Chapter 72 - The curtain rises (1/2)

Chapter 72 – The curtain rises

【Aifa]

Two blades of wind sharp enough to tear apart everything. Those blades created cracks in the walls as they flew, I managed to stop them inches away from hitting me.

Both my stamina and magical power were almost completely exhausted.

Two men that were standing at the other end of the corridor were sneering at me as I limped, dragging my leg, and in a broken posture leaning on the wall with one hand.

「That is a pretty unsightly state, Aifa-dono.」

「It’s my first time seeing you in such a shape.」

Two men in the robes of court magicians were throwing such words at me from behind a line of heavy infantry with tower shields.

If you are going to talk big then do it to my face.

Is what I would like to say, but to be honest I’m happy with the current situation.

As the Emperor concluded that I abruptly rebelled and was taking away elves from the capital, he decided to crush me with the power of numbers.

And so it seems that by using his treasured personal guard, elite knights and court magicians to surround me and the immediate perimeter of the castle, he cut off my way of escape.

「Heh…」

I can’t hold back the laughter.

I wasn’t expecting that I would be able to escape alive from the very beginning anyway.

As long as my family is safe there is no problem.

So for me, this situation where I will be slowly killed akin to being tortured to death is exactly what I want.

「What are you laughing abo……?!」

I used some of my almost exhausted magical power to shoot a lump of ice at the man who tried to say something after noticing my smile. The man who knew my usual power showed maximum caution against that small icicle of mine and erected a barrier in a rush.

「Heh, he he he…」

Seeing that I laughed again.

「……Apparently, you already went mad. Heavy infantry corps! Advance slowly!」

The command sounded and armored soldiers advanced towards me like a mass of metal. Hard, massive and with heavy footsteps. Heavy infantry is equipped with large shields and armor that are resistant to magic.

Normally, you would avoid frontal confrontation with them and would use physical means to oppose, such as golems, pitfalls or even rockfalls.

It wouldn’t be a problem in the forest of my hometown, but in this location, they can be considered the worst possible opponent.

Now, how much time can I earn versus such opponent in my current state?

This is my last stand.

【Yuri]

Right now, I’m at a turning point of history.