“Then let’s have the Lady of Minagado move the holy sword, shall we? She is more familiar with it than us.” Mephilia went along with Loraviel’s suggestion.

“Of course.” Oester didn’t mind. He wasn’t worried that the Lady of Minagado would discover anything.

“Unfortunately, I do not have that ability. We were not the ones who found the holy sword in the first place, Lady Ambis found it. She was the one who entrusted us with repairing and safeguarding it,” the Lady of Minagado said.

This made Oester’s expression change slightly. Ambis was different from the others, she has a deep understanding of demonkind. She might find the reason upon contact.

So this is what you were waiting for? Ambis, did you plan this far ahead?

Oester had no idea Ambis had returned before he came. If he had known, he wouldn’t have taken such a huge risk. But Oester still had an ace up his sleeve. He would not use it one in ten-thousand times.1万不得已 (wàn bù dé yǐ), last resort.

“Is there something for me to do?” Ambis said with a grin. “I thought I was just here to watch.”

“So Sister Ambis was the one who found the holy sword? Perhaps that explains why Liana can use it,” Mephilia said.

Ambis shook her head. “The holy sword makes its own choice. Liana’s ability to wield it has nothing to do with me.”

“Just as the holy sword chose me,” Oester added.

“Indeed.” Mephilia nodded. “Everyone’s personality is different. Liana, for example, never once brought it up after getting the holy sword. She even gave it to others to repair because her own magic was too weak. And then there are others... who wish they could just inlay the holy sword on their own face.”

Oester smiled faintly. This was the effect he wanted.

Go on, get anxious, get angry. Do something rude. Let everyone see your ugly side.

Ambis replied after, “I did indeed find the holy sword, and was the one who placed it here. I know how important it is to humanity, and I also know it is incomplete, which is why I hid it. As for the reasons, Mephilia just stated them.”

Ambis looked at Mephilia, then her gaze shifted to Loraviel. “Why don’t you... give it a try this time?”

“Ah? Me?” Loraviel was completely blindsided. Lady Ambis is choosing me to touch the holy sword?

Loraviel remembered trying Princess Liana’s holy sword last time. While it didn’t reject her, it didn’t react at all, like holding a rock.

“Yes. Give it a try,” Ambis said.

“Is that really appropriate? Especially now. If you’d suggested Mephilia try, I’d have no problem. But letting a stranger touch the holy sword... that’s not right, is it?” Oester said.

“A stranger? An interesting choice of words.” Ambis raised her eyes to look at Oester.

Just a single glance made Oester feel cold all over.

Why, in those gentle eyes, did I feel endless killing intent for an instant?

Just from that one look, Oester felt fear. He couldn’t help but take a step back and swallow. Cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.

An illusion? No, that feeling was too real. It couldn’t be an illusion. Besides, Ambis has every reason to want me dead. In fact, the calm Ambis from before was the strange one.

“Is there something wrong with that word?” Oester’s expression was a bit strained.

“A week ago, you were also a stranger, as you put it,” Ambis said. “Are you trying to monopolize the holy sword?”

“Of course I don’t mean that.” Oester said quickly, “I’m just worried...”

“You shouldn’t have anything to worry about, right?” Mephilia looked at him. “Sister Ambis was the one who found the holy sword and placed it here. To put it simply, she was the wielder of the holy sword before you. You are the stranger here, understand? Or do you think you know more about the holy sword and demonkind than Sister Ambis?”

“...” Oester fell silent.

After a while, he spoke up.

“My apologies, my apologies. I just got a little too excited after getting the holy sword.” Oester gave an awkward laugh. “I definitely don’t understand demonkind and the holy sword as well as Miss Ambis. She has studied them for so long; she must know far more than I. That’s why she hid the holy sword.”

Oester handed the holy sword to Loraviel. “Go ahead and try. Maybe you also have the ability to use it.”

You will regret your decision, Ambis. Without sacred magic to protect her, let’s see how Loraviel survives.

Oester was also extremely annoyed with Loraviel. He envied Liana for having such an outstanding and beautiful maid. Since he couldn’t have her, he would destroy her. And, as it happens, Liana seemed to value Loraviel very highly.

Mephilia, meanwhile, walked anxiously to Ambis’s side and whispered, “Sister Ambis, is this really okay? I can feel something strange on that holy sword. Loraviel doesn’t have sacred magic to protect herself. Will it be dangerous?”

“You’re very concerned for her safety, aren’t you, Mephilia?” Ambis smiled.

“Because she’s Liana’s important maid, and she’s helped me many times. Most importantly, I can’t just stand by and watch her walk into danger,” Mephilia said.

Ambis gently rubbed Mephilia’s head. “Relax, it’s fine. You said it yourself, she’s very important to Liana. I’ve already been away from Liana for so long, and made her suffer so much. If my homecoming gift was to put someone important to her in danger, Liana would hate me for the rest of her life.”

“Mn.” Mephilia nodded and stood quietly by Ambis’s side.

“I thought you would ask for my help.”

“I’m not the same little kid who could only hide behind Sister Ambis anymore,” Mephilia pouted, puffing her cheeks in protest.

“That’s true. A long time has passed. You’ve grown a lot, Mephilia. I really can’t look at you the same way I used to.” Ambis said gently, “I’ll leave Liana to you.”

“?” Mephilia tilted her head. “Sister Ambis, are you leaving again?”

“I’m not leaving for now. I want to spend time with Liana and fulfill my duties as a mother,” Ambis said.

“Then what did you mean by that?” Mephilia was confused.

“Do you really not know what I mean? I know all about the relationship between you two,” Ambis smiled.

“Ah?” Mephilia’s face flushed crimson. She had planned to talk about this, but she hadn’t expected Sister Ambis to bring it up first.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing... I just didn’t expect you to agree to it so easily, Sister Ambis.”

“How could I object? Besides, I have no right to object, and no reason to,” Ambis said.

“...Liana will be so happy. Ah!” Mephilia remembered something very important. “Sister Ambis! Liana has a serious misunderstanding about Grandma Orleya! She doesn’t know Grandma Orleya is her grandmother. Right now, she... pretty much hates Grandma Orleya.”

“That is indeed a serious problem...” Ambis also looked troubled. She had heard about this from her dearest mother. It was entirely Dearest Mother Orleya’s own fault.

“Let’s find some time for me to talk to Liana about it. The misunderstanding between them should be cleared up. Liana will understand Dearest Mother’s actions... probably.” Ambis could only hope.

“But there’s something more important right now.” Mephilia looked toward Loraviel. “We need to hurry and take care of things here, so we can give Liana a nice surprise.”

“Don’t worry. Everything will be resolved.” Ambis’s gaze wasn’t on Oester, but on the guardian knight beside him.

To Ambis, Oester was already a dead man. No matter what happened next, that was the one thing that would absolutely not change. When this was over, Oester’s life would also end.

As Loraviel walked up to the holy sword, her heart was pounding. She didn’t know if the holy sword would accept her.

She only knew that she had to pick it up. They needed this holy ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) sword. It absolutely could not be allowed to fall into Oester’s hands.

Loraviel grasped the holy sword. She felt a piercing pain, as if something was biting her palm.

She didn’t feel the holy sword itself rejecting her. Rather, a strange, indescribable power was attacking her. She could clearly feel a sense of wrongness.

“Is your hand okay?” Oester asked with great concern.

Hand?

Loraviel looked down at her hand gripping the holy sword. Blood was already streaming from between her fingers, dripping onto the ground.

“If you feel any discomfort, you should let go. There’s no need to lose your life over the holy sword,” Oester continued. “If this goes on, it’s not just bad for you, it might even affect the holy sword.”

What is going on?

Loraviel felt dizzy. Her arm had gone numb. Even if she wanted to let go, she couldn’t.

“Sister Ambis?” Mephilia was alarmed by the sudden development.

But Ambis showed no strange expression. Instead, she said calmly, “Mephilia, could you leave Oester to me? I have some private matters to discuss with him.”

“?” Mephilia didn’t understand what Sister Ambis meant.

“Go. She needs you. I can definitely handle just one Oester,” Ambis pushed Mephilia toward Loraviel.

Although Mephilia was still full of questions, seeing Loraviel’s predicament, she knew she had to do something.

“I warned you. Touching the holy sword rashly is not a good idea. It might bring consequences we don’t understand, and could even destroy the holy sword, making you sinners,” Oester said.

“It really was a demon.” Mephilia bit her lip. Loraviel’s hand was already starting to turn black.

Loraviel looked at Mephilia, seeing multiple phantoms of her. Her body felt heavier and heavier, and hotter. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

This feeling... this feeling!

She was all too familiar with it! She had experienced this agony countless times before. She didn’t know what others felt when tormented by demonkind, but her blood was boiling right now. This familiar feeling... there was no mistaking it.