‘…. As expected, it was Eila who helped him escape.’
His blue eyes, the same color as Eila’s, darkened.
Seven years ago, he had decided to bury the incident to prevent it from becoming a bigger problem.
The escape of the test subject was one thing, but the greater issue was his mother escaping from the Royal Prison. If Eila was found to be connected to that incident, she would not have been able to escape punishment.
However, in retrospect, it might have been the wrong choice.
Even if it meant facing consequences for his daughter, they should have thoroughly investigated the truth behind the incident.
If he had known this would happen, he would have done it.
If he had known that this half-demon might still be lurking around Eila after seven years…
Julion kneeled and began to check Eila and Raphir for any injuries.
‘Haylan Peridot?’
Aslan’s eyes widened, still bound by the crimson magic.
He had always considered the possibility that Peridot might still be after Eila. However, he couldn’t have imagined that Peridot would come all the way here.
Moreover, the fact that he was actually a demon and that Julion’s father had once captured him as an experiment subject…
‘Could it be that he approached Eila to seek revenge against our father?’
However, from Peridot’s words and actions just now, it didn’t seem like he was trying to harm Eila.
On the contrary, it was quite the opposite.
He had been desperately asking Julion to return Eila, and he finally cried tears of relief when she returned.
As if that half-demon cared for and cherished Eila…
Aslan bit his lip; his mind could hardly keep up with the fact, which was so shocking in so many ways.
“I’m surprised. It is obvious that the magical power within your body has been completely blocked, but the restraints on the other members have not been released.”
Julion stared at Clyde, who was suspended in the air, with cold eyes.
“Release the restraints on the others right now.”
“…….”
Clyde stared at Julion without responding.
“It would be better to listen obediently. There are plenty of ways to force you to release them.”
“If you’re thinking of torturing me like you did in the past, go ahead and try. Show your true nature in front of your subordinates.”
Clyde said it as if spitting out the words, but Julion’s face remained expressionless, showing no sign of change.
“If you want, I can do that.”
It was when Julion said this.
“No!”
A new sound rang out, like a scream. The gaze of everyone in the room, including Julion and Clyde, turned to the owner of the voice.
Eila had awakened and was now standing up. She urgently blocked Clyde.
“No, Father, don’t. Please.”
“…Eila.”
Julion stared at her in shock, his previously calm demeanor disappearing in an instant.
“Please, Father.”
Eila pleaded with an earnest expression, as if she feared something.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
The moment I saw my father restraining Clyde, it was as if the scene I had witnessed seven years ago came to mind like a ghostly vision.
My father, with a sadistic smile, repeatedly ignited Clyde’s body, and Clyde, melting away, kept shouting at me to run away…
When I regained consciousness, I found myself standing with my arms outstretched, blocking my father.
“Move aside, Eila.”
My father’s voice had become hoarse.
“You can’t kill him.”
“…Why? Why are you protecting that guy?”
“Clyde hasn’t done anything wrong. Not seven years ago, not now. Please, don’t harm Clyde anymore. I beg you, Father.”
It seemed like my desperate plea didn’t reach my father’s ears at all.
“…Why are you defending him? Wake up, Eila. He’s a demon! He’s the enemy of your mother!”
“That’s not true! The demon who killed Mother died a long time ago. That incident has nothing to do with Clyde! You’re the one who needs to wake up, Father!”
“Eila…!”
Father’s complexion had turned pale blue. He gritted his teeth with a low growl.
“It seems like that bastard has completely bewitched you.”
“No, father, it’s not like that.”
“Step aside, Eila. Don’t make me do something harsh to you.”
I stood firm with my arms spread open. I glared at Father with a determined expression.
My father, with a pained expression I had never seen before, He clenched his fist, which trembled visibly.
Then a voice echoed in my head.
– It seems like you’re in quite a bind. May I lend you my strength?
It was Eleanor.
– There’s a magic that can freeze time for everyone except yourself and the ones you designate. With your mana, you should be able to immobilize everyone in this hall for about 5 minutes. Do you want to try it?
My eyes widened.
“Yes, yes! Please, right now.”
– Alright, then let’s start the briefing right away.
Instantly, I felt a sense of vastness, and unfamiliar spells and incantations began to unfold in my mind.
– Now, try to cast the spell.
‘Wow, this is…’
The magic Eleanor had taught me was on a level far beyond any magic I had ever known.
I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by this grand magic. I wasn’t sure if I could successfully cast it.
– Don’t worry. You are not alone.
Whether she sensed my hesitation or not, Eleanor whispered softly.
Moreover, I wasn’t in a situation where I could afford to hesitate.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
“Enudora lu darnasia letama, kash aras pandu harania….”
As I recited the spell, the mana inside me began to circulate with an intensity I had never experienced before. I could feel sweat breaking out on my forehead. I had to give it my all to not be consumed by the power of the spell I was casting.
“What are you doing, Eila?”
My father’s surprised voice reached me, but I was completely focused on completing the spell.
“Ortirisandenaral, Gathus!”
As I recited the final incantation, the mana that had been circulating within me burst out all at once. I felt completely drained and slumped down in my place.
With blurry vision, I raised my head, and I could see my father frozen in place with his hand outstretched towards me. The other members of the expedition inside the artifact room were in the same state.
“Ruby!”
Someone from behind tightly embraced me. It was a firm and familiar touch. I swallowed hard for a moment. Then the arms holding me gently released me.
“…Clyde.”
When I turned around, Clyde had been freed from my father’s binding magic. This was because my father’s concentration had been broken due to the time-stopping spell I had cast.
“What happened? Did you do this?”
“…It seems so.”
I couldn’t muster the strength I had hoped for in my body. I grabbed Clyde’s hand with trembling fingers.
“This is not the time for this. This spell will be released in the next 5 minutes. You need to escape quickly. Get as far away from here as possible.”
“…Just me, Ruby, what about you?”
His question left a dry lump in my throat.
“…I can’t leave.”
“Why? We made a clear promise before. If my true identity is revealed, you said you would escape with me.”
“If I disappear too, my father will immediately come after us, and he’ll catch us. I have to stay and stop him so that you can have time to escape.”
“…….”
Clyde looked at me with pained, disarrayed eyes.
“No, I can’t go without you.”
“…Clyde.”
“I’ll never leave you behind. Never.”
“Clyde, if you don’t escape, who knows what my father will do to you? You know that.”
“I just let my guard down for a moment earlier. Now, while there’s an opportunity, I can restrain your father again.”
“That’s just a temporary restraint! It won’t last once you leave this place, right?”
“…….”
Clyde couldn’t give any response. That essentially meant I was right.
“My mana is completely depleted right now, and I can’t walk on my own. In the end, I’ll just be a burden to you.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Clyde!”
“Whether I get caught, die, or become an experiment again and get tortured, it doesn’t matter. It’s better than being separated from you again.”
“…….”
I bit my lip.
“Maybe it doesn’t matter to you, but it does to me. I hate it. I absolutely hate the thought of you suffering like that. Besides, who says that if you get caught, we can still be together? Being separated and unable to meet is essentially the same. In that case, it’s better for you to escape alone; at least there’s a chance we can meet again!”
Clyde remained silent with tightly closed lips for a moment.
“Why do we have to choose between either escaping or getting caught? Why can’t we just eliminate those who would keep us apart?”
“Clyde!”
I shouted with a scream-like tone.
“What are you saying? You promised that you wouldn’t kill anyone anymore!”
“We also promised that, under the condition that you would never leave my side for the rest of our lives, if you’re going to leave me anyway, why should I keep that promise?”
Clyde raised his hand. Within it, there was a potent and ominous magical power, as if it embodied his anger.
Unconsciously, I swallowed hard.
“…Clyde.”
“All this time, the only reason I bothered to restrain these guys was because of our promise. If you won’t go with me, I’ll kill every one of them right here. Your father, your brothers, all of them.”
Clyde spoke with a growling tone. Even though he must have been wearing the necklace I gave him, his pupils were now more than half filled with a burning crimson color.
