“Let go, I won’t allow it. This is just you taking my power. It doesn’t matter to Carlos.”

He said firmly. It sounded more like an absolute declaration than an assurance. If he said so, then it was.

“I just sprinkled a few spoonfuls of seawater, Ru.”

No, it can’t be. Ru couldn’t tell who was the good one at that moment, watching Hayden’s eyes bending in front of her. This man who said it’s okay and tempted her to do things she shouldn’t do was an angel disguised as a devil.

He was now holding Ru’s hand, whispering for her to repeat the past events, this time, repeating them with her own hand.
“That won’t make the sea dry up.”

The tone, murmured low, changed. It was a relaxed and leisurely tone, contrasting the overwhelming presence felt earlier. He was the emperor, possessing absolute power, but now his speech was calm and unhurried.

A shiver ran down Ru’s shoulders. It was because there was a hint of madness in his tone.

“Take more. Don’t think about anything else.”

He laughed brightly.

“I’m glad I have something to offer you.”

He was insane. His mindset was unconventional, and he was utterly a crazy person. Ru judged him that way.

However, strangely, what was even stranger was that, amidst the madness, she was finding love in his words before madness. And she liked it. It shouldn’t be liked, but it felt thrilling.

“I’ll take care of the rest, so it’s okay. Practice.”

Melpius didn’t teach how to steal others’ power. That was the method Carlos Arthur Ingram, who wanted to seize the emperor’s throne, had researched. Ru hadn’t learned it either, but the fact that she could meant Carlos was already halfway in control of her body.

“You’ll grow larger and shine more. It’s okay. Take it.”

Taking it wouldn’t lead to anything good. However, Hayden filled his hand that held her with a bright light.

Ru, pale, clung desperately to him, and she saw the spectacle of Hayden’s power being reluctantly devoured by the green light. It was wrong, and she scolded herself for it, but Hayden’s whispering voice clung to her ears.

“He can’t use my power recklessly. What’s mine is yours; he can’t touch it.”

Nonsense. It was truly absurd, but Ru was already captivated by those words. Like a foolish human irresistibly drawn to the devil’s beckoning.

‘Could I resist Carlos with the power Hayden gave me?’

And she even dared to have such a nonsensical thought, being captivated to the point of performing an act she had never tried before, taking away someone else’s power and making it her own.

Snap, sparks flew. Ru, who was nauseated to the point of being repulsive as she was absorbing Hayden’s power, unexpectedly spat out the power she had swallowed.

Startled, Ru shrank, but Hayden still firmly held her. And he faced the rising large flames without even avoiding them, letting his body take the hit.

The light penetrated him.

“Hayden!”

No! A scream erupted from Ru’s lips.

“No, no…!”

She frantically felt his heartbeat, and his clothes burned and tore.

His bare flesh was exposed, and a faint scar was drawn over his heart. It was like being pierced by something. It was a fatal wound. If he were an ordinary person, he would die. However, Hayden just looked down at her as if nothing had happened.

“How, what, treatment…!”
The smell of burning flesh was intensely strong. Ru, surprised, pushed him away, realizing that she should not touch him at all, and turned to look at Hayden. There was no other way but to let him go.

“Oh, I’m hurt.”

He murmured nonchalantly.

“It hurts, Ru.”

With trembling hands, Hayden pressed his face. Clearly, a green flame had pierced near his heart. The red wound was now turning black.

“Hug me. If it’s not enough, keep hitting and hugging me until you feel relieved.”

Unconsciously, she hugged him. While doing so, she continuously checked. Breathing, pulse, heartbeat, and the flow of mana. Everything seemed fine except for the white light surrounding him, which trembled uneasily.

“Does it hurt a lot?”

Are you alive? You are. But what now? You’ve already been hurt.

“Not too much. I’ll have to try harder.”

Ru looked into the air, making sure he couldn’t see her expression, while Hayden was already holding onto her. He was desperately making up an excuse to keep holding on and was collapsing.

There was no more time to hesitate. She had to leave. Right away.