Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 244
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 244
Cesar’s back, protecting Belinda from the front, was like a worn and broken statue that had endured countless years, with not a single intact corner. Moreover, his shoulders were heaving as if he had rushed here in haste.
However, that voice.
“Are you safe?”
The moment she heard that voice, lower and more subdued than usual, Belinda could not stop the tears she had been barely holding back from bursting forth.
In the future she had originally seen, there was no one by Chaser’s side. So how had he been able to come to this place?
As if answering her question, Cesar continued speaking.
“I saw the Marquess’s Daughter and Leo from afar and came running.”
A battlefield where a moment’s carelessness could mean the difference between life and death.
Cesar’s answer that he had simply come running because he saw her in such a place was so very like him that Belinda forgot the situation and smiled.
Then she roughly wiped away her tears and looked around.
Though he didn’t look to be in very good condition, Chaser was safe. Leo also didn’t have a single injury.
In the end, she had changed the future.
“I’m fine.”
Belinda’s voice as she answered carried not a trace of moisture.
Reassured by those words, Cesar raised his sword.
Even before this calamity that would destroy the continent, he showed no fear whatsoever.
Even the curse of the demonic beasts could not instill fear in him.
Because he was certain that as long as Belinda was behind him, nothing could break him.
* * *
“Ascetic! Are you alright!”
Ophelia looked back at the dark mage Aiden running toward her and smiled bitterly.
At first, when gathering the dark mages, she had believed without doubt that her plan would proceed smoothly.
But what was the current situation? Her comrades were scattered in all directions with their lives unknown, and her Luca was severely injured.
Nevertheless, Ophelia did not lose her composure and asked calmly.
“How is the situation in the Central area?”
“The barrier created by the mages and priests is quite solid. It will take a bit more time to break through.”
At those words, Ophelia’s brow furrowed.
Coldly speaking, it wasn’t an unfavorable situation for her.
Breaking through the Central barrier was only a matter of time, and she still had many demonic beasts remaining.
Though the Demon King had been burned by Chaser’s magic, Ophelia knew Luca’s tenacious vitality and strength better than anyone.
To kill the Demon King, powerful divine power was needed.
Though the Duke of Baluashten was a strong knight on the continent, without divine power, he could not behead the Demon King.
She had confirmed this through repeated lives.
“What about the Northern army’s movements?”
“It seemed they might retreat after setting up the barrier, but…”
She could guess what words would follow. And the words that came were exactly as Ophelia expected.
“They’ve gathered in front of the barrier again and are preparing to resist.”
Once, she had respected the stubbornness and spirit of sacrifice of the Northern people, and had truly pitied their fate of dying consistently.
But that was a story from very long ago.
Ophelia anxiously bit and chewed her nails.
Perhaps to comfort her, Aiden added his words.
“Ascetic, the barrier will be broken by tonight. Thanks to the High Priest’s, no, Giuseppe’s advice, didn’t we call in all the demonic beasts from beyond the barrier? We have more than enough demonic beasts.”
Even though she knew this better than anyone, Ophelia could not hide her anxiety. It was a kind of premonition learned through dozens of failures.
A sensation as if some terrible trap she alone didn’t know about was lurking beneath her feet.
‘What did I miss?’
She went through the plan thoroughly, but there were no flaws.
She had thoroughly isolated the North. Even if the Royal Court had heard news of the demonic beast invasion and dispatched troops, they would only arrive after a month.
However, Ophelia could not ignore this premonition.
“Aiden, I need to examine the Central barrier myself.”
Aiden immediately guided Ophelia to a nearby high ground, allowing her to survey the battle situation from an elevated position.
In the distance, she could see the barrier standing firmly along the boundary of the Withered Forest.
The sound of demonic beasts recklessly throwing their bodies against the barrier to destroy it echoed through the forest.
The Northern army gathered beyond the barrier never retreated, but they couldn’t help their shoulders flinching every time the demonic beasts crashed into it.
Taking in all of this with her eyes, Ophelia realized what she had to do.
“Have you tried attack magic?”
“Yes, but regrettably, it didn’t budge with my power.”
“…What about dark magic?”
“Ah, I cannot use offensive dark magic…”
That made sense. Even at a glance, Aiden was a man without any ambition.
His only desire was to research alchemy mixed with dark magic to his heart’s content until he died of old age.
What he had demanded when joining the Black Magic Society was also only his own safety.
That’s why Ophelia had made this pure man without greed her comrade.
After organizing her thoughts for a moment, Ophelia called him in a quiet voice.
“Aiden, you know that dark magic becomes more powerful the more precious the sacrifice, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“And you know better than anyone how important it is to destroy that barrier.”
“Of course.”
Once the demonic beasts crossed the forest boundary, everything would be over. The curse of the demonic beasts was like a virus that would devour all the people of the continent who had no immunity.
Ophelia slowly reached out and firmly grasped Aiden’s hand.
“Thank you for understanding.”
“What?”
His bewilderment at the sudden words was brief.
He felt Ophelia’s grip gradually tightening.
“A-Ascetic?”
One word full of questions. That became Aiden’s last words.
Starting from where he was joined with Ophelia, his body began to crumble and finally collapsed like a sandcastle.
He lost his life without realizing what was happening to his body.
Then Ophelia embroidered a dark magic circle above her head.
Dozens of dark magic circles created with her comrade’s life as sacrifice began to turn in their respective positions like clockwork gears, gradually increasing in speed.
When that movement reached its limit.
Crash!
She shot a pitch-black fireball toward the barrier.
That single attack cracked the barrier that had been as solid as a fortress wall.
The demonic beasts rushed madly toward the cracked spot like predators smelling the blood of prey.
‘Just need to get out of the forest.’
Then everything would be over.
Finally, she could face a new destiny.
It was right then.
Crack, clang!
Like a hole appearing in the surface of a solidly frozen lake, the barrier was pierced.
The demonic beasts rushed toward that hole.
Ophelia could see the Northern army’s formation scattering.
It was the moment when a bright smile finally appeared on Ophelia’s face.
From far in the east, a faint light began to shine.
At first, she thought it was dawn breaking. But only after seeing the pitch-black night sky did she realize it was still the middle of the night.
The Northern army was equally bewildered.
Penandel, who had been organizing his formation to face the invasion of demonic beasts, couldn’t take his eyes off the lights surging like a tide from the east.
Light rolling in like dawn.
Only after feeling the vibrations that shook the ground did he realize it was one massive army carrying those lights.
“Where on earth did they come from….”
Then, he saw the figure of a man in armor leading the army.
Though he wore a helmet that made his face unrecognizable, the family crest fluttering on the banner he held was clearly visible.
A staff and sword, and even the pastoral staff symbolizing priestly authority.
“Lord Lucas.”
He spoke the name of the First King that he had forgotten for so very long.
This was the first march of the knight order that the Crown Prince had named ‘Dawn.’
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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