Ch.87The Savior Who Ruined Her. (1)

“……What the hell.”

Olivia flinched when she recognized the identity of the ruffian who had suddenly grabbed her shoulder.

Sharp eyes that looked stubborn, and a goatee like a grasshopper.

“……Why is Galdur here.”

Why on earth was this man, who should be negotiating at the border region, here?

Olivia frowned at the unexpected situation.

They say misfortunes come in pairs, and she never expected to encounter Galdur in Icail, located at the edge of the continent.

“……I can’t just run away recklessly.”

[Galdur Alibath]

– Level: 81

– Affinity: -80

– Occupation: Grandmaster of Karmic Fire

– Title: Head of Magic Society, Red Tower Master

Slightly weaker than Kiel at the tutorial stage.

This level of strength made him a formidable figure who could easily secure a supporting role within Lactea.

And that made him more annoying.

Because those above a certain level of strength couldn’t be easily shaken off.

“Fortunately, he doesn’t seem to have recognized me yet……”

She could tell just by the fact that he wasn’t immediately shouting “witch.”

If he had properly seen her face, then immediately…

Just as Olivia was about to turn around pretending not to notice, Galdur forcefully pulled back her robe. Snow-white hair cascaded down to her waist.

“You…!”

Lightning scorched Galdur’s right hand black, but his eyes remained fixed on Olivia.

“So it was a witch after all……”

Just as he gathered fire magic to burn her to ashes.

“This bastard must be crazy.”

A profound coldness enveloped the world.

Kwagwagwagwa!

Chills ran down his spine.

The cold that surged forward as if to extinguish life immediately. Before this overwhelming power, there was nothing Galdur could do.

He wanted to resist, but his magic wouldn’t move as he wished.

Control had passed to Olivia.

“Im-impossible.”

To dominate the magic of an entire area.

Unless the opponent was a dragon, this shouldn’t be possible.

Galdur looked up at Olivia with a terrified face. But all he received in return was a cold gaze.

“Pl-please spare me…!”

At that moment, as if it were a lie, the cold subsided. Galdur gasped desperately for breath.

To such a Galdur, Olivia casually said:

“……If you don’t want to die, just go on your way.”

She meant it. Olivia sincerely hoped that Galdur would quietly let it go.

In a major city like this, fighting with a Grandmaster would immediately reveal her identity to the Regressor, which was obvious.

Of course, other mages wouldn’t even consider such a proposal in the first place, but the opponent was Galdur.

“He has a lot to lose.”

He was the de facto leader of the Second Prince faction. If he lost his life, the Second Prince faction would lose its center and collapse.

Galdur couldn’t possibly be unaware of this simple fact.

What mattered was justification.

A justification that would allow him to put aside his dignity as a Grandmaster and flee.

And Olivia provided Galdur with justification by showing him the difference in their power.

Run away.

If you fight, you’ll die like a dog.

“……”

Galdur lowered his head, not daring to meet Olivia’s eyes.

He had chosen to survive, even if it meant being cowardly.

Olivia glared at such a Galdur for a moment before spitting out a sentence.

“Forget what happened today. If you ever speak of it… I’ll make you end up like the Golden Tower Master.”

Galdur’s shoulders trembled at those words.

The Golden Tower Master is dead?

His eyes rolled wildly through empty space.

The witch before him was certainly capable of defeating the Golden Tower Master. The mana control she had just displayed was at a level that could be mistaken for a dragon’s.

“D-did you kill her?”

Galdur’s face showed not only fear but also a strange expectation as he spoke.

Because if the Golden Tower Master died, the title of the continent’s strongest mage could become his.

“……Ha.”

Olivia, who had noticed Galdur’s thoughts, glared at him with a look of contempt.

She had intended to let it go, but his attitude, seemingly hoping for Melina’s death, was too distasteful.

“Right, he was always this kind of bastard.”

If she left Galdur like this, he would surely spread rumors like “Melina is dead” throughout the magic towers. And then he would slyly take the position of Golden Tower Master, and even steal the title of the continent’s strongest mage.

“I can’t stand to see that.”

Olivia snorted.

“I tried to kill her. I almost succeeded too. But I failed because the Golden Tower Master’s disciple took her and escaped.”

“……Di-disciple?!”

Galdur shouted in a rough voice.

At his intense reaction, Olivia inwardly smiled.

“Yes, disciple. A young female mage… with extraordinary skills. She was good enough to hold her own against me.”

Hearing those words, Galdur’s face contorted like a hideous demon.

“……So that was true?”

When the Golden Tower Master was raging and calling out her disciple’s name, he thought, “No way.”

Even when Calliophe insisted that the Golden Tower Master never lied, his feelings remained unchanged.

But now, after nearly half a year since the Golden Tower Master’s disappearance, he never imagined he would hear about her disciple from a complete stranger, and a ruthless witch at that.

– Incompetent fool.

Kuguk.

Galdur’s fist trembled. Nightmares of the past spread through his mind like an invasion.

He had failed to satisfy Melina. To Melina, Galdur was an incompetent, talentless mage.

Galdur simply couldn’t accept that statement. His pride wouldn’t allow it.

If he had no talent, it meant that every mage on the continent had no talent.

If he couldn’t satisfy Melina, then no one should be able to satisfy her.

It had to be that way.

Because then, Melina would be arrogant and unworldly, a self-righteous person.

Because then, it would prove that he was right.

But…

“……A young mage matched that witch?”

That statement blinded Galdur with jealousy.

At such a young age, brilliant talent that could surpass Melina.

– You’re garbage.

– Don’t call me master anymore.

Trembling all over, Galdur burst out in passion.

“Why not me……”

Hwaaaak!

A terrifying heat radiated from Galdur’s entire body, and the surrounding scenery began to distort.

[‘Grandmaster Galdur’ uses ‘Phantom Flame’!]

The ultimate technique of the Red Tower, which he had shown to his disciples earlier, was about to unfold before their eyes.

A flame that not only burns the world but distorts reality itself.

“I just need to kill you! I’ll take your head and show it to the Golden Tower Master! Then she’ll acknowledge it. That my talent is the best!”

The back alley instantly transformed into a desolate plain.

The sun was far beyond what could simply be described as hot.

Kwagwagwagwa!

Sunlight poured down toward Olivia with enough force to melt everything.

A warning notification filled Olivia’s vision.

[Health is decreasing!]

“……Did I provoke him too much?”

Bright light scattered behind Galdur.

It was merely irritating to Olivia, but ordinary people would melt instantly upon contact with that light.

“Kuaaaaa!”

The heat emanating from Galdur intensified. Not stopping there, he concentrated magic in his other hand.

[‘Grandmaster Galdur’ uses ‘Karmic Fire’!]

With a whoosh, an ominous black flame shot toward Olivia.

“This could get dangerous if it drags on.”

Although it appeared to be a desolate plain, in reality, these were all just illusions.

If left unchecked, there was a possibility that nearby people would get involved.

Of course, what Olivia was genuinely concerned about wasn’t their lives.

If the citizens of Icail died en masse, she wouldn’t be able to avoid the attention of the Regressors.

Galdur was looking down at her with a face that seemed to ask, “How about that?”

Olivia evaluated him with a single word.

“Idiot.”

At those words, Galdur’s face momentarily went blank.

“I understand why Melina called you an idiot. You really are one.”

Olivia extended her hand forward with her characteristic contemptuous smile.

[Skill, ‘Lightning Bolt’ is used.]

Lightning gathered at her fingertips, and the sky was instantly covered with dark clouds.

“H-how is this possible……”

Galdur forgot even the fact that his magic had been nullified and was overwhelmed by the spectacle. A moment later, the sky seemed to scream as if it were being torn apart.

Lightning that filled the entire field of vision struck Galdur directly.

*****

Kwaaaang!

At the tremendous sound she suddenly felt, Esthie turned her head sharply.

“……”

The sky was quiet as if nothing had happened. But the dark clouds still remained, holding their position.

After staring intently in the direction of Icail for a long time, Esthie’s face filled with joy and passion.

Dozens of lives were being extinguished in real-time beneath her feet, but the lives of pirate scum were none of her concern.

Esthie embraced her own shoulders. Her entire body felt like it was burning hot.

“……You’ve come.”

The liberator who would save her from this ancient bondage.