327. Abduction
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“…Khalivan.”
[What.]
“Is that some kind of talent wastage or something?”
[…Probably?]
Listening to Khalivan’s bewildered response, Dawood looked around with slightly disturbed eyes at the crumbling surroundings.
While demonic powers varied among individuals, most were inherently well-suited for combat. Seeing these humans, who were typically adept at emotional battles, collectively unleash various powers with a unanimous purpose, felt almost surreal.
-!
Purple magic, primarily supporting other energies, was challenging to wield independently. However, if two skilled assassins used it to amplify their own powers, it became a catastrophe.
Moving at a dazzling speed, the two supernatural beings performed a spectacular sword dance. Just watching it was enough to be mesmerized, almost sublime.
The problem was that all the humans gathered here were considered exceptional individuals even if such attacks were now treated as mere tricks.
Red magic covered the surroundings, followed by brown, blue, and even white magic, weaving a tapestry of colors around them.
The aftermath of the clash between these magical forces almost turned the surroundings into rubble, sending shivers down the spine.
Sword strikes, flames, magic, alchemy, divine power…
“…”
Wait a moment.
Divine power?
“…Saint?”
Daud murmured absentmindedly.
Somehow, there was a person who seemed like they would never be involved in a place like this, and without my knowledge…
No.
What is that person doing there again?
Daud furrowed his brow and shifted his focus towards Lucien. It was a gesture as if to say, “Let’s see what he’s saying.”
We should find out first—
“Let’s taste it too!”
“…”
“Why do you guys get to enjoy all the good things while Uriah and I—”
“…”
“I’ve never even held a man’s hand before, and I’m dying of sorrow! On this side, at best, we’re dragged around with a leash, but—”
“…”
—Let’s stop looking.
With a gloomy expression, Daud brushed his hair back, diverting attention from that direction.
Being a saint is, fundamentally, someone revered by all followers of religions on the continent.
Is it okay like this, continent?
Is the situation of the saint, who, rather than dragging a leash, vigorously scatters sacred power everywhere because she wants to experience something more than that, appropriate…
“No, even so, it shouldn’t come to stealing!”
And there is a voice vehemently interrupting that statement.
His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of the Empire. Despite the majestic appearance adorned with medals hanging heavily on the side, responding to attacks flying from all directions while making a face that asks why on earth he is doing such things, still looked quite imposing, at least as much as the anger directed at the saint.
“If you came from the Kingdom of Glory, at least spare a thought for the empire! Have some conscience for that man, who has done nothing but bask in the sun-“
“It’s noisy, you fountain girl!”
“…”
The entire scene fell silent at the Emperor’s appearance being cut off like that.
Stirring up the Emperor’s trauma deeply hidden within was a malicious method, but it seemed quite effective in suppressing the anger directed at the saint…
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“-People can play the fountain role too-!”
…Or not.
The faces of everyone turned astonished at the Emperor’s swift recovery.
He endured that?!
How?!
“…”
The face of Emperor Geomsung, who now walked beside her, was entering the realm of disappointment beyond, but anyway, the appearance of the emperor uttering such words was as dignified as ever.
“In the first place, embarrassing memories are not mine alone. Even you have committed acts far more shameful than me, each one of you—!”
“…Shameful acts?”
Dawood asked in confusion.
“What have you guys done behind my back without me knowing?”
At that question, the gaze of everyone slightly sank.
In most cases, people remained silent as if stung by a needle, but in a gathering of this many, there were bound to be cases where relationships were so intense that such things were ignored.
“I know one! It’s a bit trivial though!”
Seras said, pointing at Liru with an excited expression, her finger extended.
Amidst the confusion, the attention of everyone silently shifted to Liru.
“That person, Dawood, stole your underwear!”
“…”
“Not just one or two, but I’ve even seen him grab an entire week’s worth and run away—”
“Enough, enough, enough, shut up—!!”
“…”
No.
Really?
“…Come to think of it, there was a constant feeling that someone was meddling with my wardrobe.”
There were memories that he had casually dismissed, thinking he had just forgotten about them.
But, doing such things without getting caught by him…?
When Dawood even directed a malicious gaze in that direction, Liru’s face turned as red as an explosion.
The usual violent and inappropriately stuttering demeanor, which always spoke aggressively, truly hit the spot.
“…Wait a minute.”
And in a voice indicating that he had realized something from that sight, Dawood quietly muttered.
“If that’s a trivial prank, what on earth were the others doing behind my back?”
“…”
“…”
“…”
The entire group fell silent.
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that this moment, where the ceaseless clashes around them had momentarily paused, was the only situation where silence prevailed.
That silence lingered for a while.
“-So, what I’m saying is, I have the right to decide if I want to stick with Dowd.”
“-Stop talking nonsense!”
At some point, as if a mutual agreement had been reached, the women around them resumed their heated arguments.
Anyway, the question Dowd had just thrown seemed like an attempt to forget its very existence.
No, it seemed more like they were fighting even harder to cover up such a question.
“…”
Will my future be okay?
In a situation surrounded by women who treated stealing someone else’s underwear in bulk as a trivial matter, is it okay to risk my life for these women who are fighting for their ‘cohabitation rights’ with me?
If things continue like this, what kind of future awaits…
In the midst of the escalating situation, Dowd contemplated these thoughts with a face that expressed the futility of everything.
Until something ‘different’ could be sensed behind him.
“-Huh?”
With a sensation as if something was covering his shoulders.
Dowd’s body was suddenly pulled somewhere.
Even in the heat of the chaotic battle where everything was blurred, there were two conspicuous figures.
Eliya, swinging the holy sword, and Elnora, covered in gray magic all over her body.
“Dowd, sir!”
With a determined voice, Eliya adjusted her posture and pointed her sword.
“I prefer lively and cheerful types like me over annoying people like you!”
“Oh. If we’re talking about annoying, isn’t your type even worse?”
“Honestly, who likes a woman who’s obsessed? It’s irritating!”
“You’re talking as if you’re not obsessed yourself, you shameless woman.”
…While the topic of the fight may feel somewhat insignificant for individuals with such powers to be involved, the scale of the battle was, in any case, majestic.
‘-But.’
And yet, even in this seemingly playful fight, there was something unsettling.
Elnora frowned as she stared at Eliya.
“…Was it this strong?”
As she became increasingly skilled in handling magic, her own specs, whether it be combat abilities or the abilities themselves, had increased drastically.
However.
The opponent was also catching up to that level.
In terms of speed, strength, and even in conceptual areas like ‘power.’
“…”
Something had changed, hadn’t it?
There hadn’t been any special events that could have caused her power to grow like this. It felt as if something had naturally been enhanced.
It’s about time for this to happen.
It felt like she was being forcibly ‘corrected,’ as if she would soon be assigned an important role on this side.
While having such thoughts, she suddenly heard a strange voice from across.
“However…”
Elnoir, who was clashing swords with Eliya, murmured those words.
“But where did the teacher suddenly go?”
“…Hm?”
Elnoir questioned blankly and looked towards Dowd.
More precisely, towards where Dowd ‘had been.’
“…”
“…”
There was no trace of a person, not even a hint, causing Elnoir to let out a desperate voice.
“Huh?”
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It’s a dim space.
Since the desperation did not turn on, there shouldn’t be any enemies towards me. Most of the evidence for being brought here points to that side.
“…Who’s there?”
In the darkness, the face is not properly visible. Only the eyes, nose, and mouth can barely be distinguished.
However, for some reason, I can recognize the silhouette, which feels familiar.
It seems that someone else is trying to abduct me again.
While thinking like that, I let out a sigh internally.
“Hello.”
-In an instant.
A shiver ran down my spine, accompanied by a prickling sensation.
It was a familiar voice.
However, a voice I never imagined I’d hear suddenly in a place like this.
“Seeing you without a mask feels like the first time, doesn’t it?”
The enforcer said, winking as he spoke.
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