episode_0033

Why did it turn out like this?

I asked… I expected too much from you.

Just seeing you made me realize that I wasn’t alone, and I felt relieved, so I only thought in a positive way.

So….

I foolishly expected too much on my own.

Without knowing anything about you.

Alone!

Maybe we could be together….

Frustrating. Ugh….

“I feel really dirty.”

I pulled my left hand up to my shoulder.

Aimed where the knife was.

The lightning spear held in my left hand flashed.

I can’t use magic. Only mana. It’s time to pour out all the combat and training experience I’ve accumulated. Everything except for magic.

The sword is definitely strong. Not favorable due to the holy sword.

But in the original work, the sword wasn’t overwhelmingly strong from the beginning of the academy. He was a growth-type protagonist… with a bit of talent and item luck. Of course, relatively speaking compared to the middle of the novel.

Anyway… It’s doable!

Shwook-!

Threw the lightning spear with all my might.

Mana had already surrounded my body to complete physical reinforcement. During knight department sparring, I restricted mana, but I don’t need such restraints now. Because my opponent won’t go easy on me.

The sword straightened as before, spreading waves of light.

The spear of lightning tried to vanish against those waves. As expected.

I ran towards the sword and unleashed a new spell.

Frozen Orb.

Pavabat-!

In the blind spot of the classroom ceiling, the Frozen Orb created began to rotate, shooting numerous ice fragments.

He sensed the magical waves targeting him, precisely the gathering of mana in the classroom airspace. It was natural to him, like breathing. It was his talent.

Before he knew it, he raised the holy sword to change the direction of the waves. The waves widened, blocking the ice fragments pouring in from all sides. Once again, it was the power of the holy sword. Yes, the power of the holy sword.

The odds were in my favor.

I suddenly reached the sword like slipping. He was holding up the Holy Sword, full of flaws. I chose one and stabbed my right hand’s ice spear into it.

But the sword quickly adjusted its posture and blocked the spear with the Holy Sword. It was an unbelievably fast movement. But his face showed tension and confusion.

“Well, let’s just say it out loud!!”

“Ugh….”

I withdrew the ice spear with both hands. I infused mana and changed the shape of the ice. The spear turned into a sword, making a freezing sound.

Frozen Blade.

I infuse mana directly into the blade of ice. I reinforce it as much as possible to push back the Holy Sword. I can’t afford to create more distance or give time. I must not allow the Holy Sword to use the power of light!

Clang! Clang!

The Frozen Blade, filled with mana, clashed with the Holy Sword, creating a sound of mana dispersing from the impact. It meant that the power generated by both swords was strong.

The power of the weapons is balanced.

This guy still can’t fully draw out the power of the Holy Sword. It’s the beginning of the novel, so it can’t be helped. And… maybe he hasn’t had separate training either!

Now, what’s left is close combat.

I can’t use the power of the royal family, and the sword can’t send out the Holy Sword’s energy from a distance. What determines the outcome is swordsmanship. The strength of a knight. I’ve endured pain until now in case something like this happens. The pinnacle of swordsmanship built up against Blair or the Viscount.

Strengthening myself as a knight was not only to hide the true identity of the royal family, proficient in magic, but also a means to become stronger.

Relying solely on the power of the royal family, relying solely on magic has limitations. I have prepared for encountering extreme opposition such as the Holy Sword. Unlike those who have lived comfortably according to the original work!!

“If this is all you’ve got, then me..!?”

“Cough..!”

Karl seemed overwhelmed as he continuously defended against my attacks, showing no room for a counterattack.

He moved instinctively rather than knowing and blocking. He swung the sword as his body moved, without understanding the principles of swordsmanship or changing the trajectory of the sword.

In other words, the possessed guy’s skill is not keeping up with the physical capabilities of the sword.

This guy is a natural talent.

His insane reaction speed, mana sensitivity, and innate amount of mana, hidden by it all, meant that his current swordsmanship was embarrassing compared to Kuro’s.

Somehow… there was a reason he had been able to just swing his sword around with the Holy Sword. If he had used the Holy Sword until now, most enemies would have fallen. There was no need to get into close combat!

The original Kal Meinert didn’t fight like you, you fool…!!!

Thunk-!

I pushed the guy who was holding back my sword with force. The sword’s center of gravity shifted, and it was pushed back. His posture collapsed. I didn’t miss the opportunity and, with the hand not holding the sword, I cast a spell.

Shock Wave.

With a bang, before he could even block with the Holy Sword, the shockwave reached him. He couldn’t block it and was thrown far away.

Kal’s uniform was torn in many places, and the Holy Sword slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground.

Now is the chance.

Perhaps an opportunity that won’t come again.

I leaped forward as if possessed, showing abilities that were absolutely impossible before the possession. I covered quite a distance in one leap.

Towards the man groaning in pain.

Towards the fallen sword.

Instinct screams. Kill him now, if you don’t eliminate him, he will be a great threat.

I have to kill him.

Kill him.

Kill him.

Kill him.

Kill him!!

Only the image of Kal being soaked in blood comes to mind. I can make it happen. I can remove the owner of the Holy Sword…!!

I grasped the ice-made sword and prepared to pierce his heart the moment I landed on the ground.

I’m sorry.

For revenge, I have no choice. No, I have no choice but to survive… So, I’m really sorry.

– Villain Yeongae… You’re not that kind of person, are you?

In a fleeting moment, their eyes met. Eyes tainted with pure terror. A face drained of color. Not the extraordinary being of a novel’s protagonist, but the face of an ordinary human. A desperate cry of a soul resisting impending death.

“Kyaaah!”

“…!?”

Thud!

The tip of the drawn sword struck the floor of the classroom, not his heart. In the final moment, the trajectory of the sword changed. Hesitation, my weakness, couldn’t kill him. I simply couldn’t kill him.

The scream from earlier… belonged to the reader. The possessed reader of Carl Mayner. A pitiful person drawn into the novel like me. Perhaps, it was the first time they spoke with their true voice after possession. Not the acting reader of Carl Mayner, but the true owner of the soul.

Yes, it was an endlessly tender and fragile voice. Unbelievable as the scream of Carl Mayner. I couldn’t bring myself to kill him.

“Phew….”

“Ugh..!”

Approaching him, centered around his right hand holding the embedded sword and his left foot slightly kneeling to support the weight, I drew closer. I looked down at the fallen Carl Mayner.

His appearance was different from what I had seen during the brief encounters at the academy. Different, but not unwelcome.

So this is the real you.

You resemble me in some way… just like when I first encountered the Inquisition and that day, me…

Swish-

Pulling out the sword from the ground, I also raised my body. There was still unfinished business. I turned towards the classroom entrance.

Staggering, I looked at the sword. He, who had raised his upper body, was staring at me with a vacant expression.

….

“You just died once. Remember that.”

“……”

There were many things I wanted to say, but I held back. It must have been hard for him too. To survive in this cruel novel, he must have used the memories of the original work…

He knew that I had messed up everything. The appearance of the unknown, saving people, our encounter happening too quickly, Fabian escaping. Everything had changed. There was no longer a correct answer that the possessor, Carl Mayner, needed to follow to survive here.

Feeling awkward.

I hope you can overcome this trial. I really do. Because you’re one of the only two hosts.

Yeah.

The fact that I couldn’t stab you, the fact that my heart feels so uncomfortable, and the fact that I want you to return to your usual relaxed self… it’s all because you’re a host like me. There’s no other reason.

No other…

There shouldn’t be any other reason.

I walked towards the entrance as if reciting a spell. I was exhausted from the fight with the sword. It wasn’t a very long fight.

It must mean that I was so tense and emotionally drained. It’s the first time I’ve fought using all my abilities. That’s why it’s so hard.

Now, pull yourself together.

Fabian is still at the academy. We have to stop him before he unleashes something terrible with Eligos’ horn. It’s not over yet.

The new episode I’m writing was racing toward its end.