episode_0046

Upon closer examination, it was a prejudice to think that the Black Magic Sect did not use magic.

Of course, many who detest magic might have joined the Black Magic Sect.

Black magic, an energy created by sacrificing human lives, can achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary magic.

Historical books borrowed from the Ariel Academy’s magic library shed light on the history of ancient ancestors who fought against black magicians.

Powerful curse-based debuff spells.

Necromancy that raises the dead as undead.

Mind-controlling spells that manipulate the minds of demons, and more.

There could very well be mages or knights who seek forbidden powers beyond mere strength.

Hence, it was possible to conclude, through evidence and intuition, that the person before them was not simply incapable of using magic.

I had seen her swordsmanship in class several times.

Even if she tried to hide it, I couldn’t help but notice.

“Why have you been hiding such swordsmanship at the academy?”

…The moment my words became true through her response.

***

“Sian Brace. The troublemaker of Brace Kingdom… You changed right after starting school, so I didn’t recognize you at first.”

“….”

She smiles while wetting her hood.

A smile she always showed to students in the classroom.

It was a smile filled with the teacher’s broad heart and character.

I never imagined it was artificially crafted.

To maintain my depleted stamina, I needed to circulate the mana within me.

And I needed to understand why she was involved with the Black Magic Sect.

“…Are you willing to resort to taking lives to solve your problems?”

“Yes. I must kill that person.”

“…?”

Laura pointed her finger somewhere.

It was Rosaria who had fallen.

“What is the reason?”

“The child doesn’t need to know all the adults’ affairs. More importantly, have you rested enough?”

“….!”

Did she catch on…?

“Hand over the princess. In return, I’ll spare you. I feel uneasy about killing a student myself.”

“Is Rosaria not your student, Professor?”

“…Sigh.”

Laura shook her head slightly.

Finally, she lightly touched the sword in its scabbard with one hand… or so I thought.

Laura dashed forward at a frightening speed.

“You brought this upon yourself.”

She stepped forward.

A precise step with no room for error.

A swordsmanship based on short blades.

As soon as she drew her sword from its sheath, a fierce storm of strikes came crashing down.

-Clang clang clang!

-Shaaaah!

…I couldn’t react to all of them.

Her sword was so fast, flashing like lightning, that I was struck several times in the lower body.

I could barely evade crucial joint areas and vital spots.

“Gah….”

I adjusted my stance, blood trickling, was all I could manage.

Seemingly uninterested in wasting any more time, she exhaled sharply.

Standing before me, she rested one hand on her waist without raising her sword.

“It might get dangerous if we continue.”

“….”

Our current levels were vastly different.

She was a Sword Master, likely mid-6th tier at worst…

I was barely scraping the end of the 3rd tier.

The odds of winning were slim.

‘But, if I land one blow…’

If I land one blow, I might buy enough time to escape.

Laura was unaware of my level.

Unless she was a genius like Aria in swordsmanship, she probably wouldn’t even consider a student reaching the 3rd tier.

Emil would have used Aura from the start and swiftly ended it cautiously.

If she’s letting her guard down now…

“Persistent. Why are you so concerned about that person?”

“My tongue feels numb.”

“……”

Instantly, her demeanor changed.

“Troublesome students must be dealt with properly by teachers….”

As soon as the words ended,

She fiercely attacked again.

Reacting with all my might to the swift sword strikes coming at me.

-Kagagakang!

Swords clashed against each other,

I continued to parry the sword that couldn’t clash.

Her relentless attacks conveyed a determination to see it through to the end.

‘Yes… If it continues like this…!’

Anticipating the end of the current exchange and the start of the next one.

The gap in the mixed swordsmanship.

Timing the cancellation of one exchange to follow up with another.

Aiming for that moment to extend the path of my sword towards her after canceling an exchange, catching her off guard!

‘…Now!’

I squeezed out the magic of the single strike.

It was a fleeting moment that felt like slow motion, lasting only a few seconds.

A blue aura made of my magic poured out from the sword handle I held.

-Hwaaa!

And then.

“……!”

She, surprised, belatedly activated her own aura.

‘It’s already too late. Professor…!’

My aura reached her first.

-Tuquahak!

My aura slashed her side.

“Kkuk!”

Unexpectedly, she let out a small groan and staggered.

Now is the time.

Swiftly turning around, I leaped forward with all my might after knocking down the fallen Rosaria.

Suppressing my aura and channeling all remaining magic into physical abilities.

Without looking back.

The scenery changed rapidly before my eyes.

Running faster than the water flowing underground, creating an illusion of the water standing still.

“Huff, huff, huff…!”

Gradually, the end of the underground passage came into view.

I reached the end.

It was an exit passage leading to a staircase.

-Tadadadak!

I swiftly crossed the stairs and emerged outside.

Finally, instead of an artificially crafted stone ceiling, I saw the dawn sky.

A dark, cloudless deep dawn sky.

“Huff…”

Taking a breath and surveying the surroundings, the landscape was a sparse plain dotted with weeds.

In the distance, the lights of Hongdeungado were visible.

Perhaps this was the outskirts before entering the village.

Having run this far.

‘I can’t let my guard down! I didn’t inflict a fatal blow…!’

Just as I was about to continue fleeing.

For a moment, a chill ran down my spine.

Death.

Every instinct in me recognized that it was just 1 second away.

Along with the pressure on my shoulders, I sensed something flying towards me at tremendous speed.

Instinctively turning around to block with my sword.

-Kwajak!

‘Huh…?’

My sword broke weakly.

Realizing the danger, I surrounded my sword with aura.

However, it seemed futile against a denser and more advanced aura.

As our auras collided, my sword shattered beyond recognition.

Urgently throwing Rosaria aside, I twisted my body to dodge the incoming aura.

-Tuquaguaguaguaguaguaguaguag!

Dodging it, her aura created a tremendous roar as it cleaved the ground upon impact.

The earth caved in a straight line.

A shiver ran down my spine.

If I hadn’t dodged at the last moment.

I couldn’t imagine being alive and breathing like this now.

“Die.”

She, who had been slicing the ground like tofu, swung her sword emitting aura towards me diagonally.

This cannot be stopped.

My sword was broken, and even if I dodged, Rosaria behind me would be in danger due to the shockwave.

‘There’s no other choice…!’

I had planned to use my magic extensively only in the direst situation.

If my magic ran out, I would be unable to move as well.

If I failed, everything would turn to nothing.

But if this wasn’t the direst moment, what could possibly be? It was time to make a decision.

With a swift motion, as I pulled it out from my waist.

-Flash!

A blue light shimmered.

The once dark dawn now gleamed brightly, illuminating the space we occupied as if it were broad daylight.

Squeak-.

My ears felt muffled.

I didn’t know what had happened.

But one thing was clear.

Gold adorned Laura’s sword.

“…?!”

She was taken aback.

When swords of different calibers clash, the lower-ranked blade is supposed to break when they collide. It’s common sense.

However, my sword remained intact.

Because, in the first place, there was no sword to break.

What I held was the essence of a blade itself.

-Clangclangclangclangclang!

The clash of blades continued relentlessly.

-Swish.

Laura’s sword couldn’t hold up.

Its durability was being worn down.

What would happen if you kept subjecting a material to impacts without a target to break?

The material would shatter.

“What…!”

Laura, sensing something amiss, hurriedly tried to pull back her sword.

But I had no intention of just standing by.

“Aaargh!”

-Clangclangclangclangclang!

With the momentum to strike as soon as she withdrew her sword,

I pressed on relentlessly.

In response, Laura’s sword made a cracking sound. Crack. Snap.

-Shatter!

“…?!”

“…!”

In the end, it broke.