The elven guard was yawning.
Even from a distance, I could sense its presence. My heightened senses dissected every aspect of the scenery without exception. Even scenes that should have appeared as mere small dots could not escape my notice.
The level seemed to be quite high.
At the very least, he was stronger than Pope Eyong. Although he could not be compared to the snow leopard mage I had faced before, he was still not someone I wanted to take risks with.
The “base” was a location that concentrated the elf’s power. It was akin to the imperial palace of the empire, so even the guards had to be elite experts chosen from a select group.
I had neither the time to deal with him carefully nor could I dismiss him.
At this point, my choice of action was usually similar.
I would suppress my presence and take him down before he realized it.
It was a safe and certain method. Despite this, I deliberately chose not to do so.
My objectives were different.
I did not want to cleanly take out the elven guard. Rather, my goal was to create a ruckus and provide Abiyang an opportunity to escape from Leorick’s grasp.
Thus, my body did not slow down.
I ran and ran until the elven guard was within my line of sight.
The guard was looking at me with a somewhat unrealistic gaze.
The elves’ “base” was located deep within a coniferous forest. Moreover, its location was classified, so humanity had never officially discovered even an elf village, let alone the “base.”
However, a human suddenly appeared, rushing across the snowfield.
It took time to comprehend and accept this. I intentionally drew my sword in advance so the guard would clearly understand my intentions.
Only after facing the silver blade did the elven guard come to his senses.
His voice rose, almost as if in desperation.
“It’s an invasion! The intruder is one… Gack!”
That was the last of his cries.
With a crack, my thrown hand axe burst the elven guard’s skull. The scene of bl**d and bone splattering was unpleasant no matter how many times I saw it.
Crimson droplets fell, staining the white snow.
I quickly held my breath and ducked down, seeking nearby cover.
While creating chaos was good, it was absurd to attempt an assault on the elf base alone.
If two or more mages appeared, I would have to worry for my life. Intentionally suppressing my presence and sneaking around suited my purpose better.
The unseen enemy was always more frightening than the visible one.
My hypothesis was soon proven correct.
Shouts erupted from everywhere.
“I can’t see the intruder! Search everywhere!”
“Hide the non-combat personnel in the houses!”
“Report to Leorick! Report to Lord Leorick!”
Among the swarming soldiers, I recognized some familiar faces.
Especially the “swordsmen” who left no footprints on the snow.
They were the elite forces of the elves I had seen during a previous nighttime raid. At that time, I had not understood their footing, but after receiving Pope Eyong’s teachings, I was different.
It was the elves’ unique breathing technique.
Pope Eyong had instructed me to bind my hands and walk through the coniferous forest. The intention was to focus all senses on my feet and feel the surrounding natural elements.
I had not fully mastered that technique yet.
However, I understood that continued breathing led to that ghostly stride. I paid attention to the breaths of the “swordsmen.”
My breathing was gradually becoming more subdued.
The faint presence was fading. After a few minutes without being discovered, the elves became increasingly chaotic.
I had entered without knowing the structure inside.
For an impromptu infiltration, the results were excellent. Undoubtedly, the elves’ breathing technique was effective; no one had sensed my temporary hiding presence.
The elves searching for me were operating in pairs of at least two.
This was to alert others to the intruder’s position if they were ambushed. There were not many means to silence two mouths at once.
It was indeed an excellent strategy, but that didn’t last long.
As the chaos intensified, instances arose where that principle was disregarded. The elves lacked the manpower to thoroughly search every nook and cranny of the base.
This was what I had been aiming for.
I had hidden behind a cabin, and the approaching presence became increasingly clear.
Once they rounded the corner, I would be right there.
So, I stealthily moved towards that corner. What transpired after that was predestined.
Just before the elven soldier saw me, my sword traced a silver horizon.
Not a sound was made.
The elven soldier did not realize my existence until the moment of d*ath. He might not have even known he was dying.
With a crack, his head rolled on the bl**d-soaked ground. Following that, the sound of bl**d gushing was heard, and the body crumpled like a bundle of straw.
The elves’ keen hearing was as sharp as their long ears.
It was only after a short time that the risk of being discovered arose, so I held my breath again and moved. As I had predicted, some elves were gathering.
Now was the chance.
As the commotion grew louder, and everyone’s attention was turned elsewhere.
I recalled the terrain I had seen through the raven’s eye. I remembered that Leorick’s cabin was somewhat isolated.
I had to get as close as possible to that place.
Then, after joining up with Abiyang, I would make a swift escape.
That was my plan.
In reality, having barged in like this, I could not come up with a more intricate strategy. This was the only path that could save both me and Abiyang.
I could not face all the power of the elf base alone.
Let alone deal with Leorick alone, I wondered if I could even handle him. Evading together would be the best option.
It was at this moment, between cabins or trees, that two swordsmen were loitering nearby.
I was just about to reach Leorick’s cabin.
I hid behind a piled stack of firewood. The two tense-looking swordsmen clicked their tongues and moved forward.
They seemed puzzled.
“How on earth did they find this place? Could there be a traitor among the siblings…?”
“Today is Lord Leorick’s ‘worship’ day; this is a major issue.”
Luck was not on my side.
The “swordsmen” seemed to represent a kind of knight class. They were not opponents I could k*ll swiftly like a soldier.
Let alone two of them.
While I did not feel I would lose, they were enemies I desperately did not want to confront.
However, no matter how long I waited, it seemed the swordsmen had no inclination to turn.
If that were the case, they would soon discover my presence.
Reluctantly, I would have to strike first.
My hand fiddled with the axe handle.
After throwing the hand axe to take one down, I would pounce on the startled swordsman and finish both in one go. Following that, I intended to dash to the cabin.
All I could see was a future where I would be surrounded and killed.
Regrets crept in for having sent Abiyang alone in the past.
The d*e was already cast.
I had no choice but to give my best under the given conditions. I gathered my resolve and focused on the swordsmen’s footsteps.
Three steps, two steps, and then the final step.
Just as the two swordsmen reached my predetermined line.
Boom! A heavy vibration resonated from somewhere.
Of course, my attention, as well as the swordsmen’s, naturally shifted towards the source of the sound.
Boom! The ground shook again.
The impact rocked the earth. With each wave, the snow piled on the ground rose up and scattered. As time passed, the source of the sound became clearer.
It was Leorick’s cabin.
No one could guess the cause of it.
What on earth was happening?
That question was soon answered.
With a bang, the cabin exploded.
Shattered pieces of wood scattered across the area. Some elves, caught unawares, screamed and fell over.
What was splattered was not just wood.
All kinds of tools and furniture from Leorick’s cabin soared through the air, including Abiyang, who had been hiding inside.
In the midst of it, whatever had happened, Abiyang was released from her transformation spell.
As if it were synchronized, Abiyang was flying towards me. There was no time to hesitate.
My hand axe flew with precision.
The swordsmen, scattered in shock, were in no position to respond.
With a crack, as bl**d burst forth, one swordsman’s eye turned toward me. His reflexes were somewhat quick, but the bewildered look in his eyes revealed a lack of reality.
This was good for me.
I transferred my momentum as I kicked the swordsman in the chest.
“Gack!”
And the hand axe cleaved the body of the swordsman suspended in midair.
It was a technique of striking calmly.
I continued to run, disregarding the swordsman. Just after, I threw my body, catching the gray-haired girl in my arms.
Abiyang.
The jolt had numbed my arm. Abiyang was likely not unscathed either.
However, the girl did not scream. She simply lay there with her eyes closed, only letting out groans.
Regardless, it was a stroke of luck.
I instinctively sensed that this was the last opportunity.
With Abiyang falling into my arms amidst the chaos.
It was not an exaggeration to say that the heavenly deity had lent me a hand.
I decided to whisper the upcoming plan into Abiyang’s ear.
“Abiyang, are you okay?! We have to escape right now!”
“Bet, Betty…”
However, I paused at the words that spilled from Abiyang’s lips.
Come to think of it, where was my younger sister?
No matter how I looked, there was only one doll that had bounced out of the cabin. Since its owner was in my arms, it meant that Betty had not come out of the cabin.
Was that even possible?
What awakened my questioning was the scream that flowed out once more.
My gaze turned toward Leorick’s exploded cabin.
There, chunks of flesh were overflowing.
Yes, the tide of flesh.
The boiling flesh was viscous and grotesque like lava. The sea of flesh stretched infinitely, and amidst it walked a man as if he were some kind of savior.
No, could one even say he was walking?
The man’s legs had already fused with the flesh. With every step he took, strings of fleshy matter and veins stretched.
Leorick.
In his arms, he held the girl Abiyang had been searching for.
I hesitated and stood up.
It was tragic about Betty, but saving her now was impossible. My remaining option was only to flee.
Yet, for an instant, I could not shake off my hesitation.
“Betty, no…”
The whispering voice of Abiyang overlapped with my promise from childhood to protect Liya.
It conjured memories of the small knight who had died to protect his younger sister.
Though the conflict lasted merely seconds, the cost was steep.
“Oh, Emmanuel… could there be such exquisite fate?”
The voice that flowed out like a sigh pointed a finger at me.
It was a calm tone. Though he certainly did not raise his voice, the man’s voice pierced my ears with a peculiar resonance.
My eyes went blank.
And I met them.
The eyes of a fanatic filled with disturbing conviction.
“Ian Fercurus brother, it is an honor to meet you at last.”
He was openly gazing at me.
Somehow, it seemed like fleeing was not the right choice.
*
One night, an unwelcome guest visited Ceria’s room.
