Chapter 62

Wheeeeeee...!!!

Mount's upper body, holding the blade, sharply bends backward.

His torso springs back like a coiled spring, and a beam of blue light shoots from the end of his swinging arm, hurtling towards Lennok.

Scccccccreeech!!

Anticipating the timing accurately through mana sensing, Lennok immediately slams his mana down beneath him.

[Upper Ground]

The ground beneath Lennok shoots up vertically.

Guuuuuuu...!!!

Mount's spear, propelled with all his might, futilely cuts through the air, and Trisha's intricately crafted bone prison loses its support and crumbles.

With a single spell, Lennok shatters the strategies of both opponents and continues to gather his mana.

He compresses it in his hand.

A potent image transforms into an intangible will, becoming a radiant light that illuminates the night sky.

A blue flash, breaking the moment, crashes down.

[Thunder Calling]

Booooooom!!!

Trisha is unable to evade it.

The destructive power, visibility, and attention it commands are enough to terrify even the bravest soul.

However, this firepower magic can be disadvantageous if misused due to the forewarning it provides before casting and its ability to draw attention.

Thus, Lennok always precisely discerns when to use this magic.

To decisively conclude a battle that has already been won.

Or in the heat of battle, at a crucial moment.

Just like now, it is a single strike intended to capture attention.

Fzzzzzzz...!!

"Gggggggggg!!!"

Mount, who had been gazing up at Lennok from a distance, suddenly begins to convulse violently and screams in agony.

Even though he was not greatly harmed by the electric net created by three electric foxes, he starts shaking and curling up on the ground like an electrocuted animal, even though Lennok's magic did not touch him.

A faint mana line is attached around his neck, emanating the power of [Bolt] magic that Lennok had cast with full force.

Lennok successfully subdues Mount by attaching a bolt to the single mana line he had drawn while diverting attention with [Thunder Calling].

"Ugh...!!! Damn dog...!! Eugh!!"

Mount realizes the mana line connected to his body and struggles, but Lennok responds by delivering a shock spell, slamming it directly into the back of Mount's head.

Boooooom!!

Only after confirming Mount, foaming at the mouth with his eyes rolling back, does Lennok slowly regain control of the mana he had been emanating.

"Huuh...."

He approaches the collapsed Mount, using his foot to turn his body, and searches through his belongings.

A few crumpled banknotes. Several expendable artifacts that appear useful in various situations. A small dagger and a sleek gun.

A rather typical assortment for a freelancer to carry around.

He searched through every nook and cranny, from pockets to the insides of Mount's shoes, but only one more peculiar item emerged.

"...Did I guess wrong?"

Observing the wizard's retreat from the frontline and deducing that the blueprints may have been hidden by Mount, Lennok realizes he may have overestimated his assumption.

He was somewhat certain, so he had been careful not to use excessive magic on Mount. Was his effort in restraining himself in vain?

In this situation, his only option is to inquire with Trisha, who had endured the impact of Thunder Calling.

Fortunately, Trisha managed to survive the lightning strike unleashed by Lennok. Upon recognizing the impending lightning, she swiftly disassembled a nearby rebar, creating a makeshift lightning rod in the air to dissipate the destructive power.

Of course, had Lennok not relinquished control to capture Mount alive, she would have been reduced to ashes alongside the lightning rod. Nevertheless, her quick thinking proved effective in escaping death.

"Cough...!!"

With those words, the woman produced a thick file from within her coat and flung it towards Lennok.

In that instant, a surge of crimson blood materialized from thin air, seizing the file, and effortlessly sliding it in front of Lennok.

The appearance and movement of the blood were almost unbelievable, a distinct talent that bore similarities yet differed from that of a blood mage who manipulated blood through spells.

As Lennok picked up the file, he muttered under his breath.

"It seems even vampires have become adept brokers these days."

[I'm simply doing what suits me. May I have Trisha back now?]

Without a word, Lennok stepped aside, allowing the woman's blood to make contact with Trisha's body.

A stream of vivid red blood flowed into the unconscious woman's mouth, gradually stabilizing her breathing.

"........."

It was an unsettling sight to witness firsthand.

Madam, skillfully manipulating the blood flow to transport the two, turned her gaze back to Lennok.

"I have a question."

[As long as it's not too sensitive.]

"...why did you give up the blueprint so easily? Isn't it futile to hand over such a critical document, considering the plan being pursued with Autoble's development team?"

As he spoke, Lennok shook the blueprint he held in his hand.

Madam remained silent, but based on the events so far, it was evident that she had orchestrated the plan to steal the blueprint alongside Madison.

In other words, he couldn't comprehend her position, someone who had successfully guided the plan thus far, but had given up when two mere freelancers faced a crisis.

At Lennok's inquiry, Madam's body trembled slightly, as if suppressing laughter.

[Why should I simply tell you?]

If she didn't wish to divulge any information, there was nothing he could do about it.

Yet, he felt that this lingering curiosity might remain unsatisfied if not addressed now.

Observing Lennok's composed demeanor, Madam's eyes sparked with interest.

[I heard that the Jenny kid picked up a gemstone, but it was a false rumor. It's already on the verge of completion.]

"........"

[If I may tell you something that has no meaning at this point..... Yes, I couldn't find any more value in holding onto that blueprint. It was much harder to find a buyer than I thought.]

She straightforwardly explained the reasoning behind their decision to strike the deal.

[Sebastian, that young lad, acted swiftly, causing the news of the blueprint I possessed—Autoble's new development project—to spread like wildfire. Moreover, the fact that this blueprint deviates significantly from Autoble's previous direction worked against us. In many ways, I could only say that luck was not on our side.]

Madam's eyes glimmered red through the coarse cloth as she spoke.

Her tone remained composed, but it was evident that she had faced considerable frustration throughout this ordeal.

However, that frustration was fleeting. Madam swiftly regained her composure and gently caressed Trisha's drooping head.

[This girl is one of the children I've nurtured, and she possesses quite a unique talent. Granted, it's not comparable to someone like you, but she has the potential to navigate through this world with her talent. Saving a girl like her with a few pieces of paper that have lost their value isn't a bad deal.]

".....I see."

Lennok unconsciously found himself in agreement with Madam's words.

In truth, he had been somewhat surprised by the magical aptitude Trisha had demonstrated.

While comparing her to himself, who had suppressed all magical abilities to the utmost limit, was futile, it was undeniable that her adeptness in Manipulation-type magic, which Lennok had to exercise caution with, was a remarkable talent.

Moreover, she had chosen to directly confront Lennok on the front lines rather than providing support to Mount, displaying a strong mental fortitude and audacity.

Her potential for growth as a wizard was evident, and among the wizards Lennok had personally encountered, she undoubtedly possessed one of the few exceptional talents.

Considering the vast range of wizards he had encountered, her talent was quite notable.

Just as Madam was about to turn and vanish, she paused.

[Ah. I almost forgot to mention one thing.]

(TO BE CONTINUED)

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