Against the World II: Transgression
Chapter 18: Contrast, Part 4
Shiva did close his eyes, his eyes did not see the world that both eyelids hid.
However, the world spinning in his head was much more detailed than what a pair of eyes could comprehend. He's a user of [Divine Magic]. He was the owner of the Soul of Sacred Waterfall. Xavier hiding from her was certainly impossible. He can fool his senses, but not his magic. Shiva knew Xavier had split three of himself. He could see those blood-red eyes looking on him alertly.
Attacking the young man right now also certainly gives him a greater chance of winning— it would be hard for him to win if only this body alone were to fight a full-strength Xavier. However, as he had told Artemys before, he did not plan to hurt her. And after all, letting Xavier think himself in the upper hand would be more profitable.
Then, most importantly, the longer they fought, the more life energy the young man could absorb. Therefore, Shiva has absolutely no problem with sitting still motionless. He'll wait for another Xavier to arrive quietly, and it won't be long. Less than a minute.
...* * *...
Although his face gave no expression, Shiva was right that Artemys was happy to know Xavier had actually come. How could he not? His arrival was the main reason why he was still here.
Artemys had already changed his teleportation spot so they would be in the Imperial Palace if the teleportation formula he activated. In the end he did not get an answer to ignore Shiva's ability, but he knew to where Kanna was the solution to escape. No matter what kind of threat the young emperor was, even he would not be reckless to catch him if he was with Kanna.
It could be his words that do not want to find trouble with Kanna's lie. However, even though that was the reality, Artemys was confident Kanna would not lose. Shiva was not stupid enough to come alone to Nevada. He did not look like someone who would come to offer his life.
Shiva can see the future, the possibility of the occurrence of the incident would have been known also by him if it was possible.
Therefore, Artemys theory that Shiva's main target is Xavier is increasingly proven. It's just a tool to make Xavier come. Whether Shiva wanted black fire or some other specific purpose, Artemys had no role whatsoever other than as bait. The formula of the runes he was writing was.Artemys intuition said that Shiva did not need them.
Knowing that, the most normal course of action to take was to teleport from here and tell Kanna to come here, didn't she?
Unfortunately Artemys ignored that option. A princess was supposed to be saved by a knight. Why should he break the normal thing in such fantasy romance stories? After all, it would contradict his goal. And most importantly, Artemys has the belief Xavier can overcome Shiva.
Under normal conditions, Artemys would not be likely to think so. But in the end, she is still a woman. Which woman doesn't want to see her man struggle to fight for her?
...* * *...
Jenny looked worriedly at her nona man who was focused on solving complicated formulas that she did not understand. He wanted to help, but he knew nothing could be done. Holding a glass jar filled with blood, that was all he could do to help. It occurred to her mind to try to finish off the emperor, but Jenny understood that she would die before her dagger touched the dark green-haired man's skin.
Shiva showed himself like a person whose words could be held, but who could confirm that as a reality?
He wasn't doing anything bad right now because he needed Artemys to finish the formula he needed. If the formula is complete, it means he no longer needs Artemys' help. The man could finish her off, or take her as a hostage. He says that Xavier is coming soon; taking Artemys as a hostage to capture Xavier is the most logical thing to do.
Jenny has [Possession Magic]. If he used the magic to gain control of his body and committed suicide, he might be able to kill Shiva. However, knowing that Shiva Rashta is not an ordinary individual, Jenny's soul chances of returning to her body are almost zero. He will die with Shiva. It made him unable to help Artemys overcome the people in the corner of the room. He's worried about mere—
Jenny quickly dismissed those worries. The nona, Artemys el Vermillion, was not an idiot. He is not emotional either. If he used [Possession Magic] and killed Shiva, the first thing Artemys would do was activate the pre-prepared magic circle. Those people won't be able to hurt Artemys; none will survive.
But..what if it fails?
Shiva can see the future. It was impossible that he had already seen the events of himself using [Possession Magic] on the kai—
Jenny quickly dismissed that possibility. He is just an assassin who plays a maid, has no other special abilities. Why would a person like Shiva bother looking at his future? It's likely that the man didn't even register Jenny's whereabouts in his memory. He never even looked Jenny in the eye.
Strong and talented people will tend to ignore ordinary people who will not be able to threaten them, it is very common for Shiva to be so. His plan of making use of [Possession Magic] had a huge chance of succeeding.
Besides, like Shiva said, Xavier will be here soon. If he failed to kill him with [Possession Magic], he could hold Shiva until Xavier came. Xavier is also incredibly strong. If he were the one here, he would naturally be able to overcome that man.
Stabilizing the intention, Jenny exerts mana to me—
Buuum!
—A lightning explosion engulfs a whole room with crazy intensity. Jenny spontaneously ignores her intentions and embraces the shocked body of Artemys.—dropped the princess to the altar, making her own body a shield. Jenny did not care if the lightning would reveal her body. The content of his mind was only one: protecting Artemys.
The lightning never touched his body, and suddenly he felt a sudden change in the pedestal on which Artemys had laid.
“Now it's okay, Jenny. Thank you for trying to protect Artemys.”
Both he and Artemys spontaneously turned their eyes to the owner of the voice.
“Now you are at the residence of Eileithyia. You guys are safe here. I'll be back soon.”
…Dan Xavier disappeared from view, making his second gaze fixed on a woman who was sitting with a flat face on a wooden throne that some places overgrown with leaves.