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IBP 32
But...
Coco did not leave.
Instead, she gripped his hand tightly and murmured something very softly.
Just as a flustered Caligo flinched.
“You...”
Coco whispered softly to him.
Then, their figures were swallowed by the darkness, like a black shadow.
All that remained on the floor was black soot.
The only person left in that spot was Theresia Ardos, who had been hiding.
Looking at the people who had arrived after hearing the massive explosion, Theresia wore a bewildered expression.
She knew that when an ability user goes completely berserk, a small subspace is created.
And that once the berserk state ends, the subspace burns away.
If so, anyone swept into the subspace would be completely incinerated along with it.
It meant they were dead.
‘Damn it, to think the Grand Duke's son actually died.’
However, there was a way for her to survive.
Theresia forced the corners of her trembling lips upward.
‘It’s a relief that stupid child came.’
Now she had someone she could pin her crimes on.
After barely composing herself, she stood up.
Knights and servants, startled by the sound of the explosion, were rushing in.
She dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, wearing a sorrowful expression.
“My goodness, what should we do?”
Theresia whispered low, sounding distressed.
“That child named Coco, who pretended to be the blessed child. I think... she killed Lord Caligo.”
It didn't matter if she fabricated a lie.
After all, Coco and Caligo would never be able to return to this place.
At that moment, a relentless sonic boom echoed as if the door were about to shatter.
From among the numerous knights, Chloe strode inside.
“Theresia. This was your doing, wasn't it? Where is Coco?”
Theresia looked bewildered for a moment, then let out a smirk.
“What are you talking about? Honestly, Sister, you just can't let go of your hero complex. That child Coco must have really stayed on your mind, huh?”
“It has nothing to do with you.”
Chloe’s gaze scanned the surroundings indifferently.
Theresia spoke loudly enough for everyone present to hear.
“That brat triggered the Lord's berserk state and died.”
Both Coco and Caligo had died, swallowed by the shadows.
Therefore, there was no way to prove her guilt.
She stepped back and murmured softly.
“...Regardless, I'm not at fault. Everyone, hurry and bring the Duke, and Sister, a mere child like that—”
“Shut up. You're giving me a headache.”
Theresia glared into Chloe’s pitch-black eyes.
This was exactly what she hated so much it gave her chills.
The way she acted so noble, even though she was just as obsessed with the position of successor and would do anything to get it.
The way she looked now, as if she were going to save someone.
“...Since the supernatural ability exploded, they must be trapped in a subspace. Even you won't be able to save them.”
“Stop being disgusting and get lost.”
Until now, Chloe had always looked at Theresia as if she were an insect.
But this was the first time she had said it so bluntly.
As a flustered Theresia faltered and took a step back.
She stared at the spot where the subspace had vanished and muttered a curse.
To think Chloe would be that flustered.
Theresia decided to observe the situation for now.
“What on earth should we do, truly.”
Dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief as if she were grieving was just an added touch.
* * *
A subspace created by the berserking shadows.
This place was utter, deep darkness.
I was transported into the darkness while holding Caligo's hand.
Caligo glared at me with eyes full of resentment.
“Why did you do that?”
“Huh? Do what?”
“...I trapped myself in the shadows on purpose. So I could die alone.”
He murmured, pressing his hand against his aching chest.
“...So get out of here, quickly. I'll help you escape.”
Just maintaining the subspace so it wouldn't collapse was overwhelming.
He seemed to be hyperventilating.
Then, Coco looked straight at him and asked.
“Do you really want me to leave?”
“Yes.”
Then, he gripped Coco's shoulder and barely managed to open his bloodshot eyes.
“But, let me ask one last thing.”
“...”
“You... why did you come?”
“Um? I promised I'd come save you! Maybe you forgot.”
Coco wore a slightly disappointed expression.
Looking at her, Caligo barely managed to calm his ragged breathing.
No. He hadn't forgotten.
Because he hadn't forgotten Coco's words, it felt even more...
He pointedly looked away.
He wanted to tell her that he remembered everything she had said.
But for some reason, he couldn't open his mouth.
His ears kept flushing hot. So, he grumbled sullenly.
“...I remember. But it doesn't matter. Just leave quickly.”
As the conversation flickered on and off.
A murky light was slowly staining the shadows.
As far as Caligo knew, this was the omen right before being completely consumed by darkness.
“Go now. It's all over.”
Coco stared at him as if provoking him.
“Hand.”
“...What?”
“Please accept one last gift!”
Coco firmly grasped his hand and slipped a ring onto his ring finger.
Caligo's earlobes turned even redder.
“Wh-why a ring?”
...This is the kind of thing I've only seen in fairy tale books.
Why suddenly a ring...
The gem on the ring was a bright red ruby.
As he observed the ruby, Caligo felt a strange sensation.
The moment the ring was placed on his finger, the nausea in his stomach calmed.
The sensation of mana raging in his heart also became peaceful.
His vision, which had been split in two, slowly merged into one.
“What in the...”
The most important thing.
The dark shadows that had stained the entire subspace were also slowly vanishing.
The berserk state had completely stopped.
Coco looked at him with a wide smile.
“Now that the berserk state has stopped, that's enough, right?”
“You... you knew a way to stop my berserk state...”
“Yes! I heard that ring contains ancient magic that counters shadows. That's why it calms down raging mana!”
“...”
“My friend told me.”
It was a very suspicious story.
But because she was smiling so brightly, he found himself wanting to believe it.
It was then that Coco looked at him with a little giggle.
“Then, we can get out of here alive now, right?”
At that moment, Caligo pressed his hand—the one wearing the ring—firmly against his chest.
And a deeper despair clouded his expression.
“Earlier, to die from the berserk state, I closed the door to the subspace with my own power. And...”
Though the berserk state was suppressed, there was almost no mana left in his body.
Which meant, he...
“It will take time to recover my supernatural ability...”
Screeech.
A faint sound of tearing echoed.
“...Before then, the subspace will shrink.”
“H-haah.”
“We... can't get out alive.”
Just as he let out a groan of despair.
Coco whispered quietly.
“No, we can get out.”
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