Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: What Comes First (5)
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Simply put, it was an intensity of emotion that shouldn't exist in reality. It was a situation where even a one percent waver in his iron will could have sent his nervous system into shock and stopped his heart.
But Amy wasn't worried. It was called an iron will precisely because it wouldn't waver even by that one percent.
Shirone finally pushed the henchmen all the way to the table. Watching the spectacle, Falcoa's face contorted with rage.
“What are you all doing? Slit his throat, now!”
The henchmen drew the longswords from their waists in unison and charged.
“Dammit! How embarrassing, having to use a sword on a kid!”
In that instant, a brilliant light burst from Shirone's body. The flash, erupting in the enclosed space, blinded the henchmen.
“Ugh! What the hell!”
As men skilled in the arts of the eye, their dark adaptation was fast enough to defy human limits. But they didn't move. The henchmen, and even Falcoa, could only stare blankly at Shirone.
“What's this? What are you going to do with a little light?”
Shirone turned his palm over, and a sphere of light floated above it. Golden photons compressed at an incredible speed, bleaching to a pale white.
“Shirone, you're not...?”
Faced with the sheer power of the photons vibrating at an immeasurable frequency, Amy finally realized.
A spell that accelerated mass to near the speed of light to generate a shockwave. It was the Photon Cannon.
“Shirone! That spell...!”
Dodging a Photon Cannon in an enclosed space was no easy feat. Someone would inevitably take a direct hit, and if that happened, there would be fatalities.
Before Amy could finish, Shirone raised the white sphere. And with all his might, he slammed it into the ground.
The moment the flash struck, a tremendous roar, like thunder cracking right before their eyes, ripped through and shook the room.
“Agh! W-what is this!”
Everyone in the room clamped their hands over their ears. The shockwave traveled through the ground, making the underground structures tremble. Clumps of dust rained down from the ceiling.
The henchmen were disoriented, as if they had just survived a natural disaster. The echoes of the roar, trapped underground, still rang in their ears.
Only after a long moment did the gang members look at the spot where Shirone's magic had struck. Surprisingly, the floor wasn't deeply gouged. But the flattened area spanned over four meters in diameter.
“What the... isn't this... underground?”
The henchmen couldn't believe what they were seeing.
This was a temple that could be called the sturdiest structure in Galliante. Creating an underground space required construction methods focused on durability. In fact, the temple floor was laid with thick steel plates.
If the impact was strong enough to flatten those steel plates so broadly, it made sense that the entire underground had shaken. In short, it was a force no human could withstand.
Like the veterans they were, the henchmen didn't show any tears. But they kept their distance, wary of Shirone.
At this sight, Falcoa's expression soured once again.
It was one thing that he'd overcome the pressure of ten men, but the magic he had just witnessed was a kind even he, a veteran of countless battlefields, had never seen before.
“You... who the hell are you? What line are you from?”
The vast network connecting mages across the continent was called a 'line.' But Shirone didn't know the term used in mage society. He simply stated his origins with confidence.
“I'm Shirone, a student at Alpheas Magic Academy.”
Jis flinched and turned to look at Shirone. For a noble, one's origin was a golden lifeline, but in some situations, it could also be a shackle.
Having had such a rough time at the port, there was no way Shirone didn't know that. So why on earth would he reveal his background?
“A student? How absurd. You're causing all this trouble as a mere student? Hey, you know what? If I report you to your academy, you're finished. You'll probably be expelled.”
“Report me if you want. I don't care.”
Falcoa's eyebrow twitched at the unexpected response.
“Disciplinary action, expulsion, I don't care. Things like that won't dictate my life. Of course, the academy is important to me. But there are plenty of things in the world that are more important. And Amy...”
Shirone glared at Falcoa and continued.
“Takes priority over every rank I've set.”
Amy blinked. The increasing speed of her eyelids seemed to reflect her heart rate.
“I'll take any punishment. Sue me if you want. But Amy won't stay here for another second. If you ever drag my friend to a filthy place like this again, I'll really tear it all down.”
Shwing. Rian's straight sword sang as it was drawn. The greatsword, as tall as an average person, was overwhelmingly intimidating just by being pointed forward.
“That's Shirone for you. I knew my judgment wasn't wrong.”
Rian realized why he had hesitated to draw his sword until now. Just as a small crack can bring down an iceberg, the trivial obstacle of disciplinary action had muddled his conviction.
“You're right, Shirone. Endangering a friend because I'm scared of punishment? What a joke. Ogent Rian has never lived like that for a single moment.”
Following Rian, Tess's rapier was drawn.
“Hohoho! The same goes for Eljain Tess! We can't just leave the mascot of the Shirone Faction, Amy, in a den of thugs like this!”
Rian looked back at Tess, dumbfounded.
“Since when was there a 'Shirone Faction'?”
“Ugh, just go with it at times like these. You're so dense.”
After snapping at Rian, Tess looked over at Amy. She was still lost in thought, but her cheeks were more flushed than before.
A gentle smile graced Tess's lips.
‘You're so lucky, Amy.’
As a girl herself, Tess could guess how she felt.
To Shirone, Amy wasn't just a mere dot viewed from an omniscient perspective. She was an irreplaceable friend. No, perhaps she was something more.
Having pushed back the henchmen with his sheer presence, Shirone walked over to Amy. He held out his hand and repeated his earlier words.
“Let's go home, Amy.”
Having finished her thoughts, Amy lifted her head and spoke.
“...Yeah.”
As Amy stood up, Falcoa's face flushed red. These brats had stormed in, caused a ruckus, and were now leaving as they pleased.
‘Has the great Falcoa fallen this far?’
It had been five long years since his entire organization went into hiding on this island, fleeing their pursuers on the continent. A lot had happened, but to him, it was all just boring.
Thanks to that, his brain was pickled in drugs, and his mind, which once knew only blood, had grown rusty. But just five years ago, he was the Falcoa who had cut down countless people while crossing the continent.
Back then, he was a creature that existed to cut people down. Even the boss couldn't ignore Falcoa's skills, which was why he hadn't been exiled yet.
“Hey, you don't really think you can just walk out of here safely, do you?”
Amy stopped and looked back at Falcoa.
“Causing a scene here would be troublesome for you, too. Your underground customers are drug addicts, and I'm sure they're your biggest source of income. Sue us if you want. But we won't just stand by. This place will probably be shut down.”
“Is that all you were counting on? Sorry, but there's no one on this island who can touch me.”
“But it's a different story on the mainland.”
Falcoa frowned, looking at Amy. Her eyes were burning red.
‘Red Eyes. She's a Carmis.’
Even Falcoa knew of the famous Carmis family on the continent. The ability to save one's state at a specific point in time and restore it at will.
They couldn't be addicted by any drug, nor could any substance penetrate their defenses. There was a reason the Carmis family was called invincible in the mental arts.
‘So she was a fish I could never catch from the start? That bitch, she knew everything when she came with him.’
Falcoa ground his teeth, his face expressionless.
The Carmis family was of the First Rank of nobility, so if she took action, it wasn't impossible for the fortress he had spent five years building to come crashing down.
The funds earned from distributing Loop were enormous. As unhinged as Falcoa was, he was sensitive when it came to money. Because without money, he couldn't buy Loop.
“Keke! You insolent little girl. I'll be sure to repay this humiliation!”
“Try it if you can. But you'd better be careful next time we meet. Since it's come to this, I'm thinking of playing for real without worrying about the academy.”
After her sharp retort to Falcoa, Amy returned to Shirone's group.
“Sorry for making you worry. Let's get going now.”
Not wanting to stay there a moment longer, they quickened their pace and ascended to the surface. Employees were watching at every turn, but no one dared to block their path.
The moment they stepped out of the tavern, the air felt distinctly different. Tess spread her arms and breathed in the night air.
“Haaah, that feels good. Thanks to Amy, we got a proper tour. We went through the most famous palace on Galliante Island from the basement to the top.”
“Hahaha! That's true. Plus, we went to the sandy beach, stopped by the port, and even toured the commercial district. I guess we've seen everything but the ruins?”
Hearing Rian's words, Amy was startled.
“What? You guys went all the way to the port?”
“Yeah. Shirone said it would be faster to grab a gang member and ask. We ran like crazy. If it weren't for that passionate carriage driver, we almost wouldn't have made it in time.”
Amy studied Shirone. When their eyes met, she quickly looked away. She still couldn't find the courage to look him properly in the face.
Shirone's words from the basement came to mind. There was no need to misinterpret them; he was talking about the importance of a friend, and that was enough.
Why hadn't she realized it before? That when they were falling from the cliff, she was the only one whose name Shirone had called as he grabbed her hand.
Amy was content just to have realized its meaning.
“Amy, I'm sorry we were late. I'll tell you about it when we get back. Something special happened on the way.”
“Hmph, I'm not even curious! Why should I have to listen to that story?”
“Are you still mad?”
Her anger had already subsided. But Amy thought it was better to keep acting angry for now.
“Let's get one thing straight. You're not having any weird delusions about today's events, are you? Like a prince on a white horse saving a princess, or something like that.”
“Huh? No.”
“I appreciate you coming to help, but I wasn't captured. I went with him for personal reasons. Even without your help, those guys are no match for me.”
“Haha! I know. I'm Class Four and you're in the graduating class. Who would be worried about whom?”
Shirone's cheerful agreement actually made Amy feel deflated.
“Hmph, well... as long as you know. I'm just saying.”
Tess clutched her stomach and giggled. It finally felt like the old Amy was back.
Rian turned toward the commercial district and shouted.
“I'm starving! Should we grab a late-night snack on the way back?”
“A late-night snack? Yes! I'd love that! Yahoo!”
* * *
Jis couldn't go home until after midnight, busy cleaning up the tavern.
After getting beaten, being on edge, and then working, his body felt twice as heavy as usual.
Still, he could endure it thanks to the relief that what he had feared didn't happen.
Amy had safely escaped Falcoa's clutches. And of course, he himself hadn't been harmed either.
He had done the job he was told to do, so even Falcoa had no reason to beat him.
‘If it weren't for her, I might have been killed.’
Amy's face appeared in his mind, as vivid as if she were really there.
Of all the women Jis had met, none were as strong and beautiful as her. Why would someone so incredible try to help him?
‘Shirone? He said he was a commoner, too.’
Jis remembered every word Shirone had said in the tavern.