The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 86

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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 86

I knew about that phenomenon.

I had seen it before my regression.

When the magical energy spread by the Emperor reached its peak, the ground cracked in various places across the continent, and magical energy poured out like a flood from the pits.

Magical energy explosion.

When black energy shot up to the sky like the gates of hell had opened, we could barely stop it by pouring Jeongjesa stones like mad. Pouring them into the pit, and pouring more.

Even in the Imperial Palace, which we considered a safe zone, this phenomenon occurred exactly once when the purity of my blood gradually thinned. Even after pouring a cartload of Jeongjesa stones stored in the pantry, the hole wouldn’t subside, and dozens of people collapsed.

The Emperor’s voice shouting to bring more Jeongjesa stones still rang clearly in my ears.

‘But that’s a phenomenon that should only appear three years later.’

Why on earth, why now?

Something flashed through my confused mind as I sat there stunned.

‘…Imperial Jeongjesa stones.’

I realized it instantly.

The balance was broken as the supply of Jeongjesa stones provided by the Imperial Family decreased. The flow changed when I came to the Ducal Palace. The Emperor began reducing Jeongjesa stones across the entire continent, and the effects appeared faster than expected.

And of all places, it had to be in this Ducal Palace.

‘What should I do.’

To stop that condition, we needed to pour a massive amount of Jeongjesa stones. But we didn’t have that much supply right now. The Jeongjesa stones deployed for today’s hunting festival were all we had, and they were already scattered everywhere.

If there were no Jeongjesa stones, there was only one other method.

My blood.

“Is anyone there? Quickly, anyone!”

At my urgent cry, a knight who had been standing guard in the distance and servants scattered around came running.

“Your Highness! What on earth is this…!”

“Take the Lady to the Duke’s Mansion! As quickly as possible! As far from the magical energy as possible!”

“Yes, yes?!”

The servant panicked and fumbled around.

“Hurry! Get help from the knights! If you stay here, the Lady will be in danger!”

“B-but Your Highness.”

“I’m fine, so hurry!”

It was a lie. I wasn’t fine either. I was already getting short of breath. It meant the magical energy was getting thicker.

The Count’s House servant supported the Lady and helped her up. The Lady was still gasping and bleeding. Her consciousness seemed hazy.

“Go! Quickly!”

The servant led the Lady toward the opposite direction.

I watched their retreating figures for a moment.

‘The Lady will be fine. The explosion range isn’t that wide.’

The problem was that magical energy. If left alone like that, it would cover this entire area in less than half a day. I had to deal with it before then.

I got up and threw off my high heels.

The scene I had witnessed at the Imperial Palace before my regression came to mind. Back then, we poured cartloads of Jeongjesa stones. That was barely enough to stop it.

How much of my blood would I need to pour right now to achieve the same effect?

I didn’t know. But I had to try.

“Sion!”

As I rubbed the ring and cried out urgently, Sion appeared with a blue shimmer. Seeing my expression, his eyes changed. His leisurely face hardened instantly. He seemed to instinctively sense that something was wrong.

“The magical energy is going berserk.”

Sion turned his head. He saw the black energy rising from beyond the forest. His eyes narrowed.

“…What is that thing.”

“There’s no time to explain. Can you cast a barrier from a little distance away? To prevent people from going that way.”

“I can do it.”

Sion nodded. But the next words were the problem.

“But what about you?”

“I have to go and stop it.”

“What?”

Sion’s eyes widened. His usual relaxed expression completely disappeared.

“It’s dangerous.”

“Only I can do it.”

I said firmly.

“Then I’ll go with you.”

“You can’t.”

“Lorea.”

“No matter how capable an Archmage you are, you still have magical power. In a place where magical energy is that thick, even you won’t be able to last long.”

Sion tried to argue back but closed his mouth.

“If Sion collapses, who will cast the barrier? Even just inside that pergola, there are more than ten people who are weak to magical energy. If those people become endangered, all the efforts we’ve made so far will be in vain.”

I took Sion’s hand. His hand was cold and stiff. Actually, I couldn’t tell if it was my hand or Sion’s hand that was cold.

“Just cast the barrier. People can’t go that way. That’s the best Sion can do.”

“…Lorea.”

Sion’s voice trembled. It was a voice I’d never heard before. Sion, who was always leisurely and relaxed.

“Thirty minutes, come back within thirty minutes. Otherwise, I’ll come get you.”

“Yes.”

“Promise me.”

“I promise.”

I let go of his hand, turned around, and ran.

Toward where the magi was surging up.

* * *

In the middle of the forest.

Carlos was drawing his bow while on horseback.

There was a deer in front of him. It was quite large. Its antlers stretched out majestically. This one would be worthy of victory. It was definitely bigger than what that Demian fellow had caught.

He held his breath and aimed.

Then.

A chill.

His spine went cold.

His finger stopped. He froze with the bowstring drawn.

‘This feeling is…’

It was a sensation he had forgotten for a long time.

No, he hadn’t forgotten it—he simply hadn’t felt it.

A familiar yet unpleasant sensation he was feeling for the first time in months.

Magi.

And very dense magi was surging from somewhere.

He turned his head.

Beyond the forest, from the direction of the outskirts of the duchy, black energy was rising. Black smoke was violently shooting up into the sky like a waterspout. As if the ground had split open and disaster was pouring forth.

His body swayed from the sudden wave of dizziness.

“…Ugh.”

It was an unpleasant sensation he hadn’t felt in a long time. His body, which had been stabilized thanks to the Jeongjesa, began reacting again. His chest felt tight and he couldn’t breathe.

“Your Grace! Are you alright?!”

The knight beside him asked urgently.

Before he could answer, another knight rushed over. His face was pale.

“Your Grace! I have a report!”

“Speak.”

“Magi is running rampant at the outskirts of the duchy! The ground is splitting open and magi is pouring out…!”

“I know. What about casualties?”

“Countess Harper has collapsed. She’s reportedly coughing up blood…”

“Is that all?”

“And.”

The knight stopped speaking. He looked hesitant. His expression suggested he had something difficult to say.

“What is it. Tell me.”

“Princess Loreia…”

The knight swallowed.

“She ran alone toward the site where the magi is running rampant.”

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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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