Chapter 80 – Revenge
[Translator – Peptobismol]
Chapter 80 – Revenge
Luna, with her back to the moonlight, walked slowly toward Isabel.
Upon seeing Isabel’s face, she halted abruptly and let out a dry, incredulous laugh.
“I made a mistake.”
Her tone turned icy.
“I should have ended you on the day we met at the Founding Festival. I shouldn’t have let your sweet-talking deceive me.”
As Luna Winfred stood before her, Isabel’s mind raced.
Why was Luna looking at her with such murderous intent?
And why was she asking about Kyle’s whereabouts?
‘Annoying.’
Most frustrating of all were the confusing, turbulent emotions that surged within Isabel every time she faced Luna.
If this was truly her first time meeting Luna Winfred, Isabel’s feelings wouldn’t be this tumultuous.
And she certainly wouldn’t be acting so impulsively.
As if confirming Isabel’s thoughts, Luna muttered lowly.
“Thank goodness you’re still alive.”
Luna’s breath was frosty white.
She stared directly at Isabel.
Then, as if encountering a cursed fate, she bit her lip.
“……”
The tension between their gazes crackled like electricity.
Isabel scoffed, a look of helplessness crossing her face.
The people who blindly worshiped her as a Saintess, those from the Papal See who sought to bind her as a servant of God, and the woman approaching her with a sword—all of it.
It was all absurd.
“What on earth are you talking about?”
Her irritation flared.
Isabel raised her right hand into the air as she watched Luna Winfred approach.
“Who do you think I am?”
Wooooong—
A bright yellow aura emanated from her fingertips, softly illuminating the dark surroundings.
It wasn’t a question.
It was a clear warning.
“I don’t want to fight you.”
“Really? Then just stand there and let me kill you.”
“This crazy woman, seriously…!”
Luna’s face remained unnervingly calm.
But the deep-seated anger gleaming in her blue eyes was undeniable.
Luna Winfred intended to kill her right here.
It was obvious from her demeanor that she wasn’t joking.
Isabel couldn’t fathom why.
Why did the daughter of Winfred hold such a grudge against her to commit such an outlandish crime as assassinating a noble?
‘Kyle…’
Ah, there he was.
Kyle, still with his back turned, seemed unaware of the situation.
Isabel suppressed a sigh.
She then turned her gaze back to Luna Winfred, who was closing in.
“Don’t come any closer.”
Isabel growled in warning.
But Luna just sneered and continued advancing.
How long could she keep up that infuriating attitude?
If Isabel crushed that arrogant face right now, Luna would not dare to behave this way.
With a hollow laugh, Isabel summoned her holy power.
Pure white holy energy gathered in the air, pulsating.
Indeed.
It was a simple matter without the need for much thought.
“Clearly, words won’t work.”
“Pfft.”
Luna laughed.
Hearing that from Isabel of all people was utterly absurd.
Boom—Luna stomped the ground and charged forward at a speed almost impossible to track with the naked eye.
The speed was overwhelming.
Even reacting to it seemed almost impossible.
It wasn’t just her speed.
The tightly compressed mana around Luna’s sword hummed ominously.
Just grazing that would cut her.
Dodging wasn’t an option.
Death’s shadow loomed.
But Isabel’s expression remained perfectly calm.
From the moment she became a Saintess, Isabel had received direct guidance from the Pope.
The rules, the demeanor, the mindset a Saintess should have…
And.
“Hah.”
Holy power.
She had been taught everything about it.
The training wasn’t difficult.
In fact, it was easy.
For every one thing she learned, she comprehended ten, and even ventured into unexplored territories on her own.
As if she had always known the ultimate use of holy power.
Fwoom.
The golden light at her fingertips swirled and expanded from a small dagger size into multiple large tendrils.
Screeeeech—!!
As the golden holy claws that covered the sky slashed ruthlessly at the approaching Luna, the mana shield enveloping Luna’s body roared.
Moments later, cracks appeared in the shield.
‘That power is insane…’
Tsk, Luna clicked her tongue as she saw it.
The holy power density of a Saintess was indeed far beyond that of an ordinary priest, as expected.
Crack, crackle—
The fine cracks started to form a giant spiderweb pattern.
And just as the next attack was about to land.
“…”
Luna gathered circulating mana into her hands and raised her sword.
With a swift motion, the sword drew a long diagonal line.
Screeeeeeech—!!
The space distorted with the surging mana flow.
The blindingly blue mana swallowed the incoming attack, and with a loud frictional noise, a shockwave erupted.
Boom.
The ground shook.
A massive shockwave roared, leaving the surroundings in ruins.
Luna, who had been staring icily at the seemingly bewildered Isabel, let out a small chuckle.
“You’ve gotten stronger?”
“……”
Isabel didn’t reply.
[Translator – Peptobismol]
Instead, she glared at Luna with bloodshot eyes.
Exhaustion, confusion, and a hint of fear.
Her blazing gaze held a myriad of emotions.
“How cowardly.”
“Me?”
“Yes, ambushing someone who has no intention of fighting, attacking someone without any reason—everything you do is despicable and low.”
She tried to ignore it.
If only Isabel’s words hadn’t ignited her reason.
“What?”
How dare you.
“You don’t know why?”
You, of all people, say such things?
“How can you say that?”
Her face flushed with anger.
Don’t know why? You poisoned my brother, and as if that wasn’t enough, you pushed Kyle to the brink while remembering everything.
How dare you say that?
She couldn’t contain it.
Her bursting rage turned into flames.
Consumed by the fiery fury, Luna laughed maniacally, then muttered in a sharp voice.
“You still don’t get it, do you?”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“My brother, Kyle Winfred. You, who killed him, dare to speak like that in front of me?”
“Killed… Kyle…?”
Isabel blinked in confusion.
Then she asked in a deflated voice.
“What do you mean?”
“What?”
“I asked, what do you mean I killed Kyle?”
What do you mean?
“You killed him.”
Your obsessive attachment drove Kyle to his death.
But.
“Nonsense.”
Isabel sneered.
And then she told an unbelievable story.
“Kyle, who is alive and well, I killed him? Are you out of your mind?”
Luna swallowed hard and scrutinized Isabel.
That gaze, tone, expression.
Could she be serious?
What if it’s an act? How can I believe this deceitful woman?
Luna maintained her gaze with a complex expression.
Then she smiled, full of malice.
“Really?”
But what did it matter?
She couldn’t forgive Isabel, and she had resolved not to hesitate in stabbing her this time.
Listening to her nonsense was a waste of time.
So.
This time, she wouldn’t hesitate.
“Doesn’t matter.”
Her killing intent crystallized at the tip of her sword.
At that moment, the power gathered at her blade swung like a whip.
Crack—!!
The violent strike descended on Isabel, and a massive shockwave shook the ground.
Pebbles scattered into the air, and water droplets evaporated before they could rise.
At that moment, a yellow light flickered through the thick dust.
‘Still standing?’
Luna’s blue eyes widened in shock as she saw Isabel enduring the impact with her body wrapped in holy power.
Instinctively, Luna raised her sword again.
Bang!!
Another powerful blow landed.
But Isabel merely let out a faint groan, glaring at Luna with gleaming eyes.
Luna slowly observed Isabel’s reactions, keeping her distance.
Isabel took deep breaths, then coughed up a bit of blood.
In that moment, the holy power enveloping her wavered precariously.
“……”
The sound of wind brushed past her ears, and Luna’s presence vanished.
Isabel, swallowing her breath, tried to sense her surroundings with her mind.
An indescribable chill crept up her neck.
“…!”
Isabel quickly turned her head.
Luna Winfred’s sword was hurtling toward her heart at a terrifying speed.
Too fast to react.
There was only one way.
Forcefully detonating the holy power condensed within her.
A massive explosion would ensue, and Isabel would be caught in it as well.
But she didn’t care.
If she didn’t act, she would die.
Wooooong.
A strange sensation churned inside her.
As the holy power surged backward, her vision began to tint red.
And then.
“Stop!”
Kyle, having realized the situation, had approached unnoticed.
His blue eyes shook as he looked at Isabel.
“Ah.”
Isabel let out a sigh.
If she couldn’t control the condensed holy power, Kyle would inevitably be caught in the explosion.
The unexpected appearance of Kyle disrupted her concentration, causing the holy power to scatter.
In that instant, she locked eyes with Luna, filled with murderous intent.
And then.
“Cough…!”
The long blade that Luna had been wielding pierced Isabel’s lower abdomen.
Drip, drip.
Dark red blood dripped from the blade, staining the ground.
Her mind reeled.
The consciousness she had barely held onto began to fade.
“Ka…yle…”
Isabel called out to Kyle with a strained voice.
And then, she lost consciousness.
[Translator – Peptobismol]