Sacred Meat #1
Engraving a magic circle into meat was a simple idea. Lawrence, once a 21st-century man named Yoo Ha-on, loved playing games, where items often came loaded with all sorts of options. So he made some as bait, some as rations, and some like these as holy grenades.
In truth, they were just artifacts he'd whipped up out of boredom to use once and toss. But the finished product turned into an excellent weapon. And surprisingly satisfying to wield.
"Fire!"
"Burn my enemies! Fire Bolt!"
Fluttering flames roared fiercely. The mages had finally completed their chants.
Boom!Booom!
The area exploded in a dazzling display of powerful magic, lighting up the night like fireworks. The highlight, without a doubt, was the commander's spell.
Whoosh!
A small sun rose in the night sky. Lawrence bashed a wolf hard with his bone club, then glanced back.
"That's 5th Circle magic... I'll get there someday."
A blazing orb of fire. That spell was definitely...
"Turn to ashes! Fire Rain!"
Freya, her chant complete, unleashed judgment's flames upon the enemy.
Roar!
Like a passage from scripture, a rain of fire scorched the land, pouring down on the wolves. Perish like Sodom.
Kaboom! Kaboom!
The fiery downpour swept everything away, devouring what had no right to exist in this world. Hundreds, thousands of fire bolts raining like actual rain—that's how it earned its name, Fire Rain.
Lawrence and the others stared blankly at the scene of divine retribution.
This is a true mage's power. Damn, I'm jealous.
It was a perfect demonstration of why the Montemer family was called a magic dynasty, why its members held key positions in the mage towers. The roaring flames proved their might.
But the battle wasn't over yet.
"Grrrrr..."
"More are coming!"
Far more wolves surged from the darkness. It was clear now—they'd come fully prepared.
Freya and Loria coolly assessed the situation.
"Who the hell leaked our info?"
"Beats me. But they've overlooked something, haven't they?"
The two women glanced at Lawrence, who was smashing wolves with his bone club. Just eleven years old, at the age when kids threw tantrums, yet here he was bravely fighting in front of the soldiers. All while drawing the wolves' attention with his scent.
"Agreed. No idea why he picked a bone over a proper weapon, though..."
"Pfft! Guess those rumors weren't wrong after all."
Loria couldn't hold back her laughter. She didn't know where the "madman" rumors started, but they weren't entirely off-base. Giggling, she still maintained her focus, drawing up the imagery for her spell.
Meanwhile, Lawrence kept barking orders at the mages who hesitated or lost focus.
"Hey! Cast faster! You trying to get the soldiers killed!?"
"Y-yes, sir! Mana, heed my call..."
Whoosh!
Standing at the front lines, Lawrence casually unleashed a spell. Freya and Loria took note, but battle came first. They focused on the fight.
Alzeras, the undead, Lawrence... mysteries piled up, but survival was priority one.
The Phoenix Mage Corps' magic began purifying the area.
[Healing]
Remaining Uses: 27/30
Plenty of capacity left.
The battle ended. It was impossible to escape without casualties against over a hundred wolves with just a few mages and regular soldiers.
Mages weren't needed in droves—one elite could crush a hundred ordinary folk. But without the knight order to hold the front, the soldiers suffered various wounds.
Lawrence didn't bother hiding his abilities from them.
[Healing]
Warm light poured over the soldiers' wounds. Everyone gasped in surprise.
"Young master, this..."
"Shh. Heal up quick and prep to move. Can you walk?"
"Yes, sir."
Loria approached. Healing magic from a mage family was rare. Only those blessed by the goddess wielded holy power, called priests. Mages and priests used different systems.
"You... can handle holy power too?"
"A little?"
"..."
Loria squinted at Lawrence. Freya, wrapping up the scene and gathering clues, gave him a meaningful look too.
This boy... the rumored mad young master?
No, can't be.
His gentle healing and care resembled a cathedral priest. Freya saw it clearly: goodwill in the soldiers' eyes, respect in the mages'. All directed at the youngest Montemer scion.
Madam Media... forgive me, but...
She'd watch a bit longer. They'd nearly lost Loria and the mages. If even that was Madam's scheme...
No, too soon to judge. I'll observe the young master more, then hunt the traitor.
"The messenger pigeons safe?"
"All dead but one. Someone must've hit them during the fight."
"Those knight bastards..."
Only one of the spares survived. They knew their supply lines too.
Then, sounds of someone rushing toward them.
"Hiiiiaaak!"
"Mercy! Spare us!"
Heads turned. Lawrence's snapped around fastest, heightening everyone's wariness.
Loria shifted her gaze from him and muttered.
"You and me, talk later."
"Sure."
"First, grab those guys."
Three knights in battered armor. Lawrence's Dragon Eye saw the dark mana they carried.
He pulled another hunk of meat from his Boston bag. Plenty of sacred meat left. His lips curled into a grin.
[Dragon Body grows.]
Hatchling: 23%
Time to grow even more.
"Ugh..."
"W-we're victims! Treat us with respect!"
"Hey, got some questions."
The knights, tightly bound. Lawrence stepped forward, sacred meat in hand. Raw, for the record.
They eyed the meat oddly, then him. Loria joined, sassy expression.
"What questions? Traitors get executed. End of story."
"That's fine too, but we need intel first."
"Intel? Why would they spill to us?"
"No worries, sis. We've got the power of sacred meat."
What the hell?
Loria stared weirdly. So did everyone at camp.
She asked cautiously.
"You... really lost it, huh?"
"What? To deal with crazies, you can't play it straight."
"Yeah, definitely nuts..."
Maybe years of abuse broke him. Whatever. Solve this mess first.
"Where's Damian?"
"..."
"You ran from him, right? Where's Damian?"
"Damian... the knight order's vice-commander."
Lawrence nodded, eyeing them. They spilled details reluctantly. They'd hit the key village first.
Setting up there next.
Lawrence nodded; Freya jotted notes for the pigeons.
"N-now release us."
"Right. Even a Montemer young master can't treat knights like this—"
"Quiet."
"Sir Damian's odd, sure, but we didn't all betray Montemer!"
Yeah, that's what they'd say. Lawrence grinned wide.
He approached. "Hungry?"
"W-what's that got to—"
"I'll feed you meat."
◈ Manifestation: Healing
◈ Uses: 10
◈ Note: Uses fully deplete if meat breaks. Stacks with damage dealt.
In short, smash 'em hard enough to mush the meat, and ten heals stack.
Lawrence swung mercilessly.
Splat!
"Sacred meat, assholes."
"Gaaaaah!"
"Impossible!!"
Sizzle!
The struck spots blackened and burned. Everyone froze. Flesh reacting like that meant—
"Already...!"
"Yeah. These punks were about to turn black knight."
"Gaaaaah!"
Undead knights—black knights. Clear signs: black blood, green eyes, purple skin. Their eyes turned green, right on cue.
Stab!
Soldiers lunged, spearing their necks. Black, sticky blood oozed, staining the ground.
Sizzle.
Undeniably corrupted. Lawrence smashed down again.
Crunch!
"Gaaaaah!"
"W-what the hell is that meat!?"
"Healing magic infused. Disinfecting, sorta."
"..."
Loria stared at her brother like he'd lost it for real.
He shrugged. "Someone kept sending me rotten meat. So I visited the cathedral."
"Poison..."
"Guess someone's got it out for me."
Sis went silent. An eleven-year-old facing death threats already.
Freya beside her clamped her mouth shut.
Illegitimate killing already started? Then annex life was fake too. Even told him to watch from the front lines. Hmm... that part's fuzzy.
Basically, ditch him if he acts out. Mysteries unraveled one by one.
Lawrence Montemer was already in a life-or-death struggle—and thriving.
Freya knelt on one knee, looking up at him. Gratitude for healing the near-dead soldiers, and pledge to treat him as true Montemer blood.
"Thank you, young master."
"Thank you!"
Lawrence smiled faintly, nodding. Loria chimed in.
"Don't copy his personality."
"..."
Maybe should've let 'em die? As Lawrence thought that, sis eyed him.
"You and me, private talk. Somewhere quiet."
"Sure?"
"Know what? You're the suspicious one here."
Lawrence just smiled, saying nothing. They moved aside to talk.