The group rode on Fal and quickly crossed through the strong magic region.
Even though Fal's speed wasn't slow, they still fell behind Asta.
When Charles and the others saw that massive mobile fortress, one of its windows was already starting to emit black smoke.
Without anyone commanding them, everyone charged forward. Charles didn't follow along, but instead watched the mobile fortress from midair with a frown.
He had overlooked it before, but seeing this fortress made Charles suddenly realize something was wrong.
If Charles remembered correctly, this type of fortress was called Candelo, and in the original plot it was created by the former Diamond Kingdom's magic scholar Morris after he was exiled and went to the Spade Kingdom.
But Charles had known when he last left this world that Morris might cause big trouble in the future, so he had dealt with him in advance.
To prevent anyone from using resurrection magic, Charles had even scattered his ashes.
So where did this mobile fortress come from? No matter how you looked at it, the Dark Triad weren't the type to focus on developing technology, and this world couldn't possibly have a second magic scholar like Morris.
Then even though it seemed incredible, there was only one explanation - someone had resurrected Morris without even using a corpse.
While Charles was thinking, Asta and the others had already cleared out most of the Spade Kingdom soldiers in the fortress.
And all those civilians were transported by Finral using spatial magic to the Clover Kingdom.
Seeing everyone had left, Fal roared and breathed out a pillar of fire that directly pierced through the entire mobile fortress.
Perhaps the fire pillar hit some core component, triggering a chain explosion, and the entire fortress turned into a massive fireball.
Seeing the fortress completely reduced to fragments, Fal began returning with Charles.
Without using Finral's spatial magic, Charles simply wanted to leave some time to think things through properly.
Rather than believing in some restorative power of fate, Charles was more inclined to believe someone was pulling strings behind the scenes.
This feeling of things being beyond his control made Charles somewhat irritated.
However, on the return journey, Charles gradually calmed down. Although he didn't know what exactly had happened, there weren't that many people with both the ability and motive to cause trouble.
Excluding characters from the later original work that Charles hadn't seen, he could only think of one person now.
Although it was just speculation, Charles was almost certain it was his doing.
But that he could resurrect Morris even without a corpse was indeed something Charles hadn't anticipated.
If things were truly as Charles thought, then what he would do certainly wouldn't be limited to just resurrecting Morris. The upcoming actions would have to take this point into consideration as well.
After all, that person's identity was truly too sensitive. Having just experienced Conrad's incident, the Clover Kingdom couldn't withstand another Magic Emperor rebellion.
Especially since compared to Conrad, his prestige among the current Magic Knight squads and citizens was even higher.
Because he was the current Magic Emperor Julius, and he himself hadn't noticed the other soul hidden within his body - Lucius Zogratis.
That was an existence that had devoured even one of the three strongest demons from the underworld, the time demon.
Although he hadn't yet obtained the heart and magic power of the devil king Lucifero, it still forced Charles to respond with the highest level of caution.
Just as Charles was making up his mind, Fal had already returned to the Heart Kingdom.
Lolopechka opened the entrance to that special space and welcomed Charles in. Because Asta and the others were all busy settling the refugees rescued from the Spade Kingdom, only Lolopechka, Undine, and Gadjah were in the space.
Gadjah asked, "Why didn't you act together with the others?"
Charles replied, "They're enough to handle those matters! And compared to settling refugees, there's something more important.
Your Majesty, I'd like to try to see if I can lift the curse on you."
Gadjah's expression changed immediately, no longer maintaining his previous composure.
"What did you say?!!"
Seeing Gadjah get so excited that he directly grabbed Charles's dragon scale scarf, Lolopechka quickly said, "Mr. Gadjah, please calm down! This is too rude!"
Gadjah immediately let go and said, "Please don't mind me, I'm...!"
As a guardian, Gadjah had failed to prevent the devil-possessed Vanica from invading the Heart Kingdom and placing a curse on Lolopechka. This had always filled Gadjah with self-blame.
Now hearing there was hope of lifting the curse, how could he remain calm.
So Charles waved his hand and said, "It's fine, I can understand Mr. Gadjah's feelings. But I do have a method for lifting curses that I can try."
Lolopechka smiled and said, "Then please feel free to try! Even if it fails, it doesn't matter. After all, as long as we defeat Megicula according to plan, my curse can be lifted just the same.
But if the method for lifting the curse would harm you, Mr. Charles, please don't do it. After all, I don't know any attack magic, so I can't let saving someone useless like me affect you."
Charles couldn't help but marvel that there really existed someone this gentle in the world.
The queen who protected the entire Heart Kingdom, the omniscient witch, was someone who couldn't learn attack magic because she didn't want to hurt others.
And Charles could feel that her words about not wanting to affect him weren't for preserving strength for the coming battle, but purely out of concern for Charles's safety.
No wonder Noelle would fight desperately for her. This girl's gentleness truly deserved the world's gentle treatment. But there were some villains who inflicted unreasonable malice upon her.
Charles said, "Don't worry, I won't force it. Then I'll be taking liberties now."
Saying this, Charles extended his palm toward Lolopechka and began reciting an incantation he had learned in the Seven Deadly Sins world.
Magic manifestation technique - it could visualize the magic power operating on a target, and curses were naturally included.
Ominous black mist gathered above Lolopechka's head, finally intertwining to form a monster image that would make anyone lose sanity just from looking at it.
Gadjah's pupils contracted as he unconsciously said, "This is the curse on the queen!"
Charles picked up the conversation, "That's right, now to deal with it."
Gadjah first showed a pained expression, then it changed to anger, and finally he looked at Charles with anticipation.
His pain was for Lolopechka being constantly entangled by such an ugly thing, and his anger was naturally directed at Vanica who had caused all this.
Charles couldn't fully comprehend Gadjah's complex emotions, but he wouldn't disappoint his expectations.
So Charles took out a dagger and said, "Then let me try this!"
It was a magic tool imbued with the power of a world's deity, specifically used for breaking curses.
Charles swung the dagger, directly slashing that hideous monster apart.
Though it was clearly a condensation of magic power, the moment it was cut by the blade it let out an ear-piercing shriek like a living creature.
Then that monster dispersed like snow over fire.
Lolopechka unconsciously lifted her clothes. Her abdomen was completely clear - the black markings that had been coiled there had completely disappeared.
"The curse... is really lifted!" Lolopechka said in disbelief in a low voice.
Charles put away the dagger and said, "Although I'd like to congratulate you now, after the curse is lifted the caster should sense it. We should prepare for battle."
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