Chapter 69

“This is… no matter what, this is too much.”

What Ronos started wasn’t a small fire.

One side of the forest was completely ablaze, and the flames began to spread fiercely throughout the entire forest.

Ronos didn’t start the fire just to scare or threaten us.

It was clear that he really intended to burn down this entire forest where we were hiding.

Startled and frightened by the flames, the forest animals began to flee en masse.

While our bodies could just keep moving away from the flames, that wasn’t the end of it.

“Honestly, I thought he’d come down to find us, but I never expected he’d try to burn down the entire forest. If the fire spreads like this, our refuge will be completely gone.”

If the refuge burns down, it means we’ll have to go outside unless we want to be engulfed by the flames and die.

“What should we do? Should we go out and provoke him into a fair fight?”

“…They say you get smarter in a crisis, but have you actually regressed, Kairon? If you provoke him, it might work against an ordinary person, but a cunning demon like Ronos won’t fall for that. He wants Riana back, not us.”

“Hmm…”

Whether I’ve gotten smarter or regressed, I still needed a plan.

We had no idea where Rostia, who said she’d help us, was or when she’d show up. She was nowhere to be seen.

For now, we had to figure out how to get through this mess on our own.

“Cough cough…!”

“Here, use this, Riana.”

“Thank you…”

The thick smoke from the burning forest.

Abelin quickly pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Riana without hesitation.

“Wow, this is really fancy! Can I really use this?”

“Stop talking and just use it!”

“Hehe, this must be what it’s like to have an older sister.”

“An older sister…”

At the word “sister,” Abelin’s expression momentarily turned cold.

But soon, she smiled warmly and tied the handkerchief around Riana’s face herself.

“That’s right. Your older sister and brother will protect you, so don’t worry too much.”

“Yes, I believe you. Especially…”

With the handkerchief covering her nose and mouth, Riana’s shining eyes looked straight at me.

“Kairon, you’ve always made the impossible possible.”

To be trusted and praised so highly even in such a dire situation.

I firmly resolved to get through this, if only to repay that trust.

Besides, with so many crises ahead, I couldn’t afford to fall here.

But one thing was clear: we had to somehow get Ronos, who was calmly waiting for us to come out, closer to us.

So, reluctantly…

“Abelin?”

“Sounds like you’re about to ask me for something.”

“Spot on. Your specialty is speed, right?”

“If you say so.”

“I need you to use that.”

“How? Just say the word. I need to protect Riana like a big sister.”

“It’s very dangerous. But I need you to be the bait for one shot. Can I ask that of you?”

“If there’s no other way. But…”

Stretching her joints and loosening up, Abelin casually added,

“You owe me a drink.”

“Just one drink? I can do more than that.”

“More than that…”

Abelin bit her lip slightly and clenched her fist.

“You better keep that promise!”

***

“How dare you… how dare you!”

High above the forest near Rostia, Ronos was grinding his teeth so hard it was audible as he glared below.

Setting the forest on fire was Ronos’s idea of mercy.

If insignificant humans had provoked his anger, it was only right to burn them to ash without a trace.

But this time…

“Riana…!”

Ronos repeated the name.

A human he had spent a long time with, one he had harshly nurtured and shaped over many years.

Though it started as an unavoidable command from his master, time had changed Ronos.

Despite his neglect and harsh treatment, Riana had grown strong, earning Ronos’s interest and becoming his true disciple.

And now, just as Riana was about to become a High Magician…

“Yes, those insignificant wretches dare!”

No amount of “dare” could suffice.

That detestable human, though Riana’s father, Balthazar.

When he asked Ronos to raise his daughter well, it was one thing, but now the two minions sent by the Vanguard he led dared to take Riana away without permission.

And somehow, in the short time they visited, Riana’s gaze toward Ronos had changed.

“Absolutely, absolutely unforgivable… Huh?”

What caught Ronos’s eye was one of them finally stepping out.

The Vanguard woman stood in the snowy field, staring straight at Ronos.

“Hey, Archmage over there! Can you hear me?”

“I hear you. Finally came out, huh? Where’s the other one, where’s Riana?”

“She’s still in the forest. Coughing pitifully from the smoke you caused.”

“Coughing…?”

For a moment, Ronos’s expression showed concern.

And Abelin didn’t miss it.

“As a teacher, do you enjoy seeing your beloved disciple suffer? Surely an Archmage like you would know that a big fire would spread smoke.”

“Shut up! This is all your fault! I warned you, if you tried to take Riana, I wouldn’t stand idly by!”

“But we didn’t know the Captain’s daughter was being treated so harshly. Manipulating tests to make her fail, creating a bullying atmosphere. Is that really how you treat a beloved disciple? Can you really call that ‘love’? Answer me!”

“You wench…!”

Unable to hold back, Ronos created dozens of large fireballs and hurled them at Abelin.

But from such a distance, Abelin easily dodged them with her quick and agile movements.

No matter how powerful each fireball was, attacks from afar were no match for Abelin’s speed.

Seeing this, Abelin decided to provoke Ronos further.

“An Archmage, huh? Yet you keep attacking from a distance where your attacks can’t reach me. I admit each one is powerful. But they don’t work on me. Surely an Archmage would know that?”

“You… your mouth is as sly as your movements! Then try dodging this!”

A terrifyingly large fireball blotted out the sky.

If it came down, its size and speed would make it impossible for even Abelin to dodge.

“So you are an Archmage… but!”

Abelin quickly made a decision and dashed.

The best obstacle to block the fireball: back into the forest.

“I’ll leave nothing but ashes!!”

Without hesitation, Abelin hid back in the forest, and the massive fireball engulfed the spot.

***

“Riana, it seems Ronos doesn’t care for you as much as I thought.”

“Yes…”

Far from the flames consuming the forest.

Fortunately, Riana wasn’t coughing anymore, but Abelin’s plan to provoke Ronos into coming down had failed.

“Strange. Ronos couldn’t care less about Riana. He broke through the Magic Tower’s walls for her.”

“I agree. But the confusion of losing his disciple hasn’t clouded his judgment enough.”

“We need to cloud his judgment. What’s the best way… Ah?”

I stared intently at Riana.

“Why… why are you looking at me like that, Kairon?”

“Foolishly, we’ve been sitting on the most tempting bait without using it.”

“Kairon, wait. You don’t mean…?”

“Exactly. Riana is the best bait to lure Ronos down.”

As I slowly approached Riana, she backed away with a frightened look.

“Hehe, Riana? Come here for a sec.”

“Why, why are you doing this! What are you planning, Kairon!”

“I swear, it’s nothing weird. Can you act?”

“…Not really.”

“Ah, that’s a shame. But it’s fine. Just close your eyes and scream once. The content is…”

I whispered into Riana’s ear, and she nodded with shining eyes.

“Really, that’s all?”

“More than enough. Your one scream will be more powerful than anything we could say. Ready? Scream!”

“Master! These bad people are trying to kill me, saying I’m a demon! Please save me!!”

Riana’s scream echoed through the forest and reached the distant sky.

As soon as the sound spread, the flames trying to consume the forest instantly died down.

And then…

“I’m coming, Riana! Hold on!!”

The plan was a huge success.

With a sonic boom, the master who cherished his disciple came flying toward us.