Chapter 52: Lady Ara, I’m Sorry…
“I see…” Isabelle nodded, then realized their current position was rather… intimate. And her lips had just touched Bai’s forehead.
No, Bai’s forehead had touched her lips.
But that still counted as a first kiss, didn’t it…?
Isabelle’s face flushed slightly, and she looked up at Ara, who was glaring at her, her lips trembling with rage.
“Lady Ara, I’m sorry…”
Bai: “…”
Did I see that right? Why is she apologizing to Ara, not me?
Well, it didn’t matter. She had to focus on escaping.
The two Crown Guard patrols had finished searching the room and were now approaching the cabinet.
Bai steadied herself. Isabelle’s mention of [Shadow Meld], a powerful escape ability unique to Shadow Demons, had given her an idea.
As long as there were shadows, Shadow Demons could use them to escape, which was why their executions were always held at noon, when there were no shadows.
But now, using [Shadow Meld] would expose them. The capital’s detectors would lock onto them, and the Crown Guards’ smaller devices would track their movements.
It would be pointless.
So, the problem was… how to use [Shadow Meld] without being detected.
It was the only viable option.
“I remember… I’ve encountered the capital’s detectors before…”
As a Legendary Knight candidate, although she hadn’t known it at the time, she had been granted high-level security clearance, including access to the capital’s defense systems.
The capital’s large-scale detector was a relic of the ancient empire. The North Empire’s current technology couldn’t compare, so they could only use it, not understand its inner workings.
But she knew one thing.
The tracking mark was a special type of energy. Once applied, the marked individual could be detected by the Crown Guards’ devices, even if they weren’t using their Demonic Runes.
But what if… that energy was blocked?
An idea sparked in Bai’s mind.
—Authority: [Absolute Negation].
It could completely nullify all energy systems within a certain range, as long as they were weaker than the user.
Including the tracking mark.
So, if she created a field of [Absolute Negation] around them, with a small null-zone in the center, could she block the energy fluctuations?
It was worth a try…
She turned to Ara, mouthing the words, “Ara, use [Absolute Negation] around us, but exclude us from the effect.”
Ara paused, then understood.
She clenched her small fists, and a field of [Absolute Negation] spread out around them.
Her control over the Authority had improved significantly since the earlier fight. She could now maintain the field within a specific range, and even exclude Bai and Isabelle from its effects.
Bai was surprised by Ara’s newfound precision, and she patted her head approvingly.
“Ara is so clever.”
Ara narrowed her eyes, enjoying the praise, but then the image of Bai’s forehead pressing against Isabelle’s lips flashed through her mind, and her good mood soured.
“After this is over, Ara wants a kiss from Bai like that too!”
With renewed determination, she focused on maintaining the Authority field.
“Now, try activating your Demonic Runes, use your Shadow Demon abilities,” Bai instructed Isabelle.
Isabelle nodded, and dark runes spread across her face. Ara’s and Bai’s bodies became ethereal.
This was [Shadow Meld], a powerful escape ability, allowing Shadow Demons to travel through shadows.
Bai’s senses were on high alert.
The Crown Guards continued their search, their movements methodical, their path leading them closer to the cabinet.
“It’s working!”
The [Absolute Negation] field completely blocked the Demonic Rune energy, preventing it from being detected by the capital’s defense systems, and even by the Crown Guards just a few feet away.
Without another word, Isabelle activated [Shadow Meld], and they vanished into the shadows, Ara maintaining the [Absolute Negation] field around them.
The three little girls, clinging to each other, fled the secured area.
…
“Can’t find her? Then keep looking!” Kweil ordered, Prince Kruse still by his side.
Rolof’s face was pale.
“Could it be… Isabelle wasn’t seriously injured?”
“No, impossible…”
“If she wasn’t seriously injured, what will I do?”
*”Bai must be dead. And that girl, Ara, Isabelle must have taken her…”
The more he thought, the more terrified he became. His already weakened body trembled, and he barely managed to suppress a cough, a mouthful of corrupted blood rising in his throat.
He managed to regain control, but his complexion was even worse.
Kweil, seeing his condition, assumed it was exhaustion, and worry for the capital’s safety.
He was impressed. The Empire had survived because of dedicated knights like Rolof.
“Go home, Rolof. We can handle it from here,” Kweil said, his voice gentle.
“No… General Kweil, I’m fine. I can still continue,” Rolof quickly refused.
He couldn’t leave. This was the safest place in the capital.
If Isabelle wasn’t seriously injured, she would have seen through his betrayal, and she might be watching him now, a cold smile on her face.
If he left, tomorrow’s headlines would read: “Crown Guard Commander Rolof Assassinated.”
Even if Isabelle didn’t kill him, if she cut off his supply of the potion, he wouldn’t be able to suppress the demonic corruption.
And then, his only option would be to become a Fallen Demonspawn.
“I hope… Isabelle was seriously injured and simply escaped, completely unaware of my actions…”
