Lux suddenly pressed a Demon Crystal against me, and then that Demon Crystal was absorbed into my body, and immediately after, I unleashed immense magic power.
“Hey, hey, is that a valid way to use it?”
“That’s right! With this, I’ve obtained power that surpasses even Ancient Classes! Yamato, or the Grand Hunter’s Master, neither are my match! Now! If you don’t want to die, hand over Mana obediently!!”
“We’ll see about that. While it’s true that ordinary High Classes would be no match, that doesn’t mean there’s no countermeasure.”
Emperor Reinhardt sounds confident.
Well, it’s true that his magic power is immense, but that’s all there is to it.
“That so-called Jade Silver! That’s right, I’ll have you tell me its manufacturing method too! With that, I can surpass not just heroes, but even gods!”
He’s acting so cocky and his breathing is rough; is he that excited?
And besides, someone like you has no right to be a hero.
“No. You are not a hero. You are merely a criminal. Furthermore, you drew a sword against the King, so the blame will extend not only to you, but also to the Raid members, and even your family.”
Given what he’s done, it’s unavoidable.
Although, Lux is an orphan and apparently has no family, as he was fixated on Mana.
“Shut up! Even if you’re a High Elf and at a higher level than me, do you have the standing to lecture me like this right now?!”
Ah, I see.
He suddenly gained power, and in his excitement, he’s lost sight of his surroundings.
And so, he’s mistakenly declared himself the strongest and is raving.
“Your Majesty, please escape!”
“We will handle this mess…!”
Suffering direct hits from incredibly powerful and aggressive magic at such close range has dealt considerable damage to the High Classes of Trial Hearts as well.
Even so, they stand ready with their weapons surrounding Lux, and they are also concerned for His Majesty’s safety, so it seems the worst-case scenario can be averted.
“That sentiment alone is enough. Yamato.”
“I understand, but it’s impossible to apprehend him, is it?”
“That cannot be helped. I also did not anticipate that he would absorb the Demon Crystal.”
I draw my Azure Silver Sword – Pale Green and stand before Lux.
“Yamato! You intend to face me alone!?”
“That’s right. Someone like you is no match for me alone.”
“Nonsenseeeee!!”
Lux attacks me with the Twin Swords he holds, but I effortlessly deflect and evade his attacks.
If it were an ordinary Twin Swordsman, their attacks would be sharper, but Lux is just swinging them with brute force now, making his attacks easy to predict.
Besides, I doubt his Magic Silver Twin Swords will last long.
“Kuh! My swords…!”
Just as I thought.
Normally, one would seize such an opening to end the fight, but he’s said so many outrageous things, and he even tried to enslave Mana.
This much doesn’t even begin to appease my anger.
I take out the Twin Swords I confiscated earlier from storage and toss them before Lux.
“Use them. These Twin Swords were forged for you by His Majesty the King.”
“You! Are you trying to mock me!!”
“Of course. I’m dealing with an idiot who boasts about being the strongest by borrowing others’ power.”
Despite everything, Lux didn’t become strong through his own efforts.
He simply used the Demon Crystal, developed by Abaricia and received from Retisencia, and has deluded himself into thinking he’s become strong.
While his magic power has indeed increased significantly, to me, it’s nothing to be concerned about.
As proof, Lux’s aggressive magic power hasn’t left a single scratch on me.
“You bastard! You’ll regret giving me a sword when you’re dead!!”
Lux charges at me with a furious expression, but these Twin Swords, made of Jade Silver, are indeed impressive.
They firmly withstand Lux’s magic power, showing no signs of breaking.
However, his attacks are just as monotonous as before.
“Damn it! If it hits… just one hit, one hit is all I need to defeat someone like this!”
Having absorbed the Demon Crystal and wielding Jade Silver Twin Swords, it’s understandable that he would think this way.
But there’s one thing I’m certain of.
Lux’s current magic power is comparable to that of G-rank to I-rank monsters.
Among the well-known G-I rank monsters are Amister, Orc Prince, and Orc Princess, but frankly, they pose less of a threat than them.
The reason is his wasteful use of magic power.
Certainly, Lux’s magic power is on par with G-I rank monsters.
However, Lux himself cannot properly wield the magic power he suddenly obtained.
Although his attack speed has increased, the magic power is not fully transmitted to the Twin Swords, so his attack power might even be decreasing.
“Wh-what the! In-impossible!?”
“Is that all?”
That’s precisely why I can break one of Lux’s Twin Swords and grab the other.
“As I suspected, you’re no better than this. You might suspect I pre-tampered with the sword to break it, but how can you explain me grabbing the other one?”
The reason I broke one of the Twin Swords is that I would have had to let go of my Azure Silver Sword – Pale Green to grab both.
I have no intention of letting go of my partner, who stands beside Prim, for someone like Lux.
“Wh-why! How can you, a feeble Ancient Human, grab my sword!?”
“It means you’re even more feeble than I am. When you’re puffed up with borrowed power, this is only natural!”
“Gaaaaah!!”
I punch Lux squarely in the face with the butt of my sword, sending him flying into the wall.
“Wh-why! Why are you interfering with me! I am a hero! Mana is mine! So why are you interfering with me!!”
“His Majesty already told you. You are not a hero, just a criminal. And as for Mana, she was never yours to begin with. She is now the woman I cherish. And you intend to make her an illegal slave? Don’t push your luck!”
Infuriated by Lux’s words, I unleashed my Mana Ring to its full extent.
I’ve confirmed the feel of my wings over the past few days and can move them a little, but there’s no need to go that far for this opponent.
“Wh-what is… What is that!?”
“Do you think I’ll explain every single thing?”
Using Accelerating Magic, I close the distance to Lux in an instant and then fling him out of the room.
Then, using Fly Wind, I pursue him, activate Mist Solution with Pale Green, and cleave his torso as we pass each other.
“Gah… Blood Healing… Why? Why can’t I use magic…?”
Given that he used Blood Healing in such a situation, his Bestowed Magic is likely a healing spell, but Blood Healing did not activate.
It’s probably a side effect of absorbing the Demon Crystal.
“Even if he were to survive the fall, the impact alone would be fatal, but that won’t satisfy me. Attempted assassination of the King is a serious crime, so I’ll grant you a swift end!”
The Audience Chamber is about ten stories high, so Lux is still falling.
If he were to fall to the ground like this, even High Classes wouldn’t be unscathed, but since he’s absorbed a Demon Crystal, there’s a possibility he’ll survive.
He’ll certainly be unable to move, but the fact that he drew a sword against the King is undeniable, so a death sentence is certain.
There are many things I’d like to ask, but it’s difficult given he’s absorbed a Demon Crystal, and His Majesty has also made a necessary decision.
“See you. You probably won’t make it to the underworld, but if you’re reborn, don’t betray people next time!”
While using Fly Wind, I activate Accelerating Magic, instantly closing the distance with Lux, and swing my Azure Silver Sword – Pale Green.
The next moment, Lux’s head separates from his body, and his life functions cease.
Since I can’t let him fall to the ground like this, I don’t forget to store him in my storage.
I need to properly report what happened to Lux.
Side: Bout
Lux’s magic, after suddenly absorbing something called a Demon Crystal, injured us of Trial Hearts to varying degrees.
We High Classes, including myself, only sustained minor injuries, but some of the Normal Classes have lost consciousness.
I never expected Lux to do something like that, disregarding us…
“Bout, are you alright?”
“I’ll manage.”
“That Lux, he’s gone mad!”
Real speaks to me, and Soul raises his voice, but I want to shout too.
Even though we were injured, Lux is one of my Raid members, so it’s natural that I, that we, should stop him. We should have stopped him even if it meant forcing ourselves.
However, that was interrupted by His Majesty.
Not only did he possess contraband, but he also spoke disrespectfully to the King and drew his sword, so no matter how anyone pleads, Lux’s execution is set in stone, and I wasn’t planning otherwise, but it should still have been me to do it.
“Seriously, has he really become comparable to an Ancient Class…”
The sound of Yamato and Lux clashing swords echoes, and Soul’s voice is surprisingly clear.
“As expected, I suppose we should say.”
“Indeed. And Yamato still seems to have plenty of room to spare.”
As Real and Yung say, Yamato is effortlessly parrying Lux’s attacks.
Judging by his movements, it’s clear he’s had proper training in swordsmanship.
“I always thought he’d cause trouble someday, but I never expected him to pull off something this outrageous…”
Mira, one of my wives, said with a sorrowful expression.
I too felt that he would eventually do something, but I thought I understood him and could persuade him.
However, my hopes were in vain, and he committed an unbelievable act.
Furthermore, it’s a crime so grave that his life alone cannot atone for it, including possession of two types of contraband, speaking disrespectfully to the King, and attempting assassination, and treason against the nation.
Fortunately, it may not be good to say so, but he is an orphan and not yet married, so his family will not be affected; however, it won’t be the same for us, his fellow Raid members.
“Whoa, is even a Lux like that being treated like a child…?”
“It’s unfathomable, or perhaps it means his achievements are not for naught.”
Indeed.
While Yamato’s strength is unfathomable, he defeated the Demise Species Orc Emperor alone.
Even if Lux has magic power comparable to an Ancient Class, it won’t be enough to do anything in some situations.
After all, Lux’s attacks, while fast, are crude, so even I could probably evade them without much difficulty.
Moreover, he cannot properly wield the immense magic power he suddenly acquired.
While he’ll likely lose in a one-on-one fight, it doesn’t seem impossible to defeat him through coordination.
“I have the same assessment. Judging by his magic power, he’s probably become as strong as a G-I rank monster.”
Prim, another Ancient Hunter from Wing Crest and an Ancient Foxy, shares my opinion.
Being on par with G-I rank monsters is already a tremendous matter, but with him currently unable to control his magic power, he’s probably at most S-I rank.
“Even if it’s S-I rank, it’s still incredible. Not only did he break a sword, but he also grabbed it with his bare hands. That’s simply impossible.”
I agree.
It’s not impossible for humans with low levels or low-ranking monsters, but Lux’s current magic power is comparable to an Ancient Class, and even if he can’t control it, it can be said to be on par with an S-I rank monster.
The famous S-I rank monsters include Goblin Prince and Goblin Princess, but that means even their attacks are meaningless against Yamato.
“Wh-what is… that!?”
“Impossible…”
Suddenly, Soul and Real’s voices exclaimed in astonishment, and I too was deeply surprised.
After all, magnificent wings, comparable to those of the Winged Tribe, had sprouted from Yamato’s back.
“Wings?”
“Yamato is truly furious now. I can’t forgive him either for trying to make Mana an illegal slave, so it’s understandable.”
With this, Lux’s chances of winning have dwindled to one in ten thousand.
No, it’s just that his already nonexistent chance of winning has become desperate.
It’s impossible to capture him in his current state, and even if we could, the damage would be immense, which means Lux’s life would end.
As if to prove this thought, Lux was blown far outside Amagi Castle, and Yamato pursued him.
“Bout, why do you think I didn’t let Trial Hearts attack?”
After the Ancient Hunter Yamato fought Lux and threw him outside Amagi Castle, His Majesty asked me.
“…I don’t know.”
“Honestly, Trial Hearts should have handled it, and I wanted to do so as well. But I also turned a blind eye to Lux. The first report was three days ago, which was that day, but I already knew that Lux had met with the ambassador from Retisencia that night.”
That day means when Yamato and Mana-sama got married and went hunting with Wing Crest.
It was fine that he was bestowed Jade Silver weapons by His Majesty the King, and after Mana-sama’s marriage, they went to the Ideal Mountain Range with Wing Crest, but there, Lux, who was in love with Mana-sama, picked a fight with Yamato and ended up having the newly bestowed Jade Silver weapons confiscated.
It was unavoidable since he spoke disrespectfully to Maruca, who had become Queen, but after returning to the Royal Capital, he went to the red-light district alone, saying he was going for a drink. That was his mistake.
No, Lux had harbored hostility towards Yamato even before that, and after his weapons were taken, it turned into a murderous intent, so perhaps this would have happened sooner or later.
“Had I made a decision at that point, Lux might not have thought of doing something like that.”
Are you referring to absorbing the Demon Crystal?
I was informed through Feel that An and Catastrophe Species were created, but it’s not something one would normally consider using on humans.
However, since monsters and humans both possess magic power, it’s not strange for someone to wonder about humans if it succeeded with monsters.
“But I did nothing. On the contrary, I even considered stopping the Order’s Guild from monitoring him. As expected, I was reprimanded by the Grand Order’s Master.”
That’s only natural.
Originally, the Order’s Guild was monitoring the ambassador from Retisencia.
Letting an ambassador from an enemy country roam freely would be no different from suicide.
Even if they discovered Lux’s contact as a result, the Order’s Guild probably didn’t expect it.
“In fact, the Order’s Guild also didn’t expect contact with Lux. Therefore, I have no right to stop Lux, who they overlooked. This also applies to you, Bout, and Trial Hearts.”
“…Because you vaguely suspected that Lux was planning something, but didn’t stop him?”
“That’s right. While predicting contact with the Retisencia ambassador is difficult, Mana is a different story, isn’t it?”
That’s true.
The enslavement magic item that Lux obtained from the Retisencia ambassador is occasionally found in the Royal Capital.
If Lux had secretly obtained it, it might have become a bigger problem than this incident.
“So that’s why Your Majesty believes we have no right to stop Lux?”
“Precisely, Real. And only Yamato, who moved the Hunter’s Guild and conducted surveillance, has that right.”
Yamato mobilized the Hunter’s Guild?
No, while it’s true that he’s an M-rank Hunter, so mobilizing them wouldn’t be difficult, the Hunter’s Guild wouldn’t move without an explanation.
“He didn’t just mobilize them. He coordinated with the Order’s Guild, deliberately creating openings to make the ambassador’s movements predictable. By doing so, he anticipated further contact with Lux and his subsequent actions.”
So, this summons was orchestrated by him?
However, because he took action, a situation was created where only Lux could be punished without causing significant damage. We should be grateful for that.
“And they cooperated with him. Come in.”
At His Majesty’s signal, the door to the adjacent room in the Audience Chamber opened, and Riot Flag appeared.
So that explains it.
“Bout, I will not apologize for this matter at all, okay?”
“I understand. Rather, it is we who should be apologizing.”
The first words uttered were by Lark, the leader of Riot Flag and a High Elf female Hunter.
Riot Flag only has three High Classes, but one of them, and one among the Normal Classes, are from Feel.
It was reported that all Hunters from Feel, including G-rank, were killed by Green Fang, but that wasn’t the whole truth.
While some were undoubtedly killed by Green Fang, many were killed by the Evil Drake, a familiar of Saches Trennel, the former Hunter’s Master, who was kept on a leash at Mylight, and some were even killed by Hunters from Retisencia.
Riot Flag apparently advanced as far as Emosion to support Feel, but the information about Green Fang was so confused there that they couldn’t make a decision.
The reason was that Saches had submitted a report to the Hunter’s Guild in Emosion stating that Green Fang did not exist, and the Hunter’s Master in Emosion blindly believed it. However, since there were numerous eyewitness accounts from Hunters, Riot Flag believed they existed.
But the trip to Feel was decided on suddenly, and being held back in Emosion was unexpected.
So, with their funds running low, they were forced to withdraw.
It’s for this reason that they were favorable towards Wing Crest from the beginning and accepted their request without asking for details. This shows how grateful the High Class and Normal Class members from Feel are to them.
“If you understand, then you must accept the consequences, whatever they may be. Otherwise, Shizune and Krabel will not be satisfied.”
High Harpy Shizune and Human Krabel.
Both were from Feel.
Since their fellow Hunters and benefactors were all killed due to Retisencia, they certainly couldn’t forgive Lux, who was about to betray Retisencia.
“I intend to. This is also the punishment handed down by His Majesty.”
“Indeed. And one more thing, no matter the outcome, you are not allowed to leave any resentment between us and Wing Crest. This incident, in the first place, was merely an involvement for Wing Crest.”
Absolutely true.
The whole thing started because Lux was jealous of Yamato, an Ancient Human who married Mana-sama.
He should have given up long ago, as Mana-sama had rejected him multiple times.
But he couldn’t give up and ended up receiving contraband like the enslavement magic item. There’s no way we can cover for him.
On top of that, he absorbed a Demon Crystal and even drew his sword at His Majesty, so if his life is saved now, it’s not just a miracle.
“I swear I will not leave any. And you?”
“I also swear that I will not leave any resentment, just like Bout.”
“Me too.”
Real and Mira answered immediately.
“It might not be easy, but it’s our fault.”
Soul also seems to be trying not to leave any resentment.
“Bout, do you think I need to be asked?”
“You probably do.”
Yung seems to have more gratitude than resentment.
Yung was the one most troubled by Lux’s actions.
I know he was fed up because Yung, who comes from nobility, always had to bow and apologize whenever Lux impetuously confronted nobles.
That’s why Yung’s expression didn’t change at all when Lux was punished.
“You seem to have had a hard time, Yung?”
“I’m finally free from that hardship, so I feel refreshed.”
Yung replies to Lark, but he genuinely looks refreshed.
It’s highly likely that Yung might have withdrawn, even if things hadn’t gone this far.
In the end, I didn’t understand not only Lux but also Yung.
With this state of affairs, what good am I as a leader?
