Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 206
One by one, Anne’s siblings died in accidents, and her parents grew frail. As a result, she needed to assign a caretaker for them, but even that turned out to be less costly than supporting them when they were healthy.
While others feared the heretics, Anne did not. To her, her family was far more terrifying.
“You have a strong faith. The goddess will be pleased,” Ramiel said reassuringly.
“Saintess.”
Anne’s face lit up with gratitude. She had received much from them, and she had always thought of repaying that debt someday. Now, the opportunity had come.
“It’s not difficult. You just need to lend us a bit of your strength.”
How could she refuse such a request? Anne nodded willingly.
“Close your eyes.”
“Yes.”
As Anne obediently closed her eyes, Ramiel placed a hand on her forehead. The touch was cold, causing Anne to flinch momentarily, but she didn’t pull away.
‘Her hand will warm up soon enough,’ she thought. But the coldness didn’t fade. Instead, it spread, as if the spot where their skin met was freezing over.
“Ugh, ugh…”
A soft groan escaped Anne’s lips without her realizing it. But Ramiel didn’t pause, continuing to press her power into Anne.
“This… This feels strange.”
“It’s alright. Just endure it for a little while longer.”
The pressure in her head increased until Anne could no longer contain her pain. A piercing scream burst from her.
“Aah, aah!”
Despite the escalating volume of her cries, no one outside heard a thing—Ramiel had already silenced the room. Desperate, Anne tried to push away the hand that clamped down on her forehead.
“I said, endure it.”
“It hurts, it hurts!”
“It’s alright. You’ll feel at peace soon.”
Anne’s body began to shake uncontrollably, trembling with a frantic energy. But soon, the convulsions slowed, and then stopped altogether. Cold breaths, ill-suited to the warm weather, spilled from her parted lips, but she could no longer find her voice.
Finally, Anne collapsed where she stood.
“Maybe it’s not quite enough?”
Ramiel muttered to herself as she turned away, stepping out of the sealed room. The air outside was a stark contrast, warm and comforting compared to the icy chill that had taken over Luna’s quarters.
Just then, Ramiel spotted a maid passing by. What was her name again? Ramiel tried to recall it but couldn’t.
But, of course, the name didn’t matter. Right now, she had other priorities.
Ramiel moved forward without hesitation, approaching the maid. The woman blinked slowly, unaware that death was closing in on her—a foolish creature who did not recognize the danger.
With a smirk hidden beneath her expression, another life was snuffed out.
“Just a bit more.”
Ramiel began her search through the building where the guests from the North were staying. While most were away attending the engagement ceremony, there were still quite a few who remained behind.
Nobles, after all, rarely manage on their own; they always keep attendants and servants close by. It didn’t take long for Ramiel to deal with everyone inside the building.
She gathered the bodies into a single room—Luna’s quarters, now filled with lifeless forms. Ramiel placed down the life-filled orbs she had prepared before entering the temple. These orbs, infused with the stolen vitality of many, were part of the preparations she had made in advance.
With each life lost, the summoning circle began to take shape. It was nearly complete by the time Luna’s presence faded entirely.
“Looks like they’ve taken her away.”
If Luna had been taken, it meant the holy knights would soon come searching here as well. When the knights find one heretic, they are relentless, combing through every corner until they uncover any others.
They were annoyingly thorough.
“Well, no matter.”
Ramiel was confident the summoning circle would be finished before they could disrupt her. Just as she completed the final line of the circle, the doors to the building burst open, and the holy knights stormed inside.
“Heretic!”
The holy knights followed the ominous energy until they found Ramiel. The lead knight immediately swung his sword, aiming to strike her down. But it was too late.
The summoning circle, completed by consuming the lives of the fallen, pulsed with a violet glow, expanding as it absorbed the surrounding area. What had started as a small circle now grew larger, threatening to consume everything nearby.
“Goddess, hear us!”
Ramiel raised her hands high, shouting her invocation. As she did, a chilling laughter echoed from beyond the summoning circle.
[Well done.]
Something sinister began to claw its way through the glowing portal. The holy knights desperately tried to disrupt the summoning, but their efforts were hindered by the corpses that had risen to block their way.
“Stop this at once!”
Their voices, thick with anger, filled the air, but Ramiel did not so much as flinch. Meanwhile, Allen arrived with a group of priests, having come directly from the underground prison where they had secured Luna.
Without hesitation, Allen joined the other knights in their attempts to destroy the summoning circle. With the priests’ divine power assisting them, the growth of the circle began to slow, its expansion faltering under their combined assault.
‘It’s alright.’
