Ch#106
"Ugh, uh, eek!"
Tie steadied her breathing.
Was it because she had forcibly manifested the soul that had only been visible to her?
A chilling cold swept over her body, like icy wind brushing past.
But Tie bit her lip and lifted her head to focus her mind.
Right before her was the blue silhouette still gripping Reginald.
Adelin's mother, who had been sending pleading glances to manifest for quite some time.
[If I could, I'd tear you to shreds and kill you right now. Drag you straight to the afterlife! But, but...]
Stasia's gaze turned to Adelin, frozen not far away.
Her eyes, rippling with rage, softened slowly upon seeing her daughter.
[The pain my daughter Adelin endured aches in my heart, so I can't do that. I can't let scum like you die so easily.]
As Stasia released her hand, Reginald slid limply to the ground.
He groped his half-frozen face, mouth agape.
[Pay for your sins in the world of the living. And don't dream of peace even in death. The afterlife will be another hell for you—!]
Reginald slowly toppled backward.
He clutched his frozen neck and passed out cold.
"...Ppup!"
At that moment, Ppuppu, now a baby elephant, scampered to Tie.
Ppuppu quickly climbed her body and settled on her palm.
"...Ppup! Ppuh!"
Faintly, Tie heard Ppuppu crying out something in her ear.
"Astie! Retract your mana right now!"
Then Blackie, rushing from somewhere, grabbed Tie's shoulder.
But Tie swallowed hard and lifted her dizzy gaze.
"Hurry! Stop it!"
"Lu, Lucarion..."
Tie's body trembled as she opened her mouth.
Then she weakly leaned her head against Lucarion.
"It's, so cold. Feels like wind blowing inside my body."
Lucarion wrapped his cloak around Tie with shaking hands.
"Dismiss the summons. Then it'll be fine. It's all over now, okay? You idiot."
Tie's eyes turned toward the villagers emerging from the opposite side of the Lord's Castle.
The villagers were rushing to the soldiers, snatching their swords, spears, and shields.
As if repaying all the suffering they'd endured.
"What's wrong, kiddo?"
Then Veil came running from the opposite side.
Basto, Raoul, and Enzo also approached Tie.
"...Mana depletion, it seems. I drew on Tie's mana too, and she summoned all those undead on top of that."
Lucarion's muffled voice reached her ears.
"What? Then what do we do!"
"We need her to retract her mana, but she keeps..."
Tie, leaning on Lucarion, barely kept her drooping eyes open.
"Kiddo, can you hear me?"
Then Veil's bloodied face appeared right before her.
But Tie weakly pushed Veil away.
"Veil bro... Move. Can't see."
Veil shut his mouth at her words.
He stepped back hesitantly.
Everyone turned to where Tie's gaze was fixed.
There stood Stasia, still in her spirit form, and Adelin before her.
"Mom...?"
As Adelin murmured, Stasia's spirit reached out to her.
The translucent hand hovered in the air as if to caress Adelin's cheek, then withdrew.
[Well done, Adelin.]
Adelin's pupils slowly dilated.
Thick teardrops began falling one by one from her wide eyes.
"Mom, Mother did all this?"
An incredulous sob escaped her throat.
"Gathered these people here, hid the Will..."
[No, Adelin. You did it all. You accomplished it.]
Adelin covered her mouth.
Stasia continued rapidly.
[Listen well, Adelin. Time is short.]
"Mom, what on earth..."
[My daughter, you can do it. Even without me by your side, don't forget I'm always watching over you.]
Adelin's face darkened.
She frantically reached out to grasp the unreachable Stasia.
"D-don't go. Please don't go—!"
But the fading Stasia was vanishing into thin air.
[Adelin, I was just... so glad to say a final goodbye like this.]
The next moment, Stasia's form dissolved into hazy smoke and disappeared.
But just before vanishing, Stasia turned to Astie.
A resonance like wind or an echo swept past them.
[I will never forget today's events, even in death, Lord of the Afterlife.]
At the same time, Tie's body went limp.
"Astie!"
Basto caught the collapsing Astie.
The child's body was ice-cold.
The skeletons that had densely filled the surroundings were turning to pale ash and vanishing.
"Follow me."
Then Adelin, rushing over while wiping her cheeks, said.
"I know a place to lay Tie down."
Everyone quickly headed toward the Lord's Castle.
Meanwhile, in the backyard left with the fainted knights.
"Stuff them in here!"
"You rotten bastards!"
"Take their weapons!"
The villagers locked the bound soldiers in the stable one by one.
Among them was the unconscious Reginald.
* * *
"Miss Adelin!"
As Adelin entered the Lord's Castle, the servants who had been watching the outside gathered.
"Miss, how, how did you...!"
The one grabbing Adelin's hand was the head chef, the only one who had kept his life in the castle.
But Adelin pushed him away as if now was not the time.
She turned to the other servants with a stern voice.
"As of this moment, the castle's master has changed."
The servants stirred at her words.
But without hesitation, Adelin approached the central courtyard wall and slashed Reginald's portrait long with the dagger she held.
"Reginald's era is over. From now on, he will pay for usurping the lord's seat with his life."
The servants held their breaths.
Adelin looked at each one.
"Those who wish to leave, do so now. Those who stay may remain. But be prepared to serve me, Adelin Kaldbain, as your new lord."
As she slammed the wall, Reginald's portrait fell to the floor.
Adelin stepped on it and added.
"Prepare a chamber on the second floor immediately. And fetch a technician to replace the iron bars in the underground prison."
Finally, she stared at the head chef.
"Head chef, make something warm to nourish the body. Something easy to feed, like porridge."
Soon, the nodding servants bustled out of the courtyard.
