Chapter 18: Anyway, I'll Serve You Awesomely (7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 18: Anyway, I'll Serve You Awesomely (7)
“Daisy!”
“Daisy!”
Ah, fuck.
The RoFan male leads have completely lost their minds.
For a first attempt, our coordination had been surprisingly decent. But now that their rage has overtaken their reason, I’m more likely to get stabbed by my own allies than the enemy if I step in wrong.
“Ugh.”
The makeshift group project team has officially fallen apart.
I backed off and shifted my gaze toward Violet.
Wait, what the hell?
She said things were supposed to go according to the original work.
So why is Daisy the one getting stabbed?!
“What is that?”
But things were looking ominous on Violet’s end, too.
With dead eyes, Violet clutched Daisy’s bleeding side and muttered something under her breath. She looked like a total lunatic, but the aura radiating from her was no joke.
Wait, isn’t mana supposed to be neutralized right now?
Then what’s with that effect?
Just in case, I tried to circulate my own mana, but it wouldn't budge. Looking ahead, Prince Ellen and the Minor Sword Emperor—who were currently getting their asses handed to them—didn't seem to be using mana either.
What is this? Some kind of reincarnation perk?
I didn't get one of those.
“I’m going to kill you.”
Violet’s voice was chilling.
Didn’t I tell her we couldn't win right now? If she had a way to kill him, she should’ve used it sooner.
“Urgh!”
If I had the luxury, I would’ve tossed a sarcastic comment her way. But seeing the bratty Ellen flying through the air, I couldn't return to the front line.
However...
“Dammit.”
I managed to catch Ellen, but my face twisted into a grimace.
My movements were already restricted because my mana was suppressed, but now my body felt even heavier. Judging by my years of experience reading web novels, Daisy must have been providing some kind of area-of-effect buff.
That bastard Silence must have targeted her knowing that.
“Sorry, Adam!”
Because of that, we were out of time. Even if it meant overextending myself, I had to end this quickly.
Leaving Ellen as he charged forward again, I took another step back. I pulled a small steel canister from my coat and popped the lid.
Drip. Drip.
I carefully tilted the bottle and smeared the contents onto my blade.
“...”
My eyes met Silence’s.
Seriously? They said Ellen had the greatest talent in the world. Could he not buy me just a little more time?
“...What is that?”
What do you think? It’s poison.
Usually, knights don't use poison, so people don't expect someone from Leon to fight dirty. Getting caught red-handed like this might cause some trouble later, but...
“...”
So what? I’m an instructor, not a knight.
“Kids these days are truly terrifying.”
Silence lunged at me, parrying a dagger I’d thrown from a blind spot.
That was a good sign. Since he’s loaded with cheat skills, I was worried he might be immune to poison, too. The fact that he saw me as a threat meant he probably didn't have a high resistance to it.
“Huh?”
Or so I thought, until our blades clashed.
He deflected my sword and aimed for my back. Does this guy think I’m just some extra, too? I turned to follow Silence’s movement, but then—
“What the fuck?”
Okay, I can't even blame him. I would’ve ignored me, too.
“Die.”
It was great that the crimson flames erupting around Violet were swarming Silence, but...
“None of these bastards know how to play as a team.”
Is this a group project from hell?
Seeing the violent flames raging without distinguishing between friend and foe, I had no choice but to scramble away.
Silence vs. Violet. Is this for real?
It was a truly epic sight. Watching the crimson flames collide, I turned to Prince Ellen, who had finally regained his senses.
“Don't try to be a hero.”
“O-Okay.”
“You too.”
“I know.”
The strength draining from my body had stopped. It seemed Silence could no longer maintain his suppression ability perfectly.
The proof was in Silence’s eyes.
“How can you use ancient sorcery?”
The narrow-eyed character finally had his eyes wide open. His poker face was gone, replaced by genuine shock.
“Shut up.”
Violet ignored him, gritting her teeth. Her eyes were bloodshot, and blood was streaming from her nose. Her violet hair was gradually losing its color—anyone could see she wasn't in a normal state.
But even if I wanted to help, I couldn't. Those two clashing energies were so violent that those of us without mana couldn't even get close.
At least I managed to round up the other brats quickly to avoid a total catastrophe. I’ll be sure to squeeze a hefty reward out of Uncle Aeryun and that Fire Spammer for this later.
“You two, look after the others. Be ready to run with them if things go south.”
“Adam, what about you?”
“I’d love to run with you, but I know you have no intention of leaving Daisy behind.”
I could see the male leads’ eyes fixed on Daisy, who was collapsed behind Violet. Would they actually leave if I told them to?
“I’ll take Daisy and get out.”
“It’s impossible alone.”
“Neither of you are being helpful.”
“Agh!”
I never imagined the day would come when I’d say this to Prince Ellen, but he was paying the price for charging in blindly.
“What are you going to do with that arm?”
His left arm was broken. I might have squeezed it a bit hard out of spite, but for Prince Ellen to make a sound like that, it was definitely busted.
He gave me a look of pure grievance, so I just scowled back.
“I’m going to tell the Queen everything, so don't die now. Save your dying for later.”
“...Wouldn't it be better to just die fighting together?”
“Not a chance.”
I have no intention of dying. Even at this very moment, money is piling up for me back in the Kingdom. I can't die until I’ve retired and spent every last cent of it.
“I have potions, so if I can just get close, I can treat her.”
It was an emergency potion I’d saved for a dire situation, but since she’s supposed to awaken as a Saintess, there’s no need to be stingy. Once she awakens, she can just whip up a few bottles of holy water for me. Daisy might be dense, but she isn't heartless.
“Actually, just get out of here now.”
It’s better if these guys aren't around. If there are no witnesses, I have more options.
“We can't!”
“Ugh, just go when I tell you to!”
When they wouldn't budge even after I kicked them in the shins, I had no choice but to pull another bottle from my coat.
“What’s that?”
“Assassination poison.”
“...Seriously?”
Ellen blinked at my words.
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
“What are you going to do with it?”
“I’m going to throw it at that guy, obviously.”
“Into that mess?”
“Yes.”
“Then won't Violet be in danger, too?”
“If she’s unlucky.”
“What about Daisy?”
“She’ll live if she’s lucky.”
“And if she’s not?”
“Then she dies, obviously.”
Ellen and the Minor Sword Emperor just blinked. They didn't seem to understand what I was saying.
“This is a hostage situation. If you don't get these useless bodies out of here right now, we’re all going down together.”
You won't run? Then Daisy dies.
For people who won't listen to reason, a threat is much faster than persuasion.
“You’re kidding, right?”
“I don't care if Daisy dies or not. My only responsibility is Prince Ellen’s life.”
Did they sense the sincerity in my voice? Prince Ellen and the Minor Sword Emperor tried to protest, but they were basically half-corpses themselves.
“30.”
“Ellen.”
“29.”
As the countdown shortened, the two shared a look.
“A-Alright! I get it!”
“We’ll get everyone to safety and come back!”
I watched them scramble to drag the fallen students out. Then, I turned my gaze back to the epic duel between Silence and Violet.
On the surface, it looked like an even match, but looking at the caster’s condition, Violet was being overwhelmingly pushed. She looked like she’d lost more blood than Daisy.
“Wait, is she?”
Looking closer, it didn't seem like she was just bleeding. It felt like she was intentionally drawing it out. The crimson energy was growing stronger, fueled by that blood.
“Is that dark magic?”
As someone from the Leon Kingdom, I don't know much about magic, but I really couldn't tell the difference between that and dark magic.
“Sigh.”
After confirming Ellen and the Minor Sword Emperor were gone, I put the bottle I’d claimed was poison to my lips.
In truth, the only poison I had was already on my sword. Even as a royal agent, smuggling lethal poison into the Academy wasn't easy.
This was a pure doping drug.
Unlike elixirs that increase mana, this was a drug that boosted physical abilities—the kind that often caused scandals in sports in my past life. Of course, being a fantasy world, its effects were incredibly potent. And the side effects would be just as severe.
“Seriously, I’m billing everyone for this later.”
Even if I claimed not to care, the RoFan heroine dying here would be a major problem for me, too.
I downed the trump card I’d prepared for Prince Ellen’s sake and charged into the fray.
Snap.
Something snapped inside my head. After that, only one thought circled my mind.
I have to kill that bastard quickly and take Daisy.
The wound isn't fatal. I’ve stanched the bleeding. The mana circuits in my body are screaming, but I don't care.
Sorcery.
It’s similar to magic, but a completely different power. While magic borrows power using mana, sorcery borrows power in exchange for a sacrifice.
I knew the source of Silence’s power from the original work. That ancient ability from a time before magic was systematized was my own trump card.
I didn't want to reveal it here.
But who cares? I’m killing that bastard first. I don't give a damn about the original plot or the future anymore.
As Daisy’s final words continued to echo in my head, fueling my rampage—
“Gah!”
Blood sprayed from Silence’s back as his form buckled. Someone had pierced through the space where the sorcery was clashing.
“That hurts like a bitch.”
There stood someone covered in blood, their face contorted in pain.
Who was it again?
Ah, right.
“Adam.”
“Shut up.”
He gritted his teeth against the pain and gave me a look.
Right. There’s no time for talk.
“Blood is a part of my soul.”
A pool of blood erupted from my wound. The absolute law of sorcery: the price must be something that belongs to the caster. This was the biggest difference between sorcery and dark magic, which sacrifices anything. It was why sorcery could be even more dangerous than dark magic.
My head is spinning. If I lose any more blood, I might die.
But who cares?
“Die.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
Uncontrolled power swept through everything. Adam frowned and moved to dodge it. There was no coordination between us. We each attacked and dodged on our own. There was no such thing as helping each other.
To an outsider, it wouldn't have looked like a 2-on-1 fight, but a 1-on-1-on-1 brawl. Swords swung, and sorcery flew. I almost died a few times from the hidden weapons flying my way, but the same was true for the other side, so I let it slide.
Even after several exchanges, Silence didn't fall. He was living up to his status as a villain who wasn't supposed to be defeated until the final chapter of Part 3.
“Arklaine Dale.”
But the moment I uttered that crucial name—
“How do you know that?!”
Hearing his true name, Silence’s composure finally shattered.
“Now, just die already.”
Adam’s blade pierced through his heart.