The devastation wrought by the Holy Spear of the Goddess, originally intended for the Southern King and the Dragon Emperor, had razed one of the Rakia Mountains’ mountainsides.

Yet, even though the spear had devastated the land, no one fell victim to it.

The Southern King, lying in the distance, wiped the blood from his forehead and got up.

As a matter of course, Geraldo, who had initiated the attack, was unscathed.

“…Your Highness Jill, why are you here?”

Jill looked up at Geraldo who was looking down at her.

“I already told you before. I’ve come to retrieve the National Seal to make my engagement with the Dragon Emperor official.”

“…The Dragon Emperor you’re currently standing on?”

“Eh, don’t worry about it. His Majesty always said that he’d be under his wife’s foot or whatever.”

“—Bend!! I said I’d bend my knee, not be stepped on—argh!”

Jill stomped on his back again to silence him, and smiled.

“I’m grateful for this was a very meaningful joint exercise, Your Majesty.”

“A joint exercise? This?”

“Indeed. When I came to apply for my engagement, we decided to conduct joint military drills, and I got carried away after having returned home.”

Right now, we can still sweep it under the bridge.

“I see, is that how it is? A very intriguing proposal, but it’s too late now. Neither my son, the Dragon Emperor, nor I will agree.”

“Do you really want to start a war that badly?”

“It’s a matter of the country’s face. Besides, we’ll end up fighting anyway. If that’s the case, I want to make sure we get an advantage.”

“You were almost killed by your son earlier. Are you okay with that?”

“As long as the Dragon Emperor is destroyed, Kratos will be the sole winner.”

He himself seemed to be aware of it.

Jill clicked her tongue, stepped off Hades, and braced herself.

“Then I’ll take care of you myself, and if I win, this joint military drill is over.”

“How stubborn. Do you still think of yourself as a Dragon Princess even without the ring?”

“…That’s right, young lady with amethyst eyes.”

Behind her, she could feel Hades stand up.

Aah, I hate this. Jill clenched her fists.

“What are you doing here? You’re no longer the Dragon Princess. Do you believe I was hoping you’d return?”

I hate him for lying so casually.

“You lost your power as the Dragon Princess, so why should I take you back?”

I hate my own weakness, which makes me so ashamed.

“Why don’t you go back, young lady? …You might be offered to me as tribute later.”

“Your Highness Jill.”

Geraldo approached her and grabbed her arm.

“I told you earlier. You’ve no need to worry about your future position in Kratos. Everyone can see that you were being deceived by the Dragon Emperor—”

She shook off the arm and shouted back.

“—I’ll make this person happy for the rest of my life!”

I hate how weak this love makes me.

I can’t even turn around because I’m afraid to even look at his current expression.

Nevertheless, with the strength of reason that had steeled her heart, she could persevere.

“—Impressive, you’re the true Dragon Empress!”

Rufus yelled, and at the same time, brandished the Sword of Protection. Jill immediately took up a sword that was lying on the ground and blocked his strike, but she was launched into the sky due to the impact.

“Out of respect, I won’t hold back at all. —Geraldo, kill the Dragon Emperor!” (Rufus)

“No need to tell me that.” (Geraldo)

“—As if I’d let you!” (Jill)

Just as she regained her balance, the second blow came. Her sword snap in half.

Damn, so the weapon does make a difference after all!

The difference was so immense that not even magic could compensate for it.

But I can’t go back anymore.

“Now, shield the Dragon Emperor, Dragon Empress!”

She dodged the sword that was aimed at her neck, and delivered a kick to his side, only for him to catch her ankle.

“—Don’t make me despair.”

While saying that softly, Rufus raised his sword. From behind, Hades slashed him and sent Rufus flying. Hades then seized Jill’s waist and flew away.

“You’re a hindrance.”

“—Do you want to be stepped on that badly!?”

“Then where’s your sacred relic? Or your ring?”

She couldn’t argue against that. Moreover, when Hades himself pointed that out to her, her anxiety quickly set in.

How does love turn into a shackle?

“—And yet, the Dragon Empress still came to my aid.”

He embraced her tightly, and nothing else mattered.

“You’re an idiot.”

“Your Majesty is also an idiot, even though you said goodbye…”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

“—Isn’t this like admitting you love me?”

“Sorry to ruin the mood, but I won’t let the two of you escape!”

Hades used his Heavenly Sword to deflect Rufus’ Sword of Protection. In the next moment, the Holy Spear of the Goddess was right before his eyes.

Just as he recognized it, something knocked the Holy Spear away, changed its angle and returning it to Geraldo’s hand.

“What’s going on!?”

“It’s the barrier of the Rakia Mountains.”

Jill gasped as she saw the sharp ridges spreading all around her. They were near the summit.

“Although the Goddess doesn’t appear to be residing within that spear at this moment, it’s still part of her. According to the myth, the Goddess can’t enter the Rave Empire unless someone carries her in the form of a spear.”

Is that why the thrown holy spear was reflected?

“In that case, Your Majesty, if you return to the side of the Rave Empire, the battle should be a little more advantageous—”

Suddenly, something encircled Jill’s left wrist. Her body was pulled away, bound by magic, it was as if she was being ripped away from Hades.

“Jill!”

“Your Majesty, it’s unwise to show your back to the Southern King!”

Hades clicked his tongue and repelled Rufus’ sword which charged at him from the side.

During that time, her left hand became tense. She felt as if she was being crucified against an invisible wall.

What is happening!? Is this also the work of the magical barrier of the Rakia Mountains!?

There was a sharp peak just below her feet. Hades was holding back Rufus while another equally formidable foe approached.

As expected, Geraldo slowly descended to match Jill’s eye level.

---

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***T/N: JUST KILL THESE DISGUSTING FATHER AND SON DUO!!!

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