episode_0020

What on earth is this man!

The commander of the royal knights couldn’t believe what was happening in front of his eyes.

The empire’s finest elite knights, carefully selected by himself.

Those knights were being overwhelmed by just one shabby-looking man who seemed like a mere hunter.

Kwagwagwang

“What are you doing? Come on in.”

The hunter spat out provocatively.

Thorns sprouting from the ground, attacking the knights.

…I’ve seen this before.

News that the Empire’s first legion was annihilated by unidentified thorns during the Third Continental War.

Could it be this guy?

This fight might become quite difficult.

“Cough, cough!”

At that moment, the hunter suddenly coughed, causing his posture to falter.

Now’s the time!

The commander surged forward towards the hunter.

Chaeng

He considered it a golden opportunity, but the hunter pulled out a small dagger from his bosom and deflected the attack.

Wasn’t he just an ordinary magician!

To think he could block his attacks in close combat!

Tense, the commander gripped his sword.

What’s this? Wasn’t it getting better?

Meanwhile, Virthus was smiling outwardly but feeling flustered inside.

Just hold on for today.

This shouldn’t happen at a crucial moment.

“Aaaah!”

Kwaang

Burgeoning his sword energy, the commander charged forward.

Virthus dodged backward and formed a pact.

But this is already my home ground.

Uung

The surrounding trees twisted and attacked the knights.

“Ugh!”

“Blood, watch out!”

Damn it.

This brat. Did he set up spells knowing we would come?

Fighting in this state is dangerous.

“All troops! Use your swords to cut down the trees!”

The commander reached out and shouted.

“That won’t work that way.”

Virthus formed a pact again.

Ching

Thorns sprang forth towards the knights swinging their swords to cut the trees.

“Ugh!”

The knights, focusing on the trees, were suddenly pierced by the sprouting thorns.

Normally, these knights wouldn’t have been so easily overwhelmed, but the debuff devices scattered throughout the forest by Vess had hindered their movements.

“No!”

Swinging his sword, Bogo cut down the trees. However, after removing all the trees, all that remained were the knights lying on the ground, bleeding.

“…Good grief.”

“A royal knight, and yet so feeble?”

Bogo glared at the hunter.

“…I have no choice.”

Kwoong

“Never did I think I’d have to use this power for the likes of a mere bodyguard, not even the demon king’s daughter, while carrying out this mission.”

Bogo raised his sword, closed his eyes, and gathered strength.

“Feel the glory of the empire with your own eyes! And kneel before that sublime power!”

…?

“What is that?”

An unidentified force enveloped Bogo’s body. Even Vess, who had experienced all sorts of things as a mercenary, was witnessing something entirely new.

Bogo’s body turned pale.

And an overwhelming pressure could be felt.

Vess, who had faced numerous sword masters, felt a pressure unlike any other emanating from Bogo’s body.

Flash

The moment Bogo opened his eyes, his new form disappeared.

“I missed his movement?”

And right in front of Vess, he revealed his appearance.

Kwaang

Bogo swung his bright sword at Vess.

Just like before, Vess drew his dagger to block the attack, but the dagger shattered, sending him flying backward.

“What is this?!”

Kwaang

Thrown back, Vess collided with a large rock, leaving a deep dent.

“The guy I faced a moment ago was at a level worth facing. Yet, in an instant, such a power-up?”

Wiping the blood from his mouth, Vess got up.

Approaching Vess slowly, Bogo’s eyes gleamed brightly.

Some kind of temporary physical enhancement technique, perhaps.

It’s a common type, but I’ve never seen one with such good performance.

Indeed, the power of the royal family.

The higher the level, the more difficult it becomes at an exponential rate.

Especially for a swordsman of Sword Master’s caliber, there was no need to say more.

Therefore, the state of Bo-geo, who had achieved an unbelievable increase in level, was hard for Vissus to believe.

Kwahng

Bo-geo, who discovered Vissus, leaped and swung his sword.

“Tchit.”

Quickly casting the Haste spell on his legs, Vissus narrowly avoided the attack.

At this speed, he couldn’t avoid the remaining traps.

This is troublesome.

Vissus felt the pain in his chest intensifying.

Is it because he’s using magic?

There isn’t much time left.

He can’t let those guys take Bell.

I have to deal with this guy before I die.

Was it the profound power of the empire?

His remaining magic and equipment.

Seeing Bo-geo approaching, Vissus organized his thoughts and leaped into the air.

Kwahng

Continuing to strike down with his sword, Bo-geo approached.

Even avoiding the attacks was difficult for Vissus.

Just a little more…!

How much time has passed?

The cave entrance gradually came into view.

Avoiding Bo-geo’s attacks, Vissus confirmed that he was almost at his destination.

Gradually reaching his limit.

It’s difficult to avoid any more attacks.

With this attack!

Kwahng

Using the recoil from Bo-geo’s attack, Vissus flew into the interior of the cave.

Thud

Vissus, thrown high, tumbled into the interior of the cave.

Kwahng

Following, Bo-geo’s sword struck where he had fallen, but Vissus rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack.

“You’re quite good at dodging like a rat! But now, it’s the end!”

Bo-geo raised his sword again to strike.

Hmm…

“…What’s this?”

But his sword glow faded, and he concealed his form.

“Hmph.”

Vissus slowly stood up.

“This is a natural anti-magic space. It’s a cave where magic cannot be used.”

A naturally formed special environment.

The unique energy and terrain of the cave created a special space that interfered with the flow of magic.

It was also a cave frequently used by Vels and Bell for training.

“An anti-magic space. Is this your doing?”

Vorgo unsheathed his sword.

“But just because there’s no magic, do you think you can win?”

Vorgo corrected his sword and rushed towards Vels.

“Right. I think I can win.”

Ping

An arrow flew from somewhere and pierced Vorgo’s leg.

“…Ugh!”

Due to his long experience as a mercenary, Vels always had the habit of being prepared.

He had set up several traps in the cave just in case.

“I never thought I’d have to use the traps in this cave like this.”

Recently, the need for this cave had disappeared, and it was being used for Bell’s training purposes.

Thanks to Vels’ magic, arrows were shot in a predetermined direction.

“You!”

Ping ping

Arrows continued to pour down.

“Ugh!”

Vorgo wrapped his body with his arms and legs to block the arrows, but the continuous attacks caused his armor to break and injuries to accumulate on his body.

“Haste. Strength. Reverse Gravity….”

Vels drew a dagger from his bosom and made a pact with a spirit.

“This will be checkmate.”

At the moment Vels was about to deliver the final blow.

“Aaaah!”

“…Bell?”

Behind Vorgo, Bell revealed herself and stabbed Vorgo with a dagger.

As Bell could get hurt, Vels stopped the arrow barrage.

With newfound freedom of movement, Vorgo grabbed Bell in mid-air.

“It’s her!”

No.

Bell.

Thud

Vorgo threw Bell to the ground.

Bell tried to get up, but the shock from earlier had weakened her legs, causing her to fall again.

“Our original goal was to take you to the high priestess as a sacrifice.”

And he aimed the sword at her.

“It seems like it’s going to be tough. Die here, enemy of the Demon King!”

Bogeo’s sword fiercely shot towards Bel.

“Ugh!”

I’m going to die!

At the moment when Bel was sure she couldn’t avoid the attack because she couldn’t put any strength into her legs.

Crack

A sturdy back blocked her path.

“…Huh.”

Bogeo’s sword pierced through Varsus’s chest, blocking the space between Bogeo and Bel.

“…Master?”

“Huuaaah!”

Varsus, pierced by Bogeo’s sword, wielded a small dagger imbued with numerous spells.

Kwaaang

As Bogeo, hit by the attack, was torn apart, pieces of flesh scattered.

“…Haah, haah.”

Thud

With the sword stuck in her chest, Varsus knelt down.

“M-Master!”

Bel, with a pale face, rushed to her.

“Master! A-Are you okay?”

“…Haha. Why that expression? Your wish is finally coming true.”

Varsus, with narrowed eyes, wiped the tears from Bel’s cheeks.

“Sob… That’s nonsense. I said I would kill him. Not this strange guy….”

“Hahaha. I see. You were supposed to die where you weren’t. But somehow, it turned out like this.”

“Don’t die…! I-I’m supposed to kill you! So don’t die! You promised to make me strong!”

“That’s right. There’s still much to teach you…”

If I leave like this, can this child survive?

“Stop talking…”

Bel began to sob, clinging to Varsus’s chest.

“Bel… There isn’t much time…”

Feeling that her life was truly at stake, Varsus called out to Bel.

“Hihan?”

“It’s an important promise… A promise with this master… Can you do it?”

“….”

“Bel!”

Varsus urged.

“W-What promise is it?”

“For now… just say you’ll promise… Hurry!”

“….Yes. I promise.”

Varsus’s expression relaxed upon hearing Bel’s answer.

Was it called the pact of the demons?

This should be fine.

“Alright then… live, Belle. You must live…”

Thud

The hand of Viresse, who barely managed to utter those last words, fell limp.

Aaaahhh

In a dark cave,

Within it, the chilling cries of a girl sobbing next to a cold corpse echoed.