Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Four Heavenly Kings Line (2)
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I could understand Line's position, getting ganged up on like that.
But I had no intention of just letting him go after he came here on his own two feet.
“Let's follow.”
“Yeah.”
“Kill.”
No one here was weak anyway.
Even if we jumped into that pit, I wasn't worried about getting hurt at all.
We leaped into the pit simultaneously.
It would have been safer to wait for Vina and Rainy to provide support before going in together.
But waiting that long risked losing him.
If we disappeared from sight, they'd probably assume we'd gone ahead and follow on their own, even if a bit late.
Swoooosh.
The pit was deeper and wider than I'd imagined.
I had to admire his digging skills.
I should seriously consider capturing him alive if possible.
If I caught him alive and used Rainy's contract to bind him, he'd make an excellent industrial laborer for the territory.
Thud.
About ten seconds of falling?
The bottom finally came into view.
My companions and I landed at the same time and stayed alert.
We'd dropped right into the heart of enemy territory, so we couldn't let our guard down from here on.
But despite our vigilance, no enemies appeared.
Either Line had invaded the academy alone, or he'd already withdrawn all his subordinates.
Swoooosh.
The tunnel was so wide that the three of us could run side by side with room to spare.
Marey still hadn't fully absorbed her experience points, so she seemed to struggle a bit compared to Daisy and me, who were flipping and tumbling effortlessly.
I was running at max mana output when I tapped Daisy's shoulder, who was focused ahead.
“I'll take care of Marey.”
If I picked up Marey without permission, I'd incur the wrath of Daisy, self-proclaimed protector of Marey, and end up in a Season 3 special match: Raden vs. Daisy before even facing the Four Heavenly King.
So I asked for permission first.
Daisy furrowed her brows slightly, looking displeased, but she nodded, understanding the urgency.
I'd expected her to insist on handling Marey herself, but she quietly left it to me this time. She must be feeling the burden of running too.
At our level, carrying one Marey shouldn't be an issue, yet she was passing her off to me, so Daisy was probably feeling the strain subtly.
It seemed the aftereffects of the thorough lesson I'd given her before Line showed up lingered more than she'd admit.
Whoosh.
With Marey slung over my back, we ran for another three minutes before catching up to Line, who was frantically digging his way to escape.
“Damn.”
Line must have realized he couldn't outrun us anymore. He spun around, revving the shovel still attached to him with a whine.
Whirr.
Marey, who'd been riding on my back, was now on the ground, channeling her holy power.
If that hit him directly, Line would melt away.
I calmed Marey down and returned the courtesy Line had shown us.
“Surrender. If you do, I'll spare your life.”
Even a Four Heavenly King starts with a surrender offer before battle. We, who claim to be on the side of justice, should show proper manners too.
“Hmph, what idiot would fall for that? I'd just get tortured with holy water anyway. No surrender!”
I'd secretly hoped he'd surrender meekly, but unfortunately, he didn't trust us.
“See? He says no surrender. Can I attack now?”
Daisy, radiating fierce pink mana, fidgeted like her hands were itching, her legs twitching.
Marey nodded at me, unleashing overwhelming holy power.
She was ready to strike anytime.
I appreciated them respecting my half-confirmed non-hero status.
But I didn't want to kill Line.
We needed to build a new lord's castle.
“Why not just surrender nicely? You can't win.”
“I am Line, proud Four Heavenly King of the Demon King's army! I will never surrender.”
He'd bolted without looking back earlier, so acting all macho now just looked pathetic.
But even if he was pathetic, I was aiming to recruit him, so I avoided outright mocking him and tried to coax him gently.
“I swear on the hero's name. Surrender, and I won't torture you with holy water or anything—just let you live.”
“Hmph! Don't talk nonsense!”
Even gentle persuasion didn't work; Line just kept up his pointless resistance.
I'd have to break his spirit a bit before negotiating.
I signaled to the two women, itching for a fight, and they immediately split left and right, charging in.
Naturally, I took the center and rushed forward.
“Urgh.”
Line gritted his teeth and planted his legs firmly, refusing to back down.
Charging from three directions— that strategy didn't look efficient.
“Hyah!”
Daisy leaped first.
She no longer exuded her old ferocious aura after breaking through in our recent spar, but her mana was now more solid and efficient as she swung.
Line revved his shovel and clashed it against her sword.
Boom!
The weapons collided, sending out a powerful shockwave. Daisy and Line were both pushed back similarly.
Holding his own against awakened Daisy in the first exchange was commendable, but unfortunately for Line, there were three of us.
Now Marey jumped into the air with her petite frame, swinging her sword.
I'd rarely seen Marey fight directly, so I watched with a bit of anticipation.
Daisy said Marey lacked experience, but the sheer amount of holy power she displayed made that irrelevant—it built expectations anyway.
“Yap.”
Unlike her grand butterfly-like leap, she let out a cute kiai as she swung.
Line tensed at her massive holy power, swallowing hard before blocking the sword.
The moment we expected a huge impact—
Hug.
A cute, adorable sound echoed through the tunnel.
…?
…?
Even I was taken aback, and so was Line—we both froze briefly.
Daisy, preparing to charge again, squeezed her eyes shut as if she couldn't bear to watch.
I'd never understood why Daisy, of all people, insisted on being Marey's protector despite her own holy power.
But after seeing that fight, it clicked.
Marey had monstrous holy power, but she lacked the fundamentals for swordsmanship.
Her strength and grip were as weak as any girl her age.
She didn't know how to put her body weight into swings.
And dodging Line's eyes at the last second showed a lack of confidence and courage.
I wondered what exactly they'd been teaching her in the swordsmanship department all this time.
“Ha! As expected, you're no hero! That holy power means you're a saintess, right?”
Line, who'd been tense, grew cocky now that he felt the advantage.
“Real. Hero.”
“Pfft! Who'd believe that? I hope you are the hero, for our Demon King's army. A lame one would be perfect.”
“You. Die.”
Marey furrowed her brow deeply, genuinely furious at Line's taunt.
If I let it go, it'd scar her heart more, so I stepped in.
She'd been a useless totem during the Greed Sword Karos fight.
But in this Four Heavenly King subjugation, it was time to shine.
Whoooosh.
Mana and holy power surged into my legs, a powerful aura exploding around me.
“Huh.”
Arrogant from facing Marey, Line seemed to underestimate my surging power.
Dropping his guard at such a crucial moment—optimistically, he was a perfect second-rate villain.
I built my energy, waiting for an opening.
The instant Line shifted his stance, I exploded forward.
“What!”
Only then realizing I was the real deal, Line hurriedly assumed a defensive posture.
But it wasn't enough to block my attack.
To a third party, it would look like a flashy sword dance, my blade tracing a graceful curve.
“Gaaah!”
The sword smoothly severed Line's two arms.
With that shovel and sturdy legs, construction shouldn't be an issue even without arms.
Line collapsed, screaming in agony from the loss.
Satisfied with how things were going according to plan, I approached to offer surrender again.
His face paled as he felt the skill gap bone-deep; maybe this time he'd swear allegiance easily.
Whoooosh.
In that moment of slight relief, Marey, quietly fuming, suddenly burst forward.
‘Shit.’
A bad premonition hit; I tried to block her desperately, but—
Booooom!
Marey's body slam, wrapped in immense holy power, vaporized Line's body first.
Acknowledging her poor sword skills and opting for a body slam to leverage her overwhelming holy power was a brilliant choice.
Killing a Four Heavenly King, evil incarnate, was praiseworthy.
But…
“My… excavator drill…”
With the dream of a beautiful new house gone, I felt a little heartbroken.
Just a little.