Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Bloodied (8)
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Suddenly, a status window popped up.
What the hell is this?
A status window, out of nowhere? While that death mist is closing in from over there?
And it says I've altered a fated event. I didn't even do anything.
No. Wait.
The prophet said it before. This world has a predetermined flow. It heads toward that fate.
Whether I intended it or not, I've gone against it, triggering this fated event alteration.
And right now, as compensation, I've received this reward called Magic Enchantment.
Magic Enchantment seems exactly what it sounds like—a technique to coat a sword with magic.
The second usage condition is irrelevant right now.
I haven't learned any magic yet, and it's questionable if I ever will.
So the core of Magic Enchantment boils down to the first condition.
Having someone else cast magic on my sword.
That would make it usable, but...
'Hmm.'
That's not the priority anyway.
What matters is how useful this Magic Enchantment is.
With my current power, I can't break through that blood mist.
It's a spell the Fifth Division Leader poured her full might into. No way it's breaking easily.
So I need another option—and this might just be the perfect solution.
"Th-the best in the world...? Me...?"
Adelheit kept mumbling the same thing, still dazed from my words just moments ago.
But there's no time for that now.
The blood mist is almost upon us.
No reason to accept death lying down, so let's test out this Magic Enchantment.
"Your Highness."
"Yes?"
"Are you versed in light magic by any chance?"
"Light magic? Suddenly?"
Adelheit's flushed face calmed down.
She cleared her throat with a cough and nodded.
"Yes, I can. Why?"
"Try enchanting it onto my sword. I think that'll be our way out of this mess."
"...You want me to cast magic on your sword?"
Adelheit's eyes went wide.
It didn't make sense within her common knowledge, apparently.
Which was fair enough.
Mages had plenty of ways to cast spells, but enchanting a sword specifically? No reason to.
Swords belonged to knights.
"Well, it's possible, but... will it really make a difference?"
"Trust me once. You don't want to offer your life to that woman like this, do you?"
"Of course not. Alright, I'll do it. With the best light spell I know."
The blood mist closed in.
Soon, it would gnaw away our cover and tear into our flesh.
We had to move before then.
"Saint Aura."
Adelheit brushed her finger along the flat of my sword.
"It's common knowledge that swords don't take well to magic. I'll do it since you asked, but honestly, I doubt it'll have much effect..."
At the same time, a brilliant energy flowed from her fingertip, seeping into the sword.
Adelheit's eyes widened again. No, they practically bulged.
She looked up at me and asked,
"...Wh-why did that work?"
She was asking how it was possible to enchant magic onto a sword.
I just shrugged at her.
No time for explanations. Nor any desire to.
What mattered now was whether this would work.
I'd find out by testing it.
**
Bloodied had been leisurely throughout.
There was a slight miscalculation—she hadn't fully completed the Blood Temple—but it didn't matter.
No one here could stop her.
The adorable Third Imperial Princess she wanted to crush.
She thought it wouldn't be long before she ripped that face off.
Of course, Kline Leonhart had interfered midway.
'But he's just a kid.'
A child still years away from adulthood.
The young noble Bloodied despised so much.
He seemed decent with a sword, but not enough to pierce her Crimson Mist.
The blood mist was nearly at their cover now.
'Ah. The cult leader said not to kill him.'
She hesitated briefly but decided to push forward anyway.
Kline had interfered far too much already.
She wouldn't mind killing him. The cult leader would understand.
Step...
As she herded her prey patiently, a strange sound rang out.
The prey had come out on its own.
"Oh my."
Bloodied's lips twisted.
She figured the reason was obvious.
Probably begging for mercy.
No real reason to grant it, but... since the cult leader wanted it, maybe she'd spare them once.
In exchange, she'd take the princess's face as payment.
'...Huh?'
But the atmosphere was off.
Kline gripped his sword in a combat stance.
A posture of defiance.
Did he plan to break through the blood mist?
'What an idiot.'
Even veteran knights screamed like girls and collapsed from this spell.
The moment you entered, the blood particles shredded your body to bits.
No amount of willpower could push through that pain.
And those blood particles weren't pushovers either.
If mere aura could slice them easily, she wouldn't have poured her full power into casting it.
'Go ahead and try.'
Bloodied watched Kline with a relaxed smile.
And then.
Kline kicked off the ground.
**
The moment I thrust my sword into the blood mist, a torrent of light erupted.
Kwaaaaa—!
Aura and magic fused into energy.
It clashed with the blood mist, sending shockwaves rippling out.
Scratch-scratch-scratch!
Blood particles scattered, raking across my entire body.
It hurt.
Pain I never felt in my past life.
Pain I'd never felt in this one either.
Like shards of glass stabbing every inch of my skin.
Grip—
But I didn't stop.
I tightened my hold on the hilt. My life hung on this sword now.
Whether it pierced the blood mist or not was everything.
The moment my resolve wavered, the energy would falter, leaving only a future of being shredded by the mist.
But—I had the momentum.
I felt it the instant I entered the blood mist.
Originally, Bloodied and I were worlds apart in power.
Yet the mere fact I was breaking through showed how incredible this Magic Enchantment perk was.
So there was only one choice: advance.
Even if this body turned into a sack of blood.
**
Bloodied's leisure turned to panic in no time.
Not because the blood mist was pierced.
Something even stranger: the boy named Kline Leonhart defied understanding.
'Why?'
Why leap into a hell of fire willingly?
How could anyone shove their body into a field of blades?
He's out of his mind. No sane person could do this.
Even veteran knights couldn't endure the pain and screamed.
No way a mere 13-year-old boy could withstand it—!
"Tch!"
Bloodied clicked her tongue.
She couldn't cancel Crimson Mist. Once cast, even she had to pour her full power to maintain it.
The spell she'd used to leisurely hunt them both was now troubling her instead.
But no big issue.
'No way he'll break through.'
His momentum was impressive, but the torrent of light was weakening bit by bit.
The blood mist was devouring the energy from his sword.
She had no idea how he'd embedded magic into the sword, but that didn't matter.
Once it started getting eaten, he'd fall into despair.
'Yeah.'
Impressive endurance, sure.
But when death loomed, he'd bawl like a baby.
Enduring pain and facing death were leagues apart.
Right now, he was just reassuring himself with the sword's magic.
But in the end, he could do nothing.
**
I wasn't shaking.
This might sound strange, but my mind was utterly calm.
My nerves screamed from every part of my body.
Telling me to stop.
That blades were slicing me open.
Yet, incredibly, it was bearable.
So easily, I wondered if I'd always had this much patience.
So I pressed forward.
The torrent of light was fading.
My aura and Adelheit's magic both had limits.
They paled against Bloodied's full power.
The outcome? Death.
I knew that, yet my body didn't stiffen.
Why?
I recalled the spar with Ariel once.
I'd put death's edge right on my skin to sharpen my instincts.
That experience was keeping my body relaxed now.
"-."
But mindset alone wasn't enough.
The energy was depleting.
At this rate, the blood mist would consume me.
So then.
The unexpected trump card to turn this around.
Where would it come from?