Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Dragon's Intervention
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Philip scrutinized the vampire's stance.
From a swordsman's perspective, it was riddled with openings.
Every vital point lay exposed, as if inviting an attack from any angle at any time, but Philip didn't let his guard down.
The foundation of all martial arts was for the weak to contend with the strong.
Demons, who had always been among the strong since time immemorial, had no need for such things.
The vampire bared its fangs, not looking at Philip but at Janis and Cheryl. To it, a mere swordsman who had suffered some blood loss was no obstacle at all.
'Good. Get careless.'
Mist Form, Blood Manipulation, high-level dark magic. Physical abilities approaching that of an Aura Master.
Philip had no intention of dragging out a fight against a vampire with all these powers.
He wasn't even sure if it was possible.
Unlike humans with their finite stamina, demons possessed nearly infinite endurance, and Philip's own stamina had already been more than half depleted before even clashing directly.
Philip wrapped his sword in aura. Pale aura split into two strands, spiraling around his blade.
'Didn't expect to use this so soon...'
This was the most powerful technique Philip could unleash at present.
Its name was Spiral Sword. A fusion of Rotating Sword, Aura Whip, and Whip Sword. Philip was confident no swordsman of this era could master it within years.
Without knowledge of physics, one couldn't even grasp the principle.
Suddenly, the vampire's gaze shifted to Philip's face. In that instant, Philip spun his aura at maximum speed, using his entire body to generate peak rotational force.
And a flash-like thrust sliced through the vampire's chest.
A perfect strike. If this didn't land, Philip's fate would be uncertain.
'...Did it hit?'
He felt it connect, but it wasn't certain. The moment the Spiral Sword thrust pierced its chest, the vampire activated its Mist Form.
Transforming into red mist, the vampire didn't retreat behind but surged forward instead.
Its form was more unstable than Philip knew, telling him it had taken some damage.
But there was no time for relief.
"Protect yourselves! Janis, Cheryl!"
Even without his shout, Janis and Cheryl were already chanting barrier spells.
Just before the red mist enveloped them, a translucent shield blocked its advance.
But regrettably, the quality of their mana differed vastly.
"Instructor! Please!"
At the desperate, pleading cry, Philip gritted his teeth and swung his sword, but his attack only evaporated a bit of the red mist.
It was thanks to Moonlight Sword's power to repel evil that it worked at all; otherwise, Philip couldn't have inflicted any meaningful harm.
"Ah... Aah! Instructor!"
Janis's spell shattered first. All that remained was Cheryl's barrier spell. Compared to Janis's, it was like the difference between an iron shield and a wooden one.
'What do I do? How?'
If it ignored him to target the students like this, there was no answer.
Cracks began forming on Cheryl's barrier, wrapped in the red mist.
"...Mommy."
She squeezed her eyes shut, and Philip ground his teeth. With things come to this, he had only one gamble left. He resolved not to think about the aftermath.
Anything was better than letting the kids die.
A harsh scraping sound like metal on metal emanated from his sword. Sparks flew between the spiraling aura. Friction between aura and steel rapidly heated the blade.
When he swung in that state, the mist-turned vampire recoiled backward, avoiding Philip's sword. It was wary of the high heat evaporating it.
"Don't look back. Run away now. Get as far from here as possible."
"...Y-Yes!"
At Philip's command, Janis grabbed Cheryl's hand and started running. She wanted nothing more to do with that cursed being.
Seeing them distance themselves sufficiently, Philip let out a sigh.
He could feel the iron sword failing to withstand the heat, its form distorting in his grip. It could no longer endure his aura.
Philip hurled the iron sword far away. It bent into a 'ㄱ' shape upon hitting the ground.
The moment he discarded his weapon, the vampire immediately reconstituted its body.
"You really don't know when to quit, human."
Philip muttered with a hollow expression. He extended his left hand forward and spread his legs.
"Never thought I'd be boxing a vampire in my life."
The vampire sneered, fangs bared. Philip tilted his head at its leisurely demeanor.
'Wait, something's off. Why isn't it chasing the kids?'
Vampires were highly intelligent. If Philip were in its position, he'd ignore him and pursue Janis and Cheryl.
"Keeek!"
The vampire slashed with sharp claws, aiming for Philip's shoulder.
Philip ducked his waist to barely evade, then punched toward its jaw. The aura-enhanced blow solidly struck the vampire's chin, but it didn't seem greatly fazed.
Its physical durability was on another level from a human's to begin with.
This time, the vampire's eyes glowed red. Philip felt blood rapidly draining from his leg wound.
His breathing grew labored, vision blurring.
Blood Manipulation—a power so potent it could drain every drop from an unresisting body. Philip desperately resisted while attacking the vampire.
The aura-clad strikes made the vampire grimace, but they lacked sufficient power.
'...It's planning to watch until my strength fully gives out.'
Helplessness and despair washed over him.
"Fine. You bastard."
But Philip didn't collapse. If he fell here, the vampire—having fed on his blood—would immediately chase Janis and Cheryl.
"Let's see you take hits until I die."
In this desperate pinch, Philip steeled himself for death. Even if it burned his remaining life force, he'd inflict maximum damage.
"...What a headache you are."
And then a third party's voice halted Philip's frenzy.
Philip unwittingly turned his head. In his hazy vision, he saw a woman with dark blue hair.
"Humans remain incomprehensible. With such talent, you should preserve yourself until you're strong enough, yet you throw your life away for obligations not worth a hair's breadth?"
'What the hell is she talking about?'
Philip blinked.
"Keeek!"
The vampire whirled toward the woman. It had judged her the greater threat.
"...Burn to death, you vermin."
The woman muttered coldly, pointing a finger at the vampire. Flames erupted from its body.
"Keek? Keeek! Keeeeek!"
A deflating wheeze escaped the vampire's regressed vocal cords. Its pale skin melted, flesh charring, filling the cave with the smell of grilling meat.
"Keeeek!"
In the span of a few breaths, the vampire crumbled to ash. Philip stared stiffly, then turned to the woman.
"...Who are you?"
"Sigh. Asking questions when you can barely see? Just shut up and sleep."
She snapped her fingers. Philip collapsed like a puppet with cut strings.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Ugh."
When he came to, Philip realized he was lying with his head on someone's lap.
The person lending her lap was gazing at his face. Meeting her eyes, Philip started in surprise.
"...Priscilla?"
"Are you okay, Philip?"
Priscilla checked his condition with a worried voice.
"Not really, but how are you here?"
She hesitated, mumbling, then spoke softly as he sat up.
"Well, I didn't exactly come... Hold on?"
She straightened her clothes and closed her eyes. Philip felt her presence intensifying. She looked the same, but it felt like facing a mountain.
'What in the world...'
Soon, Priscilla's expression completely changed. The innocence on her face vanished, replaced by utter boredom and annoyance.
Instinctively, Philip knew this wasn't Priscilla.
"Who are you?"
"...Sharp instincts for a brat."
For some reason, she looked deeply displeased.
"With senses that good, you should've avoided this place. Weak as a bug, yet barging around without knowing your place?"
"..."
"To think the successor who appeared after five hundred years is such a moth to the flame..."
Philip flinched at "successor." He had inherited only one thing fitting that description.
"Successor... You mean Moonlight Sword?"
She nodded.
"Yes. Moonlight Sword. You inherited it, didn't you?"
Confirming that, Philip knew her identity. Swallowing hard, he cautiously spoke.
"Then... you must be a dragon."
She stared straight at him and grinned.
"Amusing. How did you know?"
"I already knew Previa Academy's founder wasn't human, but a dragon. If Moonlight Sword was hidden there, only a dragon would manage it."
"I don't know how you figured it out, but you've got some skill. Indeed, I am 'Previa,' the Silver Dragon of Wisdom. A pitiful dragon bound by a pact with a human not worth grinding to dust. And just now, because of you, I nearly faced another endless wait."
'...It was true.'
Philip sighed, his guess confirmed. But Dragon Previa seemed furious.
She pointed at him, and his body floated into the air.
"Five hundred years. Five hundred years. That damned human hid Moonlight Sword so well no one found it for five centuries. Then you show up at the academy and snag it right away. I thought, 'My duty's almost over.'"
Meeting her gaze, Philip felt his strength drain.
"But no, you hide your light and neglect mastering Moonlight Sword to recklessly show off. Three hundred years ago, I wouldn't care if you sacrificed for smelly little girls or dared enter a demon-made dungeon. But my patience is gone."
"What do you mean...?"
Philip asked, and Dragon Previa glared, grinding her teeth.
"If a fool like you dies recklessly, I can't even guess how much longer I'll be stuck on this tiny land."
And she dropped a bombshell.
"I'll imprison you on a remote island. You won't leave until you've perfected Moonlight Sword. I won't fret over a mere human."
Previa casually waved her hand. A portal opened above Philip's head. Feeling the intense suction, his face paled.
"W-Wait! Timeout!"