Chapter 168
Chapter 168
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: A Useful Specimen
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It was a spell that split Convection into dozens of Narrow Paths, spreading them out like the roots of a tree.
It precisely targeted the ground beneath their feet, causing sharp stalagmites to erupt and kill them instantly. To those who couldn't see mana, it was as if massive daggers had suddenly shot up from between their legs.
The result was the complete annihilation of the soldato.
Even as the suddenly freed hostages looked around in confusion before scattering to find their own way to safety.
Nostra's consigliere did not react.
He let them go, but his expression showed he was anything but composed.
Part of the reason was that Loan, whom he had just faced, was stronger than expected. But it was also because two Tower Masters had just appeared behind Loan.
Even he would find it difficult to guarantee victory against three mages.
“We saw the situation on our way here.”
“Wasn't it too much for you to handle alone?”
Ingrid, the Tower Master of Sensation, and Reinhold, the Tower Master of Conception, spoke from behind Loan, their voices laced with apology and concern.
Without turning his gaze, Loan shook his head.
“I can still handle this. You two should head to the tower first. I’ll catch up as soon as I deal with him.”
He had learned something from his past battle experiences.
There were times when he couldn't fully focus.
It often happened when someone was taken hostage or when he had to worry about others.
He also judged that it was better to immerse himself alone than to attempt a clumsy joint attack with people he hadn't coordinated with before.
Unless they knew each other's personalities and tendencies well, understood each other's skills, or—possessed the intellect to grasp the situation to a degree that made all that irrelevant and the ability to apply it instantly.
“Hmm…”
At Loan's suggestion, Reinhold let out a low hum and gently tapped the shoulder of a hesitant Ingrid.
“Let's do that.”
He had a bit more experience with Loan than the other Tower Masters.
So as not to hold his junior back, he was the first to run to the side of the main road.
Ingrid followed him.
She couldn't take her eyes off Loan until the very end, and he reassured her with a smile.
The consigliere simply let the situation unfold. From his perspective, by his common sense, this was actually a relief.
Now, it was just the two of them again.
Loan asked.
“A consigliere is Nostra’s second-in-command, right?”
“You’ve heard? Good ears.”
The man chuckled and continued.
“I’m Mario. Known as Nostra’s consigliere. The title and rank sound grand, but I’m merely an advisor to the boss.”
This was the same man who had just been calling Loan arrogant. Both his words and his attitude were contradictory.
“Quite the sudden show of humility.”
“It depends on the need, on the opponent.”
“It changes?”
“A necessary trait for this position. One who can never be number one must live with humility. And another thing—you need composure. An impatient person can’t be an advisor.”
“Composure? Luck is no longer on your side. As you saw, all five Tower Masters have escaped, and the Union is gathering from all over.”
“It certainly seems that way, but it doesn't matter. We give it a shot, and if it doesn't work, we pull back. I was skeptical about the distribution of profits from this alliance anyway.”
“It doesn't matter to me either. Even if you were to wash your hands of this now, I have no intention of letting you leave.”
Mario smiled and slowly nodded.
Then, he began to unwind the necktie he had so carefully wrapped around his hand.
However, he didn't unwind it completely.
He tightened the initial knot, gripped it firmly, and let the rest of the tie hang long as he spoke.
“The position of a consigliere requires one to be a faithful advisor to the boss. But there's something more important. When the boss decides on a course of action, it's my role to make it a reality. I refine the plans, deploy the personnel, and oversee the execution.”
“I thought you'd be more careful with your own skin, given your important position.”
“It is important. But to make things happen, you have to display overwhelming power so that those assigned their roles don't complain. The one in charge always has to face a final moment where they must resolve things themselves. Still, the best thing is not to create a fight you might lose. And you have to be smart enough not to engage in such a fight.”
“Not engaging in a fight you might lose? Was your head not working right today?”
Loan asked, puzzled.
It was a genuine question that arose because his opponent didn't seem particularly bright.
Mario, thinking it a simple provocation, smirked and said.
“It seems my assessment of you was too low. I’ll admit that.”
Then, he tilted his head slightly, glanced at the dangling tie, and began to channel his magic.
The necktie emitted the same faint glow as before and straightened out rigidly.
At a glance, it looked like a sword cloaked in aura. No, it was more than any ordinary sword.
Loan was not intimidated in the slightest.
“If you were going to say that, you should have taken on the Tower Masters as well. You would have seemed a little stronger then, and your words might have had some credibility.”
Ssk—
The moment Loan finished speaking, Mario pushed the tip of one foot forward.
With that small movement, his transition from a brawler to a swordsman felt complete.
The killing intent rising from his entire body seemed to peak and burn at the tip of the straightened tie.
He may have provoked him, but Loan did not underestimate his opponent.
He knew Mario had yet to use his full power. His dense magic was the same as it was at the start.
According to the reports analyzed by the Faith Division, Nostra had many masters at the Expert level or higher.
By Loan's standards, they were at the Commander level.
‘This man is probably one of them.’
He considered him a worthy opponent to gauge his own skills and take the next step.
The path of circulation is often paved faster and wider through real combat.
To manifest circulating magic into the form of a ring when the path is wide open, a desperate will is required.
A strong opponent met at the right time.
So he couldn't afford to face him carelessly.
He went all out from the start.
Chwaaaaa—
The Sheville that had been circling in the sky for a while now dove toward him like a meteor shower.
Simultaneously, threads of Convection scattered chaotically, shooting toward Mario's front and sides.
An attack covering a significant number of directions.
Kwaaang!
The incredibly dense attack was nullified with a single explosive sound.
And it was just from him swinging the tie quickly and widely, creating a barrier with the afterimage of his aura.
Truly outstanding power and skill.
Loan, somewhat impressed, wrapped himself in a thick layer of Convection to prepare for Mario's incoming attack.
The two circles in his heart spun furiously.
Along with them, the flow of mana coursing through his body. Among them, the new path he was trying to open. The magic flowing from the inner anklebone, swirling past both eyes, and down to the opposite toes proved quite effective.
The speed of the man, who had closed the distance in an instant even when not at full power, now looked familiar to his eyes.
Being able to gauge it allowed him to activate his Domain at a more precise moment.
Its range and power were a level higher than before.
Kuuuung—
For a moment, Mario’s brow furrowed.
His footwork faltered at a distance the tie couldn't yet reach.
Not missing the opening, Loan inverted the Domain.
He had intended to prevent him from closing the distance with a sudden gravitational pressure, but it was as if he had already expected it.
Chwaaaa—
Something overcame the weight of the atmosphere on its own and thrust toward Loan's heart.
The rigid tie had bent like a whip, extending its aura.
Loan once again felt the kiiing— of his spinning circles and leaned his body back. It was a precarious posture, but thanks to the thickened path of circulation, he held it with considerable stability.
Immediately, a heavy sword strike grazed the space where Loan’s torso had been.
The gap between them had narrowed even further.
Loan placed both hands on the ground and did a back handspring, using the momentum to kick his legs upward.
Kwang—!
The sound of the aura-clad tie clashing with his leg, which was layered with Convection.
Simultaneously, Loan activated [Thorn Bone], aiming for Mario’s centerline.
“Foolish tricks!”
Perhaps because he had already witnessed the conditions for the attack, Mario retreated a sufficient distance to neutralize the sharp stone pillar.
Then, he wrapped his tie around the pillar again, closing the distance as he shattered it.
Kwaaaang— Through the scattering dust and dirt, Loan extended a Narrow Path this time.
He closed the distance with the man, unleashing a volley of [Mana Bullets].
The distance was too close to deploy an aura barrier with his tie.
For a moment, Mario lifted the front of his suit jacket to shield himself.
Kwakwakwa-kwang!
Just as Loan protected himself with Convection, Mario's suit, resonating with his magic, acted as a powerful shield, nullifying Loan's attack.
However, even he couldn't do anything about the visual blind spot created by pulling up his jacket.
No matter how brief the moment, it was no problem for Loan to manifest his will.
Soon, ice formed around Mario’s ankles, and a fireball rushed toward his chest.
Twisting his body, Mario shattered the ice with a crunching sound and brute force, then sliced through the pursuing fireball as he retreated once more.
Retreating, and retreating again.
“Tch!”
He was clearly desperate, but Loan showed no mercy.
He needed to channel his magic even faster.
He felt he was close to completely opening the new path of circulation.
Shu-shushushu
A hand extended toward Mario.
From all directions, Sheville and Convection poured in, aiming for any opening. The ground where he was about to step was already writhing with crimson flames.
Faced with that relentless arrangement and torrent of attacks.
Mario looked as if he could no longer bear it.
“You baastaaard!”
He screamed and unleashed an explosion of magic.
Loan's Convection was scattered to pieces, swept up in the magical gale. And the Sheville flew off into an uncontrollable trajectory.
Gauging the distance they had flown and memorizing their locations, Loan gave up on retrieving the Sheville and stood still, staring beyond the dust and smoke.
After the explosion.
He couldn't see clearly yet, but the atmosphere had changed.
Mario was definitely there, but the quality of his mana felt completely different.
‘What is this?’
Loan wondered.
A moment later, the obscuring haze cleared, and Mario's form was revealed.
“…”
How could one describe the strangeness of it?
Should one say that the suit Mario had been wearing had become his skin?
The creases of the clothing, the collar of the shirt, the cuffs of the sleeves—all maintained their shape but were stuck to his skin, shining with a strange luster.
The necktie wrapped around his hand was now connected to the suit-turned-skin, fluttering in a much longer form. Like a thin tentacle.
The densely concentrated magic seemed to have exploded in an instant.
The visual shock was so great that it seemed as if all of it had been used solely to change his appearance.
Loan recognized a familiar feeling from the tall, sharp horns rising from his shoulders, the large eye and nose on his torso, and the multiple mouths.
Just then, Mario spoke.
“To think you’d draw this form out of me. It seems my assessment was still too low. I’ll admit that.”
“A demon?”
“What else would it be? This is the reason I couldn't refuse the Eastern Alliance. Well, I’ve already gotten what I wanted, so it doesn't really matter what happens now.”
The relentless exchange of attacks had left him breathing heavily and his expression quite shaken, but now, that was not the case at all.
Despite his hideous appearance, he acted quite composed.
He felt distinctly different from the demons he had encountered before.
Most who were possessed by demons ended up surrendering control to them.
“Are you Mario?”
“Of course I’m me…”
“Did you wear the demon?”
“Just as you see.”
“Fascinating. It’s grotesque, but it seems that kind of possession or combination is possible. Can it be removed? Is it like a transformation you can switch on and off? What’s the demon’s name? How did you two coordinate?”
As he asked, more questions kept popping into his head.
Mario's mouths all smiled at once.
“You seem to have a lot of questions. I suppose it’s that age. But we don't have time for that. Let’s begin again.”
“You’re right, there’s no time. In any case, you…”
Loan gave a small nod.
He seemed to have pondered something and come to an accepting conclusion on his own.
A fierce battle was expected, but he was not afraid.
The path of circulation for the third circle.
Its opening was near.
“You’re a rather useful specimen.”
It seemed he would be helpful in many ways.