The Male S*ave of the Count Sianella Family

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“Ray—”

It seems Shione is trying to say something with a serious atmosphere, but unfortunately, I couldn’t focus on her words.

That’s because five suspicious figures suddenly appeared, their black robes pulled low over their faces.

The appearance of these five obviously suspicious people could only mean one thing: the situation I was worried about had come to pass.

I kept my eyes on them, pulling out my sword without hesitation as I assumed a defensive stance, and Shione’s expression solidified at the sight of me.

“…Ray?”

Well, it looked like she was going to say something important by calling my name. It must be shocking to suddenly draw a sword, but it can’t be helped. If worse comes to worst, her life might be in danger.

I immediately moved close to Shione and pulled her towards me. I felt some resistance from her, probably due to the sword in my hand. But perhaps sensing my seriousness, she complied without a word.

“Why the sudden action?”

“Suspicious individuals have appeared.”

“Suspicious individuals?”

“Look over there.”

Shione turned to face the ones I was on guard against, and her gaze crossed with the first one approaching us.

Then, I heard the voice of a woman who locked eyes with Shione.

“From the emblem of the Shianella family engraved on the carriage to those silver hair… Surely, you’re one of Shianella’s people.”

She silently drew her sword. The well-maintained blade reflected the chill of the day.

“Although the incompetent second child does bother me a bit, if I were to summon a demon using you, the one who carries Shianella’s blood, what sort of being would appear?”

She pointed her sword at Shione and me, and a clear hostility poured out toward us.

“Don’t you think we can expect something interesting?”

She asked her comrades.

“Let’s hand her over to the Shaman quickly. Since she’s of Shianella blood, we should receive plenty of blessings.”

“Receiving blessings after a long time, how exciting, my fellow believers.”

From the moment I first saw them lurking in the corner, they exuded an even darker atmosphere than Shione, who was holed up in her room. Naturally, I felt reluctant, considering they were extolling demons in such a way.

Ignoring the ramblings of those fanatics, I looked at Shione.

Her expression was one of sheer disbelief, as if she couldn’t quite understand being treated as a sacrifice by these people. The look on her face was far from good.

At this rate, she probably couldn’t swing a sword properly. It seemed better for me to take a step back and protect her as best as I could.

“Step back. I will protect you.”

“Uh…?”

Seriously now. I just asked her to move back a bit so she could escape if need be. Seeing her freeze up like a goldfish was beyond infuriating.

Thud.

I gave her shoulder a light shove to move her back. Given the circumstances, a gentle nudge should be acceptable.

“Even though the second child is known for her incompetence, to think a male attendant would hide behind her. Quite the sight.”

The demon worshipper aiming her sword at us smirked with a wicked grin.

At that same moment, her stance shifted.

Swish!

She lunged at me with surprising speed—much faster than I anticipated.

…She seemed to have the skill level of a Sword User. If I tried to dodge her attack with my pure physical abilities, my stomach would end up with a hole in it.

I began to channel the tiny amount of mana I had stored in my heart.

One of my other talents: Spirit Magic.

I originally could use three elements, but now only wind remained. Even so, that should be more than enough to handle this pathetic individual.

I infused my body with Spirit Magic. It felt as though a gentle breeze brushed across my cheek, and at that moment, my body felt lighter than ever.

“You, being a Shianella, shouldn’t think you’ll die easily!”

Her sword aimed directly at my heart, striking with an exceptionally straightforward attack.

This characteristic—sticking to a straight-down assault—was typical of those who reached the level of mana users through their talent with mana.

Her feeble swordsmanship couldn’t even utilize her enhanced physical abilities.

I easily maneuvered my body to dodge the attack.

“How is this possible for a mere man?”

Surprised by the fact that I had evaded her attack, she showed a moment of vulnerability.

I seized this fleeting opportunity, immediately channeling my mana.

What I needed was a burst of speed.

As the whirlwind erupted around me, I launched myself forward.

Kachunk!

My sword buried itself deep into the demon worshipper’s neck. She stared at me in disbelief, but I was already too familiar with that expression from the monsters I had pierced with my arrows in past dungeons.

I ignored her as I pulled my sword free and pushed her lifeless body aside, not wanting to block my space by collapsing in front of me.

Once I handled the Sword User relatively easily, the remaining four finally drew their swords.

“…Things have gotten annoying.”

Just one thrust had drained nearly half my mana. If all four of them happened to be Sword User-level opponents, I wouldn’t be able to handle it.

I glanced back at Shione. I could see her trembling hands. It looked like she was completely terrified by the deaths unfolding in front of her.

It must be a shock for her since she has lived surrounded by the same ceiling in her room for years. No matter how long the void period was, Shione was still a knight, a Sword User, and I wanted to rely on her strength. But in this state, what good would it do?

If I got too close, it was obvious she would just be in the way.

I swung my sword once to shake off the blood and prepared to face the remaining two.

“…I’m the man who killed a Sword User. I suggest you don’t let your guard down.”

Two women shot forward first.

From the speed they showed as they charged at the ground, it seemed like they too had reached the level of Sword Users.

…Considering I expended half my mana just to take out one complacent Sword User, facing two at the same time would be a whole different ballgame. The stress was piling up inside me.

I felt my head thumping with stress as I channeled my mana once again.

Once again, I infused my body with Spirit Magic. As the remaining mana drained significantly, my body became even faster.

“Hurry and secure Shianella!”

The bodies of Sword Users surpassed the average person.

That irrationally direct attack by that mad fanatic was daunting enough due to its speed and power that I felt quite reluctant to go head-to-head against it.

I turned my body sideways just as the attack came straight down intending to split my head.

Clang! Swoosh!

Our blades clashed as the demon’s sword slipped along the path my blade created.

“…Damn.”

If I hadn’t shifted my grip in time from the impact of the clash, I nearly would have lost my sword.

Even now, my hands were still tingling, and my wrist felt like it was screaming.

If I had taken too long to twist and deflect it, I would have lost my weapon and left my heart exposed.

I deeply resented my weakened body.

I immediately plunged into the demon worshipper’s space.

Wham!

As her fist buried into my stomach, I felt a twist of pain and a spinning sensation.

But even so, I somehow managed to stab my sword in.

“Cough…!”

With a last gasp, her body slumped.

I quickly dealt with her and caught my breath, scanning the surroundings. I noticed another Sword User rushing past me toward Shione.

Damn it, Shione was holding her sword awkwardly while facing that fanatic who was hell-bent on killing her. With her eyes wide open in terror, it’s a wonder she could even swing a sword.

What a pathetic state to be in, seriously.

“…Damn it.”

I immediately gathered all the remaining mana I had. There was no way I could deal with that situation if I kept fighting awkwardly with my sword.

I needed to take them down in one go.

As I drew back my mana alongside the emptiness, I threw my sword.

A fierce whirlwind exploded from me, and my sword flew at terrifying speeds.

“Ugh!”

The blade sank into the practitioner’s back, piercing through her chest.

The demon worshipper who had threatened Shione finally fell silent as she lay there lifeless.

I felt the weight of mana exhaustion, and without delay, I rushed to Shione.

“Are you alright?”

“…I-I’m fine, but what about you—”

Her eyes were trembling madly, having witnessed the death of someone pierced by a sword right before her. Even in her condition, she worried about me.

“Just a bit of mana exhaustion. Please hold on a little longer; it will soon be over.”

I hurriedly retrieved my sword and got ready to face the last two.

Now, the remaining ones appeared to be normal swordsmen rather than mana users.

Under regular conditions, I could have handled them, but given my state of extreme mana exhaustion, it seemed daunting.

My legs were shaking slightly, and an overwhelming sense of powerlessness loomed over me. It was precarious.

“Damn it, Shianella!”

I deflected a simple but ordinary attack from the demon worshipper as I tried to move closer.

The impact from the previous collision still lingered, making my arm tremble.

With all I had, my target was her neck.

After deflecting again, I turned quickly to confront the last remaining enemy.

Suddenly, a heavy wave of fatigue washed over me.

Thud.

My legs, already trembling from mana exhaustion, finally gave way.

Of all times, it had to be now.

“Damn you… I’ll tear you apart and use you as a sacrifice.”

Just as my last enemy approached, raising her sword to stab me—

Whoosh.

The sound of something sharp slicing through fabric reached my ears.

“…A Shianella brat isn’t worth sacrificing.”

She glared at Shione, her heart pierced, oozing with deep malice.

“I’ll be waiting for you in hell.”

With that, her lifeless body crumpled to the ground, and Shione came over, crouching down to check on my state.

“…Ray, how are you holding up?”

“…Just mana exhaustion.”

“Weren’t they Sword Users? Is that really all there is to it…?!”

Shione’s eyes were shaking violently.

As I observed her, I noticed her hands shaking unnaturally, still gripping her sword tightly.

In that moment, she looked more like someone who was about to suffocate under pressure, not merely disturbed by what had transpired.

Having been holed up for so long, this overwhelming threat of killing people might shake her morality to the core.

I gently pulled her into an embrace.

“There’s no need to feel too guilty about this.”

Shione flinched at my words.

“…But I witnessed someone die at my hands.”

“They were demon worshippers, enemies of humanity.”

“The one who dared to claim she wanted to be a proud knight of Shianella. Yet here I am, unable to help even one of my attendants who fought covered in blood for me…”

“In the end, didn’t she save me? If it weren’t for you, I would have been lying cold on the floor.”

I quietly reassured her.

“You said you wanted to be a proud knight of Shianella.”

“…….”

“As far as I’m concerned, you, Shione, who protected me, looked more like a proud knight than anyone else.”

Shione silently hugged me, and I indulged her vulnerability for a moment.