CH 73

However, Anissa didn’t fall to the floor immediately.

“Baal, are you betraying your kind right now?”

“I didn’t want to be like Vassago.” 

Ha.

Baal, who caught the half-conscious Anissa, let out a long sigh and hid her.

"Seeing as how you smashed the ether, it seems I have chosen the right master to be loyal to."

As Baal said, not even half of Asmodeus’ ether was left. Baal raised the corners of his mouth and handed the sword back to his master.

As the disorganized essence of the demon gathered again, the sword found its form. Dietrich gasped out of breath and wiped the blood that came from the corner of his mouth to the tip of the sword.

“The Princess worked hard to purify it, so if you do well, you might win.”

“….Once we get out of here, you’re getting punished for not properly stopping Anissa.”

“If we can get out, Your Majesty. And you are aware of it, right? It was Vassago who opened the door. Although he is hiding inside the brooch.”

Baal said with a shrug and Dietrich glanced at the silent brooch as silent as death. This wasn’t the time to hold on to Vassago and argue.

“I’m not the type to have lingering regrets.”

Holding the sword in one hand, he stroked the forehead of Anissa, who was held by Baal.

"I thought it wouldn't matter if I died."

He didn’t know why the resolve that he thought he had mustered up wavers when he’s facing this tender yet confident face. 

“If you want to die, die by my hands.” 

At that moment, Anissa, who he thought was unconscious, opened her eyes. The child murmured, staring at him with tear-glazed eyes.

"Don't make decisions on your own."

“……”

“Being a family isn’t like that.” 

That’s right.

Dietrich turned around with the corners of his mouth raised at an angle. Asmodeus, who was half kneeling, waited for him.

The devil who sat with his mouth full of Alphonse whom he had eaten opened his huge mouth.

‘No.’

I cried as I watched Dietrich running to Asmodeus and leaving me with Baal.

‘I have to get up.’

Even if he was given the setup as the strongest villain in this world, it’s not enough to win against Asmodeus. 

It was because Asmodeus was the god of all the shadows that ruled Lagrange.

To raise my body, I struggled to gather all my strength but it wasn’t working.

Clang!

At that moment, Dietrich's sword and Asmodeus' claw collided.  The sound of sharp metal reverberated through the space.

‘His setup as the strongest villain in the world really suits him.’

Watching Dietrich fight, who had yet to be considered a grown-up, I remembered a battle scene from “The Rose Wars of Men.”

‘Hermann couldn’t even compete if this was Asmodeus’ level.’

Despite having the moniker as an evil god, Asmodeus was cut through Dietrich's sword as easily as a radish.

“You should know that your attacks are useless against me!”

However, no matter how sharp Dietrich’s sword was, it was futile against the shadow demon. I glared at Asmodeus who kept regenerating and I put strength to my shoulders.

‘I came here to help! Get up!’

Seeing Dietrich get tired little by little, I bit my lip and touched the floor to try and get up, but because of my blurry vision, my head pounded. 

Without a single sound, I got up again. Dietrich was having a much harder time than me, so I shouldn’t get discouraged easily.

‘Should I help you?’

Then, Vassago whispered to me as if he had been waiting for me.

There was confidence in his voice as though he had the solution for the situation in which Baal couldn’t even do anything but chew his nails.

‘I can help you. You just need to pay the right price.’

I was wondering why the demon, who had been deadly still since entering the gate, suddenly spoke, but having no other choice, I picked up the red shining brooch.

“Okay, help me. Please!”

Without warning, blood rushed out of my body as soon as I answered. The frighteningly cool sensation at the back of my neck felt horrible, but the brooch soaked in my blood grew little by little.

Vassago's sealing stone was soon engulfed in a dark red mist as if it had clotted blood and began to bloom in the form of a human.

"Eredia's blood is always superior." [High class or high quality.]

In the mist, the figure of Vassago was instantly revealed. After completing his form, Vassago looked more human-like than Baal. 

Except for the conspicuous long fangs, I would’ve believed he was human.

“The people of the South seemed to be sucking on tonics without us knowing.” [Because the blood is of high quality so he made this comment if anybody is confused.]

His fiery red hair contrasted with his dark green eyes which flashed like that of a snake. He spoke with a heavy voice as if he had brought hell to reality.

“But you shouldn’t think that this is enough of a price.”

“You can take anything! It’s fine, so go save Dietrich!”

Finding my words funny, the demon smirked seductively.

“Humans always make promises so easily, both in the past and the present.”

He turned his back only after sucking the last drop of red liquid, presumed to be my blood, on his fingertips. 

Even after calling Vassago, I couldn't feel relief right away. In the end, I found Dietrich in my field of vision who was being crushed like a worn-out oil painting. 

He never changed direction even though he was being pushed back slowly by Asmodeus' fierce attack which was supported by evil.

Because I was behind him. He foolishly endured.

────── 〔✿〕──────

After that, I seemed to have completely lost consciousness so naturally, I couldn’t seem to remember anything properly.

In any case, everything was over when I came back to my senses.

“Dietrich!”

I got up, flapping my arms like a fish that was pulled out of water.

“Ugh.”

My body was sore and my limbs were numb, but the more pressing problem was I couldn’t see properly.

It was impossible to face the bright sunlight shining in front of me as if it was digging through my eyes. I felt scared and stretched out my hand.

“Dietrich?”

“……”

“Are you there? Dietrich!”

I couldn’t hear an answer.

Perhaps, Vassago couldn’t do anything to Asmodeus too? That was a possibility. 

Vassago was just a heretic who was rejected by his kin, but Asmodeus was literally like a god.

‘He’s not dead, is he?’

At such a terrible thought, I felt like I was about to cry. I bit my lips and managed to hold back my tears.

"Ngh."

‘Maybe he’s dead.’

It's because I was too late. Because I misunderstood Dietrich. Even though I promised not to trust the setup that the original gave him.

Because I didn't recognize Dietrich.

I.

Because of me. 

I was filled with shallow resentment. As I was hating myself, not knowing what to do, a shadow fell over my head.

Even with my blurred vision, I felt the tall and sturdy silhouette open his blunt mouth late.

“Why are you calling for me like that?”

“You were right next to me?!”

“Yeah.”

“Then why are you only answering now!”

I let out a loud voice in embarrassment. 

I wiped the corner of my dry eyes which filled with tears and I turned to his position which I roughly guessed.

“Did you get injured?”

“I didn’t.”

“It doesn’t hurt anywhere?”

“It doesn’t.”

Lies.

It’s clear that he’s lying now that I can’t open my eyes properly. There were over 10 injuries that I saw.

But I fumbled through the air, ignoring Dietrich's lies. It was only then that he realized what I was doing, so he came to hold my hand.

As always, I could only relax when I could feel his cool temperature. I held his hard, calloused hand with both of mine.

“I can’t see what’s in front.”

“It’s because you wasted too much of your power. It’s better to take a rest for a while.” 

“What about Asmodeus?”

“Gone.”

As if those words were like magic, my eyes slowly regained their vision.

Only then did I see a long scar on Dietrich's cheek.

“Liar! You’re hurt!”

“Me?”

He raised one corner of his mouth as if he was stunned and asked back. Knowing that I was looking at his cheek, without replying, he opened and closed his mouth in a puzzled way.

“This? Is this an injury?”

“If that’s not an injury then what do you call that?” 

Additionally, this was serious. Because it’s a wound on his face.

‘Right on his million Blua face!”

However, it seemed like Dietrich wasn't even aware of the scar on his face. He tilted his head, scratching his cheek awkwardly.

“Isn’t it fine as long as it’s not life-threatening.”

“No!”

“Is that all you have to ask?”

“Ask what?”

“I…..”

“You?”

At my urging, Dietrich contemplated and didn’t speak right away. I could guess what he was trying to say.

“I—“

“The fact that you tried to make me a sacrifice for the last gate?  That’s why you have been protecting me all this time?”

He couldn't answer my question and kept his mouth shut.  It was obvious that invisible drops of sweat were dripping down the back of his head.