episode_0046

Teveston shouted towards Macderas.

“Wh… Who are you? Do you happen to know that scoundrel, Raykan?”

Seeing Macderas’ overly aggressive attitude, Teveston wondered if he might be someone related to him in a position of authority. Rolling on the ground, he began to grovel. However, upon hearing Macderas’ response, there was no need for that.

“I don’t know the man. Furthermore, I do not possess the noble authority you seem to think I have. If we must categorize, I am a commoner. But why? Is that an issue for you?”

“You bastard!”

As Macderas finished his reply, the man tried to gather himself and attack again. However, he was swiftly kicked by Macderas and tumbled to the ground once more. Groaning in pain, Teveston shouted to those around him.

“Why are you just standing there watching! Kick that bastard’s ass!”

Only then did the onlookers who were standing idly by start to move. Unfortunately, their attacks did not reach Macderas.

“Come on… Hit him!”

The men swung their fists, but Macderas effortlessly dodged them all with swift movements. He then delivered precise strikes to their jaws.

Thud

With each swing of Macderas’ fist, one person after another collapsed to the ground.

“I… I can’t fight. I can’t fight this kind of person!”

When seven people had fallen unconscious, the remaining individuals fled. Sadly, Teveston, the ruffian, was not a good leader. When faced with danger, others found their escape routes and left.

Now, all that remained were the unconscious bodies, Teveston, and Raykan whom he had been tormenting.

As Macderas quietly looked at Raykan, he spoke up.

“Thank you… for helping me, thank you…”

Instead of acknowledging the gratitude, Macderas posed a question.

“Do you feel wronged?”

Raykan, without answering but looking at Teveston beside him, could tell from his expression that he was crumbling inside.

“If you feel wronged, strengthen yourself. Even without using magic, you can win in combat as much as you want. If there is something you want to protect, put in the effort and cultivate the willpower required.”

Placing his hand gently on Teveston’s shoulder, Macderas added,

“Do not lose your current mindset. When something precious comes into your life, the desire to protect it propels a person endlessly forward. Social status, innate magical abilities, none of that matters. What truly matters is willpower.”

“I appreciate it, but… nothing like that is important. You were able to defeat Teveston simply because you were strong…”

Raykan hit the nail on the head. However, Macderas promptly countered.

“What you say isn’t entirely wrong. But initially, I wasn’t born with this strength. Above all, I intervened in this battle because you wanted to fight to protect something. I admire people like that. If you want to break free from torment, strengthen yourself. That is the only way.”

At that moment,

“Damn it… this despicable commoner making people like this…”

Teveston’s face contorted as he viciously charged towards Macderas. His target was clear. He secretly cast a spell he had prepared.

In an instant, chains conjured by magic began to rush in from both sides with a swishing sound. They aimed to restrain Macderas’ movements and then mercilessly beat him.

Macderas thwarted the man’s magic by swinging his sword.

“This is ridiculous, damn it… Why… why would I, a lowly inspector like me…”

Teveston, who was charging forward, looked at Macderas with despair in his eyes. Macderas approached, staring blankly at the boy’s face.

“Now I see fear in your expression. When you were leaping around as if everything in the world belonged to you, when did you become afraid because someone stronger than you appeared? Ridiculous.”

As Macderas drew closer, the guy tried to turn and flee. However, Macderas swiftly cut the guy’s Achilles tendon with his sword.

Thud!

“Aaargh!”

“Damn it… Damn it… When my father comes… you will die… You will perish…”

“Oh, that does sound terrifying.”

Macderas emotionlessly severed the Achilles tendon of the guy’s other ankle. The guy’s screams echoed throughout.

Suddenly, someone came running from behind.

“Raykan!”

Macderas momentarily turned his head in that direction, thinking Teveston’s father had arrived. However, standing there was a familiar girl.

‘Levia?’

Suyangbudel, Levia, or Trangman’s unrequited love interest.

She ran here in disarray, tears streaming down her face, towards her crazed brother.

“Are you okay…? What’s going on, Raykan… I’ll protect you…”

Levia tearfully embraced her brother, who was a mess. Macderas simply watched the scene unfold.

After a few moments, Levia spoke to Macderas.

“Kael… Did you help him?”

Macderas remained silent. It was Raykan, buried in his sister’s embrace, who answered.

“He did help… He’s the one who brought down all those guys lying on the ground, including Teveston writhing on the floor.”

Assured by the boy’s words, Levia struck Kael’s chest and spoke.

“You said you wouldn’t help! You even told us not to talk to you in the future! But why are you risking yourself like this without a word!”

Looking at the fallen Teveston, Levia continued.

“He… he’s wearing noble clothes. Kael… he’ll face retaliation. He’ll definitely suffer terrible consequences… Why did you risk so much to help my brother…”

“Retaliation?”

Macderas immediately approached the fallen Teveston and forcefully stomped on his head with his foot, causing him to pass out.

“If you were afraid of retaliation, you wouldn’t have interfered in the first place. And you didn’t know he was your brother.”

“Does that make sense? You saw my brother’s picture before…”

“He might have pretended to have lost his memory.”

“…”

Levia looked into Kael’s eyes, pondering. Kael pretended to have lost his memory to avoid causing unnecessary emotional burden, to distance himself, and to reject numerous confessions. His refusal to help his sister, his cold demeanor at the academy—all acts, merely an act. Kael still cared for himself, regardless.

“Is this all because of me?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Do you think I’ll forgive you for doing such dangerous things because of me? Do you think I’ll accept your confession! Why did you do something so risky? You don’t know what happens when you get involved with nobles…?”

“Levia. Stop shouting. It’s echoing. And we’re already entangled with the nobles. It seems Teveston’s father, who will soon become a cripple, is on his way here.”

At Macderas’ words, Levia looked around as if coming to her senses.

“Run away.”

When the man didn’t respond, Levia shouted again.

“I said run. I won’t mention you.”

“What should I do?”

“I… I will tell you that I asked for your help. And I will never reveal your house or whereabouts. Don’t come to the academy, run away. If I can’t find you, I’m the only one responsible. It becomes what I predicted, in the noble family, they will hold me accountable. That’s how it will be done… Hurry and run away, Kael.”

Macderas stood still and spoke.

“Running away is something only weaklings do.”

“Nobles are different! Those people are not opponents you can handle with your swordsmanship! They might really kill you; those people have that level of power and authority! There were reasons why I couldn’t intervene even though I knew my younger sibling was being harassed!”

Levia hit Macderas’ chest hard while shouting.

“Please run away… You’ve worked hard and become stronger now… You can live without being harassed anymore, you can live as you wanted, with excellent sword skills recognized anywhere… Why risk your life here… Why just for me… I always rejected your confessions, why on earth…”

“It’s an excess of self-consciousness. I don’t feel romantic affection for you. And above all.”

Macderas gestured towards the outskirts.

“It’s already too late to run away.”

Loud voices of words crying out could be heard. Men wearing bright robes, surrounding a middle-aged man, started walking towards them.

He counted the numbers.

About 20 men, all wizards.

“Who did this?”

The middle-aged man at the center of that group, who seemed prominent at first glance, coldly questioned, wearing the bright emblem reserved for nobles on his chest.

As no one answered, he asked again, his voice distant.

“Whose doing is it that made my son like that?”

“I… I did it…”

Levia answered, holding Macderas and her younger brother Lycan’s hands and stepping back. However, with Levia’s slender body, she couldn’t shield the two men.

After pushing Levia’s hand away from his, Macderas stepped forward. Finally, he spoke to the man.

“I did it. I need to educate the kid a bit more. I almost killed him but held back when he called for his father. Still, I feel like I should leave some instructions behind.”

Suddenly, the man began laughing maniacally.

“Can’t you see the mark on my chest? Can’t you feel the mana of the wizards around? Unless you want to commit suicide, what’s with this ridiculous attitude? Kneel and beg, even if it’s not enough, why this absurd behavior now? If you kneel and beg right now, I’ll spare one arm or leg.”

Desperately grabbing Macderas’ clothes, Levia tried to stop him. But Macderas shook her off and spoke again.

“I know what I want to say. Kneel down like a dog and beg for forgiveness.”

Upon hearing Macderas’ words, Viscount Theron raised his hand and spoke.

“You despicable wretch.”

A mental magic spell was cast in an instant. The man used magic and sneered.

“You will witness the most dreadful moment of your life repeated tens, hundreds, thousands of times. Even if you cry and beg to stop, it’s too late now.”

Macderas analyzed the spell being cast. It was a type he was familiar with. A magic known as trauma. A spell that stimulates the opponent’s trauma to induce mental contamination.

Regrettably, Macderas knew how to reverse that magic. However, this time, he chose not to.

“Link.”

Instead, with a brief word, he connected the man’s and his own minds. From now on, the trauma Macderas experienced would be shared with Viscount Theron.

“Just thought he was an idiot, turns out he knows how to use magic. But it doesn’t matter. He’s just a kid. Your trauma won’t taint my mind in the slightest.”

As the man shouted, the Trauma Magic was cast.

In an instant, the surroundings were engulfed in darkness.

Macderrus, staring blankly at the sky, expressionless and detached.

Drawn by his trauma, Teron looked around.

“Please… Please spare me…”

“Enough… Enough… I surrender… Please…”

The screams of countless people, blood saturating the battlefield, and the putrid stench of corpses wafting through the air like a sharp stab to the nose.

Teron trembled as he gazed at Macderrus. Macderrus spoke emotionlessly.

“Did you think my trauma would bring forth childhood pains or something?”

Macderrus, clad in a massive robe and wielding a staff with seemingly unreasonable mana concentration.

Realizing something was amiss, Lord Teron desperately turned to flee somewhere. However, in this vast battlefield, there was no escape route.

Thud… Thud…

Lord Teron, fleeing in terror, halted his steps in excruciating pain, staring blankly at the sky.

From above, crimson rain was falling.