It Was So Boring, I Wanted to Kill It
Sensing the approaching mana, Selina stared at the door. An outsider had breached her barrier.
She wished it were Charlotte and her companions, but the manner in which the barrier had been shattered carried a blatant, murderous intent.
Rising from her chair, Selina headed toward the room where the children were. When she opened the door, a cluster of bright, sparkling eyes gathered around her.
"Children, can you all be very quiet for a moment? It's getting a bit hard for me to read my book."
"Why?"
"But I'm playing with Eling! I want to keep playing!"
"If you stay quiet, I'll bake some cookies for you. Just be good until then, alright?"
"Okay, okay!"
"Mph!"
The children clamped their hands over their mouths with exaggerated drama. How could they be so adorable, even when trying to stay silent?
"No matter what happens outside, do not come out. Stay absolutely quiet. It's a promise, okay? If even one of you breaks it, no cookies. Understood?"
The children pressed their lips tight and nodded vigorously. Selina closed the door with a gentle smile.
The breach of her barrier meant the intruder was a mage of a higher caliber than herself. Taking a deep breath, Selina steeled her gaze.
Hum! A kaleidoscope of magic circles materialized and floated behind her back.
Facing the door that was about to open, she cast a pitch-black magic circle across the floor.
The 8th Circle Seal Magic Circle, designed to bind anything it touched. It was the highest-circle magic she could muster.
Shatter! In an instant, the Seal Magic Circle rippled and cracked like breaking glass.
Hairline fractures spiderwebbed across all her magic circles, and her mana dissolved into the air.
The moment she witnessed the disruption, a chilling sense of helplessness washed down her spine.
Inverse calculation magic—a technique only possible when there was an astronomical gap in power between the two mages.
It was the ultimate display of inefficient magic, typically reserved for a Tower Master playing with an apprentice.
How could someone perform an inverse calculation against me so effortlessly...?
Creak. The door swung open, the sound of rusted hinges echoing through the cabin.
Whoosh! The moment he stepped inside, the Margrave lunged toward Selina.
Reflexively, Selina tried to deploy another spell.
Shatter! Before the magic circle could even take shape, the spell's structure was dismantled.
Through her spinning vision, she saw an old man stroking his beard.
A mage capable of inverse calculation with a mere glance, without lifting a single finger.
In that split second, Selina realized the old man's identity.
Thrust! "Ah!" The tip of a sword pierced straight through Selina's shoulder.
Her shield magic had already been dismantled by the Grand Sage before it could even deploy.
Screeech. As the Margrave twisted the hilt of his sword, a sharp scream tore from Selina's throat.
The Margrave clamped a hand over her mouth, using his entire weight to pin her.
Unable to resist, Selina was slammed hard against the wall.
"Search the rooms thoroughly," the old man commanded.
"Understood."
The Margrave wrenched his sword free, spraying blood. Droplets splattered across Selina's face.
As Selina instinctively closed her eyes, the Grand Sage leaned in close.
"A witch, indeed."
"...What is it you want?" Selina glared at him, her eyes bloodshot.
"How insolent. What else would one do with a witch but burn her at the stake?"
Coughing up a mouthful of blood, Selina forced the words out through the metallic tang in her mouth.
"Sir... we only wished to live in hiding. We will never set foot in the Empire again."
"Hmm."
"We desire peace, just as you do. So please... just this once... could you spare us?"
"Begging for your life? I would have expected you to spit curses at me instead. Like a proper witch."
Scream! A piercing shriek erupted from the back room.
Selina desperately tried to lung forward, but her body refused to move. She remained frozen in place.
An invisible, intangible pressure of mana had bound her completely.
"Astoria."
"Yes, my Lord!"
"Slash their ankles so they cannot flee, then bring them out. Witches must be burned all at once. Doing it separately risks their curses taking root."
Tsk, tsk. The Grand Sage clicked his tongue and chuckled. He turned his gaze back to Selina, whose eyes were wide with absolute despair.
"I wonder if you know. This old man has burned hundreds, if not thousands, of your kind to ashes."
"Ah... please... at least spare the children..."
"We must crush the sprouts before they grow. Prepare to join your sisters. It has been a while since I last enjoyed a good bonfire."
On the way back, I had been worried that a monster wave from the Frozen Lands might ambush us.
But after walking a short distance from the Grave of the Ancient Dragon, those worries melted away.
"Ugh, the smell..."
"Quite a spectacular sight."
With nothing but birch trees obstructing the view, the landscape stretched out clearly before us.
It was a scene of utter devastation, littered with the charred remains of what looked like thousands of monsters.
Passing closer to the corpses, I could see the levels hovering over some of them.
Though they were on the brink of death, there were still a few stragglers clinging to life.
Unwrapping the bandages, the Holy Sword flew out like an arrow, swiftly putting the surviving monsters out of their misery.
Because the initial horde had been so massive, the number of stragglers was quite substantial as well.
Free farming. Sweet.
Having been cooped up deep underground, I hadn't realized what was happening on the surface.
Normally, dealing with a monster wave scenario involved forming an expeditionary force, or, if the numbers were truly overwhelming, fighting a defensive siege at the great wall.
A horde of this scale would normally warrant a siege. Why had they launched an expedition instead?
The complete absence of human corpses only deepened my confusion.
Of course, they might have recovered their dead, so I asked Isabella if she could scent any human blood.
"Hmm... I don't smell any human blood. It's all just beasts and monsters."
A flawless victory with zero casualties? How was that even possible?
"This is the work of a mage. However, judging by the identical residue of mana..."
Charlotte's observation sparked a sudden realization in my mind.
If the mana residue was identical, it meant a single individual had done all of this.
Looking closely at the monster corpses, there wasn't a single trace of puncture wounds from weapons or arrows.
Hard as it was to believe, every piece of evidence pointed to a solo act.
To pull this off, they'd have to be at least Level 90.
This was a feat only achievable by a semi-Abyss Palace boss-level entity.
It obviously wasn't one of the actual Abyss Palace Lords, which left only a mage of comparable caliber.
The Grand Sage?
At this point in the timeline, the only human who could match a semi-Abyss Palace boss was the Grand Sage.
Yet, even that didn't entirely make sense.
The Grand Sage was an eccentric wanderer who had long abandoned worldly affairs.
He only showed himself when he believed the end of humanity was nigh.
Was a mere monster wave enough of a crisis to draw him out? Absolutely not.
Then again, maybe it really is the Grand Sage.
In the game, to recruit the Margrave, the player had to act as a facilitator first.
Perhaps the Grand Sage had arrived to play that exact role, serving as a focal point to unite humanity.
He would become the rallying point to bring mankind together.
But then, what was the impending catastrophe that had spurred the Grand Sage into action?
The most likely candidate was Calandas.
The Empire had probably caught wind of Calandas's recent movements.
Surely it's not because of me.
No matter how much noise my dungeon was making lately, I was still only Rank 7.
It only made sense for them to be wary of the higher-ranking Abyss Palace Lords instead of me.
Currently, the Empire had lost two of its Heroes, and the Holy Sword had been stolen.
Even so, as long as they had Cecilia and the Grand Sage, they would surely find a way to hold the line.
If things truly went to hell, I might step in, but that was strictly a last resort.
An Abyss Palace Lord killing another Abyss Palace Lord to protect the human Empire?
I wouldn't just be branded a traitor to the 72 Lords; I'd be executed on the spot.
"Oh? It's open?"
At her words, my gaze followed Isabella's line of sight.
...What?
The cabin, which should have been completely concealed by a barrier, was now fully visible.
"Are they welcoming us?"
"That is highly unlikely."
Charlotte voiced my exact thoughts.
There was no way people living in hiding would voluntarily dismantle their own barrier.
What was worse, not only was the barrier gone, but the front door was wide open.
An ominous foreboding washed over me.
And unfortunately, my bad feelings were almost always right.
Don't tell me... the Grand Sage?
Of all people, it had to be the Grand Sage, the pinnacle of magic.
A man like him could see through a barrier with his eyes closed, and he harbored a notorious hatred for witches.
As all the clues fell into place, figures finally emerged from inside the cabin.
[Lv. 91][Lv. 83]
The Grand Sage and Margrave Astoria. The two of them were dragging the witches out by their hair.
A trail of blood smeared along the ground behind them, but thankfully, the victims were still breathing.
Instinctively, my gaze drifted toward Charlotte. She was already looking at me, and our eyes locked.
"Boss."
Beneath her quiet exterior, a razor-sharp emotion flickered.
Suppressing her urge to charge in immediately, Charlotte waited for my command.
While I was briefly impressed by her absolute loyalty, I quickly fell into deep thought about how to handle the situation.
"That man is the Grand Sage of the Empire."
"...Yes, Boss."
"I-I had a feeling..."
Both of them were well aware of the Grand Sage's reputation, which rivaled that of an Abyss Palace Lord.
Tension was written all over their faces.
Our current strength was far from enough to take on both the Grand Sage and the Margrave at once.
Intervening to save those witches might very well be a suicide mission.
Even if we somehow won, at least one of the three of us would likely end up dead.
Was it worth risking my life for witches I had only just met today?
Obviously not. But the Ash Witch was none other than Charlotte's aunt.
Having made up my mind, I chose action over words.
Wrenching the Holy Sword free, I sent it hurtling through the air straight toward the Margrave.
Clang! The sharp ring of clashing steel echoed, instantly drawing their attention to me.
Already, streams of blood were swirling around Isabella, and Charlotte had completed her spellcasting.
Releasing their grip on the witches' hair, our opponents assumed defensive stances.
Keeping my eyes locked on them, I stepped forward, feigning absolute composure.
"Anti-Magic Dragon Scales."
As I muttered the command, shimmering blue scales sprouted across my armor.
Of course, this alone wouldn't be enough to stand against the Grand Sage.
With such a massive level disparity, it was mathematically impossible to bridge the gap, no matter what tricks I pulled.
The Anti-Magic Dragon Scales were merely a temporary shield. The same went for any other Dragon Tongue commands.
No matter how I combined them, they would be utterly useless against the Grand Sage.
From the moment I approached from afar to this very second, the Grand Sage's gaze remained fixed solely on me.
I looked at the Grand Sage and the Margrave in turn. Specifically, at their orange level indicators.
Since they were wary of me, there was a chance to resolve this peacefully depending on how I played my cards.
Suddenly, dozens of magic circles materialized around the Grand Sage.
He was only preparing to fire them, and since his level indicator still flashed with caution rather than outright murderous intent, there was no need to panic just yet.
I stood my ground, maintaining a slight distance between us.
If I closed the distance any further, the Grand Sage, being a mage, would feel threatened. Thus, this exact distance was perfect.
Looking at me, the Grand Sage let out a dry chuckle.
"So that is indeed the Holy Sword. A Death Knight wielding the Holy Sword... You must be that monster from the Abyss Palace."
Before replying, I tilted my chin up.
Since he already knew who I was, it was essential to maintain a haughty, condescending gaze.
Glancing down at Selina sprawled on the ground, I saw her looking up at me with hazy, pleading eyes.
No matter how one looked at it, her expression begged for salvation.
"These women are my acquaintances. I would love nothing more than to slaughter you both where you stand, but I shall show mercy. Flee while I am still willing to let you live."
Just as I had always done, I tried to resolve the situation through sheer bluffing.
In truth, this bluff was the entire reason I had risked standing before them in the first place.
Please, just leave while I'm asking nicely. I'm sweating bullets here.
"Indeed. That would certainly be the wisest path to survival," the Grand Sage agreed, nodding slowly.
If they valued their lives, they would tuck their tails and run.
"However, this old man has very little time left to live. Before I draw my last breath, I had planned to conquer the Tomb of Faith. Now that the prize has rolled right to my feet, why on earth would I kick it away?"
"...."
In other words, this old geezer was saying that since he was going to die of old age soon anyway, he was perfectly fine with taking me down with him.
The completely unexpected response made my brain short-circuit.
This was a level of pure, unadulterated madness I hadn't anticipated.
Are you fucking kidding me? Has this old man gone completely senile?
I had absolutely no backup plan.
How could I have prepared a Plan B for an emergency that had sprung on us so suddenly?
Attempting to bluff my way out had been the absolute limit of my improvisation.
Whirrrr— The magic circles began to interlock like complex gears.
The sheer power of the spell he was preparing was something Charlotte and Isabella could never hope to withstand.
The moment it fired, they would be reduced to ash.
"Draw your sword, monster of the Abyss. I shall slay you and reclaim the Holy Sword."
It was too late to run now.
Our only option was to fight to the death, but the odds of us dying were overwhelmingly high.
Looking at Charlotte, who had finished preparing her spell, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the Mana's Blessing.
Since it was a legendary elixir gifted by the Giant King Dalon, it would undoubtedly provide her with a massive boost.
I was about to toss it to Charlotte, but a sudden, wild idea struck me, and I changed my trajectory.
Hum! Using telekinesis, I stopped the vial mid-air.
It hovered directly in front of the Grand Sage's face. The old man tilted his head in confusion as he stared at the vial.
The Grand Sage possessed the Eye of Penetration, allowing him to see through grimoires, artifacts, and elixirs—anything associated with mana.
If anyone could recognize the true value of Mana's Blessing, it was him.
"What is this?"
The Grand Sage looked at me, his eyes filled with deep suspicion.
Why would he hand over such a precious elixir when we are about to clash? His thoughts were practically written on his face.
I could read him like an open book.
"On my way here, I saw the corpses of countless monsters. It was undoubtedly your doing. If I am correct, drink this elixir."
"...What trick is this?"
"There is no victory more shameful than defeating an exhausted foe. If you wish to challenge me, do so at your absolute peak."
"...."
"I wish to see if you are truly worthy of being my rival."
The Grand Sage stared intently at the vial.
He was using his Eye of Penetration to verify its authenticity.
Once he confirmed that the Mana's Blessing was pure and genuine, there was absolutely no reason for him to refuse it.
After a brief hesitation, the Grand Sage snatched the vial from the air.
Perfect.
Pop! He pulled the cork and chugged the liquid down.
As he drained the last drop of Mana's Blessing, the Grand Sage's level shifted.
[Lv. 92]
At this level, the Grand Sage could go toe-to-toe with an Abyss Palace Lord entirely on his own.
"Monster of the Abyss... you have made a grave mistake."
The Grand Sage let out a raspy, metallic laugh.
Fwoosh! A brilliant, multi-colored magic circle erupted beneath his feet.
It expanded rapidly, stretching out to cover a radius of several kilometers in the blink of an eye.
The 9th Circle multi-attribute magic, Cataclysm. It was the Grand Sage's ultimate spell, and the absolute pinnacle of magic achievable by mankind.
Target: Mana's Blessing (S+)
Success Rate: 2%
⚠️ WARNING: If enhancement fails, the target will be automatically destroyed!
※ Upon failure, the skill cooldown will be reset.
Would you like to enhance [Mana's Blessing (S+)]?
I lowered the sword I had raised.
"It seems my expectations were misplaced."
"What?"
"I am saying you are boring. I had hoped you would prove to be a worthy rival."
"Bwahaha! You have truly lost your mind! A dying wretch spouting bluffs to the very end—"
Splat! The Grand Sage vanished. No, "exploded" would be a more accurate description.
For nothing remained of him but blood and flesh splattered across the clearing.
In the ensuing silence, I sheathed my sword and scanned our surroundings.
The witches expressed their shock in their own stunned ways, their level indicators instantly turning pitch-black with terror.
The frozen Margrave reacted no differently.
Even Isabella and Charlotte, who had witnessed my antics a few times before, stood there with their jaws hanging open.
"This is why I find it so boring."
Thank you, God. I promise I'll pray more often from now on.