༺ Nartania (2) ༻
Nartania’s words drew the attention of the group towards Vera.
He looked at Nartania with a very unsettled expression.
‘…She knows me.’
She knows my name.
It held a nuance as if they had already met before.
Vera felt confused.
‘How?’
Obviously, this was the first time Vera was meeting Nartania.
The only previous interaction he had with her was the pursuit by her henchmen four years ago.
As his thoughts continued, Nartania spoke again.
[Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you?]
The hole in the center of her face widened.
Black blood gushed out, covering her body.
“…Today is the first time I’ve met you.”
[Yes, this is probably the first time.]
Nartania smiled.
Then, she stretched out her five arms and released darkness.
Just as Vera instinctively tried to protect Renee,
[In this life, at least.]
There was a whisper.
Vera’s body stiffened.
His pupils contracted.
Shortly after, the darkness receded.
“Vera!”
Renee’s surprised voice rang out.
The group, who were looking at each other, came into Vera’s sight.
He took a deep breath, recalling what had just happened.
‘…She spoke only to me.’
The darkness was a shroud that blocked the group’s ears.
Vera’s gaze again turned towards Nartania.
Very meekly, she was telling him one thing.
‘Does she remember the previous life?’
It was not just a matter of remembering.
She just gave him a clue that he absolutely must not overlook.
‘…Have we met?’
He had met Nartania in his past life.
She said she had been waiting for him, so there must have been some kind of deal between his past self and her.
Vera’s mind raced with thoughts.
‘What is it?’
What had he done to be greeted this way?
What happened in the previous lapse that caused his memory to be sealed off?
Vera’s expression crumpled as his confusion deepened.
The group also began to sense something strange from Vera’s demeanor.
Meanwhile, Nartania spoke again.
[Vera, it’s time to fulfill the promise.]
“The promise?”
[Yes, you clearly made a promise with me. To join me in my fun.]
Nartania’s shoulders quivered, delivering her words with an almost joyful attitude.
Then…
Thud—!
Renee tapped the ground with her cane.
Ripples swept through space, transmuting it into information that entered Renee’s mind.
Renee’s body flinched.
Upon realizing the true nature of the being in front of her, she was instinctively repulsed.
[What’s the matter?]
Nartania’s nonchalant question made Renee’s expression stiffen.
‘Calm down.’
This is nothing.
She’s just one of the Ancient Species we’ve met so far.
Although it’s suspicious that she’s too familiar with Vera, we can think about that later.
Renee steadied her heart and spoke.
“Nartania, can we assume that you know why we came here?”
It didn’t take long to put the question together.
The fundamental purpose for coming here was to retrieve Ardain’s legacy and unravel the mysteries that shrouded the previous round.
Nartania answered rather sharply.
Her answer had no hint of the cheerfulness she had just moments before.
[I have no interest in such trivial matters. Daughter of Parent, what matters to me is that your lover must now fulfill his promise to me.]
“…What?”
[I have no interest in Ardain’s legacy or stopping the conflict with Locrion. It’s not fun.]
Nartania straightened up.
She wore her dead blood like a dress and spoke with her arms draped around her.
[Do you know? Immortality is truly boring. You lose curiosity about everything in the world, you lose passion, and just continue on with your life. To put it metaphorically… yes, it’s like drifting aimlessly on a vast sea.]
Her flesh writhed.
It began to contract intensely.
[Therefore, I need entertainment. I desire pleasure that will make my heart beat, to continue this long, long life.]
Sizzle—
The contracted flesh burned away.
The dead blood flowing from her face took the place of flesh, turning into the long skirt of a dress.
[The conflict with Locrion is just like that. That arrogant and foolish lizard is like nourishment that can be enjoyed for a very long time. But think about it.]
Swish. Swish.
The ends of the dress hit the floor.
Nartania approached Vera.
[Won’t you get tired of eating the same thing every day? No matter how delicious it is, wouldn’t you get sick of it after ten years, a hundred years, a thousand years?]
Twelve hands moved respectively.
Among them, the arm attached just below her left chest reached out and stroked Vera’s cheek.
Vera’s body stiffened.
[Vera, the Child of Promise. You are a special dish to prevent that. You are the entertainment that will make my life enjoyable for many years to come.]
Vera’s body staggered.
He stepped backward.
The moment she approached, he suddenly felt dizzy.
[Now, keep your promise.]
Whoosh—
Vera’s soul flared up.
A single sentence hidden under his dark soul began to clear, absorbing the golden light.
“Ugh…!”
He felt a strong surge of nausea.
Vera could already tell from the taste and smell that the rising liquid was his own blood.
His body twisted.
Feeling it through the rosary, Renee unleashed her full divinity.
“Vera!”
[You.]
Nartania swung her five arms in the air.
A black veil arose.
The divinity unleashed by Renee was absorbed into the black veil and disappeared.
“Move!”
Tak!
Renee tapped the ground with her cane, and she unleashed her power.
What she desired was the destruction of obstacles between herself and Vera.
The unexpected change happened quickly.
The divinity absorbed by the veil glowed again.
A long gold thread was drawn on the veil, which was then cut.
What was revealed from the lifted veil was Vera, on his knees and vomiting blood, and Nartania, who had her hand on Vera’s head.
The group drew their weapons.
The twins led the charge, swinging their halberds.
Following them, Hegrion unsheathed his claymore.
Three strikes in total.
Nartania blocked each strike with two arms.
Clang—
There was a small noise, and three bodies bounced off.
Nartania, who was clearly exposed, was making a gesture with her fingers.
It seemed like a precursor to some kind of magic.
“Move aside!”
Miller shouted.
He then summoned hundreds of demonic insects and sent them towards Nartania.
[Oh ho, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen these creatures.]
With one hand, Nartania sliced through the air, and all the creatures were cut up.
[It reminds me of the old days. Terdan would always lose sleep when these insects would go crazy. They would cling and eat his flesh, itching him to death.]
Nartania chuckled as she continued speaking, unfazed by the ongoing assault.
[Shoot, kiddo.]
Annalise instructed Jenny.
Jenny activated the hexahedron spell she had been weaving.
Black flames began to eat away at the hem of Nartania’s dress.
The twins and Hegrion, who had risen again, charged at Nartania.
Miller began another incantation, and Jenny and Renee continued with their spells.
White lightning struck down.
Black flames surged up.
Two halberds and one claymore swept through the space.
There were collisions, explosions, and screams.
Otherworldly forces intermittently interfered with Nartania’s movements.
Nartania laughed.
[Not bad at all. I guess I’ll have to use seven arms for this.]
It was the best compliment she could give.
Using more than half of her arms against humans, who were not of the Ancient Species, was something that had only happened three times in her long life.
[So this is still not enough.]
Nartania formed a mudra with her eighth hand.
A black ring floated above Nartania’s head.
[Step aside for a moment. I have some business with this child.]
The two arms on Nartania’s shoulders met. It seemed as if she was making a pact.
Darkness seethed.
Dead blood flowed down Nartania’s face.
The ring trembled, and at that moment, everyone prepared for the impact.
“That’s enough!”
Aisha shouted.
All eyes turned toward Aisha.
“I’ll kill you!”
Behind the high-spirited Aisha was the unconscious Vera.
Beside her, Norn and Hela were holding their swords in a defensive posture.
On the ground was a short-range teleportation scroll.
This was done by the three, who were still not strong enough, while the others were engaged in battle with Nartania.
[This is surprising.]
Laughter flowed from Nartania like she had just witnessed a rather amusing spectacle. Then, the group attacked her again with grim expressions.
Once again, as mana and divinity raged, Nartania laughed even louder.
Right after…
[But it’s too late.]
Suddenly, all abilities vanished.
“What…!”
The shocked groan came from Miller, his gaze swiftly turning towards Vera.
It was because this strange phenomenon started in the direction he was in.
Tension rose in the silence.
Aisha’s tail perked up, her beastkin instincts kicking in.
Unknowingly, Aisha turned her head toward Vera and then gasped at what she saw.
“Vera…?”
Vera was opening his eyes.
He was staring intently at her.
After the moment that felt like an eternity passed, Vera scanned the surroundings.
First the group, then to Renee, and finally to Nartania.
After examining all of them, Vera finally looked back at Aisha.
[It’s been a while, hasn’t it?]
Nartania greeted him.
Vera looked at his hand, then at the Holy Sword at his waist, and finally back at Renee.
Then, he spoke.
“…You’ve tangled things up quite a bit.”
His tone was heavy with annoyance.
Confusion arose on Renee’s face.
It was because she had experienced this side of Vera before.
‘The past life…’
This was Vera from before the regression.
The past Vera which had been summoned by Miller’s spell.
From the annoyed tone to the subdued voice, and the overflowing killing intent.
It was exactly the same aura emitted by Vera of the past life.
Vera’s expression crumpled.
“So, it has come to this.”
[Yes, it turned out this way. So you must keep your promise to me.]
The group did not understand their exchange of words.
Nartania, appearing uninterested in their confusion, continued speaking in a joyous tone.
[Now, it’s playtime.]
She stretched out all twelve of her arms.
A wave of horror washed across the group’s faces.
It was a move she hadn’t used when previously fighting against them, so naturally, the atmosphere became tense.
The group raised their weapons when they saw Nartania’s hands forming a mudra above her head.
Swish—
Four of Nartania’s right arms were severed.
Thuuuud—
The white arms fell to the floor, and blood poured out over them.
A spine-chilling silence filled the air.
As the silence continued, Vera spoke with a crooked smile.
“Oh, my mistake.”
All eyes were focused on Vera.
Ignoring those gazes, he then added.
“I was aiming for your neck.”
He gripped the Holy Sword.
“I’ll aim better next time.”
