Chapter 91

Chapter 91 – Your Father’s Working His Ass Off (4)

‘Just how high is this cliff?’

Milon was still under the effects of his Fly spell. The problem was that the higher he climbed, the harder it became to breathe.

It was due to the thinning air in the atmosphere as he climbed in altitude.

‘I never felt inadequate being a 5th-class wizard before......’

A wizard’s proficiency influences their speed, especially during moments like these.

Fly was a 3rd-class spell. Milon, being a high-level wizard, wasn’t that much slower than others.

But the problem was......

‘......This is like a firefly in the face of the sun.’

Compared to the child who had scaled this cliff on foot, the difference in speed was staggering.

Milon smiled bitterly.

Yes.

This was the reality of the current age.

Where knights, not wizards, dominated the continent. For nearly a century, ever since the age of the Great Heroe, this immutable truth had never been broken.

Could it be that, during this time, wizards hadn’t tried to find a way to defeat knights?

‘No.’

In fact, they had tried harder than anyone. In this world, strength equaled power.

‘The reason wizards are destined to lose to knights is that once you give up distance, there’s no way to fight back.’

In other words, once a single attack is blocked, defeat is inevitable.

Using a spell like Blink, which teleports the body instantaneously, could help dodge one more attack, but that’s it.

‘Even if you save the first spell using Memorize, you can’t just use Blink, a 5th-class spell, continuously without casting.’

To use a specific spell with just an incantation, you need to be at least two levels above that spell. In other words, you would need to be a 7th-class wizard.

However, across the entire continent, there was only one 7th-class wizard— the Tower Master.

Even then, he barely held the lowest rank among the twelve transcendents of the current age.

‘No one desires it more than the Tower Master. The day when wizards rule the continent.’

For that reason, extensive research had long been conducted within the tower. All to find a way to defeat knights.

Hundreds, no— thousands of brilliant wizards had dedicated themselves to this pursuit. The result of their efforts was the creation of the ‘Battle Mage.’

‘Facing them head-on, without fear of distance. That’s the only way to fight a knight.’

Of course, not just anyone could do this.

You had to be naturally gifted in physical combat, possess magical talent, and be incredibly intelligent.

The problem was......

‘In this day and age, if someone had that kind of talent, wouldn’t they just learn swordsmanship? Who in their right mind would choose magic?’

Milon’s self-deprecating smile deepened.

Even he might have pursued swordsmanship over magic, if not for this cursed fate of his.

“......Huh?”

His thoughts were interrupted.

He had finally crossed the cliff and arrived at the center of the forest, where he could sense multiple presences.

“Why is it so dark all of a sudden......!”

Milon couldn’t finish his sentence. Because what he saw left him speechless.

“The moon......?”

A thick darkness had settled only at the heart of the forest. Within it, a round moon was glowing brightly, suspended in the air.

Countless blue flames, which were anything but ordinary, were blocked by that moon and could not advance.

‘......This is the problem.’

Milon soon realized what they were.

‘Every time I think I’m closing the distance, some ridiculous monster appears and forces me back.’

The distance between knights and wizards. At this moment, Milon felt that gap widening once again.

His gaze was still fixed on Ancelot.

“That monster-like kid......”

But the show was only just beginning.

“That just now......”

Gold hadn’t even finished voicing his question.

“The Knight of the Full Moon! Isn’t that Elunber’s swordsmanship?”

Blue No. 5 was the first to cry out in shock.

He was one of only ten blue-ranked members in the organization. Naturally, his rank came with a wealth of knowledge and information.

“I-I’m sure of it. The unique darkening that occurs when the surroundings grow dim while wielding a sword— that’s a phenomenon only seen when Elunber, known as the Sky of the Continent, swings his blade......!”

As the explanation continued, the voices of the other Masks, who were initially slow to react, grew louder.

At that moment, Blue No. 10 quickly approached Gold.

For context, there were four blue masks present here. Nearly half of the highest-ranking agents had been deployed for this single mission.

“How could the prince possibly know the Full Moon Swordsmanship?”

“......”

“The reason the Great Hero’s swordsmanship is unknown is simple.”

“What?”

“First, no opponent survived long enough to witness it.”

“......!”

Gold flinched.

It was an arrogant and grandiose statement.

Yet, coming from the successor of the Great Hero, someone was known as the greatest absolute of his time, it somehow felt convincing.

“And second, anyone who did see it...... died.”

Ancelot cast his gaze down toward the sword in his hand. The swordsmanship he had spent so long honing and improving.

However......

‘That technique is a monster that demands blood.’

It had an overwhelming, lethal presence.

Ancelot was a former slave soldier. To survive, he killed and killed, again and again.

More efficiently.

More swiftly.

Focusing solely on killing power. That’s how his swordsmanship developed over time, so there was no helping it.

‘......After all, the man who taught me swordsmanship in the first place was the worst murderer in history.’

At any rate, that brutal swordsmanship had caught the eye of a commander back then.

But after achieving a certain level of success, he refrained from using it much. It brought back too many memories.

Memories of those desperate days of struggling for survival.

Above all......

‘Even if I imitated other swordsmanship, no one could block it, anyway.’

Finished with his thoughts, Ancelot spoke.

“......Shall I give you a little taste?”

This entire display was to raise his own value, after all.

Swish.

Ancelot slowly extended his sword forward.

‘With a single stroke, even crows rejoice.’

He silently recited one of the mysteries within his terrifying swordsmanship.

-The mound before you is a mountain of corpses.

-The stagnant pools are rotting blood.

-All is quiet.

-None remain standing.

-The black spots finally consume the heart.

-Even this body shall meet the death of its soul.

Swish.

In an instant, Ancelot’s sword lightly traced a path, then returned to its original position.

“......?”

In that strange silence, Milon narrowed his eyes.

‘What was that? Something felt off.’

He had only blinked. But something seemed different about the angle of Ancelot’s sword.

‘Did he do something?’

As it turned out, aside from a very small number of people, no one had truly witnessed what Ancelot had just done.

But soon......

Rip!

“......!”

The sound of something tearing filled the air, and everyone’s eyes widened. Especially the three blue masks, who were utterly stunned.

“......Wh-What......?”

Their masks of skin were shredding apart.

‘In that split second...... did he cut just the thin surface of the masks?’

Milon stood there, mouth agape in astonishment.

“That monster-like bastard......”

Narakas, who had been silent until now, muttered in disbelief. It was almost the same reaction as before.

“I thought this conversation was dragging on, so I made the first move.”

“......”

“You didn’t even see what I did, did you? I think that means I’ve taken care of all the blue ones......”

Ancelot trailed off as he turned to face another.

“Hey, Mr. indigo.”

“......!”

“Why don’t you stop hiding behind your subordinates and face me yourself?”

***