episode_0200

A nauseating smell of blood filled the air.

No, perhaps my expression had been contorted even before I used the [Transfer] magic.

The scene around Yuri and Nyx, as confirmed by Oracle, was simply too horrific.

It was fortunate I’d run on foot instead of taking the Aither Temple carriage.

Absolute speed was faster, and I didn’t get motion sickness.

I immediately swung my hand, knocking away the man’s arm that had Yuri by the throat.

Whizz—

But the man released his grip and quickly retreated even before that.

“Yuri, are you alright?”

“Ugh— Yes, but more than that—”

“I know.”

I looked around at the area heavy with the scent of blood.

It was clearly the magic instructor from Amelia’s department, the one with the bobbed hair who had always followed the department head well.

Every time her body, slumped on the ground, convulsed with ragged breaths, droplets of blood spurted out.

Whoosh—

I took a step towards the instructor.

Closing the distance with [Myeongyeongbobeop], I reached her in a single stride.

“Ugh— …Ugh…Hack—”

“Calm down, and just hold your breath for a moment.”

I covered her body with Aether to stop the bleeding, then immediately used [Transfer] magic to send her to the inside of the carriage, where the tires were likely damaged.

If she awakened the true power of a saint, even a dying patient could be saved.

Whoosh—

Once again, I stepped between Yuri and the dark-haired man.

He was still keeping his distance, glaring at us.

“Who are you?”

“You are Narias Philbrogue. I’m not stupid enough to challenge someone of your caliber.”

“No, I asked who you are.”

He looked like an assassin.

Loose, wide-legged pants, cinched at the ankles for ease of movement. A thin top clung to his muscles, seeming to effortlessly deflect even the wind’s resistance.

The man then took a step back and bowed his head.

“If I say… , will you understand?”

“You… you guys again?”

I’m getting a little sick of this.

Every time something happens, it’s Moriarty, and those named individuals have the most middle-school-esque naming sense.

“Just die.”

I scattered the Aether gathered at my fingertips, unleashing a long, piercing strike.

A simplified technique of Myeongyeong Sword Technique 2, Heavenly Gale, which cuts regardless of distance; the moment I swung my hand, the man’s body should have been severed.

Swish—!

However, he quickly lowered his upper body, deflecting the Aether strike across his abdomen.

A crescent-shaped, pure white wave flew far away, cutting down the trees behind him.

“…Impressive power. But that’s all.”

Bang—!

In the blink of an eye, the man’s form scattered and vanished.

It wasn’t magic.

He had escaped at an impossible speed using superhuman agility.

But I saw him.

I saw him, so I noticed.

‘It’s not like Transfer magic.’

If his only advantage is speed, I can just move just as quickly.

I converted Aether into wind attribute, enveloping my body in a speed-focused Myeongyeong Armor.

I thrust off the ground with immense force.

***

, Felt Watson, ran at full speed.

His objective wasn’t the assassination of his brother, nor a battle with his sister, Narias.

It was simply impossible.

Narias Philbrogue—no, Narita Florine Nifrantz—was Moriarty’s greatest and most powerful enemy; someone under constant surveillance.

‘I’ll cross the outskirts of the Bewitching Forest and return.’

This mission was assigned to Felt because he possessed the greatest speed among Moriarty’s named individuals: a combatant specialized in assassination and escape.

Absorbing magic into his body, he gained speed that surpassed sound. Agility and dynamic eyesight pushing the limits of human capability.

Running at full speed, he could reach Nifrantz Academy from Moriarty’s base in less than an hour, but he couldn’t maintain that speed for an entire hour.

He would put some distance between them to shake off pursuit, then slow down somewhat to make his return journey. That was Felt’s plan.

However, there are no perfect plans.

Kaboom—!!!

‘—?!’

A deafening roar exploded from the faraway Tara Plains. He glanced behind him for a moment, then looked forward again.

“Give me your hand.”

He was slammed to the ground, his head cracking against Nari’s heel as she attacked from above.

Thump—!!

“Ugh— Cough—”

Felt, rolling through the dense bushes, gasped and coughed up blood.

Countless thoughts raced through his mind.

How did she close that distance instantly? My current location… no, location isn’t important. If I was caught even at this speed, there’s only one solution.

‘Go all out—!’

Crack—

Dragging his toes across the earth, he forcefully pushed himself up.

‘Accelerate!’

As he drew on his magic, Felt’s vision expanded.

His unique magic, [Acceleration], pushed his physical senses to the limit to achieve incredible speed.

Using his thighs, bulging with strain, he powerfully thrust off the ground.

He shot out like a bullet, tearing through the air.

Weeeooooosh—

The swaying grass blades seemed to fall slowly, as if frozen in mid-air. Touched by Felt’s coat, they split in two as if cut by a sword.

Such was his speed. The surrounding world seemed to slow down, leaving him moving at normal speed— a bizarre illusion.

‘This speed is unmatched—’

Then, when he looked behind him…

Nari was following closely behind him at a slightly faster speed.

Her lips moved, as if speaking.

Flap-Flap-

‘Give me your hand’

The next moment, Felt tumbled through the undergrowth, falling quite a distance.

Nari’s hand loomed before him, holding his right wrist flailing like a live octopus.

Whoosh—!

The [Acceleration] wore off, and his senses returned.

“You shouldn’t have touched my woman’s hand without fearing the consequences.”

What happened?

[Acceleration] pushes speed to human limits. Being faster… that’s beyond human.

“What business do you have with Yuri? Do you want to die?”

“Kkuk—”

“…Laughing?”

“You…you know nothing…”

None of that matters. In the end, everything in this world exists on a level in which humans can only make some level of change.

A pure white blade filled Felt’s vision, which was tilting to the side.

“It’s all your fault… Narita King—”

Whoosh—

…

…

…

A moment later, Felt opened his eyes.

“Gasp—!!”

He’d gone beyond death, but that didn’t mean he was used to it. The feeling of his head exploding from the intense blade energy still seemed to linger in his spine.

He caught his breath and looked around.

A dark room. His twin brother, Lloyd, eyes gleaming.

“Did you fail?”

“…That’s how it turned out. The princess’ return was far faster than expected—”

“As the Seeker predicted.”

Felt slowly clenched and unclenched his fists.

As long as one of them lived, Felt and Lloyd would not die. The day they received magic, their souls were bound together, granting them near-immortality.

Slowly checking his revived body beside Lloyd, he rose from the bed.

“Let’s go report.”

“Understood.”

They left the room and walked down the hallway.

Moriarty’s base, , outwardly resembled a large mansion.

The Watsons typically operated on the ground floor of that mansion.

But when carrying out Moriarty’s missions, they always went underground.

Like the massive base of an iceberg submerged in the sea, the mansion’s basement was the ’s true form.

Thump-thump-

Descending the long, unending circular staircase, a vast space unfolded before them.

A colossal airship, built with the latest magic engineering technology. Mobile magic artillery platforms clad in heavy armor. Infantry units undergoing training.

All the capital, technology, and manpower Moriarty had accumulated for the approaching “Day of Promise” resided within .

Felt and Lloyd walked along its periphery.

Weaving through the salutes showered upon the two named individuals, they soon arrived at the center.

The Seeker’s chamber lay at the deepest point, But, not having been called, as mere new named individuals, they couldn’t simply go there.

Felt approached a soldier standing in the hallway.

“I’m here to report my mission. Where is he?”

“Attention. The Seeker is currently in the torture chamber.”

“Understood. Thank you for your service.”

The torture chamber. The word instantly brought to mind what must be happening.

Descending another floor via the staircase, the scent of blood wafted gently towards them.

Crack-Crack-

At the door, from which the sound of flesh being ripped by a whip emanated, Felt quietly knocked and retreated two steps.

“ and .”

“Enter.”

The Seeker’s voice, laden with thick magic, soon arrived. He and Lloyd entered the torture chamber.

Drip-drip-

In the center, a girl with pale sky-blue hair was slumped over, her limbs bound. Her snow-white skin was mostly exposed, and it was scarred, drenched in crimson blood.

The blood flowing down her smooth cleavage and pubis had pooled on the floor, creating a veritable puddle; the bleeding was severe.

Before her was Moriarty’s torture technician. She too was naked, one hand gripping a whip and the other holding the girl’s chin raised.

Felt and Lloyd bowed before the Seeker sitting some distance away.

“I’ve already confirmed the situation. The princess appeared at the crucial moment.”

“We apologize, Seeker.”

“No, you needn’t bow your heads.”

Seeker, Duke Darius, slowly turned his gaze to the girl stained in blood.

“It’s simply the fault of that foolish woman… still unaware of her place.”

He then raised his hand, signaling to the technician.

“Kukuk… Understand, Seeker.”

She was slightly unhinged. Most torture technicians were, but when tormenting beautiful women, their eyes particularly took on a frantic gleam.

She roughly pulled the girl’s chin, forcing eye contact, then started stroking the girl’s wounds.

“Ugh—”

“Just… Just stay like that. It will—”

Crack—

She violently squeezed the girl’s chest, already torn, and blood gushed out from between her fingers.

“It makes taming you… so much fun…♡”

Eve gritted her teeth.