Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Counterattack
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I gazed at the mage known as Dictri in admiration.
In that brief moment, he had enveloped his body in mana, and the wound I inflicted regenerated fresh skin in an instant.
This was a physical reaction speed rivaling that of a high-ranking knight. If he hadn't let his guard down, he could have taken on even a single division-level knight single-handedly.
'Impressive.'
To think Glazer Family territory hid someone with this level of skill unknown to me. Since I never faced him in my previous life, it must have been Gunter or Brother Hysteria who dealt with him.
"Urk... Do you think you can get away with this, you bastard?"
I ignored him and headed straight for the room he had been guiding me to.
My destination was already set. No need for pointless arguments—just grab Catarina and go.
Bang!
I kicked the door open and stepped inside. There sat Catarina at her vanity with a haughty expression, flanked by two maids.
-Kyaaah!
The maids screamed in unison.
"W-Why are you here?!"
Catarina shot up from her seat and staggered back.
'Found you.'
I flicked my wrist, striking Dictri's nape.
Thwack!
I laid the unconscious man on the floor and leveled my sword at Catarina.
Shing—
"Will you come with me and leave this place? Or meet your end right here?"
Her time to choose was short.
The moment my blade touched her throat, drawing a trickle of red blood...
Catarina's lips trembled as she whispered softly.
"I'll go with you."
"Wise choice. Rox, we're heading out now—get ready."
"Rox?"
"If you don't want to die, hold on tight. We're flying from here on."
"W-What do you—"
I grabbed a chair and hurled it at the window.
Crash!
At the same moment, a massive red crow with a long beak swooped in, offering its back.
-Cawww!
The maids fainted in terror at the crow's appearance, and Catarina's legs gave out as she collapsed.
Thud.
No time to waste.
I grabbed the fallen woman's collar, hoisted her onto the crow's back by force, and gave a curt explanation.
"Not only did you betray the Strange Family, but you conspired with Glazer. You'll face judgment for every last bit of it."
-Cawww!
The crow took flight.
At that instant, thunder rumbled from a clear sky.
Shiiiiek—
Rumble!
Dozens of violet pillars plummeted toward Glazer Castle.
Kaboom!
On the road descending south from eastern Glazer territory.
A forest shrouded in thick fog.
Humid air seeped deep into our lungs.
The horses carrying us wheezed with exhaustion, begging for rest. But with Glazer in pursuit, we couldn't stop.
At least until we reached Strange territory—they wouldn't dare attack recklessly there.
I pushed everyone with that single thought, ordering a forced march.
"Stop now, and we'll never breathe again. Bear it just a bit longer and keep moving."
I looked up at the sky.
If not for this fog, we could have gotten help from the crow Sister Valentine sent.
'Must be that guy's magic.'
There was no such dense fog on the way here.
"Cynthia."
"Yeah?"
"Looks like you'll have to take your group ahead without me."
Cynthia scanned the surroundings, gripping her sword at her waist.
"Enemies?"
"Yeah. Two or three. Maybe up to five. If we're all together, we might not win."
"Then I'll stay and fight with you."
"No. More allies would backfire here. We're not here to fight—we came to retrieve that woman."
I nodded toward Catarina, bound tightly with rope.
"So while I'm handling this, lead the group south. Those two couldn't keep up anyway."
Cynthia glanced at Rox and Alfredo, then nodded slightly.
"Got it."
"If you run into enemies on the way, leave it to Rox or Alfredo and avoid full-unit battles as much as possible."
"Back to Strange Castle, right?"
"Yeah. Even just to the border, Sister Valentine will be waiting. She's in on this operation too."
Shiiiiek—
A fierce wind howled through the trees. A dizzying acrid scent stung my nose, and a heavy pressure weighed down my feet like it was pinning us to the ground.
'Hallucination spell.'
If we didn't escape soon, we'd fall to some unknown magic.
"Go!"
I shoved Cynthia's back hard. She spurred her horse forward and shouted to the unit.
"Everyone, pick up the pace!"
My party members and Kaipa's troops vanished from sight. Once they were far enough, I swung my sword around me, unleashing sword ki.
Whoosh—
Kaboom!
Nearby trees toppled, clearing my view. At the same time, I spread my aura wide, detecting all lifeforms nearby.
"Three of them."
The moment I pinpointed the enemies, my position was exposed to them.
'Of course.'
All part of my plan.
Tat-tat-tat!
Less than ten seconds after I released my aura, a young mage with a crescent moon mark on his forehead found me.
"It's been a while, knight of Strange."
Does he remember me?
"Yes, it has. I'm flattered a lowly knight like me is still in your memory."
I greeted him calmly, unsure if he truly remembered or was just probing.
"How could I forget? This arm of mine—you did this."
Edward flashed a sleazy grin, waving his steel arm in the air.
"How could I forget when it ended up like this? I nearly fell from genius to ruin because of you."
Alchemy prosthetic? It radiated energy—not just a hunk of iron.
"Is that so? Pity. I bit it off hoping it would end your mage career for good."
"What?"
"I'm planning to kill every mage on this continent. I spared you, Edward, thinking you deserved to live."
"......"
"By the way, I figured losing a hand would end your magic days. Guess you really wanted to keep at it with that toy attached."
His face hardened, eyebrow twitching. The air grew frigid, like it was freezing over, and the sticky mana cloaking him solidified.
"Valentine's orders?"
"What do you mean?"
"Catarina."
"Catarina?"
"Yeah, don't play dumb. You're all here for her. That Kaipa guy was just bait."
His tactical insight was legendary, but he'd already figured it out and tracked me down?
Kaipa hadn't slipped up once in Glazer Castle.
"Sorry, I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm just a knight following orders."
Edward smirked.
"Sure. That's why you wrecked my little brother so badly."
"Didn't you attack Captain Kaipa first?"
"...Hey. You seem to be seriously mistaken. I'm a mage."
I wanted to snap, 'So what?' but kept my mouth shut, listening.
"With knowledge transcending eras and stepping into realms even emperors fear—the domain of gods—why would we mages bother with the lives of lowly vermin?"
Arrogance incarnate. He sounded like he was claiming divinity.
How could a human fall so far? Or maybe that's what a real god would be like.
Thoughts raced through my mind, but only for an instant.
I drew my sword, ready to fight.
"Shall we?"
"If you want."
"If I want?"
"Yeah. You're fascinating, honestly. I recognize your strength and wish you'd join us."
"......"
"Not easy, huh?"
No need to reply.
Silence conveyed my intent.
"I don't know your name, but how about a good offer?"
So full of himself.
"Let's hear it."
"Surrender to us now, and I'll take you in. I'll even share our grimoire."
"......"
"You know Strange is doomed. I'll crush that guy's head and rise. Join me, and you can rule them too."
I smiled lightly at his proposal, walking slowly toward him as I asked,
"Interesting. Mind if I ask one thing?"
"Shoot."
"Edward, have you ever staked your life to defy your fated path?"
"...What?"
"To change your predetermined fate—"
Shiiiiek—
Aura erupted from me, blooming like sunflowers toward the sun, sweeping past Edward and his mage escorts to blanket the area.
"—have you ever bet your life, you bastard?"
Thud-thud-thud.
I charged, swinging at Edward.
Clang!
But he anticipated it, blocking with his steel arm.
"Kuhaha! Swords don't work on me anymore."
So he'd trained against knights since losing his arm to me.
Mastered high mage technique 'Dodge'—predicting and evading foes.
'Whatever.'
Didn't matter.
Even you blocking my sword was part of my plan.
I kicked the ground, spraying dirt into Edward's face.
Splat!
"Kuh."
Seizing the blinded moment, I punched his chest.
Crack!
My aura vortex clashed with his protective mana, fusing and repelling us.
Tang!
As we flew apart...
'Lightning.'
Violet struck from the sky once more.
Kaboom!
The Catarina retrieval op was a perfect success. Kaipa recovered thanks to Saint Maria Theresia's powers.
Most involved finished quietly without major injuries.
'He didn't die, did he?'
Edward von Glazer.
The moment my final blow landed, intense mana coalesced around him—not his doing, likely a pre-set defense spell from Marquis Hagen.
'I'm the one who punched, but my fist is wrecked.'
Next time, must use the sword.
"S-Spare me... please, Berddin!"
Duchess Catarina clasped her hands in plea, clinging to my legs.
Behind her, Valentine gripped her shortsword Judgment with a piercing glare.
"B-Berddin! I once saved your mother! The Strange scribes all know it!"
What story is this?
Catarina saved my mother? Valentine paused, lowering her sword slightly.
"You saved Din's mother?"
"Yes! Look, look at this. I brought it from the castle just in case..."
She pulled out a tattered old book, its pages yellowed and thin.
"Read it, Berddin. It's an old tale recorded by Strange scribes."
"......"
"It details what I did for your mother."
I took the book, hesitated long, then reluctantly opened the first page.
Flip.
That was when it happened.
Flash!
A sudden blue light burst before my eyes.
"Will you join me?"
My father in his youth, inside a cathedral.
"No."
With a red-haired woman.
'What is this?'
Flash!