Chapter 271: Mother and Daughter


    -So it was you after all.


    Lize muttered at Zuzans confession.


    At this point, this is not surprising.


    It has long been spected among the members of the Imperial Family that it was her doing.


    Leo had stopped Lize in the past since there was no evidence. The person he wanted to protect was not Zuzan but Lize.


    If she had gone on to kill Zuzan without any evidence back then, even if its Lize, she would not be let off without any punishment.


    Thats was why Leo stopped her.


    But right now he probably will not get in her way.


    With Zuzans confession, Lizes desire to kill her is now justified.


    Give me your head. As an Imperial Marshal, I will execute you on the charge of assassinating an Imperial Consort.


    Oh, scary. But did you not listen to what I said? I was merely involved.


    Its the same thing.


    Its not the same. I guess I will exin it to you then. Certainly, your Mother, the Second Consort died because of my curse. But it was her that directed that curse toward herself.


    What?


    Lize squints her eyes.


    Zuzan didnt seem like she was lying.


    Seeing Lize, who seemed like she was about to lung at her, stopped in her tracks, Zuzan smiles.


    The person that I wanted to kill was that woman who received all the love from His Majesty. I wanted to monopolize him all to myself but there was no merit in killing her. It would be different if His Majesty would turn to me after that woman dies. Instead, the ones I wanted to kill were you and Christa.


    Just how far have you!


    His Majesty has three daughters! If two of them die, his love will be concentrated on his only remaining daughter! Zandra is my daughter. She is someone who inherited all of me! If he loves Zandra then it means that he loves me as well. Thats why you and Christa were in my way. Receiving a curse at a young age would put Christa in danger. As a general, if you enter the battlefield in a weakened state, your life will be at risk. Thats why I cast a curse onto you two!! But that woman!! She used a magic tool to concentrate all the curse onto herself! She probably never thought that it was my curse! Such a fool! She should have known what would happen to herself if she took on a curse with her weak constitution! She should have just gone to His Majesty! It was all because she tried to solve it all by herself! I have neverughed as hard as that day! Do you understand now!? Your mothershemitted suicide.


    !!


    Lize kicks the ground and starts running toward Zuzan.


    The distance between them immediately shrunken and Lizes sword is within the distance it can reach Zuzan.


    However.


    You really are a fool. Just like your mother.


    What..?


    Seeing Zuzans smile, Lize nces down.


    A huge magic circle was deployed on the ground.


    Its an immobilizing curse. It utilizes all kinds of effects you know. Its my best work. Do enjoy it to your hearts content.


    Kuh!


    The light glows from the magic circle up toward the sky.


    Zuzan was delighted to see Lize get swallowed by it.


    Got her! Now Lizelotte cant move with Okaa-samas curse! Whatever I should do with her!


    What should she do with Lize who got immobilized?


    Zandra ponders so in high spirits.


    Seeing Zandra like that, Zuzan bitterly smiled at her like she was thinking what a troublesome daughter she has.


    Thats why.


    She couldnt react to Lize who leaped out of the pir of light.


    Eh..?


    Sound of the air being cut and the blood ssh.


    Zuzan realized that she was cut when she saw her fresh blood scattered in the air.


    Being shed upward from her torso to her chest, Zuzan was trying to find the answer to the question.


    What.


    It was a meaningless question during a battle.


    Question after question float to her mind. How to save herself. How could Lize move. For a warrior, any questions besides those would be meaningless.


    However, Zuzan is not a warrior.


    Thats why she cast her gaze at Lizes body while feeling the heat from her shed wound.


    Theres nothing out of ce at all. It doesnt look like she is enduring the effect of the curse either.


    No matter how she looked, she couldnt think of any possibility besides that her curse was prevented somehow.


    While the immobilizing curses only effect is to render the target immobile, it holds tremendous power. That curse was something that should be able to immobilize the target for a few days with a direct hit.


    She had intentionally provoked Lize so that she would step into her trap without noticing it.


    Then how..


    Zuzan desperately searched for the answer.


    Then, she finally noticed a cracked pendant on Lizes chest.


    Magic..tool?


    Its a dwarfs special magic seal. It can redirect the magic power that aims toward me onto itself. Even if it was a forbidden spell, it still used magic power. Its a shame isnt it.


    Why..do you have something like that.


    Zuzan staggers backward and asks such a question.


    The question itself is meaningless.


    However, Lize answers it with a quiet but powerful voice.


    I have brothers and sisters who wish me safe. I have a stupid man who can sacrifice anything for my sake. I have subordinates who adore me. I cant say I like wearing a defensive magic tool like this but my life is no longer mine alone. When it was expected that something will happen in the Imperial Capital, I have already thought that I will get the chance to fight you. Thats why I wore it.


    Kuh..!


    Hearing that, Zuzan tried to use her left hand to cast a curse on Lize.


    However, Lize immediately cut her hand off.


    Zuzans left hand flew through the air.


    Seeing that, Zuzan loudly screamed due to the pain and shock.


    AAHHHHHHHH!!!! LIZELOTTE!!!!! I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!!


    Dont be stupid. The unforgivable one here is clearly you.


    Saying so, Lize shes at Zuzans legs and stabs her sword into Zuzans right shoulder.


    Then when Zuzans knees touched the ground, she pulled her sword out and put it on Zuzans neck.


    I dont think any amount of torture will fit the crime you did but..my mother wouldnt want me to do that. I will only settle with this much.


    Z, Zandrahelp.me


    O, Okaa-sama


    Zuzan turns to Zandra for help.


    However.


    Dont just get killed now! You made me lose my chance to escape!


    Useless fool!!


    Zan..dra?


    Lizelotte! The one that you are bearing a grudge against is only Okaa-sama right! Just let me go!


    betraying each other once you have no use for one another huh. You two really are mother and child.


    Even her own mother is a tool.


    Zuzan shed tears upon realizing her daughters thoughts.


    Leaving how Zandra feels about Zuzan aside, Zandra is everything for Zuzan.


    It was because she loved her that she tried to get Zandra on the throne.


    Even so.


    I, I have gone so far.just for your sake


    Shut up! You only wanted me on the throne for yourself right! All you ever did was project yourself onto me because you were not loved by Father! Did you know how annoying it is! I am me!


    How.how can a child abandon their own parent..help me! Just help me!!


    After you have deceived and abandoned others all your life, you are still begging for someone else to help you. Calling you an insect would be too much of a praise. Go and apologize to my mother in the other world.


    Saying so, Lize horizontally swings her sword.


    With a sharp cutting sound, Zuzans head parted from her body.


    Seeing that, Zandra backs away.


    Judging from Lizes eyes, she knows that she is next.


    The distance is too close to use magic. There is no doubt that she will be cut down before she gets the chance to do anything.


    Thats why Zandra turned her left hand toward Finne as herst resort.


    If you kill me I will kill Finne! If you abandon her it will tarnish the honor of an Imperial Marshal right!!


    We soldiers do not care about honor. The only thing we care about is how to serve the country or how to win the war. You mistook your opponent.


    Y, You cant fool me with that! Dont move! Dont you dare move! I will really kill Finne okay! No! I will not kill her! I will mess up that beautiful face and make her hideous! Hey! Start getting scared and scream for help already!


    Please dont worry about me, Lizelotte-sama.


    What..! If you want to ruin your life that much then I will happily oblige!!


    Saying so, Zandra shoots magic at Finne.


    Mia stood in the way to cover for her but before the magic could reach Finne, it was blocked by a barrier.


    An extremely thinyer of barrier.


    You would never notice unless you pay close attention but Lize was aware of its presence.


    Ever since I got here there was always a barrier protecting Finne. Someone unfamiliar with magic would probably miss it though.


    No way.such a barrier..who?


    You dont know that? Fool. To think that you didnt notice even though you were living inside the Imperial Capital. You seem to be convinced that the victory is yours when the Dragons arrived but the people of the Imperial Capital have the opposite idea. When those dragons showed up, it was already decided that the victory would belong to the Empire.


    No waythats not possiblethe Holy Dragons are not subjugation targets! The Guild Headquarters will not stay silent if they are shot down!


    You dont understand what an adventurer is. They are different from us. Just give up. You cant win this. I will not kill you. Someone will have to take the responsibility for all this after all.


    No way..NO!! I wont ept this! Make it stop! I dont want to drink the Emperor Poison Wine!


    Saying so, Zandra points her hand at herself.


    However, before she could do anything, Lize closed the distance and grabbed her neck.


    With the focus is ruined, a mage cant cast magic. And thats especially true for someone who can only use magic like you.


    Ag, Ugh


    Sleep. Letting you kill yourself would be a waste.


    Saying so, Lize knocked Zandra out.


    Duke Kleinerts armys charge was sessful but they are struggling because the appearance of the dragons allowed the enemy to regain their morale.


    Father! Im so scared that I might vomit my stomach out right now!


    Swallow it down and keep fighting!


    Duke Kleinert scolded his son.


    He then shes at the enemy soldier and looks up at the dragons in the sky.


    Besides, do those Dragons look that scary to you?


    They are obviously scary right! Those things! No one in their right mind wouldnt be scared of those!!


    You fool. You have already sold a fight to a monster that treats those things like lizards before right


    Tha, that is


    Hmph, dont worry. Right nowthat monster is on our side.


    Saying so, Duke Kleinert looked at his son.


    His body was covered in a thin film-like something.


    Not just his son but him and all the knights of the Duchy of Kleinert as well.


    Individual barriers.


    There are only a few people on the continent who can provide a proper barrier for this number of people.


    And there is no such person in the United Kingdom.


    After all, the United Kingdom is a country protected by Dragons. They do not know of the existence that went far beyond the human norm.


    To think that they would readily hand the opportunity to participate in this war to someone that was already eager for one. If they bring out such nonstandard existences like those dragons, its obvious that our side will have the opportunity to do the same.


    With that said, Duke Kleinert looks up at the sky of the Imperial Capital.


    A mage d in ck robe and a gleaming silver mask is descending down through the cloud.