Chapter 56
Boom!
The first explosion shook the forest.
It was a deafening sound.
The mana that shot out from Carlos’s hand blasted three assassins away at once. Trees collapsed, and clouds of dust rose into the air.
“Urgh…!”
The assassins screamed as they tumbled across the ground.
Still manageable… for now.
Perhaps because of the magic circle Sion had left within his body, the pain wasn’t enough to kill him.
The real problem was simply the number of assassins.
Even as their comrades’ flesh was torn apart before their eyes, the remaining assassins showed no sign of retreat. Instead, they charged faster.
Well-trained killers who did not fear death.
When Carlos swung his hand again, crimson mana wrapped around the blade and spread in all directions. Flickering remnants of power lingered along the arc of his swing.
Crackle. Crackle.
“Ghk!”
“Ugh!”
Two assassins collapsed, spraying blood.
But in that opening, another rushed in from the side. It was a coordinated movement—one sacrificed while another struck.
Slash.
A blade grazed Carlos’s arm.
He didn’t even blink.
Instead, he grabbed the assassin’s neck and snapped it.
Crunch.
The assassin fell with a dull sound.
“Kill the Archduke!”
Someone shouted.
All the assassins charged at once.
Carlos adjusted his grip on his sword.
Mana swirled along the blade. A scorching heat spread outward, forcing the nearby assassins to recoil instinctively.
“…Disappear.”
BOOM!
The moment he swung his sword, a massive explosion erupted.
The shockwave spread everywhere.
Ancient trees that must have stood for centuries were blown away like sheets of paper. Five or six assassins were hurled into trunks at once.
“…Kh.”
At the same time, Carlos clutched his chest.
Cough.
Drops of red blood fell to the ground, spreading across the dark soil.
“Now!”
The assassins didn’t miss the opening.
Blades flew in from all sides.
Carlos clenched his teeth and forced his mana upward.
Crack!
A magical barrier deflected the swords.
The blades bounced off an invisible wall—
—but cracks formed across the barrier.
It wouldn’t last long.
Even considering Sion’s magic, he was reaching his limit.
…There are too many.
Even after counting the dead, more than twelve remained.
No matter how strong he was, fighting them all was difficult—especially in his current condition.
Each use of mana felt like his insides were being torn apart.
…But I can’t hand her over.
Wiping the blood from his mouth, Carlos took his stance again.
Mana climbed the sword like crimson flames.
* * *
My hazy mind cleared right after the explosion that shook the carriage.
It took a few seconds to wake and grasp the situation.
I opened my eyes at the sound of the blast.
The coat Carlos had covered me with had slipped onto my lap.
Explosions echoed outside.
Screams.
The sound of something breaking.
Through the window, I saw Carlos fighting, surrounded by figures in black.
Red mana flashed brilliantly.
Assassins were thrown, collapsing, bleeding.
It looked as if the forest itself were burning.
…Assassins.
Just as Carlos had predicted.
Since direct methods failed, they had sent killers.
My heart pounded wildly—like it would burst.
Sweat covered my hands.
Breathing was difficult.
The air felt stuck in my throat.
I knew the Emperor would do something… but to attack this quickly…
Sion wasn’t here now.
What should I do?
Another massive explosion erupted.
Trees fell, the ground split, assassins were blown away by Carlos’s mana.
Overwhelming power.
The title of the Empire’s strongest mana wielder was no lie.
But right now…
Then I saw Carlos coughing blood.
My heart dropped.
All the blood in my body felt ice-cold.
…No. He’s used too much power.
My hands trembled.
I had to do something.
I had to help him.
But what could I do?
I couldn’t use swordsmanship.
I couldn’t use magic.
Just the body of a thirteen-year-old—
a useless body raised in overprotection within the imperial palace.
All I had were memories from before the regression.
There was no strength to fight directly.
Even if my mind knew a hundred methods, my body wouldn’t follow.
I was powerless.
…Why can’t I even control my own body?!
Despair swallowed me.
He was bleeding because of me—
and I could only watch.
He was getting hurt to protect me—
and there was nothing I could do.
Then—
One assassin broke through Carlos’s opening and rushed forward.
His gaze was fixed directly on me inside the carriage.
My body froze.
No—move! I have to dodge!
I knew I had to move immediately,
but my legs wouldn’t.
No voice came out.
Fear dominated my entire body.
My legs… feel frozen.
This thirteen-year-old body was too young.
Unlike my desperate thoughts, it wouldn’t move as I wished.
In the end, I shut my eyes tight and curled up instinctively.
It felt like returning to childhood—
back in the imperial palace, whenever something terrifying happened.
I could do nothing.
Then, and now.
…I don’t want this!
At that moment—
“Princess!”
Carlos’s voice rang out.
BOOM!
A thunderous crash.
But no pain came.
I opened my eyes.
A massive mana barrier spread before the carriage.
A crimson curtain wrapped around it.
And in front of it—
Carlos stood there.
With a sword embedded in his back.
“…Archduke!”
Carlos slowly turned his head.
His face was pale. Blood stained his lips.
Yet his eyes were still sharp.
“I’m fine.”
My throat tightened.
Tears filled my eyes.
Through blurred vision, I looked at him.
Carlos raised his hand again.
BOOM!
A blinding flash filled my sight, and an assassin was hurled into a tree—
motionless.
Only then did Carlos pull the sword from his back.
Cough.
Spitting blood, he turned toward the remaining assassins.
“…Insolent fools.”
His eyes gleamed coldly.
“Let’s end this.”
He lifted his hand.
Vast mana swirled.
Crimson light dyed the entire forest.
The night-dark woods burned red.
Shadows of trees stretched long—
like flames of hell.
And then—
BOOM!
My ears rang.
My vision turned white.
Silence fell.
