[IFITAOAMV] Chapter 13
Kneeling at my side, he pulled me into his arms and asked urgently.
“What’s wrong?”
“…Ed…Ed..I…”
‘I feel like I’m going to die from the pain.’
I struggled to speak as the pain increased in my chest.
As I managed to raise my head to convey the words somehow, I could see Edwin’s blue eyes subtly shaking.
I didn’t have time to be confused by the genuine fear I saw in his gaze. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I pleaded with my eyes.
‘Please save me from this pain. Please take my hand off this tree.’
I still couldn’t pull my hand away from the trunk, so I had no choice but to hang on.
Edwin froze like a stone statue. Then his eyes narrowed the moment he grasped the situation.
“What are you doing?! Pull your hand away!”
I wanted to tell him that I couldn’t, but I couldn’t breathe properly since the pain and pressure were so intense. It felt like my heart was being ripped apart.
Edwin swore loudly when I shook my head to indicate that I was unable to.
Suddenly, I heard swords being unsheathed, along with the sound of blades clashing.
‘Is someone here? Is someone ambushing us maybe? Could it possibly be the Ravens?’
Even in the midst of confusion, I could only focus on one thing.
Instinctively, I reached out and grabbed Edwin’s arm tightly.
‘Please save me.’
"Damn, those damn crows!"
Harsh curses could be heard as he breathed out heavily.
Even as his consciousness faded, the word 'crow' resonated clearly.
I clung to Edwin more desperately.
"Listen carefully. I'm going to pull on your arm. Even if it hurts, bear with it."
Edwin firmly wrapped his hand over mine, which was clinging to the old tree, and pulled with strength.
"Ah!"
Far from being released, it felt like my arm would be pulled out by his grip.
"Ha, how dare you touch what is mine, even after you're dead."
Edwin, grinding his teeth, carefully detached me.
Then, sounds of him cackling and striking something with his sword followed.
It seemed like he was hitting the old tree, and as he did, the pain in my heart only grew.
"My lord!"
Then, a familiar voice, which seemed to belong to a knight commander named Beryl, was heard.
Lying face down and gasping for breath, I forcibly turned my head, and through my blurry vision, I saw a dark figure.
Soon after, I met eyes with piercing red irises.
I was paralyzed as if pinned down by scissors, overwhelmed by a murderous aura that seemed ready to devour me at any moment.
"Chk, chk."
I wanted to scream for help, but no coherent words came out of my mouth.
All I could see was that blood-red monster approaching me in slow motion.
"Save me. Please, save me."
Tears streamed down my face as the fear of impending death grew closer.
I want to live. I don't want to die.
"Ed!"
In that moment, from somewhere, strength surged, and my lips, as if pinned down, moved to scream his name.
Then, with a 'choke', the red monster that was about to devour me collapsed.
Behind it stood Edwin, holding a sword.
"How dare you lay a hand on what is mine."
His face, stern and colder than ever, looked fiercer and more terrifying.
Especially the murderous intent in his blue eyes seemed fierce enough to tear anyone apart just by looking.
Yet, paradoxically, I felt a surge of relief at his appearance.
"Just wait a little. I'll handle these crow bastards and be right back."
I think I managed a faint smile at his words.
Somehow, the pain that had been striking my heart seemed to lessen.
Was this madman capable of casting magic too?
"Don't die. If you do, I'll chase you to the ends of hell and make you beg me to kill you."
To make someone already dead beg to be killed.
It was absurd, yet strangely, those words brought me relief.
It felt like as long as Edwin held onto me, even a god couldn’t take me away.
The pain was so intense, had I gone mad?
I'm not sure.
Watching Edwin wildly swinging his sword, my vision soon darkened.
*
The bride sent from heaven was, for some reason, in a state of lost memory.
Not only that, she couldn’t use her powers either.
Finding the Oracle’s bride, even in Jueri, was lucky, but it wasn't enough.
There wasn’t much time left.
I hoped seeing a gem would trigger her memory, but she couldn’t remember anything.
Pondering what to do, shock therapy came to mind.
Maybe being in a threatening situation would instinctively trigger her powers.
And perhaps being in a familiar place under critical circumstances might help her memories resurface.
Thus, I chose Ambria.
The problem was that going there might mean encountering Raven.
They were both a good means to provoke Angelina and a risk.
Therefore, more knights than usual were sent to Ambria in advance.
Even though Raven’s knights, including the Wolf and even Edwin, were no match for him.
So well prepared, yet how did it come to this?
"Damn."
Edwin swung his greatsword and cursed irritably.
Blood boiled up, feeling like it was even scalding his brain.
It wasn’t just madness.
Rage.
Yes, it was rage.
Whether it was because of the endlessly appearing Raven or because the bride was weakened, I didn't know.
But I was furiously angry, to the point just before a rampage.
"My lord!"
Beryl, noticing Edwin’s bad state, dealt with Raven and approached him.
"Calm down."
"Huh."
With one hand, Edwin roughly ran his fingers through his hair.
'I mustn’t lose my senses. My bride might die.'
If he lost it, he might not even recognize his bride.
Most importantly, there was no time.
If he couldn’t find a way to detach Angelina from the old tree, she might die.
