To the Love Born in the Lowest Place-Chapter 146

"Can’t you tell me now...?"

"Yes, although I want to tell you right away... circumstances are as they are."

Liv didn’t ask in detail what those circumstances were. No, she didn’t even have the chance to. Because Emmett’s face drew closer to Liv’s just as it was. Liv reflexively closed her eyes and parted her lips familiarly.

A hot and soft sensation moved slowly inside her mouth. As her head tilted back, Emmett naturally supported the back of Liv’s neck.

"I want to hold you, but it’s regrettable that the situation doesn’t allow it."

When Emmett said that after separating their lips, Liv nodded with a reddened face. The important thing now was to end the war and reclaim the imperial throne.

"But we can intertwine our tongues, can’t we?"

Emmett said in a playful voice, then brought his lips close again. Liv felt her face flush hot.

That night, while being held in Emmett’s arms for a long time, Liv suddenly had this thought.

’You have to look at actions, not words.’

That was the realization she gained while watching Princess Rania and her fiancé in the Kingdom of Ashur.

But strangely enough, looking at his attitude towards her, Emmett...

’Does he love me?’

It was the behavior of someone who loved Liv, no matter who saw it. It couldn’t be explained by affection, guilt, or desire. It was clear love.

Liv began to suspect that he might love her.

* * *

A dark and gloomy place began to appear in the distance. The eerie atmosphere was so palpable that the people following Liv slowed their steps while murmuring. The place visible ahead was the ’Devil’s Forest’ located east of the capital.

"Sister, that place was a sanctuary too, right?"

To Hildegard’s question, Liv nodded.

"Yes, it’s the sanctuary of Lampas, the god of Tansha religion believed by the ancient natives. They believed that Lampas governed life and death."

Liv could have recited the myth about the god Lampas here, but she decided to refrain.

"There’s no need to go through that forest."

Emmett, who had been listening to Liv’s explanation, opened his mouth.

"If we go a few more hours, we’ll reach the land occupied by our soldiers. You can enter through there."

As Emmett said, there was no need to go this way. Although it wouldn’t be dangerous for Liv since it’s a sanctuary, if she led this long procession in, they might get lost in the forest...

At that moment, the sound of hooves was heard from afar. Horses were coming from somewhere. Feeling an ominous sensation, Liv instinctively looked in that direction. What she immediately saw were armored soldiers.

"Ah...!"

Emmett’s face also showed that he quickly recognized their identity.

"They’re imperial soldiers. It seems the rumors have reached the imperial palace..."

There were quite a lot of soldiers. It didn’t seem easy to evade and escape from the armed soldiers with just Liv’s power. Or even if Emmett fought well, it would be too much for him to face dozens of mounted soldiers alone. The soldiers stopped in front of Liv and pointed their swords at her while on horseback.

"His Majesty the Emperor has ordered us to bring Liv Lartman to the imperial palace!"

"That won’t happen."

Although it was a fight with an obvious outcome, Emmett gritted his teeth and blocked in front of Liv. Emmett quickly drew his sword, and Hildegard and Walter also stuck close as if to protect Liv. Liv’s heart grew anxious watching this scene.

’Should I use divine power?’

The way the ’divine power’ contained in Liv’s body manifested was somewhat complicated. That power didn’t simply grant what Liv wanted, but worked in the gods’ way when Liv desired it. For example, when Liv decided to show divine power to Lady Tschermak who came to the Lartman duchy, that power frightened her in a bizarre way. Also, when she jumped into the lake sanctuary thinking she wanted to warn August, the voice of the Supreme God came down from the sky.

So while Liv couldn’t use divine power to accurately attack the soldiers, if she used her power, she could open a path in some way.

But before Liv could step forward and act, there were people who reacted even more noisily.

"Down with the tyrant August!"

"You can’t take Lady Gracia!"

"Are you trying to ruin this country again!"

"It’s the will of the Supreme God!"

"No one can block the one who has received revelation!"

Hundreds of people following Liv stepped forward excitedly. They surrounded Liv as if to protect her. Liv’s eyes widened in surprise at this unexpected reaction. The soldiers were also bewildered by the people surrounding Liv. However, they didn’t back down and soon shouted in an even louder voice.

"If you go against His Majesty the Emperor’s orders, you will be considered committing treason!"

When people hesitated at the word treason, it was Hildegard who stepped forward.

"I don’t recognize that person as the Emperor of this country!"

Hildegard shouted in a brave voice while her body trembled slightly.

"How can someone not recognized by the Supreme God reign as the Emperor of this country? People’s hearts have already left him!"

"That’s right!"

When Hildegard, who looked frail, said that, people seemed to gain more courage.

"We will stand on Lartman’s side!"

"We were already walking to make Lady Gracia the Emperor!"

"...Ha."

The soldier at the front snorted as if in disbelief, then raised his sword.

"Fine, then you die first!"

As that sword swung towards Hildegard, and Hildegard tightly closed her eyes at that moment...

Clang!

With the sound of clashing swords, the soldier’s sword flew far away. Emmett, who stood at the very front, had quickly swung his sword to meet the soldier’s. The soldier who lost his sword trembled, seemingly flustered.

"How..."

"Attack!"

Thinking they should deal with him first, the other soldiers swung their swords at Emmett all at once. Even while facing multiple opponents alone, Emmett was not backing down at all. He moved his body quickly and deflected attacks coming from all directions. Whenever soldiers clashed swords with him, they often lost their weapons.

"Yaah!"

People who had brought spears and farming tools suddenly pounced on the soldiers.

"W-Wait a moment! I’ll use my power!"

Liv shouted that, worried that Emmett and the people would get hurt, but what came back from Emmett was unexpected.

"Liv, go to the capital!"

"...What?"

"I’ll handle the imperial army until you reach the imperial palace. Get out of here!"

"B-But I can’t go alone...!"

It wasn’t easy for Liv to part with Emmett, whom she had reunited with so difficultly. Emmett seemed to feel the same, as he tightly closed his eyes, but soon shouted in a firmly resolved voice.

"Now that our route has been discovered, more soldiers will gather! It’s better if at least you are safe!"

It was hard to completely deny Emmett’s words. Above all, if they continued like this, even the people who had joined the procession following Liv would be in danger.

Liv looked at the dark forest in front of her. The dense and lush forest without a single point of light looked even scarier than the sea.

"S-Sister, should I follow you?"

Hildegard asked from behind, but Liv shook her head.

"No, I’ll go alone."

Rather than putting anyone else in danger, it’s better to head to the imperial palace alone. Yes, from the beginning, this was a fight between August and Liv.

"I will behead everything that blocks your way. Liv, focus only on what you need to do!"

Emmett’s shout was heard from behind, and Liv turned her head to meet his eyes. What Liv read in those eyes was perhaps...

"...See you again!"

After shouting that, Liv ran towards the dark forest.

As soon as she set foot in the forest, her vision instantly darkened. The reason this place is called the Devil’s Forest is because it’s a black space where you can’t see an inch ahead, day or night. Countless people have lost their lives in this forest. Although there might be any dangerous beasts, Liv didn’t stop running. She wasn’t afraid because she was confident that no beast could harm her.

It was at some point while she was running for a long time. Something caught her foot, and Liv frowned as she lifted her sore foot to look at what was underneath. A large stone?

...Unfortunately, it was a skull. A human skull was embedded in the damp ground.

"Umm..."

Although she thought there was nothing more to be afraid of, Liv realized why people avoided this forest. This was certainly a bit creepy.

To avoid tripping over skulls, Liv walked slowly. Anyway, no pursuer would be able to follow into this forest, so this place was rather safe. Other humans would be attacked by beasts the moment they set foot in this forest.

Indeed, yellow beast eyes shone here and there. But those beings didn’t rush at Liv and just watched her silently. Not far away, dozens of yellow eyes were clustered together watching Liv. Whatever creatures they were, it was enough to terrify anyone.

But Liv didn’t slow her steps and clenched her fists. It’s okay. She wasn’t afraid. Because Liv...

Yes, in fact, Liv’s heart had been beating fast for a while now. A strange excitement and anticipation enveloped Liv. Liv unknowingly put her hand on her reddened cheeks. She felt her whole body’s temperature rising. It was natural for Liv’s body to react like this.

Because the moment she saw Emmett’s eyes, Liv had reached the answer.

’Emmett loves me.’