Volume 2 Chapter 14 – Narrow Escape from Death

The thunder faded, but the lingering tremors remained. The monster slowly lifted the massive hand that had torn the earth apart—only dust and ash remained beneath it. The grotesque hole in its chest didn’t hinder it in the slightest; its movements were not even marginally slowed, as if no matter how its body was destroyed, nothing could affect it.

Felicia watched the scene, struggling to rise with the support of her greatsword. Her strength faltered midway, and she slumped back down.

Then—crack. A stone slab shattered, breaking the silence of the ruined corridor. A long halberd wreathed in black flames pierced upward, parting the monster’s pillar-like arm as if drawing an ink line across the sky. It plunged straight into the creature’s core, like a dragon rising from the sea, leaving spiraling black fire in its wake.

Instantly, the monster’s indestructible flesh and muscles dissolved like soaked clay.

Golden hair lifted in the breeze. Her olive-green eyes glinted sharply, cold and resolute.

The ink-drenched halberd slashed across the creature’s body, leaving a single dark gash. Along that line, the enormous and grotesque body was torn in two, as if space itself had warped and fractured at the wound. The monster disintegrated into fragments.

[Blade of Destruction and Creation: Sacred Oblivion] – Full Release.

The line cleaved by the halberd seemed to sever time and space itself. The very world around the monster began to unravel—as though existence itself denied it, erased it.

In that crumbling void, the monster's sewn-shut mouth tore open into a dreadful split, seemingly roaring something.

But Teresa couldn’t hear it. Even its voice, body, and the space it occupied were rapidly collapsing into nonexistence.

The grotesque face and misshapen body vanished before their eyes—reduced to floating dust as the fractured space swallowed it whole. Only the collapsed corridor and scattered rubble proved that it hadn’t been a dream.

Under the night sky, a breeze lifted Teresa’s platinum-silver hair. The black halberd in her hands dissolved into motes of black flame, vanishing into stardust.

Her Divine Authority and strength exhausted, Teresa sank to her knees. Her dignified figure was now tinged with fatigue.

Moments later, she shifted and lay down on the ground.

Having taken several blows without the protection of her Domain, Teresa was completely spent.

She had originally thought Sovereignty of All Forests would be enough to defeat the creature—but its resilience had far exceeded her expectations.

This wasn’t the tenacity of any living being. It wasn’t even a creature in the conventional sense. It had likely been artificially created—a cleanup tool designed to erase evidence.

The weapon [Blade of Destruction and Creation] existed solely for annihilation—and against such a target, it proved all too effective.

Even with its body destroyed, the monster kept moving. Only by commanding its destruction could it be stopped.

If she hadn’t had this broken “cheat code,” she and Felicia really might have died here today.

But the weapon came with a cost: after activation, all of her active powers would be sealed for five days.

Teresa stared at the fading black flame in her palm, her expression slightly uncertain.

Was the penalty really just a five-day cooldown?

To force a substance, an object, to “destroy itself”—such an absolute and tyrannical command—surely must have deeper consequences.

Clink!

A crisp sound drew her attention. An orange crystal fell to the ground beside her foot.

Teresa turned her gaze toward the slender, flat chip. It felt oddly familiar.

Had it dropped from the monster?

But the thing had been vaporized—how was there still loot?

She tried to sit up and pick it up, but her body had hit its limit. She couldn’t summon even a shred of strength.

Ding.

A delicate hand reached down and picked up the crystal. Steady footsteps approached and stopped before her.

Felicia.

As a princess, she had seen many gemstones, and normally wasn’t interested in them—but something about this one captivated her. It radiated an indescribable uniqueness.

Felicia let out a breath, didn’t bother helping Teresa up, and instead sat down beside her, leaning against the wall.

“Thanks to you, I’m still alive.”

“Since we’ve both made it through, there’s plenty of time left. So, tell me—should I call you Lady Teresa now, or still Mr. Dylin?~” she said, toying with the gem as she smirked down at the beautiful blonde lying at her feet.

“...”

Teresa didn’t reply. Maybe too tired. Maybe unsure how to respond.

“What’s bothering you?” After a long silence, Felicia finally spoke again, her expression softening.

“Well, it’s fine if you don’t want to say.” Seeing Teresa stay silent, she didn’t push.

“I’m sorry, Felicia. I didn’t mean to hide it from you all.”

“Why apologize? Besides—‘saying sorry solves nothing.’ Isn’t that what you once told me, Lady Teresa?”

“I think I understand now why Dylin got knocked out of the Freshman Crown Tournament so quickly. I have to hand it to you, Teresa—for creating a Divine Child persona just so you could participate. Must’ve been tough, playing two roles like that.”

Teresa blinked in surprise. Felicia was... completely off-base. She was imagining the whole thing on her own—and her guesses were solving half the mystery.

In truth, Dylin’s consciousness had overtaken Teresa’s body. But Felicia had understood it backwards—thinking Teresa had always been a girl, and Dylin was merely a disguise, a “costume” for tournament eligibility.

With that in mind, everything—from “Dylin’s” closeness with the team to Teresa’s behavior—felt logical.

But… that wasn’t the truth.

Teresa knew full well—she hadn’t originally been a girl. Her mindset and soul had always been male.

A pang of guilt rose in Teresa’s heart.

“Felicia, actually, I…”

“It’s fine. Don’t say it,” Felicia cut her off, brushing her hair aside in a mock-elegant gesture. “If you’re not ready, I’m not going to press you. I’m not a gossip hound, you know~”

“But I am curious. How exactly did you manage to make Dylin and Teresa appear at the same time?” she asked, twin-tails swaying with her head.

“Felicia.”

“Hm? What’s up?” Watching the once-smooth-talking Teresa now fumbling with silence, Felicia looked quite pleased.

But Teresa didn’t answer the question. Instead, she asked,

“Felicia… are you enjoying this?”

“Huh? What kind of question is that? You shouldn’t say weird things like that.”

“Don’t pretend. You should really look in a mirror. Your face is practically glowing with excitement.”

“Really? I don’t think so...” Felicia tilted her head, brushing her cheek innocently.

But Teresa could tell. That look in her eyes—the way she sat there—her passive skill had definitely activated.

Especially seeing Teresa lying there helpless before her… it was taking everything for Felicia not to act on her impulses.

“And what was that little gesture just now?”

“Which gesture? You’ll have to be more specific~” Felicia said in Teresa’s usual tone, turning the tables.

“You were thrilled, weren’t you? Maybe even planning something more?”

“You don’t have proof, you know. Still… if I were thinking about taking it further, would you let me?” she teased, eyes locked onto Teresa’s prone figure.

The girl she could never beat—now lying at her feet.

Felicia subtly squeezed her legs together, struggling to hold back.

“What exactly do you want to do?”

“Can I step on you?~ Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle. Just one tap.”

Teresa narrowed her eyes. “Denied.”

“Aw, too bad. Who knows when I’ll get another chance like this.”

“You wouldn’t want anyone finding out about your… unconventional tastes, would you, Felicia?”

“Oh? So?”

“I’d say we’ve gotten much closer, you and I. After all, now we both know a few little secrets about each other, don’t we?” Teresa said with a bright smile.

Felicia got the hint.

“You really don’t trust me, huh?” she said softly, with a hint of complaint. “If you want me to keep your secret, just say so.”

“You once told me I was too proud to ask for help. And now look at you.”

She took a deep breath, stood up with newfound strength, and said,

“Well then, pardon me for what comes next, Teresa.”

Before Teresa could react, Felicia bent down and swept her up.

“??” Teresa’s view suddenly shifted, her platinum hair spilling across Felicia’s arms.

“Oh my~ is this your first time being carried? Such a dramatic expression,” Felicia teased, holding the shorter girl effortlessly.

She remembered when Teresa had carried her out of danger, in a humiliating princess carry. Well—this was karma.

“Felicia, are you a child? This is just childish pranking.”

“This is not a prank, Teresa. If you could walk yourself back, I wouldn’t be carrying you, now would I?” Felicia licked her lips slightly.

“If you really think you can, I’ll put you down right now.”

“...”

Teresa maintained her polite smile but said nothing.

Seeing her finally flustered, Felicia started humming joyfully. The shadows in her heart had lifted.

“Can we switch to a different position?”

“Hmm? What’s that, Lady Teresa? I couldn’t quite hear you~”

“Felicia, you're the real child here.”

“Say what you like. But right now, the girl being carried and pouting because she’s overwhelmed by emotions is the one acting more childish.”

“...”

Teresa went quiet, and Felicia didn’t press further.

Felicia sheathed her greatsword across her back and, carrying Teresa, climbed the stairwell embedded in the wall toward the sewer ceiling.

Even with her stamina low, Teresa was featherlight compared to the greatsword she usually swung. One-handed lifts were easy.

At the ceiling, she slashed through the hatch, leapt up, and carried Teresa out into the starlit night.

“Whew… the air outside is so nice. I wonder how Astrid and the others are doing—we should go find them.”

“Can I return to my male form now?” Teresa finally spoke, still being carried.

“Of course. I’ll be in your care, then—Mr. Dylin~”

Felicia gently set her down. Behind a boulder, Teresa removed the Golden Butterfly Hairpin. In a flurry of golden butterflies, the golden-haired girl vanished, replaced by the black-haired young man, Dylin.

Supported by Felicia, Dylin activated Divine Appraisal to find their bearings. On their way back, they reunited with Astrid and Wenfu, who had been searching frantically.

All exhausted, the four began their journey toward Coleman Forest. After exiting, they trekked beneath the night sky and finally returned to Coleman Academy.

When the silhouette of the darkened Crown Manor came into view, all of them sighed in relief—as if long-lost travelers had finally returned home.

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