An Ode to Divorce - Chapter 93

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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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#93

 

Linos was the first to pluck his lyre. His massive lyre, tuned for bass notes, resonated with deep, rumbling sounds that emerged slowly and profoundly.

 

Linos’s music echoed like the rough breathing and heartbeat of a beast. As Linos’s bass firmly supported the melody, I naturally blended into the music, adding melody with notes an octave higher.

 

Ding, ding, ding—

 

Ding, diing, ding——

 

The moment when the two lyre melodies intertwined chaotically and intensified.

 

I opened my mouth, pouring my desperate will to calm the monster into my voice.

 

Barking here and there

 

Rampaging everywhere

 

Hide your dripping fangs

 

Retract your bristling sharp claws

 

Perhaps because it was a song I composed in childhood, the melody and lyrics carried a freshness that couldn’t be hidden even by the skilled techniques of the performers.

 

Don’t you see the chains that bind you?

 

Don’t you see?

 

Linos sang along with the chorus in his low voice. We hadn’t harmonized once in over ten years since we used to cause trouble in our teens, yet we were perfectly in sync.

 

After completing this song, we were able to pick quinces comfortably from then on. Mother found it strange that quinces piled up at home every day and questioned us about it.

 

Frightened, we confessed what we had done, and only then did Mother laugh as if she couldn’t help it and embrace us.

 

“You two really are Vogelbaide, aren’t you?”

 

Only then did we realize that we had infused our will into song, and that this wasn’t something just anyone could do. Mother’s gaze as she looked at us with pride was still vivid as if it were yesterday.

 

Perhaps it was from that day that I began to harbor the desire to inherit the household.

 

The sweetness of that moment when Mother first acknowledged me was so overwhelming. I thought maybe if Mother knew I was the most outstanding bard in the household, she would praise me even more…

 

Though it’s now an impossible dream.

 

A bitter smile spread across my lips as I played the lyre.

 

While we sang, Pollux and Schneider tried to stay as far from us as possible while maintaining a precarious distance where our performance could still reach the monster.

 

Both Schneider and Pollux looked exhausted as their concentration and stamina drained away. Schneider’s complexion was particularly serious.

 

“Huff, hah…”

 

Schneider breathed heavily. It was natural that Schneider showed signs of particular difficulty. While Pollux’s Astrape flew around drawing the monster’s attention alone, Schneider’s Keraunos only grew longer.

 

As a result, most of the monster’s attacks were directed at Schneider, but he never allowed a single attack to land. It was truly an impenetrable defense.

 

Honestly, I hadn’t known Schneider’s skills were this outstanding. Pollux and Castor couldn’t hide their surprise either.

 

“I should have known Gert wouldn’t place just anyone around Orphea.”

 

“Talking about divorce while sticking his people all around her. That’s just like that scheming bastard who pretends to be a gentleman.”

 

Schneider’s defense didn’t stop at simply blocking. It was a kind of counter, using attacks directed at him to strike back at the opponent.

 

Therefore, without taking any effective hits, Schneider was actually driving the monster back.

 

However, countering didn’t preserve his stamina. As fatigue accumulated and concentration was consumed, his stamina depleted even faster.

 

“Watch out!”

 

Whiiish-

 

Whenever Schneider was in danger, Pollux would directly wield Astrape to face the monster. Then the monster’s attention would turn to Pollux, and Schneider could catch his breath.

 

When Schneider seemed to have recovered some stamina, Pollux would launch Astrape again, and Schneider would draw the monster’s attention once more.

 

Thanks to the party buying us time this way, Linos and I could continue our performance safely.

 

Meaningless hostility

 

Purposeless rage

 

Suppress your glittering madness

 

Extinguish your burning indignation.

 

‘Is it having any effect…?’

 

It wasn’t easy to find any change in the monster that looked like nothing but flickering black flames.

 

I wasn’t the only one feeling anxious—Linos’s music also carried some inexplicable hesitation.

 

‘…I mustn’t waver!’

 

If my will weakened at times like this, the song’s effect would weaken too. I added slight variations without harming the melody to alert Linos. Fortunately, Linos immediately caught my intention.

 

Peace within you will come

 

Will come

 

Fortunately, by the time we sang the chorus, we had returned to the usual melody.

 

“It’s definitely having an effect! Please continue just a little longer!”

 

Schneider shouted. To my eyes, nothing seemed different from the beginning, but apparently there were things more noticeable from the position of directly engaging with weapons.

 

Graaah—!

 

Perhaps annoyed that they were lasting longer than expected, the impatient monster shook its head wildly and then raised it high.

 

Then it puffed out its chest and drew in breath with all its might.

 

Seeing this new pattern from the monster, Pollux asked Schneider tensely.

 

“What’s that? Do you know what it’s doing?”

 

“No… But I have a bad feeling about this.”

 

Schneider’s gaze remained fixed on the monster, scrutinizing its every movement. In the midst of this, Schneider caught the monster’s throat writhing and shouted.

 

“Take cover!”

 

At the same moment, the monster’s raised head turned toward us. The monster’s gaping maw. And swirling within it…

 

Graaaaaaah—!

 

Along with the monster’s roar, red flames swept forth. The hot wind and flames that scorched the ground as they passed soon spread to the nearby grass and trees.

 

Crackle, crackle…

 

Fortunately or unfortunately, the area where we stood didn’t catch fire because it had been devastated by Typhon’s attack. But it was too early to feel relieved.

 

The flames that had spread in all directions were now burning the trees surrounding us, creating a ring of fire.

 

The twins muttered blankly.

 

“…Escaping is completely out of the question now.”

 

“Forget about reinforcements arriving anytime soon—won’t this spread to Ceryneia Forest?”

 

“Surely Artemis won’t resent us for that, right?”

 

“…I can’t be sure about that.”

 

The monster’s eyes narrowed mockingly as it looked at us in dismay.

 

Whiish! Crash!

 

The monster swung its hand again.

 

With the fire surrounding us, there were far fewer places to escape than before.

 

“Tch…!”

 

Schneider and the twins’ movements were precarious. Worried, I shouted.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“We’re fine!”

 

Schneider’s eyes were sharp as he observed the monster.

 

“After breathing fire, it’s smaller than before! Plus it seems unable to use that attack twice in a row…! This is definitely doable!”

 

“Fire, smoke… The field difficulty has increased though.”

 

Pollux grumbled. Castor beside him added with a bright smile.

 

“Still, with all this commotion in the forest near Keryneian, the Followers of Artume won’t be able to stay away! Right?”

 

“How optimistic of you.”

 

Pollux replied sarcastically. But since he didn’t suggest retreating, he clearly agreed with Castor and Schneider.

 

In any case, with the flames blocking our path, we had even fewer options. We had no choice but to hold off that monster while waiting for reinforcements.

 

The second battle began.

 

***

 

The joy of riding a famous steed was brief, as the coachman was barely hanging on atop the horse that shot forward like an arrow. The coachman desperately gripped the reins and pressed his body flat against the horse’s back.

 

True to being a famous steed, the horse galloped forward relentlessly as if it knew the destination even without the coachman’s guidance.

 

After running for some time, the Ceryneia Forest came into view in the distance.

 

As soon as he spotted the followers of Artume guarding the Ceryneia Forest, the coachman raised the emblem of Artume and shouted.

 

“Monster! A monster has appeared! Please help us!”

 

“Monster? A monster, what are you talking about?”

 

The followers of Artume frowned as soon as they heard the coachman’s cry. But then they noticed the emblem in the coachman’s hand. Recently, there was only one person invited to the Ceryneia Forest.

 

The coachman said breathlessly.

 

“Our party is holding it back! You must hurry and help them!”

 

If Orphea, who had come at their invitation, were to get caught up in some incident near the Ceryneia Forest, it would be tantamount to tarnishing the honor of Artume who had invited her. The followers’ faces turned pale.

 

“We need to inform the high priest, so please tell us the details when we get there! I’ll escort this person to the temple, so you all strengthen the perimeter!”

 

Just as one follower shouted this and whistled to summon a deer.

 

“Hey, look at that!”

 

Another follower pointed at the sky beyond the forest the coachman had emerged from and shouted. Black smoke rising in the distance.

 

It was a sign of fire.

 

***

 

The followers of Artume who heard the news came rushing out to investigate.

 

“Where is the hunting instructor?”

 

“She went out after hearing there was some trouble in the western forest!”

 

The high priest, who was the temple’s highest authority, was currently in the sanctuary with the oracle keepers.

 

With Zyla, the hunting instructor, also away, the only remaining high priest was Hippolytus, the guardian of the forest.

 

“The fire is spreading…?”

 

Hippolytus, who had rushed out upon hearing the news, looked utterly bewildered.

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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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