The wave “caught” in my hand turned into a sharp spear, piercing through the bodies of the monsters.
Even I was momentarily shocked by how powerful the force was.
If I was capable of this much, how strong must the other members of House Allozé be? The thought was almost frightening.
Now that I had used this power properly, I could understand—
If someone stronger than me, like the true heir of the water’s bloodline, wielded this level of power… they wouldn’t be human. They’d be a natural disaster.
And if Penthus Allozé, Croa’s older brother and the original next head of the family in the novel, awakened his fero…
“…?”
Wait, did Penthus Allozé ever awaken his fero?
After Croa Allozé’s death in the original story, Penthus was the only direct heir left in House Allozé. So theoretically, yes, he could’ve developed a fero…
But hold on.
What would happen if Croa Allozé were still alive at the time when the bloodline chose the next head of house?
If it were the original Croa, maybe nothing would’ve changed.
But with my current abilities, wouldn’t I be a viable candidate for the next head?
Just as my eyes widened at the thought—
―KRAAAH!
A monster lunged toward me, and instinctively I unleashed water.
Sharp spikes of water shot up from the ground like thorns and skewered the monster.
―SPLURCH!
―KRAAAHHH!
The monsters’ screams echoed across the shoreline.
The people of Argentta turned in shock to look at me.
“Water…?”
“This is…”
In a place dominated by the fire-wielding Argenttas, my power stood out unmistakably.
“She’s not even the head of her house, and she has that kind of power?”
“How powerful must the Duke of Allozé have been to pass on blood like that?”
They were stunned.
And just like that, the tide of the battle shifted instantly.
―SHHHHAAAA!
Then came a massive wave, unmistakably filled with power, crashing toward the shore.
Even though the water obscured the view, I could somehow see what was behind it.
Maybe it was because I remembered the monster that wielded water from the original story. Or maybe it was because it was standing directly on the water. But either way, its location was clearly visible to me.
And if I could see the enemy, there was no reason to hesitate.
―FLASH!
I clenched my fist, and the water—once surging toward me with menace—dispersed harmlessly into the sea.
―KYEEEEEK!
The monster hidden within screamed in surprise as its figure was revealed.
It was holding a crude staff, clearly signaling it was a mage-type monster, flailing its stubby legs mid-air as if suspended.
Below it was the massive water spear I had conjured.
“…!”
But the spear hadn’t pierced it.
Perhaps because it too could control water, or because it was desperately defending itself, the spear couldn’t reach its mark.
In that case, I just needed to push harder—
Or so I thought.
“Croa.”
A deep voice rumbled beside me.
“Dielo?”
When I turned to look—
―FWOOSH!
Fire ignited in the air.
In an instant, it formed into a massive spear in Dielo’s hand.
Naturally, the flames of Argentta he commanded didn’t so much as singe a hair on his head.
“!”
With a powerful backward swing, Dielo hurled the spear.
―WHOOOSH!
It flew with a sharp, hissing sound, as if sucking in the very air around it, and struck the monster’s head dead-on.
―KABOOOOOM!
The surrounding water instantly vaporized, and a dense mist filled the air from the sheer heat.
“…!”
My eyes widened.
To burn a monster completely—while it stood soaking wet, over water—with no trace left behind?
And this was power from someone who hadn’t even fully awakened as the head of his house?
I knew Dielo was strong, but this was beyond anything I’d imagined.
“The monster that controlled water is dead! Clear the battlefield!”
“WAAAAHHH!”
Having seized the opportunity, Radius Argentta bowed briefly to us and led his knights into battle.
As they charged forward, Dielo’s and my eyes met.
“…How?”
He must have been asking how I got here.
He had only asked for a few people to help with post-battle cleanup.
He hadn’t said anything about danger on the battlefield.
But I couldn’t exactly say, “I knew this would happen.”
So I smiled.
Maybe it was the sea beside me, but I felt oddly confident.
“I was worried. I couldn’t let my partner-in-crime get hurt.”
I winked and pointed toward the sea.
“And besides, we’re by the ocean. I figured I might be helpful.”
…And, to be honest, I didn’t think you’d be able to fight properly.
Even with all his strength, the act of killing wasn’t something easy.
In the original, I think he fought anyway—but the real Dielo, the one I saw now, didn’t look like someone used to killing.
He didn’t seem like someone who would use his powers mercilessly on a battlefield steeped in death.
“…Thank you, Croa.”
He smiled faintly. The same gentle smile I always saw.
But somehow, it felt different.
The way he had thrown that flaming spear earlier—
That was not the Dielo Argentta I thought I knew.
His eyes, usually a calm ocean blue like shallow coastal waters, had clearly held killing intent.
I had seen it—if only briefly.
And the spear he threw had pierced the monster right in the throat.
A clean, precise, fatal strike.
“I’m just glad I was helpful.”
I smiled at him.
And I thought—
Dielo Argentta, heir to House Argentta, wielder of sword and flame…
Might not be the same gentle man who smiled at me from his bed.
The battlefield was swiftly cleared.
The fact that Radius hadn’t lost control in battle had saved countless lives.
Even the knights of Argentta who had been defending the area—most of them had survived.
If Croa had arrived any later, it would’ve been impossible.
“Didn’t they say the Allozé daughter had weak water-controlling abilities?”
“Watch your mouth. She’s our lady now.”
“Still, though…”
The knights on the field were stunned by her power.
At this rate, rumors that she had strong water powers—contrary to what people believed—might spread to other noble houses.
―NEIGHHHH!
“…”
Dielo looked down at Croa Allozé, now asleep in his arms.
The moment the battle ended, she had lost strength and could no longer stand on her own.
“Here, ride with me.”
It was Dielo himself who had offered her the spot in his saddle.
“….”
On the swaying horse, Croa leaned against him, cradled by his arms.
The strange scent that clouded his thoughts…
It was that of the sea. That hated smell of water.
Because she was from Allozé.
That heavy, solemn scent—like the air after rain—lingered around her.
But today, for some reason, he found it bearable.
No—more than bearable. It felt like nectar soothing a thirst.
Even though, as someone born of fire, he naturally disliked rain…
“Rick.”
The man parted the crowd and bowed his head as he stepped forward.
“Yes, sir.”
Rick, head of Argentta’s intelligence unit, was one of the few who knew Dielo’s true self. He wasn’t surprised by the cold aura he briefly sensed.
“Make sure Croa’s power doesn’t leave this battlefield.”
What he meant was clear—
Eliminate the spies from other houses that had been tolerated up until now for the sake of keeping up appearances.
And warn the Argentta knights to keep quiet.
“Understood.”
Rick turned his horse with a light expression.
Rick, the “Executor” and intelligence chief of Argentta, would carry out Dielo’s orders without fail.
“Croa Allozé…”
…No, just Croa.
Dielo murmured her name after all was said and done.
According to the field medic, she was in a deep sleep due to extreme exhaustion.
Even when her name was called, she didn’t respond.
That meant she had fallen deeply unconscious.
Dielo!
He remembered the moment a brilliant flash of blue parted the sea of death.
The magical barrier from Croa’s hands had held back the deadly waters.
Not a single life had been lost where her hand had touched.
Today, Argentta didn’t have to downplay the tragedy.
He didn’t have to pretend death didn’t matter.
“Are you returning to the estate like this?”
Radius Argentta approached and asked.
Dielo gave a small nod.
Croa had saved his teacher.
“She was truly incredible earlier.”
He didn’t hold back praise for her.
To Argentta, water was nearly synonymous with death.
But to see someone command the waters—standing above them—was awe-inspiring.
She had used her power to its fullest.
She had thrown herself into the battlefield without thinking of what came after.
…For the sake of Argentta.
Because of her, he didn’t have to cry today.
Dielo let out a quiet breath.
“…There’s no one left to protect you now, Dielo. You must stand on your own. Trust no one. Not even me.”
Words he had heard as a child—from Radius Argentta.
That had been the day Dielo’s parents died.
It was also the last day he had ever cried.
That day, when he realized the corpses and ashes would only continue to pile at his feet, his childhood ended.
From then on, he had followed his uncle’s teachings with desperation.
“You must not form attachments to people.”
Those weaker than him—especially as head of the house—would die on the battlefield long before he did.
If he grieved each death, he wouldn’t survive.
That’s why he tried to become cold.
To remain unmoved by anyone’s death.
To never grow too fond of anyone.
“…”
—But what if they’re not weaker than me?
What if they’re someone who isn’t afraid of even the sea of death?
Dielo!
Was it the spirits of the fallen Argenttas clouding his vision again?
The sea, which always looked murky to his eyes, suddenly seemed clear.
And in the middle of it—Croa, shouting his name—shone more brilliantly than anything else.
Her deep violet hair shimmered, damp from the sea.
Her purple eyes looked straight ahead without the slightest fear, filled with confidence.
She stood in the center of a sea of death—and she glowed.
She was so radiant and dazzling that…
He couldn’t take his eyes off her.
