Chapter 20: You Must Live, Bel

What is this man talking about?!

Voger, the commander of the Imperial Knights, couldn’t believe the scene unfolding before him.

His handpicked elite knights, the best of the empire, were being swept away by a single, shabby-looking hunter.

Boom!

“What are you waiting for? Come on in,” the hunter taunted.

Spikes bursting from the ground, attacking the knights…

I’ve heard of this before.

During the Third Continental War, rumors spread of an empire’s First Legion being annihilated by mysterious spikes.

Could this be that man?

This fight might be tougher than I thought.

“Cough, cough!”

Suddenly, the hunter’s posture faltered as he coughed violently.

Now!

Voger seized the moment, charging at the hunter.

Clang!

Thinking it was the perfect opportunity, Voger was stunned when the hunter drew a small dagger from his coat and deflected the attack.

He’s not just a mage?

To block my attack in close combat?!

Voger gripped his sword tighter, tensing up.

What’s going on? Wasn’t this supposed to get better?

Meanwhile, Bisus, though outwardly smirking, was panicking inside.

Just hold out for today.

This is the worst time for this!

“Haaa!”

Boom!

Voger charged again, unleashing a powerful sword aura.

Bisus dodged backward, forming hand seals.

But this is my home ground.

Hum!

The surrounding trees twisted, attacking the knights.

“Argh!”

“Dodge!”

Damn it.

Did he know we were coming and set up traps?

Fighting like this is too risky.

“All units! Cut down the trees with sword aura!” Voger shouted, raising his hand.

“Not so fast.”

Bisus formed another seal.

Zing!

Spikes shot out toward the knights swinging at the trees.

“Ugh!”

The knights, distracted by the trees, were pierced by the sudden spikes.

Normally, they wouldn’t have fallen so easily, but Bisus’s debuff traps littered throughout the forest hindered their movements.

“No!”

Voger swung his sword aura, cutting down the trees.

But by the time he cleared them, only his fallen knights remained, bleeding out.

“Damn it…”

“Imperial knights? Weaker than I expected,” Bisus mocked.

Voger glared at him.

…No choice, then.

Thud.

“To think I’d have to use this power for a mere bodyguard, not even the Demon King’s daughter.”

Voger straightened his sword, closed his eyes, and summoned his energy.

“Witness the glory of the empire with your own eyes! Kneel before its sublime power!”

…What?

What is that?

An unfamiliar aura enveloped Voger.

Even Bisus, a seasoned mercenary who’d seen it all, had never witnessed anything like this.

Voger’s body turned pure white, exuding an overwhelming presence.

Despite facing countless Sword Masters, Bisus had never felt such intense pressure.

Flash!

The moment Voger opened his eyes, his figure vanished.

I lost track of him?!

Voger reappeared right in front of Bisus.

Boom!

Voger swung a blinding white sword aura at him.

Bisus blocked with his dagger as before, but the dagger shattered, and the impact sent him flying.

What the—!

Crash!

Bisus slammed into a rock, leaving a crater.

That guy was manageable just moments ago, and now this insane power-up in an instant?

Wiping blood from his mouth, Bisus stood.

Voger approached slowly, his eyes glowing intensely.

Some kind of temporary physical enhancement?

It’s not uncommon, but I’ve never seen one this effective.

Is this the empire’s power?

The higher one’s level, the exponentially harder it is to grow stronger.

For a Sword Master like Voger, such a leap in power was unimaginable.

Boom!

Spotting Bisus, Voger leaped and swung his sword aura downward.

“Tch!”

Bisus cast a haste spell on his legs, narrowly dodging.

At that speed, my remaining traps won’t stop him.

This is bad.

Bisus felt the pain in his chest worsening.

Is it because I’m using magic?

I don’t have much time left.

I can’t let them take Bel.

I have to take him out before I die.

He called it the empire’s sublime power, huh?

Gathering his remaining magic and equipment, Bisus launched himself forward as Voger approached.

Boom!

Voger’s relentless sword aura strikes were almost too much for Bisus to dodge.

Just a bit more…

Just a little further…!

After what felt like an eternity, Bisus spotted the cave’s entrance.

Dodging Voger’s attacks, he confirmed he was nearly at his goal.

My body’s at its limit.

I can’t dodge much longer.

This next attack—!

Boom!

Using the force of Voger’s attack, Bisus propelled himself into the cave.

Thud!

His body rolled inside.

Boom!

Voger’s sword struck where he’d landed, but Bisus rolled aside, barely avoiding it.

“You dodge like a rat! But this is the end!”

Voger raised his sword for another strike.

Hum…

“…What?”

Voger’s sword aura flickered and vanished.

“Hah.”

Bisus slowly stood.

“This is a natural magic-nullifying zone. A cave where magic can’t be used.”

A unique environment, its terrain and aura disrupting the flow of magic.

Bisus often used this cave to train with Bel.

“A magic-nullifying zone. So that’s your plan,” Voger said, shaking his sword.

“But you think you can win without magic?”

Voger charged at Bisus.

“I think I can.”

Whoosh!

An arrow shot from somewhere, piercing Voger’s leg.

“…Ugh!”

As a seasoned mercenary, Bisus always prepared for contingencies, setting traps in the cave.

“Didn’t think I’d use the cave’s traps like this.”

Recently, he’d used the cave solely for Bel’s training, as its necessity had diminished.

The traps, reacting to his magic, fired arrows in predetermined directions.

“You!”

Whoosh whoosh!

More arrows rained down.

“Ugh!”

Voger shielded himself with his arms, but the relentless attacks damaged his armor and body.

“Haste. Strength. Reverse Gravity…”

Bisus drew a dagger and formed seals.

“Checkmate.”

Just as he prepared to deliver the final blow—

“Haaa!”

“…Bel?”

Bel appeared behind Voger, thrusting her dagger at him.

Fearing she’d get caught in the arrow barrage, Bisus halted the traps.

Freed from the arrows, Voger grabbed Bel mid-air.

“So it’s you!”

No.
Bel.

Crash!

Voger slammed her to the ground.

She tried to stand but collapsed, her legs weakened from the impact.

“Our original goal was to take you to His Majesty as a sacrifice.”

Voger aimed his sword at her.

“But that seems difficult now. Die here, heir of the Demon King!”

His sword shot toward her.

“No!”

I’m going to die!

Unable to move, Bel was certain she couldn’t dodge.

Crunch!

A sturdy back blocked her path.

“…Hngh.”

Voger’s sword pierced through Bisus’s chest as he shielded her.

“Master?”

“Hraaa!”

Still impaled, Bisus swung a dagger infused with condensed magic.

Boom!

The strike obliterated Voger, scattering his remains.

“…Ha… ha…”

Thud.

Bisus, sword still in his chest, fell to his knees.

“Master!”

Bel, pale with fear, rushed to him.

“Master! Are you okay?”

“…Haha. Why the long face? Your wish is finally coming true.”

His hollow eyes met hers as he gently touched her tear-streaked cheek.

“Sob… What are you talking about? I said I’d kill you, not some weird guy…”

“Haha, right. I should’ve died somewhere you couldn’t see. But it ended up like this.”

“Don’t die…! I’m supposed to kill you! You said you’d make me strong!”

“You’re right. I still have so much to teach you…”

If I leave now, can she survive on her own?

“Don’t die…!”

Bel clung to his chest, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Bel… I don’t have much time…”

Feeling his life slipping away, Bisus called to her.

“What?”

“This is an important promise… Can you make it with your master?”

“…”

“Bel!”

He urged her.

“W-What promise?”

“Just… say you’ll promise… Hurry!”

“…Okay. I promise.”

Hearing her words, Bisus’s face softened.

The oath of the demons, was it?

This should be enough.

“That’s good… Live, Bel. You must live…”

Thud.

With his final words, Bisus’s hand fell limp.

Waaaaah!

In the dark cave, a girl’s anguished cries echoed beside a cold, lifeless body.