I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess – Chapter 182

Two fists alone couldn’t diminish the prowess of the greatest warrior of the Carvita Tribe.

In fact, the very fact that he was holding out despite the curse proved just how remarkable of a warrior he truly was.

‘Guess I’m really at a disadvantage here.’

However, the issue was that he still couldn’t take down the enemy.

Especially not the man that Kelrag faced; he was no ordinary opponent.

He probably had skills superior to any foes Kelrag had encountered so far.

“How impressive. I never thought you could endure this much with just your bare body.”

“…Stop spouting nonsense.”

Kelrag gritted his teeth at Shepard’s fabricated admiration, which lacked any real depth.

If only his condition had been at full strength, he might have scored at least one hit, but that wasn’t easy.

Most importantly, the magic the man before him wielded was very strange and alien.

Though Kelrag wasn’t particularly well-versed in magic, he could tell that it strayed far from conventional spells.

‘The intention to avoid causing a ruckus is conveyed.’

At least it was fortunate that the enemy wasn’t using any large-scale spells.

Of course, it could be that he was unable to, but at the very least, Kelrag thought that if he exerted himself a little, he could manage that level of magic.

But the fact that he wasn’t meant he was intent on killing him and returning without a sound.

That was where Kelrag needed to dig in.

“……!”

Just as he broke his focus, a massive black nail flew toward him without a sound.

Kelrag successfully dodged quickly, but the remaining projectiles still hovered in the air, aimed at him.

‘Magic without incantations or catalysts like this…’

At the very least, no one among the mages Kelrag had seen could compare to the one in front of him.

The only one that came to mind was Ariel, but he had never seen her magic skills firsthand.

However, given her age, even with talent, wouldn’t it be difficult for that man to handle?

Shhh!

‘Damn, he’s not giving me a second to think.’

Though it’s said the one lost in thought during battle is at a disadvantage, Kelrag gritted his teeth as he swiftly maneuvered the New Model.

His nimble movements contrasted with his large physique.

Shepard, observing this, flicked his right hand like a commander, causing the flying nail to curve and aim for Kelrag’s feet.

“Tsk.”

Kelrag clicked his tongue and evaded it with the response speed of a wild animal, then hid behind a rock wall as the nailed projectile pierced the stone.

“How long do you plan to resist without any weapons? It’d be great if you could just die soon; I’d be in a bit of trouble otherwise.”

There was a hint of genuine annoyance in Shepard’s voice that hadn’t been there before, which had felt almost eerily emotionless.

It was a minuscule shift, but it was there.

“Phew, phew… Damn. He has some nerve after getting hit like that.”

Regardless of the situation, Kelrag could only grit his teeth as he panted heavily.

The leisurely stance of the enemy contrasted sharply with his own precarious position, which was infuriating, but for now, there was nothing he could do.

‘Until reinforcements arrive, charging in recklessly would be suicidal.’

If he could fight to the fullest, he might even be able to aim for a mutual demise.

But if he slipped up and made a mistake, it would not only cost him his life, but also the life of the girl hiding behind that tree who was trembling in fear.

Meanwhile, Sonia, hiding behind the tree, shivered when their eyes met.

She may have been young, but she knew that the man across from them was bad news and wanted to torment her and Kelrag.

However, she was powerless at that moment.

She wished she could throw a rock at him with all her might, but for some reason, it felt like that would be the wrong choice.

‘Brother, sister. Help me.’

Sonia trembled as she tightly gripped the pendant hanging around her neck.

It was a gift from Ariel when they had met just before leaving the castle.

A gift given with the promise that she would think of her whenever something scary happened.

Sonia picked up the pendant in accordance with her words and cradled the red gemstone engraved in its center with both hands.

This wouldn’t make the bad man tormenting them go away, but still, she wanted to hold onto something and plead desperately.

‘Making a child worry…’

Kelrag, watching from behind the rock, gave a self-deprecating smile.

He wanted to tell her to stay calm, but that was far from easy at the moment.

He felt like he wouldn’t be able to be a good adult now.

‘It’s tough not being able to take the initiative.’

If it were just his own life on the line, he might have charged in without thinking twice.

But if he died now, it would mean losing the life of the little girl trembling behind the tree.

He had to protect at least that much, which was Kelrag’s principle.

Still, feeling indebted, he had to at least save that little girl, right?

That was the bare minimum he could do as the leader of the Carvita Tribe.

Kelrag, hiding behind the rock, nodded with a determined expression.

He thought that dragging this out like this wouldn’t lead to any improvements, even if it didn’t seem like it would work.

“Ugh…!”

He pivoted and hugged the rock tightly with his arms.

If the other side didn’t want to create a scene, then he had no choice but to figure out something from this side.

As Kelrag applied strength to his arms and let out a low shout, the massive rock embedded in the ground began to lift slightly, and dust began to rise.

Shepard’s eyes widened a little as he observed from a distance.

He never imagined that someone in a cursed state could exhibit such incredible strength.

But now was not the time to be surprised.

‘A trick.’

At Shepard’s command, the black substance in the shape of nails, which had been strewn about, gathered into one.

It swelled into a mass roughly the size of a person and transformed back into its sharp form, then surged towards the rock that Kelrag was lifting.

“Haah!”

Realizing he had no time to waste, Kelrag threw the rock straight at Shepard.

Even if it was blocked by magic, it would at least serve to obscure his vision for a brief moment, during which he could either evacuate Sonia or buy some time.

Ssshh!

“!”

However, contrary to his expectations, Shepard hurled the giant object he had conjured straight at Kelrag.

He observed the oncoming rock with an indifferent gaze, as though it had nothing to do with him.

Kuwung!

The massive rock, likely larger than Shepard’s own body, struck him.

He neither dodged nor blocked, and his body was squashed, becoming unrecognizable like a dead fly mashed into the ground.

In hindsight, it could be seen as Kelrag having chosen mutual destruction instead of Shepard, but the reality was different.

Slushing.

His body, now a mush, began to transform into a sticky black liquid as it melted under the sun, writhing in place.

And then the sticky fragments that had scattered began to inch together towards the center, slowly.

Like slime regenerating.

‘Such an attack is nothing to avoid.’

As his consciousness returned along with the regeneration of his body, the awareness settled back into him.

At the same time, Shepard smirked internally as he glanced down at his forming feet.

He had been granted eternal life along with power from his Master.

Though it wasn’t true immortality, he could nullify such trivial physical attacks anytime he pleased.

In a negative light, one could say he had abandoned his humanity and become a monster.

However, he chose that path, knowing it was a far more fitting body to fulfill his Master’s goals.

His mind and heart only oriented toward achieving those aims.

‘That choice was indeed quite surprising.’

Kelrag’s strength to toss the rock and the decision to do so earned a bit of respect.

If he had been an ordinary sorcerer, he might have been too busy to block it, causing him to miss out on Kelrag and stretch the time.

However, taking that as an opportunity, Shepard chose to attack the exhausted Kelrag in retaliation, and that was a choice and outcome only he could make.

If Kelrag had known of such secrets, perhaps the result would have been different.

“Now, all that’s left is to kill the girl.”

With a perfectly regenerated body, Shepard muttered to himself, moving to check his condition.

After all, it probably stirred quite the ruckus due to the earlier attack.

Just as he resolved to kill the girl behind the tree and return before reinforcements arrived, a voice came, cold and clear, aiming at his neck.

“…What a filthy rat to come crawling here, I see you have bad habits.”

A man appeared beside him without a sound, the blade aimed at his throat was accompanied by a chilling voice.

As Shepard rolled his eyes, he found the enemy not far from him, who had silently approached with a sword raised.

Opposite him stood a raven-haired woman, unable to control the surging magical power, exuding clear malice and hostility.

Flames danced in her hands, consuming the magic he had intended to use against Kelrag, leaving no trace behind as it turned to ash in the air.

At the same time, the woman, Ariel, who stepped closer with a hand over one eye, lifted the corner of her mouth and began to speak.

“Who are you planning to kill? Want to say that again?”

With a power swirling in her that seemed to resonate with her Master, Shepard felt fear for the first time in his life.