“Ha, hahaha…”
The word summary execution slipped from Paris’s lips.
When he heard that, Sindri gazed at her with a dazed expression.
And then…
AHAHAHAHHA-!!
He burst into a mad laugh as if losing his mind.
Everyone watched the scene with stiff faces…
“You’re going to summary execution me?”
As Sindri said that, he stretched his hand towards the air and began chanting a spell.
At the same time, complex magic circles of various shapes manifested in his hand, and the same kind of magic circles appeared beneath the Chimera’s feet.
“Not a chance!”
In the next moment, with his shout, the magic circles surrounding the Chimera shattered with a sharp sound.
[GRRRRRR…!!]
Simultaneously, the Chimera’s body began to undergo a transformation.
Its veins bulged out, and its muscles swelled like they were about to burst.
The claws and teeth grew larger and sharper, foam spewed from its mouth, and blood tears began to flow from its reddened eyes.
It looked much like an animal afflicted with rabies.
“I’ve released the restraints on the Chimera. Now, no one can stop it… It won’t stop until it dies.”
Sindri, with a face radiating madness, turned and fled the scene.
“Are you running away?!”
[KYA-A-A-A-!!]
Paris shouted and darted after him, but the Chimera lunged at her, swinging its massively swollen foreleg.
KRAAANG!!
“Ugh…!!”
With a metallic sound, Paris was pushed back, and a low groan escaped her lips.
Even though she hadn’t earned the title of Sword Master, her skills as a royal knight guarding a princess were proving to be quite the struggle against this beast.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
In response to Rudell’s question, Paris answered as if it were nothing.
However, Rudell could see her arm trembling faintly.
‘That thing really seems like a monster…’
[GRRRR…!!]
The Chimera had now bulked up to over 1.5 times its original size since they first laid eyes on it.
It wasn’t hard to imagine how devastating the impact would be if it barreled through to the Academy like this.
At that moment…
“Duchess Lagrind.”
With a determined expression, Paris called out to Leje.
“Yes, Lady Paris.”
“Please escort the princess away from here.”
“Paris!”
At her words, Jade exclaimed in surprise.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. But it seems there’s no other way.”
“No! You can’t…!!”
“I must request it.”
Despite her outcry, Paris bowed her head towards Jade, seeming determined.
However, Leje shook her head as if she had no intention of complying.
“I’m sorry, Lady Paris. That’s not going to happen.”
“Duchess Lagrind! What do you mean!?”
Paris couldn’t hide her astonishment at Leje’s reply.
“Actually, I would like to ask you to escort the princess away from here, Your Highness?”
“What do you mean…”
She looked at Leje with a puzzled expression, not understanding why she was walking past her towards the Chimera.
“I’m also requesting this. Please escort the princess away from here?”
“Count Weinstein…”
Rudell also said something towards Paris, and she stared back and forth at the two, looking thoroughly confused.
[KYA-A-A-A-A-!!]
During this, the Chimera charged at Leje, roaring with fury.
“Duchess Lagrind!”
“It’s okay, believe it or not…”
Seeing this, Paris shouted anxiously, but Rudell stood by, wearing a faint smile while observing the scene.
In the next moment…
“Huff…!!”
Leje inhaled deeply and slowly raised her fist…
“Shut up!!”
Yelling that, she swung her fist at the Chimera.
PAK!
[KHEEK!?]
When Leje’s fist struck the Chimera’s head, a dull thud reverberated around, followed by a painful scream as the massive creature slammed into the ground.
[KKEEEEEK…!!]
“What, just now…”
“What in the world…”
With a groan, the Chimera, now face-planted on the ground, began to flail without regaining its senses, leaving Jade and Paris speechless as they watched.
“Now do you understand why I said I could let it go?”
At that moment, Rudell spoke with a slight smile.
*
There were mainly two ways to manipulate magic.
The first method was to release magic externally.
This was the commonly practiced method by wizards, serving as the foundation for all magic.
By twisting the laws of the world with the released magic and one’s will, one could generate the desired effects.
All the magic existing in this world manifested through such processes.
On the other hand, the second method was to circulate magic within one’s body.
This approach was mainly employed by knights and warriors.
Unlike wizards, it involved sacrificing detailed control of the magic in exchange for overwhelming physical prowess that was unimaginable to regular people.
And Leje belonged to this latter category, showcasing an exceptional amount of magic power.
“I’m finally able to fight freely.”
With a refreshed face, Leje approached the flailing Chimera while cracking her knuckles.
[KYA-A-A-A-!!]
The Chimera, now in a more vicious form, swung its tail at her…
“Those tricks won’t work anymore.”
Saying this, Leje swiftly dodged the tail and stomped on it, ripping it off cleanly.
[KYA-A-A-K!!]
“Tch…”
In agony from having its tail yanked off while still alive, the Chimera began to thrash around, and Leje, watching from a distance, clicked her tongue in annoyance.
Meanwhile, the Chimera, having risen, started gathering electricity in its mouth.
Electricity crackling with a much more dangerous sound than before.
Leje smiled, intrigued, and dashed toward the Chimera.
[KYA-A-A-A-A-!!]
The Chimera, stabilizing itself with its front legs, began to spew out electric blasts…
“Aah!?”
“Elemental Shield!”
Rudell blocked Jade’s scream by chanting a spell.
A barrier made up of colorful lights shielded them, clashing with the wave of electricity the Chimera unleashed, casting magical sparks everywhere.
“I’ll handle this one!”
“Okay!”
At Rudell’s shout, Leje nodded and charged towards the Chimera.
Though the Chimera unleashed several electric blasts, Leje swiftly dodged them and swung her fist toward the beast.
With another loud crash, the Chimera’s head was once again driven into the ground, and its thrashing motion halted, foamy spit continuing to drip from its mouth.
“Is it over?”
“Maybe it is…”
As Paris expressed her doubt, Jade looked over at her in agreement.
Just then…
“Flame Lance!!”
Rudell, noticing something, reached out his hand and chanted a spell.
At the same time, flames began to ignite from his hand and formed into a massive spear, shooting straight towards the Chimera.
FOOM!
The flaming spear struck the Chimera’s head with an unpleasant sound and then ignited its body.
[HISSSS…]
Simultaneously, the head of the Basilisk, which was another head of the Chimera, drooped as it lost strength, and the Chimera’s form gradually succumbed to flames, turning to ash.
“Assured kill, got it?”
“I understand. I’ll remember that.”
Leje nodded at the advice borne from experience, then returned to Jade and Paris with a light smile.
“Are you both alright? You aren’t injured, are you?”
“Ah. Yes…”
“Thanks to you, Duchess.”
With a huff! both regained their composure and replied, while Leje turned her head toward the direction Sindri had fled.
“Should we chase that guy?”
“Guess that’s our best option?”
To her question, Rudell let out a low groan.
Sindri’s actions could only be described as treason, no matter how one phrased it.
If they let him escape now, who knew when and where he would conjure more Chimeras again?
“Considering the Duchess’s skills in handling that Chimera single-handedly, I believe it is feasible. Please ensure that traitor is captured and brought to justice.”
“We will follow the princess’s orders.”
“We will follow the princess’s orders.”
With Jade’s words, Rudell and Leje both said that simultaneously and nodded towards Paris before dashing into the forest where Sindri had disappeared.
“May the blessings of the ancestors be with you both…”
And as they left, Jade spoke softly, clasping his hands in a prayer-like gesture.
*
“Ugh… ugh…”
Through the expansive forest where the abandoned Old Church School was located, Sindri trudged through, panting heavily.
“Damn it… damn it…!!”
What went wrong?
He asked himself this, but no clear conclusion arose.
His preparations should have been perfect.
Create chaos within the Academy with the Chimeras, and then eliminate the princess who would be left isolated.
That was his plan.
However, it had spectacularly failed, leaving him just a powerless old man fleeing to escape the pursuit.
“Survival is the priority for now.”
First, he needed to slip out of the Academy, hide in the alley, and wait for the right moment to leave the kingdom.
That was his plan.
Then…
“Where are you in such a rush?”
“Y-You!”
Seeing the man appear before him, Sindri let out a low groan.
Wearing a dark robe that covered his entire body and speaking with a heavy voice, he was the church’s “messenger” who had sought him out before.
“I believe you said this would be a very important matter?”
“Every endeavor can face setbacks. First, avoiding capture and planning for later…”
“No, you no longer have any chances left.”
Interrupting him, the man gestured towards Sindri.
And at that moment…
“Uh…?”
Sindri felt his vision spin, and an astonished voice escaped his lips.
What followed was the sight of his own body collapsing, blood pouring from the cut section where he had been severed.
