“Are you insane? Fight now! Don’t hand me over to someone like him!”

Denesor’s voice was piercing, but I didn’t move an inch.

Hades took Denesor away from me.

I can’t stop him now.

Whatever he does from now on…!

“You damned master, do you realize what you’ve just done? You’ll die without me!”

Death or not.

Wouldn’t death allow me to return to my original life?

I kept my eyes closed.

If I opened them even a little, this whole thing felt like it would overwhelm me as reality.

But one can’t avoid reality forever.

Hades halfforced me to my feet.

“It’s dangerous to stay here. Go back, Angel.”

“Where to…?”

I kept staring at the ground. I didn’t want to go back without Hades. I wanted to be with him, no matter where.

Was this simple wish really that difficult to fulfill?

Hades halflistened to my words.

“With the Holy Sword, I can do anything. I’ll send you to Donovan right away. You’ll be safe there.”

“In that case, Hades and I should go together.”

I mustered the courage to rebut him.

“If I go back alone, what will people think? They’ll surely be anxious. And so will I.”

“Angel.”

Hades gave a faint smile. But nowhere on his chiseled face could I find any trace of consideration or care for me.

He was solely acting according to what he thought was right, his own desires.

“You might find it hard to understand now, but you will later.”

“Why?”

I asked, desperate.

“How can you say I’ll understand when you’re ignoring everything I say right now…?”

“Angel.”

There was no quiver in Hades’ voice.

“You’re the one ignoring all of my words. I’ve been following your words all along. I’ve acquiesced to every stubbornness.”

His gaze shifted to Denesor.

“Is it too much to ask for you to do as I wish, just this once?”

“No.”

I didn’t give in.

“Hades, I truly regret leading you on this fruitless journey. It was all my misconception. But what you’re doing now…!”

It’s not right.

I swallowed those words.

Hades was extremely emotional at the moment. Provoking him would do no good.

However, I could at least try to stop him.

I opened my mouth quietly.

“The Holy Sword will not respond to you, Hades.”

Each step towards him felt unbearably heavy.

“Because… I am the owner of the Holy Sword.”

Hades nodded with a serious face.

“True, I have no intention of changing that fact. I’ll only borrow it from you temporarily, for you to achieve what you desire.”

“Let Altair handle it.”

I pleaded.

“What?”

Hades’ expression softened.

“You’re… worried about me.”

Took you long enough to realize?

I nodded, unable to hide my surprised emotion.

“Yes! I’m worried. If anything happens to you, Hades, I…”

“I may get hurt, but I’m still me. I have the strength to protect you.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about!”

I was already halfsobbing. I couldn’t tell Hades that what I feared most was his personality becoming consumed by darkness. Compared to that, him getting hurt was trivial.

I swallowed my words again and again.

“Angel.”

Was it because of that?

Hades didn’t change his mind until the end.

“Wait quietly.”

And the very moment he lifted Denesor, I yelled.

“Denesor! I summon you!”

“Should’ve done this sooner.”

Denesor muttered in a satisfied tone, tightly held in my hand.
“Give him another chance, and he disappears in an instant.”

“You can’t escape me anyway.”

Grinning, I finally asked the question that had been circling in my mind.

“So, can you really take us anywhere?”

“Not you.”

I slumped my shoulders. Yes, I seemed to be lacking in harnessing the power of Denesor.

On the other hand, Hades had reached the realm of a Swordmaster, allowing him to use Denesor as some kind of altar.

I quietly watched Hades, who now looked at me with a face twisted in rage.

“Angelica! What the hell is this joke? Return the holy sword!”

“I’m sorry, Hades.”

I lowered my head.

“It looks like I’ll have to defeat the Demon King.”

Upon hearing that, the expression on Hades’ ragefilled face changed considerably.

His anger disappeared, replaced only by confusion and concern.

“Angelica.”

His voice grew pleadingly soft.

“Please, don’t think like that.”

“You’ve been watching me all this time; you should know well.”

I calmly retorted.

“I’m someone who will do it if I say I will.”

“Yes, I know.”

Hades mumbled anxiously.

“That’s exactly the problem.”

Finally, my mind eased a little. As long as Hades still had concern for me in his heart, he wouldn’t act recklessly.

Threatening the person you love wasn’t particularly pleasant, but sometimes you had to use dirty, low tactics.

I tightly grasped Denesor.

“Do you feel the Demon King?”

Denesor emitted a sound, as if openly mocking.

“Do you think you would have been safe if I did? You would have died already.”

It was true, but I couldn’t laugh.

Not having been attacked despite reaching the Demon King’s lair implied he was scheming something.

Moreover, he probably saw us like we were laid out on the palm of his hand.

But it was better that the two of us try something rather than Hades going at it alone with Denesor.