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Side Story Chapter 116

“A-Avalon really won?”

“The power dynamic of the continent will completely change after today. Oh my. Hubalt lost even after their ambush…”

“Avalon will invade the border immediately, right? Since the war has already started, they’ll want to see it to the end.”

“The chances of someone new becoming strongest on the continent have increased.”

The entire Avalon Empire was swept by a festive mood, but there was someone who couldn’t just be happy.

“…They lost.”

That was Lilith Aphrodite, a citizen of the Hubalt Empire and the daughter of a former cardinal.

“—Urgh!” Lilith wrapped her arms around herself. Although she had badly wanted to take part in the battle, she couldn’t because of the pain that had started a while ago. Her immense desire overwhelmed her, such that it threatened to steal her rationality. The Evil Sin’s power whispered to her.

-Oh, my. Your country really lost.

‘…Be quiet,’ Lilith snapped.

-What should you do? Your country started the war first, and the angry soldiers of the Avalon Empire will trample over it. Why don’t you ask for his forgiveness?

‘I told you to shut up.’

-You know who I’m talking about. Ask the emperor of this land for his forgiveness. Even as a fellow woman, I think you’re beautiful, so he’ll definitely take you under his wing and forgive you. Of course, you’ll have to “express your gratitude”.

‘Nonsense…!’

-Be honest. You want him too, don’t you? Joshua Sanders, the Martial God. Ahhhh… My, my. You can try scouring the entire continent, but you won’t find a more attractive man than him.

The voice was tempting. The power of Lust exploited humans’ primordial desires.

-Make him yours. That’s why you haven’t gotten married yet, isn’t it. Why don’t you just give your body to him? It’s nothing, and this is an opportunity to be forgiven and have the man you want so desperately.

“Shut up!” Lilith screamed, collapsing on the ground due to her uncontrollable desires.

“Lilith…?” Iceline leaned over her, worried.

Lilith flinched. “Yo-Your Majesty…”

“You can just call me Iceline when it’s just the two of us.”

“B-But…”

“It’s okay. I consider you my friend, Lilith.” Iceline held her hand out with a comforting smile. “Why are you on the ground? Get up—but tell me if you need any help.”

“N-No, I was just feeling dizzy—” Lilith flinched again as the whispering in her head picked that moment to redouble its efforts.

-That wicked wretch. You should slit that bitch’s neck. It’s that damned wretch who took your man. If that hadn’t been for this bitch, Joshua would have been yours!

‘Stop! Please stop!’ Lilith pleaded.

-Kill her. Kill her. Kill her. Kill her. Kill her! Kill all the Queen Consorts and take him all to yourself. Take the Martial God! Take Joshua!

A pillar of pink demonic power erupted out of Lilith.

“Ahhhhhhhh!” Lilith’s scream shook the sky.

“Lilith!” Iceline took a startled step toward her. “Get a hold of yourself! Are you okay?”

“G-Get away.”

“What?”

“Get away from me!”

Iceline crouched down in front of Lilith and looked her in the eyes instead of retreating. The desire she saw in those eyes was nearly palpable.

“Lilith, you…?”

Horns sprouted from Lilith’s head.

“...Demon horns?” Iceline murmured. She was a genius in artifact development, so she had dealt with all sorts of magical ingredients from all over the world. Among those ingredients were demon horns, which contained the essence of demons’ mana. The bigger they were, the stronger the demonic power.

“…Oh god.”

The horns emerging from Lilith’s silver hair were at least a meter long. The longest horn Iceline had seen was merely twenty centimeters long, and that belonged to an intermediate-ranking demon.

“Lilith…”

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!”

Lilith\'s horns became complete, and she seemed to lose control over her power. The room was awash with intense murderous energy.

* * *

“…Phew.” Kireua inhaled deeply. He felt very light and could smell an unholy reek, so he instinctively knew that he had been reborn.

“Sir Cain, thank you…!”

Kireua turned to Cain and froze. Cain was lying at the head of Kireua’s bed with his face down and wasn’t moving.

“Sir Cain…?” Kireua nervously said.

No way. If something happened to Cain, Kireua would be too ashamed to meet Joshua again—Cain was Joshua’s first knight.

“Sir Cain! Open your eyes, Sir Cain! No, don’t die. This can’t possibly be the end of your lessons! Marriage! You have to get married. You’re over sixty, but you haven’t dated anyone. Isn’t it unfair to die before then?! Sir Cain, please…!”

“Zzzzz….”

Kireua closed his mouth so quickly his teeth clicked together.

“Zzz… Sngngngh! Zzzzzzz…”

From time to time, it sounded like someone was choking him, but Cain’s snoring rumbled on like distant thunder.

Kireua let out a long sigh. “For goodness’ sake.”

“…Huh? You’re awake, Your Highness?” Cain opened his eyes and slowly sat up. He was paler than usual, but he didn’t look to be in any danger.

“What happened?” Kireua asked.

“Congratulations.”

“…For what?”

“You can already feel it, can’t you? You’ve been reborn today.” Cain flashed a small smile at him.

Kireua quietly looked down at himself. It felt like his body changed into somebody else’s. His calloused hands had become soft as down, and his skin was whiter for some reason. But…

“…Ugh.” Kireua finally realized that the reek was coming from himself.

“It’s said that upon reaching a certain level, your mana reconstitutes your body into its optimal form.”

“…Wait a minute, I overcame a limit?”

Cain nodded. “Yes, I forced you to. It’s the minimum requirement to utilize the greatsword.”

“Such a thing… is possible?”

“Of course, but I won’t be able to be a swordsman anymore.”

Kireua’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. “Wh-what? What do you mean, you can’t be a swordsman anymore?!”

“You don’t have to worry about it. Due to the severity of my injury, my life as a swordsman was already as good as over.”

“Sir Cain, are you kidding me…!”

“It’s okay,” Cain cheerfully replied. “I’m an old man who’s just been waiting for my last day in this world. If I’m able to be of help to the next generation before I go to my grave, what could be more fulfilling?”

“Why in the world would you say such a thing…?”

“We’re out of time. While I have some time left, I’ll teach you every aspect of the sword skills I’ve learned so far. Since you’re unquestionably a genius in terms of swordsmanship, you’ll be able to learn it like a sponge soaking up water.”

Kireua was speechless, remorseful, and apologetic. He gritted his teeth—had he been more powerful, this tragedy wouldn’t have happened.

Everything was because of this man named Bel. If that hadn’t been for him, Cain wouldn’t have ended up like this.

“…Calm your desire to kill, Your Highness,” Cain quietly said. “We don’t have much time left, but the mountains we have to overcome are great. It’s quite significant considering it’s my last mission before my death…”

“…Stop. Stop saying that you’re going to die.”

Cain smiled gently, touched by Kireua’s sincerity, and nodded. “Of course—I can’t die now, that would be unfair. I won’t be able to pass on if I die now because of all my lingering feelings.”

“…Sir Cain.”

“I have to get married. I can’t clean up after His Majesty forever, otherwise my life will be too pathetic,” Cain joked, a poor attempt to lighten the mood.

Kireua’s heart ached again.

“In any case, let’s stop getting sidetracked. After what I saw earlier, I’m certain.” Cain nodded.

“…About what?”

“I’m talking about the desire to kill you had earlier. Uncontrollable murderous energy must have overwhelmed you, yes?”

Cain was right. The mysterious desire to kill suddenly sparked in Kireua’s mind and engulfed him.

“After taking a look inside you, I found two gigantic powers dormant inside you,” Cain continued.

“Two…?”

Kireua had an idea where that number came from.

“They’re the Evil Sins’ powers, aren’t they?”

It seemed Cain thought the same.

“…Your Highness, let me tell you right now: once you lose control over those powers, you’ll lose everyone you care about.”

Cain’s shocking warning left Kireua speechless.