This place was one of the Vampire’s Barrier Outposts. The only ones who had likely arrived ahead of us were the vampires’ retinue.
Could it be that I’ve been discovered?
However, the female mage had made every effort to remain unseen. Aside from the moment she suddenly appeared in the temple, her shadow was nearly undetectable until we entered the forest.
So, where was our movement exposed?
The logical conclusion was obvious.
Unlike the female mage, I moved confidently on foot. The hypothesis that someone was waiting for me here seemed the most plausible.
The woman’s judgment appeared to align with mine.
“Shall we launch a surprise attack?”
“Forget it, I’ll handle it… It’s highly likely they don’t even know I’ve arrived.”
Waving her hand dismissively, the female mage began to step forward again.
One step, two steps.
With each thud of her footsteps, a strange scenery unfurled. The space around the female mage distorted, and soon, a horrifying noise echoed as if nails were scraping against iron plates.
Kikikikikikik-
Despite the sparks flying haphazardly, the woman’s stride remained unwavering. While I was momentarily assessing the situation, I quickly chose to follow her.
In fact, the area around the female mage was cozy like the eye of a storm.
Countless scenes whizzed past beyond the flames that tinted my vision a vivid yellow. Burning buildings, forests, and two women facing off within the collapsed ruins.
It was at that moment the female mage halted her steps.
“……They’re right in front of us.”
At her languid declaration, I immediately gripped the hilt of my sword.
It was a natural obligation for a swordsman before battle. But the female mage merely chuckled in response.
“Arthur, Arthur… You should prepare to flee.”
“Flee? Why would I do that?”
It was almost insulting.
As I responded incredulously, the female mage forced a bitter smile and said, “If they’re an opponent I can’t handle, you won’t stand a chance either… Especially since this barrier distorts space. It’s quite a hassle to deal with.”
“Still…”
“There are reinforcements back at the Academy.”
It was a statement that left no room for rebuttal.
In the end, I could only nod reluctantly, a frown on my face.
The female mage found my demeanor so cute that she let out a laugh, turning her gaze away. A white dot of light began to form at the tip of her slender finger.
That was the first.
Before long, the scenery of the entire world was being sucked into that dot. The distorted space twisted chaotically as if someone had swept at spilled paint on water with a brush.
But that was short-lived.
A translucent sphere enveloped the point of light, and soon, the dot of light clashed and reflected randomly.
The speed of it intensified further.
Eventually, the translucent sphere filled with countless trajectories of light. The speed of the points bouncing within was so fast that they were nearly invisible.
While I blankly watched the spectacle, the female mage left a brief bit of advice.
“Kid, pay close attention… This is one way to utilize a connection.”
At that, the sphere of light floated up, and the female mage’s index finger pointed straight ahead.
Then, the trigger was pulled.
Bang, the explosion echoed as if it resonated within my very mind. By the time I realized what had happened, everything had already been ripped apart.
A straight hole had opened in space.
Countless cross-sections were torn apart, making it impossible to see the scenery inside. All I could vaguely grasp was that beyond that deep, dark hole, light overflowed, erasing the world.
Then, the micron of light stopped abruptly.
The aftershock rushed in wildly.
With a crack, the sound of air bursting echoed as a sharp gust swept through the area. I had to cross my arms immediately to shield my vision.
I wanted to groan, but opening my mouth would only fill my lungs with air. It wasn’t until I had taken a couple of steps back that I regained my posture.
Could anyone remain unscathed in this storm?
Only one person, the very cause of this devastation, stood there with a calm face.
The female mage, even amidst the fiercely blowing wind, was puffing on a pipe.
“……Hmm, it seems to be over.”
Though her tone was vague, I found certainty in those words.
It was over.
Few could withstand that strike. Even if prepared ahead of time, only a powerhouse reaching the high expert level would be capable of enduring it in full.
Let alone an unexpected blow.
After a moment of silence, I hesitantly broached the topic.
“Uh, the true power is sealed…”
“Even with insufficient power, you can compress it, and by compressing it, you can increase its effectiveness.”
Exhaling a puff of smoke, the female mage said so.
“Right, so… it’s like trying to fit the sun through a needle’s eye!”
“How is that even possible…”
I could only shake my head in disbelief at such a nonsensical suggestion.
The female mage, meanwhile, puffed out her cheeks, showing her discontent.
“No, why not? Have you even tried?”
“Is it reasonable for that to happen? How do you fit the sun through a needle’s eye?”
In the face of my legitimate rebuttal, the female mage merely clicked her tongue.
Before long, the hole in the void was gradually filling up. Though I could hear a crackling sound, it wasn’t bothersome enough.
It was fine to indulge until the space healed.
With that thought, I decided to engage in this ludicrous debate.
“Tch, this is why young people these days… they just keep saying it can’t be done without ever trying!”
“No, there’s no need to try that out!”
“Kid, it seems you’re mistaken… In the long run, the real world and the imaginary world are…!”
Just as I began to jump up, the female mage was obstinately contesting.
Bang, suddenly.
A bursting noise rang from a place unknown. The situation unfolded in a moment so swift that I couldn’t even wipe the look of disbelief from my face.
Only blood coloring my retina.
Gulp, the female mage suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
Clutching her chest.
“W-what… Lady Mage, are you alright…!”
“Don’t come near!”
She yelled desperately, turning around to point her index finger straight ahead.
Bang, bang, bang!
The sphere of light hovering around us had fired several times already. In the same way, the space was pierced in a straight line, centered around the minute trajectories of light.
Yet, it didn’t return.
The aftershock.
Instead, the verdant scenery of the forest was gradually losing its color, as if fog was being lifted.
A world turned to ash.
The sky held a red moon, and the trees stood withered, emitting a dark hue. The ground was dyed an ominous blood color, creating a most unpleasant atmosphere.
Even amidst that, the female mage stared ahead with a tense expression. A trickle of blood dripped from between her blood-stained lips.
And then, the next moment.
A single droplet of blood that should have fallen hovered in the air.
That was when the female mage’s eyes widened.
Her delicate toes gracefully landed on the white curve, which extended down to her calves.
The calves flowed into thighs, the thighs passed through hips, along a slender waist, and eventually, the woman revealed herself fully in a strikingly seductive appearance.
Yet, she bore resemblance.
The face reminded me of the female mage in some way, though the gray hair and blue eyes definitely resembled my junior.
The female mage, who had plopped down onto the ground, was beginning to breathe heavily. The glare of her pale green eyes was intensifying with bloodshot.
“You, you…!”
“Hello.”
In contrast, the gray-haired woman exuded nonchalance.
Her crimson lips curved into a smile, drawing a line across her face. Whether it was mockery or not, I could not tell.
Instinctively, I deduced the identity of my opponent.
Pale skin, blue eyes, gray hair.
The contrast of the bloody lips against the cool tones, and the jet-black dress accentuated the frail image of this woman.
Nibbling on the tip of her thumb, covered by black gloves, she spoke in a sludgy voice.
“…My dear sister.”
Was that statement like a reverse scale?
The female mage, unable to suppress her overwhelming emotions, staggered up. While her complexion was not good, the blazing determination in her eyes was undeniably real.
“Y-you dare, to show yourself…!”
“But I’m sorry, I didn’t come to see you today.”
And with a snap of her fingers.
That was the end.
Crack! Suddenly, a rift opened in the air, and the female mage, unable to maintain her footing, fell through the gap. It seemed she didn’t expect it to end up this way, as she couldn’t utter coherent words until the very end.
Yet, the shape of her lips was firmly etched in my sight.
“Run.”
I gulped, swallowing dryly, and shifted my gaze towards the woman.
The gray-haired woman, chewing her black gloves in annoyance, asked me.
“Kid, is that you?”
“W-what do you mean…?”
With a swift motion, a blood-red spear shot up toward my forehead. I gasped and stumbled backward, but that wasn’t necessary.
The spear’s tip halted just before making contact with my forehead.
The bloody spear was rooted only in a few drops of blood. The mouthful of blood the female mage had hurled up had transformed instantly into a weapon.
A monster possessing such unique abilities was one of a kind across the entire continent.
The woman, no, the “vampire” wore a dangerously smiling expression as she asked me again.
“…About my niece’s lover.”
