For some reason, Embert’s playful tone elicited squeals of “So cute!” from the crowd. You’ve got it all wrong, I wanted to say. He’s being sinister, not cute. Still, I kept my mouth shut, as now wasn’t the time for such comments.
“You destroyed it?” Pieno asked with an incredulous expression. “That cage had a barrier protecting it.”
Yeah, it sure did, but I’m a holy woman, remember? I quipped internally. I can dispel that sort of barrier as easy as pie.
Embert chuckled. “Ally can dispel barriers of that level in the blink of an eye. Furthermore, I’m afraid I have even worse news for you. On top of destroying the cage, we also defeated the monster.”
Pieno froze, unable to respond. I could see the gears turning in his mind as his eyes widened. “Don’t tell me…” he mumbled in a barely audible voice. However, Embert and I—as well as Giusto, presumably—heard every syllable.
“Aha, that’s exactly right!” Embert exclaimed. “Squishy and Custode—our slime and dragon combo—defeated the monster in an instant. And therefore…” Here, Embert took a forceful step closer to Pieno. “…not a single thing will go according to your plan.”
The blood drained from Pieno’s face. Then, a chuckle escaped his lips while he looked at the ground. His quiet laughter transformed into a booming guffaw that echoed throughout the stadium.
“Ahahaha!” he roared. “I never expected to be thwarted this thoroughly! Perhaps I should have kept a closer eye on you, Prince Embert. Even so, this isn’t over. I won’t allow it to end like this!”
Pieno radiated a wicked aura. The sense of revulsion I felt towards him intensified.
“Get back, Em!” I cried.
Pieno clapped his hands together, and a pattern of black vines surfaced on them. My sense of revulsion had originated from the black box in his hands, not the man himself. In an instant, the black vines engulfed him. Then, they spread throughout the arena at an alarming rate. Looking behind me, I found the vines coiling around the feet of everyone in the arena except Giusto.
“Em!” I cried. “Janus! Everyone!”
As screams erupted from the seats closest to the arena, some panicked spectators attempted to flee. Presently, the chaos had only gripped the lower seats, but in all likelihood, it would soon spread to the higher levels. At this rate, a great many people would suffer injuries. I spun around to look at the entire stadium, unsure what to do. All the while, the vines spread rapidly. Before long, they reached the first-floor seats. Worse, the vines had ensnared my friends, rendering them immobile.
“No!” I exclaimed, on the verge of panicking. “Everyone!”
“Pull yourself together, Ally!” Embert shouted.
“Calm down, Ally!” Janus bellowed. “We’re still okay!”
With terrific speed, both men cut down the attacking vines one after another. Unfortunately, they had their hands full protecting themselves. I couldn’t expect them to do anything more.
“What should I do…?” I mumbled. Tears welled in my eyes as I failed to think of a way to save everyone.
“You can handle this, Ally!” Custode shouted encouragingly. “It’s just a curse! Use your purification magic!”
Custode grew to his full size, raised his head skyward, and let forth a thunderous roar. As a tingling sensation spread throughout my body, everyone in the arena halted.
“Quickly!” Custode urged. “Now’s your chance!”
Seeing everyone go motionless stunned me. However, Custode’s words jolted me back to my senses.
“Get a grip, Ally,” I said, slapping my cheeks to fire myself up. “You’re a holy woman, aren’t you?”
I let out a deep breath and forced my mana to swell within me. After feeling it rush from my body, it surged upwards, ascending higher than the stadium seats. Custode beat his massive wings, which shone with dark luster, diffusing my mana in every direction. The magical energy rained down on the entire arena, glittering like gold dust. While this lasted for less than a minute, the audience began to stir. They looked up curiously at the sky as if nothing unusual had occurred. The vines that had threatened to devour the arena had vanished.
“Em!” I cried.
Relief washing over me, I leapt towards Embert, who was making sure the vines had disappeared. Despite his surprise, he caught me in his arms while I embraced him around the neck.
“Thank goodness,” I said while sobbing like a child. “That was a close one.”
“Ally,” Embert replied gently, still holding me tightly. “I never doubted your abilities as a holy woman. You are truly remarkable, my love. I’m falling head over heels for you all over again.” He kissed me on the eyelids, his expression as gentle as his voice. Then, he set me down softly.
“You did well, Ally,” my brother called from behind.
“Janus!” I cried. I leapt into his arms next.
“Atta girl,” he said with a chuckle, squeezing me in his arms. “I knew you could do it.” He kissed me on the top of my head.
“Talk about a surprise,” Oreste said while scratching his head. “Those vines were so fast that we couldn’t put up a fight.”
Laughing, Rosario and Lauris nodded in agreement.
A moment later, everyone’s gaze focused on a single point. Pieno must have used up all his mana, for the vines consuming his body had vanished. What’s more, he’d collapsed onto the ground, appearing to have aged ten years in a single moment.
“Uncle Pieno,” Giusto said. “On top of your numerous attempts to kill me, you also used that dreadful magic artifact in the middle of this massive crowd. Fortunately, the holy woman was here to stop you. Yet, unfortunately, I cannot forgive these crimes. You will face the appropriate punishment.”
When Giusto raised his hand, several knights approached him. They lifted Pieno’s limp body and carried him outside the arena.
“Ally,” Giusto continued. “Thank you for saving Bragioga and its people. You are a splendid holy woman indeed. None of us fell prey to the vines thanks to your protection. Both this nation and I are in your debt.” Giusto bowed his head, took my hand, and kissed the back of it.
“I’m just glad my powers were able to help,” I said. Giusto’s grandiose words caused a blush to creep up my cheeks. When I laughed awkwardly, he responded with a charming smile reminiscent of Julietta’s.
“Everyone!” Giusto exclaimed while looking around the arena, his smile unfaltering. “I sincerely apologize for this tragedy caused by my uncle’s misconduct. We contained this situation thanks to Crown Prince Embert of Gandolfin and his dependable allies. Above all, we owe an immense debt of gratitude to the holy woman who purified this area with her beautiful holy magic and her divine beast. Let us show them our thanks.”
Giusto’s words echoed throughout the silenced arena. When he finished, one person began clapping. Then another. Before long, thunderous applause spread throughout the entire crowd, shaking the stadium. The spectators came alive once more, their cheers and shrill cries enveloping the arena.
Once the excitement had died down, the champion’s award ceremony began. When Giusto invited us to watch from nearby, seats were hastily prepared for me and my friends. Thus, Giusto provided this year’s champion—Prince Fred Gibramil—with a medal, a trophy plaque, and a promissory note wrapped in silk.
“Huh?” I asked, cocking my head. “What about the sword Em brought?”
Didn’t he say that was part of the grand prize as well?
“Prince Embert—the champion from three years ago—is about to duel the current champion,” Janus explained. “The winner will receive the sword.”
I had no idea. But come to think of it, Julie mentioned something about Em making an appearance later, right? In other words, this is a deciding match between champions, huh?
As I nodded in understanding, another question popped into my mind. “Why didn’t you participate, Janus?” I asked.
My brother probably would have won the tournament if he’d competed.
Janus brought his pointer finger to his lips in a playful shushing gesture. “I’m simply His Highness’s personal retainer,” he said with a smile. “It would be unbecoming for me to show off my strength.”
Of course, the women in nearby seats sighed heavily and squealed with delight at his smile.
When the award ceremony ended, Embert entered the arena with the holy sword. Naturally, the crowd went wild over the duel between two handsome, strong men. While Embert had an elegant flair, Prince Fred possessed a rugged charm. Scattered women screamed the men’s names at the top of their lungs. I even spotted a few of them fainting due to anemia or oxygen shortage. The medical rooms must have been in pandemonium.
Embert handed the holy sword to Giusto, and the duel began at last. No magic would be allowed in the contest of pure swordsmanship. Though both duelists moved with impressive skill, Embert had more energy to spare. Prince Fred displayed agile footwork, and despite his slender build, his strikes carried significant weight. Nevertheless, Embert parried each of Fred’s attacks, a provocative smile on his lips.
“Time to put an end to this,” Embert finally murmured. He knocked Fred’s sword high into the air. The blade spun a number of times before landing with its point in the ground.
“The winner is Crown Prince Embert Bartis!” the announcer boomed.
The crowd erupted in cheers, shaking the stadium once again.