Chapter 309: Just Do It for Me (4K First Chapter)

"You're saying you're going to face her alone now?"

"Yes."

"…"

Herbert frowned at Svani, who had suddenly stopped before the bell tower, and asked in confusion: "What do you mean? Do you think we're playing some game with you?"

"At this point, after coming all this way, you're not joking, are you?"

Svani fell silent, gazing into Herbert's eyes and slowly shaking her head.

Just moments ago, after disposing of the two monsters' corpses, they had successfully found the secret tunnel prepared years earlier.

The hidden house Svani had covertly prepared had been leveled to the ground, and in its place now stood a towering bell tower.

But fortunately, she had anticipated this and installed multiple safeguards outside the tunnel; after inspection, they could be certain no one had touched it.

That meant, if they entered this tunnel, they could bypass the defenses and enter the interior of the Moore clan's castle.

But just as Herbert was about to enter the bell tower, Svani—who had entered ahead of them—blocked them outside.

And when questioned, Svani uttered words that made Herbert's brow furrow deeply—stop here.

You no longer need to go any further.

After speaking, Svani added several more barriers.

As the only one in their group capable of manipulating magic in dark places, her power at this moment surpassed Elisa's.

A simple magical barrier halted Herbert and the others.

"I'm sorry, but please stay here."

Beneath the shadow of the bell tower, the calm dark elf shook her head softly: "Let me handle the rest alone."

"This is my grievance with Stilla—between sisters."

Her tone was flat, as if describing an ordinary, trivial matter.

Yet it was precisely this calmness, this coldness, that made Herbert's frown deepen.

It made him deeply uneasy.

But Svani acted as if she hadn't noticed Herbert's displeasure, continuing on her own: "I've just checked—the wards here haven't been touched by anyone."

"I prepared a secret laboratory underground, completely isolated from all external perception. There's ample food and water—you can wait here for months."

As a former local power in Maragas, Svani left many traces in this city.

Though centuries have erased most of them, some well-preserved backups remain.

For instance, a hidden sanctuary capable of blocking all external information.

"If I succeed, I'll return to find you. If I fail, then stay inside in peace."

"Wait for a while—until everything ends. By then, the curfew will likely be lifted, and if you wish to leave, no one can stop you."

She bowed slightly to Herbert's expressionless face and whispered:

"I'm sorry—I misjudged. I underestimated how mad Stilla's hunger for power had become."

"At this point, numbers no longer matter."

After entering Maragas, Svani realized something was wrong.

As a grand mage deeply versed in arrays, she knew what this scale of mega-ritual implied.

Stilla didn't just intend to sacrifice the outsiders in the city—she planned to offer up everyone in the city, including her own kin, to Miss Xie Shen.

Crazy?

Yes, it was insane.

And this act wasn't just insane—it meant Stilla's power far exceeded prior expectations.

Stilla likely wasn't forcibly elevated to just barely entering the Legendary stage—she probably already stood at the peak of Legendary.

She was only one step away from ascending into a new Epic-level power, becoming Miss Xie Shen's apostle on earth, her true agent.

Facing such a being, even all three of us together would likely be doomed.

If that's the case, rather than all three risking everything, let me shoulder this responsibility alone.

Let me face this alone.

Inside the bell tower, Svani lowered her head in silence.

Outside the bell tower, silence reigned as well.

Herbert frowned in silence, his fingers lightly tapping the hilt of his sword.

Elisa raised an eyebrow in confusion, unable to fathom what this fool was up to now.

But since this concerned Herbert and "Vilaneia," she said nothing, observing as a bystander.

And there was Teresa, completely clueless, secretly watching it all.

The girl curled her serpent tail, minimizing her size, trying to vanish into the awkward atmosphere.

Huh? What's going on?

Are the knight and his companions arguing?

"…"

Herbert's brow remained knotted for a while, then he finally shook his head, exhaled slowly, and asked in a cold tone:

"So you lied to me from the start—you never believed we could assassinate her quietly?"

Facing Herbert's indifferent accusation, Svani remained calm and nodded frankly.

"Yes, I deceived you. I betrayed your trust."

"From the beginning, my only goal was to get you to bring me here—everything else was just a facade."

No matter what I truly thought back then, there is now only one answer.

"I am a traitor."

Svani straightened her body and gazed calmly at Herbert.

"Like all members of the Moore clan, I too carry the blood of betrayal."

In ancient Elvish, "Moore" can mean "traitor."

The Moore clan are the descendants of traitors.

"This is the Moore clan's fate—'The blood of traitors knows no end.'"

"Each of us will ultimately become a traitor—betraying the trust and emotions of others, betraying the clan, betraying… fate."

In the ancient legends of the Moore clan, every member eventually betrays.

Whether betraying others or betraying themselves.

Now, whom has Svani betrayed?

Herbert, who once trusted her?

Or the version of herself who once intended to stand idly by as everything within the clan unfolded?

The answer may be known only to her—or perhaps even she cannot fathom what she is truly doing.

Yet a voice within her heart continually urged Svani to make this choice.

"... Huh."

After Svani finished explaining, Herbert exhaled slowly and nodded.

His expression was calm, as if indifferent to her words, then he asked again: "Alright, I've heard your boring excuses—what's the real reason?"

Herbert did not believe her "explanation" at all.

What's all this nonsense she's babbling?

I'm not listening.

No matter how many reasons she gives, they're all meaningless!

He only knew he'd been cast aside like a burden.

And that made him furious.

I may be weak now, but you don't have to say it outright.

This unnecessary concern stirred his rebellious spirit.

Not this again?

"..."

Svani fell silent at Herbert's indifferent attitude, her lips moved slightly, then she shook her head and whispered, "Herbert, stop now."

"I have reasons I must fulfill, but you are merely innocent people I deceived into coming here."

"Please stay here—you can wait safely until everything ends."

Perhaps feeling her previous words lacked force, Svani chose a far harsher phrasing.

"As the weak, understand your own strength—it is the best choice for you."

The weak must learn how to survive as the weak, not pretend to be strong and meet a miserable end.

"Hey, that elf."

But before Herbert could speak, Elisa rolled her eyes and interjected irritably: "You keep calling us weak, saying it's for our own good—you're so arrogant!"

"If you're so confident, why don't we fight right now?"

No one was surprised by Elisa's reaction.

Herbert's arrogance is buried deep within his bones; Elisa's is displayed openly.

Rebellious, contemptuous of all others.

Though most of the time she brags and gets humiliated in front of Herbert, making herself seem like a willing little brat.

She does have the right to be arrogant.

She can't stand up to Herbert, but in the eyes of others, she is a fearsome Vampire Prince.

But Svani paid no heed to Elisa; her gaze remained fixed on Herbert.

She knew only Herbert could make the decision now.

If Herbert accepted her advice, even if Elisa was furious, she would obey Herbert's command and cease her defiance.

As all eyes turned to him, Herbert responded.

He walked slowly to the barrier at the bell tower's entrance and pressed his hand against the translucent rune wall.

The moment his palm touched the barrier, brilliant sparks of electricity erupted.

Hiss-hiss-hiss—

"What?!"

To Svani's shock, Herbert's hand sank half an inch into the barrier—but could not push deeper.

How did he do that?

He had ignored the barrier's resistance!

No, not quite.

Svani noticed the detail—Herbert's hand bore a patch of charred black skin—he had not ignored it entirely, but was forcing himself through it.

That was even more astonishing.

Could his body be as strong as a legendary Magic Knight's?

Magic Knights, who combine spellcasting with close combat, are a common advancement for Holy Knights after reaching legend status.

And now, Herbert, with only high-rank power, had accomplished what a legendary Magic Knight could do!?

After testing briefly and achieving no satisfactory result, Herbert withdrew his hand.

He held his palm behind his back, his expression calm as he gazed at the "Vilanea" beyond the barrier, staring at the soul within that body.

After a moment, the boy smiled and spoke softly:

"I don't know what secrets you're hiding, nor do I care what you've discovered—but since I chose to walk with you, I won't allow you to abandon me halfway."

"Whether you choose to act alone as a hero or betray your beliefs as a coward, neither is permitted."

"Let me reiterate: I deeply dislike placing my fate in another's hands."

"I dislike even more surviving by the grace of someone else's charity."

Herbert is proud; he dislikes being treated with even greater pride.

He disliked it in the past, dislikes it now, and will never like it in the future.

"Let me do it. Whatever the outcome, I can accept it calmly."

"But if you ask me to give up halfway, I'm sorry—I cannot accept that."

He stared intently into Svani's eyes and said seriously: "So, get out of my way."

Move aside.

"... I really give up on you."

Svani held her ground for a moment, then finally looked away, letting out a long sigh. "Why can't you understand? I truly don't want to harm you..."

Herbert laughed, blinking. "I understand your good intentions perfectly—which is why I can't accept them."

"After all, I must treat everyone equally."

I can't favor one over another—that would be deliberate targeting."

Svani smiled bitterly, unable to help remarking: "Your personality really is... arrogant."

Herbert shrugged, accepting the assessment, then added: "Then since you understand, stop resisting and let us pass."

Holding out is meaningless.

"No, I must decline."

But Svani still refused—though her expression was no longer as cold as before.

She raised her hand and gently placed it against the barrier, pressing it against Herbert's.

The dark elf smiled and whispered softly: "Lord Herbert, thank you for choosing to believe in me."

"In my long life, you are the only one who never thought me mad, and who was willing to speak with me so long."

"You are unique. You carry secrets—I find you deeply intriguing."

"If only we could have met under different identities..."

She smiled.

With an ease Herbert could not understand.

It looked as though she had finally let go of something.

"By the way..."

"That line you said—'Just do it for me'—the one asking me to betray my family—I liked it very much."

"And now, I will do as you wished."

Svani smiled lightly, voicing her one and only wish now.

"Betray Stilla. Kill my only family."

After speaking, Svani released her hand with a relaxed expression and turned to stride down the secret passage.

This time, Herbert said nothing to stop her, watching helplessly as she walked away step by step.

As her figure vanished, Svani turned back and whispered: "The barrier will dissolve in one hour—you can enter the laboratory and hide."

"Herbert, I hope we may meet again one day."

"Please... try to survive..."

"Just do it for me."

(End of Chapter)