Chapter 285: A Chasing Light

Chapter 285: A Chasing Light

༺ A Chasing Light ༻

– Rattle, rattle...

On an unusually bright moonlit night, a carriage was crossing the roads of the Empire.

“...”

Though it was a common and unremarkable carriage for one passing through the Empire’s bustling streets, the people within the silent carriage were not so ordinary.

Clana, a powerful figure in the Imperial Family and is considered the closest to becoming the Emperor.

Serena, who was recently successful in usurping the Secret Lord of her family and becoming the real Lord, a fact that was quietly spreading among the higher echelons.

Irina, who had anonymously published dozens of new magical theories in academia and was certain to soar again once her mana exhaustion ended.

And Kania, who had been overseeing Frey’s secret projects and recently advancing in the underworld forces to a terrifying extent.

Each one was in a position that could dominate the Empire, yet none more so than the person seated in the middle.

“Hey, guys...?”

The one in the middle who quietly looked around before speaking up was none other than Frey, the hot potato of the world.

“So, what’s going on?”

Noticing their serious expressions, Frey asked in a low voice.

“The journalists tried to storm into the orientation site for the second time.”

“...Is that so?”

Clana responded while looking down quietly, to which Frey tilted his head.

“If it’s just that, then just leave them be. I had something to say...”

“What else are you going to say? You can’t.”

Clana firmly shook her head, and Frey looked sullen.

“Also, we detected signs of an attack.”

“What?”

The look in Frey’s eyes changed when Serena, who was sitting next to him, spoke up sharply.

“Who’s behind it? And the countermeasures?”

“We haven’t identified the mastermind yet. But it’s a planned and simultaneous move.”

“So, it can’t be the Imperial Family. Maybe the Church?”

“That’s also unclear, but...”

Serena spoke quietly, covering her face with a fan.

“We’ll know when we confront them directly, won’t we?”

Frey looked surprised.

“Don’t tell me, you’re luring them in?”

“These people have been nosing around recently. It’s a good opportunity to sweep them all at once.”

“What if you get hurt?”

“Huh?”

Seeing Frey’s worried face, Serena looked confused and pointed to her surroundings with her fan.

“Does it look like we’ll get hurt?”

“Ah.”

Only then did Frey realize that the girls in the carriage were among the strongest in the world.

“...I’m still worried, though.”

But still, he couldn’t help but worry.

“Oh my.”

Serena smiled shyly as Frey’s gaze fell on her stomach.

“It’s okay for now.”

Then, covering her mouth with the fan, she turned her gaze out the window, gently patting Frey’s shoulder.

“Because it’s still in the fertilized egg stage.”

She lightly tapped her lower abdomen.

“Whether the magic worked or not, I’m not sure, but it might stay this way for a while?”

“... That’s good to hear.”

Frey responded quietly, his face not showing his usual tired and sunken expression, but rather one filled with a strange excitement.

“Why? Do you find it fascinating?”

“I-It is fascinating...”

“Hehe, I see.”

Serena took Frey’s hand and gently guided it to her lower abdomen.

“Take a rest for a moment, we don’t know when the attack will come.”

Serena softly whispered as she gently patted her belly with Frey’s hand, then Frey closed his eyes.

“The seed... should I just teleport it inside me?”

After some time had passed, Irina, who had been observing quietly from the opposite seat, swallowed dryly and murmured.

“Theoretically, if I set the coordinates correctly, it’s possible... If I carry it first and make it a done deal...”

“T-That’s cheating! It’s against the rule!”

“You’re all so noisy. Fuck off all of you. I’m going to do whatever the fuck I want.”

Irina growled at Clana who slyly chimed in.

“T-Then... I also...”

“That’s enough. If you wanted to, you should have succeeded in today’s mission, you romance novice.”

“W-Well, I have a good reason. And you’ve never even held a man’s hand, let alone been in a relationship...!”

“Y-Yes, I have! I’ve held hands with Frey!”

“The same goes for me...!”

Enviously eyeing Serena’s lower abdomen, the two girls started bickering and trying to pick apart each other’s words.

“...”

Meanwhile, Kania quietly leaned her head on Frey’s shoulder on her right, while observing the desperate bickering before her.

“Young Master, you’re not sleeping, are you?”

“High Gravity.”

– Screech...!

Irina began chanting with her legs crossed, and the carriage started to feel heavier with an unpleasant rumble.

“Gravity Regression.”

As a result, the smoothly rolling carriage came to a stop at a secluded path on the city outskirts. Irina calmly uncrossed her legs and muttered.

“Is that... a chanting spell?”

“Huh? Yeah, why?”

“Is that... something humans can do? Chanting in the Imperial language, not in runes?”

“Oh, it’s just... I don’t know... something I’ve researched recently and applied. It’s not difficult once you understand the principles behind it.”

Irina scratched her head as Clana asked her question with wide eyes.

“By the way, those attackers aren’t ordinary...”

“Indeed, they are not just any random thugs like we expected.”

Clana was momentarily dazed and wailing at the difference in talent. But, she quickly regained her composure and started discussing the situation with Kania.

– Boom, boom!!

– Crackle...!

The girls released a massive amount of solar mana and black magic from their hands, which swirled all around and passed through the carriage door.

“Be careful, Young Master.”

“Stay inside the carriage, it’s fortified like a fortress.”

“Serena, please don’t come out.”

With the basic line of defense established, the three girls stepped out of the carriage.

“If you look even a little disadvantaged, I’ll intervene immediately. Keep that in mind.”

“No, you won’t.”

Frey said while tightly embracing Serena. Kania, who had stepped outside, smiled and whispered back.

“...”

Then, a brief silence ensued.

“What’s... that?”

“Not sure, but we now know where the attack came from.”

“...”

The girls frowned upon seeing the scene before them.

“If it’s not the Church, who else would commit such madness?”

“Seems like they’re making their move. I knew it, I thought they’d been too quiet lately.”

They were humans with horrid things instead of arms.

Or rather, something resembling humans was staring at them.

.

.

.

.

.

At the same time

Helper System

[100 meters ahead, the destination is in sight.]

“Huff, huff...”

Glare ran wildly using her fluidization magic and was focused on the navigation display in front of her.

Helper System

[Warning! Stop immediately!!]

“Huh?!”

When the system window suddenly turned red, she fell to the ground with a horrified look on her face.

“Ow... It hurts.”

Rubbing the bump on her head, Glare stood up and looked around.

“...Hmm?”

She noticed numerous thread-like lines in front of her.

– Crackle...

“What’s this...”

After tentatively throwing a stone at it, she scratched her head in confusion when it evaporated instantly.

“No, I don’t have time for this.”

She shook her head and raised her hand.

– Snap!!

The next moment, the crisp sound of her fingers snapping echoed all around.

– Fizz...

Simultaneously, all the threads blocking her path shattered into pieces and dispersed into the air.

“Who said you can’t shatter the same object all at once?”

Looking at it reminded her of something that happened a while ago, and she gritted her teeth and muttered.

“You can shatter the same object all at once, you know?”

She then entered a path filled with trees, and started running again while shouting vigorously.

“Herooo...!! I’m coming!!”

– Whoosh...

As her vigorous voice echoed through the lush trees, a tree that had been cautiously looking around peered out and slowly moved toward the entrance of the pathway.

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