Avangarde Castle – A Certain Place
I knew he was no ordinary man. There was no way an old man, hunched over and reliant on a cane to walk, could be a fighter. In an instant, I understood that Belmund and the old man were adversaries, and any superficial prejudices I had vanished. The magical power radiating from that old man was palpable, even to us who had dedicated ourselves to physical training. It’s said that those with more combat experience can sense their opponent’s strength more acutely, but in the presence of someone truly powerful, both adults and children can feel it. The reality before me was enough to overturn everything I had previously accepted as common sense.
We held a faint hope for the old man, who had yet to make a move. He was likely here to stop Belmund, a grand sorcerer whose name I didn’t even know.
“Well, if it isn’t a familiar face. You go by Sage Hast now, I believe?”
“You should know that even a child understands the importance of cleaning up the mess you couldn’t handle. I’m merely here to do just that.”
“I fail to see why you would come here now, exposing your shame.”
“And you, knowing my whereabouts, seem rather relaxed about it.”
Belmund’s unnervingly small smile conveyed a sense of ease, as if the old man’s arrival posed no threat to him. I didn’t understand why this Sage was opposing Belmund, but I desperately wished he could somehow resolve the situation. I wanted to be saved from the despair that made me pray for help.
The Sage slowly stroked his white beard, twisting his neck as if to provoke Belmund. After casting a sharp glance at the powerful figures around us, he exhaled deeply.
“Is it truly possible for one rotten fruit to bring about such decay…?”
“Be, Belmund! Who on earth is that old man?”
“You didn’t know? Decades ago, he was involved in our nation’s experiments.”
“Wh-what?! Why has someone like him been kept hidden until now…?”
“After all, we’re dealing with the Wizard Kingdom. This nation is not one that can easily confront such an opponent. Perhaps anticipating that, the old fool vanished from our country and infiltrated their upper echelons at an alarming pace.”
“Then we must act immediately!”
Belmund shot a sharp glare at the power-hungry figures clinging to him, causing them to shrink back. The tension in the air felt like a taut string ready to snap at any moment, and it seemed a battle was imminent. The animosity between those two was palpable.
“If you wish to live, you should retreat to the back. You’re in the way.”
None dared to argue, and the filthy power-hungry figures hurriedly retreated through the back door. We instinctively distanced ourselves from the two. I considered that we might be able to escape now, but I had a feeling Belmund wouldn’t let us go. That was the only premonition I had.
“Are you now filled with regret?”
Belmund’s arm began to change, turning a deep purple. His fingers, nails, and palm swelled, transforming one arm into something resembling a giant. Yet, he didn’t move that arm; his gaze remained fixed on the Sage.
“You were quite vigorous in your youth. You truly dedicated yourself to this experiment.”
“Back then, I believed wholeheartedly that this was for the future of our nation. I didn’t realize that tampering with the human body was a desecration of dignity and soul.”
“Oh? Is that so…”
“I will take responsibility for everything.”
The Sage took a deep breath and gripped his staff with both hands. If he had been involved in the nation’s experiments in his youth, I wondered how old Belmund was to know that. The Sage must also be quite aged; it meant he had been in a position to know the dark side of this country for a long time. Even the veteran soldiers I had seen earlier were seasoned warriors; there wasn’t a single teenager like me among them. Everything felt oddly out of place.
“Even thirty years ago… I had a vague awareness of the Demon Lord Army’s true nature, yet I did nothing. I turned a blind eye to the wicked results of my own actions. But I realized that was a mistake… thanks to those children.”
“Hmph… How amusing! An old fool finally recognizes his own foolishness. You’re more of a fool than a sage.”
“I don’t care what you call me. I will defeat you here and put an end to everything.”
After that, the old Sage urged us to escape with a dry voice. For just a moment, since his arrival, the fear that had gripped me began to dissipate. It wasn’t merely because he was powerful; I couldn’t help but wonder if my own grandfather, whom I had never met, had possessed such a comforting presence.
“Please, win…”
That was all I could muster. I didn’t want him to die; I wanted to talk to him. Even if he had a past of siding with evil, he was different from Belmund. He had realized his mistakes and had come to help us. That alone was enough; he was human, and everyone makes mistakes. What mattered was how one recognized those mistakes and acted upon them. I told myself that as I reflected on my own past errors. I didn’t know if my frail voice reached him, but the Sage held his staff and didn’t look back.
“Do you think an old man like me can defeat you?”
“We’re both old fools, aren’t we?”
We couldn’t stay here any longer. Belmund had no room to harm us while the Sage was present. As the two continued their tense standoff, we quietly slipped away from the scene.
Avangarde Castle – Inside the Castle Walls – Backyard
“Savior Monk” Mugen – Level: 95 – Class: Super Monk – Rank: A, 2nd – HP: 1224
“Bind!”
A sensation like electricity coursed through my body, followed immediately by a follow-up attack. The momentary paralysis was brief, but for the suddenly appearing figures, it was an opportunity.
“Angel of Compassion” Yuyu – Level: 89 – Class: High Priest – Rank: A, 5th – HP: 735
“I’ve already cast Enhancement Magic. It’s too late to do so once the battle begins.”
Yuyu, with her peculiar way of speaking, began another incantation from the back. Mugen’s speed had indeed increased dramatically, and had he not caught me off guard, I wouldn’t have been hit at all.
And this was just the beginning; the relentless follow-up from the Five Elites was far from over. They had spread out their formation to prevent the target from being concentrated, and the one playing an instrument over there was positioned opposite Yuyu.
“Battlefield Poet” Laurel – Level: 91 – Class: Bard – Rank: A, 4th – HP: 770
“Every person has a sound that suits them. The unified sound here is one that everyone has compromised on, yet for those of your age, it is an unpleasant sound. Sound is the greatest weapon that applies to all things.”
The sound that Laurel produced was nauseating. It was an excruciatingly high pitch that pierced my ears, a violent sound that was unimaginable compared to when I had heard him play before. I believed the adults, including Kirkton, were fine with it, just as Laurel had said. Frankly, I didn’t understand the reasoning behind it.
I had often criticized others for being slow to react, but now I was the one being thrown off balance. Stopped by Mugen, delayed by Laurel, and feeling sick all at once. If I could, I would want to jump into bed right now. My mood was at its worst.
“This is the finishing touch! Shinbu!”
“Fancy Kill” Shinbu – Level: 93 – Class: Assassin – Rank: A, 3rd – HP: 812
“Alrighty then!”
Shinbu and his companions appeared everywhere, both on the ground and in the air. There were roughly a hundred of them, each wielding something akin to a dagger. First, Mugen was in front, crouching down as beads from his rosary floated in the air before he unleashed a punch.
“Release all demonic fighting spirit! Final Secret Technique!”
By the time he roared with a voice that shook the atmosphere, the attack was already over. It felt as if Mugen’s fist had grown larger, striking my entire body. A shockwave coursed through me, carrying an intent to obliterate every last piece of flesh.
“Paradise! Destruction! Madness! Heavenly Path Overlord Wave!”
Mugen’s momentary binding, Yuyu’s Enhancement Magic, Laurel’s sound, and this skill of Mugen’s—it wasn’t just a punch. It was something released from his fist, something invisible and entirely unrecognizable. I could only tell that I had been hit. In a haze of confusion, my entire being began to vanish, leading me to what the name suggested: paradise. There was no suffering at the moment of death; that was true paradise. At least, that was my wild imagination.
“And now, the final blow.”
Behind me, gathered Shinbu and his companions awaited. With no escape route and no means of defense, I was to be dispatched by that instant-death skill. It was as if a bed of spikes lay in wait, with their protruding daggers poised to strike. Normally, such a thing wouldn’t inflict any damage, but thanks to Laurel, my overall physical abilities had drastically diminished. Receiving that in my current state was a daunting prospect.
“I never expected a human to come,” I thought as I was flung forward, hurtling toward the blade mountain known as Shinbu. Unable to move, I felt the deathly sword pierce my back, sealing my fate. The goal of the Five Elites was to land Shinbu’s True Dark Kill on me. Yes, with that skill, it could indeed take down any opponent. I couldn’t be sure if I would survive if I were to be hit by it.
“This is our party play, a combined attack. We maximize the quality each of us possesses and connect it into a Force Quality Stream!”
It wasn’t enough to just defeat them. To win without killing, there was only one way. I had to endure their Force Quality Stream directly; that would surely sap their will to fight. They had gone through the trouble of launching a surprise attack, so they were likely betting everything on this one strike.
Even though I had no confidence in my survival, I had no choice but to take on the True Dark Kill. A prickling sensation spread across my back. Shinbu’s dagger was quite something; it pierced through with a sharpness that lesser weapons couldn’t manage. Honestly, it felt unsettling, and not in a pleasant way. It was as if all the blood in my body was freezing, a discomfort that signified the skill’s essence—instant death. It froze even my heart, halting all bodily functions. I felt utterly miserable.
“Ugh…”
“Did we get her?!”
Did they really want me dead that badly? How sad. To be honest, my vision blurred for just a moment, and I lost my sense of balance. What an incredible skill. If Shinbu had the power or skill to pierce my skin, I might have been in real danger.
“Y-You must be kidding…! Shinbu!”
“I’m, I’m being serious here… This is… impossible. There’s no way we can kill her!”
Shinbu’s mask cracked, revealing his true self. He was tugging at his bangs, desperately trying to calm himself down. There was no time for such antics in the midst of battle; this was effectively a declaration of defeat.
“That combined attack… it was a bit moving. Let’s try it ourselves next time, Kurinka.”
“Yeah!”
Kurinka was engaged with Kirkton and that black monster. Despite being outnumbered four to one, she was managing close combat, albeit unsteadily. This was the plan from the start. Why? Because that black monster was likely once human, and I thought maybe it could be reverted back. If that were the case, I would handle the Five Elites while Kurinka could keep the other one at bay. Since Kurinka wasn’t a dragon, she wouldn’t kill it, and it was far safer than me holding back in battle.
That said, two of the monsters were already down. The remaining one was staggering from a blow from a staff, on the verge of losing consciousness.
“W-What is happening…?! I am the captain of the proud army of the Kingdom of Avangarde! A mere girl should not be able to do this to me! This cannot be happening!”
Kirkton, wielding dual swords, was one of the kingdom’s top fighters. While he fell short of the Five Elites, he was likely A-Rank among adventurers. Kurinka, who knew nothing of swordsmanship or close combat, could still see Kirkton’s movements. This meant that a significant gap in ability had developed without me realizing it.
“K-Kill me… please… Ughhhhhh!”
“Yikes! W-Wait a minute…”
【Attack from Black Beast Grundom! Kurinka dodged gracefully!】
That monster looked familiar. I had definitely encountered it when it was human. Yes, it was Grundom, the one who preyed on beginners. After I handed him over to the soldiers at Queemil, I never imagined he would meet such a fate. It felt less like he was fighting and more like he was flailing about. As if he truly wished for an end to his suffering.
“Kirkton! No matter how bad he is, this is too much!”
“Judging right from wrong is not my place!”
“Kirkton, we surrender. If even our Force Quality Stream has been broken, we have no means to continue. We will return the rewards, including those for our participation.”
The Five Elites were utterly exhausted, slumped on the ground. Mugen, Yuyu, Laurel, and even Shinbu wore expressions I had never seen before. Mugen quietly closed his eyes but continued to grind his teeth, while Yuyu and Laurel seemed to be in a daze, staring blankly into the distance. Shinbu had been muttering to himself for a while now.
“…Hey, do you all really think I’ve joined the Demon Lord Army?”
“I wanted to see if you were truly someone of high standing. But what is the result? I can no longer tell if you are high or low. Perhaps you exist in a different dimension altogether.”
“A way to crush monsters… to make True Dark Kill more precise… no, first I need to train these useless eyes…”
Shinbu might be the most severely injured. He seemed genuinely on the verge of breaking, and witnessing such a scene was hardly pleasant. After all, these were the people I had subdued. Only someone like Hecaton would find joy in this.
A different dimension; perhaps I truly shouldn’t be here. If my presence caused people to lose their confidence and become unable to act, then I…
“Lua-chan! Help me! Kirkton is…”
No, Kurinka was the only one here. If I went to the different dimension Mugen spoke of, I wouldn’t be able to help Kurinka. I had to stay here, no matter what.
“My mission must be… absolutely… without fail.”
【Black Beast Kirkton has appeared! HP 10432】
What stood before Kurinka was no longer human. Like the other three, Kirkton had ceased to be a person. It wasn’t just his appearance; it was the end of his humanity. The strict yet kind captain of the soldiers that Ritta and the others respected was likely completely finished.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Lua is once again enamored with something strange.
Combined attack, pfft, childish.
You all always combine before bed, don’t you?
Kyaaaaaaa! How indecent! Oh, how indecent!
The four bald men are in a state of panic.
You should think about it for a moment.
Can any of you even defeat one of those twelve champions?
You lost to a monster that turned the twelve champions into mere scraps,
and now you’re feeling down. Truly foolish, idiots, bald heads.
If it became known that you defeated those bald men, the other adventurers would surely
stop engaging in pointless battles.
All that’s left is to take down the bald captain who has lost his humanity.
Just a light twist, and it would be done.
Oh? Are you really looking sad?
What a soft-hearted person you are.