Return and the Party #1
Ordinary humans would normally freeze in terror at the sight of something larger than themselves. But Lawrence and Leila burst out laughing upon seeing the massive troll.
Whatever the passage of time had done to them, fear took a backseat to thrill, anticipation, and catharsis.
"Come at me, you furry bastard."
"We need to take that thing's heart intact. It's for the young lady."
"Got it!"
Kruuuuaaaargh-!
A troll with eerie green and red glowing eyes. Undead transformation combined with berserk rage, no doubt.
Normal trolls were slow but devastatingly powerful, but this berserk, undead version was different. Tireless from the necrosis, and frighteningly fast, leading to several hair-raising moments.
Slashes-.
The spiked club grazed Leila's forearm, leaving a shallow cut. But one should know that the sight of blood only fueled human excitement.
"My blood's expensive, you know."
Gripping her sword with both hands, she stomped forward powerfully.
Boom-!
All strength comes from the lower body. Her aura-reinforced frame erupted with overwhelming force.
A monstrous roar, yet her sword path remained steady and clean. With a crisp sound, blood sprayed.
The chilling aura sealed blood vessels and necrotized flesh, halting the troll's regeneration. A genius-level skill with monstrous aura potency.
'This is the power of someone who just awakened their talent?'
Leila was undoubtedly a monster. The future steadfast guardian deity of the North.
Underestimate her youthful appearance, and you'd end up like the troll's severed arm.
Lawrence chuckled and deployed his artifact.
'I can just make a better one later.'
He'd craft superior artifacts and discard the old ones anyway. No reason to hold back.
Holy Arrow
Multi-Manifestation
His upgraded Dragon Body allowed up to three simultaneous manifestations. Holy arrows pierced the troll's legs in an instant.
Kuuaaaargh-!
A scream of agony echoed as he relentlessly bombarded the regenerating troll.
Crackle-!
Lawrence pulled an artifact from his subspace and swapped it in a flash. This time, to help Leila cleanly finish it off.
Holy Chain
Multi-Manifestation
Clank-!
Holy chains whipped out from everywhere, binding the troll's massive body tight.
Creak-, the chains strained ominously, taut from the troll's immense strength, threatening to snap.
But no need for worry. Leila's eyes flashed as she swung her sword horizontally.
"Hup-!"
Wolf Hunt
A technique born from the resolve to split a charging wolf from maw to spine to tail in one stroke. Fail, and you'd be the pack's next meal. A sword art forged for Northern survival.
A clean, unwavering sword path. Blue light flashed, icy chill claiming the troll's legs.
Leila's brilliant strike had severed all four limbs. But her movement halted abruptly.
"Ugh!?"
"Watch out-!"
"I've been waiting for this moment-!"
And out popped a black mage. Perfect timing for a perfect crisis.
"Damn it, not now!?"
Leila crumpled, head throbbing. Not just pain—her body wouldn't respond. Breath ragged, limbs limp, utterly defenseless.
The black mage began chanting.
"Mana of darkness that rules the night—."
"These guys, seriously—."
Why do they never learn? Chanting openly gets them caught, sure, but couldn't they prepare something?
Lawrence incanted immediately.
Holy Bomb
Crackle-!
Sizzle-!
A white orb formed in his hand, crackling ominously despite being holy magic.
And that wasn't all.
Haste
Strength
[Artifact capacity...]
He applied his last Haste and Strength, charging at the chanting black mage.
To a mage, the greatest disaster is a brute charging head-on. As Lawrence closed in instantly, the mage's chant grew frantic.
A shaken mind can't cast properly.
Lawrence's holy bomb-laden fist smashed into the black mage's skull.
Kaboooom-!
The cave reverberated, the mage vanishing without a trace.
As the echoes faded, only the dying troll's whimpers remained.
Lawrence turned to check on Leila.
"You okay?"
"Ugh... Thanks to you."
"We should head back and get you treated."
"Haha, me... I can really be saved, right?"
Leila slumped, flailing her limbs vigorously. Lawrence nodded.
His divine power never failed. Her curse-like chronic illness would vanish.
'Because I'll make it so.'
Leila beamed. A pure, beautiful smile that belied the image of a frenzy-swinging swordswoman.
"That's a relief."
"Hey-! Lawrence! Lady Leila!"
Loria's voice echoed from the entrance. Panting as she ran up, it seemed the outside was cleared.
Lawrence waved at his approaching sister.
"Sis-! Help me out here!"
Time to haul the fresh troll!
#2
"Everyone, good work."
"Injured over here~."
"Young master, what are you? Why can you use healing magic too?"
"Right? Must be because he's from a magic noble house."
Too annoying to explain divine power, so he brushed it off.
Before returning, Lawrence stowed all loot in his inventory and lavished healing artifacts on the wounded. Glad he'd prepared plenty for times like this.
'Hope I can snag better relics later. And...'
He'd gained plenty this time. Especially extracts from black magic and necromancy.
He trusted they'd prove useful someday. Especially back at the family.
'Perfect for exposing the culprits.'
After tending the last patient, Lawrence stood.
Grateful thanks came from all sides, but lost in thought, he replied mechanically.
Stretching his sore body, he finally took in the surroundings. Eyes filled with admiration. Genuine gratitude.
Yes, he'd felt this before. A faint memory from long ago.
'Back on Earth, my subscribers always cheered me on.'
<Whoa! Author-nim, you're amazing!>
<How do you make it so intricate!?>
<Insane, make more! Huge fan!>
Unlike his wretched past life, he'd once reached artisan heights. This feeling matched that long-forgotten sense of accomplishment and pride, buried under years of distortion.
"Let's head back."
"Pack up, everyone! Anyone who loses gear pays out of pocket!"
"Yes, sir-!"
Unlike the tension before, the lively chaos was impressive.
Freya, Loria, the Phoenix mage unit—all wore proud smiles. They'd won decisively, subjugation complete.
"Good job, little bro."
"You too, sis."
Loria grinned, patting his back.
"Can't reach your shoulders?"
"Ugh! Shut up!?"
Still fun to tease, his sister.
As he walked, Lawrence pondered.
'Why the black mages knew our every move... and what deal Freya and Media made. Also, why target Loria, a direct descendant?'
Loria was set to shoulder Montemer responsibilities. Not some collateral branch from Edward's siblings, yet...?
Or some backstory he never knew pre-regression?
Curiosity swelled.
'First, Loria's secret. Second, contact with relatives. Third, handle tower affairs.'
Solving the immediate would naturally uncover Media's schemes. His draconic instincts whispered as much.
Gazing at the blue aura pillar shooting skyward in the distance, he muttered.
"Looks like the Grand Duke succeeded too."
Victory fireworks. Time to rest easy tonight. Body weary, but heart light. His steps quickened.
#3
Thud-!
A massive monster corpse—a barely breathing troll—tumbled from the air.
Grand Duke, Freya, Loria... Everyone gaped at the sight.
Such vast subspace magic was beyond ordinary mages. Typically limited to weapons, books, potions.
But Lawrence's divine power boasted an immense, boundless subspace.
"Can I leave the butchering to you?"
"What is this...?"
"Young master Lawrence, exactly...?"
To the trembling Freya, Lawrence smiled.
How would she value him now?
"I told you. Get on my good side, and I'll let you research it."
"R-Really!?"
"Of course."
He grinned. Freya was a Montemer battle mage, but also a key tower researcher.
Montemer's young mages would train at the tower soon. This connection would be invaluable.
While others studied spells, he'd craft artifacts and hone his Dragon Body. Extracts and mediums aplenty.
Maybe even access pre-regression secrets.
'Gotta find guardian docs too.'
Could uncover other dragon legacies.
As he mused, something appeared before him.
The Grand Duke handing over the freshly extracted troll heart.
"Here, fresh troll heart."
"Ah."
"Should've washed it?"
Dripping blood, it looked psychopathic. But whatever. Neither he nor Lawrence were exactly normal.
"No need. I'll start right away."
"No rest?"
"I do this because I love it."
Can't resist fun. After grueling work, crash—but hobbies and fandoms first, right?
Lawrence smiled brightly, taking the dripping heart. Then added,
"Oh, by the way—is troll meat big and beautiful?"