Additionally, this entire battle with Minerva, which went on for who knows how long, was precisely to bring back the Queen.
"I will not sacrifice her. Others might question my decision to choose her over the world, but the oath I swore means my priority now belongs to her. Even if it means keeping the fragment, a factor of risk in the world, I will not destroy it. I choose to save her."
His words were determined and spoken from his heart. It was so powerful that it was no different from a battle cry.
It pounded in the hearts of the two women, whose eyes trembled intensely after his declaration.
To think that he would not hesitate even after that revelation, there was probably no woman who wouldn’t be swayed by it.
Minerva glanced at her other half. As both their souls were connected, they were able to talk into each other’s minds telepathically, without anyone else finding out.
[You really found yourself a great man.]
The Queen didn’t say anything and simply blushed.
Seeing this, Minerva teased some more. [Heh, giving you such an excellent man feels like a waste. I am finding myself getting more and more interested in him. Maybe I’ll keep him for myself.]
At those words, the Queen finally spoke, her voice urgent. [No, you can’t do that. He is my knight.]
Minerva had never seen her other self get this serious before.
[Fine, just like I promised. I will hand the control of this body back to you. Haha, but your wish was really something. To think that my other half would fall in love so hard. You’d better tell him your feelings and make him yours before the other women he keeps around himself snatch him away.]
Needless to say, Reinhardt was unaware of their conversation. As such, he did not know that this was a test, one deliberately set like this to reveal his true intentions and face. Had he chosen to destroy the fragment, it was difficult to judge what Minerva would have done.
Nevertheless, wielding that much power, if she held any ill will, she could erase the entire capital; no, the entire kingdom, without a trace, seemingly effortlessly.
The latter stepped forward and, in front of the jealous eyes of the Queen, she placed both hands over his, feeling his powerful heartbeat.
"Few men would choose like you did. Fewer still with the conviction to stay true after the revelation of the Fragment. If you truly mean this, then know what you have chosen will mark you and her. But I... I will keep my promise. I will be the seal."
Minerva smiled; there was something akin to respect and silent acknowledgement, and even a powerful forlornness in those eyes of hers.
She turned around, her eyes focused toward the fragment. Just as she took a few steps, intending to seal herself with the fragment and go back to sleep, a firm hand reached out and stopped her in place.
Minerva’s eyes widened in surprise. The person who stopped her was none other than Reinhardt.
The latter smiled suavely and added, "Although I did choose the second option, I never said you would be the one sealing yourself with it."
With her breath caught, she questioned, "You... you mean you have a way to seal the fragment without a soul acting as an anchor?"
Reinhardt did not explain; instead, he extended a hand toward the distant fragment. At that moment, the mind realm shuddered, and a pulse of pure divinity erupted from him, forming a large plex formation filled with celestial letters and runes.
"Normal Skill [Judgement Lock]."
As soon as those words fell from his lips, a sound like a thousand chains clashing together thundered across the realm. A huge gate tore itself into existence and appeared before the fragment.
Like a luminous monolith, its frame was carved with images of angels, lions, swords and runes older than recorded history.
The entire thing looked as if it had been forged from condensed sunlight. The door slammed open, revealing a distorted white, empty plane within. Then came the chains.
Dozens, hundreds, of radiant chains shot outward, each one inscribed with runes and burning with divine fire. They wrapped around the fragment, pulling it toward the white realm.
The fragment resisted, retaliating against the chains.
SCREEEECHH... A screech echoed; it was the sound of reality being carved out. It was overwhelming. Nevertheless, under the power of the chains, it was still pulled inside the gates.
Reinhardt made a grabbing motion. Immediately, the chains tightened. Once the fragment was pulled inside the gates, the doors slammed shut, sealing the fragment and its power within it.
Phew... A sigh of relief escaped his lips.
He then lowered his hands and turned toward the two women.
"This gate will remain here. It will not open unless it is destroyed from the outside. Be that as it may, it cannot affect you two... nor the living world."
Among his arsenal of skills, the [Judgement Lock] was the only sealing skill. While it might not be extremely powerful when pared to the sealing powers of some of his summoned divine beasts, it was still capable of sealing the fragment.
To everyone else, it was still amazing. Both Minerva and the Queen stared at him, unable to speak.
Finally, unable to hold herself back, the former spoke up. "Why... Why spare me? Our agreement was that I would remain sealed while my other half returned. That was the price."
Her voice trembled. She was fully resolved to go back to sleep and never surface again, so... why?
Reinhardt met her gaze without hesitation. "The Divine Scale judged you. It saw no evil in you. Sealing you would be a punishment you do not deserve. And..."
At this point, his expression softened a little. "My oath extends to the Queen. Which means it extends to you as well. You are both her. I will not harm either side of her soul."
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