CH 133

*3rd person POV

The golden pattern of the black bird began to emit a stronger light. In an instant, the silver threads broke and scattered in all directions.

The black bird, which hurriedly carried the golden wolf on her back, carefully put the wolf on the ground.

"Karmeut!!"

Although she knew that the gray wolf was behind her, Rainelle changed into her human form. Tears filled her eyes due to Karmeut’s action of receiving the magic attack as a body shield for her.

The wolf, faintly panting, was limp on the floor, with his pretty golden fur charred.

The faint breathing, as if it would stop at any moment, scratched Rainelle’s eardrums.

"...Karmeu, t..."

Raynelle murmured in a trembling voice and placed her hand on the wolf's scruff.

But the wolf didn't react. He doesn’t give her a gentle look and did not playfully lick her hand like usual.

"Karmeut, please."

Her white hand was dyed black when she stroked the blackened fur. But regardless, Rainelle hugged Karmeut's head.

His breathing was gradually weakening. It was so frightening that she couldn't stand it. Her body trembled as the worst thoughts came to her head. She tried to look away and told herself that it would never happen, but the gradual waning of his response seemed to indicate a terrible future.

‘Karmeut is dying. If left as it is, he will die.’

The moment she realized that fact, Rainelle's string of rationality suddenly snapped.

*Whoosh*

Huge wings spread behind Rainelle's back. A terrifying force emanated from her body with her wings outstretched, golden patterns shining.

The purple eyes glared at the gray wolf, who stepped back and lowered his stance, wary.

With one big flap of her wings, Rainelle soared high into the sky. Then, after turning into a black bird, she raised her head and roared shrilly.

It was an eerie cry dotted with anger and pain, close to a scream. It wasn't the cry of a bird, but more like the cry of a ghost screaming in hell.

As if in response, all the birds in the capital flew up at once.

Each of them was a common cry of cawing, chirping, and squeaking, but when it was heard from here and there at once, it seemed as if the whole Capital was shaking.

The animals with feathers sympathized with their Queen's sorrow and anger, and took flight as if guided.

The cries of the birds gradually became sharper. Screaming and clamoring higher and higher, the birds began to 'wrap around their Queen'.

The action of the birds even turned the sky over the capital dark. The sound of fluttering wings and cries that sounded like screams gave the illusion that the end of the world had come.

People freaked out at the behavior of the birds, scrambling around and hiding in the house. Those who couldn't hide quickly enough had their faces covered in blood from the attacks of the raging birds.

The black bird’s purple eyes gleamed. Even a faint flash of light hovered at the tips of the black feathers was bristling with anger.

The feathers of the birds, who were looking at the place where the Queen's gaze was focused on, stood on edge.

‘There it is.’

‘That being is the one that has caused the Queen's wrath.’

The birds, assimilated by the black bird's anger and sorrow, cried out sharply. There was only one thought left in their minds: To get rid of what angered the Queen.

The birds hovered around the black bird, then all at once attacked the gray wolf.

Seeing the birds fearlessly jump at him and tried to eat his eyeballs, the gray wolf showed his teeth, bit the birds that rushed at him, and burned them with magic.

But the behavior of the birds rushing endlessly without caring about their lives was irrational. At the frenzied behavior of the birds, the gray wolf faltered and began to retreat.

"Kuong, kaeng!"

The gray wolf yelped and rolled over screaming. It was because he was pinned to the wall with the feeling of something yanking and pulling his tail.

Something grabbed the scruff of the wolf, who was momentarily unconscious, and he was thrashed once again. The shock and jolt of the impact led to a stronger grip on his neck, which was crunched on the floor.

"How dare you make Karmeut like that?"

A calm, yet terrifying voice echoed through the surroundings.

The gray wolf’s behavior: growling, baring his teeth, and showing hostility, sparked fury in the purple eyes.

The black bird grabbed the wolf and flew up slightly, then slammed him to the ground.

Saliva flowed down the mouth of the gray wolf, who trembled on all fours as he let out his breath.

"My one and only mate. By the way, do you think I will let you off just because you did it in a state of rage?"

Power went into the black bird's feet, and the talons dug into the skin. As blood gushed out, the gray wolf struggled on all fours from the tight hold, trying to escape somehow.

Wild bursts of magic swept the area, but they couldn’t burn even a single feather of the black bird. Rather, she grabbed the gray wolf's front feet with her other foot, as if she was angry at the wolf's behavior.

Then, as soon as she applied strength to her foot, the wolf's front legs snapped with an eerie sound.

A puff of air leaked through the snout of the wolf, who could not even scream because his throat was caught. The gray wolf's legs scratched the floor in fits as his tongue stuck out and his body shook, which caused white dust to rise.

The black bird let out a shrill cry, lifted her leg that was holding his neck, and then slammed him on the ground once again.

As if he didn't have the energy to struggle anymore, the gray wolf frothed at the mouth as he flinched, and a faint sound of choking leaked from his throat.

Watching the red eyes lose focus, the black bird bristled her feathers.

As the black bird's foot digits collided with her claws, the wolf's head leaned backward, and frothy saliva flowed with a creaking sound.

It seemed certain that if the black bird gave her foot a little more strength, the gray wolf would die.

"Rainelle!!"

The black bird's feet relaxed slightly at the scream-like cry. Purple eyes that flashed with anger turned toward Adriana.

"I told you earlier, in the worst scenario, I will kill him."

The voice squeezing out the smooth black beak was cold.

"Right now is the worst. Karmeut is like that. He's dying. He might die."

*Ssk*

As power entered her foot that grabbed the broken front paws, in an instant, the fur turned red and white bones jutted out.

Without giving a glance to the gray wolf, who trembled and let out a pitiful sound from the intense pain, the black bird continued her words while looking at Adriana, who had come close to them,

"Give me a reason why I shouldn't kill Namuel now."

Adriana's body trembled at the purple eyes glistening with anger and murderous intent.

*Adriana’s POV

As soon as she saw Namuel's weakened physical condition, she hurriedly approached them, bypassing the protection barrier, but what greeted her was an indifferent gaze.

"It, it's because of me."

Adriana clenched her fists as she whispered that through her quivering lips.

"I! I gave him the Crobanlock!! That's why this happened!! I’m afraid that he wouldn't love me if I didn't do it like this!!"

‘Even if I knew that the world is no longer in a game, I did it because I felt anxious that I would not be able to be with Namuel if I did not follow the route that was set in the original game.’

‘Even if someone dies or becomes unhappy because of that, I thought it would all be over by saying that I'm sorry, that what I did was wrong...’

‘It was a complacent, selfish, and mean idea.’

‘If you trample on other people's happiness, there will be a price to pay for that.’

‘The result of being blinded by love and only looking at Namuel is right in front of my eyes.’

It was not the thin, weak feet of a crow that gripped the gray wolf’s neck, but the large, strong feet of a predator. Adriana could see that the wolf would die if more power was applied to that foot which pierced the skin and constrain his breath.

‘Just like when she broke his front legs, she could easily break his neck.’

‘That's why I have to be brave. Otherwise, Namuel will die.’

"So it's my fault! I, I'm being selfish! That's why---!!"

Adriana, who walked until she was in front of the sharp, glinting beak, knelt down and bowed her head.

“So… kill me if you want to. This happened because of me…”

To her actions, the Queen of all flying beasts responded,

"Why you?"

"...Yes?"

“Namuel is more of a threat than you. Look around. Who is it that broke, ripped through, and hurt all of them?”

At that, Aria gritted her teeth.

“If I kill you, I can't even relieve my anger. Killing you will make Namuel go on another mad rampage as you’re his mate.”

Her eyes were cold as she looked down at the wolf, who was struggling to escape by striking the ground with his tail.

“I was considerate of you over and over again, and I gave an understanding of your feelings of not wanting to lose someone you love. The result? This. And Namuel, when he saw you, he didn't stop, he didn't regain his reason."

Sharp words like daggers pierced Aria's heart.

"I don't know for sure, but Namuel doesn't seem to love you enough to get his rationality. He seems to value you, but that's it."

Aria's jaw trembled. It was even more painful since it was an undeniable truth.

The cries of the birds shook the air. Perched near their Queen, the birds glared fiercely at the gray wolf.

It looked as if they would devour the gray wolf alive if she gave them the order.

"Is that all you have to say?"

The purple eyes were gleaming as she asked that.

It was when tears welled up in Aria's eyes under the gaze that seemed to say that she would definitely kill the wolf.

“Calm down, sweetheart.”

It was a soft, gentle voice. The black bird’s and Aria's bodies stiffened at the voice that didn't match the current situation.

"...Eileen-nim."

She grunted out the words, but the black bird still gave her an honorific title.

The voice whispered softly as if trying to calm her down,

"Your mate isn't dead yet. He can live long enough if you treat him."

At that, the black bird's beak closed.

"So don't say anything that hurts your heart. Verbal blade hurt the opponent and you yourself, that’s the law."

"---My mate is seriously injured! He might die!!"

Rainelle raised his head in anger. A bunch of black feathers stood as her beaks snapped together.

"But you tried to respect that human’s mate too. No one's dead yet, calm down."

Rainelle wheezed and glared alternately at Adriana and the gray wolf.

"It's not because he doesn't love his mate that he can't come to his senses. With your help, that boy will come to his senses in no time."

The black bird looked at them alternately, then turned to the golden wolf. The wolf’s belly was faintly undulating as he lay on the floor.

"...Someone go call healers and physicians!! If the Emperor, Karmeut, dies, I won't stay quiet!!"

The black bird's roar struck the Imperial Palace resoundingly. Surprised by the action, the birds fluttered into the air.

When she saw someone wearing a priestly uniform (a healer) among the rushing men, Rainelle looked at Adriana.

"---If Karmeut doesn’t survive... Even if Namuel is fine, I'll kill him."

It wasn't a threat. Adriana's shoulders trembled at the sound of her voice, which was quiet yet full of certainty.

"...Please tell us what to do, Eileen-nim,"

Rainelle, who glanced sideways at the treatment of the golden wolf, snapped her beak.

"Human child, mate of the gray wolf. We need your help."