Chapter 162 - The truth

"Kukukuku..."

Augusta's ghoulish laughter gave Drako goosebumps. This sort of laughter had always given him a bad vibe, and this moment was no different.

Putting on a macabre smile, Augusta said.

"You're wrong, very wrong. It was Glenda who offered us that information, she gave it to us of her own free will. All the information about your Longinus, that is."

"…"

Was it Glenda who volunteered all the information about Lavinia's Longinus?

No, that's not possible. Wasn't Glenda the Witch of the South? She should be the good witch of the story, shouldn't she? Why should she help Augusta?

Why would she betray Lavinia?

"...what are you saying?" Lavinia asked with a look of amazement.

Augusta smiled more and more unpleasantly and said...

"Oh, dear Lavinia, you're still a child who doesn't understand anything. Well, let me explain it to you. Glenda is a wizard on our side... She's always been with us from the beginning... Good witch? Evil witch? That was self-centred information passed on by people on our side. She walked away from our side because, at that time, there was a fierce battle between the north, south, east and west factions. Glenda wasn't interested in those fights, because the country of Oz was created to raise awareness in the magician, and she's no exception."

For a moment, Lavinia was really paralyzed by the strong shock.

A silence appeared for a moment, however...

"Bullshit! That's Bullshit!"

Lavinia screamed angrily.

Drako had never seen Lavinia show such an angry, wrathful expression. Lavinia had always remained a gentle older sister, always with a smile on her face.

That's why seeing Lavinia at this moment was painful for Drako. It shouldn't be allowed to do anything that would make her angry or sad.

In response to Lavinia's anger, Augusta continued to talk while keeping her sinister smile on.

"It is not a lie. Not at all, why don't we ask Glenda directly?

The magician raised one of her hands and created a magic circle. Neither Drako nor Lavinia fought back, as they recognized the type of magic circle. It was a magic circle of communication.

"Can you hear me, Glenda?"

After a moment, an old woman's voice was heard through the magic circle.

"...For you to contact me out of nowhere, I wonder if anything happened, Augusta."

At the sound of that familiar voice, Lavinia's eyes were opened with amazement. That old woman could only be one person...

Augusta happily talked to the other person on the other side of the magic circle of communication.

"Right now, I'm fighting your disciple, the Ice Princess. How about you say something to her? It's the least you can do since she's been looking for you so desperately, don't you think so?"

The woman on the other side of the magic circle of communication seemed to be Glenda, Lavinia's teacher.

In response to Augusta's words, she says...

"...I'm not interested at all."

The tone of her voice was one of rejection.

"…!"

Lavinia was silent because of those words, her whole body began to tremble. Even Drako was paralyzed after hearing Glenda's insensitive words.

Drako had prepared himself because there was a chance for the world of Oz to be different than the one described in the books, but he did not expect Glenda to be this kind of person.

Thinking logically, Drako could understand Glenda's reasons for adopting Lavinia as her disciple. Augusta had already explained that the people of Oz are only interested in investigating magic, so Drako was not surprised that Glenda took the opportunity to investigate something as magical as a Longinus.

"Kakakaka! How wicked! Wasn't there a time when you loved this girl as your daughter? I can't believe you're saying something like that now! Evil!"

Augusta was enjoying Lavinia's expression, showing the unpleasant laughter again.

"…"

In response to Augusta's words, for a moment, nothing was heard through that magical circle of communication.

Then it was heard.

"...Lavinia"

The words that Glenda was going to say to Lavinia, who was desperately seeking the whereabouts of her teacher all this time, were extremely cruel.

"I'll say it again... I don't care at all!"

That way, the communication ended, and the magic circle disappeared.

Drako was in shock.

He, who knew how much Lavinia had suffered looking for her teacher.

He, who had felt Lavinia's true feelings to the fullest thanks to [Senjutsu] knew how much she was longing for her teacher.

He felt a piercing pain in his chest. Not for him, but for the person who was by his side at this moment, the girl with whom he had started a romantic relationship.

As for Lavinia...

"…"

She dropped her wand, her arms were limp. With an empty expression, she simply fell silent.

Even her Longinus, who stood beside her, eliminated her attacking position. That the person who made Lavinia have hope in her eyes when her family died has caused her to fall into a total void. This is the truth that no one can face.

It wouldn't be impossible for her to think that all this was a lie.

Somehow, Lavinia opened her trembling mouth...

"...N-No way..."

With a voice that is not characteristic of her, from the depths of her being, from the depths of her heart, she cried out.

"Impossible!!! No, no, it's a lie...!"

Lavinia's whole body began to wobble, she had lost the strength in her legs.

The strength of her heart and her body had been destroyed in one blow.

Drako did not hesitate to support her, running to her side and taking her in his arms.

Augusta saw that and created an anomalous magical circle with her hand and threw it. From that magic circle, something black began to appear.

"You've lost all your will! It's the time!"

Just then, a black circle began to grow around Lavinia, who is without strength. A strange black aura appeared and enveloped her from head to toe.

She was going to be wrapped in the black halo, and Drako could do nothing to stop it!

This was black magic, without a doubt. And it was not just any black magic, but one that could only be defended by one's own will. For Lavinia, who had given up hope, this was the worst attack she could get at this point.

One person shouted, surprising everyone present.

"Don't let that capture the girl!"

Thalia came out of hiding and approached at high speed towards Drako and Lavinia.

Drako wasted no time in asking her.

"Do you know what this is?"

Thalia explained precisely.

"Magical possession! One of the darkest and most sinister magic known. If the victim is not strong enough, her body will be possessed forever."

Something clicked in Drako's head. He understood something just now.

But it wasn't time to think about that, it was time to help Lavinia.

Without hesitation, Drako put Gandiva into the system.

He locked Lavinia in a strong, warm embrace. Golden scales began to appear in Drako's arms, and dragon claws came out of his hands.

Drako had no way to undo this magic, but he could at least slow it down with his [Holy Healing Claws]. The rest was Lavinia's job, she was the one who had to fight Augusta.

"Thalia, I'm asking you, please. Cover us!"

As he embraced Lavinia, Drako was discovered in front of Augusta. He was dependent on Thalia for his defence.

"Yes, don't worry. The witch can't do anything to you while I'm here."

Thalia had her own reasons for helping Drako and Lavinia at this time. She... saw herself in Lavinia right now, so she wanted to help both of them.

"I leave it to you."

Drako left with Lavinia in his arms. Black smoke still surrounded Lavinia, so he had no doubt that Augusta could take control of the girl at any time.

For the moment, Drako's sacred aura was suppressing the dark magic, but it would not last long. He could see the dark aura coming closer and closer to Lavinia.

Meanwhile, Drako reflected on what he had discovered before.

What he had discovered was nothing more or less than the target of the wizards of Oz in the forest.

Their target was not Sae with Cowardly Leo, or Tobio or the Shi Akuma. Their goal was not to support Satanael or the Utsusemi Agency.

The Wizards' goal was none other than Lavinia herself!

If Augusta could control Lavinia's body at will, she would be in the power of two Longinus!

That was something Drako had never heard of or read about, it was something that had never happened in this world!

Actually, there was one person who had accomplished this. He is the person who is known as First Dark or The Man Who Impersonates God. However, he appears for the first time in volume 25 (although I think he was mentioned before), so Drako (who has read up to 21) doesn't know of his existence.

Mitsuya Kanzaki is called The Man Who Impersonates God because of his ability to control the two Longinus Telos Karma and Innovate Clear. He is also one of the competitors for the title of the most powerful human.

How strong would Augusta be if she could also control two Longinus?

In Drako's arms, Lavinia slowly opened her eyes.

"Dra...kun?"

Drako stopped thinking and looked at his girlfriend.

"Did you wake up?"

She nodded softly, and rested her head on Drako's chest. He soon felt the tears in her chest.

"Lavinia, do you know your situation?" Drako asked.

She nodded.

"You have to endure Augusta's attack, I'm going to help you in any way I can."

Lavinia nodded again.

Drako started hearing explosions, Thalia and Augusta had already started fighting.

Drako found a comfortable place to sit, and the two began working on Lavinia's recovery.

Drako's blood froze when he saw that the dark aura was still approaching Lavinia.

She wasn't trying to defend herself!

"Lavinia... I am here with you."

Drako pressed the hug. Lavinia looked up into his eyes, and he saw that her eyes were filled with tears.

Lavinia spoke to Drako.

"Dra-kun... why has Oshishou-sama rejected me? Why?"

Drako responded as she gently stroked his blond hair.

"Not everyone is as you think they are... many of them have a façade while hiding their true thoughts. That woman, Glenda, could have pretended to be a good teacher while simply using you as a research subject. Who knows, she may have actually considered you as her own daughter and some situation is preventing her from talking to you. If you want to know the truth, you have to face her."

Lavinia looked at Drako with open eyes. It seemed that the boy's words had opened new doors for the girl.

"Yes... I think you're right. I must speak to Oshishou-sama face to face, I cannot trust Augusta."

Drako relaxed when he saw the soft smile he was familiar with.

Lavinia wrapped her arms around Drako's neck and kissed him gently on the lips.

"Dra-kun, I love you."

It was not the first time Drako had heard these words from Lavinia, but this time it was different from the other times. Lavinia was sure of the words she was saying, for they came from the depths of her heart.

Just then, Drako received another notification.

[The level of [Nephilim Dragon] raised from 74 to 75.]

[[Nephilim Dragon] has reached its MAX level.]

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