For the heart - Chapter 79

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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 79

Kiiiiaaak! Kiiiaaaaaaak!!

The monster’s cries continuously tore through the sky above the Imperial Palace, echoing everywhere.

As Nairak opened its beak and howled, vibrations like grinding metal crushed the air.

The sound, resembling both the cry of a fox writhing in pain and a human’s scream of agony, made the entire Palace Square tremble.

Duke Blanche grimaced as if suppressing a scream and covered both his ears.

In contrast, Nina stared at the monstrous bird circling overhead without blinking an eye.

‘Its blue eyes have turned gray… This is Desmorak’s sorcery.’

The sword in her grip trembled slightly.

Not from tension, but because the monster’s presence was shaking the air itself.

Nairak originally had no sight. Instead, two thin resonance membranes beside its beak detected vibrations of movement.

Each time those thin membranes trembled, the monster’s head turned directly toward Nina.

‘It must be targeting me.’

Thinking it would target her, Nina kept her gaze on Nairak while speaking to the Duke.

“Don’t move carelessly, and when Nairak attacks me, run away without looking back.”

“How could I possibly flee leaving Your Highness behind?”

“You’ll only be a burden if you stay, so listen to me.”

“Still…”

“Kiiiiaaak—!”

Before Duke Blanche could finish speaking, Nairak let out an air-rending cry and soared into the sky.

Nina’s eyes widened greatly.

‘It’s not me. It sensed the presence of people gathered in the square!’

With an intuition that felt like her blood vessels were freezing, she quickly threw herself forward. Duke Blanche’s existence wasn’t even in her consideration.

Nina looked up at the sky where Nairak had soared and ran toward the square.

Fortunately, its form wasn’t visible yet.

“Inside! Everyone get inside!! Hurry!”

“Princess Nina?”

“My goodness, it’s Princess Nina!”

People who recognized the princess running out with a sword looked at each other in confusion.

“Take shelter inside the Imperial Palace!! Right now!!”

At that moment, the sound of iron doors closing echoed through the square.

Clank, clank—.

The windows of the Main Palace and the entrances to the Western Palace closed one by one, and armed guards lined up in front of them in unison.

“What are you doing! Open the doors!! Are you planning to kill everyone?!”

“It is His Majesty’s command. He ordered us to protect the Imperial Palace from the escaped monster.”

Nina’s gaze pierced through the Main Palace like lightning.

‘This is why he opened the Imperial Palace. To burden me with the guilt that I, who should sacrifice myself for Arsed, ultimately failed to save the people.’

Kiiiiaaak—!

The monster’s cry erupted again.

Only then did people look up at the sky and scream in terror.

“Aaaaah! It’s Nairak!”

“Run!!”

“It’s dangerous, stay still…!”

Ignoring Nina’s warning, people instantly scattered in all directions.

Then, a single point dove rapidly from the sky.

“No!”

The monstrous bird was falling like a stone with its wings folded tightly against its body.

Just before crashing to the ground, the monster instantly changed its flight to a straight line and skewered three people at once with its beak.

Following Nairak as it soared back into the sky, blood scattered in the air and poured down like rain.

Thud!

Then the corpses the monster had shaken off rolled across the stone floor, and blood flowed like streams.

“Kyaaaah!!”

“P-please let at least the children inside!”

“Your Majesty, please open the doors!”

Despite the people’s pleas, the firmly closed doors would not open.

At the cruelty of not accepting even children, Nina gritted her teeth and gripped her sword tightly.

She remembered how Rainer had sent out Pieruto, who had been the youngest healer in the show he wanted.

What he wanted from today’s show would be for the most children to die.

Nina shouted to the people who were panicking in terror.

“Everyone get down! It attacks moving things, so absolutely don’t stand up!”

At Nina’s shout, the square instantly became quiet. People all prostrated themselves flat on the ground in unison.

But in the breathless air, a baby’s crying burst out.

“Waaaah…!”

Nairak’s head whipped around.

The resonance membranes beside its beak were trembling rapidly as if gauging the location of the sound.

“Damn it!”

Nina ran at full speed toward the opposite side from where the people were gathered.

It was to lure it with the presence of movement.

Fortunately, the monster turned its attention to Nina, folded its wings, and plunged its body down like a blade in exactly the same manner as before.

‘Now’s my chance!’

Nina stopped running and twisted her body.

The moment the monster bird’s shadow covered her.

Crack!

The massive beak pierced through Nina’s shoulder.

“Urgh!”

Blood burst forth, but Nina didn’t retreat. She immediately planted one foot back for stability and raised her sword, thrusting it forcefully into Nairak’s body.

Squelch!

As soon as the sword pierced the monster bird’s chest, blue frost spread and began freezing the creature’s body.

“Kiiaaaack!!”

The monster bird pulled its beak from her shoulder and staggered, crying out in agony.

The cursed beast didn’t die even from the Frost Sword’s ability and flapped its wings toward the sky.

“Hah…”

Nina, whose shoulder had been pierced by the monster bird’s beak, also staggered and bled.

Then Nairak, making its final struggle while catching the scent of blood, charged at Nina again.

The monster bird, airborne with the sword still embedded in it, grabbed Nina’s shoulders with its claws and spread them apart as if to tear her in two.

Her vision turned pure white from the tremendous pain.

The groans escaping from Nina grew increasingly faint.

Her consciousness seemed to be fading.

“Uuuugh! Hhuuu…!”

“Nina!!”

But then, a voice that shouldn’t be heard reached her ears.

Casian was running toward the town square where everyone lay prostrate and motionless.

Holding a large bow in one hand, he kept throwing stones at Nairak while shouting.

He was clearly trying to draw the monster’s attention to himself.

“Come at me! You damn monster!”

Sensing the clear presence, Nairak fluttered its resonance membrane and turned its head toward Casian.

Swoosh, the monster bird released its grip on Nina, loosening its claws, and immediately charged at Casian.

“Casian, no!”

Nairak, with the sword embedded in its chest, spewed madness instead of pain and rushed toward Casian at an unbelievable speed.

Blood and dust mixed together as they sprayed out, and the ground was torn up by sharp claws.

Nina crawled along the ground chasing after Nairak while continuously shouting to Casian.

“Casian! Get away!!”

But Casian stood with his bow nocked and ready, his face set grimly as he faced Nairak.

He waited motionlessly for the monster to enter his range, not even blinking an eye.

Kiiaaaack!

The massive monster bird’s shadow had already drawn close enough to engulf Casian.

The speed was too fast to even gauge.

‘Please run away…’

Hot tears flowed from Nina’s eyes.

Unable to bear watching, she closed her eyes at that moment.

Swoosh!

An arrow flew toward the monster as it launched itself into the air like a beast drunk on rage.

And that arrow pierced precisely through the center of the monster’s throat.

“Kiiaaaack—!”

With an air-rending shriek, Nairak’s body twisted unnaturally in midair, then went rigid.

Thud!

As the monster collapsed, Nina also fell with relief, tumbling face-first to the ground.

“Nina!!”

Casian threw down his bow and ran to Nina.

Quickly embracing her, he placed his hands on Nina’s mangled shoulders.

“Hah… I’m sleepy…”

“Nina, you can’t fall asleep. I’m healing you. I’m healing you, so you need to stay conscious!”

“Mm…”

Despite the pain, Nina felt drowsiness washing over her.

Her usually unshakeable mental fortitude had forced her to endure that terrible agony completely, but for the first time, she was helplessly being pulled into sleep’s embrace.

Even Casian’s voice calling her was growing increasingly distant.

“Nina, Nina! I told you not to fall asleep!”

Casian continued trying desperately to keep Nina awake.

If she lost consciousness while the healing wasn’t working properly, it would become truly dangerous.

While tapping her cheeks and keeping her talking, he poured all his healing power into her.

Gradually the bleeding seemed to stop, but her shoulder still hung loosely broken, and the torn flesh remained a mess.

“Nina, please, you can’t lose consciousness…!”

Casian spoke desperately as he pressed his cheek against hers.

Click.

Expensive-looking shoes came into his view.

Looking up, Casian saw a face smiling as if having discovered something unexpectedly very interesting.

It was Lillien.

“My, my.”

She glanced once at Casian, who seemed desperate, then stared intently at Nina’s wound that remained unchanged despite Casian’s hand touching it, and spoke with a voice filled with emotion.

“The healing… isn’t working?”

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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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