chapter 20
Disciple (4)
What on earth is this man!
The commander of the royal knights couldn’t believe his eyes at the scene unfolding before him.
The handpicked elite knights of the empire.
Those knights were being pushed back by just one shabby man who appeared to be a mere hunter.
Crackling
“What are you doing? Don’t just stand there.”
The hunter spat out provocatively.
Thorns sprouted from the ground, attacking the knights.
…I’ve heard of this before.
During the Third Continental War, a whole Imperial division was annihilated by unknown thorns.
Could it be this creature?
This fight might become quite difficult.
*Cough cough!*
At that moment, the hunter suddenly coughed, causing his stance to falter.
Now’s the chance!
Bogeo charged towards the hunter, driving his sword into the ground.
Chae-aeng!
He thought it was the perfect opportunity, but the hunter pulled out a small dagger from his pocket and deflected his attack.
He wasn’t just an ordinary magician!
To think he could block his own attack in close combat!
Bogeo tensed up, gripping his sword tightly.
What’s going on? Wasn’t it supposed to get better?
Meanwhile, Vessus was smiling, but internally, he was flustered.
Just hold on for today.
It’s not the time to act like this when it’s important.
“Ha-a-a-a!”
Kwang!
Running forward, Bogo manifested his swordsmanship. Secretaryce dodged to the back and formed an alliance with Suin. But this is already my home ground.
Uwong.
The surrounding trees twisted and attacked the knights.
“aaah!”
“B-blood, be careful!”
Damn it.
This kid. Did he set up the magic knowing we would come?
Fighting in this state is dangerous.
“Everyone! Cut down the trees with your swords!”
Bogo reached out his hand and shouted.
“It won’t work like that.”
Secretaryce formed an alliance with Suin once again.
Ching.
Thorns sprouted towards the knights swinging their swords to cut down the trees.
“Argh!”
The knights, who were usually not so easily defeated, were pierced by the sudden thorns that emerged, as Secretaryce had set up numerous debuff devices in the forest to hinder their movements.
“No!”
Bogo swung his sword, felling the trees with vigor.
But when he cleared away all the trees, all that remained were the knights lying on the ground, bleeding.
“…..Damn.”
“He’s a knight of the royal palace. Weaker than I thought, huh?”
Bogo glared at the hunter.
“….Can’t be helped.”
Kwoong
“Did I really have to use this power for the likes of a mere bodyguard, not even the demon king’s daughter, during this mission?”
Bogo raised his sword upright, closed his eyes, and gathered his energy.
“Feel the glory of the empire with your own eyes! And kneel before that sublime power!”
…?
“What is that?”
An unidentified energy enveloped Bogo’s body.
Even for Vistus, who had seen all sorts of things during his time as a mercenary, this was a sight he had never seen before.
Bogo’s body turned pale.
And the overwhelming pressure he felt.
Vistus, who had faced countless sword masters, felt a different level of pressure emanating from Bogo’s body.
Flash
The moment Bogo opened his eyes, his divine form disappeared.
“Did I miss his movement?”
And in front of Vires, the figure revealed itself.
Quang
Bogerga swung the white sword towards Vires.
Just like before, Vires took out his short sword and blocked the attack, but the sword broke and sent him flying backwards.
“What is this!”
Quang
Vires, who was sent flying backwards, collided with a rock, leaving a large dent.
“The guy I met earlier was at a level that was worth facing. But to have this much power-up in an instant?”
Vires wiped the blood from his mouth and stood up.
Bogerga slowly walked towards Vires.
Vires noticed that his eyes were shining brightly.
Some kind of technique that temporarily strengthens the body.
It’s a common type that you often see, but I’ve never seen one with such good performance.
Indeed, the power of the royal family.
Generally, as the level of one’s cultivation increases, the difficulty of becoming stronger increases exponentially.
Not to mention someone as strong as a Sword Master, there’s no need to say anything more.
That’s why it was hard for Vires to believe the unbelievable rise in Bogerga’s state.
Quang
Bogerga, who spotted Vires, leaped and swung his sword down.
“Damn it.”
Secretary Vess, who quickly cast the Haste spell on his legs, narrowly managed to dodge the attack.
At this speed, the remaining traps won’t be able to stop him.
It’s getting difficult.
Vess felt the pain in his chest increasing.
Is it because he’s using magic?
There’s not much time left.
He can’t let those guys take the bell.
He has to deal with this before he dies.
The great power of the Empire, they said.
The magic power and the remaining equipment left to him.
And upon seeing the approaching figure of Bogo, Vess organized his thoughts and launched himself forward.
Quang
Bogo continued to swing his sword, approaching relentlessly.
Even dodging his attacks was a burden for Vess.
Just a little more…
Just a little further…!
How much time has passed?
The entrance to the cave gradually came into view.
As Vess dodged Bogo’s attacks and flew through the air, he confirmed that he was almost reaching his target.
His body gradually reaching its limits.
It is difficult to avoid any further attacks.
With this attack!
Kwang
Vissus used the recoil of the attacking waves that covered him to propel himself into the depths of the cave.
Thud
Vissus’s body, thrown high into the air, tumbled into the depths of the cave.
Kwang
The following moment, Booger’s sword struck down where Vissus had fallen, but Vissus rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack.
“You little rat, dodging so well! But that’s your last move!”
Booger raised his sword again, ready to strike.
Ooong…
“…What?”
However, his sword’s energy suddenly withered, concealing its form.
“Heh.”
Vissus slowly stood up.
“This is a natural anti-magic space. A cave where magic cannot be used at all.”
A specially created environment through natural means.
The unique energy and terrain of the cave hindered the flow of magic, making it a special space.
It was a cave that Vissus often used to train with Bell.
“An anti-magic space, huh? Is this your trump card?”
Boguh unsheathed his sword.
“But just because you have no magical powers, do you think you can win?”
Boguh adjusted his grip on the sword and charged towards Bissus.
“Yeah. I think I can win.”
Swoosh
An arrow flew from somewhere and pierced Boguh’s leg.
“…Ugh!”
Bissus always had a habit of being prepared due to his experience as a seasoned mercenary.
He had set up various traps in the cave in case of emergencies.
“I never thought I’d have to use the traps in this cave like this.”
Lately, the need for this cave had diminished, and it was being used for Bell’s training.
Thanks to Bissus’s magical power, the arrows were shot in the predetermined direction.
“You!”
Swoosh, swoosh
Arrows rained down one after another.
“Ugh!”
Boguh wrapped his arms and legs around his body to shield himself from the arrows, but the continuous attacks damaged his armor and inflicted injuries on his body.
“Haste. Strength. Reverse Gravity….”
Bissus drew a dagger from his bosom and made a pact.
“With this, it’s checkmate.”
In the moment when Vissus was about to deliver his final blow,
“Haahhh!”
“…Bell?”
Bell revealed herself from behind Bogeo and stabbed him with a dagger.
Knowing that Bell could be hurt, Vissus halted his arrow baptism.
Bogeo, now free from his trance, grabbed Bell in mid-air.
“So it’s you, b*tch!”
No.
Bell.
Thunk
Bogeo threw Bell to the ground.
Bell tried to get up, but the impact from earlier had weakened her legs, causing her to fall again.
“Originally, the plan was to take you to the Empress as a sacrifice.”
And he aimed his sword at her.
“It seems like it’ll be difficult. Die here, the Demon King’s enemy!”
Bogeo’s sword shot fiercely towards Bell.
“Ugh!”
I’m going to die!
As Bell was certain that she couldn’t dodge the attack due to her legs giving out,
Crack
A sturdy back stood in her way.
“…Hup.”
Boguh’s sword pierced through Secretary Seuss’s chest, blocking the path between Boguh and Bell.
“…Master?”
“Huhuhuhu!”
With the sword still lodged in his chest, Secretary Seuss swung a short sword infused with numerous concentrated spells.
Kwang!
As Bell was hit by the attack, Boguh was torn to shreds, scattering his flesh.
“…Haa, haa.”
Thud.
With the sword stuck in her chest, Secretary Seuss knelt down.
“M-Master!”
Bell, with a worried expression, rushed to her.
“Master! A-Are you okay?”
“…hahahaha. Why the long face? Your wish is finally coming true.”
Secretary Seuss, with narrowed eyes, gently wiped the tears from Bell’s cheeks.
“Sob… That’s such an unbelievable thing to say. I-I was the one who said I would kill him. Not some weirdo like this….”
“hahahahaha. That’s right. You should have died where you weren’t. But somehow, it ended up like this.”
“Don’t die…! I-I’m the one who’s going to kill you! So, don’t die! You said you would make me stronger!”
“That’s right. There’s still so much to teach you….”
Can this child survive if I leave like this?
“Don’t go….”
Bell began to cry, clinging to Veltus’ chest.
“Bell…. We don’t have much time.”
Feeling that his life was truly at stake, Veltus called out to Bell.
“Hihan?”
“It’s an important promise…. Can you make a promise with this master?”
“….”
“Bell!”
Veltus urged.
“W-What promise is it?”
“For now…. just say you promise…. quickly!”
“….Okay. I promise.”
Veltus’ expression relaxed upon hearing Bell’s answer.
It must be the pact of the demons.
It should be fine like this.
“Alright then…. Stay alive, Bell. You must live….”
Thud.
Veltus’ hand, barely able to utter those last words, fell limp.
aaahhhhh
Dark cave.
Inside, the cries of a girl mourning next to a cold corpse echoed.