Chapter 43: The Sound of Lightning (4)

Chapter 43: The Sound of Lightning (4)

TL/Editor: Raei

Schedule: N/A

Illustrations: Posted in discord.

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Realizing that poison had no effect, the Human-Faced Spider thrashed about in a frenzy.

The fight devolved into chaos.

Boom!

Bang!

Crash!

Giant legs relentlessly pounded the earth, shattering towering trees.

The attacks were swift and menacing, such that even the most seasoned warriors might doubt their chances of survival.

But who was the spider's opponent?

It was Eugene, a man of unparalleled talent when it came to life-or-death combat.

With godlike agility, he dodged the relentless onslaught.

The fight's early moments held heart-stopping near misses with hair and garments grazed, but as time passed, Eugene moved with increasing ease, evading every attack.

"Screech!"

Witnessing this bewildering spectacle, the Human-Faced Spider ramped up its attack speed in wild fury.

Yet, as the battle raged on, Eugene's movements only grew more nimble.

'Impossible...'

Eustia watched in shock, her astonishment deepening until she was left utterly dumbfounded.

She had 'eyes' that allowed her to discern many things from a fighter's movements, and as she watched Eugene's astonishing battle, unbelievable thoughts crossed her mind.

'It surely couldn't be...'

As the fight progressed, Eugene's moves became more intricate, often eluding the trail of her gaze.

It meant that Eugene was 'growing' in real-time as he fought.

'Growing during battle...'

Such an inconceivable talent couldn't possibly exist in reality.

Yet, the unfolding combat before her very eyes kept insisting, 'that talent is right there.'

'If it's really true...'

If Eugene's talent was indeed of such an unfathomable level, then Eustia could understand why he rejected her confession.

Even if she possessed royal blood and celestial beauty, those attributes meant nothing.

Why would a man with such talent willingly enter into the troublesome fray of imperial succession?

'I was too confident in my own face...'

A bitter smile played upon Eustia's lips.

If she genuinely wanted to capture Eugene's heart, she would have to abandon all her ambitions and devote herself wholeheartedly to him.

Only then might she catch his gaze, even for a moment.

'I really... completely misjudged this.'

Eustia sighed at her foolish past self, turning her attention back to Eugene, who was focusing on the battle.

Bang! Boom! Crash!

'How thrilling.'

Eugene, dodging the Human-Faced Spider's attacks, wore a faint smile.

He deeply enjoyed the current situation, but not the thrill that came with life-threatening danger.

This pleasure stemmed from the rise in his skills.

"Kyeeek!"

The frenzied Human-Faced Spider proved to be an excellent training opponent in and of itself.

It launched killing blows, one after another, the kind difficult to experience alone during practice.

Even just evading them was greatly beneficial in learning movements optimized for combat.

Shraaack!

With minimal movement, he dodged attacks that would be fatal if even one landed.

He repeated nothing but precise and efficient steps.

"Kyeeek!"

From the Human-Faced Spider's perspective, it might have seemed as though it was dealing with a ghost.

No matter how wildly it thrashed, it couldn't even graze the hem of Eugene's clothes.

'I want to try something with this movement.'

Based on his current experience, Eugene wanted to create something that would be helpful in the numerous battles to come.

For instance, a footwork optimized for the Lightning Sword Technique.

'Let's give it a try.'

There was no reason to put it off.

Eugene moved his feet, based on his experiences thus far.

Tszzzt.

He transformed the lightning energy within his body appropriately and gathered it in his legs.

'I need to reduce the strain on my body but increase my agility.'

Shraaack!

Then, the speed of his footwork drastically changed.

Boom! Boom! Kwaang!

"Kyeeek!"

The Human-Faced Spider's attacks became faster, yet dodging them became easier than ever.

'The mana consumption is no joke, though.'

The impressive speed came at the cost of mana draining away like water from a sieve.

The effect however, was excellent.

Eugene had moved out of the Human-Faced Spider's range of vision and arrived behind it.

'A perfect opening!'

Kwaang!

Eugene kicked off the ground and flew beneath the body of the Human-Faced Spider.

Fzzz!

Lightning energy boiled up inside him like a furnace.

He then deployed the second technique of the Lightning Sword Technique based on that energy.

'Lightning Sword Technique, Second Form: Lightning Ascension!'

Fzzz!

The sword, charged with explosive lightning energy, moved upwards, tracing the shape of a crescent moon.

"Kieeeek!"

The sword collided with the Human-Faced Spider's abdomen, as solid as steel.

The incessant flashing of the lightning energy made the surroundings flicker.

Eugene turned around as if he had made up his mind and then sat down in front of Eustia.

"Can you get on my back?"

"......"

"You can't because of the paralysis, right? I'm sorry. That was a stupid thing to ask."

He looked back at Eustia.

"Your Highness."

"Yes?"

"I'm going to carry you, is it okay if I touch you?"

"Al, alright?"

Eustia was taken aback by Eugene's overly cautious demeanor.

"Of course, it's okay. I'm the one being carried; what else would I say..."

"It's just that I've lived in a sensitive environment."

"......?"

"Sorry. Excuse me for this."

"Ah, okay..."

Eustia nodded with a slightly flushed face.

'I know there's no other way but to be carried...'

The thought of being carried by the man she had confessed her feelings to today made her cheeks burn with embarrassment.

Swoosh.

Eugene slid his arms under her armpits and knees.

"Umm..."

It was an unavoidable action if he was to carry her, yet the sensation tickled, causing a soft sound to escape her lips.

Nevertheless, Eugene lifted her with ease, thanks to his strength.

"Am I not heavy...?"

"Not really."

"......I see."

"Then let's go."

"Okay..."

Eugene walked on with an impassive face.

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Raei Translations

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Thud Thud

The rain had stopped, and now only the sound of his footsteps could be heard.

Being held in his embrace, she found herself wanting to ask something pointless.

"......You're not going to mock me, are you?"

"Mock me? Why would I?"

Eugene looked genuinely puzzled.

"It's just... I made a fool of myself confessing today. After seeing you fight, I feel so insignificant compared to you..."

"What does that have to do with mocking?"

"......Huh?"

There was a vast difference between Eustia, who was raised in the treacherous royal palace, and Eugene, who grew up in an ordinary family.

Flustered, Eustia rambled on.

"It's just that... it's common in the palace. If I did something foolish, it would be talked about over and over... That's why I thought, considering my foolish actions today, you would make fun of me..."

"The palace sounds like a ridiculous place."

"What?"

Startled by his sudden irreverence, Eustia's eyes widened.

Eugene continued in a matter-of-fact tone, seemingly unaffected.

"Who would say such things to someone who just escaped death?"

'They would in the imperial palace...'

"Even if there are such people, I am certainly not one of them, so don't worry."

"Still..."

"And."

Eugene, cutting off Eustia mid-sentence, wore a serious expression.

"Your Highness should only be concerned about recovering."

"......"

Eustia found herself speechless at his words laced with genuine concern.

She wondered when last she had been the recipient of such heartfelt sentiment.

This pure kindness might have been the first she ever received.

It was different in every way from the kindness other men had shown her.

He neither harbored lecherous thoughts upon seeing her beauty nor did he exhibit any greed to use her position as a princess to his advantage.

He was simply offering comfort to someone who had gone through a tough time.

For her, who had been raised in the harsh and cold reality of the imperial family, to receive such words was far from normal.

Her heart warmed.

As warmth began to seep into her rain-chilled body, she slowly became aware of her current circumstances.

'This situation is...'

She found herself cradled in Eugene's arms, being carried like a princess despite being two years his senior, held as though she were a child.

Suddenly, her face flushed with heat.

"Uh..."

"Are you uncomfortable?"

"No..."

Eustia clenched her eyes shut.

After a short while, she opened them again to see Eugene, who continued to walk, carrying her in his arms.

His plain yet earnest face oddly seemed quite nice to her.

Between the gaps of his melted, poisoned garments, his statue-like physique was visible.

A body chiseled to perfection by relentless training, without an ounce of excess fat.

Her eyes were drawn to it, and she swallowed dryly.

A strange thumping came from her heart.

'......Wait a minute.'

Realizing the odd state she was in, Eustia grew flustered.

'What's happening to me?'

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