Auction (4)
Evan spoke as he stepped out of the room where the auction items were held, having rescued the elf who was the target.
"Follow me carefully. My hyungnim took care of the guards separately, but there are magic traps everywhere."
As expected from a holding area for auction items, the defenses were no joke.
Elena, having caught that odd term, asked, "Your hyungnim… you mean Kyle Arden?"
"Ah, slipped into old habits since it feels natural. Yeah, that's right."
"…I see."
So he's someone Mother would entrust with a request. Quite different from the playboy reputation.
"Anyway, stick close. You'll be safe from the magic if you're by my side."
Evan was deploying a spell that disrupted mana wavelengths. At least this way, they wouldn't get detected if they stayed near him.
"Understood."
Elena nodded and fell in behind Evan.
I still can't move freely yet.
Now that she was free, she could wield mana and holy power, making such threats trivial. But after weeks in captivity, her muscles had atrophied, and her body felt awkward—she needed time to readjust. Of course, as knight captain, she could jump in anytime if needed, but since she'd accepted help, she'd see it through.
Yeah, no choice here.
She pushed down the truth and followed Evan. For some reason, his shoulders looked broader from behind.
They hadn't gone far from the slave waiting room when Evan ran into the group.
"Evan, junior! Got her?"
"Yeah. Oh, these are my seniors who came to help."
Evan briefly introduced the two. Elena recognized one immediately: Rana Heytald. A human her mother, the World Tree, adored almost as much as her own elven children. Elena had occasionally seen her mother chatting with Rana.
Unfortunately, the other was an unknown human. Though her aura felt strangely alien, almost inhuman.
Still, in the midst of escape, she didn't plan to dwell.
"Pleased to meet you both. I'm Elena."
"Nice to meet you!"
"……."
Rana greeted her warmly, while Ruina hid behind Rana, silently glaring. Anyway, greetings were short.
"Let's get going. We've got a ways to the meetup spot with hyungnim."
Hyungnim had said that if trouble hit the back auction hall, they'd evacuate all guests via secret passages. But with an elf in tow, they couldn't use that. So they'd prepped an alternate escape route, with a rendezvous point after rescuing her.
The four headed for the rendezvous. Thankfully, the trek was smooth.
Kaboom!!
The biggest factor was that all the aggro was pulled to that side. No one approached them. Plus, Rana scouted with summons to find the optimal path, and Ruina sowed confusion in the passages with alchemy to deter pursuers.
They still bumped into enemies—guards en route to the auction hall.
"As hyungnim said, total stealth was impossible."
Evan knocked out the guards as he spoke. Elena was slightly impressed.
That swordsmanship at such a young age…
Clean, concise trajectories, precise power control to knock out without killing. As a knight walking the path of the sword, Elena could instantly gauge Evan's exceptional talent.
She'd already been glancing his way often. Now, watching his sword, her gaze lingered more. If time allowed, she'd love to spar and offer guidance.
Moreover, he supported the others without hindering them—fine leadership too.
But Elena's musings didn't last.
"Elf! The elf escaped!!"
A guard's shout rang out. Her elven features couldn't be fully hidden by the cloak.
"I'll assist from now on."
Elena picked up a fallen sword and declared. Once the escape was known, guards tripled. Their teamwork was great, but three against that was tough.
No issue. She'd adapted enough.
Elena immediately called a spirit. The wind spirit answered her friend's summons, Sylph appearing and clinging to her.
"Sorry for calling after so long. Can you help me first?"
!!!
The spirit affirmed, wrapping around Elena's sword and body. Her movements lightened instantly. Elena swung lightly at the foes.
Kagagak!!
Dozens of wind blades slashed forward, carving wounds everywhere. Each sharp sword-qi shredded all ahead.
"D-dodge!!"
"Argh-!"
Too late. Spirit-sword fusion overwhelmed mere Experts.
"Urk…."
"S-spare…."
Fallen guards writhed in agony. The floor stained red.
"Whoa, what technique is that?"
Elena blushed faintly at the genuine awe.
"Spirit swordsmanship. Combining spirit arts and swordplay—a technique handed down in the knight order."
More guards charged. Evan drew mana, inspired to mimic her technique even slightly: generate sword-qi, layer with wind cutter.
Whoooosh-
A rippling breeze. Not perfect, but his take on her sword. Stabilizing, he swung.
Kak!!
Wind blade sliced foes with a sharp whine. Weaker range, but Elena was stunned.
"You… mimicked that…?"
"Yeah, looked easy to imitate. But first try, so less power."
"No, that's…."
"Hm?"
"Nothing…."
Elena trailed off. Substituting spirits with magic, fusing magic and swordplay, doing it casually.
How does such talent exist…?
Even for her, nearly a century old, it was astonishing.
"Um…."
"Yes?"
"Could you show it again later?"
"Of course. Definitely."
Elena replied earnestly. She couldn't refuse those puppy-dog eyes sparkling with zeal.
Rana, watching, whispered to Ruina.
"Ruina senior. Feels like spring~"
"It's autumn now."
"Hehe, no worries if you don't get it."
"Huh?"
Ruina floated a question mark over her head.
Situation calmed, the four ran on. Then, undead defied death before them.
"Why undead…!"
Hundreds of skeletons. Elena startled, stepping forward. They herded auction slaves. Evan blocked her, reassuring.
"It's fine. Hyungnim's summons."
"Undead?"
"Yeah. No worries. Oh, hyungnim says follow."
Letters formed before them.
Move together with the skeletons.
With Evan leading, they followed. Elena pondered trailing.
Just what is Kyle Arden…?
Using power linked to black. Mother, is this really okay?
***
The auction hall was chaos. VIP room collapsed from bombs, flames flickering amid rubble. Hired experts and guards from the auction side surrounded me.
"Who ordered this?!"
One of three Masters here demanded. I showed, not told.
"Rise."
Infusing mana, incantation shook earth. Shattered bones reassembled. Not done. Necromancer perk: local materials. Souls and corpses here? Endless undead.
Battle-dead reborn undead; dormant grudge-ghosts and bodies stirred.
"Attack!!"
Summons' weakness: mid-cast. They struck—dozens sword-qi, flawless spells pressing.
Mere Experts. Shield blocked weapons; wide dispel nullified magic.
"Predictable tricks."
Repeated clashes, attrition to drain mana. Black stone's not infinite, but not depleting soon. Five-plus rounds, still fine.
Hm?
Signal: summons met Evan.
Time to go.
Elf rescued, no reason to stay. Sent rough message, drew black stone power.
"You letting him?!"
"Bind him!"
Expecting big move, two Masters charged with sword auras.
Kwagak!!
Colorful spells deployed around. No escape, grand mage spells binding.
But.
"Filth daring touch master!!"
Regenerated lich screamed, appearing. Both 7-circle equals. Lich couldn't overwhelm but stalled grand mage.
That gap cost them. Undead filled hall.
"Tch, annoying."
"Six mass summons. Mana's low."
Masters cleaved undead, closing. I countered: black mana and corpses into form. Cast.
Black-armored knight for melee protection.
"Go."
Clank. Death Knight advanced. Adapted, charged foes.
Won't last. Two Masters dismantle it; one on lich tips balance.
Ten minutes max? Without me, that's limit. Three Masters too much. Illusion helped so far.
Prep before then.
Ordered undead. Black stone-empowered tore guards, took positions.
Prep done.
Kwajik! Death Knight crushed.
"M-master…."
Lich screamed soon after. Mana depleted; undead crumbled.
No guards left. Three closed to subdue.
I grinned.
"3, 2, 1. You bastards."
Deployed underfoot. Mana spiderwebbed into massive magic circle.
"This is…!"
Individually weak spells. Combined? Devastating. 7-circle mage dispelled hastily.
"Too bad, won't break that easy."
Mixed martial secrets—not pure magic. Reverse-flow maybe.
Kwaaang!!
Senior-modded bomb detonated first.
Kwaaaang!!
Chain explosions ravaged in flames.
Before engulfed.
Swap with distant summon.
"Catch you later if you've time."
One Master twisted face.
"You dog…!!"
"Save breath, cut mana!"
"Try harder."
View blinked. Group appeared.
"Kyle!"
"Hyungnim!"
Rana, Evan welcomed like long wait….
Kwaaaaang!!
"What the hell did you do?!"
"You're not collapsing this place too, right?!"
"Uh……."
That rumble reached here? Greeted with shouts.
What? My fault?