“Grrr…”
Suddenly appearing from the depths of the forest, the girl who had turned the Azure Shell Bear and several knights of the Second Knight Order into flaming torches caused Nero to sense the most dangerous presence here. Sparks flew from the whip-like antennae extending from his ears as he growled warily.
Was her strength, as Nero perceived it, about the same as the “Pink-Haired Girl” he had decided to watch over? However, just like the “power” hidden within that girl, he sensed an unusual “power” hidden within this sickly-looking girl as well.
“Ufufu.”
Seeing Nero’s wariness, the girl—Carla—raked her fingers through her long black hair, narrowing her eyes with amusement on her sickly pale face.
Thanks to the vast amount of knowledge she had been crammed with since childhood, Carla recognized the beast before her as the Mystic Beast Kuaal. A dangerous Rank 5 monster, it was superior to her current Rank 4 self in terms of combat strength. However, combat strength was just a guideline. The fact that it possessed sufficient ability to be a test subject for her Magic, which she had continued to hone solely for the purpose of killing others, brought a smile to Carla’s lips.
The Azure Shell Bear, which she had encountered along the way and attacked, seemingly claiming this area as its territory, had a high subjugation difficulty equivalent to Rank 4, but it was a foolish prey that couldn’t even discern Carla’s true strength. She didn’t know why it was here, but because of that, Carla rejoiced, feeling her bloodlust rise at the appearance of the Kuaal, which possessed the intelligence to be wary of her.
“Welcome, kitty-cat.”
【Carla Leicester】【Race: Human Female】【Rank 4】
【Mana Capacity: 425/530】【HP: 34/52】
【Strength: 7 (8)】【Endurance: 3 (4)】【Agility: 12 (14)】【Dexterity: 9】
【Martial Arts Lv.2】
【Light Magic Lv.3】【Dark Magic Lv.3】【Water Magic Lv.4】【Fire Magic Lv.4】
【Wind Magic Lv.4】【Earth Magic Lv.3】【Non-Attribute Magic Lv.2】
【Utility Magic x6】【Mana Control Lv.4】【Intimidation Lv.4】【Detection Lv.2】
【Abnormal Status Resistance Lv.2】【Poison Resistance Lv.1】
【Simple Appraisal】
【Overall Combat Strength: 1030 (Magic Attack Power: 1545)】
【Divine Protection (Gift): Soulthorn】
【Nero】【Race: Kuaal】【Mystic Beast Rank 5】
【Mana Capacity: 224/280】【HP: 465/510】
【Strength: 20 (30)】【Endurance: 20 (30)】【Agility: 18 (27)】【Dexterity: 7】
【Claw Strike Lv.4】【Martial Arts Lv.5】【Defense Lv.4】
【Non-Attribute Magic Lv.4】【Mana Control Lv.5】
【Intimidation Lv.5】【Stealth Lv.4】【Night Vision Lv.4】【Detection Lv.5】
【Poison Resistance Lv.4】【Slash/Thrust Resistance Lv.5】【Abnormal Status Resistance Lv.4】
【Overall Combat Strength: 2136 (Body Enhancement in progress: 2704)】
“T-This woman!?”
“She’s Count Leicester’s daughter! Be careful, this one—”
The surviving knights, realizing the identity of the intruder, drew their swords, but Carla, as if seeing them as a nuisance, lightly waved her arm.
“—Hurricane.”
The Level 4 Wind Magic “Hurricane” was unleashed, and the knights caught in the whirlwind were shredded by countless tiny blades.
“Gwaooo!”
At that moment, Nero, who had been observing the situation, leaped out in an instant, baring his fangs at Carla.
As a monster, Nero couldn’t use the “Appraisal” Skill, but Appraisal was originally a skill that quantified the target’s abilities by looking with the eyes, listening with the ears, and sensing with one’s own five senses. Leaving aside lower-ranked monsters, higher-ranked monsters could read values close to Appraisal to some extent without relying on the skill.
The Mana Capacity that Carla possessed, as sensed by the Mystic Beast Nero, was astonishing, but her HP was only on par with that of a human child. Even a graze from Nero’s claws would easily inflict a fatal wound—or so it should have been.
“Gah!”
“Hmph!”
At that moment, a vast amount of Mana erupted from Carla’s body, causing it to float lightly, avoiding Nero’s claws like a leaf dancing in the wind.
Body Enhancement increased not only offensive power but also defensive abilities like endurance because the body was covered in Mana itself. This granted resistance not only to direct attacks but also to offensive Magic. And high-level Magicians used Body Enhancement not only to avoid direct attacks but also to wrap their bodies in strong Mana through the application of Body Enhancement, increasing resistance to things other than physical attacks.
However, there was a limit to the Mana of humanoids. Even the Elves, a race of fairies with long lifespans, couldn’t match the Mana of even a low-level Spirit, and even if they could use Mana Control, it required extraordinary courage to control Mana while avoiding attacks during combat.
By obtaining the Divine Protection (Gift), Carla’s body, accustomed to vast amounts of Mana, could maintain more Mana than its limit even in normal times. Having defined everything as an enemy and continued to fight alone, Carla was able to wrap her entire body in vast amounts of Mana, controlling it without losing her composure even during combat, and even using it for movement.
Even so, it was extremely difficult for a Rank 4 Magician to avoid the attacks of a Rank 5 monster, but Carla even used the aftereffects of the Wind Magic she had used in advance to evade Nero’s attack.
That was the strength of heart and intellect that wasn’t reflected in the Overall Combat Strength.
“—Flame Javelin—”
Carla, still floating in the air, unleashed Magic on Nero, who was passing directly below her.
For the Kuaal, which possessed Slash/Thrust Resistance, the thing to be wary of was offensive Magic. But even that could be countered if the distance was closed.
“Gaaaa!”
When Nero’s antennae scattered electric-like sparks to disrupt the Magic, the released Flame Javelin vanished, and Carla frowned at the impact.
Digging her claws into the ground as if carving scars, Nero reversed direction at the same time that Carla, having gained distance, unleashed Magic again while dancing in the air.
“—Ice Lance—”
If struck by Ice Magic, movement would be hindered by the low temperature. Even so, Nero evaded all of the released Ice Lances with only his physical abilities and senses, but in the path of his evasion was the Azure Shell Bear, rampaging while engulfed in flames.
“Gwaaaaa!”
The Azure Shell Bear attacked Nero, who had been driven in that direction, and Ice Lances rained down on them as well.
“Gaaaaaa!”
But Nero, without a moment’s hesitation, bit into the throat of the fire-covered Azure Shell Bear, breaking its neck as if swinging around the Azure Shell Bear, which was as large as himself, and then used it as a shield against the Ice Lances. Carla wore a gruesome smile, almost like madness, at the sight of Nero, a formidable enemy charging with the Azure Shell Bear as a shield.
“—Soulthorn—”
【Carla Leicester】【Race: Human Female】【Rank 4+2】
【Mana Capacity: ∞/530】【HP: 26/52】
【Overall Combat Strength: 1030 (Special Combat Strength: 2957)】
【Divine Protection (Gift): Soul Thorn Exchange/Life Time】
“Fight me, Ash-covered!”
Gilgun roared in anger at me as I dodged his fierce attacks and killed his subordinates.
His pursuing attacks were gradually becoming sloppy due to anger and impatience. From Gilgun’s perspective, even if he understood that I was a dangerous enemy who could destroy the Guild, he couldn’t tolerate being toyed with by a lower-ranked opponent like Rank 4.
From my observations so far, Gilgun had the ability to lead his subordinates and the drive to take on requests that the Assassin Guild’s central branch avoided. But looking at it from a different angle, I sensed a recklessness and arrogance that didn’t seem fitting for a Guild Master who was responsible for the lives of his subordinates.
People like that have a low tolerance for frustration. Impatience and irritation degrade the precision of their techniques.
As if provoking him, I dodged his wide swing with acrobatics, and the hem of my skirt was cut, tangling slightly around my foot.
“Die! Cross Blade!”
Seeing that momentary opening, Gilgun unleashed a Combat Art. It should have been the same two-hit attack Combat Art as the Dagger Arts “Double Slash.” The difference was that while “Double Slash” shortened the range to increase attack power, “Cross Blade” was a Combat Art for gaining range while leaving only the power of the overlapping center.
Certainly, it was optimal in this situation. But just as I was able to notice the roughness of Gilgun’s technique, his subordinates, knowing his short temper, were afraid of being caught up in it and their movements became sluggish, and Gilgun, whose vision had narrowed with anger, hadn’t noticed it.
“Gyaaaa!”
“What!”
As I dodged by falling backward, “Cross Blade” slashed apart the last subordinate behind me, and Gilgun couldn’t help but cry out.
At that moment, I kicked upwards in the direction I was falling, spinning around and using the flare of my long skirt as a distraction, throwing the knife I’d drawn from my thigh.
“Tch!”
Kikin!
Gilgun, instantly snapping back to his senses, recovered from the stiffness of casting his Combat Art, barely dodging, but managing to deflect the knife aimed at his vitals with his hatchet.
In that instant, I tore away the tangled hem and lunged forward, swinging down my 【Blade Scythe Style】 Pendulum. But Gilgun deflected it with his gauntlet, slashing upwards with his hatchet from below.
As I retreated to avoid it—
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
“Tch!”
Gilgun suddenly roared, and my body stiffened for a moment. It wasn’t 【Intimidation】. But I could guess it was a stun-type Skill similar to my 【Phantom Pain】, and at that moment, Gilgun in front of me raised his hatchet high.
“—【Vorpal Blade】—”
The Level 5 Combat Art 【Vorpal Blade】 was unleashed, and countless invisible slashes assaulted me.
I managed to barely avoid the first one, though it grazed me. But dodging the second one at this close range was nearly impossible. Of course, Gilgun probably thought so too. That’s why I, too, was “certain” that “if I were to be hit with a Combat Art next, it would be in a situation like this.”
The 【Roar】 from earlier didn’t have as long a stun time as 【Phantom Pain】. Recovering from the momentary stiffness, I threw the hem of the skirt I’d just torn off in front of me, and the cloth fluttered slightly in the slight wind pressure of the approaching slashes. I dove headfirst into the “gap in the sword strikes” that I had anticipated from the first slash, throwing the Pendulum’s blade at Gilgun, who was unable to move due to the Combat Art’s stiffness.
But—
“Guooooooooh!”
Gilgun roared again, and with sounds like muscles tearing all over his body, he spewed blood, dodging the Pendulum’s blade aimed at his face.
“…You’re not half bad.”
“…………”
Gilgun grinned, baring his fangs with a blood-smeared face. He probably had a ‘voice’-type Skill. Even with an attack that exploited a momentary gap in a life-or-death situation, I couldn’t defeat Gilgun.
My decisive power is still lacking. Creating a one-on-one situation by defeating his subordinates, and lowering the accuracy of his skills by disrupting the enemy’s concentration in the process, wasn’t enough to be decisive, even if I could bring it to a stalemate.
(So, what to do…)
Dodon!
At that moment, the sound and shock of what seemed like a magical explosion echoed from the place I had come from.
Keeping my eyes on Gilgun, I strained my ears, and I could hear Nero’s roar and a voice I faintly recognized.
“What was that noise!”
“Who knows?”
I answered lightly to Gilgun, who couldn’t grasp the situation, and then I dashed towards the place where Nero and that guy were fighting behind me.
“Where do you think you’re going, Ash-covered!”
Gilgun threw a throwing knife at me as I started to move, and I knocked it away with the 【Ball-Shaped】 Pendulum while retreating. As I dodged a “stray bullet” that flew from behind, the 【Fireball】 exploded between me and Gilgun.
“Guooooooooh!”
Gilgun, his arm burned by the scattering flames, dodged and lunged out. The 【Magic Shield (Shield)】 I had hastily erected was also broken, and I was damaged by the heat and impact, but I put away the Pendulum there and readied the Black Dagger and knife.
“This is our battlefield.”
I’ll show you how I, who crushed the Guild, fight.
Next time: The Aristocratic Faction’s Conspiracy – Conclusion.