Marriage With A Suspiciously Demure Husband - Chapter 122

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 122

Many more Mana Orbs shattered after that.
Throughout it all, we waited for Lily to awaken, but no good news came even by the time Foundation Day dawned.

* * *

“I wish we’d never have to use it, but we’ve made our preparations.”
Rendil spoke while gazing down at the streets below.
By now the ground was hidden beneath a teeming tide of humanity.
“I feel the same way.”
The mages had installed small devices on each Mana Orb in the sky to create the Barrier, he said.
I’d never seen this done before. From what I understood, they’d connected them all so the Barrier could deploy simultaneously.
Looking closely, I could see the lights flickering on the Mana Orbs as though sending signals.
We would need to relocate once more soon.
Currently, mages and the High Priest along with senior temple officials were stationed at the tallest buildings throughout the Capital.
“It seems other locations are ready as well.”
Rendil spoke after checking the situation through the Communication Tool.
Our plan was as follows.
Right now, military forces were split equally between the inner Capital and its outer regions.
While we hoped everything would proceed smoothly, the odds were nearly zero—so the moment a Monster appeared, mages stationed at each Magic Tower location would create a Barrier throughout the Capital.
Then the temple officials would fill that Barrier completely with the power of Purification, cleansing the entire Capital in a massive purge.
It required enormous numbers of people, staggering Mana, and Holy Power all at once, but it was the fastest way to eliminate the Monster without casualties.
Even if there were Worshippers who had received the Dark Power, like Fay Martin, we could capture them too.
……
And the rest would fall to the Imperial Family.
I looked down at the streets once more and let out a small sigh.
So it’s come to this.
My dreams were so modest.
And I end up here trying to escape death from overwork.
At least Kailas is standing solidly beside me, so it’s a little better.
Unlike the Northern Region, there’s no direct combat—that’s something.
If we can just get through today safely.
And once we find the Grand Altar, everything will be over and we can be happy, right?
Then we can hold our wedding again.
Today just has to pass without incident.
As I was thinking that, a warm presence touched my shoulder.
I looked up and met Kailas’s eyes. I smiled at him brightly.
Yes, just a little more. Just a little longer to hold on.
“Let’s move.”
At those words, I nodded and drew a bit closer between Kailas and Rendil.
Rendil snapped his fingers, and a Magic Circle drew itself beneath the ground where we stood.
Light as it seemed, that’s the next Tower Master for you.
We were immediately transported to where the High Priest waited.
Firecrackers crackled and boomed loudly enough to ring in our ears, and Foundation Day was beginning.

* * *

“The Divine Temple and Magic Tower, as well as the Duke and Duchess’s forces, report that preparations are complete with Rendil.”
“There are no signs of trouble so far, which is fortunate, but do not let your guard slip for a moment—keep watch to ensure the safety of the Imperial citizens at all times.”
Watching the Emperor’s procession begin, Crown Prince Jade was tense and alert.
Today they had to protect the citizens from assault as much as possible, but protecting the Emperor was equally crucial.
Since they’d begun mass arrests of Worshippers maddened by the Dark Power, even the Emperor was no longer safe.
There had already been three assassination attempts, including poisoning.
Though they’d caught all of them, today especially—with the Emperor appearing in public—was particularly dangerous.
Hours had passed since the Foundation Day celebration began.
Fortunately, it was unfolding without incident.

* * *

The Imperial procession moved forward like a towering pillar amid the roaring cheers of the crowd.
“Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”
“…The Dark Power…”
As if they had been waiting for this moment, everyone bowed their heads and knelt in reverence.
“Long live! The Sun’s Blessing!”
“His descent…”
“Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”
“For the true king of this world…”
“Long live His Majesty! Peace to Elkium!”
“Our King!”
Worshippers hidden throughout the square lifted their heads.
In unison, as if on cue, they withdrew something and dropped it to the ground, crushing it beneath their feet—and black smoke began to rise.
The worshippers’ incantations had begun, summoning Followers and commanding Monsters.
The smoke that erupted in moments carried a menacing energy and began to spread outward.
“Ahhh!”
“W-what is this!”
The crowd’s cheers quickly transformed into screams of terror.
Chants poured from the worshippers’ mouths, calling upon something unseen.
Then came a deafening sound—Boom! Boom! Boom!—as the Monsters began their assault.
More than a dozen Followers materialized across the Capital.
Their attack had begun.

* * *

A massive horn blast rang out from all directions, drowning out the fireworks and shouts.
No matter how many Followers, Monsters, and worshippers I cut down, more kept emerging—it was overwhelming.
The rare Followers I had encountered before now appeared without any attempt at concealment.
The moment I spotted a Follower suspended in mid-air, I moved to prepare.
“Are you ready?” the High Priest asked me.
At his side stood two senior priests, fully prepared.
Rendil was already constructing a Barrier, expending tremendous Mana, while Kailas and the knights stood guard over us.
Some of the more cunning Monsters had already bounded toward our position first.
“Now!” I called out.
Rendil received the signal from elsewhere and shouted in response.
As white light erupted from the hands of the High Priest and the senior priests, I unleashed Dark Magic Power as we had practiced, just as the light burst forth.
The force was so strong that my vision swam for a moment, and the mighty Holy Power of the senior priests flared even brighter, repelling and expanding outward like a tide across the Barrier.
Across the entire Capital.
Pure white light began to rise from ten locations at once, forming as if constructing a ceiling above the roofs.
The brilliance was so intense I could barely keep my eyes open.
Whoooooosh!
The powerful Holy Power launched along the Barriers from every direction engulfed the entire Capital.
Everything was bathed in white light.

* * *

To put it plainly, it was a complete success.
The senior priests who participated in the operation, including the High Priest, poured everything into it—some even lost consciousness from the exertion, sparing themselves nothing.
Because of their sacrifice, we succeeded in covering the entire Capital with both powerful Holy Power and a mage’s protective boundary as intended.
The Monsters weakened or felled by the Holy Power were dispatched by knights positioned throughout the city, while some were driven beyond the perimeter and eliminated.
With such a throng of people crowding the streets, the mages who had slipped among the crowd deployed small Barriers to protect the citizens of the empire.
Though a handful of injuries occurred, the grand scheme of the Worshippers and Followers—to turn the entire Capital into a field of Sacrifice—amounted to nothing but foam.
As for myself, having exerted considerable strength, I was tired enough that I could rest a while at the Imperial Palace before making my way back.
Apart from that, I hadn’t sustained a scratch.
Though I regretted not witnessing Lily’s awakening, I resolved not to abandon hope.
Afterward, the Emperor expressed profound gratitude and urged us to remain longer at the Imperial Family’s residence, but we could not stay even a full day more and returned to the Northern Region.
To our home, where we could rest at ease despite the perils.

Chapter 17. All That I Can Do for the One I Love

Several days later.
The Northern Region was buried under heavy snow once more, and all movement ceased.
Until the snow stopped and melted to some degree, people’s feet remained bound—that much was certain.
Oddly enough, the blizzard also restricted the movements of Monsters considerably, affording us a chance to rest.
I too was spending leisurely time with Kailas in the Greenhouse for the first time in ages.
“Once we find the Grand Altar, we’ll hand it over to the Imperial Family, and then we’ll truly get to rest.”
Kailas lifted his head as though taken aback.
For he had often suggested as much, yet I had never been able to reach a decision readily.
“Besides, to destroy it, the Divine Temple will have to take action anyway, so I think we’ve done our part once we reach that point.”
“If my lady wishes it, I am ready whenever.”
“It seems you’ve grown quite fond of the idea lately?”
At that, Kailas laughed.
“I’m someone who dislikes seeing you suffer more than anyone else, after all.”
“Let’s hand it over and begin preparing for our wedding. I’d like that.”
Truth be told, it was half-wish, half-hope.
Yet how long had it been since something like this?
Though I’d avoided overwork, I’d been consumed by countless tasks—and yet happiness bloomed so naturally that I found myself smiling.
There was, however, something that weighed on my mind.
The Capital had caught its breath at last, and the Imperial Family said they would send aid to the Northern Region, but no word had arrived yet.
It was the Imperial Family who had needed aid first, and now the situation had reversed—awkward though that felt, there was no reason to refuse their offer of assistance.
They insisted we stay longer; had I upset them by leaving so hastily?
Though I did depart rather abruptly, nearly brushing aside their pleas.
Perhaps I should press Jade harder.
Turning such thoughts over, I passed the hours.
And that evening.
Kailas had gone out again, and I was taking further rest when Syde came looking for me urgently.
At word that he sought me, I rose from the Study.
His breath came in gasps, as though he’d been running from somewhere far off.
“My lady, forgive the intrusion! My lord has instructed me to bring urgent news……”
“Go ahead, Syde.”
Syde hurried to continue.
“My lord has found it! The Grand Altar! In the region you mentioned! It was hidden deep underground, concealed in layers—double, even triple!”
He found it?
Truly?
I stared at him as though I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard.
“What did you say?”
Syde laughed through his panting breath.
It was a smile of certainty.
The place we absolutely must destroy, the most crucial location even among the final strongholds I knew of.
The beginning and end of this nightmare.
The place where the Catastrophe must be held at bay.
He had found the Grand Altar itself.
At last.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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