Ch.248. I Stand in the Wilderness (3)

It’s getting closer and closer.

My dried-up emotions boil up in a strange way.

But even more than that.

They cool down.

They freeze.

…Endlessly.

Thud.

Thud.

Like ripples spreading across a calm lake.

The silence begins to break.

“Kariel.”

A fiercely hardened face.

Surprisingly.

…Just like usual.

“What are you doing here?”

…..

“His Highness is asking you a question!”

“What, you think the world belongs to you just because you showed off one trick?”

“I see you’re relying on Lord Lueld…”

“Enough.”

The prince raised his hand to restrain his subordinates.

“……”

Even this.

The usual development.

“Don’t make me ask twice. What were you doing here?”

“……”

“This bastard, till the end!”

I was waiting.

“…?”

Alesius wondered if he had misheard something.

What?

Waiting for what?

“Human malice shows remarkable drive when it comes to profit and entertainment.”

He suddenly starts rambling.

“What?”

Just as the prince was about to retort.

“The process of the strong oppressing the weak to reaffirm their position is the greatest entertainment a person in power can enjoy.”

So.

“Since I understand it all intellectually, I won’t blame you particularly.”

“What the hell is this bastard saying…”

In that moment, his head turned.

Thud!

……

…..?

“??”

Alesius had to seriously contemplate, for a while, why he was lying on the floor.

His ears were ringing.

His vision was shaking, and all he could clearly feel was a numbness somewhere.

But still, he couldn’t quite grasp what had happened.

Your Highness?!

Has, has this bastard suddenly gone mad?!

Do, do you know what you’ve just done?!

What are you all doing?!

Like sounds echoing from far away, screams and shocked voices spread.

In just a few seconds.

As his senses gradually became clearer.

The situation became apparent.

“…?”

He hit me?

Me?

That shabby bastard… hit me?

From the beginning.

…There’s no reason I should be hit.

It’s already highly unusual that this idiot resorted to violence first.

But to begin with, to be hit by such a thing and end up on the floor.

…Alesius was not such an inept person.

Even without swordsmanship, in practical close combat.

He had no equal in his year at the academy, and even considering all years, he was among the very few at the top.

Not to mention when he held a sword.

And it wasn’t just swordsmanship.

Even magic, which he learned as part of his general education, he could use and apply better than most magic department students.

And if his practical skills were good, was his theory lacking?

Not at all.

Rather, that was his specialty.

However, whether it suited his aptitude or not.

He had to excel at everything.

That was the duty of the bloodline that even those with blue blood couldn’t help but revere.

Whether the blood is blue or red.

Wolves or humans will attack if they sense weakness, it’s the same either way.

Power, after all, stems from overwhelming strength.

Mere symbols or legitimacy only have meaning after strength is established.

Therefore.

He must not show such an unseemly display.

It couldn’t be helped.

He was unlucky.

The situation was too disadvantageous.

Such excuses would never be consoling in any case.

It’s not proper.

It’s not appropriate.

“Kugh!”

However.

To be shocked just because he fell? To fall into a state of incapacitation?

This goes beyond unseemly—it’s a vice worthy of contempt.

“How dare you…!”

Only a few seconds had passed.

Why.

…Why was everyone except himself, who had just gotten up, sprawled out on the library floor?

“Eek!”

Except for the one supporting the prince’s body.

Those who had clear hostility toward him and were willing to commit hostile acts.

Not one of them was standing normally.

“Let’s fight.”

“…You’ve completely lost your mind.”

In the library that should be quiet.

The sudden commotion attracted the attention of the few people present.

Normally, he would have moved elsewhere.

Then he would have done something else.

But this situation wasn’t started by Alesius himself.

Shocking as it may be.

No, the fact that this is considered shocking is itself shocking.

The first to act was the other side.

Kariel.

‘So you have no intention of being tactful?’

Disgrace immediately leads to dishonor for our parents.

Both yours and mine.

…You should know that better than anyone.

“Don’t worry about it.”

There’s no hesitation.

He approached calmly.

“If things get too complicated, you can just die, can’t you?”

What…?

“You’ve gone completely insane—!”

As he shouted and reflexively swung his fist.

The other blocked it with his forearm.

No, that wasn’t the end.

The arm that blocked him was then grabbed.

“Ugh?!”

He instantly used mana to strengthen his body, increase his strength, and sharpen his senses.

‘What?!’

It dissolved.

As if forcibly dismantled, everything became unresponsive.

“Kugh!”

His head was forcibly tilted back.

A light right jab combo.

Though it was just a checking blow, as it entered the optimal striking trajectory, his vision naturally stung.

But.

‘Weak.’

Indeed, the clumsy blow from this weakling who couldn’t strengthen his body might cause bewilderment.

‘That’s all!’

But if there was something Alesius overlooked.

It was the fact that this weakling had subdued and neutralized his subordinates.

With his head hot, unlike usual, he failed to notice this point.

Once again, he tried to use mana to shake off the right arm that was being held.

‘——?’

It wasn’t an illusion.

At that moment, once again, the world turned upside down.

“Kugh!”

With a crash, Alesius’s body was thrown and split the library desk in two like a vertically falling axe.

The impact made Alesius twist his waist as if convulsing.

“You, this… bastard…!”

“Let’s stand up.”

We still have a lot to talk about.

“Cough! What? Talk?”

This madman… what nonsense is he spouting now!

“Ah.”

There again.

As if he had some realization.

Kariel stopped and looked up at the empty air.

Even that.

“I forgot. Even though it just happened this morning.”

“Cough! I, I won’t let you get away with this…”

“Stand up.”

Kariel stood still, merely watching Alesius’s ugly struggle.

“Adults might dismiss it as children fighting, but perhaps for both you and me, we’ve already crossed the river too far.”

Even if you were to change your stance later.

“Now I’m in a position where I can’t do that anymore.”

“You’re so proud, aren’t you?! Just because you got one trick! Because you landed one hit on me! Huh?! Does it feel like you own the world?!”

“Since earlier.”

Kariel asked with indifferent eyes.

“What nonsense have you been spouting?”

“You! You’re the one talking nonsense?! You! Someone like you!”

“Stop barking.”

He approaches slowly.

Stepping over and avoiding the scattered desk fragments.

“There won’t be a next chance.”

“Next chance?!”

“If you fall to the ground this time, be prepared.”

“This crazy bastard, till the end?!”

Using arcane breathing to utilize the mana accumulated in his heart.

As if everything that happened earlier was a lie, vitality began to surge throughout his body.

‘I wasn’t careless.’

He becomes cold as if by magic.

Some might call this special trait a character flaw.

‘But isn’t it fine as long as I use it appropriately?’

Father, His Majesty said so.

Also.

Don’t regret what you have, and don’t envy what you don’t have.

Wasn’t that what His Majesty repeatedly said?

As his boiling emotions cooled and even froze chillingly, things he couldn’t see before quickly spread through his clever mind.

‘When he touches me, my mana scatters.’

He didn’t know what trick the other was using.

But if that’s all, then isn’t it enough to not let him touch me?

…However.

Beyond imagination, there was no waste in the other’s movements.

No, that’s a misconception.

There was an overflow of waste.

It’s just that, strangely, it was difficult to counter.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t see it.

It wasn’t that the other was so agile or quick that he couldn’t perceive it.

‘The movements were concise.’

What happened just now.

Though humiliating, how could he not recall it?

Looking back, no special points could be found even if he searched carefully.

After all, both sides have limbs and bodies.

Is this also a mana manipulation arcane technique?

But if so, it makes even less sense.

‘What kind of magic is this?’

Now within arm’s reach.

Alesius, who instinctively tried to create distance by stepping back.

There again.

He exploded.

‘I, me! I backed away because I’m afraid of him?!’

To someone like that?

Me?!

Alesius finally had to admit.

Indeed, I.

Simply cannot.

When I see you… I can’t keep myself cool-headed.

‘All of this, you brought upon yourself.’

He harbored malice.

The other side must have also steeled his resolve to cause this mess.

Therefore, this is all self-defense.

Therefore, he has no reason to refuse.

No reason to hold back.

Absolutely none!

Alesius, who threw his body forward with even greater speed than he had retreated.

The world flows quickly, but Kariel just stares blankly at him charging as if time has stopped.

‘Yes, I admit it.’

Now as before.

You…!

…..

And so again.

The world turned upside down.

“…?!”

A violent impact struck his back and waist.

No, that’s wrong.

It was my body, my entire body that was slammed to the ground.

“Kheuk!”

Like a lie.

His body, which had been overflowing with vitality, became as vulnerable as that of a sick person.

“Ugh…?”

When was I grabbed?

The heat that had instantly filled his mind cooled and dropped to freezing point.

Breathing difficulty accompanied by pain.

Emotionally, he was shaken and boiling with bewilderment.

But contrary to that, his reason was colder than ever.

As if perceiving himself from a third-person perspective.

‘Was my arm grabbed?’

And then, he was flipped backward.

“Kuk!”

Above all.

The situation was not yet over.

Kariel, who mounted his chest while still holding the grabbed arm.

Crack!

“?!”

His shoulder was dislocated.

A clearly intentional act.

But Alesius wasn’t raised to be so weak as to scream from just this much.

However, being familiar with pain doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.

“I warned you.”

If you fall to the ground.

“Be prepared.”

“What—?!”

Kariel, who was on top, brought his fist down.

Thwack!

“?!”

He blocked it with his intact left arm.

But the weight pressing deep into his arm joint almost made him scream.

Thwack!

‘A knee?!’

And then again.

Crack!

“?!”

After bringing his fist down toward the face, he suddenly changed his posture and this time dislocated the left shoulder.

Though it was just a dislocated joint and looked fine from the outside.

For the person who had both arms instantly neutralized, there was no greater terror.

“You cra—!”

Thwack!

“zy—!”

Thwack!

“bas—!”

Thwack!

“tard?!”

Thwack!

After neutralizing both arms, Kariel mounted his chest again and kept bringing his fist down.

Thwack!

“You!”

Thwack!

“Even after this!”

Thwack!

“Think you’ll—!”

Thwack!

“Be—!”

Thwack!

“Safe…?”

Suddenly, Alesius’s body was flipped over.

‘What is he doing?!’

No sooner did he feel the weight on his back than.

Thwack!

His face hit the floor.

More precisely, from the side.

The impact was transmitted periodically.

‘This bastard, really!’

“Kkeuk!”

His face was forcibly lifted from the ground.

His disheveled red hair roughly grabbed.

“Endure it.”

I’ve been patient for a long time too.

“It’s your turn now.”

Thwack!

Mounting from behind, holding his hair.

He punches his face.

Thwack!

Thwack!

Thud!

“Hiiiek!”

“Wh-what’s happening?”

“Crazy bastard… crazy son of a bitch! How is he planning to resolve this?!”

“D-dare to do this to His Highness— Th-this is! This is tr-treason? Re-rebellion?!”

Whatever they’re saying around.

What do I care?

I’m in a pit.

And so.

Even if I somehow managed to escape that pit.

It’s of no use.

In the end, I must bring those who pushed me there.

And push them into the pit I fell into.

Until then.

Reality, face, future, happiness, dreams, whatever.

What do I care about any of it?

I just need to get my revenge, that’s all.

“This is just the opening battle, so I won’t kill you.”

Right now, just.

“Endure it.”

Just as I had no choice but to endure.

Just as I barely endured with shuddering.

“We are now destined to not be able to live under the same sky.”

He swung his fist.

Crack!

Again.

Crack!

Again.

Crack—!

Continuously.

Crack—!