Chapter 154
I jumped out of the tower and ran towards the guard house . While I rushed through the sky, another ball of fire shot towards me from the same direction as the first . I switched on ‘Jack of all Trades, Master of None’ as soon as I saw it, and my body moved along with the images in my brain . My mind was always one step ahead, which gave me a power that was like predicting the future .
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“Hyaahh!”
Thanks to ‘Jack of all Trades, Master of None,’ I knew that it would work . This leg that was aided by not only silver and green wind, but also blue magic, could kick back even a fireball .
Well, turns out I had got one thing wrong . I was bound by the notion that ice was weak to fire . But the laws of magic were special in this world . Ice was weak to water and fire . However, fire was also weak to water and ice . While ice could be melted, it could also extinguish a fire . In any case, it would be about brute force . It all depended on who had more energy .
“It’s actually quite simple!”
Bandits started to fire off arrows at me from the ground . But I dodged them in the air as a tail of silver and green streaked behind . I was on a nonstop course to the guard house .
And then came the fire magic again . This time it wasn’t a large fireball, but numerous bullets that blocked my path . I had to twist my body, jump over and even kick them . And those that I couldn’t avoid, I cut away with my great sword . An ordinary sword would have melted, but this sword was carved from the bones of a tempest whale . A legendary monster that was long extinct . It would take a lot more than fire to damage it .
By the time my vision cleared again, I had a good view of the guard house . Eve was standing on a mountain of bricks and glaring at me . Daniela was nowhere in sight . I sighed in relief, knowing that she was likely still safe .
However, it really was just a matter of time . I needed to get rid of the root of all our trouble; Eve . Or they would always chase after us . I would crush these bandits that were disguised as guards, find Daniela, and cross the river . If I could do that, we would have won .
“Eve…!”
I ran towards the target . With my sword on my shoulder and in a lowered posture, I increased my speed .
Eve’s hands started to gather magic energy . She was likely going to strike with her combination of fire and wind again . I had nowhere to run the first time, but we were out in the open now . There was nothing to stop me . The field was mine .
“DIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!!”
Once again, the enormous red tornado was unleashed . I maintain my speed as I dodged it with the minimal amount of movement . However, the tornado swerved violently every time Eve moved her hands to chase after me . Still, the movement was relatively slow . Anything that is powerful yet lacks speed is not a threat to me .
The scenery seems to rush passed me as I increase my speed . My sword is filled with blue magic as I raise it above my head, then it swings down as Eve looks at me with eyes wide with shock .
“HHh…!”
“Tsk!”
Eve clicked her tongue in annoyance, deactivated the magic, and rolled out of the way . My sword cut through the air and landed in a pile of bricks, where Eve had been a second ago . There was a deafening crash as the pile of bricks went up in a cloud of dust and debris .
It was my own doing, but the dust was irritating . I couldn’t see anything… Well, at least it meant she wouldn’t see me either . However, she was the one who had dodged my attack . It was clear which of us was likely to attack first . And so I dropped the great sword and jumped back . Just then, a flash of red shot past me .
I activated Presence Detection in order to find Eve’s position as I generated a sword of ice . This, I launched towards Eve . This was a magic I had devised during my fight with Mordred, the Frost Sword Straightshot .
“GGggg…!”
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I hear her groaning . I didn’t know where I had hit her, but hit her I did . In that case, there was only one thing to do . She was not likely to be able to dodge this while the pain made her sluggish!
“Icicle Rain!!”
Countless ice arrows came raining down from the sky . The arrows struck the ground, causing it to thunder and quiver as if it were an earthquake . Then I unleashed Legs of the Forest Wolf . The silver and green wind bellowed, pushing away the dust clouds and exposing the entire scene of the former guard house .
The arrows that fell had turned the bricks into dust, which was now being cleanly blown away .
In the center of the now barren land, was Eve . She had created a shield of fire and had avoided the lethal blow . She was a tough one . Still, there were several ice arrows piercing her arms and legs . As she no longer had the substitute tool, she could not allow herself to be killed .
“Hahhh…hahhh… Ggg…I underestimated you… I thought you were nothing but her shadow…I was wrong…”
“Actually, you’re not . She’s very strong . ”
“Hmph… I am aware . But you are far more dangerous…”
“Thanks . ”
I had speed, but was not great with magic . I didn’t think that was enough to beat someone who was truly strong . However, I could make it work if they were at my level or lower . My own mistake had been mistaking how magic worked here . But now that I felt that I could win, there was no fear or worry in me .
“Allowing you to live would be putting an obstacle in Daniela’s path . And so you will have to die . ”
“Hmph… But can you really…?”
“What…?”
Eve searched in her pockets as if to take something out . I unsheathed the Glampanzer at my waist and dashed forward in order to cut off her head before she could finish what she was doing .
“Too slow!”
“Wh…gggah…”
Eve had slammed it onto the ground . There was a flash of light that filled my vision . I didn’t know flash grenades existed here!
“Haha! Is this your first time seeing one?’
“Damn it . Get back here!”
Her presence was growing smaller . She was getting away…!
I chased after her while relying on Presence Detection to see . But as I did so, I sensed that others were approaching me from the sides . Humans . They must be bandits… Reinforcements . Then I had to quickly get Eve and…
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Hmm?!
“Ggaaah!!”
A sharp pain ran through my left leg . It forced me to stop and search for the reason for it . My hand hit something stick-like . A chill ran up my back as I checked the other side and felt the same stick .
“Damn it…!”
The reinforcements were archers…! They would have had to be special arrowheads to pierce through wind dragon armor . If I kept going like this, without being able to see them, they would make a pincushion of me in no time . It pained me to do it, but I had to retreat…!
And I must do it quickly . It was just as I activated Legs of the Forest Wolf and attempted to run in the opposite direction . Another human had entered the field I was covering with Presence Detection . While not quite as fast as me, it moved at an incredible speed towards the four reinforcement guards . And in a flash, they were dead .
Who was it? A friend? It was coming towards me now . I focused on it with Presence Detection . Ah…so she had been hiding after all…
“You saved me…Daniela . ”
“Damn it, Asagi . You always let your guard down . ”
It was Daniela . I was so frantic that it had taken me awhile to realize it was her…
“…Ah, there’s no time to talk . Eve escape in that direction . Right now…I can’t see… I’ll catch up to you, so you go on ahead!”
“I will deal with her!”
I feel something soft and moist on my lips . Then she immediately pulled back and ran in the direction that Eve had gone . Damn it…
“I couldn’t ask for a more reliable partner . ”
I sat down and let out a sigh . There was no one around me . Daniela had killed them all… I needed to rest a little and recover my eyesight . Then I would go after her . Daniela would be fine until then . I couldn’t help but smile .
As I rested in Vent’s house in order to recover my magic, I heard the sounds of fighting coming from outside . Surely it could only be from Asagi . There was no doubt about it . He would be fighting Eve .
“I have to go…”
“Hey, hey . You can’t go while you’re still like that . ”
“My partner is out there . ”
“Didn’t you say that you were lost? Who are you fighting?”
“…”
It would be hard to lie any further… But he was not likely our enemy . After all, he had not put poison in the food . He had the compassion to aid a complete stranger . I would have to talk to him and make him understand .
“I am not…lost . ”
“I see . And…?”
“I…we are fighting against the captain of the guards . ”
“What did you say?”
Vent’s expression grew harsh . Did I read him wrong…?
“Why didn’t you say this sooner! I would have gladly helped you crush her once and for all!”
“What…?”
“Don’t look so surprised . Half the people in this town are no friends of hers . ”
Half, you say?
“Is that true?”
“Aye . Though, to be precise, the people on the other side of the river are against her . I’m working undercover, you see . ”
“Well…you could have told me that sooner…”
“I guess that works for the both us then . Am I wrong?”
No . Not at all .
“So I suppose you weren’t merely tired from traveling?”
“Aye, my magic has been drained… Do you have any potions?”
“Just one . Well, it’s a very potent one, at least . ”
So saying, Vent went to the back of his room and produced the bottle . Ordinary magic recovery potions were a dark blue color . A deep blue…which meant that it was low in quality . You could judge the quality of a potion by the brightness . Darker colors meant worse quality, while brighter colors meant higher quality . Of course, the higher the quality, the higher the price .
And the potion that Vent produced was a bright blue color, just like the sky . It would likely cost nearly thirty pieces of gold .
“But this is of the highest quality…are you certain?”
“I am . You are not from this town, but you are one of us . In my opinion, you have a right to drink it . ”
And so he pushed the bottle into my hands . I accepted it, looked at him and then the potion, and hesitated .
“…I will pay you . ”
“There’s no need to act so reserved . And hey, you complimented my cooking . This is to show my gratitude . ”
The corner of his mouth lifted in a playful smile . I couldn’t help but laugh as well . Damn it…these good-natured people were everywhere .
“Very well, I will not act reserved then . ”
“Aye . ”
“And I will not pay you either . ”
“Aye . ”
“So there is no use regretting it later…”
“Just shut up and drink it!”
There was no more need to talk . I pulled off the cork . The scent drifted out of the bottle and tickled my nostrils, but there was no time to relish it . I downed it in one gulp . As one would expect from the finest quality, the sluggishness in my limbs vanished in a second . I now felt as if I could fly .
“I have never felt better . Eve does not have a chance . ”
“That’s the spirit . Go and destroy that leader of the bandits!”
“Count on it! And thank you!”
Vent raised his thumb towards me and I returned the gesture before flying out of the house . He had helped me a great deal . I survived because of him and also escaped hunger . And now, I would be able to win this battle .
“I sense Asagi’s presence over there . ”
There was immense magic flowing from his body . Spirits were lured by my jade magic and were gathering around me . And so I decided to ask for their help .
“I want to go to Asagi . Will you help me?”
“Sure . ”
They waved their little hands and granted me the protection of the wind . Now, I could run almost as fast as Asagi . Yes, I would run faster than I ever have in my life . Wait for me, Asagi . I will reach you faster than you can blink .
And so I ran, cutting down the guards and kicking away any in my path . Running . To where Asagi waited .