Forgotten Juliet / 잊혀진 줄리엣

Chapter 81

She had freed Hildegard, who had been imprisoned underground, and urged her to escape if Juliet failed.

According to Hildegard, once Juliet succeeded in escaping, the coordinates would be left behind, and Hildegard could follow and escape on her own.

Juliet, who had never used divine power, didn't understand the exact principle, but Hildegard was a former Pope and possessed significant divine power.

* * *

"Archbishop!"

"What should we do?!"

Priests following Archbishop Solon shouted.

"Damn it..."

Solon, thrust into the role of the responsible party, looked around from the altar.

He saw Archbishop Gilliam and his priests rescuing the former Pope Hildegard and hastily leaving.

On the other hand, the citizens gathered to watch were rolling on the ground in pain.

'To send back that goddess, we need the power of the Pope.'

But the current Pope, Sebastian, was unconscious.

Solon, who had climbed here just on intuition, quickly devised a plan.

Things were not looking good.

With Hildegard's return, Sebastian's misdeeds would surely be exposed once the situation was sorted.

If that happened, Solon might be executed as a scapegoat.

He needed a sacrificial lamb to divert the public's attention and cover up Sebastian's sins.

And right in front of Archbishop Solon stood the perfect witch for the role.

"The goddess is angry!"

What?

Juliet, who had fallen to the ground, barely lifted her head.

"She tried to kill the Pope!"

"It's because of this woman that the goddess is angry!"

Archbishop Solon not only pointed at Juliet, but he also ran up the stairs and grabbed Juliet by the collar, dragging her away.

"Blasphemy! God is angry with the blasphemy!"

Ah, damn.

Juliet, who didn't even have the energy to resist, was swayed back and forth by Archbishop Solon's push.

Then.

"Blasphemy! This woman is trying to..."

Bang!

"What, what?"

Once more.

Bang! Bang!

Archbishop Solon staggered, letting go of Juliet due to the vibration that resonated throughout the terrarium.

The priests looked around, unsure of where the noise was coming from.

Then,

"Run away!"

"Get out of the way!"

Screech. Boom!

On the other side of the altar, a pillar that had been supporting the building collapsed onto the altar.

Like a bridge.

Through the thick dust and beyond the floating mist, the silhouette of a man arrogantly standing on the pillar was visible.

"Get your hands off her."

It was Duke Carlyle.

* * *

"Wha... What...?!"

Such a monster! Knocking down a pillar.

Archbishop Solon paled.

Alternating his gaze between the fallen woman in front of him and the approaching Duke Carlyle, who was using the fallen pillar as a bridge, Solon had an intuition.

'I am already a dead man.'

If he was going to die anyway, he might as well fight back.

Archbishop Solon quickly took Juliet hostage and retreated, ordering the priests,

"Form, form the defense!"

"Set up the defense!"

"Prepare for the impact!"

The priests of Lucerne quickly spread their defensive barriers from their positions.

The unique azure glows of the clerics sparkled here and there.

Then, Lennox Carlyle, who had been slowly walking down, paused for a moment.

"...?"

What are they doing? The priests looked at him with confusion when suddenly,

Boom!

"No, no way!"

"How, how did...?!"

"Cough!"

Suddenly, several high-ranking priests coughed up blood and collapsed.

Juliet knew without seeing. It was a familiar sight.

When the magic barrier was broken, the backlash returned to the priests who had cast the curse.

Even though everyone here was among the elite clergy renowned for their divine power.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Amidst the loud explosions and the breaking of Lucerne's ninety-eight barriers one after the other, the only injury he received was a sharp fragment grazing his cheek.

Blood oozed from the scratch, but with everything exploding around him, it seemed almost trivial.

He looked unscathed.

"Juliet."

Contrary to the chaotic surroundings, his voice calling her name was more than calm; it was serene.

"Come here."

Looking at his outstretched hand, Juliet hesitated for a moment.

Should she take this hand?

'If I take his hand, then I, Lennox...'

But her hesitation was short-lived.

"..."

Juliet, who had grabbed his hand and stepped onto the bridge, staggered a bit to find her balance. However, his large and firm hand quickly and firmly gripped her waist.

"Duke!"

The trembling priests behind shouted out.

"How dare you... You won't get away with this!"

Contrary to their shout, as Duke Carlyle's indifferent gaze met theirs, they recoiled in fear.

Lennox, looking down at the scene with contempt, said:

"Step down."

Juliet, trying to balance herself, slowly crossed the bridge.