Chapter 47
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 47: Trigger (3)
It was from a few days ago.
I was chasing Redric Ricardo's movement line constantly.
Ordinary Viscount during the day, shadow leaving no traces at night.
He was more cautious than thought.
Seemed to doubt Kalik's disappearance.
'Organization power is stronger than thought.'
Like when tailing the other day, going out time was fixed, and movement line was similar every time, but detailed path was subtly different.
A method to filter out tailing on purpose.
Transferring carriage twice, turning around alleys mixing in the crowd, then returning to the mansion again.
Although looking like steps of an ordinary noble, I read 'tension' hidden in that rhythm.
Nevertheless, executing disappearance or not showing such sign means there is no change in the original plan.
Thought it a relief.
Because it would have been a headache if the bastard disappeared at this point.
And that day when trouble occurred.
I was observing hiding my body on the terrace of Redric's mansion office.
Tried to attempt infiltration inside, but since vigilance was already raised, chose stable observation rather than unreasonable attempt.
Night was quiet, and air of outer castle was damp.
However.
Mana wave arose in Redric's office for an instant.
Black ripple covered his surroundings momentarily, and disgusting smell like burning metal, like mixed blood and ink encroached the area.
"......!"
Soon, his shape distorted as if submerged in darkness.
And disappears in an instant.
Complete space transfer not something like simple concealment.
I jumped from the terrace and climbed onto the roof.
Instinct reacted first.
'Vivienne.'
Reason couldn't be explained, but intuition was clear.
Certainty that destination of him triggering black magic moving is only one.
I deployed sensory summoning circle immediately.
Minute blue pattern spread underfoot, and extended senses.
Summoning mana sensory summoned beast 'Red Bat', started reading residual mana flow.
Black magic leaves traces.
Especially in case of urgent transfer, texture of mana tears creating cracks.
Tracking those cracks.
I ran following black afterglow cutting through the air.
From roof to roof, crossing alleys, reading minute traces remaining in the air.
Place arrived like that was Vivienne's mansion as expected.
Sticky feeling sticking unpleasantly was leading to mansion garden.
Guard guarding the main gate is fallen.
At that moment.
Black magic bloomed again as if exploding.
There was no roar.
Just, wind pressure like silent bomb exploded was felt.
Pitch-black air current covered inside mansion, and vision was dyed ink color.
"Damn it—!"
I dug into the center unfolding attack summoning formula, but was already late.
Black fog formed, and Vivienne held in his hand and Redric disappeared.
"......."
Situation wasn't good.
The bastard's movement was too bold and fast to report to Grand Duke Your Highness and request support.
Like a foal with loosened reins, and seemed to be making final execution before disappearance.
Felt like missing the bastard completely the moment hesitating.
I extended sensory again.
Fortunately residual mana was still reacting.
I rushed on the street unfolding gravity resistance summoning circle and soared into empty air scanning the area.
Before knowing it left Northern Capital, and arrived somewhere in pure white snowy landscape and steep snowy mountains.
But as mana wind pressure bursting out was fierce, residual mana was scattered in all directions making it difficult to pinpoint exact location.
"Damn it."
Where.
Calming breathing, released dozens of sensory summoned beasts.
Fragments of small blue light scattered in all directions.
If Red Bat is a summoned beast specialized in one flow, they were existences reading mana density in the atmosphere.
A while later.
One sent a signal.
Mana was condensing abnormally at one point.
Concentrated energy.
Condensation just before explosion.
"!"
I rushed to that place straight away.
Under grey sky, point where mana rages roughly.
When arrived, situation was already touch-and-go.
Redric was blooming black magic.
Black flame splitting was driving towards Vivienne like river water with burst dam.
She was driven to the edge of a precipice where one misstep leads to fall.
No time to delay, no time to think.
Spread both hands simultaneously.
"—Deploy."
Multi-layered defense type summoning circle unfolded underfoot.
Triple reinforcement formula overlapped on circular base circle, and ancient letters rotated emitting light.
Reflection formula refracting mana flow at right angle.
Buffer layer dispersing shock.
Protection binding designating protection target first based on life signal.
Lastly up to combination circle absorbing part of buffered destructive power and condensing it.
Finished all calculations in an instant.
Huge blue light defense type giant body was summoned, and landing in front of Vivienne injecting mana into giant body with outstretched hand, drew defense circle around Vivienne with hand stretched backward.
And.
Giant body thrusts fist towards charging black magic, and collided head-on.
Kwaaang—!!
Roar as if collapsing cliff bursts out, and giant body's pivot foot sinks under ground.
But giant body wasn't pushed, and fist hitting resistance soon smashed black magic's centripetal point.
Black flame split in empty air, and mana scattered like storm at collision point.
And.
Combination circle absorbing part of destructive power deployed lastly and condensing it.
Condensed power is shot like a beam from combination circle converting black light to blue light.
Towards the bastard.
Soon, bastard's shape was swallowed by blue light.
Even short scream wasn't heard.
**
Thud...
Only sound of fluttering stone dust falling to ground rings static space.
Grey sky became darker color due to bloomed dust cloud.
"Phew......."
Exhaled breath long.
Contest ended now, the bastard was prone on the floor.
Smoke was rising from whole body as if oxidizing.
But didn't relax tension.
Sense synchronized with mana sensory summoned beast.
Was informing his mana wasn't completely extinguished yet.
No, rather informing it is boiling like lava just before eruption.
Rustle...
Bastard raised body, and stone crumbs settled on body flowed down like waterfall.
Thick black veins soaring on pale skin.
Boundary of iris and pupil disappeared, and pitch darkness permeates.
"...Didn't know an interrupter would appear."
Even voice was cracked as if encroached by darkness.
Seemed to have pulled up internal darkness power extremely to endure.
Assumed alert posture blooming mana in dantian to deploy summoning circle anytime.
Earth already hollowed by one collision, and rock was scorched black.
In aftermath of blue summoning circle and black magic colliding, residual mana brushed past empty air like lightning, and fragments scattered like starlight.
I glared at Redric catching breath.
He was also observing me stepping back one step.
Although short contest, already confirmed each other wasn't opponent to pass lightly.
"...Sir Dwirig's disappearance was clearly not coincidence."
I didn't answer.
Instead recovering high-rank residual formula remaining underfoot, rearranged mana flow.
"Do you have contact point with her? Or... petty sense of justice?"
Black smoke rose from his shoulder.
Thing thin like thread at first became thick gradually.
Not smoke, but burning his own body as kindling forming shape of mana.
"Do not disturb."
Goosebumps started to rise on back.
Mightiness of mana, heterogeneous wind pressure, enlarging black ego.
Pressure of different dimension from what faced so far was enough to make fingertips numb.
Not easy.
Felt it without experiencing.
Perhaps, destructive expansion power seemingly breaking curve rising endlessly starting from this moment.
Black magic is power manifested burning user's mind and life.
As much as that unfavorable in long-term battle, and power naturally weakening and extinguishing if enduring time.
But...
'Might not be able to endure until then.'
Such defeatist thought occurred for the first time after possession.
High-ranking executive of national subversion force.
It was realized that name wasn't a specious business card.
If not doing best, if not exerting end of everything possessed...
'Lose.'
Even desperate sense of submission occurred.
Cold sweat started to soak back, and set giant summoned beast and summoned beasts wrapping Vivienne all to front.
Vision was blocked, and what was heard beyond that was bastard's laughter.
"What you do is merely hiding behind summoned beasts. Surely not trying to run away."
Don't consider options.
Only one option.
For that, opened right hand and placed on chest where heart is.
Drawing summoning circle pulling up all mana remaining in dantian.
Not empty air, nor floor, directly on body.
Just as black magic burns user's life, take myself as medium.
Formula making summoner's body powerful by establishing continuous connection with specific entity through clear medium and condition.
Formula requiring summoner's high mental power and understanding.
Triggering contract summoning formula fusing by calling existence of other world directly to soul and body, not calling into space.
"—4th Rank Integration Contract Formula, Arcar Di Bellum."
Condensing mana, drawing chest with five fingertips.
Not to split flesh, but piercing epidermis reaching dermis layer.
Blue lines engraved on heart.
Rank seal, coordinate of existence, mana circulation circuit, and clear condition.
'Battlefield limited.'
'Summoner's survival top priority.'
'4th Rank Contractor, single entity.'
Felt blue pattern spreading along blood vessels.
Heart beats fiercely as if resisting.
Pattern shines matching pulsation, and feeling something wriggling somewhere deep in heart.
"Kugh...!"
Bit lip.
Completing summoning circle swallowing reflux with effort.
Instantly, shadow twisted.
One shape stood up inside shadow torn sharply and flickering as if burning.
Red pattern like flame, and shape of knight tangled with iron and blood.
4th Rank Contractor Executor of Battlefield, Execution Knight of Belgrad.
That existence overlapped behind my back.