episode_0034

34. Strategic Retreat.

Just as he was getting a glimpse of the elder-level magician’s spell, Johan was already observing Sarah’s movements.

She was coordinating with Sir Jakison, holding off the giant skeleton.

Sarah’s skills were, of course, outstanding, but his eyes mainly went to Sir Jakison.

“Amazing. That can’t be Sir Jakison’s true strength, right?”

The soldier guarding him replies.

“Of course not. The Master’s power is incomparable to that.”

The soldier puffed out his chest, proud of his master.

“In the first place, the Master is not a greatsword user. He favors longsword swordsmanship.”

“Really? He looks so skilled with it.”

“Haha, he’s talented with all weapons. It’s not limited to longswords.”

“Amazing…”

Johan trailed off, watching the knight wield the greatsword.

He dodged the skeleton’s fist with fluid footwork, then immediately swung.

Soon, the elbow joint of the thing was severed. It was like flowing water.

‘To have such movements with a body like a bear.’

A monster. The knight was a species that couldn’t be explained within the bounds of humanity.

As Johan was blankly watching this, the soldier beside him said.

“By the way, your partner is quite something as well.”

Unlike Johan, the soldier’s eyes were fixed on Sarah.

Although her destructive power was lower than Sir Jakison’s, she was inflicting meaningful damage on the skeleton, such as severing fingers, in layers.

Rather, unlike Sir Jakison, her aggressive movements stood out even more.

“She’s above a senior soldier, at least at the level of a knight candidate.”

That’s just based on the strength she’s shown so far. She might have hidden skills.

“Wow, amazing. Where did you meet someone like that? Only geniuses gather around geniuses…”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

At that moment, Sir Jakison’s greatsword struck the skeleton’s waist.

Whoosh, the thing’s torso momentarily floated into the air. Transcendental strength!

In the meantime, Sarah charged in like a squirrel. The light emanating from her waist sliced through the air.

“Almost all cut. It’s over.”

The skeleton’s skull and cervical spine are separated. It wasn’t perfectly cut, but gravity helped.

Sarah landed on the ground as lightly as a falling leaf.

[Situation over, over, over!!!]

Before they knew it, the first wave was over.

***

Sarah ascended the fortress wall with light steps. Johan came out to greet her.

“Good work.”

She smiled.

“You too, Johan.”

Sir Jakison was also there. He laughed heartily.

“Hahaha! You took down two at once this time? Amazing. Amazing.”

“You flatter me.”

“Your consistent attitude is as consistent as ever!”

“Haha…”

Behind Sir Jakison, numerous knights and soldiers were walking away to rest.

Everyone looked exhausted. Suddenly, there were men who didn’t seem tired at all.

They didn’t seem to have participated in the first wave. Johan was naturally curious.

As if noticing Johan’s gaze, Sir Jakison said.

“They are assigned to patrol or manage the walls. In short, they’re playing around.”

“Ah…”

He had been so focused on the monsters that he hadn’t noticed.

A management position, it looked easy at a glance.

Sir Jakison seemed displeased with them.

“Tsk tsk… They could at least shoot arrows. They’re acting like they’re lords or something.”

Johan couldn’t tell what had offended him.

He just nodded.

He quickly lost interest in them. It didn’t seem like he would run into them.

Sarah said from beside him.

“Johan, should we go inside and rest? You look tired.”

“Okay. Let’s go.”

Suddenly, he felt like he made eye contact with a knight who was patrolling.

It wasn’t certain because it was obscured by the helmet.

Step, step.

With that, Johan and Sarah entered Sir Jakison’s tent.

“…”

The knight in the helmet was silently watching that scene. As if he were hunting prey.

***

“So, you made up after promising to go hunting together?”

“That’s right. Sarah coolly made the offer, so I readily accepted.”

Sir Jakison pointed at Sarah with his palm. He especially emphasized her hand.

“Actually, I was very worried, because medium-sized undead are not easy opponents…”

He trailed off.

“But what do you know? She did better than most tin-can knights! Her power is lacking, but she’ll quickly catch up with training!”

“Oh…”

For Sir Jakison, who seemed picky about martial prowess to say that, Johan felt a fresh sensation.

There have been many people who recognized Sarah’s talent, but most of them were useless. But Sir Jakison is a definite powerhouse. His impressions are bound to be different.

Johan looked at Sarah without realizing it. She had her usual expressionless face, but the corners of her lips were slightly raised.

“…”

Sarah quickly hid her smile. It was already stored in Johan’s head, so it was no use.

Sir Jakison, who was grinning as he watched that scene, stood up from his seat.

“It’s almost time. I’ve rested for a long time.”

“Yes.”

Immediately after, a familiar voice echoed in the air. Similar lines, consistent rhythm.

He didn’t know who was making the thunderous voice, but he seemed to be quite the veteran.

“Let’s go.”

Led by Sir Jakison, they left the tent.

The short break was over. It was now time to protect human territory.

***

Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack!

A familiar waterfall sound. Medium-sized undead swept away by it.

The city’s soldiers were no longer surprised. That’s how often they had witnessed Johan’s magic.

“Reassuring. It’s all thanks to that magician.”

“You said it! The old men in the inner castle use spells sparingly, but that guy uses them as if he’s scooping water from a well!”

They were men in the city who were quite powerful, but they had no choice but to back down in front of magic that seemed to embody nature.

They cheered with their gums fully exposed. But unfortunately, Johan couldn’t hear them.

His magic projects his will to distant places, but it can’t realize hearing. Not yet.

“Hah, hah. I’m going to die. Give me some water.”

“Yes! Here you go.”

The soldier quickly handed over the canteen. Johan wanted to use dew magic if he could.

‘I have to conserve as much magic power as possible. I’m really going to collapse at this rate.’

It was still the third wave, and this honey pot of karma will disappear tomorrow. He had no choice but to eat as much honey as possible.

Johan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. A cool sensation flowing down his esophagus. Ah, that’s refreshing.

He poured water on his head as well. Water falling from the crown of his head. It felt like his body temperature was dropping instantly.

Tap! Tap!

Johan shook his head from side to side to remove the moisture. The soldier was quietly raising his shield to defend against Johan’s water droplets.

His reaction speed was quite excellent.

‘Hmm?’

Naturally, Johan’s eyes scanned his surroundings, which brought him new information.

‘Why is he so close?’

A knight wearing a helmet made of steel. He was patrolling the walls every so often.

Of course, he could approach Johan too. But…

‘I think he just passed by here.’

Due to his perfect memory ability, the surrounding situation was being stored in real time.

Most of the knights looked similar, but Johan catches the subtle details.

That knight has been circling around here since earlier.

‘I have to keep an eye on him.’

The moment he thought that, his spine tingled. Johan hurriedly turned his head.

“Ugh!”

Light? No! A sword!

While bending over, he visualizes an iron wall and constructs a spell.

Shield.

Screech… Crack!

Different from the attackers he met last time. It cuts through Johan’s shield like slicing tofu and aims for his neck.

“Cough!”

It’s shallow. But Johan groaned at the clearly felt burning pain.

If the shield’s strength had been even slightly lower, he would have definitely died!

“Oho! You avoided that! Pretty good for a magician!”

Sir Jakison’s soldiers hurriedly blocked the knight’s path.

To buy time. The number of soldiers seemed to be about six!

Johan hurriedly backed away, putting distance between himself and the human weapon.

‘A spell…! I need to get away first!’

The moment he took a step to avoid the knight, a ray of light sliced through the air.

“Magician! Dodge…! Cough!”

“Kuh-heh-eck!”

Four. The number of soldiers incapacitated with a single swing.

Only two remained ahead. They felt endless fear.

“Uaaaaa!”

Swoosh!

The second glint. Now only Johan remains. He was able to move a total of three steps.

Thanks to that, he had already cast one spell. Numerous water droplets surrounded Johan as if to protect him.

The knight was startled when he saw this. He seemed to know Johan’s spell.

Johan shouted as if spitting it out.

“Rough Waves!”

“Huuuuh!”

At the same time, the water droplets wriggled around his body. The knight crouched down, waiting for the next wave to come.

“?”

But no matter how long he waited, he didn’t feel the expected impact.

The knight blinked and looked straight ahead.

Pitter-patter-patter!

Johan was running down the fortress wall as if his feet were on fire.