The commotion among the beastmen subsided quickly enough. None of the invading tribes were particularly troublesome, nor did they possess any mastery over peculiar magic. Even the “BOSS” marked with the beast-tribe emblem was brought down without much difficulty.
Lyle stood quietly, gripping his blade caked with rust and blood. His vision flickered unsteadily for a moment, the pure radiance of the newly risen sun spilling across the land from beyond the mountaintops, casting its light upon his haggard face—ravaged by the aftermath of battle.
Gradually, clarity returned to his eyes.
“Lord Lyle! I am profoundly sorry for arriving so late to reinforce you!”
He looked up to see Benjamin, the attendant who always stayed close by his side. Seeing him approach, Lyle set aside his weariness and offered a light smile.
“Lord Lyle? Are you… I mean, is it true that the ‘Sky Speaker’ came to your aid? I heard he was recently dispatched to suppress the beastmen and happened to be in the vicinity. —Ah, and Lord Lyle, regarding that young girl, I’ve managed to gather some information.”
…
Nothing in this world is truly worth yearning for.
People simply slap their own favorite labels onto things and chase after them—wealth, fame, peace, status, power; respecting the world, or crushing everything beneath your heel… all it takes is a label and a convenient excuse.
At the entrance of the great forest…
“…The spy’s intelligence… is it accurate?”
“Yes, Lord Lyle. Though what you’ll find may not be what you wish to see, my information is absolutely certain.”
“…And what of Mr. Alek and Miss Elf?”
“They’ve already been taken away. If my guess is correct, it was Duke Catlemaine—no, I hope I’m wrong about that.”
“Catlemaine… how could it be—. I see. So it’s because of that matter that he’s lost all restraint? But why lay a hand on some unknown girl, a complete stranger…”
“My lord, you seem troubled—”
“You don’t need to know the details. I just want her to pass on in peace. The entrance to a forest that sees so much foot traffic is no place for a child to fall.”
“Understood. And our destination?”
“Doesn’t this forest lead straight into the kingdom’s heartland? I recall Shiling mentioning she came from ‘Cliff’—and as it happens, my alma mater is there.”
“Are we crossing the forest? That journey will surely be fraught with peril. Besides, Lord Winter has already—”
“Benjamin, are you speaking ill of me? Oh my, isn’t this…?! My apologies.”
“Sigh, even I can’t forgive you now. Winter, what do you plan to do next? Return to ‘Malettus’?”
“Well, my dear father left me a few words before I set out—said he’d be taking a short vacation for the next few days and that I needn’t come back for now… Lord Lyle, what earth-shattering news are you about to stir up this time?”
“Nothing of the sort. I simply wish to give him and her a proper resolution.”
“Two people? Who exactly has Lord Lyle indebted himself to… Aaaah!! I see! I’ll come with you, alright?”
…
On the road to the capital of Cloverft…
Carriages—so many carriages, as always.
“Daddy! Where are we going? It’s getting so bright outside!”
“Be good, we’re almost there. We’re going to see the king.”
“Wow!! The king! Then there should be a queen, and a prince and princess too!”
“Yes, yes, my little angel. But no matter what, you will always be my one and only little princess.”
“Yes! Lena loves Daddy the most too!”
“…Hm? What is it that requires disturbing me and my daughter?”
“My lord, regarding that matter, if I may—?”
“Ah, that matter. Lena, wait for Daddy for a moment, alright? Daddy needs to have a quick word with this lady.”
“Yes! Daddy!”
…
“So, what is it? I don’t have all the time in the world to keep secrets from my daughter.”
“My lord, intelligence has come from the royal court. The high council that concluded a few days ago touched upon you briefly…”
“You mean that session specifically about the beastman legions? Hmph, that doesn’t concern me at all. If they merely mentioned me in passing… then they’ve sensed something after all.”
“My lord, I would do anything for you. Just say the word.”
“Never mind that. Our top priority now is to reach the royal court and have an audience with the king—to report on the mission he entrusted to me. Everything crucial has already been accomplished… If necessary, I will lend a hand to that prince.”
“Yes, my lord, understood. And… what shall we do about Number Two?”
“Number Two? Hmm… Number One still hasn’t been captured yet?”
“No, not at all. Even with all the Shadows deployed, there’s still no news.”
“Hmph! In that case, we might as well let her flee far away. But for now, what about Number Two? …Letting her run off isn’t a solution either… How about assigning her to your ‘Shadow’ unit?”
“My lord, I don’t mean to be picky, but Number Two… that little one, Hanazuki Rei…”
“Little one? Sounds like you’re rather interested in her after all. Fine, then—she’ll be assigned specifically as your deputy.”
“My lord?! But this is—”
“Shh, don’t let Lena hear. If she finds out there’s someone her age in the ranks, she’ll pester me nonstop to meet her—and not even the springs of ‘Amalek’ would wash the embarrassment off my face.”
“The beastman legions… My lord, forgive my impertinence, but may I ask how you truly feel about them—!”
“…Accursed beastman legions. It’s all because of them that I’ve been reduced to this state! Sooner or later—sooner or later, I will personally crush their leader and claim everything that’s rightfully mine.”
“Yes, my lord. As you wish.”
…
“Captain, you’re here.”
“Rei? Are you feeling better?”
“Don’t worry about my injuries. I only failed because I was careless when facing that person.”
“Rei, you don’t have to push yourself so hard. If anything comes up, you can always come to me.”
“No, Captain, I can’t. I’m just your subordinate—strictly speaking, I’m not even truly one of your people. Just an outsider you happened to pick up.”
“Rei… Lord Catlemaine just gave orders that you’re to become my personal deputy.”
“Personal deputy… does that mean I’ll be yours—I mean, yours alone?”
“Rei, this means a lot to me. Truth be told, I don’t want you mixed up with all those killers and fighters. You’re still just a child.”
“Captain, since Lord Catlemaine himself has said so… then from now on, I am your personal deputy. I salute you.”
“There’s no need for all that formality, Rei-chan.”
“Rei… chan?”
“Uh, yes—Rei-chan. Is it alright if I call you that? Rei?”
“…If that’s what you wish, Captain, anytime. You don’t need to consider my feelings.”
“That won’t do. We still have so much to learn together. Rei-chan, you’ll stay by my side, won’t you?”
“Yes, Captain. As you wish.”
…
Name: Hanazuki Shiling
Age: 14
Status: [Near Death]
Social Status: None
Mode: [Serious Mode]
—————
[Viewing]
Attack: ??
Defense: EX (Due to [KRYY Blood])
Agility: ??
Magic: ∞
Physical Strength: EX
Growth Potential: ∞
Precision: A
Spirit Power: A+
Airheadedness: None / Wisdom: A
—————
Switches: [Sanction] [Injury Evasion] [Scholar’s Brain] [Elemental Fury] [Accelerated Growth·Random] [Blood Boil] [Spatial-Temporal Ability·Mode] [Sage’s Blessing]
Mode Enhancement Attributes: [Perpetual·Beyond Boundaries·One — Serious Mode] [Spatial Will·One — Serious Mode] [Arcane Mystery·Impression Fracture·One — Serious Mode]
Innate Abilities: [Lock On·Vigorous Energy] [Time·Forced Rewind] [KRYY Blood·Omnipotent] [Restorative Healing·Superpower] [Tea Farmer Eater] [Check and Balance·Free Domain]
Weakness: [Spiritual Frailty]
—————
All Skill Changes:
[Force Manipulation] lv.max —▶▶— [Force Operation] — Can wield force without the need for a catalyst; can use force to manipulate living/non-living beings within line of sight. Using the hand as a catalyst, force effects are amplified based on ability values.
[Impression Teleport] lv.max —▶▶— New Effect — Can teleport touched living/non-living beings within a certain range.
[Soul Sight] lv.max —▶▶— [Soul Mastery] — Can peer into the target’s soul, and can deal true damage by attacking the soul directly. This effect can be toggled on or off. Can derive Ultimate Super Move: [Soul Devourer] (currently sealed) — tears the target’s soul apart, devours it, and absorbs their remaining mana and spirit power.
[Time Stop]
[Omnipotent Concealment Arts]
[Multi-Fireball] — [Scorching Sun Hammer]
[Divine Slander·Purification of All Things] — [Divine Slander·Chaos Purification]
[Cooking lv.2]
[Sewing lv.3]
—————
