Chapter 94
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: I'm Not Yielding This Time. (1)
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“Luke, get ready.”
Elena said that and thrust her hand toward the sky. A red magic circle formed at the tip of her slender index finger, and soon a small fireball shot out.
The fireball rocketed high into the sky before detonating in a massive explosion. A deafening boom echoed alongside plumes of gray smoke.
Its height was impressive enough that no one would get hurt, but more than sufficient to draw attention from onlookers.
Say, the guards on duty somewhere nearby, or perhaps even a member of the Imperial Knights. In short, it was only a matter of time before these guys got caught.
The problem was that Luke wasn't the only one who realized this.
“H-He requires a sacrifice...”
“Healthy young flesh is what He favors...”
As if Elena's spell had been a signal flare, the creatures charged all at once.
Their leaps off the ground were shockingly fast—unbelievable for ordinary humans.
Blackish ooze oozed from them, shaping into weapons. They felt worlds apart from the ones they'd encountered before.
But unbeatable? Hardly.
Clang-!
Luke casually deflected one creature's sword.
It wasn't difficult. They had brute strength and speed, but their combat skills left much to be desired.
He dodged a menacing scythe slicing in next, then kicked its wielder in the ribs. After evading a wild swing from another whose both hands had morphed into short axes, he severed one of its arms completely.
This vagrant creature moved with clumsy inexperience, making it easy to dispatch. Probably still adjusting to its new body.
'Lucky this is an alley.'
The narrow confines prevented them from swarming him all at once—a huge advantage given his numbers disadvantage. On an open field, he wouldn't lose, but it'd be a real slog.
Then it hit—a chill from behind. A razor-sharp ice shard whistled past his head. Elena's magic.
The lead creature raised an arm to block, but the spear-like ice pierced straight through.
The cold didn't stop there; it spread, flash-freezing the arm solid.
Against a human, it'd be devastating. But these things? Not so much. They kept moving even with their heads chopped off.
Thud.
Its frozen arms hit the ground. A comrade behind had sliced them off with a sword.
Black blood gushed from the stumps before rapidly reforming into arms.
The creature's face didn't even twitch amid it all—eerie beyond horrifying.
Elena, watching, clicked her tongue.
“Tch. I figured it'd reach the heart. Tougher than they look.”
“Seems like these are stronger specimens than the ones before.”
“Then I should amp it up a bit.”
“I'll focus on protecting you, my lady. Cast freely.”
“That was the plan anyway.”
Was she gearing up for the real fight? Elena drew a short wand from her waist.
A blue magic circle bloomed at its tip. Ice chunks began materializing in midair.
A direct hit from those would surely impale hearts this time.
The creatures knew it too. They sprang forward like instinct-driven beasts.
Luke swung to shield Elena, parrying and redirecting attacks while carving deep gashes into them.
Some ignored him to go for her, but he thwarted them with every trick in the book. Protecting his lady was sword and shield alike—his duty.
In that moment, Elena's spell completed. A colossal ice mass, big enough to crowd the alley, hurtled toward them amid swirling frost.
On open ground, they'd dodge easily. But...
No room in this tight alley. Especially not against something that size.
And they weren't skilled enough to cleave it outright. The outcome was set. Only variable: the body count.
One down? Or more?
As Luke pondered, the front creature seized a vagrant and hurled it at the ice like a shield. Desperate bid to survive.
Wrong move. One—or ten—shields wouldn't cut it against that power.
Sure enough, the ice mass speared the vagrant and kept going, piercing another before slamming into the ground.
Boom-!
The earth seemed to quake. The ice exploded, filling the alley with thick white mist.
Visibility zero in the instant freeze.
Luke stepped back and reached out. Better to keep Elena within arm's reach sans sight.
His fingers brushed something cool yet smooth—her hand.
He yanked her close. She tumbled right into his arms.
“E-Eek?”
“Bear with me just a moment, my lady. Can't see a thing—too dangerous apart.”
“Fair point. Might be risky if we don't stick together like this.”
Her arms wrapped around his waist.
Normally, he'd let it slide. Not now. It hampered his movement.
He gently pried her hands free.
“Grabbing my waist like that—you could get hurt.”
“Doesn't matter.”
“... I'm not okay with it.”
“I'm telling you, it's fine. Want proof?”
“Proof of wha—?”
Elena snapped her fingers. A crisp snap rang out. The mist vanished in a blink—like an illusion all along.
“See? Totally fine.”
“...I get your point.”
At the end of their gaze: the creatures, frozen white solid.
Last time he'd seen Elena go all-out with magic was ages ago. Her skill was as jaw-dropping as ever. No wonder she felt like this world's protagonist.
Still, didn't make hugging kosher. Servant embracing lady? Sketchy optics. Straight out of some shady back-alley smut novel.
Priority one: clean up. They weren't moving, but dead? Debatable.
“My lady, we should extract the parasites first. They might stir once the ice melts.”
“Right. Let's do that.”
As they stepped toward the creatures...
Hairs stood on end. Goosebumps down his spine. Like facing the Sword Saint at the festival—but subtly off.
Luke turned toward the source. Elena did too. She'd felt it.
“...I sensed ominous magic and came, only to find familiar faces.”
A calm, authoritative voice filled the alley.
No need to ask who. Famous figure, and they'd met once before.
Elena bowed lightly. Luke followed suit beside her.
“It's been a while, Magic Tower Lord.”
“Indeed, the lady of House Frozenheart. A pleasure to meet again.”
The Magic Tower Lord returned a nod.
He shifted gaze to the four frozen assailants.
“Impressive magic. Shame I missed the show.”
“You're too kind.”
“No need for false modesty. No reason to lie. Care to explain? Why the spell, and what are these things?”
His face was etched with disgust. Probably the foul magic Elena mentioned.
“As for their identities...”
Elena nodded, about to elaborate.
Clanging metal approached. Capital guards appeared soon after—armored, armed to the teeth.
The Tower Lord sighed shortly.
“Looks like now's not the time.”
“If you attend tomorrow's banquet, I'll explain then.”
“Very well.”
He snapped his fingers. Vanished like he'd never been.
Thus, facing the guards alone...
“Explain the situation.”
They were in for a long night.