Right now, I felt even more hopeless than when I was confronting Tobias.

Back then, I was sure Hades would come.

Because when I had opened the report, he sensed the intrusion and came.

But now it was completely different.

‘…We might have passed each other. He might have gone into that room in his own way. Then…’

Only then did I regret not considering the possibility of crossing paths, but it was far too late.

“It seems I do have a concern, Holy Lady.”

Shuzhéchin responded with a cold voice.

“But if you hand me that sword, I might just let you go peacefully.”

“…!”

I stared up at him in disbelief. Could it be that Tobias told this man as well?

“As I thought, Tobias was right.”

A satisfied smile appeared on Shuzhéchin’s face.

“Now, hand it over.”

“Séton!”

Instead of pulling out Dénésor, I pushed him back while shouting a sleeping spell.

However, unlike Tobias, Shuzhéchin didn’t faint; he only continued to smile softly.

“Ah, it appears the Holy Lady doesn’t know much about the empire.”

He openly mocked me.

“Did you think I would be unprepared, even after receiving reports about you?”

I swallowed dryly. Most likely, Shuzhéchin was carrying an item that neutralized my skills, similar to ‘Tatiana’s Glow.’

The problem was, unlike the noticeable necklace that had ‘Tatiana’s Glow,’ I couldn’t see any item on Shuzhéchin.

Shuzhéchin clenched my neck. Though he held it with one hand and caused no real pain, the threat in the message was strong.

“Be wise and hand it over now.”

“…”

I hesitated for a moment. Should I just give it to him now? Even if I run away with the holy sword, the demons would target Shuzhéchin.

Would he survive any better than I if I block him from meeting the delegation?

Getting the holy sword back after Iza’s death would be no big deal for Hades.

“What do you think, Dénésor?”

I murmured softly to Dénésor.

“I hate it.”

Dénésor replied curtly.

“Just the thought of going to that guy makes me sick. Young master, are you really considering giving me to that guy?”

“…If you don’t want to, I won’t…!”

Shuzhéchin couldn’t bear even a moment’s silence and attempted to forcibly take Dénésor from me.

I kicked him, but my voluminous dress hem rendered it ineffective.

‘Ah, whatever!’

“Dénésor, help me!”
I screamed to Denesor to become a greatsword for me.

So, to become a greatsword of a magnitude I had never seen before, to be precise.

Immediately, a blinding light began to erupt, so dazzling it could blind.

“Ah, aaah!”

The one hit directly by the light was none other than Shujechin.

I tightly gripped the hilt of Denesor. Certainly, if my calculations were correct…!

“K, kuhuck!”

Shujechin coughed, blood spewing from his mouth.

‘I got him.’

Rather than a sense of victory, relief came first. Denesor, transformed into an extraordinary greatsword, had pierced Shujechin’s side halfway.

If it had been a regular size, Shujechin would have easily dodged, but because it was unusually large, he had no choice but to get injured.

Also, the intense light brought unexpected gains.

“Angelica!”

My heart pounded rapidly. It was Hades’s voice. Not the one faked by Tobias who purposely lowered his tone, but the real voice of Hades.

Tears suddenly started to well up. I quickly wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. I hadn’t cried all day, so I couldn’t start now.

“Angel… Angelica.”

Before I knew it, Hades, who stood in front of me, was staring at me with a hollow face.

“Why are you here? Why are you here…”

He mumbled incoherently.

“You should’ve been in the safest place! I thought you’d stay there, that’s why I sent William. Where is William? I have to scold him immediately…!”

“Tobias has infiltrated.”

I replied in a matteroffact manner.

“We need to go now. And we need doctors. Many knights are injured.”

Fortunately, Hades didn’t ask for more details. He just stepped on the fallen Shujechin with disdainful eyes and walked on.

“Arrest him.”

Hades commanded the knights following him.

“And tell all the doctors in the castle to gather in my office. Immediately.”

I licked my lips. Those knights had all witnessed the gigantic Denesor. Among them could be ones touched by the holy sword like Tobias.

“You seem to have used the magic stone I gave you well.”

“Huh? Ah, yes!”

I quickly chimed in with Hades’s comment.

“If it weren’t for the magic stone you provided, I would have been utterly defeated. I am truly grateful.”

The corners of Hades’s mouth slightly lifted, but his face soon returned to an emotionless state.

I hastily transformed Denesor back to its smaller form and tucked it away, grabbing his sleeve.

“Your Highness, we must go quickly.”

“…”

Hades slowly nodded, and a faint voice reached my ears.

“From now on, don’t leave my side for even a moment. That’s an order.”