Chapter 52
Chapter 52 - Growing Mountain(2)
"... This is impossible."
It's different.
It's on a completely different level.
It was a different aspect from the gallant advance he showed when slaughtering the undead.
Right. Come to think of it, the assassination skills I stole were minor copies of the Margrave. There was no way I could compete in terms of speed to begin with.
'But I never thought it would be this much...!'
I had consumed all the ether.
And it's night now. Plus, it's a full moon night.
Due to the Saint's crest, my abilities should be nearly doubled from usual.
Yet the difference is this huge?
What's more chilling is.
Right now, the Margrave is fighting with his specialty, magic, completely sealed off.
"Uwaaaaah!"
I charged at the Margrave in a last desperate attempt.
Without weapons or anything, just charging in with clenched fists - perhaps finding my appearance unsightly, the Margrave frowned.
"That's enough, Jeong-yong."
Whoosh. The Margrave's slash exploded.
With speed that could split the earth. I barely avoided it by rolling on the ground, and crouched low at his side while kneeling.
"The reason I knelt was—"
And I sprang up like a spring, shooting toward the Margrave.
"To gain momentum!"
And thwack! I threw my punch.
Of course, the sound of flesh being hit wasn't from my fist.
The Margrave, who had reversed his grip on the sword at some point, struck my abdomen with the pommel at the end of the handle.
"Ugh, kuhk...!"
Thud. I collapsed on the spot, momentarily unable to breathe.
Suddenly I felt a cold killing intent. I immediately kicked off the ground to create distance. Took up a defensive stance.
"Water Lily."
I heard the skill incantation from behind.
I tried to quickly backstep to create distance, but my movement stopped.
'This is crazy...!'
There are five Margraves.
Like afterimages, five distorted Margraves were thrusting their swords at my back simultaneously from five directions.
The original skill of Lotus Flower, a minor copy - Water Lily.
"I thought we could have been good comrades, Sir Jeong-yong."
Regretful voices came from the mouths of all five Margraves simultaneously. It was essentially showing confidence in his victory.
That makes sense. I've lost my weapon now and completely exposed my back. Plus, I don't know how to identify which of those afterimages is real.
It's truly a checkmate.
'... That's what I made you think.'
And only then did I show a knowing smile.
The Margrave showed a puzzled look upon seeing my deep smile, but it was already too late.
I shouted loudly.
"Lucy! Now! Get to the corpse!!"
"Got it!"
I called forth the Demon King who had been waiting quietly until now, and according to plan, she immediately ran toward the Margravine.
"Oh no...!"
The Margrave made a startled expression. Seems he had completely forgotten about the Demon King's existence.
Of course he did. Because I did my best to desperately make him forget about the Demon King's existence.
Why would I provoke the Margrave so recklessly when I had no chance of winning otherwise?
'The plan worked!'
Margrave, I'm sorry but I never had even the slightest thought that I could win against you.
I'm the type who doesn't fight battles I can't win in the first place.
I stared intently at Lucy who approached the Margravine's corpse, and immediately chanted my skill.
"Lotus Flower!!"
Then swish, in an instant my vision changed dramatically.
The Demon King was standing bewildered in front of me, holding the dagger I had given her on the way.
The Demon King looked at me in shock as I suddenly appeared, and awkwardly held out her hand.
"Here. Take it."
"Yeah. Well done."
I smiled wryly as I took the dagger from her hand.
Even losing my sword was all planned. I deliberately dropped the sword to aim for when the Margrave would let his guard down most.
However, magic attacks are needed to destroy a Vessel, and Seven Sword Pierce is the only magic technique I have.
And Seven Sword Pierce is a sword technique that can only be activated with a sword.
That's why I gave the dagger to the Demon King. For this final strike.
"Ah... uh... guah."
I pointed the dagger at the Margravine. The Margravine was trembling as if sensing her future.
I frowned slightly at that sight. But I didn't stop charging magic into the dagger.
"No! Stop! Don't!"
The Margrave charges toward me with terrifying momentum.
Sorry, but the magic is already fully gathered. I gave the Margrave one regretful look before unhesitatingly plunging the dagger into the Margravine's chest.
Crack! The red brooch was helplessly shattered as it was pierced through.
"Seven Sword Pierce!!"
Magic blades flying from seven directions completely pierced through the Margravine.
Blue sparks flew from the Margravine's body which was torn to shreds without a trace, and then.
Paaaaang!
A brilliant red light exploded from within her. A bright red jewel that was hiding inside was trembling while pierced by the magic swords.
"This, this can't be... That's...!" The Margrave took in the sight of the jewel and stopped his charge with a dumbfounded expression. Then he stammered.
The Margrave, being a mage, probably knows better than me what that thing that appeared from inside the Margravine is.
― This can't be... my Vessel... No... my lord... Black Sun! Mercy, have mercy on me...! Kuaaaaaak!!
At the same time, Eldritch's screams echoed throughout the audience chamber.
Spouting dialogue like a third-rate villain. You're meeting your end early because that's your nature.
I channeled magic into my dagger once again and cast the skill.
"Seven Sword Pierce!!"
Papapapak! Once again, blue magic blades pierced into the jewel.
The violently vibrating red ruby, unable to withstand the impact, shattered into pieces.
A blinding red light poured out. The entire audience chamber was dyed pure white.
"Kugh!"
The Border Duke, myself, and the Demon King closed our eyes and waited for the flash to end.
- Kyaaaaaak!
- Guaaaaaak!
- Gak! Gyaaaaaak!
In the long flash, the undead's screams rang out endlessly.
From the audience chamber, from deep underground. And even somewhere outside the castle, screams seemed to mix with the cold wave.
Meanwhile, an entirely different fanfare sound kept mixing in my ears.
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
....
And in an instant, the flash subsided.
The screams stopped too. The Demon King and I slowly opened our eyes. The Border Duke opened his eyes a beat later. And upon witnessing the scene around us, his eyes widened.
"This is...."
All the surrounding undead had turned to white ash.
The audience chamber, which had been full of undead groans, was covered in white ash as if snow had piled up.
"M-Master! What was that just now? There was an incredible sound...!"
"Jeong-yong! Are you alright?!"
Clang! Right then, Leila and Seolbaek burst through the audience chamber doors.
The two froze like the Border Duke upon taking in the scene in the audience chamber. Leila, with a dazed expression, slowly approached the collapsed Border Duke.
"Wh-What... exactly happened here? The undead? What are all these ashes?"
"What else? Eldritch died."
I answered instead of the spaced-out Border Duke.
Leila stared at me with wide eyes. A face of disbelief.
Yeah, don't believe it. You'll have to believe it soon anyway whether you want to or not.
"Oh my, oh my. I'm dying..."
Just then, the effects of Ether faded from my body. Suddenly hit with exhaustion, I collapsed like a puppet with cut strings.
The Demon King sheepishly approached my side.
"This time I didn't betray you. Let's forget about past wrongs in light of this great achievement."
"Yeah yeah. Good job. Well done."
"Hmhmhm!"
Well, it wasn't me who suffered in this life anyway. I don't even remember it.
Let's forgive her. Her contribution to this operation was significant after all.
As I laughed wearily while responding, I suddenly collapsed with a thud.
"... Well well."
I naturally tried to get up.
But I was wrong. No strength enters my body. I want to lift my eyelids, but that's wrong too. My limbs won't move an inch.
My eyes... are slowly closing.
"Sir Jeong-yong! Pull yourself together. Sir Jeong-yong!"
"Kyaa! Jeong-yong! What's wrong... Jeong-yong! Quickly, Jeong-yong...!"
"Oh no... the exhaustion is severe. Master. Quickly, healing magic..."
I can hear the voices of people gathering around. They're growing distant. My body feels like it's floating.
Why am I really like this? Don't tell me I'm dying here?
Ah please. How could I die after killing Eldrich. Don't tell me I have to go through all that suffering again?
"Ah please... don't... talk... nonsense..."
As I muttered, I lost consciousness right there.