Kaaang!
It was close.
If Adele hadn’t rushed ahead of Lily, I would have been a second too late with the barrier and she could have died.
Why exactly did Adele return when I was clearly preparing to use magic to protect her from Luke?
Why did she push herself forward like that?
After a moment’s thought, the answer came to me quickly.
“Did Lily die?”
Somehow, in the previous round, it seems that Lily wrapped herself around Adele for some reason and died. That girl didn’t think I would protect her, did she?
I felt a bit uneasy and frowned slightly as I readied my magic.
Whoooosh…
“Step back.”
At my command, Adele took Lily’s hand and stepped back. Luke, the guy, seemed unfazed and was trying to cut through the barrier with his sword.
His eyes were hollow.
“Has he fallen prey to the imprint?”
If that’s the case, was this massacre ordered by the Emperor? Looking around, I noticed that most of the dead were people I had dealt with in the past.
Is this how they’re trying to deal with the traitors?
I certainly expected the Imperial Family to be aggressive, but… I didn’t think it would be to this extent. Even in the original story, Luke didn’t commit a massacre like this.
“Khrrr…”
The amount of aura attacking the barrier was increasing. Simultaneously, cracks began to form in the barrier. It was supposedly a technique using spatial magic, but to think he would try to break it with sheer strength.
Could it be the Emperor’s sword even in decay?
In terms of aura, he’s above a Sword Master. However, since he’s lost his senses, all he’s doing is mindlessly swinging his power around.
“I can easily overpower him.”
“Calculation development.”
A white aura began to gather in the air. At the same time, white magic circles started appearing before me. Perhaps feeling a sense of foreboding, Luke charged at me.
Is he trying to take me out before I activate my magic?
But that judgment was mistaken.
“Strike.”
The biggest reason I favor this spell is its incredibly fast activation speed. After all, activation speed is the most crucial aspect of a wizard’s combat.
A white spear created in the air flew toward Luke. He rolled sideways to dodge, but at that moment, the spear’s trajectory curved.
Thwuck!
The spear pierced elegantly between the gaps in his armor and flew straight into the wall.
“Krahk!”
Pulled by the spear and crashing into the wall, he let out a pained groan. Simultaneously, the power of the imprint engraved on Luke’s hand began to strengthen gradually.
“Ugh…”
“Adele.”
“Yes?”
“Get out first. I’ll leave the door open.”
“Got it.”
Adele took Lily’s hand and headed outside the auction house. Once I confirmed they were gone, I retrieved a glass vial from the air.
Clink.
I dropped the glass vial onto the floor. As it shattered, white smoke began to spread in all directions.
The smoke was Forgetting Fragrance.
A substance extracted from the Forgetting Whale that inhabits the Misty Forest. Anyone who breathes in this smoke will lose memories from an hour up to a day.
In other words, it’s perfect for post-mortem handling.
“Evan.”
At my call, Evan appeared from thin air. A spell I personally developed using space magic to summon others around me.
“Did you call?”
“Why does something always happen when you’re not around?”
After glancing around, he sighed and answered.
“Ha… that’s a great question.”
Evan scratched his head, looking troubled, and said.
“Well then, I’ll head to the lady now.”
“Call her ‘miss.'”
“Ah, yes. I’ll go to the miss.”
He said this and raced toward the auction house’s door. It seems trouble only strikes when he leaves.
It might just be coincidence, but… who knows.
I suppose I’ll need to keep an eye on the Duke’s residence for a while longer. After all, there could be another Emperor’s Eye around. While thinking this, a voice came from the wall.
“Krrr…”
What I saw was an imprint burning red on his neck. The intricate imprint visible through the gaps in the armor was far more sophisticated than the one engraved on Allen’s neck.
“Guess one attempt wasn’t enough.”
Muttering this, I raised my hand.
I can’t suppress the imprint on his neck. That imprint is a special product of the Emperor’s, unlike Allen’s. So, all I can do is fully exert myself to subdue him.
Whoooosh…
“Calculation development.”
White aura gathered in the air and soon shaped into three spears.
“Strike.”
Crack!
With a sound that tore through the air, the spears flew. Luke enveloped his sword with aura and unleashed a massive slash. The clash between the slash and the spears negated each other. Taking advantage of that moment, he charged toward me.
“Of course, I was ready for this.”
Snap!
I flicked my finger, and white energy formed into chains that bound Luke’s body. Though they began to break soon after, that was of no concern.
“Calculation development.”
I’ve bought enough time.
Countless white pathways formed around him. The pure white magic circles danced erratically before my eyes.
This was a magic I created to prepare for facing a Sword Master.
Whoooosh…
As the mana rapidly drained, a massive white spear began to form before me. Unlike the previous weapons, this one emanated an immense amount of mana.
I grabbed the spear’s shaft and aimed its tip at him.
“Strike.”
With a short incantation, I threw the spear with all my might.
Thwuck.
The spear pierced through Luke’s shoulder and entered a pathway.
“Krah!”
Even though his other shoulder was impaled, he still charged toward me without hesitation.
Pre-prepared chains appeared again, wrapping around Luke’s limbs. Even if they’re not very durable, I can still restrain him like this.
Thwuck!
“Cough…”
The spear moved between the pathways, piercing through Luke’s body. I twisted space to create a sort of portal and threw the spear there, allowing me to theoretically attack infinitely.
It’s a crude technique, but it’s remarkably effective at draining the enemy’s stamina. Even if that opponent is a Sword Master.
‘…If Luke hadn’t lost his sense of self, this would have been impossible.’
Ka-ching…
Luke, who had deflected my spear with his sword, breathed heavily as he glared at me. The engraving visible between his helmet and armor was gradually weakening.
Whoooosh…
As I dispelled the magic, he glared at me, battered. Bright red aura began to emanate from Luke’s body.
‘…Even decayed, he’s still a Sword Master.’
“Calculation development.”
Four pure white swords materialized around me.
At the same time, all his wounds and injuries began to heal due to the aura. It seems like only a Sword Master could achieve such a feat.
“Strike.”
“Ugh…”
Using his aura to cut down the slashes, Luke immediately charged at me. Before I could blink, his sword was right before my eyes.
Whoooosh…
At the same time, the scenery around us changed. What appeared was Luke’s unguarded back. A previously prepared sword aimed at his back.
“Strike.”
With a short incantation, the sword plunged right into Luke’s back.
“Cough!”
Spitting up blood, he collapsed to his knees. Perhaps due to losing his sanity, he couldn’t even discern a basic trap.
Luke grabbed the sword’s hilt with his left hand and began to exert power.
Creak…
The white sword cracked and then shattered.
The wound where the sword penetrated began healing rapidly under the red aura.
‘What a foolish method…’
But it’s effective nonetheless.
“Krrr…”
Luke narrowed his eyes, glaring at me as he attempted to rise. No, he was trying to get up.
“Kkh?!”
Struggling to lean on his sword, he swayed and finally collapsed again. Was he counting on the aura’s regenerative ability?
No matter how much he regenerates with aura, the blood he’s already spilled cannot be restored. Though he is a Sword Master, so he won’t die.
He just won’t be able to move.
I sighed and began to gather the mana I had used.
‘It’s lucky he lost his senses. If he hadn’t…’
The Emperor’s sword isn’t so easily dealt with.
Especially if it’s Luke, regarded as the one with the highest potential among the Emperor’s swords. However, with him losing his senses and unable to use his aura properly, this couldn’t be helped.
“Sleep well.”
With a snap of my fingers, Luke began to sink into the ground. Letting out a groan of pain, as if crushed by something, he finally ceased his movements.
“Phew… this isn’t easy.”
I consumed quite a bit of mana this time.
In a place where mana potions don’t exist, gauging the remaining amount of mana is an essential skill. I don’t get why there are HP potions but no mana potions.
It’s not like they’re out to persecute wizards.
“I need to handle the aftermath…”
The auctioneer is already dead. It looks like Luke was directly hit by debris when he fell from the ceiling. A grotesque sight, but I’m familiar enough with such scenes not to retch.
Though I can’t shake off the feeling of disgust.
“Fire.”
With the incantation, flames bloomed in my hand.
Then, I ignited the edges of the auction house. Though small, given the wooden ceiling, the flames would grow swiftly.
The reason for setting the place on fire is simple. I want people who inhaled the Forgetting Fragrance to assume they lost their memories due to smoke from the fire.
In fact, it’s common to use such substances when committing arson. I expect that a newspaper will run a story about some other organization burning the nobles to death, not me.
Whoosh.
Of course, some people may die in the fire, but…
I couldn’t care less. I’ve never regarded them as humans, to begin with.
Using magic, I lifted Luke into the air and exited the auction house gracefully.
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