Princess Maker (3)

Princess Maker (3)

An awkward silence hung in the air. The gentle atmosphere felt oddly out of place amid the heavy tension, lending the scene a strangely eerie quality. Kyle, captain of the assassination squad, fixed Luke with a wary gaze and asked, "Who the hell are you…?"

"Wow, I literally just introduced myself. I'm the hero."

"How did you get in here?"

"There's always a way. The barrier's just a wall made of rules, after all. I just copied your walking pattern and it worked fine."

"…So you copied our breakthrough method?"

In that instant, Kyle's wariness sharpened even further. The assassination squad, which prized secrecy above all else, possessed several secret magic techniques. One of them was the Glass Prison they had used to surround the princess today—a barrier spell that distorted light to completely isolate the inside from the outside. It was difficult to detect, and entry required their unique gait. Infiltration from the outside was practically impossible.

Yet this man claimed to have observed and replicated it. Their secret footwork, learned just by watching.

'This guy's no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ordinary opponent.'

Since Kyle hadn't attended the banquet, he couldn't be certain whether Luke was truly the hero. Still, the relaxed demeanor he displayed even in this situation, and the strangely ominous feeling emanating from behind him, made it clear he was a formidable expert—enough to warrant caution even from Kyle.

Kyle and the assassination squad watched Luke with tense expressions.

…And Luke was doing the same.

The imperial assassination squad. The emperor's direct unit, the shadow of the empire that struck fear into everyone. Due to their purpose and atmosphere, they frequently appeared as enemies in the game. Not the main villain, but more like sub-villains. There were even several H-scenes triggered by them. Of course, given the game's nature, those H-scenes were exactly what you'd expect… In any case, they were the annoying types you encountered often in the game. Thanks to them, Luke had suffered quite a bit in the early stages.

But the emotion he felt now, looking at them, was…

'Small fry.'

That was all.

Their levels floated above their heads.

None of them exceeded Level 70. Even the highest among them was a full 18 levels below him. Those levels were quite high by local standards, but to Luke, the gap felt like heaven and earth.

Of course it did. He had just taken down the Insect King—why would he lose to some assassination squad? Still, the vice-captain Kyle's level was noticeably higher.

A solid 73. Even compared to his party members, he wasn't far behind. In a smaller nation, that level could make someone a top contender. As expected of the empire—talent overflowed here. Not that it mattered. They still weren't opponents he could lose to.

"It doesn't matter who you are. Now that you've seen this, you have to die. Everyone, attack!"

Perhaps because secrecy was their top priority, Kyle began attacking after only a brief exchange. Pa-ba-bat! The squad members behind him drew blades from their hoods and charged. Each strike aimed for a vital ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠point—lethal blows.

"Hah."

But Luke merely let out a hollow laugh at the sight.

"These bastards are actually insane. I told you I'm the hero, didn't I?"

If the real hero died, what would happen to the Demon King? Even for an assassination squad, this was recklessly shortsighted. No wonder the empire was rotting from within.

Of course, he had no intention of dying to them.

He swiftly drew the holy sword and swung it toward them. The squad members collapsed like autumn leaves. Still, they were skilled enough to avoid fatal wounds, at least.

The fallen members cried out in shock.

"Kuh…! What kind of strength…!"

"H-he's an incredible fighter!"

Hearing those voices, Luke felt a sharp, tingling sensation. If he had to put it into one word, it was pleasure.

'…Yeah.'

That chilling sensation he had forgotten. Turns out, he really was overpowered.

'The Insect King was just a crazy bastard.'

By human standards, he was firmly in the realm of the strongest. Excluding monsters like the Insect King, the captain of the imperial guard, the Sword Saint, the Magic Tower Master, or the World Tree Elder, he had virtually no equals. Indulging in the long-forgotten feeling of omnipotence, Luke swung his sword wildly. With each swing, bones shattered and blood sprayed. He was thoroughly crushing people.

It was a rather brutal scene, but strangely, he felt little emotion. Partly because his opponents were scum, but mostly because he had experienced far too much to be moved by something like this. His own body had broken before he ever broke others. He had nearly died dozens of times before ever taking a life. Pointing a sword at someone felt more numb than he had expected.

After swinging like that several times, something changed.

"Kuh, I can't let it end like this!"

Suddenly, Kyle shouted like a villain and began using something. A magic circle appeared above his hand, and something started draining from the squad members' bodies.

It was their life force.

A quick glance revealed glowing red patterns on their necks. Luke recognized it immediately—he had seen the technique countless times in the game.

'Sacrifice Ritual.'

A technique that extracted power using pre-engraved patterns on the members, temporarily boosting strength at the cost of their lives. A thoroughly dark-magic ability. So this guy had learned at least this black magic separately.

The target was, of course, Vice-Captain Kyle. Luke could see power surging violently through his body. Unlike the vile method, the effect itself was excellent—enough to make Deila, sitting behind Luke, tremble uncontrollably under the pressure.

Luke spoke to him calmly.

"No blood, no tears. You don't hesitate to grind up your own men."

"Shut up! If we can't win here, we're dead anyway!"

He had a point. Secrets were at stake. Luke had adopted the "rascal" persona, and they had been caught kidnapping the princess by an outsider. Neither side intended to let the other live.

All that remained was a fight to the death.

Pa-ak! Kyle charged at him. The speed he had gained at the cost of his men's lives was enough to surprise even Luke. When their swords clashed, a powerful shockwave rippled outward.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Kyle swung his sword mercilessly, as if determined to stab Luke no matter what. Honestly, up to this point, Luke could handle it. But there was one problem—Kyle wasn't an ordinary swordsman.

Kyle, the telekinetic. He wielded not only a sword but also telekinesis. In truth, his psychic ability was his main weapon.

Gu-gu-gu-guk…

After crossing swords for a while, Luke's body suddenly began to feel heavier. Kyle was crushing him with telekinesis, like a giant's hand pressing down on him. From then on, Luke started to be gradually overtaken.

Even using Blood Flow Acceleration, Combat Focus, and Bright-style swordsmanship, it was impossible when his body itself was restricted.

'Good thing my body's tough.'

It was a force that would have crushed any ordinary person long ago. After fighting like that several times, another change occurred.

"Hup!"

In an instant, Kyle squeezed out more power, and Luke's sword visibly slowed. Kyle didn't miss the opening. He slipped between Luke's sword paths and thrust straight into his body. A single strike as fast as a hawk diving for prey.

Kyle's sword tip pierced straight through Luke's chest.

Pu-shu-shuk!

As blood gushed out, Kyle shouted in triumph.

"Got him!"

A fatal blow. Kyle's blade had clearly stabbed into Luke's lungs. For most people, it would have been a serious wound. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠He must have thought he had won, that his attack had landed. He was probably rejoicing, thinking the hard fight was over and victory was his.

But his misfortune was that his opponent was the wrong person.

"Tsk. This is the downside of a dark magic build."

"…Huh?"

"It's unbeatable after taking damage, but it lacks any real distinction when you're still in one piece…"

Muttering that, Luke placed a hand on Kyle's body. The stunned man couldn't even react. In that state, Luke activated a skill.

"Kuh-heo-eok—!"

In an instant, Kyle's side caved in. The accumulated damage wasn't that high, so the power wasn't overwhelming. But it wasn't over.

The blood pouring from his chest changed properties. The sudden surge of paralytic poison stiffened Kyle's body. Luke slowly pulled out the sword embedded in his own chest. Thanks to his high Pain Resistance level, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it didn't hurt that much anymore.

"You… monster…"

"Yeah, I think so too."

With lips barely free of paralysis, Kyle quietly muttered. Luke nodded lightly. Unfortunately, he had no hobby of toying with an immobilized opponent. Besides, Kyle was skilled—he would dispel the poison quickly. So—

Seogeok!

He ended it swiftly. In a clean arc of the sword, Kyle's head flew off, an expression of disbelief still on his face. His paralyzed body collapsed the moment his head was severed, like a puppet with its strings cut.

"Hoo…"

In the alley now steeped in silence, Luke let out a light sigh. Hot air escaped through his lungs. Having wrapped up the situation, he turned to look at the princess, Deila.

She was pressed against the ground, trembling violently. Luke smiled at her.

"Well then, now it's just the two of us, isn't it?"

"Hiiik!?"

She looked terrified.