Chapter 14: The Mob Prince Defeats an S-Rank Adventurer and Gains His Allegiance
Master Gaine brandished his sword as if shaking off his hesitation.
“But that’s out of the question.”
“…Why is that?”
I tried to get as much detail as possible. If I understood the situation, I could come up with a solution.
“Rena is in a magical coma from which she’ll never awaken. On top of that, we don’t even know where she is. What I can say for sure is… if I betray her, Rena will be killed!”
An explosive Magical Power erupted from Master Gaine, and his entire body bulged with muscle.
“Unique Magic, [Berserk]!”
So, it’s a physical ability enhancement type of Unique Magic.
This oppressive feeling, like my heart is being crushed, isn’t just a normal enhancement.
“This is my trump card. My strength doubles, but I lose my reason and won’t stop until I kill my opponent! Come at me with the intent to kill me too, Luke!”
Before I could open my mouth, Master Gaine kicked off the ground and approached with a speed that left the sound behind.
I didn’t want to fight, but I had no choice but to meet him head-on with all my strength.
“[Dark Edge Wall]!”
I deployed a thick, large shield form of [Dark Edge] in front of me.
“UOOOOOOOOOH!”
With a beast-like roar, Master Gaine slammed his sword into the [Dark Edge Wall].
With a single blow, cracks ran through the [Dark Edge Wall]. My arm vibrated and went numb to the core.
I, I can’t believe it’s this strong. It’s like a battering ram.
“Haa!”
I made [Dark Edge] burst out from under my feet and jumped backward with the recoil.
Master Gaine’s powerful sword came crashing down where I had been.
If I had reacted even a moment later, I would have been split in two along with the [Dark Edge Wall].
“Hedgehog Mode!”
Furthermore, to prevent Master Gaine’s pursuit, I created countless slender [Dispel Sword]s from the front of my body.
If I could hit him with the [Dispel Sword], I could cancel Master Gaine’s Unique Magic, [Berserk].
“Guu!”
Master Gaine sensed the danger instinctively and stopped just short.
However, the forced sudden stop threw off his balance.
Just as planned.
“[Hypnos’s Demon Sword]!”
At the same time as landing, I kicked off the ground and swung the Demon Sword down at Master Gaine.
Bakkiiiinnnnn!
[Hypnos’s Demon Sword] collided with Master’s sword and shattered in one blow.
Master tried to seize the opportunity to counterattack, but his body stiffened.
“…Swordsmanship is about reading ahead, that’s what Master Gaine taught me.”
The fragments of the destroyed [Hypnos’s Demon Sword] were showered on Master Gaine.
In fact, the sleep-inducing effect was also on the shattered fragments.
I lowered the strength of [Hypnos’s Demon Sword] on purpose to make it shatter.
“Guh!?”
Master Gaine fell like a puppet with its strings cut.
“…Phew, that was close.”
Master Gaine is a man who has risen to the highest rank of adventurers, S-rank.
I thought he had some kind of trump card hidden, not just strong swordsmanship, but it was this much.
If it weren’t for the training I’ve done in these two weeks and the [Hypnos’s Demon Sword] that I was able to develop thanks to my mother, I would have been the one who lost.
Anyway, I’m glad I was able to subdue Master Gaine without killing him.
Is this the ideal sword that my mother was talking about, resolving conflicts without hurting others…?
At that time, I thought it was naive, but it seems that I was the one who didn’t know the world.
There are times when you get driven into a corner like this.
“I don’t know where Rena-chan is… this guy is the clue.”
I tied up the Tamer, whom I had put to sleep with [Hypnos’s Demon Sword], with a rope for camping tents.
Then, I stabbed the [Dispel Sword] into the Tamer’s right foot to wake him up. If I injured his foot, there would be no worry of him escaping.
“Gyaaaaah! W, what the hell are you doing!?”
“Tell me where Master Gaine’s daughter is. If you refuse, I’ll kill you.”
I told the Tamer, who had jumped up, as coldly as possible.
“Haa…!? W, who would tell you!”
“It seems you don’t understand the situation.”
The Tamer seemed to be underestimating me, thinking I was a seven-year-old child.
I stabbed [Dark Edge] into the man’s left foot. There is no mercy for enemies.
“Aaaah!? You brat, how dare you do this!?”
“If you don’t know, take me to someone who does. Next, I’ll stab your arm.”
“I, I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you where the daughter is, so stop it!”
The man suddenly became obedient.
It seems he understood that I was serious.
“Good. You’re going to take me there now.”
“Hah, haa, yes!”
The Tamer had an expression that was like a crying smile.
“…Luke, why didn’t you kill me?”
Master Gaine woke up.
I was a little surprised by this. To already be out of the effects of [Hypnos’s Demon Sword].
It seems that Master has considerable resistance to abnormal statuses.
But fortunately, the Unique Magic [Berserk], which makes him lose his reason, seemed to be canceled.
With this, we can have a proper discussion.
“It’s obvious. Because I want to save both Master and Rena-chan. Rena-chan seems to be in a magical coma, but my [Dispel Sword], which can nullify magic, can undo it, so there’s no problem.”
“What…?”
“Also, this man says he will guide us to her location.”
Master Gaine opened his mouth in shock.
“I, I tried to kill you. But you’re going to help me and Rena?”
“Master and I are similar. I understand Master’s feelings painfully well. I’m also prepared to do anything to protect my mother and Dia.”
Above all, Master Gaine hesitated to point his sword at me.
The purpose of using the Unique Magic [Berserk] was not only to power up, but also because he couldn’t bring himself to point his sword at me normally.
“Besides, if we kill each other, wouldn’t that be just as Empress Camilla wants? We save Rena-chan and crush that woman. Otherwise, it can’t be called our complete victory, right?”
“…I’m impressed. It’s truly my complete defeat.”
Master Gaine laughed cheerfully.
“When you grow up, you’ll surely become a hero whose name will resound throughout the world, far beyond my reach, Luke.”