Midterms (13): Taming the Beast
No one knew the conditions under which quests were bestowed. Not status, power, honor, effort, or even good or evil.
Quests discriminated against nothing.
They simply appeared for someone at some moment, accompanied by the system.
But there were two unique consistencies to these quests: an age limit of under twenty, and one per person.
Those were the only rules governing quests.
People commonly called these two rules providence.
Yet the world had always harbored those who defied providence.
And the tool they used to defy it was the taboo.
Something different from the taboo etched on my left hand and neck right now.
I had no idea what form of taboo had granted the emperor his quest.
But all taboos were abnormal, riddled with ominous shadows.
The form didn't matter.
Right now, I just needed to subdue this beast as quickly as possible and hand him over to the church.
That was it.
"You're quite the thinker, aren't you?"
I didn't respond.
No desire to chat here, no interest in hearing this bastard out.
"No answer... I rather like you, too. What a shame."
Snap.
The emperor's middle finger flicked against his thumb.
The prelude to casting magic.
But no magic circle appeared.
Same as the first attack and all the ones after.
So probably not an authority... He wasn't at that level.
Likely one of the taboo's powers.
A mage who could conceal their magic circle had a massive advantage.
Magic circles held tons of information.
Even at a glance, you could infer the spell from its shape.
If not, you could at least predict the timing from how long it took to form.
Facing a mage without a visible circle was grueling...
But that assumed they had the basics down.
If they just had raw power without skill, it meant nothing.
This emperor had no foundation, no fundamentals.
No technique, no personal flair.
He couldn't even hide his gaze—fat chance he had any of that.
So keep it simple.
Expose weaknesses on purpose, bait attacks.
I relaxed my grip on the scythe, loosening my stance.
Whoosh.
Something sliced through the air at high speed.
Aimed at my right abdomen.
Fast projectile, but not too fast to react.
If you knew the target and intent, dodging was child's play.
Opponent was a mage.
Closing distance favored me.
So I leaped rightward on a diagonal, dodging while narrowing the gap.
And baited another attack.
This time, right chest.
Whoosh.
Short hop left, dodge and close again.
Then repeat.
Right thigh.
Left lower abdomen.
Solar plexus.
Heart.
I deliberately exposed spots where injury could be fatal, drawing fire.
Attacks came exactly as baited.
And I evaded them effortlessly, of course.
Distance shrank bit by bit until...
Bam!
My scythe clashed against the emperor's hand again.
"Well now... Never thought I'd see you this close."
"...Tch."
Solid.
Some mages trained their bodies, sure, but...
This durability? Taboo power, no doubt.
Handy as hell.
"You seem skilled... Must we fight like this?"
"...Scared?"
"Tch... Impertinent. For the emperor of an empire to fear another... Even a stray dog would laugh."
His actions screamed yes.
"I simply have no wish to kill talent with my own hands."
"Save that talk for after you land a single clean hit."
"Hahaha! True enough."
In that instant, the emperor's aura shifted.
I felt his presence change in real time.
The corridor was already half-destroyed.
Fortunately, doors leading to Sellin and the other cadets were intact.
Some spots had walls gone but doors remained... Whatever, doors were fine.
Doors were single pathways.
Cadets' individual spaces were isolated from this area.
No way to harm them without entering.
Meant I could fight without worry.
"You've been spacing out with me right here... Bad habit."
"Sorry, but I don't count scum like you as human."
"...As I said, mind your manners."
Snap.
Magic pre—
Thwip.
"Oh dear... You alright?"
"...Tch."
A small hole punched through my left shoulder, red blood trickling out.
Speed on a whole other level from before.
Couldn't even see what hit me.
Guess the atmosphere wasn't the only thing that changed.
"Well? Ready to listen now?"
Nope. Not at all.
"Such spirit in your eyes... You're stubborn."
Shut up if you know.
Your voice grates.
"Hoo..."
One deep breath.
To adapt to the surging pain.
And sort the situation.
Emperor was in my range now.
First... Create distance.
"Oh? After all that effort to close in, you're backing off? Sure that's wise?"
I'd close again later.
Right now, adapt to his new attack speed.
Previous ones were relatively slow, so this felt even faster subjectively.
Adaptation first.
Needed distance for that.
Once adapted, it'd be nothing special.
Emperor had power beyond his station, but no skill to wield it.
"Fine... Seems you have a plan. I'll play along."
Snap.
Thwip.
This time, left leg got a hole.
"Hoo..."
Bad for closing distance, but...
As long as I could move, fine.
"Hoo... Pain's... manageable."
Still too fast to fully react.
But better than last.
Would take a few hits, but whatever.
Now, the empire's knights.
Oddly, none in sight.
With emperor rampaging alone, knights wouldn't sit idle.
If they crashed this fight suddenly, my odds tanked.
Dragging it out meant knights joining for sure.
Rushing for quick kill? I'd be swiss cheese.
"...This is insane."
"Hahaha! Finally, an expression worth seeing!"
"Yeah?"
"Yes... Perfect. Anyone before me should wear that face."
This is why I can't stand humans.
Nothing but lunatics.
"Now that you're properly afraid, I'll ask again. Won't you join me?"
"...Join meaning the knights?"
"Oh, yes! Finally listening, eh? For you, I'll personally recommend captain."
"...Proud of your knights, huh?"
"Naturally. Empire's the world's greatest nation—their elite talents. How could I not trust them?"
Huh...
If you trust talent that much, why'd Sellin end up like that?
No one outshone her in the empire.
"Then show me those elite knights."
"Of course... But..."
Snap.
Thwip.
"Fuck..."
Right shoulder this time.
Warm blood flowing real-time.
"Hide your intent better if you want me fooled."
"...Was hiding it."
Even trash emperor reads amateur feints.
"Still, I'll sate your curiosity myself."
Acting merciful now...
Bit late for that.
"Worried about my knights interrupting? No need."
"...Why should I believe you?"
"Believe or not, your call. I'm on divine duty as God's proxy."
"Hah..."
Cult nutjob.
"Such sacred work can't have lowly knights meddling."
"...Right."
Okay, got it. Kinda.
Emperor's in full chuuni cult mode.
Feels like the world's protagonist...
Knights stealing his spotlight? No thanks.
Gotcha.
Fine by me.
No parent-teacher interference.
Opponent: overpowered chuuni cultist with raw strength.
Tough, honestly.
Physical specs too mismatched.
Does that mean I lose?
"I'll win."