༺ Nartania (3) ༻
Divinity unleashed.
Vera raised his sword once more.
The others stood frozen in time, unable to comprehend the situation, while Nartania let out a laugh at the killing intent aimed at her.
[Fufu, how insolent.]
Bbududuk—
Flesh and bone sprouted from her severed arm.
The four severed arms regenerated in an instant.
Nartania moved her newly sprouted arms around and then spoke.
[First of all, would you care to explain what this is about?]
Though they were admonishing words, it was clearly filled with laughter.
It was a question that revealed how much she enjoyed the current situation.
Vera responded.
“I’m keeping my promise.”
[Promise?]
“I told you, I never break a promise once made.”
[Was there such a term in the promise we made?]
“There was.”
Vera smiled.
“‘In exchange for the legacy, I will take Alaysia’s head. Both parties acknowledge the divine nature of this promise in the name of Lushan and will faithfully enforce it.’ Didn’t we make such an agreement?”
[Yes, we did make that promise. And there was an additional clause that if you couldn’t kill her, you’d offer your soul to me.]
It was a promise she made based solely on that one clause.
She had been waiting, focusing only on the soul of that child, which felt temptingly delicious to her.
Nartania believed that it was only fair to receive her due and continued speaking.
[So here we are. You failed, and I’ve returned. So, to faithfully enforce my promise, I’ll take your soul now…]
All twelve hands spread again.
Each hand formed a mudra.
[…You are only spouting nonsense.]
The palace trembled.
Darkness began to swirl around Nartania.
In this dangerous moment where something ominous seemed imminent, Vera’s arm blurred.
Swish—
A cold, slicing sound.
Immediately after, six of Nartania’s left arms fell off at once.
“You’re the one not who did not keep your promise.”
Vera said with a relaxed smile.
“I told you, ’in exchange for the legacy.’”
The Holy Sword was pointed at Nartania.
A menacing golden light flared as if to devour her.
“But you still have the legacy, don’t you? I haven’t gotten it yet, so why should I keep my promise?”
Nartania’s movement halted.
As Vera pointed out, the legacy in ‘this life’ was still in her possession.
[…You’re playing with words.]
“Well, it seems that Lushan acknowledges it.”
Nartania couldn’t argue.
Indeed, Vera was right.
After all, wasn’t the menacing divinity swirling around him saying as much?
An enormous power that no mere human could possess.
And the restrained ferocity that revealed its teeth only toward her.
Lushan’s whisper that urged the enforcement of the promise was imbued in that divinity.
[Heh, hehe…!]
Nartania laughed.
Vera also added with a smile.
“Even if it’s distasteful, what can you do? The essence of a promise is not without such ridiculous wordplay.”
[You’re so cute.]
“Is that so? Well, at your age, you’ll find everything cute.”
[Did you think I would just let you do that?]
“What will you do then? Are you going to struggle? Ah, that would be an interesting sight. A good opportunity to see what stands out more, your immortality or the coerciveness of your power.”
[You cute thing.]
“I’m sorry, but you’re not my type. How can I like a woman with a hole in her head? That’s just disgusting.”
[How are you so good with your words?]
“Being around such a woman made me this way.”
Nartania stretched out her arm.
Then, raising only the arm attached to her right shoulder, she shoved it into the gaping hole in her face.
Bbududuk—
Blood spurted out like a fountain.
Expressions of deep disgust appeared on their faces.
After the blood clumped and the hole in her face contracted as if it was chewing her hand, she eventually pulled out an antique gold necklace.
[So, is this what you wanted?]
“Are you scared?”
[Do I look scared?]
“There’s no need to be ashamed. I can accept it if you’re being honest.”
[Ah.]
Nartania spoke, tightly gripping the necklace.
[It’s not that I’m scared, I just don’t see the need to. Since taking her head is the condition, fulfilling the promise won’t even take ten years. Ten years? To me, that’s a short time to take a nap. Do you think I’m so petty that I couldn’t wait for ten years?]
“The loudest ones are the guiltiest.”
[I can wait.]
Nartania threw the necklace.
And then, she laughed loudly.
[The day will come when you, who acts so insolent now, will be lying at my feet and begging for my love. I can wait as long as it takes for that moment.]
“Well, unfortunately for you, you have no feet for me to lie down on. No, it’s not just feet. You also have no lower body. Is that why there’s a hole in your head?”
[Is the hole that important to you? Well, humans have a strong desire to procreate. I’ll specially prepare a fresh human female for you when you come.]
“I appreciate it.”
Vera turned his divinity into fire and burned the blood on the necklace before storing it and speaking again.
“Well, we should get going then. This was fun.”
Vera finished speaking and turned towards Renee.
Renee, who had been frozen listening to their conversation until now, was startled by Vera’s approach.
Vera let out a small chuckle and then picked her up.
“Ah, ahh!”
“Let’s go.”
He spoke as he looked back at the group.
They exchanged glances with blank faces, then gathered around Vera.
As she watched them, Nartania suddenly spoke.
[…However.]
The group’s attention turned to Nartania.
She modestly gathered her twelve arms and continued speaking.
[I can wait, but I’m not sure about my children.]
The meaning behind her words that were filled with laughter… became clear soon after.
A commotion arose at the entrance of the palace.
Vera’s eyes naturally shifted there, and what he saw was a horde of vampires.
“…What is this?”
Vera frowned, and Nartania responded.
[My children are a bit impatient, it seems. They must love their mother so much that they’re trying to stop you.]
Flesh sprouted from the soles of Nartania’s feet.
The dress made of dead blood scattered, and Nartania, who filled the spot with flesh again, rested her chin on it and spoke.
[I hope you can get out safely.]
“Is it fine for you to do that?”
[Unhumorous wordplays are the essence of a promise. You said so yourself, didn’t you?]
Vera let out a dry chuckle as Nartania’s shoulders shook while laughing.
“The elderly learn fast. I should commend your enthusiasm.”
[Learning never stops.]
Vera clicked his tongue at Nartania’s cheeky response and looked back at the palace entrance.
“You’ve made quite a mess.”
[They’re lovely children.]
“I didn’t know there would be so many lunatics wanting to get their heads smashed. The world really is a big place.”
[Well, who created this land?]
Vera raised the Holy Sword, then layered it with divinity.
And with a single slash, all the vampires in sight were cut in half.
Thump, thump, thump—
The sound of flesh surging above the blood reverberated through the entire palace.
At that moment, the remaining vampires and everyone in the group froze.
“Run.”
Vera started to run.
The group, who belatedly regained their senses, began to sprint, followed by the roars of the vampires.
Nartania watched Vera’s retreating figure and thought.
[Ten years…]
Though it was a short period for her, she didn’t want to stay still while her body was burning with excitement.
[I should take a walk after a long while.]
Should I spend my time teasing Locrion, that arrogant lizard?
Nartania’s laughter resonated for a long time in the empty palace.
***
Renee was lost in thought even amidst the chaos.
‘Which point in time is it?’
She was pondering which point in time this Vera, who was now carrying her, belonged to.
‘…There are clues.’
His nonchalant manner of carrying her.
His casual way of commanding everyone in the group.
And the word ’legacy’ he used while speaking to Nartania.
‘It’s probably right before the fight with Alaysia.’
Renee thought that Vera might have joined the group around this time due to the terms she had set in the previous lapse.
The legacy must be something he needed for his fight with her, so he must have come here to get it.
As she collected that information, Renee came up with a plausible assumption.
“What are you frowning about?”
Vera’s words interrupted her thoughts.
Renee’s head snapped up.
Vera added with a smile as he looked at Renee’s surprised face.
“I didn’t know you could make such a face.”
“What?”
Whoosh—
As he was speaking, Vera spotted an approaching vampire and sliced him, adjusting his hold on Renee as he responded.
“It’s uncharacteristically cute of you.”
A storm was unleashed.
Renee made a face of surprise as she realized through the divinity that the storm was Vera’s doing.
“Aaaah!!!”
Screams echoed.
The air was filled with the smell of blood.
As he continued, Vera’s laughter tickled Renee’s ears.
“This isn’t a good spot for a date. It’s too noisy.”
Vera’s divinity surged.
“Let’s quickly head to a quiet place. There, I promise that I’ll answer exactly three questions you have.”
As Vera continued speaking, the density of his divinity increased exponentially, making it hard to breathe.
“If I fail to keep my promise, I’ll walk around in a handstand for a week. On the other hand, if I keep it…”
His tone suddenly turned playful.
“…you should be prepared.”
Shortly after his whisper, a deafening noise erupted.
The sound of fierce winds covered the entire space.
Caught in the storm that shook her whole body, Renee, who was clinging to Vera, suddenly felt her face grow inappropriately hot.
‘Wh-what?’
What am I supposed to be prepared for?
For some reason, just that one statement was enough to churn her thoughts, and she stiffened up like a wooden doll. During her mental turmoil, Vera spoke once more.
“Answer me.”
Renee’s shoulders jumped.
Her face flushed even more.
“Yes, ye-yes…”
The moment she answered, Vera’s divinity enveloped her.
***
It didn’t take long to escape the Citadel.
It was because Vera had smashed through the walls to create a path.
As they ran out of the Citadel, the group stopped at a clearing in the cave and looked at Vera.
“Do whatever you want.”
Vera said, still holding Renee in his arms.
Shortly afterwards, he turned around and walked away. At that, a silence fell among the group.
[Is he mentally ill or something? Why is he suddenly acting like a different person?]
Annalise spoke, and Miller nervously scratched his cheek.
***
In the frosty cave where cold air seeped through her clothes, Renee felt as if her entire body was boiling.
‘Be prepared…’
What did he mean?
What was Vera’s intention in isolating her from the group?
‘Could it be…?!’
Could it be that the past Vera had developed a relationship with her to this extent?
Boom!
There was an explosion in her head.
Renee’s thoughts began to focus on a single point.
In the midst of that, Vera spoke.
“This should be enough.”
Vera stopped at one side of the road and set Renee down before he continued speaking.
“Well, let’s get started.”
“What, what, what?!”
Renee wrapped her arms around herself and blurted out.
A moment of silence followed.
Vera halted for a moment and stared intently at Renee.
Soon after, he let out a ’Hmm’ sound and asked a question.
“I promised to answer three questions… didn’t I?”
Renee froze.
A smile appeared on Vera’s lips.
“…What were you thinking?”
Suddenly, Renee felt like she wanted to bury herself inside a hole and disappear.
