Chapter 87 – Demons
The raid on the tower where Reynard von Hoffman was hiding was not conducted by Royce’s squadron, but by the Court Knights. This was because the location of the tower where Reynard was hiding, identified by Kelvin, was in a section of the Imperial Palace where many court mages research towers were built. When it was reported that the operation would be led by the Court Knights, within Royce’s subordinates complaints were also heard, especially the vice-captain, who was deprived of the opportunity to fight. He was the most upset. This was inevitable, since the interior of the Imperial Palace was under the jurisdiction of the Court Knights.
At Alfred’s urging, a total force of two platoons of Court Knights was prepared which, as opposed to Royce’s squadron, caused him to be finally stripped of leadership. The commander of the now one hundred knights, was a knight who also knew Royce and Kelvin and actively participated in the war against the demons. However, the commander knew that Royce and Kelvin were leaders of a squad of approximately 10 knights, so he allowed him to participate in the operation by surrounding the area. Royce’s squadron also included Wynn. This was because Cornelia accompanied Royce’s squadron as an apprentice knight. The one giving orders to Wynn was Cornelia, but since she delegated her control to Royce, Wynn came under his command now. And next to Wynn, as was logical, was Leticia. That said, it was the Court Knights who really jumped the gun, as they were strong enough, and the members of Royce’s squadron should only have gained recognition for participation in the operation.
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“Annihilated?”
Alfred’s voice echoed somberly in a room filled with a heavy atmosphere. A room prepared in the Imperial Palace. In that room, where a large desk had been prepared, there were several people gathered, including Crown Prince Alfred. Knights, mages and high-ranking bureaucrats. They were all between 20 and 40 years old and still young. They were all people Alfred trusted. They were the people he had found and put in those positions. And those who were involved in this operation.
“Two platoons of Court Knights? And was the enemy just one mage? Or was there a force there that could overcome them?”
“Yes, sir.”
All of them, who had a somber look on their faces at Alfred’s question, sat in silence. It was Royce who answered Alfred on behalf of all. The only one among those assembled who wore the uniform of the Central Knights Order. He was of low rank, being commander of only ten knights, but he was a former member of the platoon under the service of the late Zaunas. There was no one who objected to Royce speaking on behalf of the entire group. He was the only one who stood up and stated the facts to Alfred in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Controlling the exterior of the tower itself was easy and straightforward. However, it seems that they unexpectedly encountered a force inside, and so we had to go in as a support force.”
The mercenaries stationed on the outer perimeter were quietly and quickly subdued. Although they had gathered skilled men from the slums and highly paid mercenaries, they were still two platoons of the Court Knights, the most elite order in the Empire. There was a big difference in their basic combat skills. The Court Knights easily surmounted the perimeter of the tower with great skill, and one platoon rushed from the entrance. Royce’s squad watched the surrounding area and observed the raid with the remaining platoon and their commander.
It was some time after the Court Knights entered the tower when a muffled explosion sounded that seemed to come from inside the tower. Royce’s squadron, which had been participating in the raid of the tower, was ordered by the captain, the commander of the operation, to go inside the tower for support. Reynard’s laboratory was in the basement of the building. What the members of Royce’s squad saw in the tower passageway when they entered was….
The stench of blood and gore was sickening. Fresh blood dripped from the floor, walls and ceiling, and the entrails of the knights were strewn across the floor. Corpses lay everywhere. They had been cut in half, along with the sword, shield and iron knight armor.
“This is…” Even Royce, who had been on many battlefields and should be used to seeing corpses, turned pale. Such a horrible scene like this could only be seen on a battlefield against demons.
“Captain. I’ll go to the front…” Instead of Royce, who was in the lead, Kelvin, who could move nimbly, took the front. He crossed the pools of blood, went down the stairs and opened the door to a room deep in the basement.
It was a dimly lit room. The walls on all sides were stone, making the room appear cold. Being underground, there were no windows to let in light, and the only illumination came from a few torches burning on the walls, which were lined with heavy-looking shelves, and on the floor were small bottles and stills that he couldn’t tell what they were for, and there were even jewel-like crystals and some kinds of ores lying around. And on the desk in the back, there was an old man in a gray hooded robe, about sixty years old, with glassy eyes, and about ten figures surrounding him.
“Tch, there’s still more.” Sounding younger for his apparent age, the old man looked at the members of Royce’s squad who had invaded the room.
“What can I do for you?”
“Reynard von Hoffman, right?”
“Yes.”
“You are under arrest on suspicion of the kidnapping of Viscount’s son Raymond von Hoffman and others.”
At Royce’s words, Reynard let out a small laugh.
“Do you have any proof?”
“Your daughter. We have the testimony of Miss Monica, and the murder of the Court Knights. I think that’s enough to hold you in the act.”
“Captain, look at that…”
He looked in the direction where Locke had pointed him with a whisper.
“Count Baymond’s daughter.” Wynn said quietly.
Miss Azalea von Baymond, the woman who was supposedly kidnapped. Wynn knew her only from a sketch, but there was no doubt that she was the one standing there. But her expression was as stiff as a doll’s, and her eyes showed no sign of life.
“Hahaha…” Once again, Reynard’s rasping laughter echoed in the dimly lit room. “As expected from the Imperial Capital. The experiment has indeed progressed. It’s really great, this place…”
“I’d like to hear you brag about the experiment in more brightly lit chambers, if possible. I’m not very good in the dark. We’ve also discovered that several mages from the slums have been kidnapped and brought here.”
“I’ll have to decline. Besides, it’s late… Just as well. I was originally going to subject you guys who have been snooping around lately to a practical test as well. You guys, kill them too. If you can’t do it, hold them off long enough for me to escape.”
The old man raised his right hand and the crowd of people moved. Each of them drew weapons, which glowed in the light of the torches on the wall.
As soon as they did, Kelvin pushed Royce to one side and jumped to the other side himself. A battle axe wielded by a massive man came at Royce at breakneck speed. The blade, which had missed its target by Kelvin, struck the cobblestones and surprisingly created cracks. Sparks and a sharp metallic clang echoed, and Royce’s squad, which was ahead of the others, showed a momentary gap. Reynard pushed aside the stack of books behind his office desk and headed for some stairs that appeared from behind. And when he took the first step on them, he turned around and unleashed fire magic that set the books in the room ablaze.
“Crap, a hidden staircase!” Locke cursed, turning on his heels and running back down the hallway he came from.
Wynn and Cornelia followed him.
“I’ll cover this place!” Leticia stayed to fight the man.
‘This feeling…!’
Although she seemed to have thin arms, the strength of them, which was reinforced with magic power, could easily blow a large man over a dozen meters even if he wasn’t serious. However, the man tried to kick Leticia’s sword once. As expected, he was unable to adjust his stance for a second strike that flashed at godlike speed, and though he was cut to pieces, Leticia was baffled by what happened next.
‘…What is this feeling?’ As she looked at the man collapsing without bleeding, she turned on her heels and broke into a run as well.
On the other hand, the scene encountered by Royce’s squad outside was the sight of the court knights being overwhelmed. The rest of the platoon left outside was being killed without being able to do anything about it.
“Oh no, Lino, call for help!” Royce instantly ordered Lino to call for reinforcements. “Wynn, take Her Highness and run! This is no good! Locke and Wedge go to their aid…”
However, that instruction did not arrive in time.
A woman dressed as a mercenary stepped in front of Wynn and wielded a greatsword as tall as he was. A gust of wind ruffled Wynn’s hair. The mercenary, whose name was Zinnia, also looked at Wynn with lifeless eyes. From her body, unlike the golden light Leticia wore when she used magic, something akin to a blackish mist emerged. A shiver ran down Wynn’s back.
“Co… Cornelia-san, get behind me!”
“Onii-chan! I can feel the presence emitted by these people’s demons! It’s pretty powerful too!”
Reynard, who came out of the basement of the tower through another staircase, was surprised to see Leticia, who was surrounded by six people with extraordinary strength, but she was handling them lightly. He put on a surprised expression, but immediately sketched a smile.
“Tch, that girl over there seems to be very good at fighting, so how about this?” When Reynard raised his hand above him, a huge magic circle emerged around the tower. “Please answer my call. You who are the one crying out for souls in the depths of the underworld. The one who is born of the flesh of the dead, an abominable evil spirit…. Answer my call. Come. I open the door of the underworld and summon you here now.”
A red light flashed through the magic circle and a black and reddish mist came out of it. Plants and flowers that came in contact with the mist instantly wilted, and the temperature of the surrounding area seemed to suddenly drop. In the center of the magic circle, a demon with a skeletal body devoid of flesh and bones wore a robe like a shadow. With a body bulkier than a normal person, the skeleton had no bones below the waist. A red light flickered in its eye sockets where there was only darkness. Of course, such a creature could not be alive. Even in death, it was an immortal demon that received an evil energy….
“A demon!”
“Demon, you who answer my call, kill them according to our contract.”
“Understood.”
The summoned skeletal demon replied in a low voice without looking at Reynard, the summoner. As soon as he heard her reply, Reynard started to run. However, Leticia was unable to chase after him. The skeletal demon’s presence bound her feet to the spot. Leticia took a deep breath and re-sheathed the sword in her hand. She raised her right hand toward the sky. A point of light was born in her palm, which she held raised above her head. The light was small at first, but gradually grew brighter. The next moment, the light converged and took the form of a sword, which was placed in Leticia’s hand.
The “Holy Spirit Sword” held by the Brave Leticia von Mavis. The sacred sword that destroyed the Demon King, supposedly given by Anastasia, the goddess of creation.
“…I remember that power. A sword that has the power of the ‘Sacred Spirit of the World Tree’ – are you the Brave?” The skeleton demon rattled its teeth as it spoke. “How fortunate… To be able to meet the Brave so soon after I am manifested in this world…”
“…Do you have a name?”
“My name is Ruf. The Demon King has given me this name and the title of Count.”
Count. A being who had the power to destroy an entire city, and a small country if the other wasn’t good enough.
“Well, Brave. Compared to the Demon King, I’m no big deal, but that’s an order… I’m going to have to fight.”
In Ruff’s hand, which was only bones and shrouded in a reddish-black aura, a strangely twisted staff appeared. At the same time, Leticia’s body was also enveloped in a faint golden light. Then, the red light born from the jewel embedded in the tip of Ruff’s staff collided with Leticia’s Sacred Spirit Sword.
A little farther from where Leticia and Ruff were facing each other. Royce, Locke and Wedge were together, and Kelvin was fighting one on one with Azalea, Count Baymond’s daughter. And Wynn and Cornelia….
Wynn was swinging his sword, hiding Cornelia behind him. He wasn’t fighting for real. However, Zinnia leapt toward him without worrying about his sword. Naturally, his sword thrust into Zinnia’s body, but this one, which was originally intended only to keep her at bay, cut her chest shallowly. On the contrary, she shortened the space between them as she brought her own sword. He tried to leap away but wasn’t fast enough. As she dragged the greatsword in one hand across the ground, Zinnia brought her left hand to his throat. Wynn brought his left hand to his throat too. Though she seemed lighter than Wynn, her grip was strong, and Wynn’s body rose into the air. There, a kick came toward his right flank. He failed to defend himself in time. He managed to kick the ground with his left foot extended and tried to compensate for the power. However, a kick came in from the left flank this time and Wynn was thrown off.
“Gahhh…”
He crashed to the ground, and all the air in his lungs was expelled at once, making him choke. Then, Zinnia swung the greatsword in her right hand at Wynn. He rolled to avoid it and, as the earth rumbled, a deep crack appeared in the ground where the sword had struck. He avoided it just in time. If he were to receive such a blow from the greatsword, even a knight sword, reinforced with magical power, might end up shattered to dust. But the attack itself was still easy to dodge due to the long time it took to move the heavy weapon. But even so, the speed of the sword wielded by her abnormally strengthened arms was faster than that of any ordinary swordsman. And most frightening of all was Zinnia’s physical ability. Wynn did not know that the woman wielding the greatsword was the mercenary Seri had mentioned, but he could easily see that the moves she possessed were moves cultivated in actual combat. Most likely, she had been a famous mercenary before being manipulated by Reynard. And from the strength of her sword and the destructive power of her attacks, Wynn realized that it was she who had killed the first Court Knights who had rushed in. Holding his aching left side, Wynn rose to his feet.
Directly in front of Cornelia, Wynn struggled. Having been directly kicked in the side by a woman wielding a greatsword, Wynn was unable to attack. Perhaps still affected by the damage, Wynn hesitated as the greatsword was in front of him, but it seemed he could not launch an attack from there. It was possible that he doubted his own physical abilities. Royce, Locke and Wedge were fighting on equal terms against two others. Locke and Wedge had been isolated from each other, but their opponents were more powerful. However, Royce’s intermediate shots of attack magic provided good support, and the battle was evenly matched. Using attack magic in the middle of a melee could be dangerous for your allies, but that was probably where Royce’s great combat experience came in.
On the other hand, Kelvin, who was fighting Azalea, was fighting with a happy expression on his face. She seemed to be outmatched in strength, but he had the skill and experience to make up for it. She was overcome by the strength of the exchange, and he was advancing in the battle with an advantage.
Leticia had already taken down four of the five shadows and was fighting the remaining demon. If Leticia gave it her all, she could probably finish off the demon in an instant, but the location wouldn’t allow it. One of her blows in earnest could split the earth and tear the heavens apart. Not to mention the imperial palace, the damage would spread to the imperial capital outside it. In addition, the demons also took advantage of Leticia’s inability to fight in earnest and released magic bullets indiscriminately, so she had to try her best to keep them from damaging the surroundings.
‘…I have to…’
Cornelia cursed her shaky legs and looked at the opponent Wynn was fighting against. However, Cornelia’s swordsmanship skill was inferior to Wynn’s. Even if she used body strengthening magic on herself, she would not be able to repel that greatsword, but instead would only get her own broken.
She wanted to save Wynn. But there was nothing she could do. She was tormented by a sense of helplessness.
Under the gaze of Cornelia, who grew impatient that she could do nothing, Wynn was unable to dodge the greatsword each time and gradually took damage, even if it was only scratches.
She could do nothing to help. She could only watch. The person who was trying to protect her was right in front of her.
‘What can I do…!’
The great sword again grazed Wynn’s arm in front of her eyes. Blood was already flowing from every part of his body, mercilessly sapping his strength. He was already running out of breath, and it seemed only a matter of time before Wynn received a serious cut.
‘That’s not good!’
“I, who know the truth of evil, command you! My strength! Show and manifest yourself!”
This was the magic Cornelia specialized in.
“Is this…?” Wynn muttered in confusion.
Normally, the effect of magic cast by another person was reduced because resistance was generated by the target person’s own magical power.
But….
Due to Wynn’s nature, which in itself had only a small amount of magic power, he had less resistance to magic bestowed compared to others, and as a result, he repelled the greatsword that Zinnia brandished towards him, whispering the words “I’m sorry” and gave a vertical slash towards her.
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“Magic power seal?”
At these words from Royce, Alfred involuntarily stopped writing the document and looked up.
“Yes. According to the apothecary, if you are able to prepare the prescribed amount, it will have the effect of sealing the magic power of whoever takes it.”
“Hmm…” Putting his hand to his cheek, Alfred mused. “I mean, on what level? For example, if I have the Brave take it, would it be possible to suppress her magical power?”
If this was possible, they would be able to kill the mighty Leticia. But Royce shook his head and denied it.
“In theory, it is possible. Well, but I guess it won’t be that easy.”
Royce told Alfred the explanation from Lino’s father.
“I’ve heard that the dosage differs depending on how much magic power the individual has, but if it’s not enough, it won’t show effectiveness. And as an example, even if you have the magic power of an ordinary knight, the dosage has to be as much as one tea.”
“…I see. Then it would be impossible,” Alfred muttered while looking at the cup of tea in his hand.
Considering the amount of magical power Leticia had, it would take a potion tens of times her volume. Physically impossible.
“Then, with the help of the viscount’s daughter, I was able to decipher some of Viscount Hoffman’s research books, but it seems he wasn’t studying Conrad Heisenberg’s magic formula, but Sarah Ferrule’s magic formula.”
“Sarah Ferrule! The ‘apostate’?”
“…But most of the grimoires and research materials were lost in the fire, and it’s extremely difficult to analyze what kind of magic formula it was.”
Alfred snorted at Royce’s words and tapped his right index finger on the office table.
“If I remember correctly, there are some of those materials left in Lyon, aren’t there?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s hurry the timing of our visit to Lyon. Along with the conclusion of the military alliance treaty, we will request information from the Apostate.”
Chapter 87 – Demons
The raid on the tower where Reynard von Hoffman was hiding was not conducted by Royce’s squadron, but by the Court Knights. This was because the location of the tower where Reynard was hiding, identified by Kelvin, was in a section of the Imperial Palace where many court mages research towers were built. When it was reported that the operation would be led by the Court Knights, within Royce’s subordinates complaints were also heard, especially the vice-captain, who was deprived of the opportunity to fight. He was the most upset. This was inevitable, since the interior of the Imperial Palace was under the jurisdiction of the Court Knights.
At Alfred’s urging, a total force of two platoons of Court Knights was prepared which, as opposed to Royce’s squadron, caused him to be finally stripped of leadership. The commander of the now one hundred knights, was a knight who also knew Royce and Kelvin and actively participated in the war against the demons. However, the commander knew that Royce and Kelvin were leaders of a squad of approximately 10 knights, so he allowed him to participate in the operation by surrounding the area. Royce’s squadron also included Wynn. This was because Cornelia accompanied Royce’s squadron as an apprentice knight. The one giving orders to Wynn was Cornelia, but since she delegated her control to Royce, Wynn came under his command now. And next to Wynn, as was logical, was Leticia. That said, it was the Court Knights who really jumped the gun, as they were strong enough, and the members of Royce’s squadron should only have gained recognition for participation in the operation.
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“Annihilated?”
Alfred’s voice echoed somberly in a room filled with a heavy atmosphere. A room prepared in the Imperial Palace. In that room, where a large desk had been prepared, there were several people gathered, including Crown Prince Alfred. Knights, mages and high-ranking bureaucrats. They were all between 20 and 40 years old and still young. They were all people Alfred trusted. They were the people he had found and put in those positions. And those who were involved in this operation.
“Two platoons of Court Knights? And was the enemy just one mage? Or was there a force there that could overcome them?”
“Yes, sir.”
All of them, who had a somber look on their faces at Alfred’s question, sat in silence. It was Royce who answered Alfred on behalf of all. The only one among those assembled who wore the uniform of the Central Knights Order. He was of low rank, being commander of only ten knights, but he was a former member of the platoon under the service of the late Zaunas. There was no one who objected to Royce speaking on behalf of the entire group. He was the only one who stood up and stated the facts to Alfred in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Controlling the exterior of the tower itself was easy and straightforward. However, it seems that they unexpectedly encountered a force inside, and so we had to go in as a support force.”
The mercenaries stationed on the outer perimeter were quietly and quickly subdued. Although they had gathered skilled men from the slums and highly paid mercenaries, they were still two platoons of the Court Knights, the most elite order in the Empire. There was a big difference in their basic combat skills. The Court Knights easily surmounted the perimeter of the tower with great skill, and one platoon rushed from the entrance. Royce’s squad watched the surrounding area and observed the raid with the remaining platoon and their commander.
It was some time after the Court Knights entered the tower when a muffled explosion sounded that seemed to come from inside the tower. Royce’s squadron, which had been participating in the raid of the tower, was ordered by the captain, the commander of the operation, to go inside the tower for support. Reynard’s laboratory was in the basement of the building. What the members of Royce’s squad saw in the tower passageway when they entered was….
The stench of blood and gore was sickening. Fresh blood dripped from the floor, walls and ceiling, and the entrails of the knights were strewn across the floor. Corpses lay everywhere. They had been cut in half, along with the sword, shield and iron knight armor.
“This is…” Even Royce, who had been on many battlefields and should be used to seeing corpses, turned pale. Such a horrible scene like this could only be seen on a battlefield against demons.
“Captain. I’ll go to the front…” Instead of Royce, who was in the lead, Kelvin, who could move nimbly, took the front. He crossed the pools of blood, went down the stairs and opened the door to a room deep in the basement.
It was a dimly lit room. The walls on all sides were stone, making the room appear cold. Being underground, there were no windows to let in light, and the only illumination came from a few torches burning on the walls, which were lined with heavy-looking shelves, and on the floor were small bottles and stills that he couldn’t tell what they were for, and there were even jewel-like crystals and some kinds of ores lying around. And on the desk in the back, there was an old man in a gray hooded robe, about sixty years old, with glassy eyes, and about ten figures surrounding him.
“Tch, there’s still more.” Sounding younger for his apparent age, the old man looked at the members of Royce’s squad who had invaded the room.
“What can I do for you?”
“Reynard von Hoffman, right?”
“Yes.”
“You are under arrest on suspicion of the kidnapping of Viscount’s son Raymond von Hoffman and others.”
At Royce’s words, Reynard let out a small laugh.
“Do you have any proof?”
“Your daughter. We have the testimony of Miss Monica, and the murder of the Court Knights. I think that’s enough to hold you in the act.”
“Captain, look at that…”
He looked in the direction where Locke had pointed him with a whisper.
“Count Baymond’s daughter.” Wynn said quietly.
Miss Azalea von Baymond, the woman who was supposedly kidnapped. Wynn knew her only from a sketch, but there was no doubt that she was the one standing there. But her expression was as stiff as a doll’s, and her eyes showed no sign of life.
“Hahaha…” Once again, Reynard’s rasping laughter echoed in the dimly lit room. “As expected from the Imperial Capital. The experiment has indeed progressed. It’s really great, this place…”
“I’d like to hear you brag about the experiment in more brightly lit chambers, if possible. I’m not very good in the dark. We’ve also discovered that several mages from the slums have been kidnapped and brought here.”
“I’ll have to decline. Besides, it’s late… Just as well. I was originally going to subject you guys who have been snooping around lately to a practical test as well. You guys, kill them too. If you can’t do it, hold them off long enough for me to escape.”
The old man raised his right hand and the crowd of people moved. Each of them drew weapons, which glowed in the light of the torches on the wall.
As soon as they did, Kelvin pushed Royce to one side and jumped to the other side himself. A battle axe wielded by a massive man came at Royce at breakneck speed. The blade, which had missed its target by Kelvin, struck the cobblestones and surprisingly created cracks. Sparks and a sharp metallic clang echoed, and Royce’s squad, which was ahead of the others, showed a momentary gap. Reynard pushed aside the stack of books behind his office desk and headed for some stairs that appeared from behind. And when he took the first step on them, he turned around and unleashed fire magic that set the books in the room ablaze.
“Crap, a hidden staircase!” Locke cursed, turning on his heels and running back down the hallway he came from.
Wynn and Cornelia followed him.
“I’ll cover this place!” Leticia stayed to fight the man.
‘This feeling…!’
Although she seemed to have thin arms, the strength of them, which was reinforced with magic power, could easily blow a large man over a dozen meters even if he wasn’t serious. However, the man tried to kick Leticia’s sword once. As expected, he was unable to adjust his stance for a second strike that flashed at godlike speed, and though he was cut to pieces, Leticia was baffled by what happened next.
‘…What is this feeling?’ As she looked at the man collapsing without bleeding, she turned on her heels and broke into a run as well.
On the other hand, the scene encountered by Royce’s squad outside was the sight of the court knights being overwhelmed. The rest of the platoon left outside was being killed without being able to do anything about it.
“Oh no, Lino, call for help!” Royce instantly ordered Lino to call for reinforcements. “Wynn, take Her Highness and run! This is no good! Locke and Wedge go to their aid…”
However, that instruction did not arrive in time.
A woman dressed as a mercenary stepped in front of Wynn and wielded a greatsword as tall as he was. A gust of wind ruffled Wynn’s hair. The mercenary, whose name was Zinnia, also looked at Wynn with lifeless eyes. From her body, unlike the golden light Leticia wore when she used magic, something akin to a blackish mist emerged. A shiver ran down Wynn’s back.
“Co… Cornelia-san, get behind me!”
“Onii-chan! I can feel the presence emitted by these people’s demons! It’s pretty powerful too!”
Reynard, who came out of the basement of the tower through another staircase, was surprised to see Leticia, who was surrounded by six people with extraordinary strength, but she was handling them lightly. He put on a surprised expression, but immediately sketched a smile.
“Tch, that girl over there seems to be very good at fighting, so how about this?” When Reynard raised his hand above him, a huge magic circle emerged around the tower. “Please answer my call. You who are the one crying out for souls in the depths of the underworld. The one who is born of the flesh of the dead, an abominable evil spirit…. Answer my call. Come. I open the door of the underworld and summon you here now.”
A red light flashed through the magic circle and a black and reddish mist came out of it. Plants and flowers that came in contact with the mist instantly wilted, and the temperature of the surrounding area seemed to suddenly drop. In the center of the magic circle, a demon with a skeletal body devoid of flesh and bones wore a robe like a shadow. With a body bulkier than a normal person, the skeleton had no bones below the waist. A red light flickered in its eye sockets where there was only darkness. Of course, such a creature could not be alive. Even in death, it was an immortal demon that received an evil energy….
“A demon!”
“Demon, you who answer my call, kill them according to our contract.”
“Understood.”
The summoned skeletal demon replied in a low voice without looking at Reynard, the summoner. As soon as he heard her reply, Reynard started to run. However, Leticia was unable to chase after him. The skeletal demon’s presence bound her feet to the spot. Leticia took a deep breath and re-sheathed the sword in her hand. She raised her right hand toward the sky. A point of light was born in her palm, which she held raised above her head. The light was small at first, but gradually grew brighter. The next moment, the light converged and took the form of a sword, which was placed in Leticia’s hand.
The “Holy Spirit Sword” held by the Brave Leticia von Mavis. The sacred sword that destroyed the Demon King, supposedly given by Anastasia, the goddess of creation.
“…I remember that power. A sword that has the power of the ‘Sacred Spirit of the World Tree’ – are you the Brave?” The skeleton demon rattled its teeth as it spoke. “How fortunate… To be able to meet the Brave so soon after I am manifested in this world…”
“…Do you have a name?”
“My name is Ruf. The Demon King has given me this name and the title of Count.”
Count. A being who had the power to destroy an entire city, and a small country if the other wasn’t good enough.
“Well, Brave. Compared to the Demon King, I’m no big deal, but that’s an order… I’m going to have to fight.”
In Ruff’s hand, which was only bones and shrouded in a reddish-black aura, a strangely twisted staff appeared. At the same time, Leticia’s body was also enveloped in a faint golden light. Then, the red light born from the jewel embedded in the tip of Ruff’s staff collided with Leticia’s Sacred Spirit Sword.
A little farther from where Leticia and Ruff were facing each other. Royce, Locke and Wedge were together, and Kelvin was fighting one on one with Azalea, Count Baymond’s daughter. And Wynn and Cornelia….
Wynn was swinging his sword, hiding Cornelia behind him. He wasn’t fighting for real. However, Zinnia leapt toward him without worrying about his sword. Naturally, his sword thrust into Zinnia’s body, but this one, which was originally intended only to keep her at bay, cut her chest shallowly. On the contrary, she shortened the space between them as she brought her own sword. He tried to leap away but wasn’t fast enough. As she dragged the greatsword in one hand across the ground, Zinnia brought her left hand to his throat. Wynn brought his left hand to his throat too. Though she seemed lighter than Wynn, her grip was strong, and Wynn’s body rose into the air. There, a kick came toward his right flank. He failed to defend himself in time. He managed to kick the ground with his left foot extended and tried to compensate for the power. However, a kick came in from the left flank this time and Wynn was thrown off.
“Gahhh…”
He crashed to the ground, and all the air in his lungs was expelled at once, making him choke. Then, Zinnia swung the greatsword in her right hand at Wynn. He rolled to avoid it and, as the earth rumbled, a deep crack appeared in the ground where the sword had struck. He avoided it just in time. If he were to receive such a blow from the greatsword, even a knight sword, reinforced with magical power, might end up shattered to dust. But the attack itself was still easy to dodge due to the long time it took to move the heavy weapon. But even so, the speed of the sword wielded by her abnormally strengthened arms was faster than that of any ordinary swordsman. And most frightening of all was Zinnia’s physical ability. Wynn did not know that the woman wielding the greatsword was the mercenary Seri had mentioned, but he could easily see that the moves she possessed were moves cultivated in actual combat. Most likely, she had been a famous mercenary before being manipulated by Reynard. And from the strength of her sword and the destructive power of her attacks, Wynn realized that it was she who had killed the first Court Knights who had rushed in. Holding his aching left side, Wynn rose to his feet.
Directly in front of Cornelia, Wynn struggled. Having been directly kicked in the side by a woman wielding a greatsword, Wynn was unable to attack. Perhaps still affected by the damage, Wynn hesitated as the greatsword was in front of him, but it seemed he could not launch an attack from there. It was possible that he doubted his own physical abilities. Royce, Locke and Wedge were fighting on equal terms against two others. Locke and Wedge had been isolated from each other, but their opponents were more powerful. However, Royce’s intermediate shots of attack magic provided good support, and the battle was evenly matched. Using attack magic in the middle of a melee could be dangerous for your allies, but that was probably where Royce’s great combat experience came in.
On the other hand, Kelvin, who was fighting Azalea, was fighting with a happy expression on his face. She seemed to be outmatched in strength, but he had the skill and experience to make up for it. She was overcome by the strength of the exchange, and he was advancing in the battle with an advantage.
Leticia had already taken down four of the five shadows and was fighting the remaining demon. If Leticia gave it her all, she could probably finish off the demon in an instant, but the location wouldn’t allow it. One of her blows in earnest could split the earth and tear the heavens apart. Not to mention the imperial palace, the damage would spread to the imperial capital outside it. In addition, the demons also took advantage of Leticia’s inability to fight in earnest and released magic bullets indiscriminately, so she had to try her best to keep them from damaging the surroundings.
‘…I have to…’
Cornelia cursed her shaky legs and looked at the opponent Wynn was fighting against. However, Cornelia’s swordsmanship skill was inferior to Wynn’s. Even if she used body strengthening magic on herself, she would not be able to repel that greatsword, but instead would only get her own broken.
She wanted to save Wynn. But there was nothing she could do. She was tormented by a sense of helplessness.
Under the gaze of Cornelia, who grew impatient that she could do nothing, Wynn was unable to dodge the greatsword each time and gradually took damage, even if it was only scratches.
She could do nothing to help. She could only watch. The person who was trying to protect her was right in front of her.
‘What can I do…!’
The great sword again grazed Wynn’s arm in front of her eyes. Blood was already flowing from every part of his body, mercilessly sapping his strength. He was already running out of breath, and it seemed only a matter of time before Wynn received a serious cut.
‘That’s not good!’
“I, who know the truth of evil, command you! My strength! Show and manifest yourself!”
This was the magic Cornelia specialized in.
“Is this…?” Wynn muttered in confusion.
Normally, the effect of magic cast by another person was reduced because resistance was generated by the target person’s own magical power.
But….
Due to Wynn’s nature, which in itself had only a small amount of magic power, he had less resistance to magic bestowed compared to others, and as a result, he repelled the greatsword that Zinnia brandished towards him, whispering the words “I’m sorry” and gave a vertical slash towards her.
◇◆◇◆◇
“Magic power seal?”
At these words from Royce, Alfred involuntarily stopped writing the document and looked up.
“Yes. According to the apothecary, if you are able to prepare the prescribed amount, it will have the effect of sealing the magic power of whoever takes it.”
“Hmm…” Putting his hand to his cheek, Alfred mused. “I mean, on what level? For example, if I have the Brave take it, would it be possible to suppress her magical power?”
If this was possible, they would be able to kill the mighty Leticia. But Royce shook his head and denied it.
“In theory, it is possible. Well, but I guess it won’t be that easy.”
Royce told Alfred the explanation from Lino’s father.
“I’ve heard that the dosage differs depending on how much magic power the individual has, but if it’s not enough, it won’t show effectiveness. And as an example, even if you have the magic power of an ordinary knight, the dosage has to be as much as one tea.”
“…I see. Then it would be impossible,” Alfred muttered while looking at the cup of tea in his hand.
Considering the amount of magical power Leticia had, it would take a potion tens of times her volume. Physically impossible.
“Then, with the help of the viscount’s daughter, I was able to decipher some of Viscount Hoffman’s research books, but it seems he wasn’t studying Conrad Heisenberg’s magic formula, but Sarah Ferrule’s magic formula.”
“Sarah Ferrule! The ‘apostate’?”
“…But most of the grimoires and research materials were lost in the fire, and it’s extremely difficult to analyze what kind of magic formula it was.”
Alfred snorted at Royce’s words and tapped his right index finger on the office table.
“If I remember correctly, there are some of those materials left in Lyon, aren’t there?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s hurry the timing of our visit to Lyon. Along with the conclusion of the military alliance treaty, we will request information from the Apostate.”
