Chapter 246
Chapter 246
What did you do?】 "Later. Too long to explain." Instead of answering, Ronan turned away. No time to sit and chat. Confirming no more Nebula Klazie, he dashed up the stairs. "Clear them out. I'll go ahead." 【Hey, wait—】 Orse tried to say something, but he was already gone. Then, a tearful scream echoed from the corner. "Hieeek! S-Save meee!" Asel was huddled inside an ice barrier, screaming. The woman, now fully in dragon form, was pounding the shield with her fist. 【Come out and bare your neck, you worm—!】 "Hyaaaak!" He was holding out, but it wouldn't last. They'd killed many, but enemies still swarmed. Boom! Boom! Cracks like spiderwebs spread with each massive fist strike. Watching, a surge of intense rage and humiliation boiled in Orse's mind. Am I being ignored right now? By both the enemy and that punk Ronan?】 【...
I'll kill them.】 Orse growled lowly. A declaration with dual meanings. As he gripped his spear, a pair of curved horns grew above his head, pointing skyward. Boom! Orse leaped like a soaring shadow, blanketing the enemies' heads. **** "Ugh..." Schlieffen groaned and opened his eyes. His memories were hazy. Only fragments remained: swarming enemies, the crumbling tower, fierce winds. '...
I survived.' Pain throbbed like bruises all over his body. He slowly surveyed his surroundings. A vast room filled with treasures, but much smaller than the Dragon King's audience chamber. As he tried to move, Schlieffen furrowed his brow. "What...?" His limbs and body wouldn't budge. Only then did he realize he was strapped immovably to a massive iron chair. No matter how hard he strained, the restraints didn't budge. Then, a man's voice came from behind. 【Awake already? Impressive indeed.】 A familiar voice. Footsteps approached. Unable to turn, Schlieffen waited until the man appeared before him. Soon, a gentleman in a suit stepped into view. "You..." 【Remember me? Radavanska.】 The man calling himself Radavanska introduced himself with hands behind his back. Schlieffen knew him—one of the dragons from the floor where he'd let Ronan and Asel escape. 【Before we get to the dirty work, let me praise your prowess. I've never seen a swordsman as superb as you in my life. Regardless of race.】 Radavanska recited Schlieffen's feats. He'd cut down at least three digits of enemies, regardless of type. Schlieffen didn't respond. Even reinforcing his muscles with mana failed to loosen the restraints. Radavanska continued. 【My brother fell too. Losing his left arm, then his head—that was fatal. Watching a brother's death up close isn't pleasant.】 Schlieffen flinched momentarily. Come to think of it, there was a similar-looking dragon whose arm he'd severed with his new technique—he even remembered that much. So that's it. I was in a trance and didn't realize—I took his head. Slaying a dragon filled him with unexpected pride. Like any warrior, he'd dreamed of staining his blade with dragon blood. A faint smile touched Schlieffen's lips. Stab! Sudden agony erupted in his right thigh. "Grk...!" 【What's so funny, you vermin?】 Schlieffen gritted his teeth. Radavanska had crouched before him, growling. His index finger was buried deep in Schlieffen's immobilized thigh. With a flick, Radavanska withdrew his finger. His dagger-like, pointed nail was blood-red. Licking the blood, he spoke. 【You'll spend some fun time with me until your comrades arrive. I'm not fond of crude torture, but for my brother's killer, I can make an exception.】 Schlieffen remained silent. A captured warrior's only permitted words were to stop stalling and die quickly. Especially since he'd achieved his goal of letting his comrades escape—no reason to hesitate. But he couldn't voice it. A lingering regret weakened him. 'If I'd known... I should've done something.' Iril's face flickered before his eyes. From the moment they met, she'd gripped his heart, but her deep affection made confessing impossible. Suddenly, Ronan's words flashed in his mind. He'd told him not to let Lady Iril get hurt. "...
Sorry." Schlieffen murmured softly. Radavanska would've loved it, but his voice was too quiet to carry. A sinister smile curled Radavanska's lips as he heated his finger over a candle. 【Shall we start by gouging out an eye?】 As he reached for Schlieffen's eye, BOOOM!! A massive explosion shook the entire floor from the entrance. Radavanska shot to his feet. 【Damn it!】 The grand door connected to the stairs lay in ruins. Dust from the passage eroded the lair. It was so thick, the interior was invisible. 【...
What?】 As Radavanska took a step, a circular void formed in the dust cloud at the entrance. Splat! A sound like cleaving meat with a butcher's knife exploded. 【Guhk!】 Blood sprayed from Radavanska's mouth. Looking down, a pure white longsword protruded from his gut. In an instant, another void appeared in the dust, and a red mass shot out. Fierce eyes traced its trajectory. Schlieffen's eyes bulged as it passed. "Ronan?" "This fucking bastard was holed up here." It was Ronan, drenched in blood like he'd been dipped in tomato stew. Radavanska spat blood and bellowed in rage. 【You again—!】 More like he tried to. Ronan, charging straight, was already at his chin. Gripping the sword hilt, Ronan yanked it upward. Slash! A red arc traced a vertical line across Radavanska's face. 【...
Ah.】 A death rattle escaped his split lips. Shlorp! As the line parted left and right, blood and brains poured from the cleaved surface. Ronan spun the sword and slashed horizontally. The severed head tumbled to the floor. Thud. Roll roll. It stopped at Schlieffen's feet. Ronan immediately swung to cut the restraints. "How did you... Uh." Schlieffen staggered up, about to speak. Ronan rummaged in his pocket and tossed something lightly. Schlieffen caught it reflexively. In his trembling palm, a bloodied pocket watch ticked away. "This..." Schlieffen's eyes widened. It was the one he'd given Ronan, along with his dying wish to deliver to Lady Iril. Kicking Radavanska's head aside, Ronan spat. "Deliver it yourself. After scrubbing it clean."