Saya opened her mouth, ready to take a risk for her survival. She had to stall as much as she could.
“Kyou won’t forgive you for killing me,” she said daringly.
“You still refer to my liege as such.”
“He’s the one who told me to. I simply responded to his request. Do you plan on defying your liege’s orders?”
She used the exact same logic that Ivara had used against Jubilia on the ride here. Ivara couldn’t disregard this and thus remained silent.
“Did Kyou tell you to kill me? He didn’t, right?”
This question apparently prodded Ivara’s weak point. She said nothing, so Saya kept talking. As long as this conversation continued, she could stay alive. She was calm. It helped that the bleeding from her wounds had stopped, and the pain was beginning to subside.
“What exactly is your objective?”
“To erase all who defy the Sovereign and bring solidarity to this world.”
“Then you’re mistaken. I didn’t defy Kyou!”
“Lies. I know you call him the False Sovereign.”
“What?”
“It’s no use playing dumb. I know Granapalt and your Sovereignty Faction are secretly spreading insolent rumors of how the Sovereign is a fake, while you’re the true Sovereign.”
Saya had never heard of this before.
“I’m the Sovereign? There’s no way that’s true.”
“Exactly. It truly is worthless drivel, but there are those who believe it.”
“That’s why you’re going to kill me?”
“Precisely.”
It was no good. Saya wasn’t getting through to her.
“But Kyou told you to protect me!”
“You’re deceiving my liege. The Sovereign has no older sister. He is the one and only person I protect. Thus, my liege must remain alone.”
What she said caught Saya’s attention. She found it strange. Why did that boy, who sat at the peak of all authority in the capital, show such attachment to Saya? She thought it was because she was the only one in the world who shared his blood, but she realized that wasn’t all. Despite being surrounded by so many people, Kyou was alone, just like Saya had been back in the Garden.
“Have all of you been isolating Kyou on purpose?”
“Of course. That is how the Sovereign should be.”
“That’s not right!”
“In this way, the land of Agartha continues to exist. Change is unforgivable. Your existence is impermissible—even if my liege doesn’t wish for this to happen. Aah, how pitiful he is.”
Ivara scowled as she spoke ecstatically. She then turned a sudden and serious gaze at Saya.
“I now understand that it’s impossible to get you to realize how magnificent the Sovereign is. So, the time for talking is over now. All that’s left is for you to die.”
Ivara raised her hand, and Saya held her breath.
“You won’t lay a hand on her!”
Jubilia charged in with her slender sword in hand. Ivara dodged the thrust with a click of her tongue. Jubilia slid between Saya and Ivara, holding her blade at the ready.
“You being here means Gozo is...”
“Dead.”
“I see.”
Ivara nodded at Jubilia’s curt reply. Her attitude showed a complete lack of concern for the life of her subordinate.
“I didn’t think he would lose so quickly. You’ve pushed yourself a little too far to accomplish that, haven’t you?”
Just as she suggested, Jubilia’s breathing was unnaturally rough and her entire body was steeped in sweat. Even if she had sprinted all the way here, her condition was abnormal.
“Lady Saya, I apologize for being late. Please run away from here.”
“It’s futile,” Ivara said coolly. “Her leg is useless now. I’ll be able to catch up right away.”
“Then I’ll strike you down where you stand.”
“Unfortunately, that’s also futile. Judging from your state, you used Excitation Overdrive, didn’t you? I’m afraid to say the side effects are far too great. How foolish... Or maybe not? You wouldn’t have been able to eliminate Gozo so quickly if you hadn’t done so. This girl would’ve been dead already.”
Jubilia groaned in response. Ivara had seen through her completely.
“But the result is the same. Both you and that girl will die by my hands; then it’ll be over.”
“Neither one of us will be dying here.”
Jubilia took another swing at Ivara. Her movements were as deft as usual, a testament to her tenacious spirit. However, when faced with a formidable foe like Ivara, even the slightest deficiency could cost Jubilia her life. Ivara easily dodged the thrust and even had the leisure to criticize her.
“How magnificent. To think a lower-ranking noble could display such skill. It’s enough for me to want to invite you to the royal guard. But this isn’t enough to reach me.”
Ivara caught Jubilia’s sword using two of the claws jutting from her fingers. The slender blood caliber creaked under their might.
“Ugh!”
Jubilia’s weapon dissolved, falling to the ground as flecks of blood.
“A wise decision. Had your blood caliber broken like that, then your mind would’ve suffered major damage. But what will you do now? You’re already weakened from using Excitation Overdrive, so wasn’t that the last Excitation possible for you? Your only choice now is to fight without a blood caliber. The reality that your weapon was about to break is proof enough that you should simply acknowledge your defeat. Give it up.”
Jubilia didn’t answer. Instead, she drew the sword at her waist.
“And what do you plan on doing with that toy?”
Ivara laughed. A moment later, however, she suddenly rolled to the side. The sound of something cutting through the air rushed through the space she was just occupying as an arrow flew past her.
“Reinforcements?!” Ivara yelled.
A human figure ran her way as if to answer her question. The intruder readied their bow once more and unleashed another arrow. Ivara dodged this one as well, and the figure dashing toward her drew a knife. Ivara spread out her claws in both hands and stood ready to intercept.
It was unbelievable, but there was no way Saya would mistake him for anybody else.
“Nagi!” she yelled.
Emotions gushed up from within her. Their intensity made her feel like her thoughts would come to a complete stop. Nagi had come to save her. But it was no good. Nagi couldn’t win against Ivara. He was going to get killed.
And yet, she couldn’t contain her joy.
She couldn’t let Nagi die, so what was she to do?
Delight and fear roiled within her heart, growing into a tempest. Then, something within her began to arise.