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Chapter 24: Veil of Corruption - (3)
Fwoosh—!
The beast lunged forward, its razor-sharp claws raised high. Each step it took sent tremors through the floor of the council hall, leaving deep craters in its wake.
And then—the attack came flying in. Millia threw herself aside with all her strength, barely avoiding it.
Where she had just been standing, a crater the size of a meteor impact had formed.
Even though her entire body was shielded in mana, a chill ran down her spine.
Had that hit directly, her limbs would’ve been torn apart. That’s how devastating the blow was.
But Millia wasn’t one to just keep running.
The beast’s massive size came with sluggish movements. There was a long pause between its attacks—and that gap was exactly what she had to exploit.
Just like now.
“Hup!”
Millia swiftly slashed with her mana-infused sword, aiming straight for the creature’s wrist.
Slash!
The blade, glowing faintly with a bluish hue, tore into the monster’s flesh, carving out a sizable chunk.
“Grruuurrrrkk!”
The monster shrieked in pain and twisted its body reflexively to counterattack, but Millia dodged with a mere tilt of her upper body.
A heavy gust swept past her face.
Even in that brief moment, her sharp eyes picked out another opening.
Using the centrifugal force from her dodge, she twisted her sword once more and landed a deep cut across the beast’s arm.
Schlurk.
“GRRRAAAARRK!”
She quickly stepped back, creating distance between her and the screeching creature.
“Phew...”
Millia caught her breath. Sweat trickled down her cheek, pooling at the tip of her chin.
It had already been dozens of minutes playing this deadly game of tag.
‘At least everyone else seems to have evacuated safely...’
She glanced at the monster before her, then shifted her gaze to the woman standing behind it—watching her with a curious, unreadable expression.
The woman in the black dress had hair that covered half her face, making it impossible to read her expression.
But the faint twitch of her lips through the strands gave her away.
She was smiling.
‘The composure of the strong, huh?’
Millia clicked her tongue.
When she’d charged in to strike down the woman who had introduced herself as an assassin, the massive beast had suddenly burst out of her shadow.
At the same time, smaller monsters had sprung up all around the council hall, attacking the attendees.
A violet barrier then enveloped the entire chamber—cutting off all external aid.
It was a clever tactic, even for an enemy.
Now, no reinforcements could arrive—not even Lautrec or the battle mages.
Until someone from outside could break through the barrier, only the forces trapped inside could fight back.
“Hh—!”
Millia let out a breath, heavy and sharp.
The black, squirming creature before her had a head so tall it brushed the second-floor ceiling.
Its strength was just as monstrous as its size.
It was also ridiculously durable.
She had landed dozens of attacks by now, and yet, not a single one had caused any serious damage.
The beast stood perfectly still, glaring at her, waiting for an opening.
Too powerful to be a mere familiar, and too wicked to be a spirit—it was something entirely unnatural.
And the woman who commanded it… she was no ordinary threat either.
Not only had she summoned the massive creature and a swarm of lesser ones, she had erected the powerful barrier as well.
Each one of her spells rivaled a grand magic.
She was using incantations Millia had never even heard of—mysterious, arcane rituals that defied all her understanding.
Despite coming from a prestigious magical lineage, Millia was stunned.
She steadied her grip on her sword, focusing.
Even one direct hit from that beast would mean death.
But when it came to speed—Millia had the upper hand.
The creature was strong, but it was also slow.
Her leg injury hadn’t fully healed, but by reading the motion of its shoulder and waist muscles, she could still dodge effectively.
As long as her stamina held out, she’d keep the creature busy—until Lautrec arrived with reinforcements.
Freud was likely tied up guarding the princess, so help wouldn’t come from him anytime soon.
Millia braced herself and waited for the next strike.
But instead of attacking, the woman who had been standing in the distance began to walk forward and spoke.
“You’re stronger than I expected, huh?”
Clap, clap.
She approached with a bright smile, clapping her hands.
The hulking creature joined in, grinning, and started clapping too.
Each time its enormous palms slapped together, a thunderous boom echoed through the hall.
“Impressive! You’re the first knight who’s lasted this long against Sepia. Honestly, I’m surprised.”
“…What are you scheming?”
Millia kept her body low and stayed on guard.
So the monster’s name is Sepia, she inferred.
“Just giving you a compliment.”
As Millia continued analyzing the situation, the woman tilted her head playfully.
“So, what’s your name?”
“Millia Liantour.”
“Hmm. The Liantur family? Aren’t they a famous magical house? Didn’t expect to find such an outstanding knight from there. I guess times really are changing.”
Millia narrowed her eyes.
The woman knew her family name.
Not exactly suspicious—but enough to raise her guard.
Then the woman placed a hand over her pale chest and lifted the hem of her dress slightly in an elegant gesture.
“Millia Liantour. A pleasure to meet you properly. I’m Arwen. You could call me… an Apostle.”
“Arwen…”
Millia repeated the name under her breath.
An Apostle of a veiled cult—chosen and blessed by an outer deity in exchange for eternal loyalty.
They were said to wield unspeakable power.
So she was one of them. That would explain this entire disaster.
As Millia mulled it over, Arwen grinned. Her gaze sparkled like a mischievous child who had found a new toy.
“I thought the Empire was rotting from within, but it’s still holding on, huh? Never thought I’d run into a knight like you. Aside from Escoval and the old man, you fight better than anyone I’ve met.”
It was meant as a compliment.
Millia tried to brush it off, but one familiar name snagged sharply in her mind—Escoval.
“Escoval? How do you know Sir Freud?”
“Oh? So you know Escoval too? I guess that makes sense for a knight.”
“Answer the question.”
There was no doubt.
She had clearly said Escoval, and that name could only refer to her fellow knight—Freud Escoval.
Arwen replied in a playful tone.
“Of course I know him. He’s my loyal servant.”
“What nonsense.”
No point in entertaining it further.
Millia kicked off the ground and lunged forward, sword drawn.
Her blade crackled with mana, the dazzling arc of light slicing through the air as she launched her strike.
It was a blow meant to end it—but once again, the monstrous body of Sepia moved between them, blocking the attack.
Her sword bounced off its flesh, utterly useless.
“Still don’t believe me? Ask Escoval yourself, then.”
Rather than answering, Millia delivered a second strike—
And it too was blocked.
“Tch…”
“Judging by that reaction, you trust Escoval quite a bit, huh?”
Arwen smirked with a teasing glint in her eye.
“Is it because he’s handsome? Ah, that’d explain why he’s always got flies buzzing around. Makes me jealous.”
Her voice trailed off into the air, light and mocking.
But her smile slowly faded, and her expression turned cold.
“Anyway, I think we’ve stirred up enough trouble for now. And I’m in a bad mood... so let’s wrap this up.”
Arwen made a simple gesture.
At her command, Sepia, who had been defending until now, suddenly surged forward—this time attacking in earnest.
The sheer force was dizzying.
But Millia had confidence in her evasion.
She wrapped mana around her ankles and leapt—
—Fwoosh!
“Urgh…!”
Suddenly, a piercing headache exploded in her skull.
It felt like her head was about to shatter. Her body stumbled, losing balance.
Forcing her gaze upward, she saw Arwen, arm extended, chanting something under her breath.
The faster her lips moved, the worse the pain grew.
In that instant—Millia’s vision flipped.
It was a direct hit.
Sepia’s massive attack struck her full on.
A strange floating sensation overtook her—just before an indescribable shockwave erupted through her body.
Millia crashed through the wall of the central council chamber and slammed into the inner hallway, her body tumbling across the floor.
“Ghhk—!”
Blood spilled from her lips.
Her bones screamed. Her trembling hand gripped the ground in pain.
“…A curse, is it? Cough.”
“Why so surprised?” Arwen called out casually.
“You didn’t really think I became an Apostle just because I could control a sluggish monster, did you?”
Arwen perched atop Sepia’s shoulder and waved her hand with a flourish.
“I can do this, too.”
As if answering her gesture, black mist began to seep in from down the corridor.
It slithered and snaked its way into Sepia.
The creature absorbed the mist—and began to swell.
Its body grew massive, its head now reaching the skylight-shaped ceiling above.
Only then did Millia understand.
That’s the real body.
Until now, the beast had been broken into fragments and scattered throughout the chamber.
That’s why she could fight it alone.
But now that it had fully reformed into its true form—
Millia knew…
She couldn’t beat it.
“Oh! You’re still conscious?” Arwen giggled mockingly.
Yet Millia forced herself to her feet, using the floor as support.
Her sword, though battered and frayed, was still intact—still usable.
She had no chance of winning.
But her legs could still move.
That was enough.
Millia could still fight.
“A model knight. I’ll admit—I’m a little impressed.”
“…Shut up.”
With her blade held level, Millia glared directly at Arwen.
“Filthy whore.”
“…What?”
Arwen blinked in surprise.
Rather than answer, Millia spat blood-tinged phlegm at her feet.
It was the kind of crude act the upright and disciplined Millia would never normally commit—
But a strange rush of exhilaration had taken hold of her mind.
All that remained now was raw defiance, boiling over and seizing control.
“How’s that power you got from spreading your dirty hole for an Outer God?”
“…You little—do you want to die?”
“Maybe?”
As she spoke, Millia squinted one eye and stuck out her tongue just slightly.
Clumsy—but deliberate.
A clear, undeniable provocation.
Arwen’s eyelids twitched with rage.
“Fine. Have it your way. Sepia!”
She shouted, voice cracking with fury.
Sepia raised both hands high above its head.
The motion caused the ceiling of the chamber to shatter completely—
And through the gap, the violet barrier above was clearly visible, casting its eerie glow across the sky.
With that ominous sky as its backdrop, Sepia’s massive fist came crashing down—slow, but unstoppable.
Millia raised her sword one last time, pouring every bit of strength she had into it—
“…Huh?”
Her vision flipped again.
But this time, there was no impact.
Rrrrrumble…
To her side, she saw the crater where Sepia’s fist had landed.
So—why wasn’t she crushed?
At first, she thought she’d left her body.
That maybe she had died, and her spirit was now drifting in the void.
But then—
Millia felt it.
A cold, firm sensation around her thighs and waist.
“…”
She looked up—
And saw a man with sharply defined features gazing down at her.
His eyes glowed like a pale winter moon.
His hair shimmered like silver dust stirred into gray ink.
It was Freud.
“Sir Freud…”
“Are you alright?”
His voice was quiet, low—
But unmistakably full of concern.
Just hearing it made Millia swallow hard, her throat dry.
And somehow, the first words that left her lips were—
“…Hello?”
“You don’t seem very hello to me.”
Freud responded, the corner of his mouth twitching in concern.
“Haha. I guess not.”
For the first time in what felt like forever—
Millia felt her heart settle, just a little.
---The End Of The Chapter---
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