Liebe said, "I'm ending this battle now."
Envy said, "Alright then."
Liebe said, "Dark Magic: Vesta Grand Strike!"
Envy said, "String Magic: Bloody Whip!"
As their attacks clashed, everyone witnessed the shockwaves. Afterwards, Liebe emerged victorious with his body in shambles, yet Envy survived.
Gelda said, "Eldrie, Stal, get him."
Eldrie said, "With pleasure." As they got Envy.
The world witnessed the battle. The world cheered on for Liebe Faust. Seeds of doubt began to grow in many individuals who believed devils were beyond evil.
As it was over, Liebe walked away.
Lilith said, "Liebe, wait."
Liebe said, "Please just stay away from me." As Liebe vanished into the snow.
After the battle:
Asten said, "Looks like they are safe. Same as Liebe."
David said, "I see now why our late father placed so much trust on him."
Asten said, "Yes, Your Majesty. But it appears after the battle, Liebe vanished."
David said, "Alright then. We shall have to find him."
Asten said, "Yeah, we just did. He went back to prison willingly."
David said, "Then tell the warden to release him. He is a hero after all."
Asten said, "Actually, he is staying there willingly."
David said, "Then allow the prison to have as much budget as they want. It's best to keep him happy."
Asten said, "Alright then."
Licht said, "Told you, Liebe is alright."
Lichee said, "Yeah, I guess."
Licht said, "Now everyone get back to work. I'm going to take a nap." As he went to Liebe's office and closed the door. He snapped his fingers and Horn came.
Horn said, "You called, Mr. Tiny Testicles?"
Licht said, "I told you not to call me that. But I need a favour."
Horn said, "A favour? Alright then. Do you want me to take your virginity after you gave up on women?"
Licht said, "Oh god, no. I need you to be Liebe and work as the Fleet Admiral for a few days. The news that Liebe is in prison is just bad news that keeps spreading. And the Fleet Admiral being in prison is just making it worse. The nobility does what they want, and the weak don't have anyone to count on. I will handle everything. You act as Liebe, give statements, and punish everyone. I will handle the rest."
Horn said, "Will 3 hours a day do?"
Licht said, "Yeah, it's more than enough. I will do whatever I have to, even if it means I have to sleep less."
Horn said, "Alright. Tomorrow then."
Licht said, "Thanks. Right now, damage control is the best I can do."
The next morning, a public announcement was made at the academy that Liebe Faust was never in prison and is not the traitor to humanity. Those who need it still come to Liebe, but Licht has to do most of the work.
In prison, the bulk doors opened as Arzoks, Lilith, and Gelda entered.
Lilith said, "Arzoks, remove the restraints."
As Liebe's restraints were removed:
Lilith said, "Liebe, I have so much to talk about—"
Liebe said, "And I don't have any reason or time to listen."
Lilith said, "I'm sorry for everything. For the past 10 years. For what I said."
Liebe said, "Captain, I'm sorry to say, I'm a prisoner."
Lilith said, "What?"
Liebe said, "I'm done with you. You abandoned me and tried to kill me the moment I was an inconvenience."
Lilith screamed, "It isn't like that, Liebe!"
Liebe said, "Shut up. What do you mean it isn't like that? Then what is it like, huh? Answer me. The moment my dad died and you had to take care of me, you threw me out. And now the moment I was accused of being a traitor, you tried to kill me. What now? You want to kill me in prison? Just goddamn end me. At least then I can be at peace, and you can be on time for your golden boy's third parade of the day. You can finally praise the noble son and not the half-breed. Just let me die. I lost everything because of you."
Lilith said, "I'm sorry, Liebe, for everything. That night at the alley, I didn't see it all. All I saw was you, Gaia, Markus injured, covered in—"
Liebe said, "Covered in what? Covered in blood? My blood. I goddamn risked my life to save that noble filth, and this is how you repay me? You never just abandoned me. You took everything from me—everything that should be rightfully mine. The Faust Estate, the title of heir, everything my grandfather left in his will—you took it all for your golden boy. Why? Answer me. Because I'm a half-breed?"
Lilith screamed, "No! Because you are capable and he isn't."
Liebe said, "So what? You want my sympathy? Is that it? When a beggar comes to your door, you help him. You don't give away your heart on a silver platter. Yeah, you are right. I'm capable. I don't have a home to return to, but so what? I have wealth 100x times what you can offer. I have to help you every month so that you can send that filth to some fancy school in the Empire, hire spatial magic users daily for transport."
Lilith said, "Yes, you are right. It's all my fault. For the past decade, all of it. I was weak, and your sins are the result."
Liebe said, "I'm remembering something interesting you once said, right? I believe it goes: 'No mercy for flesh and blood.' So why not put that theory to the test? Let's see. You want my love? Show equality. Show you can offer Markus the blade as well. It's only a few stabs."
Lilith said, "I can't do that. I can't kill my son."
Liebe said, "Goddamn shut up. You really have forgotten I'm your son as well. Then goddamn answer me. Why? Why the hell did you not have any issues killing me, huh?"
Lilith said, "I'm sorry, Liebe."
Liebe said, "Shut up. I'm done with your BS. Just leave."
Lilith said, "I can't do that, Liebe. I know that now."
Liebe said, "Goddamn shut up. You have some nerve taking all that was rightfully mine by birth. Everything my grandfather left for me, you didn't even split it in half. You took it all. Even the title of heir—that is for the most capable. You stepped on Grandpa's ideal like it meant nothing. At least I still know my grandpa loved me. Why the goddamn hell was I cast aside the moment my dad and grandpa died? Is it because of the fact I'm a half-breed, or because I inherited the signature magic of our family and he didn't? Answer me, Lilith Faust. You made someone that doesn't even have our signature magic into the heir. You have ruined our family. Grandfather always said the heir was someone who deserved it as well as the fact they had it. So answer me. What did I don't deserve?"
Lilith said, "You answered your own question. You have our signature magic, but he doesn't."
Liebe said, "Don't give me this crap."
Lilith said, "You won because you are talented, isn't it?"
Liebe said, "You have no right to say that. I don't have the tiniest shreds of talent. You worked sleepless nights to grow stronger. I fought with my life on the line like everyone else to reach here. Don't goddamn make it all about talent. Do you have any goddamn idea how I got the money to buy my first house, the Vale Estate? I worked my ass off for it. I fought monsters day and night and had to sell their parts to reach it. I should have done it back then. I should have killed Markus the moment he was born. I should have killed the extended Fausts the moment I was born. I should have killed Gabriel at the capital the moment I saw him."
Lilith said, "Liebe, you are mistaken."
Liebe said, "Hell yeah, am I mistaken? I was mistaken to think you cared about me. I was mistaken to look up to you. Now cut the crap. If you want me back, here is what I want: the title of Captain, the Faust Estate, the Black Garden, as well as the Mask of Ifrit Mythical Model Odin—the power that chose me. You can keep all of the extra assets owned by our family. I'm willing to offer even 10 million extra gold as well and my continued support of 5000 gold monthly. I will even give a nice big house for your tiny little piece of shit and all his fancy schools and shit. Do that, and I will forgive."
Gelda said, "Liebe, that is too hard of a choice to make in an instant."
Liebe said, "Not all choices receive time. I never received time for my decision to leave, but I did it willingly."
Lilith said, "Liebe, I can't accept this. My station as a captain and strongest keeps this nation safe. If I were to vanish from the top, same as Dad and Astreous, the nation would collapse."
Liebe said, "Alright then. You can keep your seat. Now then, do we have a deal? I can't move anymore."
As Lilith hesitated:
Gelda said, "Liebe, this decision is far too quickly. It's far too large."
Liebe said, "No, Gelda, you are wrong. This is something I should have done long ago. If after what Lilith Faust did to me for so long can still be forgiven, I don't see a reason why my love being bought would be an issue."
Lilith said, "I'm sorry, Liebe. I can't accept. Your offer is tempting, but the truth is, I want Markus to receive the same childhood you once did under that house of memories."
Liebe said, "OK then. You made your choice. Now leave and never show me your face."
Lilith said, "No, Liebe. I will stay. I will watch over you till the day I die."
Liebe said, "Good. Then it makes everything easy for me. Just go ahead and die, and don't make me bother coming to the funeral. I don't want to waste time killing a child for what was actually mine."
Lilith said, "Liebe, I'm sorry for everything that happened that night. I should have seen it. I should have trusted you." As she hugged Liebe, she said, "Thank you, Liebe, for everything. For saving Markus. For saving your brother."
As Liebe screamed, "Don't you damn touch me!" As Liebe let out his King's Roar, he screamed, "Shut up! I will never consider that filthy spoiled child my little brother. I already have a little brother who I would die for, and that bastard's name is Licht Vaude, not goddamn Markus Silver. Dark Magic: Dark Spikes!"
As dark spikes impaled Lilith and she started to bleed, all Lilith said was, "I'm sorry, Liebe, for everything. I know you must be hurting right now a lot more than me. I'm the one who deserves forgiveness more. You needed this for so long."
As Liebe teared up:
Liebe said, "Please, don't. Please just don't give me false hope. All you did was lie. Always. I'm done. Please, I just want to give up. How many more times will you lie to me? You trampled over everything Grandpa wanted, over everything Dad was. You left me for dead. After so long, I can't—"
As his heart may realize what it wanted for so long is here, yet his mind knew the pattern, and Liebe walked away.
Liebe said, "It's too late." As he was still crying, Liebe said, "It's too late. Please, just once, let me be at peace. I want to know. Why did you leave me and then try to kill me when you thought I hurt him? I just—"
Lilith said, "I was scared, OK? I was scared seeing him so hurt and Gaia attacking—"
Liebe said, "Keep Gaia out of this, OK? I did to keep her hands clean. So just leave. Seeing your face hurts. It reminds me of my mother, but she died 10 years ago with my father and grandfather. I wish my dad survived. At least then I would still have a parent who loved me, and I would have been orphaned. Now just leave. If I see your face anymore, I feel like I will just die from the heartache."
As Lilith knew all along the truth, she knew was finally confirmed by Liebe. She didn't have a response. She just left.
As they were leaving:
Liebe said, "Gelda, can you please stay a while? I wanted to actually talk."
Gelda said, "Sure."