Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The Saint's Inner Thoughts Are Heard
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Generally speaking, a characteristic of high-level mage battles is that victory or defeat isn't determined by sheer power or the amount of mana one possesses.
Of course, the number of rings revolving around the mana core determines one's stage, and the types of magic one can use are divided accordingly.
'...A combination of holy magic and black magic. I didn't know such an application was possible.'
For me and Leozak, surpassing that stage through the combination of magic made it meaningless anyway.
Rather, victory would go to the side who could identify the opponent's weakness and respond more effectively.
"If only Victoria were here..."
Muttering to myself in regret, I clenched my fist and took a fighting stance. Originally, the ultimate counter to a black mage like him would be a cleric like her.
Since the Holy Kingdom of Aurelium is essentially Victoria's hometown, I also thought it right that she should handle this matter.
p>"...Well, but if she were here, it would have been a disaster."
However, I had already publicly declared her as my lover.
Rumors spread quickly among people. And if it were a scandal involving someone described as not just devout but holy, it would spread even faster.
"Accel, Rage, Strength."
Creating magic circles on my palms, I prepared to combine new spells. They were spells for speed enhancement, for increasing the destructive power of my fists, and for strengthening my physical power.
'Fight in the style of the Black Tower.'
Right now, fighting in the style of the Black Tower, which shattered the prejudice that mages are weak in close combat, was the only meaningful approach.
Because it's due to corrupted black mages like him that the people of the Black Tower still haven't washed away that stigma.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Ultimate Berserker Close Combat Enhancement
Click, clack!
Three different magic circles merged together, wrapping around my arms and legs like chains.
This magic was for close-quarters combat. Because Leozak's Life Vessel was the staff he held itself.
'That staff is clearly made by mixing Basilisk scales and Adamantite.'
I thought as I looked at the unusually shaped staff in my view. It was an object with a large gem containing a soul attached to its end.
Basilisk scales, called the gravediggers of mages, have the property of deflecting all magic, and Adamantite is a steel that cannot be destroyed by ordinary force.
If you break the staff, you win—put conversely, it meant making it absolutely indestructible by conventional means.
What was needed was a combination of magic and martial power.
"Planning to combine magic and martial power to shatter my Life Vessel? A good idea, but can you even get close?"
Leozak clacked his jawbone, opening his mouth as he concentrated magical power at the tip of his staff.
A pure white Divine Power and murky black magic swirled together, creating a monochrome magic circle.
'That's Skeleton Army, a black magic that summons an army of skeletons, combined with Paladin's Gift, a blessing bestowed by a paladin...'
The principle was the same as me overlapping two different magic circles to create a new spell, but I couldn't use high-level holy magic.
"Undead Paladin. Immortal paladins who cannot die. Don't they look more reliable than those fools up there who only lust after women?"
- Sp... spare me...
The skeletons thus created were all clad in the shining armor unique to paladins. One even extended a hand towards me, making the voice of the Pope who had just dried up and died.
"Don't tell me... Did you use the paladins and clerics you killed as material for this magic?"
Seeing the enemies in my view sobbing, I gritted my teeth hard. Originally, such skeleton-summoning magic required life force and skeletal remains.
But this place was the Holy Kingdom's Forbidden Archive, not a public cemetery; there was no way the conditions for such magic could be met here.
- I didn't want to die...
- Why only me...
- I just went near the door because I heard a voice from underground...
They kept pleading for rescue as if they still retained their sanity, but the way they raised their swords and moved was that of seasoned knights.
The term 'living decisive weapon' also referred to current knights, so it seemed they had enhanced their general physical prowess with Divine Power.
"Yes, well, there were humans who wouldn't have become Pope without me anyway, so I can do as I please with the Paladin Order beneath him, can't I?"
Leozak rattled his jawbone as if laughing, making a deflating sound. I couldn't understand why a skeleton with nothing but bones had such rich emotional expression.
"You don't even grant the dead peace."
"That's a black mage for you. Well, when I was in the Golden Tower, I didn't know such a state existed..."
Leozak moved the Paladins forward to fight while swinging his staff grandly, as if preparing to chant a large-scale spell from the rear.
That's a rather classic mage battle tactic. A worn-out, outdated method barely mentioned in a corner of textbooks.
"...It's different now. If you thought only a genius like you could create new magic, you were wrong."
"I never once thought that."
I answered while driving a mana-filled fist into a Paladin's face. They were enemies who kept getting up and fighting no matter how many times I shattered their bones.
If we're talking about someone imitating my magic, there was the Chameleon Dragon before, and I had suffered too great a wound to repeat past mistakes.
'I'm not a genius; I'm the flawed one who got my parents killed.'
Once upon a time, I had thought I was a genius.
Because I reached the intermediate mage stage through self-study, something even adults struggled with.
Because, thanks to eyes that could see mana unlike others, I could use magic without a staff, just with a twig.
Naturally, strength entered my hand, making veins bulge, and I barely suppressed a trembling shudder.
'If it becomes a war of attrition, I'm at an absolute disadvantage. I must somehow close in quickly and shatter that Life Vessel.'
I steadied my breath, roughened from grappling with the Undead Paladins, and aimed for the tip of the staff I needed to target.
Transforming my body into living lightning required too much preparation. My opponent was a seasoned mage who had lived for centuries; there was no way such a large opening would appear.
Thud, crack!
Mixing kicks and punches, I advanced while knocking down the immortal army that would never die. The skeletons clad in hard armor were endlessly gnawing at my stamina.
'I must save magic for the final moment. The opponent is a mage following classic methods; I must keep him wary by doing this...'
Several powerful spells came to mind, but they were useless if I couldn't destroy the opponent's Life Vessel.
Even if I used a spell emitting tremendous light and heat, if I were ambushed by the Lich with his immortal body, I'd have to live as his servant forever.
"O heaven of demons slumbering in the abyss, I offer this blood and flesh, now manifest here, Become the giant fangs that devour the enemy before my eyes. ⟨ Abyss Heaven ⟩"
Along with Leozak's chant, countless magic circles rose before my eyes. They were of a different type than what I could create to dispel.
Even if black magic could be used by following the Black Tower's method of utilizing one's own life force, the high-level holy magic mixed within was the problem.
Clack—! Screeeeeech...
A massive, dark iron gate filling my vision created an atmosphere as if a demon would truly leap out.
As the door opened with a chilling metallic sound, the laughter of countless demons echoed from within.
"That... is that a high-level demon?"
"Yes, a nameless demon said to have been sealed away in ancient times. What do you plan to do now?"
Leozak spread his mouth and arms wide as if satisfied, fluttering his golden robe.
A giant hand stretched out with a thud, scraping the surrounding walls and ceiling, trying to pull its main body outside the door.
'Should I use Core Sword...?'
I placed a hand on my chest and pondered. As Victoria had worried before, my body was in a state that absolutely required rest.
Moreover, right now, I had no choice but to stall for time. If I failed to defeat Leozak the Lich in one go, I would die.
But,
'Hesitation makes the body sluggish. Act first, think later.'
Crackle—.
I immediately overloaded my mana core, taking the motion just before projecting it outward. Originally, I would have chosen a method to get as close as possible and shatter the Life Vessel.
'If that crazy thing gets out of the Holy Kingdom's Forbidden Archive, sacrifices will become inevitable.'
The amount of magical power emanating from that demon was extraordinary at a glance. Leozak's attacks had also paused momentarily after casting that spell.
"Ah, rest assured. Even if I devastate the Holy Kingdom like this, I'll revive you as an undead corpse that cannot die and thoroughly dissect what magic you've learned."
"...Are you insane?"
Leozak's attitude, speaking as if it were nothing, made my skin crawl, and nausea rose, prompting me to curse immediately.
"You, by any chance, have a strong stomach? From now on, you'll be dissected countless times and have to see your own heart or organs with your own eyes..."
Just as his words were about to conclude.
"...That's far enough. The only one under this sky who can torment Astal-nim is me, Victoria Everhart."
Booooom—!
With a tremendous noise that shook the very earth, a platinum-blonde woman, half of whose body was covered in flowers, appeared.
"Vi, Victoria?!"
I couldn't help but be shocked looking at her back. Just how long had she been watching my actions?
"Since when...?"
"Since the moment you personally overexerted yourself to open a spatial gate. Ah, and I heard the lover declaration clearly."
"- You've worked hard until now. Someday, so that you can truly become my lover, I'll strive even harder." Victoria's inner thoughts reached me immediately.
No wonder I thought I heard a suspicious whispering sound. I hadn't realized she had been following me since much earlier.
"......"
"You can do it if you try, can't you? Honestly, it was a bit heart-fluttering. If I were an ordinary woman and not a Saint, that is."
"- I'm now officially your girlfriend!" Victoria flashed a somewhat proud smile at me while making a V-sign. Her slightly blushing cheeks felt somewhat awkward.
Why on earth did she seem happy about my disgraceful act?
Looking at Victoria's cheekbones, which seemed to be rising more and more, I realized something was wrong.
"Victoria, there's something I want to try with you..."
"Don't tell me you want a reunion kiss? Even so, we're in front of the enemy. No matter how happy you are to see me again, later..."
"- A kiss with Astal-nim. If we do it after this fight ends, the mood and timing would be perfect..." Overhearing Victoria's inner thoughts, I couldn't help but be startled. Now, the gap between her inner thoughts and outward appearance was invisible.
I immediately shook my head vigorously from side to side, expressing denial.
"...Not that. I want to try mixing holy magic with my magic."
What was needed now was synthesis, exactly as Leozak had done: holy magic combined with something else. The idea of adding another power to ordinary magic was something even I hadn't attempted.
"Very well. Then I shall lend my strength. I can't leave my boyfriend alone, after all."
Shattering the skeleton army approaching me with her hammer in a dashing manner, Victoria finished preparing to cast high-level holy magic.