Chapter 91……………………..
In art, one of the most important virtues is observation. How can someone who does not truly know the subject possibly reproduce it?
Having drawn for over eight years, he had spent countless hours not just sketching still life but also copying moving figures. That meant he could easily read the basics of human movement.
Even so, reality was another matter—slicing into human flesh was a ghastly sensation. He steadied his trembling hands. A deep breath helped calm the shaking.
How had that man managed to kill so many women? I’m in agony just from inflicting a mere wound.
“Impressive, young lady.”
The eyes of the men facing them gleamed, sharp as blades, like beasts who had spotted their prey.
Someone gave a low whistle, and the sound of heavy boots echoed from the slope above. A quick glance upward revealed a group descending, and the blood drained from Noah’s face.
“Why are you only coming now?!”
“Damn it, I was late because I was looking for those wretched wenches!”
“Well, there they are. Good. I hope you’re ready to pay for making fools of us.”
When the newcomers joined, there were easily more than ten men. Without looking back at Mirian, who was clutching his shoulder and trembling, Noah tried to steady his breathing.
It was truly a dead end. Was this really the end?
“W-what?!”
The ground suddenly trembled. Dust rose from the sloped path, startling everyone.
“Freeze!”
Soldiers appeared, climbing the path, and the instant Noah spotted the one leading them, he cried out before he could stop himself:
“Priest!”
Then, seeing Cordelia standing behind them, his voice faltered. He mouthed her name soundlessly until Riness, noticing, gave him a quick look and shouted:
“Seize them!”
At the sight of soldiers drawing their weapons, the mercenaries spat on the ground and, true to their violent nature, raised their own arms without hesitation.
“What the hell are those?!”
“Kill them!”
That was the signal—chaos erupted.
The clash of weapons and the tearing of flesh shattered the mountain’s silence. Several mercenaries rushed toward Noah and Mirian. As Mirian fell back in fright, Noah met the blow of an oncoming sword.
The strength behind it nearly knocked the breath from him, but Noah gritted his teeth and struck upward into the man’s vital spot.
“Argh! You—!”
Though groaning in pain, the man grabbed Noah’s wrist with crushing force. Just as Noah gasped, the man’s body stiffened and crumpled.
“He’s out cold.”
Behind the fallen man stood someone holding a rock nearly the size of her head.
“Co—!”
Noah bit back her name just in time. Pulling Cordelia’s arm down, he whispered sharply:
“Are you insane, coming here?!”
“And you’re not insane, switching bodies with me in a mess like this?”
“It’s dangerous!”
“Lady Mirian, are you all right?”
Cordelia looked past him and asked casually. Startled, Mirian nodded from where she sat trembling on the ground.
“Y-yes, I’m fine!”
While Mirian was struggling to her feet, the others were already cleaning up the fight with alarming ease.
“What the—?!”
“Argh!”
Men who tried to strike at Riness suddenly floated into the air, flailing helplessly. Clicking her tongue, Riness muttered:
“There are too many fools in this world who don’t know their place.”
With a snap of her fingers, the men began to spin like waterwheels. Weapons hurled in desperation were effortlessly deflected.
“Exactly.”
Elena agreed lightly, while before her, another man was bound tight by plant vines. His eyes widened in terror.
“Rahhh!”
A hulking man swung his massive mace, scattering soldiers in the narrow pass. Just as he tried to force an escape, the weapon slowed and floated upward.
“No way—!”
Losing his grip as the pull vanished, the man staggered back. The spiked mace crashed into the ground, and before he could recover, soldiers leveled their spears and brought him down to his knees.
Watching calmly from within a protective barrier, Daniel rubbed his temple. Surely Ayer Sandria had recommended that woman precisely because of her reckless temper—better to let her rampage legally than cause more trouble otherwise.
The soldiers, knights included, gawked at Riness. When told priests would accompany them, they had worried about interference—but these were monsters. Was the High Temple full of such creatures?
Seeing their trembling, Riness smiled brightly. Several gasped and turned away.
“Damn it!”
Realizing they couldn’t win, some mercenaries hacked at the soldiers and fled into the brush. But before long—
“Huh?”
They found themselves facing soldiers again. Daniel, arms folded, told them flatly:
“Give it up. Escape is impossible.”
His illusion barrier had warped their senses of direction and vision. Riness clicked her tongue inwardly at his ruthless personality.
Meanwhile, Cordelia, Noah, and the two former hostages watched silently.
“Wow, they’re amazing fighters. Are all mages like that?”
“No… even among them, people like that are rare.”
Noah answered quietly, unaware that his tone was casual, natural—only Mirian, standing off to the side, noticed with faint puzzlement.
Then, the mercenary whom Cordelia had struck earlier twitched. Slowly, he reached for a dagger.
“Don’t move!”
“Kyaah!”
Everyone turned. Out of nowhere, a mercenary had grabbed Mirian, pressing a longsword under her chin. Unlike her, pale and frozen in terror, the man shouted triumphantly:
“Drop your weapons, or the girl dies!”
What weapons? They never had any to begin with.
Riness didn’t bother hiding her contempt, though the blade was too close to Mirian to risk telekinesis.
Exchanging a look with Daniel, she gestured for the soldiers to comply. As they dropped their arms, the mercenary grew more confident.
“D-don’t move! If anyone moves—”
Dragging Mirian with him, fear flickered in his eyes even as he barked threats. But the priests would not allow him to escape.
“Haha! See? Easy. All this trouble over a wo—ugh!”
At Elena’s signal, the grass at his feet suddenly tangled together and tripped him. Stumbling, he lost his grip.
The sword clattered away, and knights pounced, forcing him down. Daniel extended a hand to Mirian, who had collapsed.
“Are you unharmed, my lady?”
“I-I think I’m all right!”
Taking his hand, Mirian stood, her lips trembling faintly. Daniel quietly blessed her with protection, easing her fear.
Everything was under control—
—or so it seemed.
“Ahhh!”
“What?!”
It happened in an instant. One of the men who had been struck earlier lunged at Noah, blood streaming from his brow, dagger in hand.
No!
Cordelia moved without thinking.
Stab. Flesh tore. Blood splattered on the ground.
“…Ah.”
Only then did she realize. This wasn’t her body.
Noah.
Pain exploded in her abdomen, and Cordelia collapsed.
So much pain… you can’t even scream.
“Cough!”
Blood spilled from her lips as Noah dropped to his knees beside her, panic in his eyes.
“C-Cordelia, stay with me!”
My lady Cordelia.
He bit his lip until it bled, fighting not to cry out her name.
As his vision dimmed, Noah realized. He was being pulled back.
As long as Lady Cordelia is safe… that’s enough.
Closing his eyes without regret, his consciousness plunged into a darkness like death.
“—Hah!”
Cordelia’s eyes snapped open. She sat bolt upright, blinking.
It was a clean, sunlit room. Warm light streamed through the window, and a soft bed supported her. Clutching the blanket in disbelief, she muttered hoarsely:
Had she slept a long time?
“What… is this…?”
Was it all a dream?
But the bandages wrapped around her wrist killed that hope.
It wasn’t a dream. The pain she’d felt at the end was no dream either.
“Lady Cordelia, you’re awake?”
A gentle voice called. Turning her head, she saw a woman approaching with a basin.
“Hannah.”
“Thank goodness. You’ve been asleep for two days straight. You weren’t badly injured, but I was worried.”
“And Noah?”
She tried not to sound too abrupt, but urgency leaked through.
“Where’s Noah?”
“If you mean that man, he’s in the next room—wait, my lady!”
Ignoring her weak legs, Cordelia leapt from bed. Before Hannah could stop her, she pushed into the adjoining room and threw the door open wide.
