I Stayed Loyal When My Teacher Was Betrayed

4 – No More Grace (Revised)

The light that pierces the darkness usually symbolizes hope.

But.

The light before her eyes at this moment…

A brilliant golden light that tears apart the veil of darkness.

It plunged her into the worst despair in her heart.

Screams echoed from all around.

The voice she knew well,

The voice she cherished more than anything else.

Pleading for salvation.

Saying she doesn’t want to die.

Voices fading away one by one filled with urgency and pain.

In the midst of these infernal sounds,

At the moment everything was disappearing and dying.

There was nothing she could do.

Just writhing in despair. Other than cursing herself for trusting people foolishly…

Since that hellish day, she put everything on the line.

The past she had gone through.

The people she missed.

Her own torn apart heart.

And…

Her own existence.

*

“…”

A damp and uncomfortable feeling.

Rosemary opened her eyes, feeling sticky and sweaty but still sensing a humid atmosphere.

It was a dream.

A recurring nightmare that would never be forgotten.

She felt a little annoyed that it had passed through her mind again.

“She then shifted her gaze instinctively to the side.

What she saw was the figure of her pupil sleeping on the ground.

The moment when she confirmed the horned shape on his head.

Rosemary let out a small sigh of relief without even realizing it.

‘…Thank goodness…’

As Edward deeply slept, emitting soft breaths.

He was the only one who didn’t abandon her until the last moment.

And unlike back then,

the only creature she had managed to protect in the end.

Upon capturing his figure with her eyes,

Rosemary once again made a determined pledge in her heart.

‘I will protect him… I must, this time for sure…’

One bitter failure.

Almost followed by a second if she hadn’t just managed to seize another opportunity.

She was prepared to do whatever it took to safeguard it.

‘Something… If there is anything else that I can do… for this child…’

Edward had certainly grown stronger after becoming a demon.

Nevertheless, when considering the future, it was clear that his power alone fell short in many ways.

While pondering over such thoughts,

Suddenly, a single fact emerged in her mind.

‘Right… Come to think of it, that exists…’

A spell marked and activated using magic from years ago that she had continuously maintained.

As she began to recall what had been forgotten about its very existence, a chilling smile unconsciously crept onto Rosemary’s lips.

‘Those who were about to betray me and nearly kill Edward… There would be no more mercy for them.’

With that thought, Rosemary immediately began to modify the magic that had been marked.

An invisible mark connecting her and her pupils.

She knew all too well how the results would change if she altered it.

It was an action that, just days before, the former Rosemary would never have considered, but now, she firmly set it into motion.

To protect the precious person before her.”

And,

For the sake of revenge against those dirty beings who betrayed their kindness and stabbed them in the back with a knife.

“Well then, let’s have

Beowulf presented a black greatsword.

Although the end was broken and twisted, revealing traces of violent battles,

The exceptional magical power coming from the sword clearly indicated who its owner was…

It was Oradin, one of the three Great Demons.

“Wow, you must have gone through a lot. It’s incredible that you defeated Oradin. On behalf of all the free races, thank you,” said someone.

“Not at all. Everything was possible thanks to our team members here and the support of all the lords who believe in us.” Beowulf replied humbly.

As they spoke, each of the lord’s faces began to fill with satisfaction.

Then someone said,

“By the way, Beowulf, what about the other two? Your teacher Rosemary and Edward?”

She was the human queen, the youngest here.

Queen Michela asked in a slightly unnatural tone, as if something was bothering her.

“I’ve heard reports on those two,” said Beowulf.

However, when he replied, Queen Michela looked more severe, speaking again.

“They were going to betray and join forces with the Demon King at the crucial moment… Do you expect me to believe in such news?”

“It’s a fact. Truly regrettable, but it’s true,” Beowulf replied with his voice full of bitterness and witch Judia supported his story actively.

The Queen could not believe what she had heard and interrogated them once again.

At that moment…

“Calm down, Queen Michela. How can you be so gullible, even for a young human?”

“That is the student of Rosemary! And they are the same people who defeated the Demon King, heroes. Is it okay to denounce heroes like that, no matter how shocking the story is?”

“Keuk…”

“…”

These words came from the powerful Archbishop Galaxus in the unified tribe

Followed by the Dwarf Lord Alexis, who was also a strong-willed figure.

In their words, not only was Queen Mikala young, but she also had to remain silent due to the inferiority of her country’s power.

*

‘As planned…’

The unfolding situation before their eyes.

Watching the scene where their master and Edward were betraying them, Beolf began to form a subtle smile of victory.

“The matter concerning the filthy traitors shall be addressed later; for now, what is important is that the Demon King Ordin has been defeated.”

Michella, still somewhat reluctant to agree with the Pope’s words, along with others, expressed their consent for now.

They were not people who had the luxury to discuss the deceased traitors.

They had gathered here for a different important matter.

As Beolf watched the scene where the master’s story was gradually disappearing as anticipated, he felt joy and relief.

“Great, everything has worked out. There is no need to worry about any situation anymore.”

The possibility of surviving with such injuries within the crumbling Demon Castle was close to zero.

However, Beolf knew very well that their master was not an ordinary person.

An absolute existence that even those recognized Beolf as equal to or greater than their master due to external achievements.

However, having been her apprentice, Beolf knew better than anyone the extent of the gap between himself and his master.

If it were that master, there was a possibility, a slight possibility… In order to ensure that there was no place for her and Edward to take advantage of, Beolf needed to arrange the situation.

“Even if the master were to return, she would be captured as a traitor and executed. At the same time, my accomplishments would become even more significant.”

Driven by a glimmer of fear and a desire to elevate himself even a little, Beolf successfully dealt with the work.

At that moment,

While he was feeling quite satisfied,

The voice of the Elven Pope reached Beolf’s ears.

“Odin’s death means a significant power vacuum for the filthy demons. In other words, it is an excellent opportunity for our racial alliance to launch a massive counterattack.”

“I agree. Now is the perfect chance to pay off our debts and turn the situation around. Our dwarves have already made some preparations.”

“Our orcs are also ready.”

“Hmm?”

The Dwarf Lord and the Orc chieftain agreed immediately with the words of the Elven Pope.

And the Human Queen, without saying a word but not showing any resistance, also expressed her consent.

As Beolf listened to their conversation, he began to feel a strange sense.

“A… a counterattack? I haven’t heard of such a thing… Wasn’t this supposed to be a moment to praise our achievements and reward us?”

Somehow, it feels like something completely different will come instead of the expected splendid reward, giving an ominous feeling.

And,

His prediction hit the mark without a trace of mercy.

“Well then, let’s start the story since the great heroes who oversee this are here.”

“Ah…”

Baeovelf and his colleagues were taken aback by the unexpected situation.

However, they had no choice but to admit it immediately.

The situation had already advanced too far to turn back…

They had no right to refuse the absurdly written cup presented before them.