Chapter 19. A Kind Deed is Repaid
—First District—
The bustling district has turned into ruins.
Two figures are engaged in a fierce battle on the great waterway that divides the city into four. The white-haired man stands in the center of the waterway, whipping up waves several tens of meters high around him, while the red-haired woman bypasses the tens of meters wide waves at a speed that leaves afterimages, then throws a sonic-boom-generating punch at the white-haired man's heart.
"Relentless! You are utterly foolish! Isn't it about time you understood your own powerlessness! Is it that enjoyable to keep unilaterally beating me? What kind of education did you receive? Are you a monster not just physically but mentally as well!"
"You have the nerve to say that. You're no better yourself."
"Who are you calling the same kind, monster? I ask you, are you so idle? Why don't you go live your own life! To what extent do you need to obstruct other people's romance before you're satisfied!"
"What romance are you speaking of? That feeling you have for Lady Emilia is nothing but pure possessiveness, is it not?"
Every one of Regulus's attacks was a fatal blow that Reinhild, without the Dragon Sword, could not withstand.
However, Reinhild maintained the battle line with his formidable physical constitution and the healing assistance from the micro-spirits in the atmosphere. Facing this situation, Regulus's expression became even more distorted.
"You, you are truly a hateful fellow! Are you even proficient in healing magic? How many hearts have you trampled on with your inherent blessed talent? It must be exhilarating to crush others' hearts without effort!"
"You are mistaken. I do not possess the talent for healing magic. This is simply the micro-spirits in the atmosphere helping to heal me because they are worried about me."
Regulus paused, momentarily stunned by Reinhild's reply.
Noticing his wavering, Reinhild instantly appeared behind him and kicked him into the tsunami he himself had created.
"Bastard!"
Regulus cursed painfully as he crashed into the indestructible tsunami. Then, the massive tsunami split in two, flooding the roads on both sides of the great waterway.
"Did you think the attack I created myself would be effective against me? That method would never work on me, right!? It's fine for you to overrate yourself, but your improper contempt for your opponent—that bad habit should stop."
"So even counter-attacking with your own attack won't work!"
Reinhild looked at Regulus, recalling the details of their fight. If she could just break through the Authority of [Invincibility], Regulus would be nothing more than a small-time hoodlum.
'He's fighting fiercely without even breathing. He doesn't get wet even when falling into the waterway. No matter where I attack his body, it causes no damage. And the way the waves parted just now…
Reinhild finally recalled the sensation of being thrown into the sky, confirming that Regulus's Authority must be to fix an object's state.'
!!
Just then, a loud noise interrupted Reinhild's thoughts. Both of them looked towards the source of the loud noise, and Reinhild saw anxiety on Regulus's face for the first time.
"That woman! You are truly lucky! As a man, it is only natural to protect one's wife! I'll let you off the hook this time."
Reinhild hesitated for a moment, then gave up on intercepting Regulus. She first took a step towards the park where Subaru was waiting.
'Calm down. Subaru should be fine with Beatrice by his side. Right now, I must quickly close the water gates.'
Reinhild stopped, looking at the huge torrent of water fiercely rushing into the city from the opened water gate in the distance. After a moment of hesitation, Reinhild finally suppressed the worry in her heart and rushed towards the control console in the east.
Ten seconds later, Reinhild, having shut off the water gates, arrived at the park where Subaru was supposed to wait for her. Water droplets still clung to the trees in the park, and the ground was a mess. As for Subaru, he was naturally not there.
The [Divine Protection of the Hero], the [Divine Protection of Rescue], [Intuition Enhancement], the [Divine Protection of Search], the [Divine Protection of Detective]…
Reinhild instantly activated countless Divine Protections, then moved rapidly along the waterway. A few seconds later, she stopped, for her [Divine Protection of the Hero] heard a strong cry for help.
A few seconds later, Reinhild saw two women. They possessed beautiful appearances and wore lovely white clothing, but their empty eyes made them look like emotionless dolls.
"Um, excuse me, has something happened?"
Reinhild looked at the two women who were ignoring her. She felt she had seen the blonde woman and the brown, wavy-haired woman next to her before.
"—How is my Husband-sama!?"
Just then, the blonde woman suddenly spoke.
"Husband-sama? Wait, are you Regulus's wives?"
Reinhild looked at the two women before her again. She suddenly remembered seeing them among the group of women when Regulus threw her into the sky.
"I see. I thought so."
The blonde woman spoke in a very mournful tone.
"No one is a match for Husband-sama. We should go back, Number 148, or we will die."
"Indeed, it is surprising that you are still alive after making Husband-sama so furious. Should we take this opportunity to escape?"
"Die? Do you mean Regulus would kill you for a minor thing like being late?"
Reinhild fell silent. She recalled Regulus.
He was undoubtedly a man living in his own world, an extreme narcissist. It wouldn't be strange for such a person to kill over a slight offense. Rather, would he genuinely care about his wives? Furthermore,
Reinhild looked at the woman before her. Number 148.
Considering the woman next to her also called Regulus 'Husband-sama,' and Regulus's desire to marry Lady Emilia, then this 148 must mean she is Regulus's 148th wife. In this situation, would he really care about his wives?
Care enough to abandon the person who had offended his pride—herself—and rush to their rescue.
—No, he wouldn't.
Reinhild instantly reached a conclusion.
She recalled the recent events. Regulus's final anxiety was definitely not fake.
He was genuinely afraid that something might happen to his wives, but he did not care about their lives.
And that inexplicable range restriction.
—Could it be.
"My apologies, time is of the essence. Please excuse me."
Reinhild finished speaking, first pressing the pulse on Number 148's wrist, then concentrating to listen.
Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump…
Reinhild heard two heartbeats. She then thought of Subaru's analysis of Regulus during their travels.
"I see. No wonder attacking his heart didn't work."
"Which?"
"Excuse me, I want to ask just in case, do you like Regulus?"
Reinhild got her answer from the twisted expressions of the two women, and once again, a headache began to set in.
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