The Extra Saved the Terminally Ill Princess and Ran Away - Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Reunion (2)

***

Your Highness must walk the path of a royal.

A single sentence, a curse disguised as a blessing, etched into a letter, had become Lilisiana Yekaterina's driving force.

She had toiled relentlessly, honing her skills, building her reputation, all to fulfill that single line, that final request from her attendant.

She had shielded her vulnerable heart with sharp words and prickly behavior, hoping that her attendant, somewhere in the afterlife, would see her efforts, her attempts to honor his last wish.

And so,

Even as she knew her life was in danger, she struggled against Ian Cedric's grasp, desperate to escape.

To fulfill her attendant's final request. That single sentence was her motivation.

She had already been saved once by Berry, a remnant of her attendant.

And if Berry hadn't been connected to Finn, she would have been consumed by guilt and self-loathing, blaming herself for failing to protect herself, for being a burden.

'I won't show such weakness again.'

She had vowed, but fate was cruel, and capricious.

Once again, she had to abandon Berry and flee to save her own life.

Even if it wasn't her choice, it was still a betrayal of her attendant's final wish.

No, it was even worse than before.

Back then, Berry had only faced a single monster, albeit a large one.

And she could have reached the instructors in time if she had run with all her might.

While a Lycansthrope wasn't a creature to be underestimated, compared to Berry's current situation, it was almost insignificant.

Death, and a scene of carnage.

The outcome of abandoning Berry was clear.

So, she struggled.

To honor her attendant's final wish.

To maintain her dignity as a royal.

To protect Berry, the last trace of her attendant.

She struggled… until the demon's blade shattered Berry's necklace.

Crack.

The sound of shattering crystal, and Berry's appearance began to shift.

From Berry, to the boy, to her attendant.

To Finn.

The one she cherished, loved, and mourned… her soulmate.

Impossible. Berry couldn't be Finn. But she couldn't deny the undeniable.

All that mattered was that Finn, her Finn, was standing before her once more.

And…

The one who had showered her with immeasurable kindness, who had sacrificed everything for her, was about to leave again.

This time, right in front of her eyes.

Before she could speak, Ian Cedric carried her out of the arena.

And the scene that greeted her was the familiar training grounds, unchanged, as if nothing had happened.

The magical lights, which should have been shattered, were still intact.

A concealment spell.

And a soundproofing spell.

Having used similar spells herself, she understood what had happened.

"Let go of me!!! Let me go!!!!"

"Y-Your Highness…!"

Her voice, filled with anguish, echoed through the air.

Her struggles were no longer about fulfilling a promise, but about preventing a tragedy. She lashed out at Ian, unleashing her magic.

Bang! The spell hit Ian's back, injuring both of them.

"Ugh! Your Highness…?!"

But she didn't care about her own injuries.

She had a more important goal.

"Your Highness!!"

Before Ian could react, she ran towards the barrier, her body dissolving as she passed through it, vanishing from his sight.

"I have to bring Her Highness…!"

Ian reached out, remembering his promise to Berry.

But,

His hand passed through the barrier, his strength fading as he stumbled forward.

…Thud.

He collapsed onto the grass, his eyes losing their focus as he stared at the spot where she had vanished, before slowly closing them.

"Don't, Ian… Don't chase after that insignificant girl."

Selina, the other girl who had been in Ian's arms, whispered.

"Do you know how much effort I put into getting rid of them…? Don't ruin it now."

A triumphant smile spread across her lips.

"I don't know why that boy suddenly appeared, someone who wasn't even in the prophecy… but it doesn't matter."

They would disappear now, just like in the original story. Forever.

Anyone who stood in her and Ian's way… had to die.

Like that pathetic Saintess who got herself raped by demons trying to save Ian.

Like that foolish alchemist who turned into a monster trying to create a potion for Ian.

Like all the other girls who dared to approach Ian…

…She would kill them all, just like before. For Ian.

She kissed Ian's unconscious lips, her whisper a chilling lullaby.

Confident that her tattered prophecy would still lead her to a happy ending with Ian Cedric.

***

"Gasp… pant…"

My vision blurred, the demon's form multiplying before my eyes.

"Impressive. A human should have lost consciousness from that much blood loss."

…But your struggles end here.

Before he could finish his sentence, my body succumbed to gravity and collapsed.

Lose consciousness? Never.

I knew what they would do to Lili if I wasn't there to protect her. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of an easy victory.

I clawed at the ground, dragging myself towards him.

Hoping that he would waste his time trying to finish me off, giving Lili a chance to escape.

Scratch.

My fingernails dug into the dirt, tearing away flesh.

But I didn't care.

My life, my everything, was for her. For the girl who had sacrificed her own life to care for me.

"…I'll give you credit for your tenacity."

He raised Black Night, aiming for my throat.

"Finn!!!!"

A voice I shouldn't have heard, filled with panic and tears.

Countless magic circles, shimmering in the air, a spell she had never used before, a spell that pushed her beyond her limits.

The spells rained down on Poras, forcing him to defend himself.

"Get out of my way!!"

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Lili dashed forward, pushing me aside as Poras flinched, shielding himself from the magical barrage.

…Ah…

So it wasn't a hallucination…

She really did come back for me…

But I didn't have time to dwell on it. A deafening roar engulfed us.

Boom!!!

"Ugh…!"

Even with Lili's magical barrier, the impact was powerful.

Perhaps she was running low on magic, or perhaps she was too shocked by my true identity to focus.

Or perhaps…

"Bifrons, your target."

…she was simply outmatched.

'Bifrons…'

No. Not him. He was Lili's natural enemy.

I shouted, hoping she would regain her senses and flee,

"Run, Your Highness!!! He's…!"

"Shut up!!!!!"

Her scream drowned out my voice.

She stumbled back, creating a barrier, a barrier fueled by all her remaining magic.

"Did you… Did you think I wouldn't find out?! That I would never know?!"

"…."

A single sentence.

But it was enough.

"It's better to… to die together…! So please… don't leave me alone again… Finn…"

Her tearful plea, her desperate request… I couldn't agree.

Because Bifrons…

…was the one who killed her in my previous life.

"Your Highne…!"

I was about to warn her about Bifrons's magic cannon when a dark red orb formed in his hand.

Darker and more ominous than any magic I had ever seen.

Bang!

The sound of a cannon firing, and I pushed Lili out of the way, taking the full force of the blast.

….

….

"…F-Finn!! Finn!!!!"

Her scream, filled with horror and despair, reached my ears.

My vision swam, my gaze fixed on her.

I looked down to see a gaping hole in my abdomen, almost half of my body gone, obliterated by Bifrons's attack.

Blood and viscera spilled onto the ground, and my body, unresisting, fell to the ground.

Thud.

Through my blurry vision, I saw Lili's face, contorted in despair.

She was trying to save me, a broken doll, picking up my mangled intestines, her hands covered in dirt.

"N-No… Finn… Please don't… Please… please don't die… please…"

And then, I saw Bifrons's hand, reaching towards us.

…Was this it? Were we both going to die?

As death approached, a familiar, aged voice echoed in my fading consciousness.

<Protect.>

I wanted to protect her, more than anything, but…

…Look at me. How can I protect anyone in this state?

A broken, dying body.

<Protect.>

….

<Protect.>

<Protect.>

<Protect.>

<Protect…>

Damn it…

…I…!

I want to protect her too!

I want to protect her as much as you do! I can say with confidence that I love her more than anyone!

But…!

Do you think I'm saying it's impossible for no reason?!

I'm willing to sacrifice anything for her!

My life, my soul, anything!

But I can't do anything in this state!!

I lashed out at him, my frustration and helplessness directed at the voice that demanded I protect her, even in this hopeless situation, clinging to the sliver of hope that he might know a way.

….

….

A moment of silence, and then, the aged voice offered a final suggestion.

<…Power…>

Was this the limit?

His voice faded, my consciousness sinking into the abyss of death.

But I was still allowed one final request, a dying wish.

"…Anything."

And with that, my body began to yearn for its original owner's soul.

***

Bifrons, his hand outstretched, ready to fire another blast at Lili and Finn, was stunned.

Golden particles swirled around the boy, whose abdomen had been obliterated just moments ago, emitting a blinding light.

He shielded his eyes, and when he opened them again, the boy, who should have been dead, was standing there, his golden eyes gleaming.

"…Finn?"

Lili, too, was shocked, staring at the boy who had miraculously recovered.

Bifrons, seeing her reaction, was even more confused.

"Yes, Your Highness."

The boy smiled gently at Lili.

She reached out with trembling fingers, touching his healed abdomen.

"F-Finn… Are you… alright…?"

"I apologize for causing you concern, Your Highness. But do not worry. This unworthy Finn is not so easily defeated."

Finn.

The boy called himself Finn, the name she had longed to hear, and she began to sob, tears streaming down her face.

While countless questions remained,

All that mattered was that he, Berry, was now Finn, and he had acknowledged her. She clung to his leg, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Sob… sob…"

He smiled gently, patting her hand, reassuring her, then,

Turned his gaze, cold and calm as a still ocean, towards the demon who had attacked them.

His gaze, no longer gentle and fatherly, like when he looked at Lili,

Became sharp and focused, radiating an aura of unwavering resolve.

"Is that all?"

The air shifted, a heavy pressure, like the weight of the sun, pressing down on Bifrons and his companions.

"…Ugh."

Bifrons felt like he was being crushed, but,

As a named demon, he couldn't show weakness in front of a mere human. He forced himself to speak, his voice trembling.

"You human…"

Scoff.

The boy, after a brief glance around, chuckled, looking at Bifrons with amusement.

"If you've heard my legend, you should have brought at least… three hundred men."

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