Chapter 355 : Violetta’s Responsibility

"Princess Amelia?!" Irene exclaimed, slightly startled.

She then took a closer look at Princess Amelia’s face. She noticed that the princess had pitch-black eyes—a characteristic trait of the Demon race. Seeing this, Irene was surprised all over again.

"Why do you look like this, Princess Amelia?" Irene asked.

But Princess Amelia remained silent, offering no answer to Irene's question. Although she didn't reply, she appeared to be muttering something under her breath.

~Rose Magic: Growing Roses~

Suddenly, a multitude of roses sprouted up all around Princess Amelia and Irene. Noticing this, Irene immediately glanced around to look at the flowers.

"These roses..." Irene thought.

As Irene observed and pondered the roses surrounding them, Princess Amelia muttered something once more.

~Rose Magic: Blooming Rose - Blast~

Then, the roses that had suddenly appeared around them burst into full bloom and immediately unleashed a massive explosion.

-

Back to Rid and Miss Violetta's place

Miss Violetta appeared to be preparing to approach Duchess Arnett and launch another attack. However, just as she was about to move, I decided to stop her.

"Wait a moment, Miss Violetta. Do you intend to attack Lady Arnett again with injuries like that?" I asked.

I asked because I could see that Miss Violetta’s body was covered in numerous wounds. I was concerned that such injuries might diminish her concentration or hinder her performance in the fight against Duchess Arnett.

"I’ll heal your wounds first," I said.

Then, I extended my right hand toward Miss Violetta.

~Full Healing~

The wounds on Miss Violetta’s body healed instantly.

"Thank you, Rid," Miss Violetta said.

"You're welcome, Miss Lady. But how did you sustain those injuries? You were already wounded when you first arrived here," I said.

"After the trees forming this labyrinth appeared, I was separated from you and Miss Karina and happened to end up in the same location as Lady Harriet. Consequently, I had to fight her. The injuries I had earlier were from that battle. But rest assured, I managed to defeat Lady Harriet," Lady Violetta said.

"I see. So, after the labyrinth trees appeared, you were in the same place as Lady Harriet—one of the people the three of us had faced earlier," I said.

"Yes. What about you, Rid? Who were you with after the labyrinth trees appeared?" she asked.

"I was with King Albert, Commander Marshall, and Senior Florian," I said.

Miss Violetta looked surprised upon hearing my words.

"You were in the same place as the three of them?" Miss Violetta asked.

"Yes, Miss" I said.

"And what is their condition? Surely you didn't just run away from them to get here," Miss Violetta said.

"As you surmised, I didn't run away, Miss. I defeated and killed all three of them," I said.

Miss Violetta still looked shocked after I said that.

"I never imagined you could defeat and kill the three of them. No wonder you were so confident about facing Uncle Dayne, Vyn, and Mother all by yourself—in case I wasn't up to the task of fighting Mother," Miss Violetta said.

"Yes, I am confident I can defeat the three of them, even though it won't be easy. So, if you wish to head to Lord Remy's location immediately, please feel free to do so. I will take your place in facing your mother," I said.

"No, I already stated that I would be the one to defeat my own mother. That aside—if you are with King Albert, Commander Marshall, and Florian, while I am with Lady Harriet, then who is with Lady Claret and Amelia?" Miss Violetta asked.

"They are likely with Miss Karina. If that is the case, there is a possibility that Miss Karina has already defeated them. As you know, Miss Karina is incredibly strong," I replied.

"Yes, you're right. But if Miss Karina has already defeated them, I honestly feel a bit disappointed that I have to leave that responsibility to someone else. My younger sister, Amelia—having turned into a demon and fallen under that person's control can never return to being human. The only way to save her is to kill her. Therefore, as her older sister, I am the one who should have been responsible for killing her, to save her from being controlled by that person any longer after having turned into a demon. That is why I felt a twinge of disappointment that it wasn't me who killed Amelia."

"Even so, I feel relieved that Amelia has been killed, even if it was by someone else. That way, she will no longer be under that person's control," said Miss Violetta.

After saying this, Miss Violetta looked toward Duchess Arnett.

"Now, I had best fulfill my remaining responsibility. I must kill and save my own mother," said Miss Violetta.

"If you are going to face Lady Arnett, then I will take on Commander Dayne and Senior Vyn," I said.

"Please, don't let the two of them interfere with my fight, Rid," said Miss Violetta.

"Understood, Miss," I replied.

"In that case, let's begin," said Miss Violetta.

With that, Miss Violetta and I immediately dashed toward our respective opponents.

-

Back to Irene's place.

The massive explosions occurring around Princess Amelia and Irene were generating thick, black smoke. Moments later, Irene emerged from the billowing black smoke. Once clear of the haze, she inspected her body; she had sustained several burns, though none were severe caused by the explosions from the roses that had suddenly appeared around them.

As Irene was checking herself, an incredibly long whip suddenly shot out of the smoke, aiming straight for her. Sensing the danger, she braced herself to intercept it. Just as the whip was about to strike, she deflected it with her rapier, forcing it to change course.

After deflecting the whip, Irene unleashed a long-range slash toward the cloud of black smoke.

~Ice Sword Art: Great Ice Slash~

Irene unleashed a massive slash of ice toward the smoke. As the ice slash entered the haze, Princess Amelia suddenly emerged to dodge the attack. She appeared to be free of burns, despite having been close to Irene when the rose-triggered explosions occurred.

Then, the moment Princess Amelia stepped out of the smoke, Irene instantly darted toward her and launched an attack.

~Great Glacier Thrust~

Irene struck at Princess Amelia with a thrust. Princess Amelia took the attack head-on, struck squarely in the stomach. The force of the blow sent her flying backward until she slammed into the trunk of a tree. Yet, she rose to her feet immediately, despite the impact. She then drove the tip of her rapier into the ground where she stood.

~Rose Magic: Garden of Roses~

A vast number of roses suddenly sprouted all around the area where Irene and Princess Amelia stood. Irene, however, remained unfazed by their sudden appearance.

"This technique..." Irene thought.

Then, she suddenly stomped her right foot against the ground.

~Ice Magic: Full Frost~

The multitude of roses filling the area began to freeze over slowly. Before long, every single rose was frozen solid. It wasn't just the roses; the very ground beneath their feet had frozen as well.

"It would be dangerous to let these roses remain and overrun the area. I’ve faced this technique before, but this version is surely different from the one I encountered in the past—especially now that Princess Amelia has transformed into a demon. Freezing all those roses was the right decision," Irene thought, having successfully frozen them.

However, shortly after that thought crossed her mind, cracks suddenly appeared across the frozen roses. Irene looked slightly startled to see them beginning to crack.

"What?!" Irene thought.

Then, moments after the cracking began, the roses completely broke free from the ice. Immediately afterward, thorny rose stems shot up and wrapped around Irene's legs. Seeing her legs ensnared, Irene slashed at the stems, successfully severing them; yet, they reappeared and tried to wrap around her body once more. However, before the rose vines could wrap around her body, Irene quickly leaped upward and hovered in the air. Although she appeared to be floating, she was actually standing upon a small pillar of ice beneath her feet.

Irene glanced down at her legs, which had just been ensnared by the vines; they were bleeding from the contact with the thorny stems. She then looked at the ground where she had been standing moments before. The entire surface was carpeted with roses and a multitude of twisting rose vines, all poised to strike. Irene then turned her gaze toward Princess Amelia, who stood some distance away. Princess Amelia was looking back at her, watching her from above.

"It seems the techniques and magic I usually employ won't be enough to face Princess Amelia in this state. I suppose I must use some of the new techniques I've learned," Irene thought.

She raised her right hand, gripping her rapier, and pointed the rapier toward Princess Amelia.

"Princess Amelia, I never imagined you would become like this—transformed into a demon. But rest assured, I will save you," Irene said.

She then moved her rapier with her right hand, tracing the shape of a star in the air.

~Ice Magic: Ice Star - Polaris~

-To be continued