~Chapter 97~
Calix stopped at Randell’s words. Looking around, he said,
“Even if you say that, I don’t see anyone here who’s well enough to move.”
“……”
It was true. More than half of the knights were injured and could barely fight.
Seeing Randell’s troubled face, Calix Hertorio spoke.
“Let’s do it this way.”
I couldn’t help but focus on his next words.
Looking at Randell, the Duke said,
“My men will stay here. They’re only knights of a duke, but they’ll still be helpful.”
“……That’s…”
“But not the sorcerer. The enemy I’m about to face is the one who needs a sorcerer the most, don’t you think?”
“……”
Calix firmly refused Randell’s suggestion. Randell tried to respond, but the Duke spoke first.
“Then, I’ll go hunt down the one who’s troubling us.”
Without giving Randell a chance to argue, Duke Hertorio turned away without hesitation.
Randell watched him leave, torn with doubt. Could he really let him go? He didn’t trust the Duke. But since he was leaving all his knights behind, it was hard to keep doubting him.
He wanted to stop him and demand answers, but there was no time for that luxury. Just then, a shout came from a lower knight.
“The barrier is breaking!”
“Damn it.”
Randell turned back.
Then, from ahead, Calix Hertorio suddenly spoke as if remembering something. Randell lifted his head and saw the Duke smiling faintly, his words sharp.
“That entrance His Majesty went into… it’s best to close it.”
His gaze pointed to the small wooden door. Even after the Emperor had entered, it still stood open, black as if leading to another world. Randell unconsciously looked up at the bright midday sun—so different from the darkness inside—and swallowed hard.
“…Why?”
His voice trembled despite his attempt to hide it.
Calix answered calmly, as if it were obvious.
“If we die, the enemy will head straight down after His Majesty.”
With that, Calix disappeared without hesitation.
Randell stared at the small wooden door for a long while before finally following the Duke’s advice and closed it.
Calix left the imperial knights behind and strode toward his own people.
The first thing he saw was Rena’s pale face as she struggled to maintain the barrier. He glanced back at the underground entrance.
As he suggested, the commander had closed the door. That meant Rena’s magic power would now begin to drop rapidly.
A few nights ago, when Rena had gone searching for Prenia, she had discovered something unexpected: a mansion covered in a barrier that blocked magic. The purpose was clear.
It must have been made to stop me.
Calix had worried, but Rena answered calmly.
The barrier spread across this land was the same kind, designed to cut off the world’s magic—made for one person only, Rena Troxia. She had expected this trap, but insisted on taking no countermeasures. Calix had opposed her, but he couldn’t win against her stubbornness.
Calix turned to his men.
“Ishar, guard this place.”
“Yes.”
“And…” He hesitated before continuing.
“If someone tries to enter the basement while we’re gone—”
“…?”
“Don’t stop them. Let them through.”
A question flickered on Ishar’s face but quickly disappeared.
Rena looked exhausted. Calix’s face hardened as he looked at her. He played along with her wishes, but he hated this situation. Most of all, he hated seeing her in pain.
She caught his gaze and gave him a faint smile, as if to reassure him. Calix almost made a pained face without realizing it.
His eyes drifted to the ring on her finger. A fake Troxia ring—prepared to fool the Emperor.
Rena did not want Calix to kill the Emperor. She didn’t hope he would live either, but…
“The one to kill the Emperor shouldn’t be you. It has to be someone else.”
“Why? You don’t want blood on my hands?”
“No… it’s just… you never know. It might end up being you…”
Calix understood what she meant. She feared he might be accused and taken by the imperial family, just as in the past.
Even if he did it, it wouldn’t be a false charge… but still.
He looked down at Rena beside him.
As they neared the forest to find Prenia, Rena had unleashed magic wildly, almost taunting their enemy. She used it recklessly, as if she didn’t care about conserving her strength.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ground shook, the air screamed. Yet Rena, in the middle of her storm of power, looked strangely calm.
But the hidden enemy still did not show. They were waiting for her to drain herself.
At last, exhausted, Rena collapsed against Calix, her face pale. Even then, the enemy did not appear.
“Finished?” Calix asked gently.
She weakly nodded.
“Then rest.”
He kissed her forehead softly.
“From here on, I’ll take care of it.”
He leaned her against a tree. Her head tilted to the side, breath heavy. Calix’s chest tightened.
In the chilling silence, he slowly drew his sword. The sound rang loudly in the still forest.
“Come out.”
His voice was cold, harsher than Rena had ever heard.
No reply came. Instead, spears of light shot from between the trees—aimed where Rena had fallen.
Calix swung his sword, cutting them down cleanly.
Clang! Sparks flew as the magic bent away, tearing through a tree.
A second attack came. Again, his sword deflected it, though a tree split and fell. He stared at it with empty eyes.
If he had been a moment slower, he would have been split in half. Yet he felt no fear.
“So you’re Prenia’s forces.”
Another blast came in answer.
Clang! He blocked it again, but his sword shuddered. He knew—within ten more strikes, the blade would break.
“Mmm. So you were born with plenty of magic. Only someone like that would fight this way.”
A sorcerer with little natural power would never choose this strategy. His opponent clearly believed they could win with magic alone, now that Rena was down.
He bit his lip.
“You’re mistaken about one thing.”
He pulled off his heavy cloak and covered Rena with it. At least she wouldn’t be lying against bare ground.
“At long range, a sorcerer usually has the advantage…”
Calix rose. His eyes flashed cold.
“…But do you think you can beat a knight in close combat?”
Sword in one hand, pistol in the other, he aimed into the forest.
Bang!
The gunshot echoed, and he dashed forward.
Five bullets left.
In a battle against a sorcerer, speed and distance were everything. Don’t give them time to cast. Don’t let them escape the reach of the blade.
Bang!
The shot was blocked, but it revealed their position.
Four left.
A counterattack came instantly. Trees shattered around him.
Calix swung, his sword slicing air.
Another strike came, nearly too fast. His blade trembled, barely deflecting it.
He leapt, firing twice midair. One missed, one struck the barrier. He marked the spot.
Flames sparked as he deflected another blast, hair flying. His cheek burned—blood trickled down.
“…Doesn’t matter.”
He wiped it away.
“But… Rena shouldn’t have to see this.”
