Another week has passed.
Yet, nothing changed.
Cain continued to train day by day. Never faltering once.
And so, once again, steel met wood.
A clean strike.
Precise.
He was growing.
|Strength has been increased by 0.1 (9.2->9.3)|
Elias shifted in his chair.
"This goddamned monster… three stats nearing 10 already."
"At this rate, he'll hit the First Limit soon."
"...I'm actually jealous."
"His stat gain rate is even higher than me when I was abusing the potion mechanic. An actual cheat level character."
Cain exhaled slowly, his blade stopping just short of the ground before rising again.
His stance remained firm, balanced despite the lingering weakness in his body.
Again.
The same motion.
Unwavering.
Even now—his form did not falter.
"…Good."
A quiet murmur left his lips.
He adjusted his footing.
Raised the blade—
"Sir Cain."
The voice came from behind.
Calm.
But urgent.
Cain lowered his sword and turned.
A knight approached, posture straight despite the haste in his steps.
"The Duke requests your presence. Immediately."
Cain's brows furrowed slightly.
"…Immediately?"
"Yes."
A pause.
"…Understood."
---
The office felt still.
Lucien Valencrest stood near the window, his back turned.
"…You're here."
"I came as soon as I was called."
Silence lingered.
...
"I've got bad news for you."
Cain looked up.
"What is it?"
He was used to difficult situations. This would just be another one among many.
"It is about... The Saintess."
Cain flinched.
"…The Church had already denounced her, but I did not expect them to intervene in her hearing"
A cold sweat broke on Cain's forehead.
But his expression remained the same.
"They have taken jurisdiction over the matter."
A pause.
"The verdict has been passed."
Still—
No reaction.
Then—
"Seraphina will be publicly executed. "
…
Those words.
Cain wanted to pretend he didn't hear them.
"What?"
"It's true. She has been sentenced to death by beheading in a public arena."
...
His ears were ringing.
"…When?"
"Tomorrow."
His world had started to tremble.
---
Something shifted.
Cain didn't respond immediately.
His gaze lowered slightly.
"…Tomorrow?"
His voice was quieter.
Almost distant.
Then—
His fingers curled.
"…I need a horse."
"You will not make it in time."
Lucien stepped forward.
"I'll have a carriage prepared for you."
A brief pause.
"Knight Captain Malthus will accompany you."
Malthus-
A blade that did not falter.
Cain nodded slowly.
"…Thank you."
The Duke continued, pointing at Cain's wrist.
"From now on, keep your disguise activated at all times."
"The Knight of Light isn't going to the Capital. He's already dead. Remember that."
Cain nodded, activating the artifact.
He took the form of a minor noble he had seen in the Duke's office.
Red hair. Looks that wouldn't attract attention. An average height and build. It was the perfect disguise.
A pause.
"Good choice. I'll let Malthus know of your disguise. The rest of the soldiers will be told it's an escort mission for a noble."
"No matter what..."
"…Do not reveal your identity."
Cain didn't respond.
"…The Church is watching. You have more enemies than you realise."
A brief silence.
"…Understood."
---
Departure – {32 hours till execution}
The carriage moved.
Fast.
"…Faster."
"Sir, the horses—"
"Faster."
The reins cracked.
The speed increased.
Cain sat forward now.
Not rigid.
But not relaxed either.
His gaze remained fixed ahead.
Unmoving.
Elias leaned forward slightly.
"…He's holding himself together. I think."
---
Midway – {24 hours till execution}
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Cain's fingers struck his knee.
Slow at first.
Then—
Faster.
"…There has to be a way."
His voice was low.
Quiet.
"…If I explain it properly…"
A pause.
"…They'll listen."
Silence.
Then—
"…I'll say the Demon King stabbed me."
His breathing grew uneven.
"…If I say that…"
"…she'll be safe."
Elias frowned.
"…No."
"…That won't work."
But Cain didn't stop.
"…They have to listen."
"…They will."
Elias' gaze shifted.
|Balance: 425 coins|
"…Just in case."
|Purchased: Lesser Mana Potion x2|
|Cost: 200 Coins|
225 remaining.
"…If he goes too far…"
His expression hardened.
"…I'll stop him."
---
Nightfall – {14 hours till execution}
"We should set camp."
Malthus' voice was steady.
"…No."
Cain didn't look at him.
"We continue."
"The horses won't."
Silence.
"…We risk losing them."
Cain's jaw tightened.
A long pause.
"…Fine."
---
That night—
He didn't sleep.
Not once.
Wood struck wood.
Again.
Again.
Again.
The rhythm had changed.
No longer precise.
No longer controlled.
Faster.
Heavier.
Sharper.
His footing slipped once.
Then again.
He didn't stop.
His grip slipped once—too tight the next moment.
Elias watched quietly.
"…He's getting worse."
"…This isn't normal."
---
Dawn – {8 hours till execution}
"Move."
Cain seemed in a disheveled state. More so than last night.
They departed immediately.
No delay.
---
Capital Outskirts – {1 hour till execution}
Noise.
Crowds.
Movement.
The capital roared with life.
Newspaper hawkers cried-
"Execution of the Fallen Saintess!"
"Public judgment of the Church!"
"Witness history!"
Cain clutched his jaw. For the first time—he felt the urge to hurt someone who wasn't his enemy.
He stepped down.
The crowd was too big for horses to get through.
"…Malthus."
"Yes."
"Stay."
"…Sir?"
"I'll go ahead."
Without waiting—
He ran.
---
Through the City – {30 minutes till execution}
The world blurred.
People shouted as he pushed past.
His breathing turned ragged.
"…I have to make it."
His thoughts spiraled.
I'll reveal my identity.
If the Knight of Light stands for her…
they'll have to listen.
"…She'll live."
"She has to."
Elias' eyes narrowed.
"…He's going to do it."
A pause.
"…He's really going to do it."
Cold realization settled in.
"…If he reveals himself…"
Silence.
"…We die."
---
Arena – {5 minutes till execution}
The platform stood ahead.
Crowded.
Guarded.
Final.
And at its center—
Her.
---
Seraphina
The noise had faded.
Drowned out.
Meaningless.
Her hands were bound.
Her fate—
Already decided.
"…So this is how it ends."
She stood still.
Unshaken.
Then—
She saw him.
Not his face.
Not his appearance.
Something deeper.
Something familiar.
Her breath caught.
"…Cain?"
Impossible.
And yet—
She knew.
---
The Final Moment
Cain stopped.
Their eyes met.
And the world—
Fell silent.
No crowd.
No execution.
No fear.
Just—
Them.
You're... Alive.
Her eyes trembled.
I'm here.
He answered.
A step forward.
His breathing shook.
Her lips curled—
not relief.
A smirk.
Faint.
Crooked.
Certain.
Like she had never once doubted he would come.
His chest tightened.
His entire body trembled.
I'll save you.
The smirk deepened.
Not for him.
But for what he would do.
---
{11 seconds till execution}
Another step.
Closer.
---
{10 seconds till execution}
His lips parted.
His chest rose.
Air filled his lungs.
His voice—
Right there.
"…ST—"
His throat burned.
---
Silence.
---
Something changed.
Instantly.
Completely.
The trembling stopped.
The panic vanished.
His gaze—
Turned cold.
Empty.
Detached.
---
Elias.
---
Seraphina froze.
Her smile shattered.
Her eyes widened—
Not in relief.
But in horror.
That wasn't him.
That gaze—
Was wrong.
"…No…"
For the first time—
She faltered.
---
{9 seconds till execution}