Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 180
“Run away.”
The word tasted bitter. Why did she have to run? Meanwhile, the fake saintess was still standing strong. Ramiel clutched her chest, feeling her heart burn with rage.
“I’m going too.”
Ramiel took a step forward. The others tried to stop her, but it was no use. She wasn’t one to hold back, even against allies, and three were killed trying to prevent her from advancing. After that, no one else dared to stand in her way.
People began gathering below the cliff.
Irene anxiously watched the cave entrance. She briefly considered fleeing, but Burt’s condition was too poor to attempt it. So, all that was left was to rely on luck.
‘Goddess.’
Though the sleeping goddess didn’t answer, Irene couldn’t stop praying in her anxiety.
“It’s alright. I’ll protect you.”
Despite the situation, Burt, who lay with his head resting on Irene’s lap, smiled faintly. How could he protect her in this state? Irene reached out and lightly slapped his forehead.
“Sick people should rest.”
“Yes.”
Even after being hit, he didn’t seem upset. He kept smiling softly.
“Why do you keep smiling?”
“Because even in this situation, I’m happy to be alone with you.”
She couldn’t meet his eyes. Had he always been this good at saying such things? Flustered, Irene fanned her flushed face with her hand.
“Just rest, even for a moment.”
She forced his eyes closed, and finally, he quieted down. Around that time, the commotion outside grew louder.
“They’re here.”
Burt sprang to his feet.
“Which side?”
When Irene asked with a tense voice, the answer came quickly.
“It seems both groups arrived around the same time. I can hear Sir Allen’s voice. But the heretics are closer. Luckily, it seems they haven’t discovered the cave yet. We should join Sir Allen as soon as possible.”
“How?”
“I’ll clear the way. You run through while I do.”
“And what about you?”
“I’ll follow.”
“Really?”
Irene asked, her voice filled with doubt, but Burt replied firmly.
“I have no intention of dying. That would only benefit others. I plan to stand beside you at the temple.”
He was talking about their wedding.
“…I haven’t agreed to that yet.”
“Then you can agree now.”
With that, Burt moved toward the cave entrance, and Irene followed close behind.
Outside, the scene was chaotic, unlike the quiet of the cave. A red-haired heretic was skillfully wielding a whip, facing off against Allen. Though Allen, as a holy knight, was strong, the number of heretics made it difficult for him to gain ground.
In that moment, Burt struck from behind. His royal power froze the area around them, trapping the heretics’ feet. Irene dashed forward through the opening Burt had created. True to his word, Burt ensured no one could lay a hand on her.
She reached the holy knights safely, but Burt couldn’t follow her immediately. The red-haired heretic, Luciel, began attacking him.
Allen tried to stab Luciel in the back, but someone else stepped in to block the attack.
“Burt!”
Irene attempted to rush back, but the other holy knights stopped her.
“It’s too dangerous, Saintess.”
“But Burt!”
“The King of the North will hold his ground.”
No, he wouldn’t. Maybe under normal circumstances, but now Burt was in an incredibly weakened state. Irene’s face turned pale.
There was no one who could help Burt right now. She felt she had to do something, but she had no idea what to do.
At that moment, a white bird landed on Irene’s shoulder and began screeching loudly. Simultaneously, white birds appeared from the sky and started attacking the heretics.
Though they were only pecking and scratching with their talons, in this situation, even that was enough.
“Filthy messengers of the goddess!”
Luciel swung his whip furiously, but the birds, even as they died, persisted. They were determined to block his view, and finally, they succeeded.
As Luciel flailed, trying to remove the bird stuck to his face, Burt’s sword slashed across his waist.
“Argh!”
With a scream, Luciel vanished and reappeared a short distance away, his face twisted in rage.
“How dare you!”
Clutching his bleeding waist, Luciel gritted his teeth. Burt’s unexpected strike had turned the tide against him. At this point, retreat might be the best option.
But even knowing this, his legs refused to move.
