Chapter 578: Jealousy is My Power (78)
Chapter 578: Jealousy is My Power (78)
At the very last moment, my final strike was parried by Seria.
My exhausted body couldn't even grip the hilt of my sword properly. The blade, sent flying helplessly, spun through the air a few times before plunging into the ground.
I tried swinging my hand axe as well, but it was futile.
Seria’s body was a weapon in its own right. Her raw strength was not something I could contend with in my current state of fatigue.
Seria flashed a thin smile at me. There was something chilling about the way the girl smiled with those vacant eyes.
“It’s finally over. Honestly, if you hadn't hesitated, Senior, I would have been the one on the ground, but…”
“This has happened before.”
I squeezed the words out between ragged breaths.
Seria fell silent, staring at me. I couldn't read a single emotion in those eyes.
The junior I knew used to have much more expressive features.
Before I knew it, the smile had vanished from Seria’s face, replaced by a cold expression.
Just like when we first met.
“Back when we sparred. I was being pushed back then, too… Do you remember what I said?”
“Does it matter?”
Her retort was sharp and final.
As soon as I heard those words, a faint laugh escaped my lips. As I steadied my wobbling body, a face with skin so clear it was devoid of a single blemish drew close to mine.
She was beautiful.
Seria had always been, but seeing her at such close range changed the perspective. To think it was hard to find even a single flaw at this distance.
I lamented in a weary voice.
“Seria, it seems… I just can't bring myself to turn a blade on you.”
“Yes, I thought as much.”
Her voice was as clear and crystalline as her beauty.
I stumbled back a couple of steps. Even so, the gap between us wasn't wide; she was still within arm's reach.
A faint groan leaked from my throat.
“Instead, however…”
Right then.
The muscles in my arms began to contract violently. No, it wasn't just my arms.
As I squeezed every muscle in my body, a terrifying surge of power erupted—so much so that I wondered how I had been holding it back until now.
Seria’s brow furrowed slightly.
It was understandable.
Even my blade had barely managed to scratch her. There was no way a mere punch could inflict any meaningful damage now.
It might have been different if I had used a grappling art like 'Moon Reversal.'
At the very least, Seria couldn't have imagined a scenario where my fist would actually land a blow.
Yes, until now.
But just before my fist lunged forward.
Seria’s eyes flew wide open.
The entire world was distorting.
As if my fist possessed its own gravitational pull, the scenery bent and was sucked inward, creating a grotesque spectacle.
Her blue eyes seemed to ask me:
‘What is this?’
No answer was needed.
As I took a heavy step forward, Seria instinctively tightened her grip on her sword.
Muscles twitched in the woman’s slender arms.
Yes, muscles.
Fist and sword crossed paths.
The scenes didn't flow; they slammed into my mind like a series of disconnected snapshots. Perhaps it was because I was focusing too hard.
One: Seria’s sword lunges toward my incoming fist.
Two: My upper body suddenly ducks, and my fist shifts its trajectory.
Three: Having slipped inside her guard, my fist aims for Seria’s abdomen.
It was a perfect penetration.
A feat that would have been impossible if I hadn't read the trajectory of her sword in advance. In that moment where time seemed to slow to a crawl, I whispered just before burying my fist into Seria’s stomach.
“……I told you, your muscles are too honest.”
I didn't know if Seria heard my monologue.
However, immediately after, in that split second when Seria’s eyes, filled with shock, tried to turn toward me—
Boom!
An explosion erupted, far too loud to believe it was caused by a simple punch.
The ground shook, the air trembled, and it felt as if the entire world had been flipped upside down.
Taking the hit head-on, Seria’s body was sent airborne, her torso folding at a sharp angle.
Mountain-Crushing Strike.
A blow said to collapse even mountains at its pinnacle exploded against the vampire’s body.
Thud!
Through the thick cloud of dust, the sound of a heavy impact echoed. It was likely the sound of Seria hitting something after being sent flying by my strike.
The direction she had gone was clear.
A trail of gouged earth and fallen trees marked her trajectory.
There was no telling how much further she had flown. Only then did I let out a long sigh and release the tension I had held in my body.
She wouldn't be dead.
But she wouldn't be getting up for a while. No matter how tough her skin was, her body couldn't be fine when her internal organs had been twisted.
I knew that well, having experienced it countless times myself.
All that remained was to track her down and secure her.
As I brushed off my hands, a cry of admiration broke the silence.
“S-Sir Ian!”
A girl came bouncing toward me.
It was Cien, the 5th Princess of the Empire.
I could have sworn her limbs had been pierced, leaving her unable to move.
But I soon understood the situation. Several empty potion bottles were rolling around the spot where Cien had been lying.
Healing potions carried by the Imperial royalty.
Furthermore, the Princess likely hadn't recovered from serious injuries as often as I had. If the healing effect took hold properly, it wasn't strange for a human with pierced limbs to be running around again.
“That was amazing! What was that technique just now?! At a glance, it looked like a secret martial art of the Holy Kingdom…”
“I just used a bit of a trick.”
I dismissed the Princess’s question and turned my gaze away.
Even though I was the one who caused it, the aftermath of a single punch was staggering. I was inwardly worried about Seria’s condition.
I hope I didn't give her a fatal wound.
Driven by worry, my body began to move naturally.
“More importantly, let’s go find Seria first. It might be dangerous to leave her like that…”
But I couldn't finish my sentence.
Step, step.
From beyond the dust, the sound of footsteps approached. Soon, a staggering shadow appeared on my retina.
I could tell who it was just by the silhouette.
I fell silent, and the Princess’s face turned pale with fright.
To think she could still move after taking that hit.
A groan escaped my lips. Seria’s body certainly wasn't fine, but I was running out of time myself.
I had to end this as quickly as possible.
Just as I was scowling in frustration—
“I-Ian Senior…?”
A voice carrying unmistakable warmth reached my ears.
It was the tone that flowed from Seria’s lips. Startled, I looked at Seria’s expression once more.
Her focus had returned, and her blue eyes were filled with fear.
It was the junior I knew.
I practically flew to her side to support her. The impact had indeed taken its toll; as soon as I offered her my shoulder, Seria coughed up a mouthful of blood.
“Seria, are you okay? Are you back to yourself now?”
“S-Senior… W-what happened… Why am I here…?”
“Later. We’ll talk later.”
Only then did I feel like I might cry out of sheer relief.
Senior Elsie had once advised me that for a junior who wouldn't listen, a good beating was the best medicine.
I had internally dismissed it as nonsense, but to think the day would come when those words would prove true.
I was just glad Seria had regained her senses. If she had remained broken, I wouldn't have known what to do.
“You just… you just had a little nightmare… Okay, Seria? For now, you need to rest…!”
But was it a cruel twist of fate?
The world would not grant me and Seria a moment of peace.
Boom!
Along with a loud explosion, I felt something flying toward us from the distance. I hurriedly pulled Seria down to the ground. A shadow soared over us.
Crash, crash, crash!
The girl only came to a halt after leveling several trees. She looked as though she had been hit by a powerful technique, but the newly arrived girl stood up immediately, looking incensed.
“Fine, you want to do this? Let’s see what happens when Elsie Lainella gets serious…!”
Then, silence.
My eyes met those of the girl in the pointed hat. For a few seconds, both of us just stood there, lips trembling in surprise.
Naturally, a voice followed the girl.
“You have some skill for someone so small. But you can't be allowed to get in Sister’s way… Oh my.”
With light, graceful steps.
The woman walking with an alluring gait stopped in her tracks upon spotting me and Seria. The emotion reflected in her slightly widened eyes was a faint sense of anticipation.
She looked to be in her early to mid-twenties.
The silver-haired woman, who looked like she could be Seria’s older sister, soon broke into a charming eye-smile.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, son-in-law… and you, my beloved daughter.”
I could only stare in dazed confusion, while Seria, cradled in my arms, forgot how to breathe.
A three-way encounter.
It was the day I first came face-to-face with Seria’s mother, whom I had only heard of in stories.