Slum Patrol (4)
Lucia couldn't suppress her rising anger.
She wanted to turn that witch into a pincushion right then and there. The slum dwellers were already scraping by in miserable lives.
Yet those same people had lost their lives to the beasts and monsters the witch had summoned.
Lucia knew the slum life better than anyone. She was well aware that among the poor, there were surely some who longed for rest in death.
But that doesn't give that woman the right to toy with their lives however she pleases!
Among the victims were even children. And yet the witch had the gall to flap her mouth.
She'd said there was no need to make a fuss over a few bugs dying. The instant those vile words hit her ears, Lucia vowed to kill the woman without fail.
But deep down, Lucia knew her true feelings all too well. Prioritizing angers was laughable, sure.
But there was something even more infuriating. Above all, she couldn't tolerate the witch laying a finger on Count Yulian.
He was far too noble for a worm like that witch to touch. Count Yulian was the sole heir to the great Margrave Wilhelm, after all.
How dare she touch my Count Yulian...
And just like that, the way she addressed him in her mind had shifted. Yes. Truth be told, his status as count wasn't what mattered.
The man Lucia had already fallen for.
Unlike those flighty southern men, his northern stoicism—from that first impression—lingered in her heart, unchanging, only growing deeper.
And now, that Yulian lay drenched in blood right before her eyes. Lucia's rage boiled over.
I'll kill that woman for sure.
With nothing but killing intent left, she thrust her sword in a trance-like fury. The enemy was completely on the ropes. Just a little more pressure, and victory would be sealed—that very moment.
The witch drew a dagger from her bosom and cried out.
"Baron! I offer my blood and grudging souls!"
She hurled the dagger into the air. It hung suspended, refusing to fall to the floor.
A blood-red magic circle etched itself around the dagger, and in an instant, the space enveloping the three plunged into pitch darkness.
Damn! Black magic? This is bad!
The aura had shifted completely from moments ago. This was the magi of black magic—distinct from a beast's demon aura.
Black magic was tricky. Ordinary magi could be quelled by the divine power any Pantheon cadet possessed.
But this energy was on another level entirely.
No way. Did she summon a demon noble's power?
Demons—the apostles of Unir, the god-turned-fallen. Black mages borrowing their strength often unleashed unimaginable might.
I don't know much about black magic. But this magi is beyond what cadets can handle.
And that dagger spewing magi nonstop from mid-air? Far from ordinary.
It seemed like a special artifact amplifying black magic.
The moment she was exposed to it, Lucia's emotions surged wildly. An unpleasant voice echoed in her mind.
You are a burden to the count. He doesn't need you. A slum rat like you has no right to stand at his side.
Especially since you're a filthy bastard child.
The count hates you—
The count despises you—
That eerie voice reverberated endlessly.
Urgh...
A curse akin to demon aura.
Strictly speaking, demon aura and magi were distinct. But the curse's effect was similar—it relentlessly prodded the negative thoughts buried deep in one's heart, the ones you never wanted to face.
She inwardly invoked Roia's name. A portion of her mana converted to divine power, but the feeble light couldn't dispel the thick gloom.
That was when someone yanked her back hard from behind.
"Lucia! Snap out of it!"
Simultaneously, an explosion rocked the spot where she'd stood. The witch's blood magic.
Had she lingered, it would've been a grievous wound.
The man who'd pulled her—Count Yulian—spoke.
"This space is dominated by black magic's magi. Let it sway your mind, and you'll die without a fight! Stay calm."
"Yes! Count!"
Count Yulian had called her name.
Far more effectively than her earlier divine power. Just his voice alone soothed Lucia's heart.
And even in a hellhole like this, being with the count made her heart race, just like always.
***
The grudging souls somewhat stockpiled in the Soul Dagger. Rene had no choice but to unleash them.
The magic circle near the Soul Dagger absorbed a portion of those souls. A massive surge of magi erupted from it.
Through that magi, the tide turned.
Now, this tower was unmistakably Rene's home turf.
"Tch. Lucky dodge, pink slut. But nowhere left to run now. And you dared shove a blade at me? I'll hack off your limbs and dump you in a back-alley whorehouse. Get ready!"
Visibly furious, she spat venomous threats as her assault began.
As if they'd stormed a high-grade beast dungeon. Magi fog and curses bore down heavily on the pair. Or they should have.
I get how fearsome this magi is. The pressure's real.
If she'd filled it to capacity as planned, the Soul Dagger would've been dangerous enough to boost a tier.
Not at max, but even the souls already inside had temporarily elevated Rene's black magic tier by one.
Proof? Lucia, mid-barrage, had frozen trembling right there moments ago.
But I was different.
Just baron's-tier black magic. Useless against me.
Even amid that dense magi, I felt perfectly at ease, same as always.
A horde of wraiths materialized near the Soul Dagger. Holding Lucia close, I whispered in her ear.
"I'll handle those wraiths. Lucia, take the witch?"
"Yes! Count!"
"Magi preys on the mind. But with a Pantheon comrade to lean on, trust each other without faltering—no issue! You can do it, Lucia."
My steady words calmed her.
"Trust... You believe in me too, Count... Got it!"
Lucia nodded fiercely and bolted. Her speed left afterimages.
"Filthy witch! I'll kill you myself!"
Drawing demon power, Rene amped her acceleration spell further. But Lucia matched the moves effortlessly.
Freed from the magi's grip, huh. Faster than usual now?
Nothing like the trembling wreck moments ago. Just my encouragement flipped her like that—a bit unnerving.
I shelved distractions. Eerier death aura billowed from the Soul Dagger. Wraiths stirred to life.
The Soul Dagger was no ordinary item.
And as a Virea Mercenary grunt wandering Iseland, Rene had likely amassed plenty of souls in it.
Wraiths spawned from those souls. Tricky bastards among monsters.
Thicker presence than the 4-form beast earlier. Rivaling a 3-form.
If magi had swayed me, not easy.
But fully immune now. I focused solely on the wraiths.
Better hurry.
Lion Heart Sword flashed, cleaving wraiths swiftly. Each fell summoned more.
She'd hoarded a ton; they kept spawning endlessly.
Lucia cornered Rene handily. But magi-buffed, Rene could stall only so long.
Then skip the wraiths. Neutralize the Soul Dagger itself.
No hesitation—I unleashed the ultimate art, White Night.
Fierce mana blade erupted from the imperial sword. The flash bisecting the horde slammed the Soul Dagger.
Ziiing—
A screeching resonance. Lion Heart Sword's ultimate art, power fully infused. Wraith swarm evaporated.
Yet the Soul Dagger endured. It hummed fiercer, gearing for more.
One more oughta do it!
Badge from full-power eval boosted mana stat. Enough for two White Nights.
Toward the dagger squeezing residual souls, I launched another.
Kwaaang—
White Night's blaze hammered it. 3rd-tier refined mana, specs exceeded by my unique mana heart.
Finally, the Soul Dagger went limp, thudding to the floor.
"No way! My Soul Dagger!! Those souls I gathered—impossible!!"
Rene gaped at the sight. I pocketed it casually. System grade: Unique. Nice haul.
Joined Lucia.
"Lucia! Finish her off!"
"Understood, Count!"
Ace neutralized. No time for Rene to wallow. Pincer attack cornered her.
Lucia faltered too. Her reserves ran thin from the start.
"Hah... hah..."
Limit nearing. I pressed forward; she spewed blood-limit blood magic. Sword parried all.
"That won't work."
Despair flooded Rene's gray eyes. That instant—I implanted suggestion.
"Eh?"
Fleeting confusion. Then my slash bore down on her neck.
"Damn! No choice!"
She dodged barely.
Unleashed her final ace. Explosions thundered.
Kwaaang—
Unlike prior blood blasts. Not internal.
"Count! Tower's collapsing!"
Spot on. Earthquake roar; tower quaked. Wild sways, then crumbling began.
The gate marker. Bloodied too, apparently. Detonated the one at the base.
"Fuck. Marker and Soul Dagger. Bleeding bad. Whatever—kill you two, then recover."
Rene fled on her wand from the ruin.
Just as planned.
Suggestion planted deep. Her value rose in flight. Plus, I'd tagged her with mid-tier darkness spirit, Teneb.
"Count!!"
I scooped unsteady Lucia amid the chaos. Leapt from the 10-story tower's window.
Both unscathed.
***
Thus ended the slum patrol with Lucia.
Rene didn't bolt immediately. Circled overhead, eyeing her precious Soul Dagger.
But seeing them jump unscathed from that height? Freaked her out.
Alchemy earth stairs.
Her rotten face? Priceless.
Dawn broke; she fled at last. Demon power hated sun. They hit Roia's church, evac site.
"Those two saved us!"
"Pantheon's heroes!"
Profuse gratitude. Priests bowed.
"You two... swordsmen. Pantheon blades mean Roia's sacred priests. His blessing descends for your deeds. A miracle accomplished."
One slum-serving priest bestowed Roia's blessing. Genuine faith shone.
Strength and stamina rose via it.
[The War God Roia rejoices in your prowess.]
Stats increased by Roia's Blessing.
Strength: 30 → 35
Stamina: 35 → 40
Unexpected reward.
4th tier needed those key stats at 40 pronto. Now, raw body neared 4x a commoner's.
Mana applied? Power squared.
New mana cultivation adaptation speeds up.
Best: blessing hit Lucia too. Last night's brawl left her much to ponder.
Days later. Friday afternoon.
Lucia arrived at my mansion. Honoring the arena bet.
The one where I'd claim her body.