Protecting Yuria -3-
The red thunder pouring down on the heretics showed no signs of stopping. Once at Hans. "Grrraaah...! What the hell is that monster?!" Twice at the Archbishop of Blasphemy. "What is this! That monster...!" And three times at Ruin, reigning supreme over the battlefield.
"Fuckin' bastard...!"
"Sorry. Gotta balance the scales."
The red thunder separated the heretics from the students who had lost their will to fight, crashing down relentlessly. The heretics crumbled pathetically under the ceaseless barrage. This red lightning followed a completely different trajectory from the common lightning magic everyone knew.
Rumble... In terms of sheer power. In casting speed. It overcame the inherent weaknesses of the lightning attribute.
Conventional lightning magic required significantly longer casting times compared to other spells. The 'electricity' property itself was hard for people in this world to visualize, and applying it took considerable time. It boasted explosive power, but its clear drawbacks were well-known—except for the red-haired mage, who faced no such limitations.
He was from a world where electricity was commonplace, and he'd learned efficient mana usage from novels. Ricardo demonstrated an overwhelming difference in skill, cornering them mercilessly. Every time he snapped his fingers with a crack, crimson thunderbolts rained down repeatedly, tightening the noose around the heretics' necks.
"Was magic always this easy?"
Ricardo tossed them a light smile, mocking them.
*Hans's mind was a whirlwind of chaos. A massive error had crept into his meticulously laid plans. For someone who orchestrated everything, Ricardo's intervention was an unforeseen variable. He'd never imagined Ricardo from Hamel would show up at the academy banquet, let alone recognize Yuria.
He'd planned to lure the beauty-deprived Yuria to an isolated spot and kidnap her during the gap. But Ricardo's arrival had thrown everything off. Sure, there were plenty of idiots blinded by jealousy he could easily manipulate. This guy, with his overwhelming power beyond his peers and secrets you couldn't even guess at, was ruining his plans again.
Everything had gone smoothly until Ricardo arrived... The threads had unraveled like a well-dried skein, and watching Ruin torment Yuria more harshly than expected had sent thrills down his spine. He'd wondered what face Ruin would make upon learning the woman he'd ignored was Yuria, what cold words she'd spit at him in contempt. Honestly, he'd even considered delaying the plan to reveal her magic right in front of Ruin. But that monster had twisted it all.
The smooth threads had tangled and knotted upon the monster's arrival, now forming an unsolvable mess that wouldn't budge. To catch that monster... I'd need the Archbishop of Despair. No, an Apostle-level at least. He'd thought the guy was just good with a sword—what the hell was this? Hans spat curses while watching Ricardo calmly unleash his magic. He wasn't the only one thinking it. The Archbishop of Blasphemy facing off against Mikhail glared at Ricardo with a disbelieving scoff, and even his own comrade stared at him with a hardened expression.
"What..."
His comrade's voice, steeped in despair, reached him.
"What the fuck is that guy."
*Ruin stared down at his hands, letting out a hollow laugh. Compared to Ricardo, who poured out magic effortlessly, he felt utterly inadequate—just someone who could spam more fireballs than average. He envied the rare 'lightning' attribute, but seeing Ricardo wield it as naturally as breathing filled him with intense inferiority.
Even pulling out the secret technique the Tower Lord taught him wouldn't beat that guy. His confidence stemmed from that unique magic—the Tower Lord's creation, known only to the two of them. He'd thought it would let him conquer all, but Ricardo's display forced him to slowly admit it was arrogant hubris. He'd known, but not to this extent. Stealing his sword skills was bad enough—now magic too?
As Ruin trembled, glaring at his hands, a black orb hurtled toward him at blinding speed. He barely dodged the silent sphere intent on choking his breath and looked ahead.
"Hans...!"
"Ruin."
Hans shook out his wrist and approached. Kidnapping Yuria was off the table, so he'd satisfy his personal grudge. Stealing Ruin's unique magic, Letters of Fire, which he'd failed to take last time? Pure profit. Without hesitation, he unleashed magic on Ruin. For some reason, Ricardo showed no sign of helping—staying put, supporting with spells in front of Yuria and Hanna. Plus, the Archbishop of Blasphemy was keeping Ricardo in check.
Seizing the opening, Hans aimed for minimal gains. He conjured wind to burrow into Ruin's guard.
"Snap out of it, Ruin."
A vicious crack echoed.
"Gah...!"
The black orb from Hans's hand slammed into Ruin's chest. Amid the stunned silence of the banquet hall, Ruin clutched his chest, coughing. Hans shoved in again, pressing close.
"We're in a fight right now."
"...Urk. You snap out of it, Hans!"
"Cut the bullshit and focus."
Crack...!
Ruin smashed into the banquet hall wall, covered in dust. Before the shame could hit in front of all the students, he poured every ounce into defending against Hans's onslaught.
"You're nothing. Not as strong as Ricardo, weaker than me."
"I can beat trash like you. Shut up."
"Hahaha! Ruin, you're hilarious. Go be a comedian."
Hans fired black spikes at Ruin with a grin.
"I used to think you were hot shit. Amazing magic, learning faster than anyone—made me jealous as hell..."
A derisive pfft pierced Ruin's ears.
"You're such a hopeless fuck, huh?"
Ruin's grinding teeth reached Hans's ears. Unable to contain his rage, Ruin glared like he might lunge any second—Hans reveled in it. The mission failed, but toying with Ruin was fun.
"Couldn't see through the magic, insulted Yuria."
"I said shut up."
"Acted tough against Ricardo despite being outclassed, got wrecked."
"Keep flapping that mouth. I'll sew it shut."
"And now, clueless about the situation, just yapping away...!"
Hans's eyes sparkled.
"Pathetic sight, right?"
"You fuckin' bastard!"
Whoosh. Flames roared past Hans's cheek. Thrilled by his comrade's scorching fury, Hans stepped closer, unleashing more magic. The playful back-and-forth was over—no more words for Ruin. He'd wanted to toy longer, torment more, but the Archbishop of Blasphemy wouldn't hold out much longer.
-Hraaah!
-Mikhail, quit showboating and watch your flanks.
-Hah!
-And drop the weird kiais.
-Urk...! Shut up!
-Shut up and focus ahead.
The Archbishop of Blasphemy poured everything into killing Ricardo, but his black magic bounced off harmlessly. Seeing the archbishop's ragged breaths, Hans knew time was short. Even in battle, Mikhail was growing rapidly, and Hanna Histania behind Ricardo was slowly gathering aura to join. If those two teamed up, the archbishop wouldn't last ten minutes—Hans estimated.
So, time to end this grudge.
"Ruin. I've always envied you."
Unable to withstand the black magic barrage, Ruin slumped against the wall, gasping. Covered head to toe in blood, he spat frustration at the overwhelming power gap.
"Fuck... fuck...!!!"
Ruin's glare weighed on him; Hans kicked his head.
Crack.
A bitter expression crossed Hans's face at Ruin's limp shoulders.
"Same orphan background, but you were the golden boy, and I was trash."
"...Cough... cough."
"Tower Lord doted on you; even when you acted like a dog, your friends took it—pissed me off so much."
"You too..."
"Bullshit."
Hans grabbed Ruin's hair roughly.
"Ruin, people need humility."
"..."
"Lucky enough to get picked up by the Tower Lord? Live quietly. We were both nobodies—you had no right to look down on me."
"I..."
"Shut up. You'll just deny it again."
Hans stomped Ruin's face, slowly placing his hand on him. Black magic to steal a foe's fully comprehended spells—his signature, the pinnacle that let him surpass Ruin. It emanated eerie energy once more, tightening around Ruin's throat.
"Try living without that precious magic of yours."
"What are you... doing..."
Ruin's voice trembled. Shivering at the ominous dread, he grabbed Hans's hand—Hans brushed it off.
"What am I doing?"
A red orb slowly emerged from Ruin's body. Hans eyed it greedily.
"Taking what you cherish most."
With those words, Ruin's vision went black.
And then.
"All done?"
Ricardo stood over the Archbishop of Blasphemy's corpse, casting a shadow over Hans. Hans pinched his brow and shook his head.
"Fuck."
*The banquet hall fell silent after it all ended. Malik, arriving as an Imperial Knight, surveyed the wreckage and sighed.
"So, what the hell happened here?"
I sat atop a corpse in white priest robes, flashing Malik an awkward smile at his bewildered face.
"Surprise?"
"Haa..."
Malik eyed my cheerful self with weary exhaustion.
"Whose name do I clean this up under this time?"
"I like how fast you cut to the chase, bro."
"Don't call me bro, monster."
"Monster? That's harsh. Your lil' bro's hurt."
I smiled at the fallen Mikhail.
"Blame Mikhail."