Chapter 44: Self-Sacrifice

Rode dove through the air toward Tia, like a moth to flame.

Time seemed to stretch long—so long—that Ailuka could clearly watch as their figures drew closer and closer. She could also see the lightning gathering on the Lake Master’s horn, growing brighter by the second.

With death creeping ever nearer, Rode’s actions looked downright laughable... and yet tragically admirable.

“Rode... were you in love with Tia all along?”

That thought flashed across Ailuka’s mind—but she shook it off right away.

As someone who had grown up with Rode, she knew what kind of person he was.

Brave, gentle, kind—he treated everyone with a smile.

Like the morning sun, newly risen.

Someone like that... naturally drew people in.

But when it came to romance, he was dumb as a post.

So if someone—anyone—were the one falling, Rode would still throw himself in to save them without hesitation.

“This kind of warmth that shines on everyone around him... it drives people mad with jealousy.”

And even so, she still liked him.

So—

Ailuka suddenly gripped her staff tightly, ignoring the stabbing pain in her skull, and poured the last of her mana into it.

“Who would’ve thought I’d have a day where I saved my own romantic rival...? Well, I guess that does fit with my sweet and kindhearted persona.”

“Good thing I ‘accidentally’ learned this spell before.”

“No harm in using it now, right?”

“Charm Magic!”

Ailuka pointed her staff at the Lake Master. As she cast the spell with a soft cry that almost sounded like a moan, pink heart shapes bloomed in her clear eyes.

This was the first spell she had ever learned that didn’t require chanting. It was also the spell she picked up the fastest—so fast it even frightened her a little.

But the target wasn’t human, after all. She couldn’t help feeling a bit uncertain. Would it even work on a monster like this?

Bzzz...

Under Ailuka’s anxious gaze, the Lake Master’s tensed, charging body visibly relaxed.

The lightning that had been gathering to a deadly point at its horn... actually began to fade.

The Lake Master turned its head—looked at Ailuka.

And in those vicious eyes... appeared two bright pink heart shapes!

“It worked!”

Ailuka clenched her fists in excitement.

As long as she had the Lake Master’s attention, Rode was safe. A Tier 3 warrior like him would never drown in a lake.

But then—

“ROOAR!!”

The Lake Master let out a screeching bellow, its massive body twisting with unnatural speed and agility for its size.

It was charging toward her.

With everything it had.

Its eyes still held the pink hearts... but behind those hearts, reflected in the gleam...

Was it... seeing its dead mate?

In that moment, Ailuka felt like she was watching a heartbroken woman, throwing herself into the arms of the husband she thought had long died—desperate for one last loving embrace.

Truly touching.

If only that heartbroken woman weren’t thirty meters long and capable of smashing a boat with a single tail swipe.

“Ice and Snow God, please—!”

Ailuka grit her teeth, raised her staff once more.

But before she could even begin the chant, a sharp pain lanced through her skull, nearly knocking her out cold.

“It’s over...”

Ailuka’s face turned pale, despair spreading across her features.

Her mana—was completely gone.

Not a single drop left to squeeze out.

She couldn’t even maintain her Float Spell to dodge the oncoming Lake Master.

“So that’s it. My life... ends here?”

As death approached, Ailuka found she wasn’t even that afraid.

She lifted her gaze, trying to find something in the distance.

But everything had been swallowed by the churning waves stirred up by the Lake Master. She couldn’t see a thing.

Still...

“Rode should’ve caught Tia by now.”

“In that case... my death won’t be meaningless.”

Ailuka smiled softly, contentedly, and slowly closed her eyes.

“I hope Tia really does manage to win Rode over someday... and make him happy.”

If that happens, I can rest easy in the afterlife.

...

Yeah, right.

Like hell I’d be happy.

...

“Restrain.”

A clear, cold command rang in Ailuka’s ears.

What followed was the sound of countless metals screeching and grinding together, a sharpness so harsh it made her teeth ache—and beneath those screeches, the Lake Master’s roar of fury.

Death didn’t come.

Ailuka opened her eyes in dazed confusion.

And saw a figure, cloaked in a windcoat and hood, standing in front of her.

The figure looked slim, fragile—just another delicate girl. But when she stood before Ailuka, it was as if the wind in the whole world fell silent.

The figure turned—revealing a dignified, beautiful face.

“Are you alright?” Anne asked.

“I... I’m okay.” Ailuka nodded like a startled kitten.

“Good.”

Anne turned back.

“Now I’m going to kill it. You take care of yourself.”

“Y-Yes...”

Ailuka stared, dumbfounded.

Only now did she realize where those sharp metallic screeches were coming from.

It was metal.

Countless metals.

Living metal.

Silvery white, dark gold, red copper... even rusted metal soaked with blood-colored stains—so many types.

So many pieces.

Like writhing snakes, those metals defied every law of physics, weaving and coiling together—rubbing, grinding, combining into a wall no force could breach.

But the moment this wall stood before the charging Lake Master, it returned to what metal should be—unyielding, indestructible.

The Lake Master, barreling forward at full speed, had no way to stop.

It slammed straight into the wall.

And—

As expected, it screamed in agony.

Even that monstrous exoskeleton that seemed impervious to magic couldn’t compare to this heap of metal. In the moment they clashed, Ailuka saw the Lake Master’s most distinct feature—its grotesque horn—snap clean off.

“Tch.”

Anne rose into the air, floating above the Lake Master, which now thrashed in agony.

She looked down at it, her eyes filled with icy, murderous intent.

“If you keep rampaging like this, how am I supposed to bring back fish for my young master?”

Anne raised her hands.

Ten slender fingers curled slightly.

Then—above her head—she clapped them together, hard.

“Imprison.”

Her voice was cold. Merciless.

Like a divine being issuing a supreme command.

The wall of metal disintegrated in an instant—turning to fragments.

But those fragments, under some powerful law, began to restructure themselves again.

A forest of thorns, entirely forged of metal, rose violently from the earth!

Swallowing the Lake Master whole.

“ROOOAR!!”

The Lake Master writhed and thrashed, struggling madly.

Its monstrous strength bent steel, and its tough scales resisted the piercing metal—but even so, it couldn’t stop the forest of thorns from growing, from branching, from wrapping tighter and tighter—dragging it out of the water.

Without the lake, its thrashing grew weaker.

“In the end... you’re just a fish, huh?”

A massive, terrifying scythe appeared in Anne’s hand, gleaming with a ghostly chill.

Step by step, she walked down the steel staircase beneath her, coming to stand before the Lake Master.

“A Dominant-class magical beast... and this is all it amounts to? Looks like bringing a dragon whip back for the young master won’t ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) take much longer, either.”