“I can’t believe Jared was actually kidnapped, damn it!”
Laurentz Herring, who had escaped the Royal Mage Corps, the perpetrators who attacked the academy, rushed to confirm Jared’s safety, entrusting the academy to the teachers.
The mastermind of this incident—Leonard Gallagher’s last words were unforgivable, threatening to use Jared as a pawn.
Laurentz, who knew his friend’s strengths well, couldn’t believe it despite his unease. However, as Leonard had said, Jared had been taken hostage and captured.
“It seems a very effective method was used against Jared. So, as Herring heard, was Leonard’s target Jared, or was it just a coincidence… it’s hard to tell.”
“The words of Rebels and such are irrelevant. Jared’s weakness was his downfall. Though, if you think about it, it’s just like him. I can’t imagine that man fighting even at the cost of Olivier’s life.”
“Indeed.”
They encountered members of the Royal Mage Corps surrounding the mansion, but thanks to an alliance with Pfeil, who also appeared at the mansion, they were able to defeat them all.
Laurentz had met Pfeil before and remembered him. The other party seemed to remember him as well, and it was fortunate that they could establish a cooperative relationship with just a few words exchanged.
Perhaps Leonard had viewed Jared as a grave threat, as the quality of the magicians far surpassed those gathered at the academy, and they attacked without hesitation, aiming to kill.
Laurentz wished he didn’t have to take lives, but in a situation of overwhelming odds against them, he couldn’t afford to hold back against opponents superior in combat experience and skill, and Laurentz responded with the intention of taking their lives.
There were still survivors, but there was no time to tend to their wounds.
His gaze shifted, and he saw the women boarding a carriage.
Hannelore, the Duchess, and Lily Rüdiger, the Young Lady of Duke Rüdiger’s Family, had to be moved to safety.
He wanted to rescue Jared and Olivier as soon as possible, but they couldn’t even determine where the enemy had fled, so the rescue had to be postponed.
Even now, Pfeil, Luzer, and he were exchanging information, and it was only natural to feel impatient with the time this was taking.
“Once we safely deliver Hannelore and the others to the Alway Ducal Family, we’ll use Waalthe to find out where Jared and the others are.”
“Is that alright?”
“It doesn’t matter. Like you both, I am concerned about their safety. More importantly, Ernesta is there.”
“She was Jared’s Secretary Officer, wasn’t she? Lily Rüdiger said she seemed to be manipulated, which reminds me of my past.”
Luzer, who had long been controlled by the person manipulating Waalthe, made a bitter face.
Although he was eventually saved by Jared and the others, he had still participated in evil deeds as a puppet.
“This is not the shoddy magic Dolf Ein used on you. It’s likely Ernesta is being controlled by curse technique. That’s why I, who found her collapsed in Duke Rüdiger’s Territory, didn’t notice.”
While the use of magic is forbidden in combat for Waalthe, learning it is not. In fact, they tend to be taught to their limits.
However, even if they learn magic, they do not learn curse technique. In the first place, curse technique barely has any records or literature in modern times, and its users can only exert a superficial level of control over past techniques. It is more of a field that researchers delve into.
“The fact that there is someone on the enemy’s side who can use curse technique, which is said to have no existing practitioners, means that the phrase ‘using Jared as a pawn’ that Leonard mentioned could also be possible with curse technique?”
“Probably.”
“Damn it, if Jared turns against us, it’ll be a major disaster! I don’t know if we can handle it alone.”
Laurentz’s words made his older brother and the assassin frown.
Yes, the common ground between the three present was that they were Jared’s friends and that they had all experienced defeat in the past.
“Laurentz Herring, let me tell you, I lost to Jared once, but I have no intention of losing a second time. Of course, even if a manipulated Jared appears, I will defeat him.”
“Hey, hey, don’t get so riled up. It’s just that if that softie truly loses his softness due to curse technique—honestly, I’m afraid of facing him.”
“Hmph. Then leave it to me. I’ll kill him.”
“Don’t talk nonsense, what good will killing him do!”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s a joke.”
“Your words don’t sound like a joke at all!”
“You’re noisy, Laurentz Herring.”
“It’s your fault!”
Laurentz, who didn’t miss the unmistakable killing intent in Pfeil’s eyes, retorted, but Pfeil insisted it was a joke.
While this exchange might seem trivial given the circumstances, it might have served as a small mood lifter for them, who were feeling down.
“That’s enough. The Duchesses seem to be ready, so let’s hurry to the Alway Ducal Family.”
“—I understand. I’ll be the coachman.”
“Then I’ll walk alongside you as a bodyguard.”
“I’ll check the route to ensure there are no dangers.”
“Yeah, please do—hey, he’s already gone. You’re fast, as expected of Waalthe’s successor.”
Having found their respective roles, the three of them safely delivered Hannelore and the others to the Alway Ducal Family.
