By Zephyria 
Isaac’s mother had been the same. Regardless of an object’s actual value, she couldn’t take her eyes off anything that sparkled, had vibrant colors, or featured ornate decorations. The colleagues of his mother who occasionally visited the house were all much the same. Even Isaac, if he had to define his tastes, was more drawn to the flamboyant than the plain, and the shimmering than the dull.
Still, just as he was about to tell the creatures to be quiet, fearing they might disturb the Prince’s reading,
「Goodness, he’s got such a polished, handsome face, but what’s the use? He’s so poor.」
「Why, they say he’s the greatest beauty in the land. A person can’t have everything. Since he’s got the looks, we just have to accept that his personality is like that and his pockets are in this state.」
「True enough. He used that face to hook our Manbang. He managed to snag one decent pain reliever, so I suppose that face isn’t entirely useless.」
「Who’s Manbang?」
「The one who’s clueless and bumbling about everything.」
「Ah, the one who ruined his life chasing faces?」
“You brats, will you shut up?!”
Isaac, who had unconsciously let out a loud shout at the tigers as they nodded to one another, saying “Yes, yes, that one,” found himself locking eyes with the Prince the very next moment. The instant he met those deep blue eyes, Isaac gasped, snapped his mouth shut, and immediately bowed his head low, mumbling in a shrinking voice, “I am sorry.”
The Prince stared at Isaac expressionlessly for a moment before shifting his gaze to the tigers, who were rolling their large eyes around.
“I see you weren’t the master of these creatures.”
Isaac opened his mouth to reply, ‘If I were the master, I would have thrown them all out long ago,’ but—
「Master?!」
「Master?! Master!!」
「We’re the ones looking after him out of pity!」
「Of course! He serves us by offering tributes, so we find him commendable and look after him!」
「Exactly, exactly! Who else would look after our Manbang if not us?」
“……The third wish is still left……. Before I hang every single one of you upside down in a pepper shaker, shut your—”
No sooner had Isaac ground his teeth and muttered lowly than the tigers widened their eyes and stared at him. What? We did what? Even though they kept their mouths shut and only rolled their eyes, it felt as if he could hear them. Those damn things, Isaac thought, swallowing a groan and pressing firmly against his temples.
“The third wish, you say.”
A low voice drifted over. Isaac’s shoulders stiffened. Sensing something was off, he turned around hesitantly to find the Prince gazing at him, lost in thought.
“Did you say the wishes are only valid during the Dark Moon?”
“…….”
“It seems those beasts are not unrelated to that wish.”
“…….”
The Prince gazed steadily at Isaac, who remained frozen and unable to answer, and quietly tapped the cover of the book. Tap, tap. When the sound of tapping ended with the thud of the book closing, Isaac’s heart sank with a thud as well.
“How many wishes can be granted?”
“……Three.”
“So you can use magic three times only during the Dark Moon.”
Isaac fell silent again. The Prince, who was observing every detail of Isaac’s expression, likely knew that this silence was an affirmation.
Even though Isaac kept his gaze lowered, he could feel the Prince’s eyes stinging his face. The expressionless face, unchanged as always, was even more terrifying because it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.
“If the third remains, you must have used two already. What were they?”
Isaac did not answer. Cold sweat broke out on the nape of his neck. The Prince stared intently at the unresponsive Isaac and tilted his head languidly.
“One must have been coming here, and the other was…….”
After tracing the air with his gaze for a moment, the Prince suddenly nodded.
“……Ah, I see. That is why you cannot remember the face.”
Isaac’s heart dropped. A single bead of sweat rolled down the nape of his neck.
He knew it, but the man was frighteningly intelligent. Realizing that the Prince had reached a conclusion based on the fleeting expression that had crossed Isaac’s face, Isaac felt a chill run deeper through his chest. He felt cornered by every word the man tossed out so nonchalantly.
“So, what do you intend to do with the remaining one?”
“……I intend to take my time and consider whether to hang those brats in a pepper shaker or something else…… but, do you happen to want something?”
Isaac muttered with a sense of defeat. Adding the latter part because he couldn’t bring himself to be rude to a superior, he braced himself, anxious about what the man might demand.
“That is your concern. As for me, it is enough that this damned pain has vanished.”
Unexpectedly, the Prince shook his head readily. Isaac was surprised for a moment, but then thought that perhaps it wasn’t that surprising after all.
Come to think of it, the Prince possessed no greed beyond what he personally desired. Once he satisfied the needs he first sought, he didn’t bother looking for more. Yes, that was the kind of person he was. That was why everyone feared this man, yet did not despise him.
Isaac suddenly felt a slight warmth in his chest. Perhaps because the tension had eased, he felt a cozy sensation. Watching the man casually glance toward his attendant and lightly stroke his neck, Isaac spoke up impulsively.
“Then…… would you like some tea? There is still quite some time before dawn.”
At Isaac’s words, the Prince, who had been stroking his neck, lightly arched an eyebrow. Isaac gripped and rubbed the flint stone in his pocket. Simultaneously, the last tiger puffed up its body and strode over to Isaac’s side.
“I would like some refreshments. Enough to satisfy my hunger and quench my thirst.”
He felt it was a bit of a waste to use the third wish on something like this, but whatever. There was nothing else he particularly needed to wish for today, and the Dark Moon would come again. Besides, he happened to be thirsty himself.
The tiger, who had been peering at Isaac with its neck twisted, nodded, and soon a tea table appeared between the Prince and Isaac. With a teapot, teacups, and a tray full of treats, it was a satisfying spread. Moreover, the warm tea that flowed down his throat had an excellent taste and aroma, and Isaac nodded in satisfaction. This was the first wish fulfillment of the day that felt truly rewarding.
“Is it alright to waste your last wish on something like this?”
“I’m not sure. I can’t think of anything else I need today. ……It’s warm and nice.”
Isaac smiled as he lifted his teacup. However, that smile quickly faded when he met the steady gaze of the Prince.
“There must be things you need. Such as my death.”
Isaac froze at the words the Prince tossed out so casually while drinking tea. He blinked, staring blankly at the Prince.
……I didn’t think of that. Why didn’t that occur to me? It was something he had never once considered.
If the Prince were to die.
Then, things would truly become easy. He wouldn’t have to rack his brain over the Oath of the Moon River or the flint jar in the treasure vault; he could simply throw the flint stone far into the river and forget everything. Then Isaac could return to his peaceful daily life. If the Prince died. If he only wished for him to die.
……But.
“I will think about whether there is something better until the next Dark Moon.”
Isaac shook his head. The Prince merely glanced at Isaac and said nothing more. He didn’t seem to mind at all that Isaac could have made such a wish. ……I wonder if this man ever feels anxious or lost. How has he lived to become so detached from everything?
Isaac looked out the window. Only the pitch-black sky, where nothing could be seen, was there.
“A Dark Moon night like this isn’t so bad today.”
He muttered this and drank his tea. The tea, warming and fragrant as it moistened his throat, felt like a consolation amidst the gloom. Then, it suddenly occurred to Isaac that for this man, the Dark Moon must have always been a horrific time.
“Is the pain of the Dark Moon that severe?”
When Isaac asked after a moment’s hesitation, the Prince gave a light, nonchalant nod.
He was a man who wouldn’t show it unless the pain was extreme. Even at the recent hunting competition, despite being bitten by a monster to the point where red flesh and white bone were exposed, he had slain the monster without a single change in his expression. It was surprising that such a man admitted to pain, so Isaac asked again.
“……Just how much does it hurt?”
The Prince seemed to think for a moment, staring at his slowly twitching finger before speaking.
“I once poured oil on my body and set it on fire. I wondered if that sensation could blur the pain even slightly, but it was useless. Even though I could see my flesh burning, that level of sensation was far too insignificant to cover the pain of the Dark Moon.”
Isaac fell silent as he listened to the casual answer. A chill settled in his chest. He couldn’t even imagine how terrifying that must be.
He had heard that the royal curse manifests from the moment gender is distinguished, after early childhood. The moment secondary sex characteristics are clearly established—when one becomes capable of producing a child and continuing that cursed bloodline. If so, though it might vary by a year or two depending on the person, it would be around thirteen or fourteen years old.
He had endured such pain from that young age.
“Why didn’t you make a contract with a mage?”
Isaac, stroking his aching chest, spoke up impulsively, but he flinched the moment he met the Prince’s eyes. Those deep blue eyes, unreadable in emotion, were gazing steadily at him.
Oops. He might have crossed a line.
The Prince’s gaze, now tinged with a hint of annoyance, landed on the sword hanging on a nearby wall. After staring at the sword for a moment, the Prince withdrew his gaze as if bored. A chill ran down Isaac’s spine. If that sword had been within reach, he might have been cut.
As Isaac slowly slid backward while remaining seated at the tea table, something resembling a smile flickered in the Prince’s eyes.
“Quite…….”
That was all he muttered lowly, but Isaac could guess the rest of the sentence. Quite quick-witted.
……See. As expected, if he had been closer, the Prince might have just cut him down.
“I do not care for nuisances. Nor for those who prattle on with unnecessary words.”
“……I am sorry.”
Isaac bowed deeply to the Prince, who continued to drink his tea. For now, he had been let off. However, there would certainly be no second mercy.
“But, yes. I am in a fairly good mood today. I shall answer. Why I do not contract with mages.”
Unexpectedly, as he had said, the Prince seemed to be in a quite good mood and continued speaking readily, and Isaac looked at him with surprise. The blue eyes stared at Isaac.
“Mages are ultimately the same breed as witches. The only difference is whether they were born into a human body or a monster’s body. And I dislike your kind.”
His tone was nonchalant. A light, ordinary voice that didn’t even convey the emotion of dislike. On the contrary, that only served to show that the words were the absolute truth.
Isaac faced the Prince, frozen. A short silence followed as he found himself unable to say anything. Only after taking three or four hushed breaths did he speak.
“……I am sorry. ……I will come earlier next time. If my blood is acceptable, please drink as much as you like.”
Isaac muttered gloomily.
It’s understandable that he’d dislike them. Having endured such agonizing times. But still, being hated isn’t exactly a pleasant feeling…… As Isaac let out a melancholy sigh, he suddenly looked up, feeling as if something unfamiliar had flickered at the edge of his vision.
The corners of the Prince’s mouth, who had been looking at Isaac askew, were slightly curled upward. Whether it was because it was funny or absurd, his expression soon returned to its usual blankness, but it was a strange face Isaac had never seen before. Thus, even after that fleeting expression vanished, Isaac couldn’t bring himself to look away for a while. He thought to himself again, ……A fragment is indeed a fragment. Even though he was scary, he couldn’t take his eyes off him.
“So, why do you remain here, witch?”
The Prince asked then. Only then did Isaac tear his gaze away from the man’s lips and answer, scratching his head.
“I couldn’t board the ship.”
“Ship?”
“A ship comes every Great Dark Moon. It carries us to the land of the new moon.”
“The Great Dark Moon……. Then, once every seven years.”
Isaac looked at the Prince with a strange expression as the man muttered to himself, “There should be about half a year left.” Ordinary humans wouldn’t know about such things. It was something only a witch or a mage would be interested in, yet he knew it well.
The Prince, appearing lost in thought, suddenly spoke.
“Many witches must board that ship.”
“Yes, of course, ……, …….”
He didn’t know why those words suddenly sounded like, ‘There must be many pain relievers there.’ Isaac stopped mid-answer and simply blinked. The Prince gave him a look. The moment he met those blue eyes, Isaac answered reflexively.
“I don’t know where it boards.”
“…….”
“It’s true. That’s why I couldn’t go seven years ago either.”
Isaac answered firmly once more.
It wasn’t a lie. After sending his mother away fourteen years ago, the time he spent alone as a child was not comfortable. For a rootless orphan, every period of time is harsh. So, when the Great Dark Moon came seven years ago, he wanted to board the Moon Fragment Ship no matter what—whether by clinging to the boatman or holding onto the stern—but he couldn’t achieve it. Having lost his connection with the witches, Isaac had no way of knowing where he had to go to board the ship.
Since then, Isaac had grown older and learned the tricks of surviving in the world, so life wasn’t as difficult as before. Thus, while he occasionally thought of the land of the new moon, his desire to cross over there had been fading.
If the Moon Fragment Ship comes again in half a year, after seven years. As for where to board that ship, ……those brats probably know.
Isaac glanced at the tigers sitting huddled beside the tea table. One of them, blinking out of boredom, let out a yawn, and the other two followed suit, opening their mouths wide to yawn. If they just didn’t talk, these guys weren’t entirely devoid of a certain cuteness…….
“So, living in the human world must be quite easy, enough for you to settle down like this.”
The Prince spoke. Turning his gaze back to the Prince, Isaac let out a hollow laugh.
“How could living as the hunted be easy?”
The seven years he spent alone as a child after his mother left, and the seven years since he became an adult and learned how to live a decent life—he had never once thought life was easy.
“It is not easy. Though you, Prince, who are always the hunter, would not know.”
The feeling of floating alone even while laughing and chatting among people. They do not know that that alone can wear down a corner of one’s heart. ……But,
“But living as a human doesn’t seem easy either.”
Isaac muttered and moistened his lips with tea.
Everyone lives weighed down by the burdens of life. His was just a bit heavier. He just had to endure that much more. Though a life of enduring is not easy.
「Ho ho, look at him. Talking like some enlightened old man.」
「I’m telling you, this kid has a bit of an old soul. He hasn’t even hit his thirties yet.」
「We, with our broad hearts, must be understanding. He almost died and came back to life not long ago. Usually, kids who almost die and survive have hearts that age rapidly.」
The three of them, unable to hold back, began whispering among themselves again. Just look at them, immediately chattering away now that the third wish had been used. Their mouths should have been much larger than their eyes; they were born wrong. Still, seeing them huddle their heads together and just move their lips, trying to be discreet in their own way, was both pitiful and funny. Maybe he could overlook this much…….
「Huh? When did he almost die?」
「You know, the hunt a while ago—」
“Hey, quiet!!”
Isaac shouted abruptly, nearly spitting out the tea in his mouth. His heart suddenly hammered.
“Beasts shouldn’t recklessly interrupt when humans are talking! Stay quiet and still!”
“Can’t we tie that massive snout shut? A rope would be nice,” Isaac muttered, glancing around. The Prince arched an eyebrow slightly and asked,
“Did something dangerous happen?”
“Yes, there was a bit of an accident… but it ended without any major issues.”
So please don’t ask for details, Isaac added inwardly, frantically pondering what excuse to fabricate if the Prince pressed further. However, the Prince seemed uninterested in the answer; he simply stared at Isaac, lost in thought. Then,
“It hasn’t been easy to find a witch lately… it would be troublesome if you died just yet.”
“Pardon?”
“Once you die, the oath sworn upon the River of the Moon becomes useless.”
“Well…”
Isaac, responding bewilderedly to the sudden remark, finally grasped the context. I see. He means that if I die, his supply of pain relievers for the Dark Moon nights disappears.
“…Well, a corpse wouldn’t exactly fly to you. Besides, it’s unlikely blood would still be flowing in a corpse…”
The Prince gazed steadily at the mumbling Isaac. A cold sweat broke out on the back of Isaac’s neck. That look surely meant:
「It would be troublesome if he accidentally died somewhere, so it’s probably better to lock him up in a dungeon or something.」
Yes, exactly that. Isaac flinched reflexively. The Prince’s gaze then shifted to the side. Three tigers were sitting in a row, heads huddled together, whispering.
「I told you I was right. He has that look on his face.」
「Indeed, I don’t think it’s much different.」
「But look at him; he’s such a clean-cut lad, so how did he live such a rough life that his expressions are so sparse? It’s truly hard to read him, so hard.」
“I told you not to read people’s faces however you want!”
Startled, Isaac grabbed the tigers’ snouts. They were so large that he had to hug them tightly with both arms just to barely keep their mouths shut. Watching this, the Prince murmured,
“Noisy beasts.”
“I’m sorry. They mean no harm.”
…Isaac wondered if they truly didn’t, but he offered the excuse anyway. Beside him, the tigers were obliviously singing “Kids! He calls us kids! This little brat calls us kids!” in loud roars, but he couldn’t exactly watch them get stabbed right in front of him.
After being lost in thought for a while, the Prince shook his head lightly.
“You weren’t wrong. I did think it would be better to keep you isolated somewhere.”
At those casual words, the back of Isaac’s neck turned cold. This is bad. I have a bad feeling about this.
“What if I asked you to swear upon the River of the Moon to visit me during a time when magic does not work?”
A time when magic does not work—the ordinary days when no barrier is cast. A time when the Prince could hold Isaac and dispose of him as he pleased.
Isaac looked the Prince in the eye. He couldn’t tell if those blue eyes were serious or if he was just speaking casually. In the end, after a brief hesitation, he answered.
“I will not.”
The stiffness of his tongue was because the answer was sincere.
If he visited the Prince during ordinary times, the result was obvious. He would be isolated in a dungeon or elsewhere, free from accidents or threats to his life, but he would never see the outside world again. A life bred like livestock, having his blood sucked by the Prince every Dark Moon. An end more terrible than death.
“You will not…?”
“I will not.”
“Even if I were to cut you down here and now?”
“I still would not.”
The Prince stared at Isaac as if trying to pierce through him. Isaac struggled not to avert his gaze, meeting those blue eyes. Looking at Isaac’s face, frozen with tension, the Prince suddenly tilted his head slightly. Crack, a bone popped. He tilted it to the other side, crack.
The Prince’s gaze wandered in the air for a moment, as if weighing his options. Then, as if reaching a conclusion, his eyes snapped to a single point in the void.
Rising from the sofa, the Prince walked slowly but without hesitation. Seeing him pick up the sword hanging on the wall, Isaac faintly clenched his fist.
“You will not?”
The Prince asked once more as he walked toward Isaac. The sharp, blue edge of the blade glistened in the light.
The Prince looked indifferent and languid, not like someone about to cut a person down. However, Isaac knew that this was the very face of a man who had slaughtered humans and beasts alike. He also knew that if things went south, the Prince would cut him down regardless of whether he was a pain reliever or anything else.
This was no joke, no prank. It was real.
Isaac felt the back of his neck stiffen and the hair on his body stand on end. Death was looming right before his nose.
And then,
“I will not.”
The moment his lips parted to utter a whisper so faint it was barely audible, the Prince swung the sword down.
The blade sliced through the air, falling in a straight line above Isaac’s head.
The moment the Grim Reaper’s scythe descended relentlessly to claim his life.
“—.”
The blade stopped.
At a distance where it barely touched his hair—a gap so small that if Isaac had lifted his head just a bit, it would have hit—the blade stopped right above his head. Ssh, a few strands of severed hair fluttered down onto his face.
Only after taking one, then two slow breaths did Isaac confirm that he was not dead. Why didn’t he cut me? Isaac looked up at the Prince with only his eyes. Behind the shimmering blade, the Prince was looking down at him. Not at his eyes, but lower—specifically, at Isaac’s waist.
Puzzled, Isaac followed the gaze down to his own waist. Only then did he realize where his hand had unconsciously moved. Even though he wasn’t currently carrying a weapon, his hand had reflexively moved to where a hilt would be, gripping the empty air.
“A witch who uses a sword,” the Prince murmured to himself. Those blue eyes curved slightly as he looked down at Isaac’s hand. Isaac hurriedly corrected his posture and stammered, “No, this is…”
He tried to explain that he hadn’t intended to fight back, that it was just an instinctive reaction, that he didn’t even have a sword anyway, and that even if he had fought, he couldn’t have won—he babbled incoherently, but the Prince didn’t seem to be listening, simply looking down at him in silence. Then,
“Where is it hidden?”
The moment the Prince’s low voice dropped, Isaac stopped talking.
Where.
Somewhere where one would be accustomed to using a sword.
The Prince slowly lifted the sword. Even as the blade moved further away from his head, Isaac didn’t feel like he had survived. Instead, his spine chilled further.
The Prince smiled. For the first time.
…Oh no.
Isaac screamed inwardly. That was the face of someone just starting a hunt. What was worse was that the Prince realized Isaac had noticed this.
Ho, look at this, the Prince’s lips curled slightly with that expression. His blue eyes narrowed, observing Isaac.
I’m screwed.
Isaac muttered to himself, clutching his sinking heart.
In the depths of this desperate gloom, the fact that dawn was approaching, signaling the end of the Dark Moon, provided no comfort at all.
Isaac was generally regarded as a laid-back and easygoing person, but in truth, he had very sharp instincts in certain areas. Those instincts were particularly well-developed when it came to sensing danger or things to avoid, a natural result of navigating a harsh world alone since childhood.
That intuition had manifested a few times on a large scale and many times on a small scale, and it had never been wrong. With a hit rate of practically 100 percent, he wondered if the witch’s blood played a part.
And now.
That intuition was firing again after a long time. More powerfully and clearly than ever before.
Such an intense feeling of being ‘hunted.’
It felt as if a fighting dog the size of a house was chasing him from just a span behind at a terrifying speed. Moreover, there was no sound and no presence, so he couldn’t guess how close it was; it felt as if the moment he turned around to see how far it had come, it would snap its jaws onto his neck. On top of that, the stamina felt immense, as if it would never tire out before he did. …I’m scared to death, Mom.
‘You know… is it possible to make a wish to lose memories of only the parts I want?’
As he sat slumped on the floor, holding his forehead for a long time before suddenly mumbling, the cats sitting by the window—watching the graveyard in the front yard while washing themselves in the red dawn light—looked at Isaac with wide eyes.
『It’s possible.』
『But it might seem a bit strange that your memories are missing here and there, like they’ve been eaten by bugs.』
『That handsome lad is a bit dense, right? Then he won’t notice.』
‘….’
No. That wouldn’t work. That man is far too quick-witted and sharp. Conversations and situations are all connected; if a few parts were vaguely blurred—especially for a man who had never suffered from forgetfulness—he would suspect it ten times out of ten.
『Get your hands on the flint jar. If you have that, everything is solved!』
『This kid never understands even when we give him the answer straight up.』
『He’s the type to spit it out even if we spoon-feed him.』
Isaac glared with exhausted eyes at the chattering cats and asked again.
‘Can’t I just wish for the flint jar to be delivered to me?’
The cats all shut their mouths. Seeing their large eyes half-close into triangles, he figured no useful answer would come back.
『You should at least know that magic cannot be used on an object that is superior to the magic tool being used, right?』
『You should know that a flint jar is a more precious treasure than a flint stone, right?』
『Our Manbang, a child who is half-witch, doesn’t even know such basic common sense. Sigh, it’s like leaving a small child by the water.』
‘…. …Fine, then let’s say I earn a reward and get that damn flint jar. I can at least get help in earning that reward, right? If I ask to bring in the culprit who killed Sir Leon, that should work, right?’
A thought suddenly struck him, and Isaac snapped his fingers, lifting his head abruptly. It was a sudden idea, but a truly great one. Why hadn’t he thought of this until now?
However, despite this brilliant idea, the cats remained utterly indifferent, only rolling their eyes.
『Listen, Manbang-a.』
‘Don’t call me that. Anyway, go ahead. What?’
『You can only make wishes on the Dark Moon night, can’t you?』
‘Yes, that’s right.’
『But during the Dark Moon night, you have to be with that handsome lad the whole time. And since you have to make him not remember your appearance, you only have one wish left.』
‘…That’s true.’
『So you’re planning to summon that culprit or whoever to the place where you’re with that handsome lad?』
‘….’
He couldn’t… do that. He had to capture the culprit and hand them over to earn the reward, which would naturally expose his identity to the Prince. No, that won’t do.
‘Can’t I just wish for the guy to be tied up and left in my room?’
『What about the one living with you?』
Oh my, he’s so selfish, telling us to leave some unknown culprit with his companion, meow meow meow meow.
‘Then I can just have a room reserved somewhere else and tell the wish to lock him in that room.’
『But unless you raid the scene, how are you going to prove that this unknown person is the culprit of that incident?』
‘….’
Strange. These guys aren’t usually like this, so why are they suddenly so sharp… It might be because I’m tired and my brain isn’t working well…
Physically and mentally exhausted, Isaac let his shoulders slump. What kind of wish is this with so many restrictions? Now that he saw it, it was barely useful for something like drinking tea. None of it mattered. Everything had gone wrong from the moment he had to spend the Dark Moon night with the Prince.
But he couldn’t just sit around.
Even at this moment, having just returned to the Prince’s palace after the Dark Moon night, Isaac was plagued by a sense of crisis, as if a fighting dog were chasing him closely from behind, and this intuition never failed. The Prince would undoubtedly search for him. The witch’s child. In reality, he wasn’t in a relaxed enough situation to simply rely on the Dark Moon wish and wait idly until the next one.
Regardless, he had to find the flint jar first. Whether he would use it to cross over to the land of the new moon or do something else was still to be decided, but considering everything, obtaining the flint jar seemed to be the best way to break the current situation.
To do that, he needed to receive a reward from the King, and the only way to do that right now was to find the culprit behind the murder of Sir Leon.
And so—.
“Having lived a rough life as an orphan actually helps in its own way.”
Isaac muttered to himself as he crawled on his belly across the dusty floor. He moved only his lips, speaking in a voice no one could hear, and quickly shut his mouth after the sudden whisper. After all, right beneath the floor where he was lying, six or seven dangerous individuals were gathered.
It wasn’t hard to find out when and where Roberni’s subordinates gathered. …Though that was because Isaac had done all sorts of rough work on his own before joining the Royal Palace guards.
After working as a guard for a few years, he was now settled and living a stable, honest life, but before that, Isaac had been a fairly successful ‘errand boy.’ Although he was picky about the jobs he took, once he accepted one, he guaranteed a satisfying result, giving him high reliability and a fair amount of fame among those in the know. He wasn’t incredibly famous because he didn’t do illegal jobs that crossed the line too far, nor did he make a fortune, but several brokers had expressed regret when he quit to live a simple life as a guard.
He no longer kept in touch with them, and he didn’t particularly miss those days when he had to endure all sorts of hardships despite being picky with his work, but… as expected, it does open up shortcuts in many ways compared to doing only upright and proper work in the light of day, occasionally.
‘Here. I don’t know anything about what happens after this, got it?’
The note handed to him by a broker he had been close with in the past contained only the time and place. Moreover, it was for the same day, and it could be changed suddenly or unexpected variables could arise, but since this type of information was naturally like that, Isaac accepted it without complaint. The broker’s skill in finding the time and place where Roberni’s subordinates gathered was truly impressive.
‘But what, you’re coming back? Yeah, good choice. How much do you even earn as a guard? If you come back, I can keep the jobs flowing for you.’
‘No no, not coming back. Things got complicated so I’m borrowing your help, but I’m going to live a peaceful and poor life of contentment.’
Isaac replied while chewing and swallowing the contents of the note. The broker, who was the same age and had been casual with him, didn’t seem particularly disappointed, as if he had expected it, and simply patted Isaac’s shoulder twice, saying, “Well, that’s always been your way of talking.” Then, suddenly,
‘By the way, are you going there?’
‘Um…’
‘I found out because they asked, and I gave it to you, but if possible, don’t go. My intelligence network is quite useful and it wasn’t easy to find out… but the information came in a bit too easily compared to usual.’
The broker frowned, adding, “You know how things are with Roberni these days, right?” and Isaac simply nodded. There was a high possibility that the information had been leaked on purpose. Probably to lure in that mysterious culprit.
Still, he couldn’t not go. If he played it safe and weighed every single thing, there would be nothing he could do.
So, ignoring the warning of his old friend who showed an anxious look, Isaac took the risk and came to the place where Roberni’s subordinates were gathering. Currently, he was clinging to a narrow, dusty ceiling only a span high, crawling slowly.
The top floor of a tavern building in a quiet alley slightly away from the city center.
Under that roof, several of Roberni’s cherished subordinates were gathered, and Isaac was looking down at them, wedged into the very narrow gap between the ceiling and the roof. Beside Isaac lay a man whom Isaac had knocked unconscious with a tranquilizer needle a short while ago. He would likely wake up around dawn feeling as though he’d had a long, deep sleep.
This man, who had occupied the gap under the roof before Isaac, was a comrade of the Roberni faction gathered below. Isaac, hiding behind the roof, had watched him exchange signals with the men below before slipping into the spot, putting the man to sleep, and taking his place.
To have a comrade lying in ambush under the roof—indeed, this must have been a setup specifically designed to lure in the mysterious culprit. Observing carefully from behind the ceiling, Isaac noted that the faces gathered were those of quite capable scoundrels. There was even a mid-level executive under Roberni’s direct command. The weapons they possessed alone were enough to slaughter dozens of people.
Among them, something caught Isaac’s eye. It was a man sitting quietly at the end of the table. A thin, frail-looking man who seemed incapable of even wringing a chicken’s neck, dressed in plain black clothes, was habitually fiddling with a thick ring on his finger. Amidst the rough and rugged men, he alone stood out as an anomaly.
“There will be no need for the Teacher to step forward.”
Just then, a bald man who had been staring out the window with a piercing gaze turned and spoke. The frail man addressed as “Teacher” merely shifted his eyes to meet him, his lips curling into a crooked smirk.
“Didn’t you say you failed recently when you set up a similar trap to lure him in?”
At the sarcastic remark, the bald man fell silent, appearing offended. Then, a bearded man beside him chimed in.
“Yanique was leading it back then; that idiot let his guard down, and that’s how it happened.”
“I knew he’d do that. He was always arrogant, relying solely on his brute strength. Hmph, but that guy was all bluff and bravado; in reality, he had nothing to offer. That’s why he took over ten subordinates with him and still ended up being found with his head chopped off.”
Another man joined in, clicking his tongue. The frail man simply continued to smile crookedly in silence.
Isaac looked at that mocking curve of the lips with distaste, scanned the men who remained silent, and then looked back at the frail man.
Teacher, huh. Judging by the title, it was clear that the man was not a member of their group. Furthermore, while the others seemed displeased with the man’s tone and aura, they did not treat him carelessly. At the very least, he was not their subordinate. Then who on earth was this man…? Isaac tilted his head, staring at him. Though his impression was somewhat dark and sharp, there was nothing particularly unusual about him.
“As you all know, he must not be killed. He must be captured alive. Seeing as Yanique’s group was annihilated and he’s been committing these acts so boldly, it’s not just one person.”
“But wasn’t the method used to kill Yanique’s side all the work of the same guy?”
“There is likely one leader. However, this is not something that can be done with one person’s strength alone. There must be a supporting force. We must uncover where that is.”
A man with a scar around his eye frowned with annoyance while inspecting his sword.
“Then you’re saying we absolutely must keep him alive?”
“Lord Roberni ordered him to be brought back alive. However, he said as long as the man can still wag his tongue, he doesn’t care what state the rest of him is in.”
“Aha, so it’s fine if he’s missing a few limbs or eyeballs. Yes, that’s how it should be.”
The scarred man grinned, thinking of how he would clearly show the culprit the fate of those who touch Roberni’s faction.
“But we must not let our guard down. Between the fact that he hasn’t been tracked yet and the way he uses his weapons, he’s no ordinary fellow.”
“Hmph, regardless, as long as I, Lantes, am holding the line, he won’t escape today. My only concern is that the bastard might be too cautious to show up. Why, brother, are you scared?”
As the scarred man spoke sneeringly, the bearded man, who had spoken cautiously, glared at him. As the two men faced off, staring each other down menacingly, the atmosphere turned foul in an instant. If the middle-aged man—who seemed to be the highest-ranking among Roberni’s faction present—hadn’t uttered a single word, “Both of you, stop it,” they might have drawn their weapons right then and there.
As the two backed off while still glaring at each other with reluctance, the frail man, who had been watching them with a crooked smile, took a sip of the tea in front of him and spoke.
“There is no need for concern. As long as his throat isn’t slit in one blow or his breath cut short instantly, I can heal him immediately no matter how severely he is injured. I, Urgo, may not have many great talents, but you can trust me in that regard.”
At that, the middle-aged man nodded and spoke with a level of dignity that preserved his own face while still catering to the other’s whims.
“Of course. I have heard much of Lord Urgo’s fame, which is said to be second to none in instantaneous healing. Since Lord Roberni went to great lengths to invite you, I believe you have already exchanged greetings, but once today’s work is completed without a hitch, Lord Roberni will offer his special greetings once more.”
As the middle-aged man spoke, the man called Urgo narrowed his eyes and smiled with satisfaction. Only then did Isaac realize his identity.
A mage.
There had been quite a few rumors that Roberni was collaborating with a mage. The rumors were rife with unverified claims that he knew a top-tier mage or a black magician; while it was impossible to tell if this man was top-tier, judging by their conversation, he seemed to be quite capable. Then again, someone like Roberni would likely know more than one or two mages.
But a mage.
By nature, according to regulations, all mages must be registered with the guild and report the details to the official residence when commissioned for work other than research—though of course, there are many mages who cleverly evade the law to involve themselves in underworld dealings—but to summon one to a place like this, Roberni must be truly determined.
From what he heard, the mage’s specialty was healing. If that were the case, the Mysterious Assailant would find it hard to endure. Facing a dozen or more professional fighters who heal instantly no matter how many times they are wounded—no matter how great their skill, it would be impossible to prevail. It would be a relief if they even managed to escape. …Though he wondered if the person would even show up. …And before that, he realized that if he himself were discovered, it would be the end.
Isaac glanced at their unconscious comrade beside him. Since he had seen what signals the man exchanged with the men below before knocking him out, he wouldn’t be discovered immediately. Surely, they wouldn’t try to speak to a comrade they had intentionally hidden.
…But maybe he shouldn’t have come after all.
…Eh, whatever. The die is cast.
Seeing that even a mage was present, a wave of apprehension and regret washed over him, but it was already too late. Isaac lowered his head further and shifted only his eyes. The time was already well past midnight.
“Anyway, what the hell is that crazy bastard? Why is he defying us for no reason?”
The bald man, who had been anxiously shaking his leg while staring at the ticking clock, suddenly shouted as if seized by irritation.
“Who knows what his goal is. But one thing is certain: he’s incredibly stupid. Killing the Grand Duke’s son of all people—he’s dug his own grave. Now he’ll be hunted by the guards in the light and by us in the shadows; where else could you find such foolishness?”
“Haha, true. It’s a favor to us that he killed Sir Leon.”
“I was just thinking that arrogant noble brat was an eyesore, so it worked out well—oops, pretend you didn’t hear that, okay?”
The bald man winked, pretending it was a slip of the tongue. However, seeing as no one seemed particularly flustered, it seemed to be a sentiment they all shared. Indeed, Isaac himself had never heard a good word about the Grand Duke’s son.
“Hmph, either way, he won’t have to run anymore. After today, he might still be breathing, but he’ll be a body without limbs to run away with.”
“Just make sure you don’t accidentally kill him.”
“Even if there’s a slight mistake, as long as it’s not a wound that cuts the breath instantly, the Teacher will heal him so he doesn’t die.”
A large man sitting near the door looked at the mage with a servile smile. The mage nodded almost imperceptibly and spoke with feigned generosity, “You may vent your anger to your heart’s content. Seeing him scream in agony, unable to die even if he wishes to, will surely soothe your rage a bit.” The men cheered.
“Good, very good. He’s the one who harmed our comrades. We’ll show him a living hell.”
“He’s not actually not coming, is he?”
The men each gripped their weapons. The scarred man, appearing anxious, stroked his sword and glared at the clock, which indicated the hour was already very late. Outside the window, it was silent, with no sign of anyone. Only the occasional sound of a dog barking in the distance broke the stillness.
The men began to chat about various things—the mysterious assailant, and the various affairs the Roberni faction had been handling recently. Isaac simply lay there, holding his breath above their heads.
Who exactly was that assailant? For what purpose were they taking down the Roberni faction? As the men said, they couldn’t be alone; if so, it could be the rise of a new faction hostile to Roberni. Once a position was established in the underworld, the money earned was immense, and there had been many organizations in the past vying for Roberni’s spot. The prevailing opinion was that this was another such case, and Isaac had assumed as much, but that theory had blurred with the death of the Grand Duke’s son.
Regardless, if the assailant came today, he might find a clue. …Provided they survived.
“I’ll survive, for sure… I’m actually quite strong against bad luck, indeed…”
「Manbang’s voice lacks energy.」
「He knows it himself, that his words are nothing more than meaningless self-consolation. You know, like saying, ‘Once I go to a cafe, my studying—my assignments, my work, my manuscript deadlines—will all go smoothly.’」
「Vanity of vanities.」
“…”
Why are these brats here…?
Isaac, whose lips had been moving silently, pressed them shut and glanced sideways with a cold gaze. At the edge of his vision, three cats, who definitely hadn’t been there a moment ago, were now lined up. One was tapping the bridge of the unconscious man’s nose, one was chasing rolling dust, and one was washing its face with its paws.
He had clearly tied them up tight in the corner of the room and left water and food bowls right beside them; why were these things here?
“I told you not to follow me!”
Isaac, eyes wide, shouted with only his lips moving. Regardless, the cats stared back at Isaac with bright, clear eyes.
「We didn’t follow you.」
「We just came out for a walk.」
“You little liars…! Do you know how far it is from my house to here? You come on a walk this far?!”
Isaac, who had lifted his head and was screaming silently, suddenly shut his mouth and ducked his head low upon hearing a voice from below mutter, “I think I feel a presence.”
“Maybe it’s a rat. Eh?”
One of the men spoke slowly, as if intending for the comrade lying in ambush on the ceiling to hear. The comrade who was supposed to hear it wouldn’t wake up until morning, but Isaac held his breath and remained motionless as intended. The cats, who were meowing happily beside him, were irritating, but he left them be for now. I’ll deal with you when we get home.
“But is he really not coming? It’s already too late.”
“True. Well, in that case, we’ll just drink some liquor before we go.”
The men began to eat the food spread across the table and raised their glasses. “Don’t drink too much,” the middle-aged man’s warning could be heard.
Isaac estimated the time by the moonlight filtering through the small window in the roof. As they said, the night was already deep. It was almost time to call it dawn. …If they were coming, they would have come and gone by now. Was today really a waste? Isaac glanced at the night sky, where the deep darkness was beginning to fade, and inwardly clicked his tongue.
He hadn’t expected to succeed on the first try, but if this happened, he would have to find another occasion where they gathered. He was prepared for several futile efforts, but it was still a bit draining. …Still, he’d likely be able to return home safely without any harm to his life.
It was just as Isaac was thinking that and sighing inwardly.
Suddenly, the sound stopped.
It was a very light presence. The sensation of someone leaning against the door. Even at such a faint and small sign, the men all fell silent simultaneously because everyone present was thoroughly trained in combat.
In an instant, the men’s expressions turned serious, and they exchanged sharp glances, quietly gripping their weapons. Even the mage, who had been sitting with a mocking air, erased his expression and glared at the door.
“Who is it?”
The middle-aged man spoke and signaled to the young, sturdy man sitting near the door. The burly man, holding a steel sword that looked heavy enough to weigh as much as a person, stealthily approached the door.
No answer came; instead, the door showed signs of creaking open. The middle-aged man signaled again, and the burly man drove the steel sword into the door without hesitation.
K-boom!! The steel sword sliced through the wooden door and plunged deep into the center. Simultaneously, the burly man’s eyes flashed, and he nodded. It meant he’d “felt the hit.” As he pulled the door open with a jerk, a man appeared, pinned to the door with the steel sword piercing through his chest.
“You bastard!!”
The burly man ripped the steel sword out and grabbed the hair of the man collapsing on the spot, pulling him up. Isaac also held his breath and looked down at the man with his head tilted back. However, the moment he saw the face of the man who had died with his eyes rolled back, he instinctively knew: No.
The pale, bloodless complexion was not that of someone who had just died. He must have been dead already when the steel sword pierced him. If so…
“—.”
Before a thought could even form in Isaac’s mind, the head of the burly man, who was leaning in to check the dead man’s face, fell off.
In the same posture as he was leaning over to look at the man, only his head popped off and rolled across the floor. The burly man’s head, wearing a bewildered expression as if he didn’t know what had happened to him, landed by his own foot, and a beat later, the body, spraying blood like a fountain, collapsed.
The men in the room changed their expressions and sprang up simultaneously.
“Turaf!!”
“Who is it!!”
Rough shouts filled the room. Into that space, a figure entered. Step. The moment the heavy footstep crossed the threshold, a terrifying sound sliced through the air and flew toward the figure. A crossbow.
Swoosh— The bolt, flying with a force that seemed capable of shattering a stone pillar, aimed precisely for the figure’s neck, leaving no room to dodge. At the moment anyone would have been felled, their neck pierced by the steel bolt…
Something happened that made one doubt their eyes.
The figure caught the steel bolt flying toward him in mid-air. It was at the moment the arrowhead almost touched the skin of his neck. Even with an ordinary bow, catching a bolt at that distance would have been unbelievable, let alone one fired from a crossbow.
“—.”
The bald man who had fired the crossbow stared wide-eyed at the unbelievable sight.
The figure spun the steel bolt in his hand and threw it straight back at the bald man. Returning with a speed as fierce as when it arrived, the steel bolt pierced the bald man’s neck. The bolt, digging in with terrifying force, passed through the neck, and the bald man, with a hole in his throat, made a grotesque “Guh, guuuh” sound while clutching his spurting neck.
As the people’s expressions shifted following the sudden turn of events, the mage was the first to move. Sitting in a corner of the room with a gloomy glint in his eyes, he quickly moved his lips, and simultaneously, the large hole in the bald man’s neck began to heal in an instant. The bald man, who had been on the verge of death with his eyes rolled back, slumped onto the spot and let out a ragged breath, his shoulders heaving. His pale complexion made him look as if he were possessed by a ghost, seemingly unaware of what had just happened to him.
It had happened almost instantaneously. It was before Isaac could even blink his wide eyes a couple of times.
Indeed, it was no wonder that mage was so arrogant. The bald man, who should have breathed his last by now, was alive without a single scar. Though it seemed the brave man whose head had been severed in one stroke was beyond help.
Isaac shifted his admiring gaze from the mage toward the doorway, where a figure had belatedly entered.
It was a man wearing a grey hood that reached from the crown of his head down to his ankles. The hood was pulled low over his nose, obscuring his face. From Isaac’s vantage point looking down from the ceiling, only the top of the hood and the occasional glimpse of the man’s lips were visible as he moved. All Isaac could tell was that he was quite tall and had a sturdy build.
“Are you the one who’s been attacking our comrades lately?”
As the middle-aged man spoke and gestured with his eyes, other men surrounded the grey hood, blocking his retreat. One man quickly moved to the window and lit a flare; as a grand firework signaled the sky with a loud bang, the sound of a commotion began to rise in the distance. It seemed they had been waiting far away for fear of being noticed, as a considerable number of presences began to approach.
A mage, and that many men in ambush—they had truly set the date and prepared for this today. Isaac clicked his tongue inwardly. At this rate, the Mysterious Assailant wasn’t the problem; he should be worrying about himself.
The grey hood seemed to glance toward the window where the numerous presences were closing in. However, appearing entirely unbothered, he quickly shifted his gaze to stare intently at the bald man—at the scarless neck and the iron arrow embedded in the wall behind him.
“Are you surprised that a man who should have died is perfectly fine? He’s not the only one. Everyone here is the same; even if they are injured, they will not die. Except for you. ——Today is the end of your rampage.”
The middle-aged man grinned, baring his teeth. Simultaneously,
“Attack!!”
A harsh roar erupted. As if waiting for those words, the men surrounding the grey hood rushed in, swinging their weapons.
The first to charge was the scarred man closest to him. He rushed forward with terrifying momentum, sword raised, but the grey hood did not defend against the attack. Instead, indifferent to the blade lunging toward him, he swung the sword in his hand, and that blade was far faster than the sword of the scarred man.
Seeing the blade flying toward his head in an instant, the scarred man was greatly startled and reflexively pulled back his hand to block with his own sword. With a loud clang—the scarred man’s sword snapped in two. The sharp blade, having sliced through the sword, carved straight through the man’s shoulder down to his heart.
From the right shoulder to the left chest, the man’s body was split open.
It happened before the other men could even take a step or two. Amidst gazes filled with horror, the scarred man collapsed, spraying blood.
Isaac froze, his eyes wide.
The grey hood retracted his sword after slashing the man without any sign of haste—though in reality, it was at a flash-like speed. Even the gesture of shaking the blood off the blade was composed.
With that kind of speed. With movements devoid of any waste. With such an indifferent air.
A powerful sense of déjà vu flashed through Isaac’s mind. It was a feeling he had seen somewhere, a sensation he had experienced. And that was—
「Isn’t that him?」
「It is him.」
「It’s definitely him.」
He couldn’t even hear the chattering of the cats beside him. He simply stared intently at the grey hood, where only the line of the mouth was visible beneath the fabric.
The grey hood was looking down at the fallen man. The man, whose body was split from shoulder to heart and pouring blood, was still breathing, but it was clear he would soon expire.
The mage in the corner quietly moved his lips again. An inaudible magic incantation flowed out and reached the fallen man, and once again, the man’s wound began to heal rapidly. From the deepest part to the shallowest, new flesh sprouted from the heart to the shoulder, closing the wound.
It was then. The grey hood suddenly snapped his head around. His gaze locked precisely onto the mage.
The mage, who had been chanting the incantation, flinched. His shoulders could be seen trembling slightly.
The grey hood stared at him silently for a moment. Eventually, the lips visible beneath the hood curved faintly. So it’s you. It felt as if those words had been spoken. Isaac suddenly felt a chill run down his spine and held his breath.
Just then, the second closest man rushed in, swinging a large axe at the grey hood. Turning to look at him, the grey hood swung his sword down toward the axe as if to slice it. K-k-k— the sword stopped after digging about an inch into the axe blade. The expression of the man holding the axe changed. A sword that could penetrate even an axe—he had never heard of such a weapon, nor a person capable of such a feat.
The expressions of the other men also hardened. Their menacing air settled into a serious tension.
“Your skill is quite impressive,” the middle-aged man said.
“However, no matter how clever a trickster you are, since you’ve barged in here alone, today is your end. Let us see how long your stamina lasts against a multitude of men who neither suffer injury nor harm, even if you swing that sword a hundred times. ——Attack!”
The middle-aged man shouted.
But before his words could even finish, the grey hood, who had been lost in thought as if not even listening, suddenly moved. He leaped forward, closing the distance to the man with the axe.
The man with the axe had no time to react to the figure who had appeared before his nose in an instant. With a hollow swiftness, before the middle-aged man’s “Attack” had even fully left his lips, the man’s head was severed. The head rolled across the floor, followed by the axe slipping from his hand, and finally, the man’s torso collapsed.
Covered in the spraying blood, the grey hood looked at the mage. The mage, whose eyes were rolling unstabley with a bluish complexion, trembled upon meeting his gaze. Then, as if realizing the man’s intention, he glared with anger and clamped his mouth shut. The grey hood’s lips curved loosely.
“Indeed, you cannot bring back the dead. Then it will be simple.”
Since I just have to not give them time to heal. The grey hood spoke for the first time. The moment Isaac heard that low voice, the blood drained from his face. It was a familiar voice. A voice he couldn’t possibly have misheard.
…Oh God.
Beneath the distant, dazed Isaac, a hellish slaughter began.
It could only be described as a one-sided massacre.
Men who must have harmed and killed countless people, men who would not be outdone in a fight anywhere, were dying miserably one by one. Heads were severed in an instant, torsos were sliced, and even if they skillfully dodged and the attack missed, the grey hood’s blade would certainly cut their throats before the mage could finish an incantation. Watching the wounds slowly heal on torsos whose heads had already fallen off, Isaac had to fight back the urge to vomit.
This was not a fight between human and human. No human could fight him on equal terms——as Isaac felt this poignantly, the more than ten men were turned into a pile of corpses in an instant.
And the last remaining middle-aged man, as if unable to believe this hellish reality that could not and should not exist, had a vacant expression as if dreaming by the time the grey hood approached him.
Behind the grey hood, a torso that had just lost its head slowly tilted. The body, leaning toward the grey hood, lightly bumped into his back and then slid down, collapsing. The long hem of the grey hood’s garment, which had been barely hanging on by a severed string, got caught in the corpse’s arm and was stripped away. And the man’s appearance, previously hidden by the hood, was revealed under the light.
And——Isaac swallowed a groan upon confirming the man’s face. As expected. He had prayed so hard that it wouldn’t be. He wanted to believe he had misheard the voice, that his intuition was wrong.
“You… are…”
Seeing the figure revealed before him, the middle-aged man frowned grotesquely and tilted his head. He looked at him, blinking as if searching his memory for a face he had seen somewhere, when suddenly, as if struck by lightning, his eyes widened and his body trembled.
“Y-you… you… why are you…”
The middle-aged man, stuttering as if unable to form proper words, eventually failed to finish his sentence. Without obtaining an answer to his question, the middle-aged man lost his head. The head that fell to the floor remained with eyes wide in a shocked expression.
Now, in the place where a deathly silence flowed, only that man and the mage remained. And Isaac, lying prone on the ceiling.
…Oh God… why are You doing this to me… Is it because I’m a witch’s child? You haven’t been like this until now…
「Why is he here?」
「I wonder…? Hmm, seeing as he came to wipe out the gang of thugs… Ah, I know, he’s trying to collect the bounty!」
「Ah——, come to think of it, he was a kid who lived a hard life.」
「That’s right, he was poor and lived in misery.」
「His bedroom is utterly shabby and he can’t even eat, so he fills his stomach with blood…」
「Yes, that’s right. Even though he’s a Prince.」
That’s right. Even though he’s a Prince.
If he’s a Prince, why is he doing that in a place like this?!
Isaac grabbed the necks of the chattering cats and squeezed. They wouldn’t be able to hear him, but please stop talking nonsense and just shut up. The presences approaching from outside had already reached the vicinity, but even those presences felt distantly far away now.
It was the Prince. No matter how many times he looked, it was the Prince. Prince Kaieon. That man was standing there. The mage glared at him with a pale face as the Prince looked down at him expressionlessly. Then, he muttered.
“Who… are you?”
The mage did not know who the man was. Isaac was surprised for a moment, but soon thought it made sense. While there were a few portraits or statues of royalty in the palace, one wouldn’t see them unless they were a Court Mage, and unless there was an official event, ordinary people rarely had the chance to see the royalty’s appearance.
The Prince seemed indifferent to the mage’s words and stared at him intently. Then,
“You are human.”
The Prince clicked his tongue, sounding disappointed.
“But yes, a mage… that’s not bad either. Now that a mage has stepped forward, a witch will probably appear soon.”
The moment Isaac heard him mutter as if to himself, a thought flashed through his mind.
He is looking for the witch. He was searching for the witch.
Why? …It’s not to stock up on extra pain relievers. The Mysterious Assailant had begun attacking the Roberny faction even before the Dark Moon when Isaac had encountered the Prince.
“You, who speaks such things, what is your true identity?”
The mage spoke, glaring at the Prince.
“You wear a human shell, but you are not human. I can tell. What are you? To be such a sinister and evil thing…!”
The Prince did not answer the mage, who spoke with trembling lips while pointing a finger at him. Instead,
“Have you ever seen the Witch of Roberny?”
He posed his own question, as if he hadn’t even heard what the other had said. The mage’s eyes twitched and convulsed.
“Nonsense, no such thing exists.”
The Prince looked down at the mage silently. Facing those blue, cold eyes, the mage’s complexion gradually turned pale.
“I sent someone too insignificant…”
The Prince muttered to himself and raised his sword. Mages are a prideful breed. Hearing those words, the mage’s lips twitched, he clamped his mouth shut, and his eyes widened.
“Your arrogance knows no bounds. Do you truly believe that a meager bit of sword skill can withstand a great power?”
After spitting out those words with trembling lips, the mage began to mutter something under his breath. A heat haze rose around the mage’s body, and the air wavered. The Prince tilted his head upon seeing this.
“Do you know how to handle attack-type magic as well as healing-type?”
“I shall show you if you wish.”
The mage bared his teeth and began to chant an incantation. A strange language flowed from his throat, carrying power. That formless power took on a dark shape, lunged at the Prince, and instantly turned into flames. Bluish flames engulfed the Prince, beginning to scorch his entire body.
The Prince seemed to frown slightly, but that was all; without any sign of pain, he swung his sword. The blade, rushing with unavoidable power and speed, struck the mage——and the blade bounced back as if it had hit a wall. As if he were surrounded by an invisible defensive barrier, the mage did not suffer a single scratch.
However, crack, the thick ring the mage was wearing developed a fissure. The mage’s face grew even paler.
The mage hurriedly chanted another incantation, and in the next moment, the air changed. Only the area surrounding the Prince suddenly surged with air, applying tremendous weight and pressure upon his body. Creak, creak, the sound of bones being crushed could even be heard.
The Prince slowly moved his arm. That gesture, as if gauging the air resistance, was heavy and sluggish, as if he were indeed under immense pressure. While he moved his arm in several directions for a while, the sound of bones echoed incessantly, sounding as if they would break at any moment. But then, at some point, the Prince’s body moved.
It was certainly a slower movement than before.
It was markedly slower than the flash-like speed from earlier. However, it was still too fast for someone not specialized in fighting to evade, and by the time the mage flinched to dodge, the Prince’s sword fell heavily. Once again, the sword bounced off the invisible wall without leaving a scratch on the mage, but,
Crack——the fissure in the mage’s ring grew longer. The gap widened as if it would shatter at any moment. The mage’s complexion became even more pallid.
The mage gnashed his teeth. The sound of the incantation became extremely fast and harsh. The moment the incantation left his mouth, it immediately turned into a form like black smoke. The smoke that flew toward the Prince turned into a sticky tar the moment it touched his body, instantly winding tightly around both of his arms.
“H-how… how is it? You won’t be able to move. The smoke of Astaroth binds anything of this world so that it cannot move in that space.”
The mage stuttered, driven by desperation. Indeed, the Prince, with his arms and upper body entwined in smoke, did not move. He seemed to attempt to move, but it appeared he was unable to.
The mage, who had cast a spell that could only be realized by shaving away his own life force, dripped cold sweat and let out a wide, jagged grin. He then drew a dagger from his robe and raised it high.
“Y-you must die. You monster in a human body…!”
The sharp blade raised above his head glinted in the light.
Isaac unconsciously stiffened and clenched his fists. The ceiling creaked faintly, but the sound was drowned out by a clink.
The Prince flicked up a broken piece of a sword lying on the floor with the tip of his foot and kicked it; the sharp fragment pierced the mage’s Adam’s apple precisely. The tip of the sword fragment, penetrating the center of the throat, protruded from the back of the neck.
“——.”
The mage stopped moving, his dagger still raised.
Crack, the ring split. The ring, now deeply fissured, finally shattered and fell to the floor with a clatter.
A silent scream erupted from the mage’s open mouth. Until then, the flames enveloping the Prince, the air pressing down violently, and the black smoke binding his body all vanished like a fading mist.