Time rewinds.
The ticking of the clock gradually faded from my ears. I opened my eyes, a piercing pain stabbing at my insides.
It wasn’t quite as bad as death, but it was still an agonizing discomfort that was hard to get used to. I took a deep breath and slowly raised my head.
‘Let’s assess the situation first.’
I needed to figure out the exact moment I had returned to.
I saw Evan, wrapped in aura, slicing through the Emperor’s Hands. Behind him, Lily stood next to the old woman, trembling slightly. Looking back, I saw that the Golden Magic Circle was being redrawn.
I couldn’t help but click my tongue at that sight.
Of all the times to come back, it had to be right now.
The time I’d gone back was surprisingly short. If it had been just before the battle broke out, I might have had a more relaxed response.
Countless chaotic thoughts rushed through my mind, but I shook my head to clear them away.
There was no time to complain any further.
“Hoo…”
I took a few deep breaths and quickly scanned my surroundings. Soon, a shadow entered my vision.
In an instant, a figure appeared from thin air—similar to Abel’s teleportation.
If I hadn’t been paying close attention, I might not have even noticed it. I probably would have fallen for it like my previous self before returning.
Maybe it was just my impression, but it felt like they were becoming more meticulous in their approach as time went on.
Whoosh.
With the sound of wind, a figure wearing a black mask rushed towards me.
I unleashed a shield spell with my fist. A red magic circle wrapped around my arm, forming several layers of shields in an instant.
Just like the way I dealt with them in the library. It seemed this guy still had no learning ability, as he simply accepted my attack.
Boom!
Crack?!
The figure let out a wheezing sound as he slammed into the wall. Trembling, he tried to get back up immediately.
However, a blue slash that came flying right after cleanly decapitated him. Soon, Evan’s urgent voice was heard.
“Miss, are you okay?!”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
It was a situation I could easily block. Somehow, I felt slightly deflated.
Evan stood before me, channeling aura into his sword. Golden Magic Circles began to be drawn on the floor.
He clicked his tongue and took a deep breath.
The enemies began to invade in a manner similar to teleportation. However, he did not miss a single one, slicing through them all.
One enemy fell, then another.
The battle was simply a one-sided massacre.
The number of enemies had noticeably decreased compared to just moments ago. No matter how mass-produced the Emperor’s Hands were, there was bound to be a limit to their numbers.
Thud.
As the last one fell, Evan leaned heavily against his sword, gasping for breath. Though he didn’t say it, he appeared extremely fatigued.
It was only natural since he had faced so many alone. He exhaled heavily and muttered.
“I never expected they’d break in even to a place like this.”
I agreed.
I also never thought they’d invade such a secluded village.
He shook off the blood from his sword and sheathed it.
Clap clap clap.
Suddenly, applause echoed.
Taken aback by the sound that felt out of place, Evan frowned subconsciously.
The sound of applause drew nearer. A man slowly entered from behind the door.
He clapped nonchalantly as he walked into the cabin.
With a pale face, dark circles under his eyes, and an oddly bizarre aura, he had golden eyes. He was the young man who had guided us to the village.
‘…Were his eyes golden?’
The question popped into my mind. He had black hair and blue eyes when I first saw him. Before I could continue thinking, the young man spoke first.
“Impressive. I never thought you’d be able to fend off that ambush.”
He took slow steps toward us. Every time the young man, no, the man took a step, a chilling fear seized my whole body.
The indifferent expression from earlier had vanished without a trace. He exuded an air of intimidation.
Even Evan seemed tense, gulping as he drew his sword. Upon seeing him, the man smirked and opened his mouth.
“What do you think you’ll achieve with that hunk of metal?”
“Shut up.”
The blue aura flared up. Unlike before, it had somewhat diminished, but it still radiated fierce energy.
The aura blazed like fire, threatening to split the man in two at any moment.
However, he merely stared at Evan with a blank expression.
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing filled the air.
It was quite an alien sight. Not only did he pull out his sword with one hand, but not even a drop of blood fell.
A Golden Magic Circle drawn on his palm simply blocked his sword effortlessly. Even so, Evan did not panic and continued his assault.
Clang!
Clang clang…
As sword met magic circle, sharp metallic sounds echoed in all directions.
With just one magic circle the size of a palm, the man blocked all of Evan’s attacks.
“Strong. But weak.”
He said that while clenching his right fist tightly.
At that, Evan gritted his teeth and swung his sword. A blue slash lunged at the man but was utterly thwarted by the magic circle that appeared in its path.
“I’ll show you.”
Whoosh.
The sound of wind rang in my ears.
A gust brushed past my cheek. In the next moment, the man’s figure vanished from sight.
He suddenly appeared behind Evan and delivered a punch. Evan hastily turned and tried to block it with his sword.
However, the punch simply shattered the sword.
Boom!
With a bone-chilling roar, Evan was hurled against the wall. Both I and Lily had no choice but to freeze in place at that sight.
It was the first time I had seen Evan so utterly powerless. Though he wasn’t on the same level as Abel, Evan was still a strong knight.
For him to be taken down in one blow…
“Too naïve.”
“Cough…”
Evan managed to rise, clutching the broken sword. Despite his wobbling legs, he desperately stood up.
Watching that, the man smiled, seemingly entertained.
“You’re quite loyal.”
“Get away from the lady!”
A blue slash flew at the man. It was simply blocked by the Golden Magic Circle.
Even so, Evan did not cease his attacks. The man clicked his tongue and moved closer.
Whoosh…
With a gesture from the man, dozens of Golden Magic Circles laid bare their presence. A massive flow of mana surrounded him.
‘This is…’
I felt a chill.
The flow of mana was tremendous, comparable to that of Abel. To control this amount of mana with just one gesture…
Boom!
“Ugh…”
Without even having time to scream, he took the hit. Evan ultimately collapsed on the spot.
Seeing his vulnerable form for the first time, a sense of despair bloomed in a corner of my heart.
“To, the…”
With a scraping sound, Evan reached out toward the man’s leg.
“Impressive willpower.”
The man remarked, seeming to admire him.
“But that’s all it is.”
With a swift kick, he sent Evan crashing into the wall. The man turned his back as if interest had faded. Then he looked over at us.
He was strong.
The fact that he blocked Evan’s attacks using just one magic circle, and controlled immense mana with a single gesture.
And that he subdued Evan as easily as handling a child.
My arms began to tremble. I glared at him, standing in front of Lily.
Those familiar golden eyes. And a power comparable to Abel’s.
Standing directly in front of him, I had no doubt about his identity.
“The Emperor…”
“Quick on the uptake.”
The Emperor chuckled softly and began to approach me slowly.
The kind face I had seen during the Hunt Festival was nowhere to be found. What stood there was simply a ruthless predator.
If I faltered for even a moment, my throat could be severed.
The thought made my lips dry out.
“First, I’ll need to deal with that old woman.”
“What?”
As the Emperor reached out, something began to burn a bright red around the old woman’s neck.
Her complexion turned pale, and she sank to the ground. The old woman was sweating profusely and began to cough up blood.
“Ugh, cough…”
Gasping for breath, the old woman collapsed.
Turning my head, I saw the indifferent face of the Emperor.
“Why did you kill the person who raised you?”
“Hm? Are you asking me?”
When I nodded, the Emperor smirked and replied.
“Quite bold. But there’s no reason I can’t answer.”
He scratched his chin for a moment before continuing his speech.
“It’s simple. She was an obstacle to my plans.”
Was that all it took for him to kill her?
Suddenly, the words Princess Aria had said to me came to mind.
“Abel plans to bring down the Imperial Family.” “That’s right. I’m also on Abel’s side.”
When I first heard about Abel’s rebellion from her, the first thought that crossed my mind was, “Why?”
I had been curious why Princess Aria, also a member of the royal family, would cooperate with such a plan.
However, now that I was facing the Emperor directly, I started to understand the reason, albeit vaguely.
He had simply killed the person who raised him because she was an obstacle.
Was there really any need for more reason than that?
“Is that so.”
Amidst fear, anger seeped through. I took a deep breath, the sensation burning in my chest.
The Emperor merely watched my reaction with nonchalance, doing nothing. Did he really think I was standing there trembling in fear?
If so, he was very much mistaken.
With a swift motion…
“…Huh?”
I plunged the blade I had hidden near my wrist.
The sharp blade pierced the Emperor’s Abdomen.
It was the same blade the Emperor’s Hands had wielded in the library. An artifact that pierced through magic. The very blade Princess Aria had handed to me.
As I lifted my gaze, I could see the stunned face of the Emperor.
“That’s the price of your carelessness, Emperor.”
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