Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Living Flame (3)
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After striking out twice in a row against fake bosses, it was obvious who the next guy to show up would be.
If he even vaguely recognized the face from a portrait, the certainty would only grow.
The middle-aged man's identity was undoubtedly Ventis.
Even under the razor-sharp glares of the three, whose wariness had reached its peak, he kept smiling.
"My, I'm at a loss with all this intense attention you're giving me."
Ventis was well into his forties—far older than Galen and Lilia in their early twenties, or even Veron in his thirties—yet he spoke in polite honorifics without fail.
Whether it was a habit from years of playing the low man in black market dealings, who could say.
Polite speech didn't mean he came across as kind, though. The words might be courteous, but the tone looked down on them with leisurely arrogance.
"Where might you three guests hail from?"
"That's what I want to ask you."
Galens retort carried a deliberate edge of irritation.
There was no need to tip them off that they'd tracked him this far and heighten his alertness. The best play was to hide their own intel and coax his out.
Galen asked coolly, feigning ignorance.
"Who the hell are you, playing with fire around here?"
"Playing with fire? That's a bit harsh."
"Then what is it?"
"Would you be my ally?"
"...What?"
What nonsense was this out of nowhere? Ventis smirked at Galens furrowed brow.
"No reason to answer someone who's not an ally. Just like how you won't tell me anything."
"First playing with fire, now word games?"
"I said it's no game. And as I mentioned, there's still plenty left to clean up."
The moment Ventis finished speaking—
Fwoooosh!
A towering pillar of flame erupted clearly into view from far off.
Recognizing it as the village entrance, the three's expressions shifted.
"Ah!"
"There were more left?"
Lilia let out a short cry, and Veron ground his teeth.
"No. That was me."
Before Galen could snap about how many magic armament-wielding goons this guy had, Ventis said it casually.
"Running around saving villagers was noble and all, but you should've made them flee farther away. Don't you know even embers can reignite?"
"...Thanks for the filthy advice."
Galens lip curled.
The mining village on the mountainside was guarded by Silver warriors even in peacetime to fend off evil beasts.
It wasn't swarming with them like the eastern frontier, but the mountains themselves were plenty dangerous for civilians.
Sending the rescued villagers off to fend for themselves was little better than shoving them toward the evil beasts.
That was why they'd cleared a safe open space away from the flames at the village entrance, gathered the survivors there, and planned to descend together once cleanup was done.
And this bastard had reignited the flames way over there? Better if he'd had more subordinates—at least that would make sense.
"No need to worry. I just herded them back in. To keep them from running."
Ventis watched their reactions with evident amusement, his demeanor utterly relaxed.
"Why would I waste good sacrifices by burning them alive?"
"Sacri...fices?"
"Are you clueless, or just pretending? You three don't strike me as the type to beat my men without knowing."
"Shut your filthy mouth!"
Verons rage finally erupted. Given his temper, holding back that long was impressive.
"You devil spawn! You're talking about using the villagers as sacrifices, aren't you? That's why you kept them alive on purpose!"
"See? You know full well, yet you play dumb."
"Shut it, you worthless cur! Skulking like a rat, pulling this crap. You think Steelwall's that laughable?"
"...Oh?"
Ventis didn't bat an eye at the barrage of insults. If anything, he perked up at the name Steelwall.
"No wonder the face rang a bell. You're Steelwall's second young master, aren't you?"
"Don't act like you know me. Showing my face to scum like you sours my mood."
"No, no. How could I not be thrilled?"
"...What?"
"I'd cast the line hoping for one bite, before the rumors even spread properly! And it's a direct blood relative in the flesh!"
Verons mind blanked for a moment. Then his mouth slowly opened.
"...So you dug this trap for the family?"
"You think I'd go through all this trouble out of boredom?"
Ventis shot back pityingly.
Those words snapped Verons reason like a twig.
Flash!
No time for Galen or Lilia to stop him. In the blink of an eye, Veron was gone.
A Gold warrior's full sprint. The distance wasn't even conversation-range far.
Too quick for any civilian to react, and Veron was already in Ventis's face.
Shing!
His sword, freed from its sheath, arced in a clean semicircle toward Ventis's neck.
Galen, watching in thought-accelerated slow motion, admired the flawless strike.
'Starting with a big hit isn't bad.'
Ventis had pushed too far.
Sure, the magic armament packed a punch, but it didn't change that he was a mage at core, borrowing tool power.
Warrior versus mage was simply a pusher versus a puller.
Against a Gold warrior, that distance was meaningless, and yet the guy strutted.
He wouldn't die from one slash out of carelessness, but Galen doubted perfect defense.
As Galen anticipated a satisfying smackdown—
'...?'
Ventis twisted away.
Dodging on reflex was natural, but...
The issue was, in slowed time, Ventis moved a hair faster than Veron.
'Huh?'
Ventis wasn't just twisting. His arm swung with his torso—
Clang!
Unlike Verons wide, powerful swing, Ventis's compact punch slammed dead-center into Verons torso.
A monstrous counterpunch that birthed a shockwave.
Veron rocketed back at the speed he'd charged, too stunned for a scream.
"Wha—"
As Galen yelped in shock, Lilia was already moving on instinct.
Thud!
She caught the flying Veron but tumbled across the ground with him. The impact was too massive to fully absorb.
Good thing she wore top-tier armor and instinctively twisted at the last second to deflect some force—otherwise, instant death.
A blow that would've burst a civilian like a firecracker was barely endured by a Gold warrior's ki and tough frame.
But "fine" didn't describe his state. Veron was out cold.
"Can you heal him?"
"I'll do what I can!"
No time to hide her cleric status. Lilia invoked the Miracle of Healing.
"Didn't know you had a priest. Makes sense to keep one in the party."
Ventis shrugged it off, as if daring her to squirm.
"But you didn't know about me either. Falling for the taunt so easily."
"Not magic, huh."
"I dreamed of the martial path once. Shelved it when I hit a wall."
"Shelved at Gold? Other warriors would cry."
A warrior's physical specs scaled with skill, naturally.
Moving faster than Veron meant Ventis was Gold-rank too.
A straight fight might've been close, but...
Ambushed clean by a slight superior without expecting the counter—not dying was luck.
"Let me create this situation."
"Why's a Gold messing with magic armaments?"
Weren't those for weaklings to fake Gold status via sacrifices?
If you're Gold anyway, train properly—why stray into weird paths?
Warrior and mage in one made Ventis theoretically perfect.
Lilia hurried to Galens side as he clicked his tongue.
A Gold warrior's ears were sharp. She whispered right in his ear.
"Emergency measures only. He needs surgery."
"If we leave him like this?"
"He'll die."
"Ugh."
Galen groaned.
The Miracle of Healing didn't just zap and fix. It accelerated natural recovery, so severe wounds needed surgery alongside.
Not eliminating surgery, but turbocharging post-op healing.
"Guess I'm tanking solo. Head to the clearing. They need to know the situation."
"But... you okay?"
"Can't let Lord Veron die. Can't operate here anyway."
"True, but..."
"I'll manage. Hurry back."
Galen grinned and whispered.
"I'm stronger without witnesses anyway, right?"
"Yeah, fair point."
Lilia smiled back.
"Still, be careful! Be right there!"
"Oh, take that guy too when you go."
"Right!"
She tied Ventis's unconscious subordinate with his robe like rope, slung him on her back.
Cradled the barely-alive Veron carefully in front.
She nodded to Galen and bolted toward the village entrance.
Galen had planned a counter if he pulled tricks, but Ventis let her go without fuss.
"Not interfering?"
"Kidnapping's not my hobby."
"...Kidnapping?"
"Think I wouldn't notice using the wounded as an excuse to pull your lover to safety?"
Ventis grinned knowingly.
What a swing and miss. Not a word rang true.
Not incomprehensible, though. Who'd peg youthful-looking Lilia as a high bishop? Priest at best.
With priestly power too weak for Verons wound, he'd never guess real treatment—just evacuating to safety.
Honestly, if Lilia had ambushed like Veron earlier, it'd end different. Without armament, could Ventis handle her? Galen thought no.
No need to enlighten him, though. Enemy mistakes were gifts. Galen shifted topics smoothly.
"Figured you'd block taking your subordinate."
"To kill him?"
"Nah. Valuable intel source—gotta keep him alive."
"Mine's fiercely loyal too. Why block him heading to safety? I'll just reclaim after killing you all."
"Cocky bastard."
"Any reason not to be?"
Ventis sneered.
"Caught a glimpse earlier—water spirit or something weird. But water doesn't always beat fire."
"Beat all your goons, though."
"They were gimped output. Hadn't fed much sacrifice."
Flames slithered up Ventis's casually waving arm like living serpents, perfectly controlled without singeing a thread.
"Mine's different. Let me show you what Gold near Gem can do."
"Still not Gem, huh."
Galen sneered back, flicking his arm lightly.
A water stream whirled around it like a vortex.
"Then it's all the same."