Laurentz was stunned by the sight before him.
A noble’s mansion, of considerable size, was being ravaged from the inside by blue lightning, collapsing.
“I never imagined Lord Luzer was such a powerful magician…”
Jidock, who had helped carry out the humans who had collapsed inside the mansion, was just as dumbfounded as Laurentz.
Even now, the lightning raged as if it had a will of its own, destroying the mansion with a deafening roar.
“Um, Lord Laurentz… I have a thought, even if Lord Luzer unleashed it, since it’s inside a building, isn’t it dangerous for you too with your own magic?”
“—Gah, you’re right. This is no time to be stunned! I’ll go help immediately.”
“Wait a moment. I want to help too, but… how do we approach that raging lightning? Even if I’m excellent as a meat shield, one hit would kill me.”
“But!… Damn it, I understand why Luzer told me to evacuate the people he defeated. To be able to unleash lightning of this power—it rivals, no, it surpasses a Court Mage.”
“So many eccentric people are gathered around Olivier-tan, aren’t they? Fufufu.”
“I don’t want to hear that from you, the most eccentric of them all!”
“Fufufu, you don’t even use polite language towards me anymore— pant, pant… Oh?”
Jidock, who hadn’t taken his eyes off the collapsing mansion even while joking, noticed something.
“Lord Laurentz, it seems Lord Luzer is unharmed.”
“What? Ah, good. It seems he managed to destroy that barrier for the dragon as well.”
From within the mansion, where lightning still raged, Luzer, covered in dust, walked towards them cradling a young girl.
It was evident from a distance that the girl in his arms was Rio, bringing him relief.
Just as much as he was relieved that Luzer had emerged unharmed from the mansion being ravaged by lightning and collapsing with a roar, he felt envy.
—I still need to become stronger.
With that, Laurentz resolved anew.
Even if he were chosen as a Court Mage Candidate, even if he were mentored by two Court Mages, the pinnacle he aimed for as a magician was high and arduous.
He had thought his close friend was already several steps ahead, but to realize his older brother was also so far ahead, it was understandable that he felt a magician’s regret.
The mansion, which had barely maintained its form, completely collapsed with a sound that made one want to cover their ears.
“I’d like to say well done, but you overdid it.”
“Fufufu, since the owner of this mansion was involved in the rebellion anyway, they can’t complain. However, like Lord Laurentz, I do think I overdid it a little.”
“Sorry, sorry. The barrier around Rio was more robust than I expected, so I got a bit carried away. I’m almost out of magic power thanks to that.”
Luzer chuckled wryly, saying it was nothing, but seeing the fatigue on his face, Laurentz did not press his criticism further.
Though he spoke as if it were unimportant, he had done what was necessary to save Rio. The mansion’s collapse might have been unexpected, but it was a necessary sacrifice.
He decided to consider it good enough that the defeated humans were still breathing.
“Well then, to inform Olivier-sama of Rio’s safety—”
Luzer vanished mid-sentence.
“Eek!? Lord Luzer!?”
“I heard a scream, it’s from Olivier-sama’s direction. Let’s go!”
“Please go ahead. I’m slow because I’m fat.”
Without waiting to reply to Jidock’s words, Laurentz kicked off the ground after a single pat on his shoulder.
While he couldn’t move as instantly as Luzer, he sprinted towards Olivier with considerable speed.
Upon arriving, he saw—
“Olivier-sama! What on earth happened?”
Several knights lay fallen, and Avril, who they had been restraining, had disappeared. Only the belt used to bind her remained, making it clear she had escaped.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know when, but she seemed to have regained consciousness. She escaped.”
“She’s more capable than I thought. I just saw her as a spoiled brat who could only use curse techniques, but I was mistaken.”
“What are you praising the enemy for, Luzer Fischer!”
“Well, she escaped, but I got information about Jared, and nothing serious happened to Olivier-sama and the others. If there’s a next time, I’ll take responsibility and defeat her myself.”
As Luzer shrugged, he was right; they had obtained information, and although they had captured her, they had also felt her presence was a hindrance to their actions.
While the escape of the ringleader’s daughter was frustrating, they should be more pleased that the fallen knights suffered no major injuries.
“Hee, heehee… I finally caught up! I’m not good at running because I’m fat.”
“Good work. Now, Olivier-sama, now that I’ve recovered Rio, shall we return to the mansion—”
“No, we are not returning.”
“Yes?”
Now that her family was back, there was no reason to stay here. He wanted Olivier to be at the Alway Ducal Family, protected by Rosa Roen. However, she did not nod.
“Thank you for saving Rio. I am very grateful. But, I don’t think I can return to the mansion until I have recovered my other family member.”
“Um, I don’t mean to intrude, but since you were once held captive, shouldn’t you show your face to your parents?”
“I understand what Jidock is saying, and I certainly want to do that. But, I don’t think my Father and Mother would let me go out again after returning to the mansion.”
Everyone agreed with that sentiment.
What parent would send their defenseless daughter into a place with enemies?
Luzer, and the other two, as well as the knights waiting, would surely agree that they wished for her to be in a safe place.
However, Olivier would not budge.
“I apologize for the trouble, but I have to go to Jared.”
“Good grief, I knew you were a spirited young lady, but to this extent… Jared will have his hands full.”
“Hey, Luzer, don’t tell me—”
“It would be troublesome if you just followed along, so it might be easier to keep you within our sight. I won’t let anything happen. I’ll stake my life on it.”
“…I will clearly state my opposition. However, I do not have the deciding vote.”
“I’m sorry to both of you. But I absolutely must go and help Jared.”
The bad feeling she had mentioned earlier might be what was making her so resolute.
“I suppose we should trust the intuition of my dear brother’s fiancée. I’m not saying this optimistically; if Leonard Gallagher intended to use Jared as a pawn, as he told Laurentz, then Olivier might become necessary.”
“I can only pray that something so terrible doesn’t happen.”
“Wait, if Olivier-tan is going, then I’ll go too! Time for the meat shield to shine!”
“No, you should go home.”
“How cruel.”
Thanks to Jidock, the tense atmosphere eased. In the end, leaving Rio to the soldiers, Luzer and the others headed towards the former King’s private land, managed by Duke Ewing, to rescue Jared.
