TRHITGAE Chapter 111

111

[I haven't been able to repost Chapters 1–110 yet, but the link is still accessible on Novel Updates. So from now on, I will continue by posting the new chapters first.]

Aurora was violently thrown back after colliding with a powerful force. She groaned as she lifted her head, staring in disbelief at the figure before her—someone who looked exactly like her.

"Damn it."

Raffaelo cursed under his breath before summoning a massive blaze and hurling it toward Princess Eva.

However, this time, Princess Eva—who had transformed into Raffaelo—absorbed the flames completely.

"A fire mage isn’t harmed by fire."

"Annoying."

Ghieuspe then attempted to use dark magic, but his spell was instantly shattered.

"I can use your magic just as well as you can."

While everyone was momentarily stunned, Simone stepped forward. Instead of using magic, he charged at Princess Eva and threw a powerful punch at her.

Bang! A loud crash echoed as Simone was sent flying backward.

The transformed Princess Eva stood there, holding an enormous shield in one hand.

"If I can take the form of anyone, do you really think I wouldn’t be able to create weapons as well?"

Watching this, I bit my lip nervously. She was right. It was impossible to defeat oneself.

'No, but still…'

I couldn’t just give up. I carefully observed, waiting for the perfect opportunity. And the moment I sensed Princess Eva letting her guard down…!

I used a spatial binding spell on her.

And in an instant, I successfully trapped her inside the box I had conjured!

"Ah…!"

Did it work? Just as I was about to let out a triumphant cheer, the box vanished in an instant. With a simple gesture, Princess Eva dispelled it and stepped out with a smirk.

"Seraphina, I told you, didn’t I? I devoured this world’s god."

"Aah…."

"In this world, I can do anything."

My legs trembled, and it felt as if my breath was being stolen away. Princess Eva was far stronger than I had ever imagined.

In reality, she had consumed this world’s god and had essentially become its new deity. There was no way to defeat her. How could anyone kill a god?

Just as despair threatened to consume me, I heard Aurora’s voice from behind.

"Seraphina, don’t give up!"

"What?"

"According to Maria’s letter, her power has significantly weakened from living in this world! Even if she devoured Maria, that doesn’t mean she’s a complete god!"

Aurora was right. If Princess Eva could do anything she wanted, she would have killed us all instantly and bound me to her side.

That meant she was exaggerating her abilities just to intimidate us.

Hearing that gave me renewed determination. I once again used magic and charged at Princess Eva.

"I’ll use the two-dimensional imprisonment spell!"

A technique once developed in the Cassan Empire.

If used on a human, it could have devastating side effects. But against Princess Eva, what did it matter?

"Hup!"

As I cast the two-dimensional imprisonment spell, the space around Princess Eva began to distort.

In an instant, her form disappeared.

And then—her figure appeared, drawn onto a piece of paper lying nearby.

"Did… did it work?"

If I could keep her trapped in that piece of paper forever, it would be safe.

But before I could even feel relieved, the paper began to tear apart—slowly at first, then faster. No one had touched it.

"What the—?"

A bright light burst from the paper, and suddenly, Princess Eva stood before us, her expression calm as if she had never been trapped at all.

"Seraphina, I told you. I can use spatial magic too."

Once again, her form shifted. The next moment, standing in her place was Elisabetta Scilla, the Tower Master.

"Damn it."

Even though I specialized in spatial magic, defeating a Tower Master alone was nearly impossible.

But if we fought together, we might have a chance.

I took a step back, signaling to the others.

Understanding my cue, everyone except Arkhangelo surrounded Elisabetta.

Then, as if moving as one, we charged at her.

Boom! Crash! Bright flashes erupted all around as spells clashed.

Raffaelo and I cast our magic while Ghieuspe wielded dark magic. Aurora and Simone used weapons they had taken from the Monteverdi estate. Aurora, in particular, wielded her sword as skillfully as any knight.

Our coordinated attacks forced Princess Eva on the defensive. She was gradually being pushed toward a wall.

"Ugh…!"

Then, suddenly, she changed form once more—this time into me.

With a flick of her wrist, an ice spear materialized in her hand.

Raffaelo reacted instantly, engulfing the spear in flames. But in that brief moment, she created a whip with her other hand.

"Ah!"

Aurora’s sword was caught by the whip and sent flying across the battlefield.

‘How can she be this strong?’

Raffaelo attacked with fire, Ghieuspe struck from the shadows, and Simone blocked the exit with his sword.

It seemed like there was nowhere for her to escape.

But instead of running, Princess Eva chose to push us all back.

Boom!

A shockwave burst from her palm, sending the three of them crashing into the wall.

"What…?"

I muttered in disbelief.

I was the spatial mage, but why did she seem stronger than me?

As my legs trembled beneath me, Princess Eva turned her gaze toward me, her expression graceful yet terrifying.

"Seraphina, I told you—I devoured a god. I can become anything, do anything."

"That’s… impossible…!"

But she simply tilted her head slightly and smiled.

"Why? Because now, I am the god of this world."

"Aah…."

Her words drained the last of my strength, and I collapsed to the ground.

If she had truly consumed this world’s god, then no one could be stronger than her.

There was no hope left. Was I going to be captured? Would this continent fall to her rule?

As I stared up at her, my eyes dark with despair, someone who had been silent until now finally stepped forward.

"Hah!"

Arkhangelo, who had retrieved a weapon from the Monteverdi estate, held a sword in his hands.

Despite his unsteady stance, he swung his blade and charged at Princess Eva.

Clang!

Of course, his attack was blocked.

Somehow, she had already transformed into him, holding an identical sword.

Now, wearing Arkhangelo’s face, Princess Eva smirked and spoke in a mocking tone.

"I can fight even with Arkhangelo’s face."

"Damn it, being unable to fight is part of my identity!"

Arkhangelo shouted in defiance until the very end, but ultimately, he was forced to his knees by Princess Eva.

Realizing that we would never be able to defeat her at this rate, we all stared at her in frustration.

Then, Princess Eva returned to her original, elegant appearance and gracefully seated herself on a nearby sofa.

"Ah, let’s stop fighting and just talk. Sera, I don’t want to fight with you."

"Ugh…."

Hearing her words, I realized something—I needed to buy time.

If we put our heads together, maybe we could come up with a way to defeat her. While the others were thinking, I had to keep Princess Eva occupied.

"Wh-why are you doing this all of a sudden? You were living like an ordinary person before. Why did you suddenly change your attitude?"

"Hmm, acting like a human was quite amusing. I was slowly learning what it meant to be human…."

She spoke as if a being who wasn’t human had the right to judge humanity.

I recalled what Princess Angela had once said—that Eva wasn’t truly human.

So it was true….

"Yes, I really did try to live an ordinary life. But Sera, you provoked me first, didn’t you?"

"W-when did I…!"

"You’re different from the other noble ladies. You’re special. That’s why I shared my secret with you… but then you abandoned me and ran away. I was a little hurt and sad, so I acted out."

Acted out? On a continental scale?!

Every human is special in their own way!

I wanted to shout this, but I bit my lip, holding back my words.

"And Sera, you used your power to make it impossible for me to leave the capital, didn’t you? You hid that ability from me. Do you know how lonely and miserable that made me?"

For a moment, we were all stunned by her twisted reasoning.

Then, Princess Eva extended her pale, delicate hand toward me.

"Sera, take my hand. If you do, we can make peace again."

"I… I…."

"I’ve been lenient with you because I love you. Even though you attacked me and tried to kill me, I didn’t kill you. If you just take my hand and reconcile with me, everyone will be happy."

She gestured toward my injured companions.

Aurora and Ghieuspe had crashed into the wall and were struggling to stand.

"They won’t have to fight me anymore. Your father will receive treatment and recover. And, Sera, the entire continent will finally know peace."

"Once again, I remind you—you don’t have to sacrifice your own happiness for others."

Simone approached me, speaking firmly.

Princess Eva frowned and, with a flick of her hand, sent Simone flying backward with magic.

For the first time, her expression showed clear hostility toward him.

"Simone!"

"I thought Lady Aurora Shae was the most irritating one, but it turns out this one is just as bothersome…."

"Fine! I’ll think about it, so stop attacking them!"

"Sera, what are you saying?!"

Raffaelo’s shocked voice rang out behind me.

"Don’t give up! We won’t abandon you!"

"But…."

"That’s right, Seraphina! Fight back!"

"Don’t imprison yourself."

As I heard the voices of my comrades, I clenched my lips tightly.

They were right—I couldn’t give up.

I swatted Princess Eva’s hand away.

She stared at her rejected hand, her face contorting with unmistakable fury.

"How dare you… You insolent pests are trying to steal my Sera away from me…."

"Please, stop calling me that! I have no intention of belonging to you!"

Do you think I’m insane? Why would I ever become something that belongs to the one who killed Seongryeong? It’s not just that I don’t love Princess Eva—I want to kill her

The battle resumed with a gunshot from Raffaelo. Of course, Princess Eva deflected the bullet with her magic, preventing it from striking her. But that shot alone was enough to prove our hostility toward her.

Bullets rained down, flames erupted, and darkness swallowed the ground beneath us in waves. Swords slashed through the air, and space itself seemed to distort.

Despite fighting against six people at once, Princess Eva showed no signs of fear. Instead, her expression radiated excitement.

Clang! Clang!

With her right hand, she effortlessly blocked three swords simultaneously. With her left hand, she unleashed all sorts of powerful magic.

Her face kept shifting between different appearances, making it nearly impossible to recognize her true form.

"Ghieuspe! How do we fight something that isn’t human?"

Raffaelo, sweating profusely, shouted the question in the midst of battle. Ghieuspe, his face twisted in frustration, answered.

"You have to find a weakness. Nothing in this world is without a flaw."

"Then what’s her weakness?"

"...That, I don’t know."

Princess Eva truly seemed invincible. It was as if she embodied the strengths of every powerful being in existence.

As my pupils trembled in doubt, I heard Aurora’s desperate voice.

"Even Maria had a weakness!"

"Ah…!"

"The so-called goddess of this world had a flaw, so how could Princess Eva be flawless? She lost because she loved this world too much!"

Aurora’s voice carried the weight of anguish.

She was right. Princess Eva had to have a weakness.

But what was it?

Would she eventually exhaust herself and reveal it over time?

Then, a thought suddenly struck me.

For some reason, she’s obsessively fixated on me.

If that was the case, I needed to show her—without a shred of doubt—that I would never love her.

Steeling myself, I met Princess Eva’s gaze and declared loudly,

"I despise you!"

"...What?"

"I will never love you—not in this lifetime, not in any other! I’d rather marry someone else!"

"Seraphina… how could you…!"

My words must have struck a nerve, because Princess Eva’s attacks intensified. Magic exploded in every direction, and she began summoning and wielding any weapon she could.

Bullets and arrows embedded themselves into the walls. Giant spears and daggers rained down, piercing the ground all around us.

"Ugh…!"

"She’s losing control! Keep pushing her back—don’t give her time to recover!"

A powerful gust of wind nearly sent me flying, but Simone grabbed my hand just in time, steadying me. Even though holding onto me made it harder for him to fight, he refused to let go.

"A bunch of insignificant pests dare to attack me?!"

"Shut up! No matter what you do, Seraphina will never choose you!"

Aurora’s voice rang out defiantly.

Princess Eva turned her attention to her, swinging a massive battle axe. Aurora managed to dodge it, but she was blasted away by a wave of water magic immediately afterward.

It was clear now—Princess Eva was unraveling.

Her attacks grew wilder, more erratic.

And as her breath grew ragged, the ground trembled beneath us.

"Ah, an explosion—!"

I nearly fell, but Simone tightened his grip on my hand, keeping me steady. At that moment, Princess Eva's gaze landed on our clasped hands.

"How dare you touch my Sera…."

A bullet engulfed in flames shot toward her. The moment she raised her gun, we were forced to separate, dodging in opposite directions.

The feeling of losing Simone’s hand lingered vividly. As I slowly clenched and unclenched my fist, Princess Eva’s attacks grew even fiercer—no longer just defending, but actively seeking to overwhelm us.

Boom! Crash!

She was now completely pushing us back.

The floor-to-ceiling windows shattered, and the chandelier crashed to the ground in ruins. Paintings on the walls shook violently before tumbling down, their frames splintering on impact. The sofas that had once adorned the grand hall were torn to shreds by her relentless magic.

"Huff… huff…."

As we fought against Princess Eva, we instinctively realized something.

We might not be able to win this fight.

How could mere humans hope to defeat a monster that had devoured a god?

Before, it felt as though she had been holding back. But now, she was attacking with sheer brutality and reckless abandon.

With every swing of her magic or weapon, someone was sent flying. Though we forced ourselves back onto our feet each time, our strength was rapidly draining.

Is there really no way to win?

Just as despair started to show on my face, Simone was hit by one of Princess Eva’s spells, launching him across the hall.

"Simone!"

Raffaelo dashed forward, but before he could reach him, Princess Eva unleashed another attack, striking both Ghieuspe and Raffaelo at the same time. Their bodies slammed into the walls with sickening force, leaving them groaning on the floor.

Aurora, gritting her teeth, seized her sword and charged at Princess Eva. But before she could land a strike, Eva summoned a massive axe—one that shattered Aurora’s blade with a single swing.

"D-damn it…!"

Arkhangelo's clumsy swordsmanship was easily blocked by Princess Eva.

Now, I was the only one left standing, my legs trembling as I barely managed to keep my eyes on her.

Everyone else had fallen.

Princess Eva withdrew her weapons and magic, revealing her original face. She extended her hand toward me.

"Seraphina, come with me."

"I... I..."

"You don’t need to answer. It seems like you’re unwilling to listen to me…."

Her gaze shifted toward Raffaelo and Aurora, who lay collapsed on the floor.

"You just gave me an idea. If you won’t stay by my side willingly, I’ll just have to force you to."

What the hell?! I wanted to scream at her to stop obsessing over me, but before I could, her hand grabbed mine with an iron grip.

"Seraphina!"

I heard Simone’s desperate voice behind me, but Princess Eva ignored him completely. She dragged me out of the drawing room, her strength making any resistance futile.

We arrived in what I could only assume was her room. Unlike the battle-wrecked drawing room, this space was beautifully decorated, radiating elegance.

After forcing me onto the sofa, Princess Eva snapped her fingers.

In an instant, my hands and feet were bound.

"W-What are you doing?!"

"Nothing at all. I just want to keep you by my side."

No. I can’t lose like this. I refuse to accept this fate!

Then, an idea struck me—a spell.

Dimensional Isolation Magic!

If I couldn’t escape physically, I could at least hide myself in a separate space.

Glaring at Princess Eva, I quickly activated the magic.

She disappeared from my sight, and I found myself in a secure, solitary dimension of my own creation.

But my relief was short-lived.

With a sound like shattering glass, my sanctuary crumbled instantly, pulling me back into reality.