* * *

“If only the priests can’t use divine power, it’s worth trying, even if they outnumber us.”

Ray quickly summarized the situation.

“No matter how weakened the Divine Beasts are, they’re not weak enough to lose to that.”

Meanwhile, Theo was rummaging through the toolbox he’d brought, diligently destroying the ring. Since Theo had made it, only Theo knew how to neutralize it.

“But what about Liri?”

In response to Ray’s question, Yuta blinked and answered.

“Liri’s hiding a bit farther away, since he’s carrying the Sacred Relic of Time.”

“The Sacred Relic of Time?”

“I tried to switch it out at the last minute, but I failed……”

Yuta muttered gloomily.

“He’s close enough to respond if I call. But the Grass Divine Beast’s traits don’t suit this kind of battle… Still, he’ll be helpful, right?”

“Ah.”

At those words, I looked at Yuta and said,

“I’ll go get Liri. Um, tell him to meet me near where Aietar is. I’m thinking of using him not for area attacks, but to at least block Aietar’s movements.”

“Well, he won’t be much help in actually taking Aietar down… but having even one more Divine Beast near you is a good thing, so I’ll send him your way.”

Fortunately, Arhad wasn’t all that large.

Ray roughly sketched a map using a tree branch. Julian looked over the map and gave instructions in a cold voice.

“Theo, who’ll dismantle the artifact, Ethan, who needs to infuse mana into Arhad, and now-useless Yuta will stay here at the tower.”

Yuta muttered under his breath, “Was the unnecessary descriptor really needed…”

Julian pointed here and there with the tip of his sword as he continued.

“The Fire Divine Beast will guard the tower… The Water Divine Beast takes the east, the Earth Divine Beast takes the west.”

It struck me again just how formidable our opponent was.

Just getting to Aietar required this much planning.

“Yes.”

Linna responded cheerfully.

“It’s a wide range, but if the priests can’t use divine power, burying them is simple.”

Ray and Athena nodded as well.

Finally, Julian looked at me solemnly and said,

“And RosieRosie, you’ll run away with me to the safest place.”

“…What? Get a grip, brother.”

“Ah, sorry. RosieRosie, you’ll go to Aietar—buried—with me.”

Julian said with a face on the verge of tears.

“And while I hold them off and sacrifice my life, RosieRosie will escape to a safe place.”

“Brother, get a grip.”

“…Sorry. While I hold them off, RosieRosie, like you said, try controlling the Sacred Relic of Power.”

Julian took a deep breath, as if he’d just said the hardest thing in the world.

He never lost breath fighting several Holy Knights before, but now it was like he was suffocating.

He really seemed desperate to get me out of here.

“Good thing your personality from the past nine years stuck around like a residual organ.”

Ethan said calmly.

“If not, you’d have knocked Rosie out cold and fled without a glance back.”

Just then, Zahid, who had remained silent, stepped forward.

“Sir Julian should guard the tower. You can manage it alone.”

He continued speaking, completely unfazed by Julian’s cold gaze.

“Rosie will come with me. When it comes to speed, nothing can keep up with Fire.”

Julian’s brow twitched. Zahid calmly continued laying out rational points.

“It’s safer for Rosie to be protected by me and the Fire Divine Beast than to go alone with you. We can break through those Holy Knights more easily.”

“Bark bark! Bark bark!”

<He’s using me as an excuse!>

Julian glared at Zahid and took another deep breath, then muttered as if chewing on the words,

“You seem like the least safe one here…”

“I’m Rosie’s fiancé. That’s a fact you accepted for nine years. Try accepting it again—slowly.”

Julian’s facial muscles twitched like accepting it was the hardest thing on earth.

Yuta quietly whispered to Julian.

“My conscience won’t let me object, but I still root for your mess of a personality. Anyway, Rosie is too good to give away.”

At that moment, Ethan cut in with a heavy voice.

“Infusing mana weakens divine power—it doesn’t eliminate it.”

When it came to magic, everyone always listened to him.

“Regardless of my mana, the High Priest will keep absorbing divine power. We need to end this before he wakes up. Fire should go.”

Julian closed his eyes like it was unbearable, but the conclusion was clear.

“Fine, fine.”

And then Linna vigorously patted Ethan’s head like he was the most adorable thing in the world.

“Your advice is spot-on. Of course we follow the expert!”

“That advice wasn’t meant for a crazy woman.”

Watching that scene in a daze, I suddenly remembered something.

I ran straight up to Yuta.

“Yuta oppa.”

And smiled brightly.

“You said you wanted to pat my head, right?”

“Ah……”

“No need to ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ hide our relationship now. So take a good long look at how pretty and grown I’ve become.”

At that moment, Julian dashed over like lightning.

“This bastard still has chains on his wrists! Be careful when patting her!”

The cold, commanding figure who pointed with his sword just a moment ago was gone.

All that was left was the overprotective big brother, flailing in panic in case the chain on Yuta’s wrist brushed against me.

“Raise your arm higher! Lift your elbow more! Don’t let that clanking chain touch even a single inch of our RosieRosie’s soft, delicate skin!”

Watching that display, Ethan quietly looked at Zahid.

“See?”

His expression was oddly satisfied.

“Things you’ll have to overcome.”

Zahid, who had said nothing until then, finally reacted and asked quietly,

“…Then why do you look so happy?”

“Because I got to witness firsthand that life isn’t easy even for a ridiculously handsome guy like you.”

Even though he was my cousin, Ethan was truly the pettiest archmage alive.

* * *

Zahid silently stared at Rosie, who stood between Julian and Yuta.

Divine power, long suppressed, lightly glowed pale blue and swirled around her.

Ray and Linna were also staring at her, as if spellbound.

She had always drawn people’s eyes, but now, with divine power enveloping her, she evoked a reverence that made you want to kneel.

“But RosieRosie, don’t you have something to say to me about that notebook? There are things written there I never said…”

“Ah… Oppa, I’m sorry, but my head’s too full right now. Can I tell you later?”

“What? Your head’s full? Don’t worry. I’ll wait until our RosieRosie’s head isn’t full anymore.”

“Yeah. Wait a little… forever…”

Even as she pouted like a child in front of the memory-recovered Julian, she had him wrapped around her little finger. That was just like Rosie.

‘Rosie…’

Zahid touched the two rings still on his ring finger. Then he cast a distant gaze toward the rear garden where Aietar was buried.

‘I’m always worried about you.’

Maybe he was so anxious that he insisted on following her to the end.

Strangely, somehow, he had a feeling it would end up like this.

From the moment they entered Arhad together, he’d braced for the final battle.

He’d forced himself to look away, but he kept feeling like Rosie would have to stand at the center of it all.

And if that happened, he swore he’d stay by her side no matter what.

Now Rosie was hugging Linna tightly.

“See you again soon.”

Linna said while holding her tightly.

“Once we bury those Holy Knights, we’ll head to the rear garden too.”

“Mm, I’ll wait. Linna, by the way, did you say that wicked and amazing line to your father? I was so impressed I still remember it word for word…”

“Really? We’re soulmates, I swear. I met you way too late, Rosie…”

With a grim face, Zahid looked at Rosie’s kind profile.

‘You always manage to solve things with that sharp little mind of yours…’

And he suppressed the words he couldn’t say out loud.

‘…But if it’s for the right and just path, I feel like you’d throw all of us away.’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep