Diana, who had successfully escaped, spent a night in a daze in an abandoned village...
Within just one month, the two people she admired most had died by her side, one after another.
And the killer was her former playmate.
She had already sensed the malice emanating from him; if she had been prepared earlier, perhaps none of this would have happened.
Now, she had to face reality...
She had to figure out why Mil did this? How could she get evidence?
Was it true that the judicial officer said yesterday that Otto was still alive?
Faint light pierced through the morning mist, weaving a pale, long cloth in the forest, and night dew condensed on the broken walls of the abandoned village.
As the morning star fell into the stream, the golden morning light illuminated her dazed face...
Diana finally gathered her spirits and stumbled to her feet.
Previously, her teacher Volk had mentioned an old friend, a Magic Knight, at White Acorn Castle on the cliff, who might be able to help her.
...
She arrived at a lush green valley, with cliffs on both sides and a clear stream below.
A swaying wooden suspension bridge connected the two sides, and White Acorn Castle was beside the bridge.
Though called a castle, its specifications were very low; it seemed to serve only for reconnaissance.
When Diana arrived, she was surprised to find the entire castle deserted...
Judging by the dust on the table, the castle's owner had been gone for at least a week.
Just as she was searching for clues, she suddenly felt a slight tremor from the Holy Sword in her hand;
Through the window, she saw three mages in the distance, riding horses towards them.
Clearly, none of the three were the owners of White Acorn Castle, so Diana temporarily hid in the attic.
These three were just ordinary second-tier mages; upon entering the castle, they skillfully walked into the living room;
They opened a few bottles of apple brew and sat together.
"See if anyone has been here?"
"No, not a sound."
"What if Diana arrives first?"
"We'll pretend we're assistants Mister Volk hired for her, chat with her for a bit, and have her wait here."
"Hahaha... I saw her once at a ball. It's a luxury to even chat with such an exquisite woman."
"Oh my, I'm fantasizing again. Her, helpless and alone, falling into my arms, and then making me a prince."
"What if Mil arrives first?"
"Explain to him the requirements and plan of that Lord, then stall until Diana arrives."
Everyone spoke one after another, becoming more and more unrestrained in their conversation, laughing heartily.
Diana, however, only understood that they knew she would come, and they also knew Mil would come;
But they were not the people she was looking for...
Other than that, there was no useful information.
Soon, the sound of heavy cavalry hooves echoed from afar, like thunder rolling through the valley, and the few people looked out the window in horror...
A full fifty Holy Flame Knights, accompanied by nearly 200 attendants, were marching grandly towards them.
The three instantly changed their expressions...
"This isn't what we agreed upon!"
"The three of us... aren't we going to die here?"
"Don't be afraid... stay calm. Look at the two in the middle of the team, it's Mil and Lilith."
"Then... the original plan?"
"Let's just wait and see."
Soon, the Holy Flame Knights surrounded the castle, and Mil, with Lilith, entered the castle and met the three mages:
"You... are Ibon's people?"
"Heh heh, Mil, we've been waiting for you."
The three stood up straight, nodding with forced smiles. Mil turned to Lilith and said:
"Alright, you wait for me outside."
With that, he pulled out a chair and sat down:
"What did Ibon say?"
"Ahem, it's like this. First, we apologize for the matter concerning Baron Jack last time."
With that, the three bowed in unison, and then... the leader unrolled a map, pointing to the village in the middle and saying:
"Regarding the next action, Mister Ibon will unleash a magic tide in this location..."
Hearing this, Mil frowned in doubt:
"Oh? Ibon has the ability to unleash a magic tide?"
"Heh heh, to be precise, it's to prematurely induce the chaotic power within the earth's ley lines..."
The mage opposite explained, and Mil pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized:
"If I'm not mistaken, this power will flow into the Black Forest in a week, and then erupt, right?"
After all, according to the original plot, Diana was supposed to lead the Royal Knights on a week-long journey to the Black Forest;
There, below the Wizard's Tower, she would battle magic beasts for three days and three nights...
In that case, it would make sense.
The three mages nodded in surprise:
"As expected of you... you guessed correctly. After triggering the magic tide, we'll seize Ice Lake Prison using this opportunity."
"Hmm? But the location and scope of the magic tide's eruption are still some distance from Ice Lake Prison. And... how does Ibon plan to deal with Diana then?"
"You don't need to worry about that; you just need to relay the message."
"Tch... fine. Is there anything else?"
The three exchanged glances, revealing eerie smiles:
"Please wait a moment... there's another esteemed guest who wishes to see you."
"Who?"
"Me."
Suddenly, a cold female voice echoed from the attic.
"Boom—!"
The wooden floor of the attic suddenly collapsed, and Diana descended, sword in hand.
The three were scared out of their wits, clutching themselves and shrinking to one side;
Diana, however, ignored the three of them, raising her sword towards Mil:
"Tell me, where is my brother, Otto?"
"Didn't your brother die long ago?"
Mil struggled to control his fear, and Lilith rushed in.
Diana's eyes were cold as she continued to ask, holding her sword:
"You killed him, didn't you?"
Lilith summoned her magic staff, but she knew very well that no defense would work against this woman.
"Answer me!"
Seeing this, Mil quickly understood that the moment his disguise was torn off last night, he had been discovered;
After calming down, he curled his lips into a smile and nodded:
"Yes, I killed Otto. I also killed your teacher, Volk."
"Why did you do this? What did I ever do to you? How could you go to such lengths?!"
Diana's eyes were bloodshot, and she questioned him sharply in a voice on the verge of breaking.
Mil, however, just sneered:
"Don't flatter yourself! I'm just completing a transaction according to Mister Ibon's request."
"Why?!"
Diana's thoughts were completely chaotic, but Mil merely shrugged, looking indifferent:
"I'm simply acting for my own benefit. As for why Ibon is doing this? To help the Third Prince? To achieve the nobles' goals? Those are none of my business."
"Mil... you're no longer the Mil I knew. You will pay the price for what you've done!"
With that, Diana lunged at Mil;
Mil had already activated his dark magic stone, and the spells he prioritized learning were all for self-preservation.
"Heh... I don't have time to play with you. Want revenge? Fine, I'll wait for you at the center of the magic tide!"
With that, obsidian exploded in his hand, and a thick smoke instantly blurred everyone's vision.
"Don't even think about running!"
Diana swung her sword in Mil's direction, cleaving through the dense fog, only to find that Mil had already escaped by jumping out the window.
Without a word, Diana also jumped out the window and pursued him, but she was blocked by a group of Holy Flame Knights...
Against the sunlight, Mil, dressed in a black robe and wearing a mask, spread a pair of black wings behind him and flew into the sky.
However, Diana had no intention of letting him go. The Holy Sword in her hand shimmered with dazzling light;
With a fierce swing of her sword, a crescent-shaped sword light, more blinding than the sun, chased after Mil.
"W-what?!"
Mil felt a sudden flash behind him, his wings were abruptly severed, and he fell heavily to the ground, feeling as if several bones were broken...
Turning around, he saw Diana, with an unstoppable momentum, breaking through the Holy Flame Knights' encirclement.
Mil endured the intense pain and stood up, running desperately forward, but there was only a cliff before him. He had no choice but to turn around and curse furiously:
"Crazy woman! Catching me alone now, what kind of hero is that? If you've got guts, go find Ibon first, and then we'll have a decisive battle!"
"Die!"
Diana roared, and the sword light in her hand, like a long spear, pierced through Mil's throat...
Then, Mil lost his balance, fell backward, and plunged off the cliff.