143 Short Letter (1/2)
”A swordsman of Zhao wears a plain helmet, his curved blade bright as rime.”
Wearing shabby leather armor made of python skin, a swordsman of the Northern Lands wielded a silver longsword and created snow-white afterimages in the air. Wherever the radiant longsword struck, a bone-chilling wind issued, even covering the ground in a layer of thin frost.
”A silver saddle shines on a white horse, galloping swift as a shooting star.”
Pointing the longsword to the heavens, a silver winged horse galloped over. Carrying the knight, the apparitional mount charged forward as if a silver shooting star.
”Robbing a life every ten steps, never turning back in the long journey.”
Wherever the sword passed, the heads of the enemies flew. Just with the sharp sword in his hands and the mount beneath him, the lightly-dressed Knight could tread dominantly across the Northern Lands!
”Flicking his sleeves when all's done, casting his reputation into the shadows… I seem to have forgotten what comes afterwards. Forget it, I am unable to conceal my reputation anyway. Boys! Pay close attention! I, Roland Mist, have come! I am the Lich King!”
When Pale Justice was abruptly stabbed in the ground, magic gathered and the Black Tortoise Sword Seal, represented by an amalgamation of tortoise and snake, activated. A snowflake formation lighted up on the ground, and as the hidden, frigid current beneath the ground burst outward, Ice Magic froze everything in the surroundings.
My actions were too sudden. Along with the creeping of ice, the feet of the assassin in the shadows were frozen, rooted to the spot before he could even react. If he could react swiftly, he could amputate his leg and escape. If he were slow, he would enjoy the luxury of being encased in ice.
”I am truly impressed with those protagonists of novels. They always manage to look dashing when reciting poems in the midst of battle, but in actuality, it isn't something plausible for a human to do! How did they manage to chant magic incantations, contemplate fighting strategies, and adjust their rhythm of battle while recalling the poems at the same time? Aren't they worried about forgetting a phrase and ending up being embarrassed? What if they happened to choke on air and cough uncontrollably? Wouldn't their deaths end up ridiculous?”
While I was retorting, a snake-shaped dagger with a green gleam on it suddenly appeared in the shadows behind me. That menacing dagger slowly moved towards the nape of my neck without the slightest movement of wind.
Just as the blade was about to come into contact with me, the body of the assassin who wore a cruel smile suddenly jolted.
”An upgraded ability of Shadowstep—Temporary Elemental Concealment? This seems to be a rare ability that only a master assassin with Elemental Bloodline can learn. What a wonderful experimental subject.”
How could it possible for the veteran assassin to slip up at such a crucial moment? However, his hands were already numbed.
”AHHHH!”
Pale Justice was just inserted into the ground, but a rampaging flash of lightning was crackling as though thunder was traversing through the sword. The frenzied flow of lightning caused the unfortunate assassin's body to convulse ceaselessly.
”Pitiful child. I doubt you can understand why a magic sword which had no contact with its wielder was able to attack you. I should remember this skill and teach those rookies when I get back so that they can use it on others.”
The lightning from the Azure Dragon Sword Seal that I activated wasn't too strong. The assassin whose body was convulsing was still able to grit his teeth and climb up. He had intended to bring me down along with him, but I simply patted the black cat on my shoulder.
”Gather a blood sample so that we can run an analysis on it. He is a rare specimen, so keep him alive. We'll extract his soul when we're back at the experimental lab.”
Upon hearing these words, the elegant cat lowered her head and licked her paws, not moving from her spot whatsoever. I knew that she was just waiting to negotiate the terms with me.
”I will split a third of it with you. If senior doesn't want it, I will split half of it with you then.”
”You lunatic! To think that our Phantom Serpent Bandits were destroyed by you lunatics, a person who talked to his cat… AHHHHHH!”
Upon seeing that I still facing the other way, the furious assassin dashed forward to assault me. However, in the next instant, an ominous black shadow blanketed his vision.
”Cat… Cat demon!”
A queer smile crept onto the corners of the lips of the cat-shaped figure on top of the assassin's head, as though it was mocking something or someone.
The assassin could no longer suppress the fear which penetrated straight into his bones. He immediately turned and ran. However, in a flash of light and a piercing scream, the assassin disappeared without a trace. All that was left on the spot was the elegant cat who was still tidying up its face.
Pah.
With a snap of a finger, the three corpses of the three bandits who had died from excessive bleeding stood up silently. They would bring the other frozen bodies with them.
With Necromancy no longer outlawed, the corpses of experts have become valuable trading commodities for the nobility. Naturally, we can't waste such precious goods.
While I was still admiring my actions, the battle on the other side had also reached its final moments.
A black, man-eating flower was chewing on something. Taking a closer look, it was the right arm of that Saint-rank assassin nicknamed Hellfire….
After sacrificing his own limbs to feed those frenzied plants, the great assassin Hellfire finally got into proximity to the Mage. However, what met the cruel smile of the assassin wasn't a panicking rookie Mage, but an insane demoness who grinned even more happily.
”You're the 76th assassin who thought that I was an idiot at close combat. How do you think your predecessors fared?”
The will of a Saint-rank assassin was unfaltering. Even though he vaguely felt that something was amiss, the words of the other party was unable to affect his mind. He immediately stopped on the spot and executed his movement technique, creating a series of mirror images that surrounded Amelia on all sides.
However, all the female Mage did was take a deep breath and drop her flamboyant sapphire staff. Ignoring all of the mirror images around her, she sent a punch towards her rear.
Boom!
Amelia wasn't as weak as she seemed on the surface. Just the wind pressure from the fearsomely forceful punch created a deep gash in the ground. Even though Hellfire reacted in time, he was still hit by it. He instantly kneeled on the ground and threw up blood.
Pah!
Wearing the ruby bracelet, Amelia flung her hand lightly. Accompanied by a shout of agony, a massive crater formed around him. Hellfire was lodged into granite. At this moment, all of the air within his body was forced out of him.
Perhaps a bystander might think this some kind of gravity magic. However, I knew that this was just a simple swing of her hands, and what had pushed the assassin into the ground was just the wind pressure generated by her palm.
”You really can't offend a Mage with 42 points in Strength. Even more so, a genetically-modified human whose eyes have the ability of True Sight cannot be offended. After all, she had to possess an incredible amount of strength for her to still be alive after messing around so much.”
At this moment, Amelia stroked her hair and her peculiar silver irises hid their radiance. Her lips were moving, as though she was muttering something.
Long, light-green hair fluttered along with the wind; a young lady recited a poem. Just by her outward appearance, Amelia carried the aura of an academic.
However, I couldn't be fooled because I could tell what the other party was speaking through lip-reading.
”Darling, it's time to eat. It's a feast this time.”
The next moment, the smooth, light-green hair came to life. Her countless strands of hair extended with the tug of the wind before transforming into blood-red thorns. After the tip of those thorns opened a massive dragon-like mouth, when the assassin who was being chewed on was screaming in agony, I knew that the remaining images were rated Mature 18+.
”Temperance, huh? Truly a monster with a lack of any sort of temperance. Perhaps the reason why she named it Temperance was so that this monster wouldn't eat too much and affect her figure.”
Senior's research direction was similar to mine. The information and results of our research could be traded, but the method which it showcased itself was completely different.
In a certain sense, I was integrating Biology, Modern Medical Studies, and Necromancy for my Undead Creation. Naturally, what I was creating were other powerful Undead.
On the other hand, as a master of Biology, what Amelia studied was life itself. How could she possibly give up on the physical body that she was the most familiar with and understood the most, her own?
It was likely that she was unable to remember how many times she had modified her body. Even when I first met her, she had already said that she was more like a plant than an animal.
In fact, two of her Seven Benevolent Virtues, ”Temperance” and ”Diligence” were part of her body, plants that shared life with her. Their existence and growth made Amelia stronger.
Amelia's combined total of 42 Strength after enhancement by her equipment was something that had already exceeded the limits of ordinary life-forms. I had never heard of a single race that had Strength exceeding 40. Perhaps even the Titans couldn't to match up to her. Her bloodline was already something that was unable to be evaluated. From her very core, she was a being that exceeded common sense.
Of course, given how her ability to cause trouble was in no way inferior to mine, it was impossible for her to live until now without capabilities of her own. As far as I knew, her regenerative abilities and unkillable qualities were in no way inferior to mine.
After that group of assassins had been completely cleaned away, I felt a little regretful. I wasn't in the midst of completing a mission now, and the Saint-rank assassin which senior killed didn't allocate me any Fate Points at all.
”Why are you looking at me like that? I am lacking high-quality fertilizers at the moment. Even if you begged me, I wouldn't share any of it with you.”
Her guarded gaze was really depressing. Ever since that unpleasant chat back then, Amelia seemed to be even more on guard against me.
”Later, I will pass you a third of the blood and flesh of an Elemental Descendant possessing the ability of 'Temporary Elemental Concealment.' However, I will keep the soul and skeleton of that fellow, I have some uses for it.”
”...Such rare material. Your luck sure is good for you to always meet these kinds of unique existences. However, you seem to lose out in this deal. Are you scheming something?”
That wary gaze sure did break my heart. I shook my head. I knew that if I didn't provide some reason, she, who was already agitated, wouldn't feel at ease.… Speaking of which, making that incredible senior of mine so wary, should I be proud of it?