Chapter 32
The air hung heavy. Elysia tried to step in front of me, but I stopped her with an arm. My attention was fixed on the terrified girl caught in his grasp. The man—who I could only assume to be the leader of Black Wolf Mercenary—was smirking at me, as if he found us amusing.
“Say, kid. This must have been your first time killing someone, right?” he asked, twirling the knife in his hand.
I didn’t answer.
He smiled. “Well, it’s fine if you don’t answer. I can tell either way.”
Thin cuts appeared on the young girl’s face, as he toyed with her. “Even though it was your first time killing a human, you’re quite ruthless, aren’t you?”
I grit my teeth in frustration and exhaustion, “Let her go. She has nothing to do with this.” I tightened my grip on Balmung.
He clicked his tongue repeatedly. “Tch. I don’t think you understand, kid. You’re in no position to make demands right now.”
Warm blood dripped down from my left arm as I tried to steady my breath. I wasn’t going to last much longer. I measured the distance between us, weighing my options.
‘Is it possible for me to—’
“If you think you’re fast enough to reach me before my knife finds that child’s throat, you’re welcome to try,” he said coldly. “Your swordsmanship may be impressive, but don’t let that get into your head.”
He pressed the knife harder to her neck, drawing a thin line of blood. She flinched and whimpered as a large tear slid down her cheek.
“Little girl, you should’ve left when he told you to. Because now, thanks to you, your big brother is going to die.”
She looks at me with guilt-stricken eyes. “I-I’m s-sorry… h-hiek—”
Cold sweat ran down my back as realization hit me—he’d been just watching the whole time, waiting for us to exhaust ourselves!
‘Fuck…! Cunning bastard!’
My voice came out low. “Who are you? And why were you after my sister?”
“Nothing personal, kid,” he replied indifferently. “Someone hired me and paid for the job. That’s all that matters to me.”
I felt my anger spike again. “Money…? That’s your reason? Just because—”
“Don’t start preaching,” he cut in sharply. “I’m not interested in your melodrama or whatever noble reason you’re clinging to. In this world, money is all what matters. And since you're interrupting my job. There will be blood to pay.”
“I ramble on long enough. Drop your weapon, and I won’t kill all of you. And the mage—don’t think I didn’t notice you trying to cast a spell.”
Elysia tugged weakly at my arm, her voice trembling. “Caelith… just go. Please. I can’t— I can’t watch you die because of me.”
I clenched my jaw. Even now, all she cared about was my safety while ignoring her own. I hated it—hated how she always pushed herself, hated how she never once put herself first… and most of all, hated myself for dragging her into this in the first place.
Reluctantly, I let Balmung clatter to the ground, my eyes never leaving the man as I did so.
“I did as you were told. Now let that girl go.”
He stared at me like I’d lost my mind. “Didn’t I tell you this was never a negotiation? But… since I have no real use for this brat, I suppose you can take her back.”
With that, he hurled the girl like a sack of potatoes. I lunged forward and caught her as she crumpled into my arms, her small hand clutching at my clothes like a lifeline.
“You really are a fool.”
“CAELITH!” my sister screamed.
In an instant, he appeared beside me, drawing his blade and swinging it down. I shoved the kid toward Elysia and twisted my body just in time, catching the edge of his blade with my hand. He pushed forward, the blade inching toward my throat as I fought to keep it back.
‘Fuck!… if only my left arm wasn’t…’
Thinking quickly, I redirected the momentum of his blade, forcing it away from my neck. It slammed into the ground just inches from me, the impact catching him off guard and throwing off his balance.
Seizing the chance, I snatched Balmung from the floor, raising it and aiming straight toward his heart.
He pulled his blade free and casually deflected while wiped the blood off with his hand, an annoyed expression crossing his face.
Thunderlash
A bolt of lightning shot from Kaelon’s hand, streaking straight toward him with a blinding crack. He merely glanced at it, then raised his hand, conjuring a shimmering barrier that absorbed the spell effortlessly.
“You call that a spell?” he scoffed. “Honestly, I’m starting to doubt how you managed to defeat any of my men.”
Before Kaelon could even register what happened, he vanished, then reappeared right in front of him, his hand snapping around Kaelon’s throat and slamming him against the wall.
“L-Lilith… get out of here… now!” Kaelon choked out, trying to pry his hand off.
Lilith, who had been as still as a statue, finally jolted to action at her brother’s voice. She ran to Elysia and the now unconscious girl, “Come on big sister, let's go!”
Wasting no time, I lunged forward, driving Balmung into him. He met my strike with his own blade, sending sparks flying.
“It seems you still have some strength to spare,” he said with a smirk. “Fine. I can entertain you a little longer. It’s been a while since I've had a good fight.”
He effortlessly threw Kaelon across the room, sending him skidding across the floor, coughing and struggling for air. Then he just stood there, casually twirling his sword, taunting me to make the next move.
Even knowing my chances of beating him head-on were practically zero, I charged forward. As before, he met my attacks flawlessly, each strike landing like a hammer against my arms. My left arm screamed in protest, but I bit down on my lower lip, forcing myself to keep going.
This bastard had clearly noticed, deliberately targeting my left arm with each attack. A strike narrowly missed my side as I sidestepped just in time. He immediately followed up with a left hook, I raised my arm to block, but his fist smashed into it with crushing force.
“Shit!”
I staggered back, clutching my arm. Kaelon, having finally recovered, rushed in beside me, his breathing ragged.
“You got any other plans you want to share, Caelith?” he asked.
“Nope. Can’t think of any.”
I cast a quick glance over my shoulder. Elysia was already hauling the unconscious girl towards the exit, holding her tight, and Lilith huddled right beside her, supporting them.
“You know what? Take my sister and the others and get out of here,” I said, “I’ll cover you.”
“Have you lost your damn mind?” Kaelon shot back. “You really think I’m just going to run while you stay here and play hero?”
“Maybe I am,” I answered, cracking my neck, “but it’s better than all of us dying here. Besides…” I forced a smirk, even as my legs threatened to buckle under me, “I’m not planning on dying.”
“Still—”
“Are the both of you done?” the mercenary boss cut in, sounding almost bored.
In the next instant, he blurred forward.
I barely had time to shove Kaelon out of the way before his figure appeared in front of me. I raised Balmung, catching his blade as it came crashing down. I shot Kaelon one last look before the two of us were trading blows all over again.
Behind me, Kaelon slammed his fists into the floor, cursing himself, before rushing to Elysia and the others. He grabbed her arm and pulled her up, urging the group toward the exit.
“W-wait! There’s still Caelith!” Elysia’s voice cracked as she twisted toward me, her eyes wide with panic. “What are you doing?! Go help my brother!”
“Trust him!” Kaelon snapped, tightening his grip as he pulled her along. “He won’t die even if his opponent was a dragon.”
The Black wolf Mercenary leader tried to stop them from escaping, but I intercepted him, forcing all his attention back onto me.
I could feel my vision start to blur, but I shook my head hard, forcing myself awake. The sound of metal continued to ring in my ears.
It was past the noise that I saw it. For brief moments, I could make out faint lines of where his next swing would go.
WHOOSH
I bent back just in time to avoid his strike, then countered with equal force. He staggered back, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.
“Hahaha! You’re full of surprises, kid! You know what… I’ve changed my mind. How about you come work for me?”
His words didn’t register. All my thoughts were focused on just taking down the opponent in front of me. A wide grin spread across his face as he watched me.
“That’s it… that look in your eyes—that’s exactly what I’m talking about, you’re a natural killer.” he said, his grin widening.
KLANGGG
“Come on, show me more. Don’t tell me this is all you’ve got.”
Pumping the last of my strength into my limbs, I pressed the assault. Cuts ran across my body, stinging with every movement, but everything now was driven by pure instinct. Slowly, I began to fill myself with mana, and with a single, downward thrust, shattering his blade in half.
Iron Descent
“!!!”
His defenses fully broken, I thrust Balmung toward his throat. A trace of panic finally appeared in his eyes—but then a searing pain tore through my chest, and I collapsed mid-attack.
“KOFF!”
I doubled over, coughing violently as blood spilled from my lips. A wave of dizziness crashed over me, and the world around me warped. I clutched my chest as my vision darkened, trying to force myself to stay upright.
“Seems like that’s your limit.” The man stepped forward, “I’ll admit—there was a second where things almost got troublesome. But it seems you’ve finally run yourself dry.”
He crouched down in front of me, eyes glinting. “I’ll ask again—come work under me. Whatever you want—money, power, women—I can get it for you.”
I lifted my head, forcing a crooked, mocking smile.
I raised my middle finger.
“Go fuck yourself.”
He let out a quiet, almost disappointed sigh.
“…Since that’s your answer, I have no use for you anymore.”
He reached out, gripping a fistful of my hair and forcing my head up, as mana began to gather around his other hand.
“What a shame.”
With a terrifying force, his fist shot forward, clearly aiming to kill, and I resigned myself.
