“Oh God……”

Marnak, who had been looking up at the sky, muttered in a dazed voice.

“Branch Manager Marnak, what is that?”

The member standing next to him spoke in an equally terrified voice. It was not so much speaking as squeezing out sounds from his throat.

Marnak couldn’t take his eyes off the void even at his question, and covered his mouth with trembling hands.

It was an entity that could not be described in words.

Marnak too had only learned about it in books while studying to become a priest, and could not even imagine that it actually existed and that a human—although Laila was not an ordinary human—could summon it.

“Branch Manager Marnak.”

The rumbling sound was getting louder and louder.

The sky, which had been hazy as if reflecting the wasteland, was turning dark purple centered on the magic circle Laila had created. Lightning and thunder shook the earth and overturned the uneasy air.

Marnak’s lips quivered.

“That is.”

He swallowed dryly once, then took a deep breath and continued. His expression of utter disbelief remained unchanged.

“That is an ancient being. It’s not a demon, but it’s not a benevolent god either. In Sierowe, we worship six gods: Romul, Habashka, Gilonic, Adiak, Chiron, and Sercita… That is a being that did not join the ranks of those gods but possesses the abilities of gods.”

“Then how did Lady Kristrad……”

Marnak had no other words for that either. He could only stare with eyes full of awe and fear at that immense being that had now revealed about half of its form.

What had looked like two giant pillars were its forelegs. As a round head with a beak protruded between them, even the knights who normally wouldn’t flinch at anything screamed.

“That being has the forms of a snake, an eagle, a turtle, and a lion… It possesses the appearances of strong beasts that exist on land and in the sky all at once.”

The magicians were now out of their minds. However, the being Laila had summoned showed no interest in the humans trapped within its veil, as if they were of no concern, and stretched out its long neck to bring its huge head close to Laila.

One of its eyes was larger than Barnak’s body, and every time it blinked, a reptilian membrane swept across its eyeball. Felix could see ghosts screaming and struggling inside its pupils.

— Did you call me?

The being had a unique accent. When Laila nodded, it moved its beak to make a clicking sound and then suddenly began to laugh. If that eerie echoing could be called laughter, that is…

— Among the lowly creatures, you are the most unjust of all.

“You are too vast and ancient a being to discuss human justice and injustice. Just as humans do not interfere in the battles of ants, I know you would not either.”

— Knowing this, why did you call me?

“Because it’s time to stop this futile fight. You are not a god. But I know you’re not a demon either. You must know how I summoned you. That’s why you responded to my call. Isn’t that right?”

The giant beak made another clicking sound. This time it didn’t sound very pleased. It seemed the being could swallow Laila in one bite if it wanted to.

— You are of the bloodline born from the void.

“Yes, that’s right. With that bloodline, I was able to pull you here. To be honest, I’m at my limit now… As you know, I’m only half. So I have a favor to ask of you.”

— Young witch, there is no human who dares to ‘ask a favor’ of me. I am an independent being, neither god nor demon. I do not grant wishes, nor do I sign contracts.

Laila nodded.

“I know. But you’ll have no choice but to grant my request. Because……”

Her gaze turned towards the magicians, then towards the city behind them. The massive towers and densely packed buildings were now clearly visible from outside the city. The barrier had broken.

Laila took a calm breath and said,

“I am carrying the last descendant of Hyanmorik.”

The giant eyeballs narrowed slightly, then rolled back once. And then it looked directly at the exact spot where Eustar was, without anyone telling it.

— Did you truly take the blood of that one?

“Yes.”

Laila’s voice trembled slightly.

“It will flow and transfer to me. I know about the promise between you and Hyanmorik. The demon who sought to get his hands on all of Hyanmorik’s bloodline recorded your promise with them.”

A growling sound was heard. It was a sound that could not be heard from any beast on earth. Some of the weaker ones, both Tentinella and magicians alike, collapsed.

— Who is that cunning fellow who pulled such a trick?

Laila answered.

“I can tell you that when you promise to grant my request. So, what will you do? I don’t have much time left now. If I promise to erase the records about you, will you grant my request?”

The round head tilted to one side. The thick, long neck that could hardly be called that of a living creature bent as if it would break, then straightened up.

— The moment I grant your request, you must give up your life as a complete human. The many things you have been clutching will crumble like a house of cards, never to return. Will you still do it?

Laila’s lips trembled as she raised her head. She closed her eyes and took a breath for a moment.

She tried to sense Eustar’s scent, but it was impossible. She looked once more towards where Eustar was, then nodded as if she had made up her mind.

“I will.”

— Very well. Do not forget your task. And the descendant of Hyanmorik will have a task too. Do not forget that.

Immediately after, the massive being that had almost covered the entire sky disappeared in an instant.

Light clusters scattered in all directions like shattered glass. It blinded everyone present for a moment. Everyone except one person: Laila.

She felt hundreds of screams being carried away with the light clusters to distant places. Finally, only silence remained around Laila. A rumbling sound was heard from the ground.

And the towers of the city began to fall.

“Good heavens, the towers!”

“The elders’ towers are collapsing!”

The magicians flailed about in their invisible state, trying to enter the city, but to no avail.

In the gradually fading light, Laila watched without blinking as everything, including the towers and all the numerous plots, schemes, and malice created under Nierodora Panang’s subtle manipulation, sank into the ground one after another.

— Thank you.

A whisper like a faint breath brushed past Laila’s ear. She thought of the ghost of the child who had resembled Muge. She imagined him being freed from his bonds with joy.

“Lady Kristrad! The city…! There are still people inside!”

Felix, who was about to shout something, clamped his mouth shut. But Laila could clearly understand what he was trying to say.

At least in that moment. She was reading the flow of time simultaneously. Backwards and forwards. Until all those things were connected in a circle, tail to tail.

“Olga is safe.”

“How can she be safe when the city is in that state……”

“It’s true. Trust me.”

The moment Laila finished speaking, all the light clusters disappeared. The thunder that had seemed ready to pour rain at any moment also vanished. Laila looked up at the empty space where the magic circle had disappeared for a moment, then moved closer to the magicians.

“You must now choose.”

None of the magicians answered. They all just stared at her with dumbfounded and blank eyes, as if they had lost their minds.

Laila’s black hair fluttered lightly. Her ruby-red eyes, which had captured the sunset, also shone.

“Nierodora Panang, and all the elders who were controlling you, are dead.”

A painful silence weighed down on the magicians. Byron seemed more surprised by Laila’s current appearance than by what had just happened, staring at her with parted lips.

Laila stood firmly on her own two legs. As a single human being, a unique existence.

“I am Laila Kristrad, the only witch of Sierowe and the inheritor of the source of magic, the consort of Prince Hyanmorik. Now, who among you will negotiate with me? Or who will fight with me until the doom of humanity arrives? Choose.”

Laila gazed intently at Eustar’s sleeping face, then gently stroked his forehead.

After carefully arranging his long hair, which sparkled in an almost white color in the sunlight, she pondered once more how many days it had been since Eustar had failed to wake up.

Four days since returning to the royal palace, so it had been four days since Eustar had failed to wake up.

“Lady Laila.”

Mel called her softly from outside the door. Laila checked Eustar’s pocket watch placed on the side table, then gently kissed his cheek before standing up.

As Laila went out, Mel carefully closed the door and said,

“I came to inform you that it’s the time you mentioned.”

“Thank you, Mel.”

“Where are you going? Should I come with you……”

“No, it’s alright. I’m planning to see His Majesty.”

She headed towards the king’s quarters alone, without any attendants following her, leaving Mel behind. There were guards lined up, but everywhere was as quiet as a mouse.

Laila was able to enter his bedroom without any interference.

It was natural, as she was currently the highest-ranking person in this palace with the most command authority, while both Eustar and Ord were still unconscious.

Nevertheless, Laila was not happy. She was sick of everyone tiptoeing around her, trying to read her mood, and ultimately retreating without asking a single question.

“Leave us.”

After dismissing all the attendants, Laila entered Ord’s bedroom. More candles were lit than the last time she had seen, and more flowers and wood carvings were placed here and there. They were all meant to absorb the foul odor.

Ord was near death. At least parts of his body had already gone through most of the process of death. Laila looked down at Ord, who was breathing shallow and weak breaths, and whispered in a very small voice.

“Open your eyes, Your Majesty.”

After a moment of silence, Ord’s eyelids, which had been tightly closed like a corpse’s, slowly parted.