Pushover Extra Trains the Villainesses

Chapter 149: White Dragon IX

For an instant, a brilliant light flashed, blinding everyone’s vision. It was so intense that it made distinguishing anything an inch ahead impossible, while simultaneously inducing fear.

As soon as the light vanished, Ophelia automatically frowned, feeling a sharp pain.

“Kuh…” she groaned, turning her gaze toward the source of the pain. Her left arm was tattered, nearly falling off. Fortunately, she had managed to avoid a fatal wound by using Karl’s Greatsword as a shield, but her left arm, which had been outside the defense zone of the sword, had taken significant damage.

‘If this continues… I won’t be able to use this arm anymore,’ she thought. Some tendons and muscles had entirely torn, and even some bones were missing. She wouldn’t be able to do anything with it until she could get a recovery spell later. For someone who understood how lethal it could be to lose the use of an arm in battle, this was a grievous loss.

But…

The face of the White Dragon Princess staring at Ophelia was unusually stiff. 

“You… you… how can you be like this?” Princess Ellios stammered, her bewilderment and anger evident. She had clearly been the one to land a significant blow on her opponent. However, while the previous attack had depleted much of Ophelia’s mana, the damage Ellios had sustained was, in some ways, more severe. 

The White Dragon Princess felt a burning pain. As Ophelia’s left arm was wounded, Ellios had her right ankle tendon torn. At first glance, it seemed like a minor injury compared to Ophelia’s shredded arm. But having a severed ankle tendon rendered Ellios virtually unable to walk—a crippling disadvantage in battle, more lethal than losing an arm.

‘Originally, I had planned to sever her entire ankle… But giving up an arm isn’t too bad,’ Ophelia thought. She had taken advantage of Ellios’ Brilliant Orbs and struck with an invisible sword, catching the princess off guard. Although it was a sudden blow, it didn’t achieve everything she wanted, but it met her minimum goal.

‘Even in this situation, to think she had so much mana shielding her…’ Ophelia mused. Ellios had been fighting intensely, pouring out tremendous amounts of mana, and although she still carried her impressive prestige, she was limited, like any living being.

On the other hand, Ophelia had preserved her power throughout the battle. Her success was largely due to the plan orchestrated by Bahamut and the Imperial Army, who had prepared everything meticulously.

‘It’s amazing that even with all that preparation, I almost failed. As a warrior, she truly deserves the title of the strongest. Princess Ellios…’

With that thought, as a sign of respect for her opponent’s strength, Ophelia lifted the greatsword in her right hand and aimed it at Ellios. 

Ellios, on the other hand, gritted her teeth and struggled to regain her stance, but her legs, with their severed tendons, refused to move.

“Kuk!” she cried, collapsing to the floor. Even defense, let alone an attack, seemed impossible at this point.

In response, Ophelia sprinted toward Ellios with all her strength, her expression cold and determined. She still anticipated a counterattack, but as she neared, Ellios remained still, her head bowed, supporting herself on her sword.

‘I can finish this! I can protect my master with this!’ Ophelia thought, swinging her mana-infused greatsword toward Ellios.

Yet even in that moment, Ellios didn’t flinch, as if she had given up. The doubt over this sudden resignation mingled with the thrill of imminent victory when—

“Ophelia, stop!”

“…!” 

The command from her master made Ophelia instantly shift the sword’s trajectory, slamming it into the ground beside Ellios instead of striking her. 

“Master?” Ophelia called, confused by the inexplicable order.

Suddenly, an overwhelming sensation engulfed her. No—it was a presence, a colossal mana force that she only recognized at that moment. Still, Ophelia kept her composure. The realization that she had been deeply engrossed in the battle made her shudder. She then sensed something else—something that sent a chill down her spine.

‘What… what is this… no way…’

The aura was so powerful, yet so familiar that it terrified her. It was coming from the one person who had followed Ellios all the way here. A figure in a robe, someone Ophelia had dismissed as just another soldier.

But now, she knew exactly who he was.

“You… you… definitely…” she muttered in disbelief.

“You almost did something dangerous. But… he stopped it just in time. Thank your master,” the robed figure said calmly, stepping forward toward Ellios.

Ellios, with a bitter smile on her lips, addressed the newcomer. “In the end, I failed. If I had lasted a little longer, I could’ve dragged that man away from the emperor.”

“Didn’t I tell you from the start that it wouldn’t be easy? Still, looking at your performance up to this point, your skills have certainly improved compared to before.”

“Hahaha…” Ellios let out a weak laugh.

The robed figure slowly removed the hood, revealing their face for the first time. 

Ophelia froze.

That face… it was identical to the stone statue she had seen in Rhome not long ago.

“Empress…Mina… Mina Roseveta Dragona…” she whispered in awe.

Ophelia momentarily showed fear, while Bahamut frowned instinctively. 

Roseveta, the Rose Empress, glanced at them and, sensing their unease, softened her murderous aura and smiled lightly.

“You’ve been doing well, I see. Has it been three years since Benessa? Lately, I’ve become a bit numb to the passage of time, but seeing you both makes me remember,” she said, her voice surprisingly gentle.

“How… how are you here…?” Ophelia asked, her voice trembling.

With a kind smile, Empress Roseveta responded, “In a way… it’s not unusual for an empress to join a war that decides the fate of her nation. Emperor Carol of the Holy Empire is here as well, so what law says I can’t be?”

“Kuh…”

Ophelia groaned, stepping protectively in front of Bahamut, her frown deepening at the empress’s words. 

“Oh my…” The empress looked amused, her expression slightly flushed.

“To think, even with your body in that state, you’re still trying to protect the man you love first… It’s admirable, even from an enemy,” Roseveta said leisurely, despite standing in the midst of a battlefield.

But from Ophelia’s perspective, even this relaxed demeanor was terrifying. Though she had grown incredibly strong, she had no chance of winning this fight. Injured and outmatched, there seemed no way to protect Bahamut.

‘What should I do? How can I save my master in this situation…?’ Ophelia’s mind raced as she trembled with fear, searching for a way out.

At that moment, Bahamut, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

“I apologize for interrupting, Your Majesty…” he began.

“Hmm?”

For the first time, Empress Roseveta showed genuine curiosity as Bahamut, his voice calm, addressed her directly.

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Goblin: This is the regular release. Up next, 4 sponsored chapters from Jade. Thank you for your support Jade!