This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 252

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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 252

Bloden’s Red Aura and Golden Light mingled and settled upon the one-handed spear.
Bloden wrapped the rope gripped in his left hand once more around his wrist before turning to me. “Ready?”

I seized the rope tightly.
“Yes. I love you.”
Startled by the sudden confession, Bloden’s eyes widened before softening into crescents of light.
“From now on, I want to hear only casual speech from you. Just call me by my name.”
We’re facing death itself—how could I refuse him anything?
“Yeah, I love you. Bloden.”
“You’re the best, Hailey. I love you so much.”
Bloden called my name with a radiant smile, pressed his lips to my cheek, then hurled the one-handed spear with all his strength toward Iturn’s throat.
Screech!
My body lurched upward with a sharp, piercing wail.
I glanced down quickly. Bloden was swinging his blade toward the storage jars he’d positioned near the upper wall.
Crash!
By the time the sound of shattering pottery reached me, I was already ascending through Iturn’s esophagus, so I couldn’t see how the jars broke. But the light from the Aura and Divine Protection illuminated everything around me, letting me see Bloden being pulled upward by the rope he held.
Thunk!
The spear, flying like a bullet, embedded itself somewhere deep within.
“Graaaagh!”
-Why does my throat ache? What in the world are you doing inside me?
Iturn’s anguished screams pierced the air alongside monstrous cries, and I began swinging wildly, clinging to the rope.
I squeezed my eyes shut and held fast to the rope, striking the walls of Iturn’s esophagus several times.
Soon Bloden climbed up the rope and caught me in his arms, quickly dulling the impact.
-Gack! Ugh! Wheeze! Argh! Hrgh!
The Spirit King’s pained groans echoed alongside the chaos.
-I steeled myself for this, but it’s so agonizing!
“Kwuuaaagh!”
-Hailey, what in the world have you created? I feel as though I’m dying!
-My insides burn! My belly aaaaaches!
The shaking grew worse as Iturn and the Spirit King wailed in unison.
“Hailey, wrap your arms tight around my neck and lock your legs around my waist.”
I did as he instructed, wrapping my arms around his neck and locking my legs around his waist. Bloden then began bounding upward in a swinging motion, alternately pushing off the walls of Iturn’s esophagus on either side.
As we climbed, I could see the spear Bloden had thrown was lodged firmly deep in the throat. By the time we reached Iturn’s uvula, the Spirit King laughed, his voice tinged with pain.
-Heh, but my Mana is returning.
I turned my head and saw Iturn’s sharp teeth and the outside world beyond. All we had to do was escape through that gaping maw, now forced open by agony.
-Heir of Ilpein, I shall maintain Divine Protection upon you within and subdue this creature. Hurry forth and sever this monster’s entire neck.
“As you command.”
Bloden cut the rope as he answered, then drew his blade and sliced off Iturn’s tongue.
“Kuuaaaaaagh!”
A deafening roar like thunder that could split the ears erupted from Iturn as its maw opened even wider.
In that instant, Bloden scooped me up and hurled us both outward, crying out as he did.
“Crockel! To me!”
“Bark bark bark!”
Crockel answered the sharp command immediately.
The moment Bloden and I launched free from between Iturn’s jaws and landed upon Crockel’s back, Serch blazed with brilliant light.
Thanks to that radiance, we could see everything clearly.
-Kraaagh! When will this agony ever cease?
The head that had swallowed us thrashed about in frenzy, while the other heads writhed their long necks or lashed them against the ground, their senses reeling from the bitter taste.
“My lady! Master!”
“Kyuu!”
Dantarion and Heart greeted us with joy, both having relentlessly assailed Iturn’s neck from a stone pillar that Camen had summoned.
Upon seeing us, Camen thrust both arms up and raised them toward the sky.
Bloden set me down carefully on one side and called to the spirits.
“Camen, Heart, Serch—protect Hailey.”
The three spirits quickly moved to my side.
Bloden shed his cloak, now stained with Iturn’s saliva, kissed my cheek, and smiled brightly.
“Hailey, just wait a moment. I’ll finish this and come right back.”
“Right, we need to be careful.”
I watched Bloden and Crockel rush at Iturn, then shed my cloak.
“Squeak, squeak.”
Heart and Camen rubbed against my legs like affectionate cats.
‘Better to get them out of the way so they won’t interfere with the fighting.’
That’s when I heard Nelloa’s voice.
“Eek! This can’t be happening! Why are they coming out alive?”
I turned to see Nelloa accusing Iturn, who seemed to be in distress.
“What’s going on? Iturn! You said nothing could escape alive!”
The Spirit King inside the ship—I can feel it recovering its power. I think those creatures borrowed the Spirit King’s strength.
“Then what do we do?”
My power is returning too, so dealing with the humans won’t take long. Stay back for now.
The moment those words left Iturn’s mouths, a winged monster came flying toward Nelloa. She scrambled about in panic, trying to escape its grasp.
Where are you going!
“Serch! Take care of that monster!”
Serch immediately fired a beam at the winged creature.
“Shriek!”
The monster was split in two in an instant, and Nelloa bolted toward the far corner in a panic.
But a crooked old woman like Nelloa wouldn’t get far.
“Hold it right there! Don’t you move!”
I rolled up my sleeves and gave chase.
“Ahhhhh! Iturn! Do something about her!”
One of Iturn’s heads lunged at me, but Camen raised a barrier, and Heart bulked up in front of it.
“Don’t you dare touch Hailey!”
Before Heart could even unleash its fire, Dantarion came running—but he never had to clash with Iturn.
Bang!
The moment a Red Aura bloomed from Bloden’s blade in a great arc, the head that had been lunging at me fell to the ground.
Iturn shrieked in rage and threw another head at Bloden, but its movements seemed sluggish somehow.
Bloden deflected its attacks a few times, then asked me a question.
“Hailey, would it bother you if I finished off that woman first?”
“No—I have something personal to settle with her.”
“Got it.”
Bloden nodded readily and turned his focus back to Iturn’s heads.
“That woman deserves execution without trial anyway. Do whatever you want with her. You can kill her if you like.”
“Understood.”
Bloden dove back between Iturn’s heads and gave orders to Dantarion.
“Keep watch so Hailey doesn’t get interrupted!”
“Yes, my lord!”
One of Iturn’s heads suddenly had its neck swell. Dantarion spotted it and spoke quickly.
“My lord! That creature is about to fire a Breath Attack at us!”
From what I remembered, Iturn’s Breath Attack had devastating power. But Bloden answered with perfect calm.
“It won’t get the chance to breathe again.”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
“The Spirit King will stop it.”
Sure enough, Iturn soon choked and coughed as if something had caught in its throat, then screamed in frustration.
-I have no way to kill you without the Breath Attack!
Suddenly Iturn drove one of its heads into the ground near its body. When I looked closer, there was an oddly distorted hole there.
It didn’t take long to figure out what Iturn had done. The moment it pulled its head free from the hole, large and small monsters began pouring out in endless streams.
I felt a moment of panic, but Dantarion let out a dry laugh.
“Ha—so there’s a passage leading to the Abyss Realm here.”
‘Do I really not need to worry?’
Bloden, standing a step away from me, showed no change in his expression either. Soon a deep crimson aura began to rise from his body.
“Kimarise.”
At his call, a black-armored knight materialized through dark smoke.
“I have been waiting for your summons since the moment we rushed through this Gate! My glory!”
Kimarise, responding loudly with trembling emotion, was visibly overwhelmed by fervor.
“Durahan.”
A massive knight with a head cradled in his left hand appeared.
-I pledge my eternal loyalty and soul to Bloden Ilpein, the everlasting lord!

Moments later, countless Knights materialized around Durahan. In unison, they fell to one knee before Bloden and cried out with a single voice.
-Your Majesty, issue the Royal Command!
“All Commanders bound by contract to me—answer my summons.”
As Bloden’s voice rang out, black smoke began erupting around Iturn in such profusion that it became impossible to count.
‘Ah, there was never any need to worry after all.’
Voices thick with loyalty to Bloden echoed through the Gate.
-My Lord! Grant us your command!
Bloden leveled his sword at Iturn.
“All Commanders—annihilate the enemy before you!”
-We receive your command, my Lord!
-Yaaaaahhhhh!
With a deafening roar, Bloden’s Demon Lord’s Army launched their charge against the Monsters and Iturn. Bloden himself leaped forward atop Crockel to join the fray.
The great battle descended into chaos, yet I found myself in no real danger.
Most of the Monsters either shielded Iturn or clashed with the Commanders, and any that turned toward me simply dissolved under the combined assault of Dantarion and the three Spirits.
Before long, Iturn tried once more to thrust her head into the Hole that led to the Abyss Realm, but it proved futile.
Iturn’s movement became an opening, and without hesitation, Bloden’s blade severed her neck. After that, her head never entered the Hole again.
Judging from what I could see that the tide had turned decisively in Bloden’s favor, I approached Nelloa.
“H-Hailey! W-wait… let’s just talk about this! Yes? We’re both in the same situation—possessed, remember!”
“Forget it. You need a beating.”
Smack!
“Agh!”
Smack!
“Eeeek!”
Smack!
“Ow!”

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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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