Kaaang!
It was a close call.
Because Adelle had stepped forward to shield Lily, if the deployment of the shield had been just a moment late, she could have died.
Why did Adelle decide to return despite the fact that I was obviously preparing a spell to protect her from Luke?
Why did she push herself this much and step forward?
After a moment’s thought, the answer became clear.
“Did Lily die?”
Apparently, in the previous timeline, Lily had died while shielding Adelle for some reason.
Did that child not think that I would protect her?
Somehow, I felt irritated and furrowed my brows slightly as I prepared to cast a spell.
Wooong…
“Step back.”
At my words, Adelle took Lily’s hand and retreated. Luke, showing no regard for them, gripped his sword tightly, trying to slice through the defensive barrier.
His eyes were hollow.
“Has he been eroded by the brand?”
If so, did the Emperor order this massacre? Looking around, I saw that most of the dead had at some point been involved in deals with me.
Was this how he was wiping out the rebels?
I expected the royal family to act harshly, but I didn’t expect this much. Not even in the original story did Luke carry out such a large-scale massacre.
“Gurrr…”
The amount of aura being applied to the shield continued to increase. Simultaneously, cracks began to form in the shield.
It was a technique using space magic, and yet he tried to break it purely by force.
So, even in this decayed state, he was still the Emperor’s Sword.
Judging by his aura alone, he’s beyond a Sword Master. Only problem is, having lost his mind, he’s simply swinging around brute force instead of utilizing finesse.
“I can subdue him easily.”
“Unfold computation.”
White light began to gather in the air. Simultaneously, white magic circles formed in front of me.
Perhaps sensing danger, Luke lunged at me to stop me before I completed the spell.
But his judgment was mistaken.
“Break.”
The primary reason I used this spell so often was because of its rapid activation speed. That speed is what matters most in a magician’s battle, after all.
The white spear flew through the air. Luke rolled to avoid it, but the spear’s trajectory warped.
Puuuk!
Accurately piercing through the gap in the armor, the spear flew straight till it lodged itself into the wall.
“Haaak!”
Pulled by the spear, he collided with the wall, emitting a groan of pain. At the same time, the power of the brand on his hand began to intensify.
“Hnnn…”
“Adelle.”
“Yes?”
“Go outside first. I’ll keep the door open.”
“As you wish.”
Adelle took Lily’s hand and left the auction house. Confirming their departure, I conjured a glass bottle from the air.
“Grang.”
I dropped the glass bottle to the ground. As it shattered, a white smoke began to spread in all directions.
The truth behind the smoke was Forgetfulness Incense.
Extracted from the Forgetfulness Whale that lived in the Fog Forest, anyone inhaling this smoke would lose memories ranging from at least an hour to up to a day.
In short, it was the perfect item for covering up afterwards.
“Evan.”
In response to my call, Evan appeared in the air. A spell of space magic that allows me to call someone to my side – something I developed myself.
“Did you summon me?”
“Why does trouble always seem to happen when you’re not around?”
Sighing after taking a look around, Evan replied.
“Haa.. That’s what I was going to say.”
Evan scratched his head as though dealing with a headache before speaking.
“Let me go check on Miss first, then.”
“Call her Lady.”
“Aah, yes. Lady.”
With that, Evan rushed to the door. It was as if trouble was deliberately choosing to happen whenever he left.
It could be mere coincidence…
But somehow, I thought I should keep an eye on things within the mansion for a while. There could be another Emperor’s Eye lurking around.
As I was thinking this, a voice came from the wall.
“Gruugghh…”
The sight revealed a fiery red brand on his neck. It was far more intricate than the one on Alan, clearly a custom product from the Emperor.
“…Seems like one attempt wasn’t enough.”
Muttering these words, I raised my hand.
It wasn’t possible to suppress the brand on his neck. It was unlike Alan’s; specially made by the Emperor…
So, the only option was to take him down with all my power.
Wooong…
“Unfold computation.”
The white light gathered in the air before transforming into three spears.
“Break.”
Paaang!
A sound tore through the air as the spears launched. Luke, with his aura-covered sword, unleashed a grand slashing move that countered the spears. Using the gap, he lunged toward me.
“Of course, I anticipated this.”
Tak!
Snapping my fingers, white energy formed into chains that bound Luke’s body. Though they wouldn’t last, it didn’t matter.
“Unfold computation.”
There was enough time bought.
Around him, numerous white pathways formed. Myriad dazzling magic circles filled the air.
It was a spell prepared in anticipation of facing a Sword Master.
Wooong…
Mana rapidly drained while the dazzling white spear formed before my eyes. I could sense an enormous amount of mana in it compared to the weapons I had created before.
Grasping its haft, I aimed the spear tip at him.
“Break.”
With a short incantation, I threw the spear with all my might.
Puuuk!
The spear pierced through Luke’s shoulder blade and entered one of the portals.
“Gakk!”
Even with his other shoulder pierced through, he paid no attention and continued charging towards me.
Prepared chains reappeared to coil around Luke’s arms and legs.
Though the durability wasn’t great, their usage for restraint was more than enough.
Puuuk!
“Kuhllk..”
The spear traveled between the portals, piercing through Luke’s body repeatedly.
By twisting space and forming portals, the spear could theoretically attack infinitely.
Though粗糙, this technique was highly effective in depleting an opponent’s stamina. Even if that opponent was a Sword Master.
“..Had Luke not lost his mind, this wouldn’t have been possible either.”
Kaaak…
Blocking the spear with his sword, Luke panted heavily as he glared at me. The brand visible between his helmet and armor gradually weakened.
Wooong…
Dissolving the magic, Luke stood there battered, glaring at me. Bright red aura began to emanate from his body.
“..Still a Sword Master at heart, I see.”
“Unfold computation.”
Four pristine swords formed around me.
Simultaneously, his wounds began to heal with the red aura. Such feats were only possible for a Sword Master.
“Break.”
“Uuuh..”
By launching an aura-infused slash, Luke destroyed the swords and immediately charged toward me. In the blink of an eye, his sword approached my face.
Wooong…
The surroundings changed. All that was visible was Luke’s unprotected back. A sword I had pre-positioned aimed for his back.
“Break.”
With a short incantation, the sword plunged into Luke’s back.
“Ckhagk!”
Spitting out blood, he fell to his knees. Perhaps because his mind was lost, he couldn’t even recognize basic traps.
Luke grasped the sword with his left hand and began to apply force.
Jjejjek…
Cracks formed on the white sword, and it shattered soon after. The wound the sword created began to heal with the red aura.
‘What a brute method..’
But it was also quite effective.
“Gruuggghh..”
Glaring at me, Luke tried to rise but failed.
“Kuuhk?!”
He managed to stand for a moment, leaning on the sword, but swayed and fell. Did he put too much trust in the regeneration abilities of his aura?
No matter how much aura helped with regeneration, the blood he had already lost couldn’t be restored.
Of course, at Sword Master level, he wouldn’t die. He just wouldn’t be able to move his body anymore.
I sighed and gathered back the mana I used.
‘Lucky he lost his mind. Otherwise, how would things have ended..’
The Emperor’s Sword never falls so easily. Especially not someone like Luke, who is considered to have the highest potential among the Swords.
It’s just that he lost his mind and couldn’t utilize the aura properly, giving me this chance.
“Sleep now.”
Snapping my fingers, Luke began to sink into the ground. Emitting a cry of pain akin to being pressed down, he eventually stopped moving.
“Phew.. Not easy.”
A considerable amount of mana was consumed once again.
In this world where mana potions don’t exist, gauging the remaining mana is a necessary skill.
I don’t understand why healing potions exist but not mana potions…
Not that they’re persecuting mages or anything…
“Need to clean up first though…”
The auctioneer was already dead. Apparently, he took a direct hit from a piece falling from the ceiling when Luke descended.
Grotesque as the scene was, it was familiar enough that I didn’t feel ill.
Still, feeling gross was unavoidable.
“Fire.”
With the incantation, flames bloomed forth in my hand.
I attached a small flame to the edge of the auction house. Though small, considering the wooden ceiling, the fire would soon grow.
The reason I set the place on fire was simple. To make those who inhaled the Forgetfulness Incense believe they lost their memories because of smoke from the fire.
It’s a trick often used in real arson cases as well.
In the Empire, the papers would likely suggest that some other anti-aristocrat group had wiped out the nobles in this way.
Hwaarrrrr…
Of course, in the process, there might be people who die in the fire…
But I don’t particularly care. I’ve never once viewed these people as equals, much less as humans like myself…
Using magic, I lifted Luke into the air and calmly exited the auction house.
