Chapter 60

Chapter 60. Commedia Dell’Arte (3)

*Creak!*

A gust of wind flew in a complex trajectory, leaving large scars on the walls and floor.

The fierce wind extinguished the candles within the mansion, plunging it into darkness, making Charlotte’s attacks even harder to detect.

“Our vision is compromised! Everyone, focus on defense!”

Arian quickly dodged the unseen attack, but the magic Charlotte unleashed altered its course as if chasing Arian.

“My master certainly committed numerous acts worthy of execution.”

Charlotte clasped her hands together. In response, the bodies of the bone creatures burst, sending sharp bony spears hurtling toward Arian.

“Nevertheless, as a disciple who lost my mentor, the sorrow is unavoidable.”

Amidst the ruthless attacks, Charlotte spoke in a solemn voice. To those hearing it, it was a frustratingly absurd statement.

“Do you, who have killed countless people, have the right to mourn?”

I asked Eldritch to assist Arian with his magic. While Eldritch found it difficult to counter Charlotte’s magic directly, he used his magic to create a water-like barrier, providing Arian a space to evade the attacks.

“Thank you, Professor Magus!”

Arian immediately grasped the intention and made use of it. Deprived of proper weapons and armor, Arian found the intensified attacks from Charlotte burdensome as well.

“Professor Elrave!”

Taking advantage of Charlotte’s attention being fixed on Arian, I rushed to Elrave. Elrave, having lost an arm, seemed to have hastily stopped the bleeding with his clothes, but he had already lost a large amount of blood and looked very unwell.

“Professor Magus… I’m sorry.”

Elrave spoke with great difficulty.

“Support me. I must… I must stop him…”

“Professor Elrave, as harsh as it sounds, you cannot contribute to the battle right now.”

Despite the shadow of death looming over his face, Elrave wanted to continue fighting Charlotte, but my thoughts differed from his.

“Her control over magic is abnormal. Based on my observation, although it’s hard to believe, she might be of the fourth rank.”

Initially, I thought she would be, at most, of the third rank. It wasn’t that I underestimated her; it was just that the fourth rank is exceedingly rare.

‘The realm beyond human limits. The fourth level, attainable by only a scant few through grueling effort,’ Dowol’s words echoed in my mind. I bit my lip in contemplation.

“Confronting someone armed with powerful items in a magical duel is unwise.”

“…..”

“Professor Elrave, is this the time to be blinded by revenge? Can’t you see what’s over there?”

I pointed with my finger, prompting Elrave to finally notice. On the other side, quite far away, lay the critically wounded mage professors and students clustered together. Though the bone creatures were dealt with, the guards suffered heavy casualties in the fight, and most nobles appeared so pale that it was hard to tell if they were alive.

“Can you see it now?”

Lia seemed to be hastily concocting medicines from herbs stored in a subspace, while other students attended to the injured under her guidance. They were barely holding on.

“With Charlotte focused on me and Arian, I cannot go help over there.”

“She is the enemy of my student…”

“Yet, can you bear to witness the deaths of your other students?”

I helped Elrave to his feet.

“Go protect the students and find a way to escape. Contact the outside for help if possible. Instead of useless obsession, do what you can.”

Elrave did not respond. He shot a lingering glance at Charlotte as if hesitating but then resolutely ran toward the students.

‘Now, even if I use a miracle, there won’t be any additional victims.’

One should avoid using miracles and forbidden arts as much as possible. Not only for my own life, but if it became known that I was an Outer God priest… Arian wouldn’t be able to completely focus on Charlotte.

‘That’s why, as a last resort… I must be prepared.’

The situation was far from favorable. Arian had to protect people and fight without proper gear. Most were mages, yet the opponent was a master of magical interception who could reverse the spells.

Furthermore, Charlotte was using forbidden arts, armed with well-prepared items, and was a necromancer who could augment her forces with dead bodies.

‘And to top it off, she lost her sanity because she realized Arian killed her mentor.’

Isn’t this type of character a typical psychopath cliché? I never imagined she would be so enraged over Ferdinand’s death.

‘Damn, if I use forbidden arts or miracles in front of Arian, what about the escape route afterward? Is there a way to open that door…? Could I demolish the wall or ceiling? But Arian couldn’t break it, either.’

I strained to devise a clever solution.

『How about taking the chance to flee… after subduing Arian? It seems possible if Arian loses a lot of strength—』

“Professor.”

While I was biting my lip hard enough to draw blood, lost in my thoughts, Arian’s voice broke through.

“Please, don’t worry too much!”

Even in this situation, Arian displayed a reassuring smile, as if certain of victory.

“I am the military officer of the Luminaries! It is my honor to protect everyone. Trust in me!”

With that, an assault rained down on Arian once more.

*Swish!*

Arian’s body was slashed open in multiple places, blood splattering everywhere. The injuries were so severe that bones were visible through the torn wounds. Yet, Arian didn’t flinch and remained focused in a prayerful posture.

“Even if I lose my life today, I am unafraid, so long as I can fulfill my duty according to your will. Guide me.”

*Whoosh.*

The last candles went out with a slash of wind sent forth by Charlotte, plunging the mansion into complete darkness.

“Guide me. Guide me.”

Within that darkness, Arian quietly offered prayers.

“Show my faith. Wishing to ascend to the heavens following the heavenly light, Hayat, grant me your holy command.”

A brilliant light began to emanate from Arian’s back.

“〈Holy Wings of Resistance〉.”

The light began to push back the darkness. It manifested as two pairs of radiant wings on Arian’s back, illuminating the mansion with majestic brilliance.

“The first time I’ve seen Hayat’s miracle…”

Charlotte halted her attacks momentarily to observe Arian. Although adept in magic, Charlotte seemed unfamiliar with miracles, so she began to study and analyze it.

“Complete recovery, enhanced defense, flight…”

Charlotte murmured quietly. Just as she noted, the injuries Arian sustained were healing effortlessly.

‘One wing per rank, four abilities executed simultaneously—Arian’s ultimate miracle.’

I was familiar with this miracle, as it was Arian’s ultimate card.

‘Arian’s mana must be entirely depleted. If we can’t settle the score while this miracle is active… it’s the end.’

This wasn’t just any secret weapon for Arian.

‘Rising defense is fundamental, but Charlotte has only discerned two abilities.’

The third is mental protection. This effect also helped stabilize our allies who were losing their sanity.

‘And the last one holds immense power worthy of a fourth-rank. If successful, it can undoubtedly capture Charlotte.’

Light gathered around Arian’s hands. It soon transformed into a white, blazing sword.

“Another ability is weapon creation? Interesting.”

Arian and Charlotte locked eyes as if challenging each other.

*Boom!*

In the next instant, Arian struck with the sword at a terrifying speed, but Charlotte blocked it by raising the corpse of a bone monster.

“For the great era, purify. Crush everything. 〈Wave of Annihilation〉.”

The incantation was similar to my black flame spell, but instead of flames, a wave that distorted space battered Arian.

“Not even a groan?”

The wings absorbed some of the shock, but Arian’s mouth was bloodied. However, wiping the blood away with a smooth motion…

“I have no reason to groan since my plan succeeded!”

Arian flashed a triumphant smile. The bones of the monster impaled by the sword glowed with mysterious runes, which began to appear on Charlotte’s body.

‘〈Holy Wings of Resistance〉’s fourth ability…’

The Forbidden Sword. A potent weapon in its own right, the sword curses the target it pierces, restricting any magic or deviant miracles. Although the blow was delivered to the bone monstrosity, the restriction transferred seamlessly to its master, Charlotte.

‘Strictly speaking, it’s not entirely unusable. Powerful magic and foreign arts, those of a rank equivalent or greater than Arian, remain possible.’

Yet anything below that is completely unusable, posing a severe threat to Charlotte.

“What’s this? Magic…”

Charlotte noticed the power of the forbidden spell and frowned.

“It’s the end now!”

Arian aimed her sword, blazing with brilliant flames.

“For the countless sins you’ve committed. I will condemn you in the name of Hayat right here, right now!”

“Pff… Ahahaha! To render magic useless! Indeed, miracles are unpredictable and incomprehensible!”

Arian charged, ignoring whatever Charlotte said. Just as she swung her sword quickly, before Charlotte could chant a spell.

“〈Hand of the Yellow King〉.”

*Boom!*

I couldn’t comprehend what had happened in that instant.

“Ugh…”

Arian was flung and pinned against the wall, coughing up blood. Four yellow tentacles that emerged from beneath Charlotte’s feet had pounded Arian.

“… An Outer God’s miracle?”

“Correct!”

“You can wield both magic and miracles?”

“Oh, finally, even the professor starts to take an interest in me! But for now… revenge comes first.”

*Clap, clap, clap!* The tentacles swayed in tandem with the rhythmic clapping. Although Arian got back on her feet, she couldn’t withstand the swinging tentacles.

*Crunch!*

The sound of her bones shattering.

“Guh…”

Her voice, usually spirited, now was nothing more than a suffocating wheeze.

【Sealed Yellow King】.

One of the best-known Great Old Ones. Indescribable, one whose name should not be uttered. Before his miracle, Arian’s wings had been clipped.

“Did you underestimate me? Did you think it would be easy to kill me, just like you did with my master?”

Charlotte swung the tentacles endlessly, mocking Arian who was stuck against the wall. Arian lifted her broken arm and damaged wings, gathering her strength…

*Bang!*

Suddenly, she struck the wall she was pinned to. The last of her strength squeezed out, her wings faded and vanished.

“Oh my.”

That blow created a massive hole in the wall.

“I didn’t even realize the wall was cracking. To pour all your remaining strength into that.”

Arian, covered in blood, moved her lips. Her trembling hand pointed at the large gap in the wall she had made.

‘Run with everyone…’

Her lips clearly spoke those words.

“You’ve tried hard. But you’re merely the professor’s bodyguard. Killing you wouldn’t make the professor hate me too much.”

Charlotte raised her tentacle high to finish things off.

“No one will save you. Die in despair-”

“No.”

Charlotte halted momentarily and looked at me.

“If I were to grade you one last time as your professor, everything you said was wrong.”

I swallowed a potion to lift my disguise.

“For the sake of a great era, purify. Leave nothing but ashes, 〈Black Flame of Annihilation〉.”

The black flames roared, and the tentacles burned away. The black blaze also erased the artificial burn marks on me, revealing my original red hair.

“Charlotte.”

As I discarded my outer garment, gluttony, which resonated with my emotions, revealed its ferocious will.

“When she killed your mentor.”

I showed it to the silent but tense Charlotte as she stared at me.

“I was there too.”

The Necronomicon.