Chapter 22
Master. Witch's magic begins by reversing common sense.
Reversal. Reversal of thought.
Remember this well.
These words from Ellis echoed inside Luke's mind, instantly illuminating the profound significance of Witch's Magic.
Reversal of thought. Reversal of thought.
Witch's Magic does not follow the natural order.
It refuses to obey the flow of water from above to below, and defies the direction of time and the shape of space.
As a result, it is as wild and unpredictable as a capricious frog, and its incantations sound like catching clouds with one's bare hands. Mastering it is incredibly difficult unless one's aptitude suits it perfectly.
Yet Luke possessed the talent of a reversal mage.
And as the ultimate master—one of the Eight Talents, the Forest Witch Ellis Bystana herself.
With such backing, even though his level was low, he stood among the elite within the Authority realm.
Click.
As soon as his finger snapped, a thick fog billowed out around Luke.
And Luke's voice rose slightly.
“Suspect everything you see. What you see, what you hear, what you feel. Suspect all of it. Sensory disruption.”
Within the spreading fog, the senses of the robed bandits sharpened.
“Witch! It's a witch!”
“A witch? Why would those mages from the Magic Kingdom appear suddenly!”
“Isn't that the problem right now?! My senses are going haywire! Mage! Mage, hurry and dispel this magic!”
At that moment, the mage among the bandits hurriedly drew a magic circle in the air and muttered.
“Damn it! Witch's magic requires mana control to break! Just wait a moment… It doesn't seem that high-level…”
But then the mage suddenly screamed in pain.
“No! What excessive mana! Why is my control ability like this?!”
At these words, Luke smiled.
“Ah. Even so, my talent and my master's skill are top-tier.”
Ellis said to Luke.
“Master. Witches are quite rare.”
“That is why you usually fight mages rather than witches.”
“When that time comes. The Forest Witch Ellis. Use the decisive magic I created, the Grand Mage Duel Magic.”
“It will be helpful.”
Among Luke's traits, his abundant mana functioned like an endless arrow, while Ellis's mana-control-specialized magic acted as the perfect bow.
Luke did not hesitate. He immediately opened his mouth and spoke.
“Interfere. Meddle. Prohibit. Overcome the natural force shot by these insects and reveal what reversal power truly is. Grand Mage Duel Magic—Witch's Touch.”
At that instant.
“Kuhahahak!”
The mage, who had been directing the magic circle, convulsed and collapsed.
He had been struck by three combinations of Witch's Sixth Realm magic and was knocked unconscious on the spot.
With the only one who could oppose Witch's magic down, the bandits froze.
And Luke did not let them recover.
“Shall we begin lightly? Reversal. I said reversal, right?”
Luke's lips curled into a smile.
“Rise up. Soak. Defy the earth's power and display a vigorous water stream. Flow in reversal. Earth's soak. Reversal Stream.”
At that moment.
Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-gung!!!
Water droplets erupted from the palace floor and rapidly coalesced into a massive torrent.
The water flowed not with the natural order but in the direction of reversal, engulfing the bandits in an instant.
At the same time, Ther, who had been watching the situation, clenched a fist of blood-red lightning and smiled.
“Oh my. Sorry. Even so, my lightning might feel a bit tingly, huh?”
Ther did not hesitate. She spread her hand, and the blood-red lightning struck the water stream.
Kwa-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah!!!
The bandits suffering from the lightning.
Ther rushed toward them and mercilessly bombarded the entire bodies of the bandits with her blood-red lightning.
“Kuh… ugh…”
“Kuk!”
The robed bandits who received Ther's powerful punch one after another collapsed, losing consciousness.
Sometimes when they tried to resist, Ther's combat sense kicked in instantly, dodging and delivering heavy punches to the enemy.
At this rate, the victory of Luke's group was already assured.
Thud!
“Gah!”
In the final moment, as Ther was about to finish off the last remaining leader, she was violently pushed backward.
She crossed her arms just barely to block the leader's punch, but she felt a powerful shockwave. It was so intense that her arms might have fractured if she had been a moment later.
“…Who are you? You're not normal!”
Ther gave a faint smile, but her heart was far from relaxed.
Who was this guy?
Even with her heavenly light sword—though it had been unfolded into a fist—ordinary people couldn't easily receive it.
Not only did she block it, but she counterattacked as well?
As Ther's worry deepened, the leader spoke up.
“It’s quite invigorating.”
“…Who are you?”
Ther's words, the leader smiled and removed his robe.
The revealed figure was…
“…What? You…? Could it be…?”
“Do you know me? Sixth Princess.”
At the leader's question, Elira nodded with a pale face.
Seeing Elira nod, the leader opened his mouth.
“Originally, I had planned to monitor the terror reasonably, hide my identity, and withdraw quietly. I came here as a precaution. But if things have turned out this way, I can't hide my appearance anymore, can I?”
The leader shrugged his shoulders.
Even with that relaxed gesture, a faint fear flickered, weighing down on everyone present.
The person staring at Luke's group right before them was…
The one publicly wanted across the continent, infamous for terror and betrayal.
A Calamity-grade evil god. Perhaps one of the worst gods in this world.
A member of a cult that served an evil god.
The Chaos Eyes Cult, Third Apostle. Malkadin Brayden.
That was the identity of the leader among the current terrorists.
“Holy crap. Malkadin? Malkadin?! What kind of mess have I gotten…!”
“Stop regretting. Fourth Prince. We Chaos Eyes side put quite a bit of effort into this terror, you know.”
Clench. Crack.
“So I came to supervise directly. Thanks to the foolish prince who got caught, we managed to terrorize the imperial palace. Originally I had planned to discard you quietly, but things are turning out strangely.”
He lightly snapped his neck. The man with short black hair and a scar on his face said.
“Hey. Killing the two children of the Cerberki Duchy and even the Sixth Princess… That would be quite the profitable deal. With this, maybe I should even target the First Prince or the Third Prince. The cult side would be quite pleased.”
As Malkadin quietly stared at the three, Ther picked up the fallen sword among the bandits and assumed a ready stance.
“Luke. Our little brother.”
Ther murmured with firm resolve.
“Our little brother. Listen closely. Right now, run to the Sixth Princess together and call either the Three Dukes, the Sword Sovereign, or anyone you think is strong.”
Clench.
Ther bit down hard.
“I’ll hold the fort here. Our little brother? Good. Listen up?”
“…Sis.”
“Listen! Luke! That guy is no joke! He’s a full 7th-tier master! A level that can manifest authority! Luke! Hurry and listen to me!”
Ther's strong will reached Luke.
“Luke! Listen to me! Bring Belhart Knight or the Three Dukes or anyone who can fight that guy…!”
“Sis.”
“Luke!”
“No, Sis. Wait a moment. I have something to say.”
At Luke's words, Ther tilted her head.
What on earth does he want to say in this situation?
As Ther fell silent for a moment, Luke's gaze turned toward Malkadin.
“Hey. Third Apostle of the Chaos Eyes, Malkadin Brayden. I never expected you to show up.”
“Oh my. The youngest master of the Cerberki Duchy. Killing each other in a noble family must be quite fun for you, huh?”
“Unfortunately, it’s not that enjoyable.”
“If it’s not enjoyable, then how about losing in the family succession war first. I’ll finish you off with my own hands.”
Clench. Crack.
Malkadin lightly snapped his neck and added to Luke.
“How is it? Your father, who watches over us from the Chaos, would welcome even an unbeliever's soul.”
“I decline. Unfortunately, I don't have the leisure to believe in the evil god you worship. I still need to discipline my own family first.”
“What a pity.”
Even for himself, a continent's strongest expert and an evil god's apostle, Malkadin found interest in this young boy casually playing with his tongue.
What thought does he have? Will he wait for reinforcements? Or is there some hidden card up his sleeve?
As Malkadin's curiosity steadily rose, Luke opened his mouth.
“Hey. Malkadin Brayden. Since I was born in this house, I had one desire.”
“Intriguing. The desire of a young master about to die in his family. The will to survive?”
“No.”
Luke's lips curved into a smile.
“I want to twist this damned fate, protect and save everyone.”
“That would be a difficult path. Grasping at a futile lifeline with no hope in sight.”
“That's your ignorance speaking.”
“…Enough. No need to talk anymore.”
At that moment, a scream filled with pure horror and terror—only something that could stir in the depths of the abyss—echoed.
Everyone except Malkadin frowned, but in the leader's two hands, black mana began to burn.
“To harbor hope without evidence is arrogance. A sin. As an apostle who serves a god, Malkadin Brayden will demand payment for your sins.”
At these words, Luke smiled.
“What are you talking about? When did I ever say my goal lacks evidence?”
“…What?”
There was a method.
Luke's ultimate trump card.
Perhaps the ultimate trump card that could even capture Malkadin Brayden right here.
At that instant, Luke shouted loudly.
“Eliseeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!”
At that moment.
“…What?”
For the first time, surprise appeared in Malkadin's eyes.
“Master.”
At some point—without anyone noticing— a woman in a witch's attire stood beside Luke.
Black eyes. And hair mixed with black and gold.
Instead of a maid uniform, she now wore a witch's pointed hat and robes, holding a witch's staff.
“Are you in danger?”
The Forest Great Witch.
And later, one of the Eight Talents and the Calamity of Mixed Hearts.
Ellis Bystana.
Luke's maternal grandmother.
“I did mention it in advance, but I never expected you to really appear.”
She looked at Malkadin Brayden before her with her black eyes shining.
“But even that kind of fool should be enough. Since my power is pledged, I can handle it. Leave it to me.”
Luke's ultimate trump card.
The appearance of Ellis Bystana.