attacking.

While Elkais hesitated, Rubellite, who had transformed Eveline’s arm, swung it toward Abellard as he dodged and glared at him.

“Do you not care that Eveline Wilden’s body will die?”

“Of course I care! I care a lot!”

At that moment, Abellard grabbed Rubellite’s face and unleashed divine power.

A brilliant light burst forth, blinding their vision.

* * *

Elkais, regaining his senses, twisted his body to avoid the sword aimed at him.

“What the…!”

Elkais noticed something strange about his voice. It was usually deep, but now the voice he heard was much higher than his own.

“You need to die here.”

The voice was Eveline’s, but she was holding the sword that Abellard <in Rubellite Croppers body> had brought.

Elkais saw someone bursting through the door of the cabin, running outside.

“What’s going on here?”

“Ack!”

Elkais caught the sword Eveline < Rubellite Croppers in Eve body> was swinging with one hand, feeling bewildered as he watched his own body running away.

“Are you Abellard?”

“What? Are you Elkais?”

“Yes.”

Abellard, realizing something had gone terribly wrong, lowered the sword.

“We need to catch them.”

At Abellard’s words, Elkais looked down at his hand again.

It was definitely Rubellite’s body. His own hands were much larger and covered with more calluses. And with the difference in height, everything seemed off.

“Hah.”

Elkais exhaled and started running quickly. However, his own body, now fleeing, was unnervingly fast.

He found Rubellite’s body uncomfortable. His breathing was labored, and he felt a lack of strength. Moreover, being shorter meant his strides were smaller.

“Wait…! W-Wait for me!”

Eveline’s body, with Abellard inside, was trailing behind. But knowing that Abellard was in there, Elkais didn’t feel the need to hold back for her.

Elkais tried to run faster to catch up with Rubellite, but the difference in leg length and height only made the gap widen.

At that moment, Elkais picked up a stone from the ground and threw it.

Crash!

The stone, infused with sword energy, tore through several trees in its path.

“Hahaha.”

The person running in Elkais’ body glanced at the fallen trees beside him and laughed before continuing to run.

Even in this situation, Elkais recalled what Eveline had said.

‘I’m Eveline.’

He should have believed her. That would explain why his heart pounded and his feelings were so unsettled every time he looked at Abellard.

Yet, he had almost…

‘Ack…! Elkais…!’

He had nearly strangled and killed her.

“Hey! Why aren’t you running?”

Hearing Eveline’s voice made his heart skip a beat, freezing him in place, as if he had forgotten how to move.

“Hey!”

Elkais snapped out of it as he saw Abellard, in Eveline’s body, running away. If he lost his body now, he would never be able to ask for Eveline’s forgiveness.

Moreover, while in Rubellite’s body, she could never come to love him.

“That can’t happen.”

He no longer had any doubts about where his feelings were directed.

So he started running in a different direction from where Abellard had gone.

If he continued to chase after him, he wouldn’t be able to catch him. Elkais hadn’t realized how much of a difference it made to be in someone else’s body.

He needed to outsmart him to catch him.

With that thought in mind, he picked up speed, focusing on cutting across the path.

The vines ahead slapped at his face, and his stamina lagged behind what he was used to, but he pushed through, running at full speed.

He ran, relying on sound and his instincts to predict where his target would be, until he arrived at the spot.

“Brother?”

“Eveline.”

Elkais, now in Abellard’s body, saw Eveline rush out in surprise. But when he heard the approaching sound, he quickly grabbed her and ducked.

Crash!

A large tree was uprooted and flew over Eveline and Elkais, landing with a thud on the beach sand. Though the noise wasn’t too loud, the ground shook with the impact.

“Brother, what’s going on…! Why is Elkais attacking us?”

Eveline asked in confusion, and although Elkais knew the situation was dangerous, he felt momentarily relieved.

“I’m not Abellard, Eveline.”

“…Elkais?”

“Yes.”

The fact that she recognized him immediately made him feel good, even in such a dire situation.

“What is happening?”

“Now everyone is here.”

Elkais’ voice spoke, but it was Rubellite Croppers, the Grand Duke.

Behind him, Eveline’s body, holding a sword, was targeting him.

“You all need to die here.”

At Rubellite’s words, Elkais hid Eveline behind him, glaring at him defensively.

TL/N: Wtf is happening Ahhhh Idk idk what is happening ahhhh Im sorry just message mw hat is wrong here i will correct but this is…. Idk