CHAPTER 774

[T.L: punisher87]

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When Maliet said that, the scenery suddenly changed.

September 7, 1391.

Five months after Maliet cursed Honka, Jin and Valeria looked around again.

Buildings were ablaze and collapsing, and screams filled the air. The smell of blood and ashes permeated the surroundings.

'...It's a battlefield. The Spectres, right?'

'It seems to be the moment when my ancestor and Zipfel are engaged in combat.'

Kwaaang-!

An explosion suddenly occurred in front of the two, revealing Maliet's figure.

She was in a state of blocking the Spectres' magic with a shield.

"I never expected you to show up here, Maliet Hister. How did you get in?"

Despite being surrounded by the Spectres, Maliet remained unfazed. Instead, she smirked and replied, "How did I get in? I simply came."

The Spectres didn't show any reaction, but they were clearly puzzled.

The current location of their battle was Drakka. Although it is on the outskirts, one of Zipfel's most wanted criminals had appeared in the capital of Lutero Magic Federation.

"Do you think I don't know that your patriarch and captain are absent? The answer is yes. So, here in Drakka, there's no force that can stop me. That's what I'm saying. So let's not waste our strength and quietly pass by. I only need to find one person."

Furthermore, there was a secret underground prison in the outskirts of Drakka.

Maliet had come to rescue Rock Hister, who was imprisoned there.

"Don't you also want to avoid unnecessary casualties? Let's consider today as a loss and just leave. After all, almost every time you fight against my clan, you guys end up losing."

"Yeah, if we think about your original battle prowess, it might be better for us. Rock Hister isn't that important. But you know, we also understand your circumstances. The blood of Kian. I don't know how you're enduring that pain, but our captain's curse on you is definitely effective."

When affected by Kian's blood, most people could endure it for a maximum of one month. It had already been two years for Maliet.

Maliet didn't respond and shrugged her shoulders.

"Well, if you're so eager to die, I can't help it."

"You're still bluffing, huh? If it were the old you, the five of us would have been dead already. Attack!"

As the leader's words fell, the Spectres resumed their attack.

The scattered bodies of Zipfel's mages were torn apart by their mana.

Maliet was engulfed in a painful sensation as if her blood was boiling due to the curse.

However, even in the midst of that, she swung her staff and deflected the enemies' magic.

Although there was no captain or patriarch, it would be impossible to survive and retreat if the battle dragged on a little longer.

This place was Zipfel's stronghold, and endless reinforcements were pouring in.

Therefore, Maliet decided to take a gamble.

Even if the curse amplified further, she judged that she would gather her mana and quickly end the situation.

Hister Secret Magic Spell: Second Succession Temple 

Golden Spear

As Maliet completed her incantation, a massive cloud of golden mana formed in the sky.

Within it, thousands of small golden spears and one gigantic golden spear rained down.

Both Jin and Valeria were momentarily speechless at the power of this magic.

The golden spears, pouring down like rain, instantly tore through the Spectres' shields.

The largest spear remained impaled in the center of the battlefield, continuously radiating waves of magic power.

The Spectres, who were attempting to reinforce their shields, had no choice but to scatter and evade the shockwaves. At the same time, Maliet unleashed other elemental magics, taking them down one by one.

"Kahak...!"

Maliet spat out a mouthful of blood. She felt the curse's energy rapidly intensifying.

Among the Spectres, two people survived but both sustained injuries that rendered them unable to continue fighting.

Instead of finishing them off, Maliet moved forward and unfolded a record window.

The location of the underground prison where Hister was imprisoned was described on the record window.

The entrance to the underground prison was revealed when she broke the floor of a collapsed building.

"Who, who is it? Save us!"

"Please save us!"

The prisoners had been hearing the vibrations and noises of the ongoing battle from their cells. A few guards aimed their swords and staffs at Maliet, but she ignored them. Without daring to oppose Maliet, they quickly fled out of the prison.

"Rock! Where are you?"

Maliet shouted as she broke down each prison door.

The freed prisoners briefly expressed their gratitude to Maliet and hastily escaped.

Not hearing a response from Rock, she unfolded the record magic once again. There were numerous scattered records nearby, so it took some time for the results to appear.

After about five minutes, the record that appeared indicated that Rock Hister was already deceased. Maliet bit her lower lip and lowered her head.

Rock was her lover.

However, there was no time to mourn his remains.

Once again, she heard the noise from above.

"The underground prison! Pour your magic into the prison!"

Under the barrage of Zipfel's reinforcements' magic, the ceiling of the prison collapsed entirely. Maliet extended her shield and desperately searched for Rock's body, but most of the prison was already engulfed in flames.

In the moment when she felt her stomach churn with a sense of desperation to escape, Maliet heard a voice. It was the voice of a child, crying out to be saved.

When she opened the prison door where the sound came from, she found a child of about eight years old. She hesitated for a moment when she saw the color of the child's hair, but Maliet reached out her hand to the child.

"Let's get out of here together."

Maliet took the child and swept through Zipfel's reinforcements as they made their way out of the prison.

It took two days to successfully escape and reach her hideout. As soon as she arrived at the hideout, Maliet's body felt as heavy as a thousand pounds and collapsed to the ground.

When she regained consciousness, the first thing Maliet saw was the image of a child looking down at her with a trembling hand holding a dagger. It was the dagger that was in the hideout.

"...Are you going to stab me with that knife?"

The child did not respond and clenched their teeth.

"I knew you were Zipfel's child from the moment I found you. You were probably kept there as a punishment, either as an illegitimate child of Zipfel's patriarch or as someone who witnessed something you shouldn't have."

Maliet recognized that the child was holding a knife, possibly intending to kill her so they could return to their family.

"Put down the knife, you have not done anything wrong yet. I offer you a chance to live. Live as a human, not as a tool or a puppet of Zipfel."

The child hesitated but eventually lunged at Maliet with the dagger.

Maliet easily deflected the child's dagger with a simple motion of her hand, without resorting to magic.

The child fell down and burst into tears.

"You couldn't stab me, so you are still innocent. Let's leave it at that. As my body recovers, I will provide you with a foundation to live your life. Forget all the memories so far and make a fresh start."

Maliet harbored a deep hatred for Zipfel more than anyone else.

However, she didn't want to hold onto that hatred and extend it to innocent children who had never participated in the fierce wars between clans.

A week later, when Maliet was able to move properly, she took the child to the land of the Beastmen and disguised them.

She gave the child a new identity and forged identification documents.

Now the child would live their life like a commoner named Iello, not Iello Zipfel.

"Iello, I have lost many family members and loved ones to Zipfel in my life. Yet, the reason I saved you is because, if you look closely, you and I are in the same position. You were born as Zipfel, but abandoned by Zipfel and lost your family."

Iello burst into tears and embraced Maliet.

"Free yourself from the cycle of hatred and live your own life. Since you have no other siblings, there is no need for you to seek revenge. Both my clan and your clan need more children like you who choose to live their lives instead of fighting."

"Maliet... How can I repay this kindness?"

"The only way to repay me is by living well. And someday, when you have the opportunity, extend a helping hand to someone else, just as I did. Grow up to be bright and courageous, Iello."

After that, Maliet did not know what kind of life Iello lived.

But until the day Maliet met her scheduled death, Zipfel never found their hiding place where she stayed with Iello.

And that was how Jin and Valeria witnessed Maliet's life—all of it.

She protected numerous Histers from Zipfel and saved many people. Yet, she didn't appear burdened.

She didn't seem lonely, engulfed in sadness, or consumed by hatred, turning into a monster.

She simply looked like someone who enjoyed life. She considered every action of hers valuable, not out of duty or obligation but as a person following her own beliefs.

Even the curse of Kain's blood couldn't darken her.

December 20, 1393, winter.

Maliet finally completed the golem for her successor on the Honka Island's succession temple.

"Fortunately, I managed to finish it in time. Golem, I had planned to give you a name when you were complete, but on second thought, it's better for my successor to do it."

[Understood, master.]

"Your homeland, my succession temple, is dangerous, but if you have the skills, you will never die. Moreover, if you pass through all the trials, it will help you grow. If someone ignores the traps and takes a shortcut, check their hair and mana. If it's red and a complete mana body, then they are the successor, and you can proceed with the additional tests."

[I will remember. The shortcut user, is Zipfel. All secret traps, self-destruct devices, activate. 1st class hostility, engage.]

"Exactly. Well, I guess I have to go now... It's a pity I couldn't create more memories with you."

[It's also... a pity, master. But, you must go. To the designated place, the final destination of life.]

Maliet's curse had reached its peak, and she no longer possessed the imposing presence she once had. Her skeletal structure remained formidable, but her appearance had become grotesque. However, her eyes still sparkled mischievously.

Maliet turned her head towards the empty space where Jin and Valeria stood.

"Descendant, this will be the last thing I, Maliet Hister, will tell you."

Those burdened with a predetermined fate cannot change the world.

Even if they do, they end up deviating from their path. Do not become a monster like many of my clan members and comrades.

After speaking these words, Maliet took a labored breath.

"You don't have to become a monster to fight against the monsters known as Zipfels. Fight when you must, and show love when it is necessary. Sometimes, you must forgive the bloodline of your enemies. Don't let duty and obligation push you into a bleak and desolate existence. Live with brightness and courage."

Maliet smiled for a moment, gazing at the empty space where Jin and Valeria observed her.

Then she went outside and bid farewell to Honka.

[...Are you leaving?]

"Yes, I feel like I'll die in about five hours. I did consider spending my last moments by your side, but... I think I have to go. To Rock."

[It's a parting then.]

"Yes, it's a parting. Apart from feeling uncomfortable because you won't leave this place even if I die, I feel relieved."

Honka hugged Maliet without saying a word, just like when she first embraced him. Tears streamed down his face as her frail body touched him.

[Someday, let's meet again.]

"Yes, Honka. Oh, until you feel like leaving this island, keep an eye on the successors who come here. It's my way of saying to make sure they fulfill the conditions I left behind. It will be a small but enjoyable challenge."

Thus, Maliet headed towards the outskirts of Drakka, where she had failed to retrieve Rock's remains.

That was how Maliet's record came to an end.

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