**Chapter 114: The Day the Twin Wings Were Born**
Like a divine retribution piercing through the foolish, the beam of light unleashed by Rest pierced the torso of the Subnock. A massive hole had been carved into the creature’s body, leaving it torn asunder. The ground beneath it gaped open, and the section struck by Rest’s new spell, Amaterasu, had evaporated completely, leaving no remnants behind. Yet, the head and limbs remained, their lifeless eyes telling the tale of the colossal beast’s demise.
“Even I find it terrifying how powerful that was… My magical energy hasn’t diminished, yet I feel utterly exhausted…”
Having returned from the skies, Rest sat on the ground, sighing at the traces of destruction he had wrought.
After unleashing Amaterasu, Rest immediately activated spells like Floating and Wind Control. He had already descended below five hundred meters, too late to deploy a parachute if he were skydiving. Although he managed to reduce his falling speed, the pain upon hitting the ground was still considerable. Had he not reinforced his physical strength and enveloped himself in water just before impact, he surely would have suffered injuries severe enough to shatter every bone in his body.
“I won… but strangely, I feel little sense of accomplishment…”
He had defeated a magical beast that no one had managed to conquer since the founding of the kingdom. While it was a feat worthy of being recorded in history, he felt oddly detached, as if the surface of his heart was eerily calm. If he were to report this achievement to the kingdom, how much of a reward would he receive? Perhaps the annoyance of standing out would outweigh any accolades.
“…I’m surprised. Did you really take down the Lord of the Demon Territory all by yourself?”
“Hm?”
A voice called from behind, and when Rest turned, he found Wilhelm Lyubeth standing there. He had entrusted the horde of Corruption Beasts to him, yet Lyubeth appeared to have no visible injuries.
“So this is the power of perfected magic… a height unattainable by the sword, I see.”
While he praised Rest, there was a hint of regret in Lyubeth’s expression. The rivalry was palpable; perhaps it stemmed from jealousy over an achievement he could not claim for himself.
“…In close combat, you would have won.”
“Hmph…”
Lyubeth looked down at Rest with a scowl but eventually opened his mouth, his displeasure evident.
“I am Wilhelm Lyubeth, the third son of the Lyubeth Barony and a master of the Armakain Sword Dance, known as the Sword Demon. Since we will be working together for a long time, make sure to engrave that in your mind.”
“………?”
Why was he introducing himself at such a moment? Rest looked back at Lyubeth with a puzzled expression.
“I will eventually stand at the pinnacle of this kingdom’s knights as the captain of the knight order. You will likely become the head of the Court Magicians, so our paths are destined to intertwine.”
“Oh… I see what you mean.”
Understanding dawned on him. In other words, they were to become the Twin Wings of the Aiwood Kingdom—one a knight, the other a Court Magician.
“You’re getting ahead of yourself… We’re still students, you know? There are plenty of capable seniors and active knights around.”
“I have no interest in the unremarkable who simply happened to be born earlier. I will undoubtedly claim the top with this sword… that is all there is to it.”
“………”
It seemed that Lyubeth was quite the confident individual. If the senior knights heard him, they would surely be incensed.
(He’s a proud man, but it doesn’t seem to be mere vanity… Much better than Cedric or Prince Rodel, at least.)
“I’m Rest, from the House of Marquis Rosemary. I don’t have a surname yet since I haven’t married.”
“………”
Rest remained seated on the ground, extending his right hand. Lyubeth grasped it firmly in return.
Thus, in the annals of history, the two who would run through the wars surrounding the Aiwood Kingdom as the Twin Wings had their first collaboration come to a close.