Amid the thick smoke, the shape of the demonic beast appeared.

Eric immediately slashed at the demonic beast, picking up the sword of a fallen guard on the ground.

Though duller and lighter than the sword he usually used, it was adequate enough for dealing with the demonic beast.

‘It’s the same magician. The same kind of demonic beast.’

Eric gripped the sword tighter and attacked the demonic beast again.

Though the numbers didn’t seem large, the personnel able to fight were limited. Moreover, several guards were seen trying to flee.

“Do not run away!”

As Eric shouted loudly, the guards who were about to flee hesitated.

“15 minutes, just hold out for 15 minutes. The First Knight Division will arrive soon!”

“Captain Russell!”

Several imperial guards ran towards Eric.

Eric gave instructions in an even louder voice.

“It’s more dangerous if you run! There will be demonic beasts outside too. Hold your ground here!”

While encouraging the imperial guards and sentries, Eric cut down another demonic beast.

Seeing Eric’s actions, the guards one by one gripped their swords again.

“What about His Majesty?”

“I saw him escaping just now.”

“Is that so?”

After confirming that the Emperor was not inside, Eric immediately cut down another demonic beast.

“If you can’t hold on, pass it to me. I’ll take care of it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Move in pairs of two. Then you can certainly take them down.”

“Yes, sir!”

Expressions of relief appeared on the faces of the hesitant guards at the front.

Then they began to attack the demonic beasts, following Eric’s lead.

‘Alicia. Please return safely.’

Feeling his heart race at the thought of Alicia, Eric took a deep breath to calm himself.

Though dealing with demonic beasts was now familiar and not particularly difficult, if he acted rashly and got injured, Alicia would likely scold him severely.

Alicia’s anger was indeed frightening.

So he needed to finish this quickly and return safely.

Thinking thus, he cut down yet another demonic beast.

[This is the timeline separator]

Alicia, who had parted from Eric and was running in the opposite direction, soon stopped in her tracks.

Demonic beasts were visible in the direction she had come from.

“Have they already come this far?”

If so, she needed to hurry more.

But a few meters in front of those demonic beasts, a woman was sitting down.

Seemingly paralyzed with fear, she was unable to stand and was slowly moving backwards in a sitting position.

Eventually, as if catching the demonic beast’s eye, it opened its mouth with a loud noise.

Simultaneously, the woman screamed.

Seeing this scene, Alicia ran straight towards them without hesitation.

She stood in front of the woman and drew the sword held by a knight statue standing nearby.

It was a bit heavy and somewhat rusted, but it seemed usable.

“Are you alright?”

“Lady Lancaster?”

“Can you stand, Lady O’Brien?”

“Why-”

“There’s no time to discuss that now.”

Alicia grasped the sword with one hand and extended the other to Kate.

“Quickly. Take my hand and stand up.”

With a trembling hand, Kate grasped Alicia’s hand and stood up.

“Don’t be too afraid. Can you see the direction of the cloakroom over there?”

“Yes.”

“When I signal, run that way. Don’t scream. If you provoke the demonic beast, we won’t be able to escape.”

“Ah, I understand.”

The two slowly backed away.

Kate’s hand, holding Alicia’s, was still trembling.

The demonic beast in front tilted its head, watching the two cautiously moving, and slowly moved forward.

Grrrr-

Drool dripped from its large mouth.

Seeing this, Kate unconsciously gripped Alicia’s hand tightly.

“What a brave young lady.”

A man in a black robe with a red ring sat on top of a pillar’s statue, watching Alicia with a grinning face.

“Is this the level expected of the Knight Commander’s fiancée?”

“It looks interesting, sir.”

“Don’t you think so?”

On the statue next to him, another man in a black robe turned his head towards Alicia.

“Well, I don’t find it particularly interesting.”

“Tch. How boring.”

The man with the red ring shook his head at the other’s indifferent tone.

“I don’t think I raised you to be like this. What do you live for? Don’t you find anything fun?”

“Well. Would it be fun if that woman gets eaten by the demonic beast?”

“That won’t do. There are things you can say and things you can’t, you know?”

The man with the red ring scolded the indifferent man, then turned his gaze back to Alicia.

“How is your body feeling?”

“It’s fine. Since last time, I think I have enough magic power to destroy this place. But that might be the end of it.”

“It can’t be helped. For now, we’ll have to be satisfied with that much.”

“I know. How are things on the demonic beast side?”

“The Knight Commander is blocking them.”

“Hmm. Seems he’s gained quite a bit of experience. Impressive.”

The man with the red ring grinned with interest, but the other man did not.

“He’s starting to get on my nerves.”

“Just leave him be. Isn’t it cute to see him struggle?”

That gloomy man, cute?

At this incomprehensible word choice, the indifferent man’s expression twisted ever so slightly.

“When will you start?”

“Let’s watch that young lady a bit more.”

“Is that really necessary?”

“Aren’t you curious how she’ll escape from here?”

“I’m not particularly curious, but do as you please.”

Muttering as if giving up, the man with the indifferent expression quickly disappeared.

“Now then, young lady. Surely you won’t fall to this level? Don’t disappoint me.”

The man’s face began to shine with an expectant expression along with the red ring from within the black robe.

“Is this really okay? Wouldn’t it be better to wait until someone comes-”

“If the demonic beast pounces before that, we’ll be helpless.”

Kate glanced forward.

Indeed, the demonic beast was too close to just wait quietly.

“Are you ready?”

“What?”

“Run!”

As soon as Alicia shouted, Kate started running.

As the demonic beast moved towards Kate, Alicia struck its head with the sword.

However, perhaps because the sword was rusted, it broke, and fragments lodged in its eyes and nose instead of cutting it.

Kwaaaaak!!!

Nevertheless, as blood flowed from the eye where the fragments were lodged, the demonic beast let out a loud scream of pain and opened its mouth.

Alicia immediately discarded the broken sword she was holding, turned around to draw another knight statue’s sword, and thrust it straight into the demonic beast’s mouth.

Kueeeeek!!

With a death cry, the demonic beast collapsed, vomiting black liquid from its mouth.

Alicia sighed in relief, drew a sword from another statue, and began running in the direction Kate had fled.

“As I thought, I have good eyes. This much at least… is fitting.”

The man in the black robe smiled happily. The red ring glowed brightly in response.

“Oh, dear.”

At that moment, another demonic beast appeared from the theater entrance and began running at high speed towards Alicia.

Perhaps because she was running frantically while holding her dress skirt and sword, Alicia didn’t notice at all that a demonic beast was running towards her from behind.

“Sorry, but this is inconvenient right now.”

The man with the red ring smiled slightly and snapped his fingers.

Immediately, the running demonic beast vanished into black smoke on the spot.

As Alicia’s figure completely disappeared from view, the man stretched and rose from atop the statue.

“Well then, shall we begin?”

While the red jewel on the ring finger within the black robe glowed ominously, the man muttered something and a magic circle appeared around him.

Then, the statues embedded in the edges of the ceiling began to explode in succession.

“What’s that?”

Eric looked up at the sound of consecutive explosions while cutting down another demonic beast.

Seeing the pillars collapsing in order from afar, Eric shouted.

“Everyone get outside!!”

At Eric’s command, everyone began running towards the collapsed wall.

Just as Eric escaped outside last, the entire opera house collapsed.

Everyone stared blankly at the ruins, now only debris remaining, with dumbfounded expressions.

“Don’t stand there in a daze, strengthen the guard. The demonic beasts might have escaped.”

At Eric’s order, the knights gripped their swords again with tense expressions.

“Over there. Form groups of five. Search the surroundings.”

“Understood.”

“What about the First Knight Division?”

“They’ve almost arrived.”

“Inform them of the situation here. Half should start searching for any escaped demonic beasts, and the other half should prepare for rescue operations.”

“Understood.”

Eric looked around and ran his hand through his hair.

It was a chaotic mess, difficult to clean up.

[This is the timeline separator]

“That was close.”

Alicia turned around, breathing heavily.

As she stared blankly at the completely collapsed opera house right after escaping, Kate’s voice was heard.

“Lady Alicia.”

“Ah, Lady Kate. Are you alright?”

“Are you asking me that right now?”

Kate’s elaborate hair and face were a mess with dust.

Yet, seemingly not bothered at all, Kate ran over as soon as she saw Alicia.

Kate hurriedly asked while examining Alicia here and there.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m fine. But Lady Kate, your hair is a mess.”

“Who here isn’t a mess right now?”

“That’s true.”

Seeing Alicia laugh, Kate also burst into laughter that was hard to tell if it was laughter or crying.

Then Kate cleared her throat and composed her expression.

Her face was red, perhaps from embarrassment.

“Anyway, thank you.”

“?”

“For saving me.”

“Ah, that. It’s fine. Anyone would have done the same.”

“I don’t think so.”

Kate frowned, recalling the man her father had arranged for her to meet and accompany her today.

She thought about how to destroy that man who had quickly fled alone as soon as the commotion started, while looking at Alicia anew.

“In any case, I’m indebted to you. I’ll be sure to repay this debt someday.”

“No, you don’t need to go that far-”

“I have a personality that can’t stand being in debt.”

“Ah, I see. If that’s the case.”

As Alicia smiled, Kate stiffly raised her head and turned around.

Then, without turning her head, she opened her mouth.

“Oh, by the way. I heard Count Russell is at the rear of the opera house. Though it’s odd to call it the rear now that the building has collapsed. They say there are no more demonic beasts now.”

“Thank you for letting me know.”

“Well then.”

As Kate hurriedly disappeared, Alicia ran in the opposite direction to go to Eric.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Eric!”

“Alicia?”

After explaining the situation to Captain Edinburgh and handing over, Eric was just about to go look for Alicia.

At that moment, he spotted Alicia running towards him from the opposite side, holding a sword.

Seeing her running well, it seemed she wasn’t injured, which made Eric feel relieved and a smile naturally appeared on his face.

He ran towards Alicia, who was running towards him with a bright smile.

“Eric, are you alr-”

As soon as they got close, Eric tightly embraced Alicia.

Surprised, Alicia opened her eyes wide while being held in Eric’s arms.