It happened in the blink of an eye. The mages in the room not only had their hands and feet bound but also had their mouths sealed, preventing them completely from casting spells.
Julion Rojasis was no exception.
The only sounds heard here and there were muffled murmurs. Everyone had their eyes wide open, wearing expressions that showed they didn’t quite understand what had just happened to them.
Clyde approached Julion, still reaching out his hand.
‘It’s been a while,’ the words that filled his throat. He opened his mouth with a low, rumbling sound.
“From now on, answer my questions honestly. If you utter a single spell or do anything foolish, I’ll immediately detach your head from your body. Do you understand me?”
“…….”
Julion looked expressionless at the magical power surrounding his neck in the form of a circular blade, then nodded.
At that moment, the magical power that had sealed Julion’s mouth was lifted. Julion asked in a toneless voice.
“Who are you? Why are you doing this?”
“Did you forget what I just said? I ask the questions, not you.”
“…….”
“Why haven’t you put things back the way they were?”
At the sudden question, Julion fell silent for a moment and then retorted.
“…What are you talking about?”
“Eila Rojasis and the Crown Prince. Why have you not yet rescued them?”
Deep wrinkles appeared on Julion’s forehead.
“…And how do you know that?”
“I clearly said I’m the one asking questions. This is your last warning. There will be no next time.”
Clyde’s voice contained such a menacing aura that it couldn’t be dismissed as mere threats.
In stark contrast, Julion stared back at Clyde with eyes devoid of emotion.
“The rescue operation is currently underway.”
“It’s been three days since you arrived here. Aren’t you supposed to be the Empire’s strongest mage? Didn’t you bring the best experts in this field with you? Then why, in all this time, haven’t you rescued Eila yet?”
Clyde’s shouted words echoed loudly in the room.
For the first time, a hint of unease flickered in Julion’s eyes, which had been indifferent all along.
“…Are you acquainted with Eila?”
Clyde roughly grabbed Julion by the collar. Julion was lifted into the air, his entire body tightly bound.
At this, the murmurs of the other team members grew louder. They struggled even harder, but their restraints didn’t loosen in the slightest.
“I said I’m the one asking the questions. Stop the nonsense and answer, you useless bastard. What’s the point of calling yourself the Empire’s strongest and the head of the Magic department when you can’t even save your own daughter? When will you be able to rescue Eila? Don’t you dare say it’s impossible. I’ll tear your mouth apart right now.”
It was a voice like a beast growling.
“…….”
Julion glared at Clyde with a determined look. After a while, his tightly sealed lips slowly parted.
“I’m doing the best I can.”
“Doing the best you can? Is that the only answer you can come up with?”
“It’s not as if throwing a tantrum like a child will suddenly make the impossible happen. Doing so will only further delay the operation to rescue Eila.”
“…….”
Clyde released his grip on Julion. Julion, who had suddenly fallen to the ground, staggered and barely avoided falling.
“I can’t rely on you and wait any longer. Who knows what could happen to Eila while we’re here?”
Clyde moved toward the artifact.
“…What do you think you’re going to do?”
Ignoring Julion’s words, Clyde tightly gripped the artifact with both hands. Soon, a crimson magic emanated from his hands.
“Don’t touch it recklessly; it’s dangerous. Eila may never return!”
Julion urgently raised his voice, causing Clyde to pause.
“Right now, release everyone from their restraints. What you’re doing won’t help in rescuing Eila. As you said, there are only the best minds and experts in the Palma Empire gathered in this room. Even without your orders, we will definitely rescue Eila.”
“…What if you can’t?”
Clyde asked in a low voice.
“What?”
“If you can’t rescue her, if Eila never returns, how will you take responsibility?”
“…….”
Julion remained silent in response to Clyde’s words.
“I will give my life.”
A sense of turmoil spread through the room once again.
“Just like you said, if I can’t rescue my own daughter, I don’t deserve to live as a father or a mage. I will do whatever it takes to rescue Eila, so release everyone from their restraints.”
Clyde chuckled.
He lowered his head and began to laugh softly, a laughter that sent shivers down the spines of those who heard it.
“Your life alone won’t be enough.”
“…….”
“If you can’t rescue Eila, I will kill every single person in this room: the Emperor who gave the order to investigate this ruin, the others from the Imperial Magic Department, all of them. Anyone even remotely responsible for this situation will be killed.”
For a moment, everyone in the room froze in place, holding their breath. It was inevitable.
Clyde’s words were not just a warning; they sounded like a death sentence, as if there were magical commands embedded in them.
“There’s no way that will happen. As I’ve said, I will definitely rescue Eila.”
Julion spoke with a surprisingly calm voice.
“…….”
Clyde silently glared at Julion, then raised one hand.
It was then.
The room was engulfed in blinding white light emitted from the artifact. It was the same phenomenon as when Eila and Raphir disappeared.
Clyde reflexively squinted his eyes and covered his face with his hand.
A few seconds later, the light subsided.
With a thud, the artifact fell to the floor and rolled away.
The powerful magic that had been emanating from it just moments ago was now completely gone, leaving it as nothing more than an ordinary, empty object.
And in the place where the artifact had been, Eila and the Crown Prince lay side by side.
Both of them appeared to have lost consciousness, their eyes closed.
“Eila…!”
Julion exclaimed.
Clyde, still in a daze, gazed down at Eila and slowly kneeled in front of her. Then his trembling hand reached for her face.
With a faint warmth, he could feel her regular breaths under her nose.
“…Ruby.”
Clyde laid over Eila, pulling her into an embrace.
A mix of overwhelming joy and relief surged through him at the familiar touch and scent.
He thought he’d never see her again.
But that was impossible; he would never let it happen. But he couldn’t shake off the intense anxiety that had gnawed at him.
The past 17 days have felt so long. Each day felt like an eternity, with his heart breaking into pieces and painstakingly putting them back together. It hadn’t been just 17 days; it had felt more like 17 years. It had been a torturous, long, and never-ending time that couldn’t be compared to the past seven years.
He realized once again the significance of Ruby to him. Despite promising not to lose her again, he couldn’t shake off the unbearable anxiety of what losing her truly meant.
“Ruby. Ruby….”
Tears were streaming down his eyes without him realizing it.
Clyde hugged Ruby tightly and sobbed quietly.
Everyone in the room watched in silence, their faces pale.
“…….”
Julion’s expression was even more serious than when Clyde threatened him with his life.
In a nearly inaudible voice, Julion chanted a spell. In response, a red, glowing circle surrounded Clyde’s body, pushing away his magical power. Simultaneously, Julion released Clyde from his restraints.
“El Priota. Sahama, Andeora!”
Julion chanted the spell once again, forming a red ring of light that wrapped around Clyde’s body from head to toe.
Clyde opened his eyes and turned to Julion. Julion extended his hand towards Clyde, forcefully pushing it upwards. As a result, Clyde’s body separated from Eila and floated in the air.
“Gah…!”
Clyde writhed and struggled, but unlike the relatively simple task of overpowering multiple mages earlier, he couldn’t escape Julion’s magic.
“It’s the Great Demon Binding Seal. It harnesses a demon’s power and cuts off its source. The stronger the demon’s magic, the more powerful it becomes.. You’ve probably never seen anything like it. I spent seven years developing this magic.”
Julion spoke in a low voice. Clyde gritted his teeth in response.
“You bastard…!”
“Seven years ago, I had a chance to capture a half-demon during an experiment. He managed to escape from the laboratory, but I continued my research using the blood and flesh I collected from him. As a result, I was able to develop this magic.”
Julion approached Clyde and removed his hood with outstretched hands. Clyde’s face was revealed.
His eyes were green, but his clenched teeth showed sharp fangs.
“It’s been seven years, you monster.”
Julion muttered with an emotionless face.
Calm down, that’s your son-in-law Arch mage