Chapter 35
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It was a calm and clear energy, like a gently flowing river, like snowflakes falling softly at dawn.
It wasn't dazzling, nor was it particularly brilliant.
Just as dew soaks the leaves, the energy quietly seeped into Ludville's body, which was covered in blood and Demonic Energy.
And it began to gently peel away the darkness clinging to his body.
Little by little, very little by little.
Ludville's shoulder twitched.
At that moment, black mist-like Demonic Energy began to flow from his back.
As if the contaminated energy filling his body was reacting to the stimulus of Purification.
Odelia put even more strength into it.
The power of Purification condensed and spread like a vibration.
Then, the black discoloration on his fingertips slowly returned to normal.
"Ugh."
It wouldn't end with just one try.
This was a state that required Purification with care over a long period.
For now, she focused on slowing down the progress as much as possible and poured all her strength into it.
'Just a little more…'
Odelia instinctively felt her life force being depleted, but she didn't stop.
Her breathing became increasingly rough.
She couldn't bear the thought of losing Ludville for such a reason, so she persevered and poured out as much Purification power as possible.
After a while.
The Demonic Energy currents that had been rising from Ludville's body as if they would explode at any moment began to subside.
The immediate danger was extinguished.
"……."
Or rather, should I say the fire has spread?
A surge of hot blood came up.
"Hiss……."
Odelia spat out blood and trembled.
The burning pain in her chest was so intense that she couldn't help but groan this time.
Her mind became hazy, and a sharp ringing echoed in her ears.
Cold sweat streamed down her forehead.
'It's a good thing there are corpses of Monsters scattered around.'
At least Ludville or the soldiers wouldn't find out that she had spat blood.
She desperately tried to catch her breath, clinging to her fading consciousness as if she were about to faint.
And she cleanly wiped the corners of her mouth, where traces of blood remained.
"……."
It was at that moment.
Ludville slowly inhaled after his breathing had stopped for a moment.
A pleasant sensation seeped down his spine.
Neither hot nor cold.
The energy slowly passed through his lungs, blood vessels, and heart, removing the murky residue that had been clinging to somewhere in his body.
So slowly that it was difficult to feel.
At the same time, his severed consciousness returned.
"Where is this……."
He murmured in a hoarse and cracked voice.
The light slowly returned to his unfocused and hazy purple eyes.
The blood-soaked gloves were uncomfortable.
His stomach, pierced by the Monster's claws, throbbed with pain.
The blood clinging to his entire body felt sticky, making him feel even dirtier.
Only then did he realize that the senses he hadn't been aware of for a long time were returning one by one.
Ludville then felt fatigue.
His throat was parched and cracked, his breathing was rough, and he didn't even have the strength to move a finger.
But he clearly felt it.
So familiar that it didn't need explanation, so familiar that…….
His whole body was reacting first, saying that he shouldn't let go, that if he let go, it would be the end.
A sensation he must not forget even if he died.
A sensation he had to follow to hell, hold tightly in his arms, and never let go of…….
Ludville slowly exhaled and turned his head.
The face of the woman who had been withdrawing her hands from behind him came into view.
Her complexion was whiter and paler than usual.
With a face that looked like she was about to collapse at any moment, she said.
"Didn't I say you would need me?"
Odelia Cardel.
Ludville couldn't even recall the name.
Before he could even make a rational judgment, he instinctively reached out to her as if drawn by something.
And in an instant.
He hugged her very tightly.
"……!"
Faint breaths were felt in his arms.
A familiar scent.
Familiar warmth.
An even more familiar energy.
His body remembered it first.
He moved his lips.
"……Don't cry."
"……."
Odelia placed her hands on his chest and gently pushed him away, saying.
"Your Highness, you're mistaken about something……."
"Don't move. Stay still."
"……."
It was a whisper that was hard to tell whether it was an order or a plea.
And like a beast whose instincts had awakened, he buried his nose in her neck without hesitation and inhaled.
The scent of herbs dried in the sun.
The dry and calm scent permeated deep into his lungs.
Odelia stiffened without realizing it, and he hugged her even tighter to prevent her from escaping.
Alive. Here, now. In my arms.
A satisfied smile appeared on his lips.
The emptiness in his chest, which had been empty for so long, was finally filled as if a perfectly fitting piece had been found and put back in its place.
A sense of fulfillment that was almost overwhelming washed over him.
He felt like he finally knew what he had been searching for all along.
"Got you."
Finally.
Mine.
For the first time in a long time, he felt alive.
* * *
'……Ah, he fainted.'
Odelia felt the strength drain from Ludville's body.
Like a puppet with a severed string, his huge body, nearly two meters tall, slowly tilted towards her.
"Ugh."
It was an unbelievable weight.
Even in his unconscious state, he was stubbornly tightening his arms as if he would never let her go.
In the end, Odelia fell to the forest floor with Ludville, landing on her butt.
'I can't breathe…….'
Odelia struggled under him.
But realizing that she couldn't move at all, she had no choice but to relax her body.
While being nestled in the arms of the unconscious Ludville.
Frankly, it was strange that he hadn't collapsed sooner.
He was practically soaked in Demonic Energy, and the fact that he had held a sword, moved, spoken, and fought in that state was bizarre even now.
She was genuinely nervous that the Purification hadn't worked…….
Little did she know that she would be even more nervous in a different way.
"……."
How long would she have to stay like this?
Odelia turned her head and looked at Ludville's blood-soaked face.
Suddenly, his last appearance at the funeral came to mind.
Even when he was dead in the coffin, he had this face.
A peaceful face, as if he had finally found eternal rest…….
"……."
Odelia unknowingly put her ear close to his heart.
Even though she knew he was alive.
Thump, thump.
A strong heartbeat was heard.
"……He's strong."
He had been starving, intoxicated with medicine and Demonic Energy, and desperate to abuse himself, but he was still fine.
It was a good thing.
Unlike her, he was born with a healthy body.
He had the resilience to not break down easily even when he exceeded the limit, and to recover quickly.
That's probably why he recklessly mistreated his body even more.
"……Ludville."
She quietly called his name.
Afraid that he might hear her voice even in his sleep, she whispered almost to herself.
"Lud……."
How long had it been since she had been able to look at him this closely?
No, maybe it was the first time.
All the memories she had with him were only seen through his regressed memories.
Being his wife.
Loving him.
In a way, she could be said to be in the position of an observer.
But why was it like this…….
Why did her throat tighten and her heart sting even when she was secretly calling his name?
For something like love that she had never directly experienced.
