Chapter 203 – Eris’ Release

The black sword stopped merely inches away from cutting Eris’ neck. This was why Envy was being impatient. The fight was very close. Eris was lying unconscious before me. And I could see the fragments of my own horns as they broke apart.

Perhaps, just like Kairos, I was a demon up until just now. The excess magic power turned my body into a berserking demon, which then ended up attacking Eris.

The demon Kairos that confronted me in the spiritual world may have been a reflection of myself in the real world.

I looked at my own reflection on the black sword. My eyes were still glowing red even though I had reverted back.

[Eris.]

There was no reply. I looked up at the sky and found countless black cubes. Is that the new Imperial City defense system?

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It didn’t seem to be hostile at the moment.

That’s good, I thought to myself as I lifted Eris from the ground. But we’d better move to a place where we can hide safely.

I still couldn’t feel the signs of Roxy and Mine. It is unlikely that they would be late, so there may be some obstacles that hindered them.

[Dad…]

The cube was beginning to draw geometric patterns. It seemed to be a magic formation.

[Somewhere, anywhere is fine.]

『Fate, how about over there?』

Most of the buildings had collapsed. From the fighting with machine angels and sacred beasts… And by me, who became a demon. The buildings that were supposed to be the pinnacle of wisdom were in a horrible appearance.

Greed spotted one that was only half destroyed. The surface of the outer wall was severely cracked, but otherwise could still be occupied.

I raised Eris’ body once more. She was still holding on Envy firmly despite fainting, and showed no sign of letting go. Seeing this, Greed said,

『She’s fine』

[What do you mean?]

『Always the clueless you… What I mean is, Eris sent Envy to the spiritual world, didn’t she? It was to provide you with a weapon since otherwise you’d be unarmed. However, to keep the link maintained, she’d have continue fighting the demon you.』

[Eris… forgive me.]

Did she believe that I will definitely regain my senses? But she’s not even that good at direct combat…

I noticed the dark color of the clothes. It was wet from blood that had slowly darkened. There may be considerable bleeding under the clothes.

『Quickly』

[I know.]

Slipping inside the building, I laid Eris on the floor. Then I swiftly changed Greed into his black wand form.

『I told you, didn’t I? She’ll be just fine.』

[Just do it.]

『Alright, it’s your call. Your status, I shall have it!』

The secret of Greed’s 4th form――Twilight Healing. This secret requires tons of stats to use. Perhaps because there’s no such thing as healing magic in this world, and thus this ability may have counted as something that contradicted the law of the world.

Although it could heal near fatal wounds, the ability costs 80% of my current status. Losing that much is risky. And I have yet to meet Dad too…even so, I still have to do this.

The black wand transformed into a terrifying shape as my strength was drained away. A flame normally burns, which leads to destruction. But the flame produced by this secret is the opposite. This flame could heal everything, though not to the extent of reviving the dead.

I released the white flame toward Eris.

The flame wrapped around her body. The dancing tongues of flame quickly healed the myriad of wounds hidden underneath her clothes. And one more thing. It also burned the slave curse mark away.

『Of course. It can also be used for this』

[Yeah, this secret ability was the key to releasing Eris.]

In one of Kairos’ memories I experienced in the spiritual world when he disappeared, I saw him using Twilight healing to erase Eris’ collar mark. Kairos was always a no nonsense guy. He left me with a method to release Eris in his final moments.

When the white flames subsided, Libra’s curse had disappeared. Eris’s complexion has regained her usual color. She should be fine now. She slowly opened her eyes, to my relief.

[You used a secret ability, for me. You should’ve saved it for something more important.]

[You’re mistaken.]

Eris stared at me. And I also looked back at her.

[Because now is as important as ever.]

[…Fate.]

[We made a promise back in Tetra. I’m simply keeping that promise. Although it’s a bit late, and I ended up causing a lot of trouble… I’m sorry.]

[You are right. It was really troublesome! Never become a demon again.]

Apparently she could recall everything during the time Libra controlled her. After all, even as she was turned into a subservient doll-like being by the spell, her heart remained firm. Eris may have looked miffed, but her lips were smiling.

[I have caused a lot of trouble in the past as well, so we’re similar in that regard.]

[I suppose it helps to know that.]

[I guess so. Your hand, please?]

[Hmm? Like this?]

[Yes, yes. Just like that.]

Eris seemed to be in a good mood. She’s happy just from holding my hand… I just don’t understand. Then she grabbed my wrist and brought my hand to her nape.

[I can’t believe it, getting enslaved by Libra twice… What a blunder. To think that I’ve done a lot to research a way to counteract that… It’s all because Fate is such a bad boy. Never gave me any chances.]

[What are you talking about?]

[But that’s alright. Especially since neither Roxy nor Myne is here with us now. There’s at least a silver lining in this disaster.]

[Silver lining?]

[Yes, but I’m just talking to myself, pay it no heed.]

Ellis ignored me and started muttering something. It’s in a language I’ve never heard of. And moments later, a familiar mark appeared around her neck.

[Oy, that is… could it be?]

[The subordination collar.]

[But, why!?]

[This way Libra will not be able to control me anymore. The collar has a special characteristic where it cannot be overwritten once applied.]

[Nowaitwait! Does that mean.]

Eris smiled and threw herself at me.

[Obviously, now Fate owns me, literally and figuratively.]

[Ha.]

[It can’t be helped anymore. Now that the contract has been formed, I have to live with Fate all the time. Nothing to worry about.]

Eris hugged me and declared her newly formed inseparable ties with me.

Yosh, let’s do another Twilight Healing! I wanted to do that, but losing even more status now would be dangerous. But on the other hand I don’t want Eris to fall into Libra’s hands again.

In the end, I had no choice but to leave it as it is. How should I explain this to Roxy? Even though it’s in the middle of the battlefield, it hurts my head in a different way!

[Fate, you now have my absolute obedience. What do you want me to do? I can do anything, if you know what I mean]

Eris struck a sexy pose, as if cueing something. Let me say this again. We’re still in the middle of the battlefield here.

[Alright then… I have an order.]

[Oh oh.]

[Please don’t do anything that might endanger your own life.]

[…wow.]

[Oi!]

You don’t have to pretend to be shocked, okay. Eris was just that kind of person. Although she was usually calm and collected, she could be playful and unreasonable. This was just the right command for her. I had the chance to spend some time with Envy, so I believe that we shared this same opinion.

[Well then.]

I looked away from a noisy and lively place, now to the quiet outside. The cubes were still eerily floating in the sky seen through the gaps in the building. However, the appearance was different from the previous one. A light-like electric discharge was emitted from the black surface, and each cube started to move in a connected manner. It was about to open the door to his land.