Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Hunt
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“Damn it!”
Arthur’s face twisted when Yakim’s squad member from Hellot fell.
“We have to go.”
At Millerph’s words, Arthur suppressed his boiling rage and nodded.
As Millerph cast Haste, the distance from the bastard opened up in an instant.
Arthur reacquired the target through the scope.
He had originally planned to inflict at least some damage on the bastard, but the attacks hadn’t worked.
So he switched targets to the bastard’s underlings. He pulled the trigger toward the ones following Yakim.
Bang—!
Whenever he took out one, he reliably moved positions with Millerph.
After doing this several times, they entered the western mountains.
Yakim kept pursuing, continuously unleashing aura blades.
Arthur glanced at Millerph and asked.
“That much must be draining his mana considerably, right?”
“Probably. But as a Sword Master, he’ll recover quickly. Still, fortunately, it seems he hasn’t fully made that power his own. Plus, he’s lost the seasoned cunning typical of a mercenary.”
“That’s his weakness.”
“What do you plan to do?”
“I have a question: how many spells can you cast on me?”
“Hmm.”
Millerph pondered carefully before answering.
“Young Master, spells are essentially transformations of mana power. If mana of a different quality enters the body, it causes clashes and side effects.”
“And the opposite could happen too?”
“It might, but it’s practically nonexistent…….”
Arthur continued with a meaningful smile.
“Cast as many as possible that boost my abilities.”
“No! If anything goes wrong, your life could be in danger.”
Millerph refused firmly, showing a resolute attitude.
“Why not cast them one by one, increasing gradually? We can stop if it gets dangerous.”
“But…….”
“With my current skill, facing him head-on is suicide. So if there’s a way to get stronger, we have to take the risk.”
“Young Master…….”
As Millerph fell into thought for a moment.
Boom! Kwang!
The sound of the surroundings being blown to bits echoed.
“There’s no time! Are you going to let us all die like this?”
“Understood.”
Millerph planted his staff into the ground with a determined expression and prepared to cast.
“I’ll start with defensive Stone Skin and the power-boosting Strength.”
“If anything feels off, I’ll say so right away, so don’t worry and begin.”
“Yes.”
Millerph spread his arms wide and chanted runes. The staff glowed brightly, granting Arthur Stone Skin and Strength.
Arthur’s body shone brightly before the light faded.
“Next spell.”
“This time it’s Hawk Eye. Tell me immediately if you notice anything unusual.”
“Got it.”
Millerph cast Hawk Eye next.
Once again, Arthur’s body shone brightly before the light faded.
“Hmm.”
Arthur’s face hardened.
He could feel his own mana clashing with Millerph’s mana. As the different qualities pushed against each other, damage accumulated in his body.
‘In that case…….’
Arthur drew up his mana.
His dormant mana awakened, responding to Millerph’s mana.
In an instant, it absorbed Millerph’s mana completely.
As the clash vanished, power overflowed from his body.
Seeing Arthur’s aura suddenly amplify, Millerph’s eyes wavered.
“This is…….”
He had absorbed his mana and made it his own.
Amid the bewilderment, a figure came to mind.
Teheran Julius.
He had researched his mana at the Magic Society, and among many hypotheses, one was that he absorbed others’ mana.
Otherwise, sustaining it indefinitely was impossible.
Everyone had dismissed it as nonsense, but now it proved true.
At the same time, Kanmurasaga came to mind.
Oscar Empire’s youngest 9th Class Archmage in history!
He would have had the ability to supply Teheran with enough mana.
This solved one of the mysteries shrouding Teheran Julius: how he possessed infinite mana.
“Truly beyond imagination.”
Shock was evident on Millerph’s face.
“I absorbed the mana.”
“It must be due to Teheran’s mana trait.”
“I see.”
Arthur nodded and continued.
“No side effects—in fact, power is overflowing.”
“Finally, I’ll cast Haste. Your physical speed will increase a bit more.”
Millerph promptly cast Haste.
Arthur felt the mana absorb as the spell took hold, and power surged like an explosion.
He emanated a fearsome aura.
“Impressive.”
“The spells last 20 minutes. You must deal with him within that time.”
“Got it. But your complexion suddenly looks bad.”
“I’m fine…….”
Millerph clutched his chest tightly.
He had consumed mana, but not to a burdensome degree. It seemed his life force, not fully recovered, was the issue.
“Are there any issues or limitations from casting spells on me like this?”
“None. It’s just that since I’m not fully recovered, I’ll need at least 30 minutes before I can cast again.”
“That’s quite a while.”
Arthur knew Millerph accounted for a significant portion of their forces.
But blocking that would be foolish.
He probably couldn’t ask twice.
“Better not push until you feel fully recovered.”
“Agreed.”
“I’ll handle the bastard somehow, so take care of his underlings.”
“He’s a Sword Master. You haven’t seen his true power, Young Master. Never let your guard down.”
“He doesn’t know me either.”
“True. And with those buffs…….”
As Millerph nodded in agreement, Arthur had already moved far ahead.
The buff spells were incredibly effective.
But facing a Sword Master, he couldn’t shake the ominous thoughts.
“Young Master…….”
***
“I’ll catch him this time for sure.”
As Yakim ground his teeth and scanned ahead.
He sensed the bastard’s presence ahead.
“Found you!”
Grinning viciously, he charged like a shot.
‘He bit.’
Arthur had no intention of engaging Yakim head-on.
From countless war experiences, against someone rampaging alone on raw power, guerrilla tactics—ambushes and raids—were best.
He moved to a densely foliaged area easy to conceal himself in, releasing his aura.
As expected, he reacted immediately and rushed over.
“First, a welcome gift.”
Arthur pulled the trigger.
Bang—!
As expected, the bastard deflected the bullet.
Arthur smirked and said.
“The real show starts now.”
Bang—!
The moment he pulled the trigger, Arthur swiftly reloaded and fired again.
Bang—!
The prep time to the next shot halved.
He compensated for the semi-auto’s lack of full-auto with his physical prowess.
Yakim tensed as consecutive thunderous shots sent bullets flying at him.
“What the—?”
He halted in place, not advancing, solely focused on deflecting with his sword.
Meanwhile, Arthur relentlessly poured fire, closing the distance.
The closer he got, the more potent the Cheytac became.
“Damn it!”
Yakim, reaching his limit despite deflecting, sought cover.
Arthur didn’t miss the chance.
Thud!
A bullet embedded in Yakim’s thigh.
It didn’t pierce the armor but dented it deeply. The impact drilled into his bones.
“Damn you!”
Yakim grimaced and dove behind a rock.
Barely hidden, he checked his wounded thigh.
The bullet was mangled beyond recognition.
Seemingly harmless now, it had been lightning-fast with devastating power.
And now they came without respite.
If it were a mage’s ranged attacks, mana depletion would pause them, but this guy had no such limit.
A truly tricky opponent.
For now, he’d recover mana while pondering how to counter.
“If I can just get close……!”
Suddenly, the bastard’s presence felt dangerously near.
“What?”
He peeked out quickly and looked ahead.
Arthur was charging at tremendous speed.
For a guy who only sniped from hiding to rush in like this!
It meant he feared him not at all—saw him as easy prey.
“You dare!”
Yakim leaped out, swinging his sword.
An aura blade flew, slicing all trees ahead.
Arthur dropped flat, dodging the aura blade, then fired at Yakim.
Bang—!
He reloaded swiftly and fired again.
Bang—!
The consecutive bullets streaked toward Yakim like lightning.
“Really pissing me off!”
Rage boiled over in Yakim.
Mana rampaged, the deep blue aura around his sword flaring like flames.
Unleashing all his mana, he flaunted his Sword Master power.
“With that…… you think you can toy with me?”
He swung his sword with full force.
Paaang!
A massive roar accompanied the aura blade.
As Arthur dodged swiftly and aimed at him.
“What the…….”
The bastard was right in front, grabbing the muzzle.
“Got you at last.”
As Yakim tightened his grip, Arthur pulled the trigger.
Simultaneously, Yakim’s sword moved like lightning.
Kwang!
He deflected the bullet with his sword and cleaved the Cheytac’s muzzle.
“……!”
Arthur’s eyes widened.
“Party time.”
Yakim grinned sinisterly and threw a punch.
Arthur blocked with his arm hastily, but the impact hammered his side, churning his guts.
“Keuk—.”
“You little shit.”
Yakim swept Arthur’s legs, toppling him. Then he stomped wildly.
“How should I kill you to quench my rage?”
“Ugh…….”
Pain and shock crossed Arthur’s contorted face.
Despite peak condition with Millerph’s buffs, he was overpowered.
He drew mana to resist Yakim’s foot on his throat. But instinctively, he knew his bones would snap soon.
“At this rate…….”
Arthur gritted his teeth and fought back.
But Yakim didn’t blink, sneering mockingly.
“The great heir to lead Julius Count House? This is all you’ve got?”
“Shut…… up.”
“Listen well. Because of your atrocities, not just Grada Territory, but Julius Count House will vanish from history. Oh, one will survive. You can guess who.”
Yakim continued with a lewd grin.
“Yarve Count’s totally smitten with her. But get this? He has some perverse hobbies. Well, for a slutty bitch, it might work out.”
“Grrrr!”
Rage surged in Arthur.
Rage at the bastard—and at his own weakness.
‘You bastard…….’
The aura emanating from him was sucked into the necklace like absorption.
The necklace glowed faintly.
Then golden light blazed intensely from the armor.
“What?!”
Startled, Yakim was flung back by the massive aura.
He sprang up, eyeing Arthur tensely.
Arthur rose too, glaring back.
Golden aura rose from his armor, and he exuded fearsome power.
But that was it.
Tense for a moment, but no fear.
‘Squirm all you want—he’ll end up shredded by my sword.’
“Pathetic worm.”
Yakim snorted and aimed his sword at Arthur.
Arthur glared with rage-burning eyes, recalling Teheran’s voice echoing in his mind moments ago.
-Rage! It will make you even stronger.
For him, rage was a source of power—and one reason to live.
“I forgot.”
Arthur curled his lips. Eerily demonic.