ITETP Chapter 129

If he let go of her, of course she would die.

 

“But if we keep going like this, you’ll be torn to pieces, Brother!”

 

“Then you should be happy.”

 

“What?”

 

“You hate me terribly, don’t you?”

 

What is he talking about in this situation! She tried to push Rumie away in disbelief, but he had wrapped the curtain so tightly around them that she couldn’t move an inch.

 

Dana gave up her futile resistance and focused all her energy on regaining her composure. There must be a way.

 

The dead priests were waking up and moving. They must have died and been buried a long time ago, in ancient times. Giants, which she had not believed to exist, also woke up from their graves. All of this was unbelievable, but it was reality. She didn’t know how Ignis had done this, but—

 

It must be the barbarian’s magic. Dana had no choice but to believe it, even if she didn’t want to. Their magic could cause such strange anomalies.

 

Could it be that they’re worshipping demons—Wait, if that’s the case, can’t I use my purification power, just like I did with Danael’s magic earlier!

 

However, there were too many skeletons. They came like a wave of bones, and it was impossible to catch and purify them one by one.

 

What should I do then? Dana glared at a skeleton biting into Rumie’s neck.

 

Foresight. Right, foresight. That was her strength, her specialty. Therefore,

 

“…!”

 

At that moment, Dana trembled as if she had a seizure.

 

Rumie’s flesh was being ripped off. The shock felt as if her head had burst open, no, as if the sky had opened up.

 

Through that split sky, a giant eyeball seemed to gaze down upon the earth. With that eye, Dana scanned the ground. Where is it? Where is the source that awakened them? That ominous eye finally captured a scene.

 

The forest.

 

Beyond those trees.

 

The cliff.

 

And the black cave within. A huge magic circle was drawn on the cave floor.

 

That’s it!

 

Dana opened her eyes and shouted. “Brother, go to the eastern forest!”

 

“What?”

 

“If you follow the cliff, you’ll find a valley. There’s a magic circle there that woke them up! If we purify that—”

 

At that moment, Dana felt a massive dizziness. It was the aftermath of her foresight, all too familiar. But it wasn’t time for that!

 

“If we purify that, the power that woke them from their graves will be broken!”

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“I’m sure!”

 

“Alright.”

 

The next moment, Rumie stopped running and turned around.

 

“We need to make our way through, so I’ll be holding you with one arm from now on. But don’t worry, I won’t drop you.” With that, Rumie finally lifted his right arm.

 

From then on, they made quick progress. With his right arm free, skeletons were smashed, broken, and shattered before Rumie. Eventually, Dana managed to free both arms from the tightly wrapped curtain around her. And she pulled out a pistol tied to Rumie’s waist. Bang! She fired at a skeleton rushing towards Rumie’s back, which made him laugh.

 

“You might get your pretty arm bitten off, Dana.”

 

In a moment of indignation, Dana shouted back. “You better keep that pretty face of yours from getting bitten off, Brother!”

 

“Do you like my face?”

 

“Who wouldn’t?!”

 

“Didn’t think you would.”

 

What kind of joke is this in this situation! But she didn’t have the leisure to retort.

 

Aim, fire, aim, fire, and then aim, fire again. Dana focused on shooting the skeletons charging at them. The frenzy continued. Despite that happened about a minute, it felt like a century had passed.

 

When the bullets finally ran out, Rumie set Dana down in the cave. Ripping off the curtain that wrapped around her body, he said, “I’ll make sure nothing gets in here.” Then, crushing the skull of a skeleton that followed them against the wall, he walked to the entrance. “Go ahead and do what you need to, Dana.”

 

Dana crawled over to the magic circle and sat down on it. Despite the violent noise behind her, she didn’t look back. This was where she needed to be.

 

Dana focused. The magic circle, burning in a red hue, seemed drawn with blood, its smell stabbing her nose. It was terrifying to look at, but. It’s possible. Dana was certain. I can purify this magic.

 

“Incredible. The power of purification is indeed amazing.”

 

Suddenly, Daniel’s words—the dead girl—flashed through my mind.

 

Yes, this is what I can do.

 

Light burst from her fingertips, filling the dark cave entirely. At the same time, it felt as if all her energy was being sucked inward, making her dizzy. Someday, she might die from this. That premonition suddenly struck her.

 

How much power had she expended? Dana slowly opened her eyes. Was she unconscious for a moment? Before she knew it, she was lying on the stone floor, face down.

 

What happened?

 

The red magic circle was gone. The terrible noise from outside the cave as well. It was all over.

 

“Good job, Dana.” Rumie’s voice came from behind her.

 

Dana struggled to stand up. “Is it over?”

 

“The skeletons are crumbling to dust now. It’s not a pretty sight, so don’t look back.”

 

But Dana slowly turned around and then swallowed a scream. Rumie’s body was revealed under the dim moonlight…

 

“I told you not to look, Dana.”

 

His body below the face was tattered. Flesh and muscle were torn away, exposing white bones here and there. Like a piece of meat gnawed by a school of piranhas…

 

“Don’t worry. My face is unharmed.”

 

Dana looked up at Rumie. Indeed, his face, bathed in moonlight, was without a single scratch. She suppressed her sobs and asked, “How come only your face is unharmed?”

 

“You said you liked my face.”

 

“I didn’t say I liked it…”

 

“You said it was handsome. Isn’t that the same thing? Rumie laughed and slumped down, then casually leaned his head on her shoulder. “Let me rest on you for a bit.”

 

“Just don’t die.”

 

“I won’t. Don’t be shocked.”

 

Don’t be shocked, what does that mean…? But soon, Dana realized why he said that. His flesh was healing bit by bit. It was an unbelievable regenerative ability for a human. Yet, for some reason, she wasn’t surprised. Just as expected, nothing more.

 

The men of the Windsor family were not ordinary humans. But just because he doesn’t die, just because he recovers, doesn’t mean there was no pain. How much pain it must be.

 

Dana was sure. If Rumie had been alone, he wouldn’t have had a single scratch, just like her now. He wouldn’t have been unharmed. So why…

 

Dana quietly looked down at his face resting on her shoulder. His shimmering silver hair was soaked with blood.

 

Why did you go so far to protect me? She was curious but didn’t ask. Because now she felt like she understood Rumie’s heart. He was probably…

 

“Brother.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“…”

 

“Why?”

 

Dana hesitated for a moment, then moistened her lips. “Rumie.”

 

His name seemed to shine with a smooth light. This time, Rumie did not respond. But Dana saw clearly. His serene face, with eyes gently closed, tensed up. And his earlobes slowly turned red. It surprised her. He had teased her so skillfully in bed, yet he got flustered just by calling his name like now.

 

It’s true. He really…

 

Was it because his emotions were contagious? Dana’s heart also began to race. It was a natural reaction. Such a handsome man had sacrificed his own body to save her. No woman could remain indifferent to this. But that was all.

 

So what? Her mind was terrifyingly cold.

 

If Rumie loved her, then what? What did that mean? Raios had loved her too. But in the end, what remained?

 

Love was truly nothing. The emotion of love was just a fleeting mood that would disappear over time. Rumie was one of the people who taught her this lesson.

 

After being betrayed and deceived by Raios, Allice, Rumie, and Carl, her love for them had completely ended. So whether Rumie loved her or not, that emotion was not important. What mattered was the truth that he was someone who could deceive and manipulate her at any time.

 

But, if now…

 

Despite the warmth in her heart, Dana thought with dry logic.

 

If it’s a moment like this that could possibly make one fall in love, could she deceive Rumie? To make him believe she had fallen for him.

 

Until now, Rumie had never been deceived by that lie. Once this brief respite ended and they left the island to return to reality, he probably wouldn’t be deceived then either. But in a surreal moment like this…

 

Dana carefully moved her hand. Gently grasping his pinky finger, which was resting on the cave floor, she whispered. “I want to call you by your name when it’s just the two of us.”

 

Her voice sounded like that of a woman in love, even to her own ears.

 

“Would that be okay?”

 

The implication was clear. If Rumie intertwined his fingers with hers now… The relationship between Carl and Rumie would end.

 

Carl’s proud adoptive son would become his rival. He would become a competitor, threatening her inheritance rights, something Carl coveted. Losing the deputy head’s ring and his downfall meant losing the strongest supporter who could have supported him through any unforeseen circumstances, including breaking off the engagement with Raios.

 

Rumie could be used in various ways as a very powerful card. If only he would misunderstand. If only he mistakenly thought that she liked him…

 

Casting her hand like bait, Dana waited. How much time had passed like that? A warm sensation seeped between her fingers.

 

“Call me.”

 

It sounded like a sigh and a moan as if he was surrendering.

 

“Call my name, Dana.”

 

Dana parted her lips. “Rumie.” Her tongue tasted sweet as she spoke his name.

 

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