Book Eater

Chapter 265: The Die is Cast (3)

Kaaang!

The three blades sent sparks flying as they met. Fermut may have been injured, but he wasn’t an easy opponent. As soon as the shock wore off, he swung his sword at Randolph, sending the latter leaping backward.

His aura was disproportionately dense for his age. Despite being nearly ten years younger, Fermut’s swordsmanship wasn’t inferior to Randolph.

“Tch, this bastard trying a surprise attack...!” Randolph stepped back and naturally stood close to Orta.

Randolph’s goal was to assist Orta and his men. It would’ve been nice if his first blow had settled matters, but this was still a good outcome.

“Hey. Heal yourself quickly while he can’t move.”

“The first aid is done,” Orta replied instantly.

Orta lived up to his title as the head of special operatives. In the moment that Fermut had been tied down by Randolph, he had consumed a potion and healed his wounds. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t fix everything.

“The trauma has been healed, but the blood loss and consumed magic power can't be reversed. By the way, I didn’t know you would come to help.”

Randolph shrugged. “I was also surprised. My status is still unclear, but this is a critical mission. Meltor is a fairly flexible kingdom.”

“That― No, we’ll talk about it later.” Orta was about to explain but stopped. He didn’t want to let Fermut know about Theo’s survival.

Besides, there was one more thing Orta was surprised about. “... Honestly, you landing so ignorantly without getting hurt is more startling. Was the culprit Elder Shugel?”

Randolph winced. “Ahh, that old man made me very nervous. All it would’ve taken was a single mistake to kill me.”

The other three magicians who knew what the two masters were talking about were shocked. Surely Meltor high command hadn’t authorized that?method?

Andras had invested quite a lot of resources in Rutben and other border fortresses, planting devices that interfered with spells that protected the land and the sky. They even had countermeasures against teleportation and flying magic. Whether it was Veronica or another war magician, they wouldn’t be able to survive if flying was off the table. As such, Meltor had never engaged in air operations over a city.

However, that didn’t mean they never stopped working on the problem. One of Meltor’s strategists in the past had come up with a strategy to pierce Andras’ defensive perimeter.

… and that strategy had finally been implemented.

Orta snorted. “Indeed, the physical strength of a swordmaster and the protection of an artifact will allow you to withstand the impact of the fall.”

Randolph grinned. “Well, my hands are still trembling.”

A swordmaster’s body was beyond normal limits, but Randolph was still affected by the shock of the situation. Fermut had unintentionally helped him absorb his shock.

“You dare, Clovis loser!”

Randolph’s thunderous strike from the sky had affected Fermut more than he let on. Fermut wished he had thought of dodging instead of arrogantly standing his ground, but he had no more room to step back now. He tightened his grip on his sword. It would take Fermut ten minutes to fully recover, and the two seasoned masters wouldn’t miss this gap.

Randolph and Orta spoke at the same time.

“Okay, I’ll kill him.”

“We should leave.”

They glanced at each other.

“.... Eh?”

“... Hrmm?”

As it happened, their opinions were split.

Randolph asked, “Even if you are in bad shape, it’s two on one. Why can’t we kill him first?”

Orta replied, “If this fails, we’ll both die. The risk is greater than the merits, so we shouldn’t hesitate to retreat.”

It was a simple calculation. The two masters’ lives were more important than Fermut’s, but Randolph still seemed hesitant.

So Orta added, “It would take at least thirty minutes to kill the prince, who hasn’t given up yet.”

Randolph stared balefully at Fermut. “And?”

"We’re in enemy territory, and dragging things out isn’t in our favor. The empire can use teleport scrolls to quickly send reinforcements, and if another of the empire’s Seven Swords arrive, this advantage will be easily reversed.”

“... Tch, I got it.”

Randolph was convinced, albeit reluctantly. The two prepared to retreat; however, Fermut wasn’t about to let them go so easily. He may still be feeling the effects of Randolph’s blow, but if the Shadow Knights joined the fray, he could make up for his lacking strength.

“Do you think I’ll let you go just like that, you rats?!”

Femut raised a blazing sword. His crimson aura flowed like magma around the sword, reflecting his passionate will. It was the full manifestation of Fermut’s Aura Ability, Refraction.

Fermut Style, Refraction Sword. Stab Unto Death.

It was a simple thrust, but enhanced with his Aura Ability. It was said that a long forgotten king had once killed more than ten thousand prisoners in front of an enemy army to crush their morale. Fermut had been inspired by the audacious cruelty of the king, and developed his inspiration into a technique that penetrated eight vital points simultaneously. This was physically impossible without the ability to fold space around the enemy.

“Die!”

Confronted with Fermut’s killing move, Randolph took action.

Clovis Two Swords Style. Hidden Technique. Kill the Hydra.

His two falchions blurred in the air as they danced. Four times with the left sword, five times with the right sword... Nine slashes sliced through the air, blocking the eightfold thrust.

“No?” Astonishment was clear in Fermut’s eyes.

Randolph’s speed was fast enough to block Fermut’s technique, but speed alone shouldn’t have broken his technique. Randolph’s Aura Ability wasn't just speed, but Pursuing and Overtaking.

“You are too shallow!”

Fermut was certainly talented. However, Randolph had fought Pride with Theo, and had engraved that monster’s strength into his mind. Fermut was much slower than the monster who caught lightning with its bare hands.

Clovis Two Swords Style. Hidden Technique Combo. Kill the Arachne.

From two to four, four to eight... Randolph’s swords started to divide at a speed that couldn’t be followed with the naked eye. A spiderweb of afterimages bloomed in the middle of the air!

If they didn’t block this attack, the opponent would be sliced open like an onion. Fermut couldn’t dodge without incurring serious injury, so he was forced to use a technique.

“Haaap!”

A bloody aura emerged from the blade to form a barrier.

Fermut Style, Refraction Sword. Tornado Wall.

It used a similar principle as the Fairy Dance’s first hidden technique, Moon Breaking through the Clouds. However, this technique included Fermut’s ability to distort space, which increased the defensive power. Fermut was convinced that he could even block 7th Circle great spells with it.

As soon as this storm of attacks wane, I’ll take the head of the traitor who joined Meltor!

It might take longer than expected, but it wouldn’t change the future. Andras would win the war. Rutben Citadel was filled with more than a hundred elite knights, of whom plenty could use aura. This battle had already dragged on for ten minutes, so he expected reinforcements to arrive any second.

But when the Tornado Wall fell away, Fermut’s confident expression vanished.

“―What?”

There were no signs of Randolph or Orta. It was clear that they had run away. A few Shadow Knights had tried to block them, but they weren’t at a level to hold Randolph back. Their bodies were the only evidence of the Meltor infiltration team’s exit.

“T-Those bastards! You dare to leave?” Fermut shouted angrily, but he didn’t move. He instinctively knew that it was too late. It was impossible to track a swordmaster and space magicians. Fermut slammed his sword back into its sheath as he glared at the horizon.

“Next time, I will kill you!”

Fermut ground the head of one of the fallen magicians under his heel before turning around, the Shadow Knights falling in behind him. The long, yet short, night had come to a close.

***

The capital of Meltor, Manavil.

Four towers stood proudly at its center. The towers, which had been painted in distinctive colors, rose into the sky as symbols of the magic kingdom. The Blue Tower was famous for its water and life magic, and its highest floor was reserved for very few members of the kingdom.

Knock knock.?

However, the Blue Tower Master, Blundell, knocked lightly on the door as if he was the visitor. It was an unusually timid move for the master of the Blue Tower. Who was in there that the owner of the Tower needed to obtain permission to enter?

“... Come in.” The high and clear voice of a woman came through the door. There was only one person who met these conditions.

Blundell opened the door softly. “Are you well, Sylvia?”

“Yes, grandfather.”

Sylvia Adruncus’ shining blue eyes met his questioning gaze. She was the genius magician and Blue Tower Superior who Blundell had raised as his own grandchild. It had been three months since she had borrowed the training room, but that was too short a period to cross the wall of the 7th Circle.

“My dear.” Blundell’s eyes were filled with an uncomfortable light despite Sylvia being his granddaughter. He knew where her decisive will came from.

He gave advice to his only granddaughter, “You can’t cross the wall of the 7th Circle in this way. It is a problem that requires effort, talent, and luck. I know that Theo’s disappearance was shocking, but please, try to take care of your body…”

“Grandfather,” Sylvia interrupted in a much stronger tone than he expected. “I’m aware of that. This is a distance that I can’t shorten with my talent, and this effort might be meaningless.”

Blundell frowned. “Then?”

“Even so, I can’t stay still.”

Sylvia wasn’t trying to be stubborn, nor unreasonable. She just couldn’t stop walking forward, keeping a hand on the wall of the labyrinth even when a breakthrough wasn’t visible. After all, she knew someone who consistently turned the impossible into the possible. Therefore, this obstacle wasn’t impossible.

“Even if I can’t protect Theo, I don’t want to be protected by him.”

It was enough to be a burden to him once. She wasn’t some dreaming girl but one who walked the path of a magician. There was no childishness in her face.

“... You’re all grown up.” Blundell was forced to admit it.

Sylvia Adruncus had chosen to be born again as a magician, not a girl. As a magician at the peak of this kingdom, it was his duty to encourage her. Blundell was about to pat her head, but chose to pat her shoulder instead. By his own admission, he could no longer treat her as a child.

On one hand, he was proud of her growth. On the other hand, he was ashamed that it was that person who had sparked her determination. He resolved to talk to the boy on his return.

“Blue Tower Master! Are you in?” A loud voice called out from outside the room.

Blundell looked over his shoulder. “That’s a little loud, no? What’s going on?”

“I just received important news!” The clerk, who was gasping for air, still managed to make his voice ring through the top floor of the blue tower. Just what was so urgent?

He stood in the doorway.“Reporting from the coastal city, Ribenda! The safe return of Quattro’s captain, Theodore Miller, is confirmed!”

“What?”

Before Blundell could turn around, he saw Sylvia looking at him. He understood what she wanted just from her gaze. Sylvia struggled a few times and opened her mouth, only for Blundell to speak first.

“Go to Ribenda.”

She didn’t know how to express herself. “... G-Grandfather.”

Blundell sighed. “Shugel should be at the White Tower. He owes me a favor, so talk to him. In any case, Theo should be received by someone he knows.”

It was sufficient justification. Sylvia hesitated for a moment before gladly replying to Blundell, “I will go straight away!”

Blundell’s lip twitched. “Yes, please take care of yourself.”

The clerk was flabbergasted as Sylvia forwent the door and walked straight for the window. She opened it, and leaped into the sky. In fairness, it was definitely faster than going down the stairs.

Blundell watched her leave energetically and laughed while stroking his beard. “Huhu, this is excellent timing, huh?”

The Northern War was on the brink of erupting in a few days, as the two powers would be done with gathering their forces. The hero who had disappeared had finally returned home.

“If this world were a play, the role of the main character would belong to him.”

At the top of the Blue Tower, the elderly magician who had watched Meltor for over a hundred years chuckled gaily. The world was too wide for just one man’s wisdom to predict everything.

He was reminded of the sagely adage. Truly, life wasn’t boring until it was over.