NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 89: Being Together, Doing Things Together
While gazing at Junos' back as he moved ahead of everyone else, Serena couldn't help but feel a slight perplexity at not being perplexed herself.
There was certainty in Euphemia's words... or so it seemed.
Serena didn't share that certainty.
However, she found it easy to agree with the instruction to apprehend Kairine, her former acquaintance. It was for some vague reason.
Yes—there was something unsettling.
An indescribable discomfort. Even before the chilly foxlady was disbanded by the Beast King, Serena never liked Kairine, but back then, she only saw her as a "woman sharp enough to be annoying."
Now, it was different.
She wasn't the kind of woman to sneer down at others.
...Maybe she simply hadn't seen through her true nature.
"Don't you dare come near, you filthy—!"
Junos' movement was unbelievably swift, but unfortunately, there was a distance between him and Kairine. The nine-tailed foxwoman noticed the approach of the demonkin and promptly released her sorcery.
An invisible, slicing wind blade wall.
If Junos tried to approach Kairine, he would be sliced, bit by bit. Serena couldn't help but admire the scale and speed of the spell.
Junos, however, slashed through it with his enchanted sword.
It resembled the Beast King Randall conjuring "Claw Slash" in the air, but it was much more delicate, intentional, and controlled.
Not too strong, not too weak.
A swordsmanship that seamlessly transitioned into the next move. In other words, it meant he cut through Kairine's sorcery with just the right amount of force.
"Don't underestimate—!"
Kairine's black tails trembled.
It was a sign of converting stored magical power into sorcery.
What was released was a fist-sized ice chunk.
A ball of ice, about the size of a child's playful mud ball, leisurely floated in the air.
"Don't touch that!"
Serena noticed Junos preparing to intercept with his enchanted sword, so she waved her fan while releasing foxfire.
The foxfire smoothly slid into the floating ice ball.
Junos sensed the danger and leaped backward—right beside Serena.
—Boom.
The foxfire touched the ice ball, turning into a roaring blaze, spreading waves of heat around.
"Like my foxfire, that ice ball explodes upon contact. Your enchanted sword might have cut it, but was it really necessary?"
"It does bring back memories. The magic that incinerated Euphemia the first time we met."
Junos' lips curved slightly, prompting Serena to involuntarily chuckle.
Despite being burned alive repeatedly, the human girl kept walking toward them, laughing with a sooty smile all over her body.
"It's a memory I'd rather not recall. It was just bad luck to think of her as a mere human girl. Looking back, that was the beginning for me. I thought it was all over, but before I knew it, various things were set in motion."
"She's not the kind of woman to let you enjoy the end."
"That's right."
Inadvertently, Serena's adopted daughter, whom she had raised with care, was threatening Brandon Kruger by pressing the tip of a dagger against Lex Asuka's thigh. And she was doing it while being vigilant of her surroundings. Kirina had moved before Serena did.
"It's a bit troublesome to subdue without killing alone. We can't afford to waste time. Help, Serena."
Junos muttered casually.
It meant that killing alone would be easy, and incapacitating would take some effort. Serena understood that he wasn't a man to bluff in such situations.
"Very well. Perhaps we were spared for this purpose. The Beast King's downfall wasn't due to lack of strength, but lack of magical power."
"I'll exploit a slight opening. Shoot your sorcery, Serena. I'll take care of her when she's distracted. That's fine, right?"
"No objections. Go for it."
As soon as he said it, Junos was already running.
Serena became aware that her lips were curved into a crescent.
What exactly are we doing? Even though I have no clue, it doesn't feel bad at all.
Perhaps they were committing some grave mistake. She had thought that many times. Even now, she faintly felt it in her heart.
Yet, being together, doing things together, was enjoyable with Euphemia Grimwood.
