Pfeil and Waalthe subordinates, along with the Alway Ducal Family’s private soldiers, had invaded the Silent family’s private land.
Centuries-old trees surrounded the old mansion, making it feel like being lost in a forest.
“The magic power here is stagnant… this is obviously suspicious.”
While it appeared to be just an old mansion, Pfeil, who was both a fighter and a mage with high potential, could sense strong magical elements.
He turned to his subordinates, who stood behind him, their light blue hair moving.
“We, Waalthe, will proceed directly to the mansion. The members of the Ducal Family will flank around the back. Find Olivier and prioritize rescue.”
“Understood.”
A representative of the private soldiers replied.
Though Pfeil was not their master, they would not defy his orders unless they were extreme, as their master, Harald Alway, had entrusted them to him.
Given that he prioritized Olivier’s rescue, the private soldiers had no complaints.
“We will suppress the enemy and take control of the mansion. — Let’s go.”
Drawing his bow, Pfeil lowed his stance and crept through the shadows of the trees towards the front of the mansion.
Two men dressed in the Royal Mage Corps uniform guarded the mansion’s entrance. Pfeil halted his subordinates, nocked an arrow, and fired.
The arrows seemed to be sucked into the men’s bodies, taking them down without a sound.
“It was good that I coated the arrowheads with poison.”
Killing them was easy, but instant death was difficult. Depending on the opponent’s physique, they could survive. It was preferable for their presence to be known after a while. Therefore, instead of causing instant death, he opted to use poison on the arrowheads to instantly incapacitate them.
They would not wake up until at least after this battle was over.
“Lord Pfeil, new individuals are approaching from within the mansion.”
“Understood. You all scatter and defeat the enemies. If possible, help the Alway Ducal Family’s private soldiers.”
“—Yes, sir.”
The assassins, their bodies covered from head to toe in their attire, disappeared without a sound at the young man’s command.
Pfeil, now alone, stopped hiding and waited by the entrance with his bow ready.
As the old door creaked open, he shot down the mages who appeared in his sight, incapacitating them.
The five mages who appeared next lost consciousness in an instant, without uttering a sound.
“Next.”
He retrieved his arrows, returned them to his quiver, and carried the seven fallen men into the shadows of the mansion. The longer they went undiscovered, the less hurried the soldiers rescuing Olivier would be.
Pfeil and his group had only to suppress them quietly.
Holding his breath, the moment he infiltrated the mansion,
“—!”
He heard the sound of wind roaring in his ears, leaped high, and erected a barrier.
Simultaneously, an invisible attack struck the unleashed shockwave, applying immense force.
“Guh—Heavy.”
He was blown outside the mansion, unable to completely absorb the impact.
Though he sustained no serious injuries, he realized his opponent was more skilled than he had anticipated.
Pfeil, being a wind mage himself, had noticed the attack, but otherwise, he might have been bisected. It was an incredibly stealthy attack. He couldn’t help but admire his enemy.
“I know you’re there. Show yourself.”
He nocked an arrow and aimed it at the mansion’s entrance.
With a soft clacking sound of footsteps, the attacker slowly revealed herself.
“It’s been a few hours, Pfeil.”
“—Ernesta Kaif.”
“As expected,” he thought, bitter at his prediction being correct.
Ernesta Kaif. She was Jared’s secretary officer and the younger sister of Barnabas Kaif, a former Court Mage Candidate. Like her brother, she was a wind mage, and also a skilled magician.
“I never imagined you possessed this level of skill.”
“I’m surprised too. Because—my body has never felt this light before.”
Embracing herself with a rapturous expression, Ernesta looked nothing like the woman Pfeil knew.
“—Are you being controlled?”
However, since her consciousness was clear, he wasn’t sure if she was being controlled by a curse technique. The last time she had acted strangely in front of him, she had attacked without a word and disappeared, without any conversation.
This time, however, it seemed she was speaking of her own volition.
“Well, if you say I’m being controlled, perhaps I am. But maybe not.”
“Don’t be vague. Answer me clearly.”
As Pfeil calmly asked his questions, Ernesta approached him without caution.
Even with an arrow nocked and aimed at her chest, she showed no hesitation in her steps, as if she was certain he wouldn’t shoot.
“Stop.”
“No, I won’t.”
“Stop, Ernesta Kaif!”
Her slight irritation finally made her halt, and she impatiently pushed her silver hair back.
“I’ll ask again. Are you being controlled?”
“Yes, I am being controlled. But, to be precise, I have been freed.”
“Freed?”
To Pfeil’s perplexed expression, Ernesta smiled wider and continued.
“That’s right. You would understand, wouldn’t you? I’ve always wanted to be myself. Not a sister chasing after my brother’s shadow, not a daughter whose parents wanted her to be a mage, but to live as I pleased, as I desired.”
“Then you should do so—I’ve always told you that.”
“Yes, you have. But each time, I said it was impossible. But—I don’t have to hold back anymore. I don’t care about the family I’ve left behind. I don’t care about my brother who lived as he pleased, or my parents who raised me as a mage in his stead!”
She spread her arms wide, speaking theatrically and with a loud voice.
“—I am free. I have become free!”
“Now I am certain. Ernesta Kaif, you are being controlled.”
“No, this is the real me. The me I’ve hidden for so long. The ugly, foolish me. But it feels much better than living a lie.”
The magic power emanating from Ernesta was darkly tainted. Seeing her magic power visibly escalating, overshadowed by darkness, Pfeil couldn’t help but wince.
At the same time, he knew his certainty was correct.
Ernesta Kaif was undoubtedly under a curse technique by someone.
“Ernesta, I’ll save you now. Just wait.”
“I don’t need saving. Because I feel wonderful. Hey, Pfeil, if you try to get in my way—I won’t forgive you.”
With a roar, the wind howled, whipping her silver hair.
Whether it was due to the curse technique altering her magic power or her inherent abilities, her power was several notches higher than the Ernesta he knew.
It was likely equal to or even surpassed her brother, Barnabas Kaif.
However, Pfeil did not falter. Nor did he feel the joy of fighting a strong opponent.
The emotion in his heart was—rage.
Pure anger towards the person who cursed and corrupted Ernesta Kaif, the woman with whom he had shared moments that were both pleasant and inexpressible. He didn’t understand why he was so infuriated.
Hiding his burning anger, he wished for only one thing: to see her return to her usual self. That was all.
“I’ll save you at once. Wait for me, Ernesta.”
Pfeil dropped his bow and arrows, and charged towards Ernesta, who was about to unleash her magic.
