139.
“The knights are moving.”
A shadowy figure hidden behind a tree whispered into a crystal they were holding. The crystal vibrated lightly, and Aksen’s voice came through.
“Move according to the plan.”
“Yes.”
The figure took out a thin, rolled-up leather from their chest. Though extremely rare, there were materials that could hold magic. Among these, the most favored by magicians was monster hide. It was relatively easy to inscribe magic on it and not too heavy to carry around.
After gauging the knights’ position, the figure unrolled the leather and read aloud the name of the magic written on it.
“Footsteps of Fire.”
Simultaneously, the scroll glowed, and the knights were engulfed in flames.
“We’re under attack!”
As the running knights stopped, magic rained down like a bombardment. All the magicians hiding nearby had used their scrolls. Unlike regular magic with its warning signs, scrolls were hard to detect until used. For this reason, the knights were busy deflecting and dodging the incoming magic.
“Continue.”
The figure took out the next scroll.
Haruna gritted her teeth at the magic bursting out from all directions. Though the magic wasn’t extraordinary, its sheer volume hindered the knights’ movements. In this situation, figures hidden in the darkness began to creep out. They were all dressed in black, with dark green cloth wrapped around their forearms.
‘Vipers!’
It was the uniform of a notorious underground assassination group.
“It’s the Vipers!”
Of course, the knights noticed them too. The assassins began to attack the knights, moving silently. Occupying the spaces where magic had ceased, they showed peculiar movements. They attacked the knights but didn’t risk their lives recklessly. They kept a suitable distance and bound the knights’ feet when they tried to move. They didn’t want the people here to leave.
Realizing this, Haruna’s face turned pale. At this rate, it would be difficult to help Keith in time. If things went wrong, her only blood relative could die.
‘What should I do?’
She looked around anxiously, but no answer came. She knew that the assassins weren’t the only ones to be wary of. Those who used the magic scrolls probably hadn’t left yet either. How could she save Keith? Haruna desperately racked her brain.
Keith didn’t attack Rector first. In the current situation, it was better to buy time than to rush at an opponent he couldn’t defeat. So he kept his body tense, staring at Rector. Seeing him, Rector sighed softly.
“Young man, you lack spirit.”
He had expected him to attack with malice. His disciple was more level-headed than he thought.
“Then I’ll go first.”
Rector glided forward like a ghost and stood before Keith. As the sword swung, Keith quickly ducked and stepped back, as if he had been anticipating it.
“Are you just going to run away?”
The pursuing sword drew dazzling movements, cutting Keith several times. He dodged most, but not all. After just one encounter, Keith was soaked in blood without even having a chance to swing his sword. Still, it was okay for now. Rector wasn’t attacking Keith seriously, like a cat playing with a mouse. That’s why the cuts were shallow.
“Buying time won’t help you.”
Rector looked at Keith with a grin.
“You have something planned.”
“Of course. I’m not moving alone this time.”
If Rector wasn’t moving alone, the chances of survival dropped infinitely. It seemed unwise to expect help from Haruna. So how could he escape from here? Keith tightened his grip on the sword. He wanted to charge head-on, but he didn’t think he could win at all.
“My cute disciple has a lot on his mind.”
“If I’m cute, how about showing some mercy?”
“I can’t in this situation. But since I was your master, I’ll give you a choice if you want.”
“What kind of choice?”
“Choose whether to die by my hand or by your own.”
“Is death the only option?”
“Unfortunately.”
Die like this? Keith laughed hollowly. Thinking it was the end, there was a face he wanted to see.
Currently, Keith and Yu Jin’s relationship was ambiguous to define. He had heard they were practically family, but that wasn’t satisfying enough. As long as there was even a thread of hope, he wanted to try harder. And now this situation had come.
“Well, have you finished contemplating?”
“Yes, I have.”
Keith planted his feet firmly and raised his sword. Seeing this, Rector wore a satisfied expression and flicked his finger. This time, Keith rushed at Rector. His descending sword carried a determination to kill, but Rector blocked it without difficulty. Not content with just blocking, he slid down Keith’s sword and thrust towards his chest. However, Keith didn’t bother to dodge it. He knew that in this state, even if stabbed, it wouldn’t go deep.
He didn’t want to back down even if it meant giving up flesh. If he was going to die anyway, he wanted to inflict a massive wound on Rector. But sometimes, no matter how desperately you wish, things don’t come true.
Clang!
A sharp metallic sound rang out as the swords collided. No matter how hard he tried, Keith couldn’t overcome Rector. Just as a mouse can’t defeat a cat no matter how much strength it musters. It was frustrating, and even if he raged, only his body’s wounds increased.
‘I don’t want to die.’
He didn’t want to die. Even if he lost a part of his body, he wanted to live on. There were still so many things he wanted to do. Keith gritted his teeth at the red blood obscuring his vision.
And then, Rector, who had been fiercely driving Keith back, suddenly turned his head. It would be nice to attack in that gap, but Keith barely had the strength to stand.
“You.”
Rector raised the corner of his mouth, looking at the new figure that appeared.
“It’s the boy called Jinhyeon.”
“Aren’t I too big to be called a boy?”
Jinhyeon walked leisurely towards Rector.
“Have you come to find your death too?”
“As if.”
Jinhyeon snorted and suddenly rushed at Rector. Rector moved in response.
‘I want to collapse.’
Keith thought this as he watched them. Jinhyeon was holding up better against Rector than Keith had. That monster, it seemed he had grown again in such a short time. As other knights had gossiped, he might even catch a dragon someday. If he doesn’t die here, that is.
“Hey!”
At that moment, Jinhyeon’s voice pierced Keith’s dazed mind.
“What are you doing! You can still fight!”
Me? It was incredulous, but listening, it wasn’t wrong. Although his whole body lacked strength, he could still move. Originally, even a moment’s gap was important in a fight between swordsmen. Just showing that Keith was looking for an opportunity would divide Rector’s attention.
“…Annoying bastard.”
Keith moved his heavy body. He raised his sword and corrected his posture. As the momentum changed, Rector, who was dealing with Jinhyeon, clicked his tongue as if annoyed. He now had to pay attention to the dying Keith. Thanks to this, it became easier for Jinhyeon to face Rector. Even during the fight, Jinhyeon was continuing to grow.
“Monster kid.”
The same words Keith had been thinking came out of Rector’s mouth. His sword became more serious. But Jinhyeon didn’t stop and continued to rampage. He too was gradually getting wounded, but he didn’t stop even as he splattered blood.
Reckless bastard. He should be grateful that Rector wasn’t a swordsman who used poison. Keith shook his head and focused his mind again. Maybe he could wound Rector here.
“How annoying.”
A young man was walking through the night forest. With a neat face and messy wheat-colored hair, he was wearing the uniform of the imperial knights. He wanted to go home and sleep to his heart’s content, but that would cause big trouble. Allen, who had called him, Iven, here, would surely throw a fit.
“It’s unfair.”
Iven couldn’t treat Allen carelessly, but Allen could do so to him. Because he was royalty. If Allen heard this, he would angrily ask when Iven had ever shown proper respect to royalty, but he wasn’t here. Allen had quite a talent for swordsmanship, but in Iven’s view, he still had a long way to go. He probably needed to be in his 40s before he could be sent out with peace of mind.
While thinking this, the sound of clashing metal could be heard from far away.
‘Found them.’
Iven’s footsteps gradually quickened, and soon he started running. Before long, he discovered a clearing. There, he saw a familiar face. It was one of the Leviathan’s Imperial Zodiac that Allen had shown him. Iven bared his canines and drew his rapier. And without warning, he attacked Rector.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
