Chapter 195
LVOAiEverything was lost.x4B
PM1The appearance of the Royal Knight had ruined everything.oMQ0c
kkq30opRoderick went over how they had ended up in this situation.RS6xjq
zkXkLO7‘Fernan Pellenberg.’arC0ebY
dHwmNYes, it was all that guy’s fault.6gLs
Nh2WZ‘Wasn’t he under hypnosis?’4vqros
swRAThere was no way Daniel had lied, and he also couldn’t have been mistaken about believing he was under hypnosis without actually being so.Qs4Jz
HFznThen, had he really been under control and managed to break free?si3hbH
9rL‘How the hell did he do it?’9Gw
TzgHe knew that holy water created by the Dragon God Cult could break hypnosis.loSV
ge4cREdBut that required the victim to be aware they were under control—an impossible thing.qjLUcys
fmvG0ZFIf someone didn’t even know they were hypnotized, how could they use holy water?2zz0lm2
bdtbyGP“Tch…!”kceLOp
OKmBHis thoughts were abruptly cut off when a blade grazed his cheek. A chill ran down his spine.BblZA
eTAvS5t“…Damn it!”rG8hI
ehC9This was no time to be distracted by speculation. His opponent was someone against whom, unless he used his full strength, there was no guarantee of survival.CnGm5
IckBLuina Bercheff.f6TX
wQBEUOne of the culprits, along with Fernan, who had ruined his plans.6grnv
ZSY“Fine…”EExd
6HMGh7He growled under his breath as he gripped his spear tighter.Saq
Erly4d7Behind him, explosions resounded nonstop, and with each one, the vitality of the monsters diminished. The situation was unfavorable, and at any moment, the Royal Knight could strike him from behind.PRYnW8z
djj7rWqBut at the same time, that was an opportunity.NmCIloQ
f8O0InV“Do you really think you can beat me without Aint Armian, you brat?”FB1tXMi
fevX9The cursed light of Armian was far away.iicU2
hfWyKThe Royal Knight was also not within immediate reach.EWxpgtO
1Vje8In front of him were only Luina Bercheff, Rob Kaelin, Fernan Pellenberg, and a couple of guards.yHG
7tcHe and Daniel could take down those four. Even if their plan had changed and that weakened them a bit, there was still a real chance.0lDfl
1AZ“Even if I fail in Esrin, if I take you all down, it’ll still be a good deal!”8aHxH
uXy“You’re dreaming. The one who will die here is you.”CKFC8z
EgA7dLuina’s blue eyes never left him. The tip of her sword had him cornered, as if it covered every possible angle.BDGB
qIgNj3─!UDbJ
QR3mzbHe deflected a slash aimed at his legs with his spear. He stepped into the broken guard and swept the air violently.q4kreg
pnOClang, clang, clang!BvUP
mnXTAlXThree clashes in the blink of an eye.7dce
jOGgxRoderick inhaled deeply and wrapped his body in dark magic, hurling himself like a war chariot into the storm of slashes.7sxn2v
RTRU5XThe steel dulled against his body hardened by mana. Taking advantage of the gap he forcefully created, he thrust his spear.v2Bb
23tLqK9────!xVgmU
9xnVQ79The shockwave separated them. Luina stepped back a few paces. Roderick didn’t hesitate and went after her.1DCn
wAkEzBut what he thought was an opening was not.U38
FY8fLm2“…!”uRF9
FgdlXLQDark magic and aura clashed, devouring each other. However, instead of prevailing, the blue aura overwhelmed his.knNa
vrBThe counterattack made him retreat hastily, but now it was Luina who was pressing the attack.ooDZNV
UYnf─!rea
30k──!QLCXPwX
5QZiRwRoderick twisted his body urgently, interposing the spear, blocking as best he could, but each impact smothered him with its growing force.DfSoo
3JGKSlash!s7uwp
oMLKA clean cut opened the back of his hand.I12j
Ov3SpGThe searing pain of feeling his skin split through his defensive magic made him scream.TYgLl8K
axaGShe was like a lioness: fast, agile, fierce, and skilled.XxvtEg0
tnCIgFor the first time, Roderick imagined defeat.3Wqn
EFHRG“How can a mere Academy student…?!”e07XW
i4cPVUZHe knew Luina Bercheff was strong. She had won the jousting tournament and had already surpassed the limits of any student.Thc7O
RLQMlOEven so, he was convinced he could defeat her.VGeLO
cWNqcEVAs long as Aint Armian and his cursed light weren’t there, there was no reason to lose.WUyC
rhAW6MThere shouldn’t have been.YKLC8
LHm“…This is impossible!”850qy1
GbLdTShe didn’t respond to his desperate cry, instead answered by plunging her sword into his side.CVKM
phqEMdzThe pain snapped him back to reality.sCHG
1VcSwGcHe could deny it all he wanted, but reality didn’t change if this kept up, he would die.6gwvjch
2TdAt the hands of Luina Bercheff.1N6
H9MC4‘Me? Here? To these people?’yKrVM
9CiLIt couldn’t be!mnsW
vyj7He gathered all his dark magic into the spear and hurled it with all his strength.91ufPgo
3mkr────!ZzS
3vUTELuina couldn’t take it head-on. She deflected the blow with her sword and retreated several dozen steps.W9tLYzY
Zo9FZIn that brief opening, Roderick drew another spear and, with his other hand, opened a book he always carried as a “memento of his mother.”g0n
E6IA3“This world doesn’t move with the sword alone…”85qLblK
shlXqTaAt that instant, something struck the book from below and sent it flying through the air.Jhmm6Us
JSfzeEH“…!”n2J
UFRThe book floated, and when he looked up, Roderick met the gaze of the intruder.3YiHC
EqQHsZ“…A golem?”SpbWn
hjIKyuu!iw9GAsu
NvSThe small golem smiled mischievously and caught the book in the air. Upon landing, it grew from just a few centimeters to over thirty, and charged straight toward Fernan.Nld5G
4iHr38t“…”vN5e9
E3nKMaRoderick could only stare, stunned.AdmzSx
Od7“That golem can change size…? Does it… have consciousness?”e2gtw
M0LojBy the time he reacted, it was too late—he had lost the book.aFfM
1yoQa“M-My book…!”GTPW
YUz9CK0But it was useless now.BZ9EOuB
XNPMAk“Well done, Wooden.”0uD
32JCcjL— Kyuu!OZozE9B
GC9IThe book was already in Fernan’s hands.2WtEGl
DZRpjm“Just as I remembered. Until it was used, it emitted no magic and appeared blank. Fascinating.”rJJ
FiXNqkF“You bastard! That’s mine, give it back!”3Vr2ukO
2XVCq63He tried to lunge, but Luina stepped in his way.2tzSZ
CEX“Do you think we’d give it back just because you asked?”mhHyp
ppK3HJFernan closed the book and tried to store it in his subspace.beKMwQ7
LkKDpGHowever, a strange crunching noise stopped him.PiU
DxjX“…It won’t enter subspace.”OT3EX
emAWGNot unusual. Some objects with enormous magical charge couldn’t be stored. The same happened with magic stones made from Rosalia.wIH
rJSd“Worth studying further.”mEH7C7
WnhHe looked up at Roderick.JWV
C99f“Luina.”bhvhEaa
2W0BBlD“Yes.”q4dN13F
wm6cSFernan smiled coldly.9rrQlg
RmFFkfF“You can kill him. Even if we capture and torture him, he won’t tell us anything.”H3X5e7J
GkCHe was no longer of any use.JtxS
EfV“Who the hell gets to decide whether I live or die?”Jkg
HLKpakp“Then I’ll do it without hesitation.”Ce399
9kQOLuina adjusted her breathing.bnECnei
BmSL“…!”2ahIr0
DolHThe air changed suddenly, and Roderick felt it in his bones.ZxLvlN
XIVmLHis instincts screamed that the difference between them was insurmountable.jnW3
4b6Until now, she had only been toying with him.PgO2
nTuHP“Damn it…!”52tG
2mN─!4IctD
eQm─!mH5M2bt
oEfN──!3OfBo
3leIn just three clashes, the spear flew from his shattered hands.fLMTD
5s9UyVO“Th-this is impossible…!”c2ZC
cKyxkQNot even if his plan hadn’t failed could he have won without the book.28z2q
TX4Luina raised her sword and plunged it into his chest.ov7OK
slkAP────!9akSx
ejgvlnThe blade pierced armor, skin, bone, and heart.LkFW4
Zjl4G“Ghhhk…!”hI5Tas
Fet3JxThe pain rendered him speechless.Gn5I
rSL0h‘Is this… how I end?’I1i
lpuezlSHe searched for Daniel with his eyes. Maybe he was still holding on, maybe he could help.poIfPQ
J3iBuxYBut no.6Ok
E1IbSidDaniel was barely hanging on, on the verge of collapse.0oB
cLF‘Damn it…’MpZc9R
auyp4gpRoderick understood that this place was his grave.qlWJ1
f00b‘At least I’ll take him with me…’JZU3Q
KI5He gathered the last of his magic in his heart, clutching the sword embedded in his chest.RQ3I
QahWJFuBut.rS3I
3WsFf“…!”4yGa
xOPQLuina let go of the sword without hesitation and kicked him, sending him rolling across the ground.VMuz
HbBxp“Well done, Luina.”ImdEOT
mnd5aFernan looked at him with disdain.dXHg
tFWUA“All corrupts end the same way. Pathetic, easy to finish.”4SaHEZ
ChdHe wanted to scream no, but his magic was already out of control.UvCV11n
wCHQ4His body exploded.VUOONY5
D7Y65XIAnd still, he failed to injure anyone.1r6e
cjw7tZ***wLMU
5kMI8MFFernan flipped through the book again and again. But the blank pages never suddenly filled.B5ru
hlXGe1i“Just as I thought, there’s nothing written.”K7UF
nLvy“Exactly. That’s why it’s proof that it’s the book.”584Fc4
jqy9vYBoth Fernan and Hyde had reviewed it when Count Daniel put them under hypnosis. That it was blank was precisely what confirmed its authenticity.cHum3Fs
22090xW“Is that the book we must obtain at all costs?”mFKv
vr9MEcILuina, who picked up the hilt of her sword shattered into dozens of pieces by the explosion, asked.sAUg
odFj2s3“It is.”RxGbCaP
jsI“But it’s empty.”jRBODf
Ku5B2“However, you saw how the dark magic overflowed a moment ago.”2Q941
5WU“I saw it. It’s curious… anyway, I’ll have to get another sword.”dy4Qo2b
WsFQ4f7“I’ll make you one.”W6AcX9b
PxGv“There’s no need. I can’t always rely on your help…”wEcu
J1gzgYh“What if it’s a sword mixed with adamantite?”H6lJU
t4deN“Then I’d be grateful. Someday I’ll repay that debt.”374
OMvLA craftsman always desires better tools, and the more distinguished a knight, the more they crave a superior sword and armor.Dsm8nZ1
S4RLzu7Luina couldn’t reject the temptation of wielding a weapon forged with the hardest metal in the world.xgkpQ
oasAt that moment—WmmxnqH
Qthc──!2jPKRwX
ENaKm8The magic shield shattered.2Hi81
wFCq6ZA huge gash opened in Count Daniel’s chest, and he went rolling across the ground.VWhNxMT
3CrBMzRRob crushed him against the floor with his foot.V9FyMq
0ArEl“He’s down, Senior.”V5Ht8fR
ZEt“Too easy. He got distracted by you and the others and didn’t react.”fJvkx
8mLJust as he said, Count Daniel’s eyes weren’t on Rob Kaelin, but on Fernan.OFV
r1f“That book isn’t yours…!”4k45mLo
4qgCHThe count spat blood as he screamed.bFRJ
brR“Hand it over right now! If you don’t want to die!”GoJLkBL
2jDuA4“What a terrifying threat, traitor. But tell me.”BjSNh
RkhpoFernan looked at him with mockery.ldy1Dx
2CGh“In that state, what do you think you can do even if you want it? Could you defeat Rob and reach me?”ks5Zmd
6F7cnGet past Luina and Hyde? And assume he would just sit there and wait to be killed?qJe
zsiVogrThe count gnashed his teeth.WelAUb
qFlOZm“Fernan Pellenberg…!”n9FHQ
uUmmrw“Yes, I’m Fernan Pellenberg. The human who hates the corrupts the most.”OjK
2uxIM“Do you know how much we’ve lost in our great work because of you?”3KH
mspkaz“And am I supposed to pity you?”eISJ
yVUiAFernan let out a disbelieving chuckle.kFVb0
eCJ“Spoken by the one who least should. I still remember how you tried to destroy me with slander and ruin me.”7Aq
FrqjDmHe withheld the rest. He shouldn’t talk about the prophecy book in front of those who didn’t know it.bcyIXU
7aGfnts“You’ll regret this… In the end, this world will belong to the demons!”glUkU
P9I74GB“That will never happen.”o8GHYO
xN8KuHe would never allow such an atrocious world to come, where even money lost its meaning.LEscN
FQzK“Bastard!”KFZP
RLi2umDThe count suddenly spat something.45WH
QqvVDIt was a poison concentrated with dark magic, but Hyde intercepted it instantly.lrL1p
dfZciZ“A pathetic final attempt, sir.”SZy3
DJnCwRob raised his sword and cut off the corrupt’s head.qCc
QELtThere was no suicide explosion.XqKP8w
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