Chapter 142 - Damn Reincarnation

The Hunt

“Sir Hector?”

Eugene landed on the ground and looked ahead. Hector Lionheart. He could see him wandering through the darkness.

“Eugene?”

At the voice behind him, Hector turned with a startled expression. Eugene read the bewilderment on his face. Before asking what had happened, he examined Hector.

He was alone. That was something to worry about. Decon Lionheart was nowhere to be seen.

“... Why are you alone?”

“It was my fault,” Hector answered quickly. “I should have stopped him... Decon got scared as we went deeper into the forest and the demonic beasts ran wild. He ran away.”

That was plausible. Wasn't he just an eighteen-year-old kid? This would be his first demonic-beast hunt, and judging by how intimidated he had looked, he probably didn't have much actual combat experience. His skills would be lacking, needless to say.

Dense demonic energy caused mental confusion. The weaker someone's will, the faster and more violently it struck. Succumbing to fear and fleeing in terror was a fitting end for a novice.

“Could you help me?”

Hector asked cautiously. Rather than answering immediately, Eugene looked around. Darkness surrounded them. The dense demonic energy was partly responsible, but this impenetrable darkness was surely a spirit's doing.

“... Well, that much... It's not a difficult favor.”

“Thank you. The forest is so vast that there's only so much I can do searching alone.”

Hector approached Eugene with a sigh of relief.

“There's something strange about this forest. I've visited places thick with demonic energy a few times while living in Ruhar... but none of them were as ominous and dark as this.”

“Something else must have been added to it.”

“Added? You mean someone's tampering with it?”

“I think it's possible.”

“Haha...! Now that's absurd. Who would dare play tricks in the den of the Black Lion Knights, Lionheart's finest?”

“Someone with more guts than sense,” Eugene answered, turning away. “Someone out of their fucking mind.”

“True enough. No one sane would even attempt it.”

Hector nodded in agreement. Now, what should he do...? He didn't want to fight head-on. His opponent was Eugene Lionheart, hailed as the greatest genius the family had produced since Vermouth the Great.

Hector had often been called a genius since childhood, but he had never received praise quite that extravagant. Of course, he had no regrets about that.

He was interested in Eugene. But that interest wouldn't stand in the way of what he had to do.

'A surprise attack would be ideal. No drawn-out fight—one blow, if possible. Better for both of us. Less effort, too.'

Even in a surprise attack, subduing someone was far trickier than killing them. He couldn't attack rashly. Walking a little behind Eugene, Hector stared at his back.

'... Huh...'

He couldn't help being surprised. As far as Hector could see, Eugene had absolutely no openings. He wasn't looking back, nor had he stopped to stand his ground. He was simply walking ahead as normal... yet Hector felt the same pressure he would have if Eugene were facing him with his sword drawn.

“... If... someone really is tampering with things, who do you think it is?”

“You want me to guess who's got more guts than sense and has lost their fucking mind?”

“Exactly. Demons from Helmuth, perhaps? Or a black mage... Hmm, it could be the savages from Samar. Perhaps an assassin from Nahama. You know, don't you? Relations between Kiel and Nahama aren't very good.”

“Hmm, any of them might do something like this... but I don't think so.”

“No? Then who do you think it is?”

“You.”

What had he just said? Hector failed to understand Eugene's words. They were too sudden and too brief, and at the very moment he heard them, the ground beneath his feet exploded.

He reacted to the explosion faster than to the voice. Hector immediately leaped upward and raised his Aura Shield.

Eugene had already turned and was looking up at him. That gaze. Belatedly understanding the words, Hector gave a bitter smile. Those eyes were as cold as ice, utterly certain of his actions, without a trace of doubt. Rather than talk and understand, he intended to beat him into submission first.

“... I like that.”

Hector laughed as he leaned backward. It wasn't that he disliked conversation. Interesting subjects, entertaining personalities—talking with such people was always enjoyable.

If this had been a café or tavern, he would have struck up a conversation. He would probably never have the chance to talk to Eugene in such a setting for the rest of his life. Hector felt a small pang of regret at that.

'I really did mean it when I said I was interested.'

FWOOSH!

Bright-red, flame-like mana coiled around Hector's body.

“... First, I'd like to ask... how did you know? I didn't reveal any hostility or killing intent.”

“The smell,” Eugene answered. “Blood mixed with weapon oil.”

“That's all?”

“It's enough. I smelled that oil every day at the main estate.”

Good heavens. Hector chuckled and glanced at his hands. The wounds from catching Cyan's sword. The bleeding had already stopped... and the smell of oil? Hector was quite confident in his senses, but even he couldn't distinguish the smell of oil mingled with blood.

“... Well, now... I thought I'd cleaned it off thoroughly.”

“Don't take the main family for idiots,” Eugene said, raising a finger. “Lionheart is a martial family, and the main family is its heart. Even the oil used to maintain its weapons is of the highest quality. The fragrance blended into it won't come off without a specially made cleaning agent.”

To track wounded prey that had escaped, and to guard against assassination, members of the main family learned to recognize that scent before anything else.

“... That's all? Surely you have plenty of questions. Who cut me, and why...”

“Don't worry.”

CRACKLE!

Electricity sparked from Eugene's fingertips.

“I'll ask after I've beaten you half to death.”

Mana flashed.

CRACK!

A twisting beam shot through the spot where Hector had stood. What the hell was that? Magic? He managed to dodge hastily, but the unfamiliar attack left him bewildered.

'Magic without an incantation... No, is that even magic? It looks like he just shaped his mana into sword force and fired it.'

Yet it was that fast and powerful? Whatever it was, he couldn't take a direct hit. Having made his decision, he moved. Both hands swept down to his waist, each taking hold of a sword.

'Dual swords.'

Wielding one sword in one hand and wielding a sword in each hand were incomparable. Being an excellent swordsman alone didn't make someone proficient with dual swords.

They required considerable skill and intuition. But in capable hands, they could be as difficult to face as dozens or hundreds of swords, rather than merely two.

'Different lengths.'

The sword in his right hand was half his height, while the one in his left was much shorter. Weapons that wouldn't even be balanced... Eugene's lips twisted.

'He wants to play with the range however he pleases. Selfish bastard.'

Against whom, exactly?

Eugene shot forward. Hector answered with both swords, as though he had been waiting for him.

Drawn from the cloak, Wynnyd burst with silver light.

CLANG!

Mana and wind exploded from the collision. Hector slid his feet and swung the sword in his left hand. They were too close for a longsword, but he could swing the shorter blade freely.

“Huh.”

It was blocked. Hector narrowed his eyes. Eugene was now holding a sword in his left hand as well.

Dual swords against dual swords.

“Interesting.”

Muttering that, Hector moved both arms. His sword strikes swept in like waves, but Eugene didn't retreat. His wide-open eyes read Hector's sword paths. All those feints mixed in—pathetic. Distinguishing the false strikes from the real ones was all too easy for Eugene.

'... Impossible.'

His swordwork kept getting cut short. Eugene's blade was already waiting wherever his own needed to flow, breaking each attack midway. If he tried to follow through differently, an attack came at him instead. They traded attacks and counters, but that wasn't Hector's intention. After only a few exchanges, his blades were already being led around entirely by Eugene.

'He's this good?'

He had expected a difficult opponent, but not someone this strong. He had thought he could subdue Eugene if he pushed himself, and that killing him would be easier...

'I'm not prepared enough. Even killing him will be difficult.'

The moment he reached that conclusion, Hector's attacks changed. Now that he knew killing Eugene would be difficult even if he went all out, there was no longer any reason to swing his swords with the aim of subduing him.

Faster, sharper, more lethal. The skill was worthy of admiration. Even in his previous life, Eugene had never seen a swordsman wield dual swords this proficiently.

But that was only because dual swords were an uncommon choice of weapon. Without that distinguishing feature?

'He is strong.'

Only a few months ago, he might have struggled. But now, there was no reason to. The refinement of their techniques? The very comparison was insulting. Even three hundred years ago, no one but Vermouth could match Eugene's—Hamel's—techniques. Experience? Seasoned judgment? The same held true.

He still couldn't use everything Hamel had possessed. The White Flame Formula was an excellent mana-training method, but if its mere five-star level could reproduce the power of his previous life... frankly, that would hurt his pride.

But reaching five stars in the White Flame Formula had greatly increased his strength compared to four stars. Against someone of Hector's caliber, he didn't even need Ignition.

They were in different leagues. Hector quickly acknowledged it. He had no advantage in technique, nor did he have one in strength.

'... No choice, then.'

He hadn't wanted help from that side. But now that he knew he couldn't subdue Eugene on his own, he had no choice. Hector exhaled sharply and released the sword in his left hand.

WHINE!

The sword leaving Hector's hand became enveloped in bright-red flames. Then it moved on its own, as if enchanted, and shot toward Eugene.

He was controlling the blade without touching it through precise manipulation of mana. To Eugene, it was little more than a gimmick, with no real practical use beyond catching someone off guard. Swinging the sword by hand was far faster and stronger than pulling that shit.

Like this.

BOOM!

Wynnyd shattered the short sword, and the mana within it exploded into dazzling light. Hoping Eugene had been momentarily blinded, Hector quickly withdrew.

WHOOSH!

A gust carried Eugene into the sky. Sensing him behind him, Hector clicked his tongue and ducked low.

Eugene stared at Hector's back as he ran, trailing crimson embers.

CRACKLE!

Lightning flame spread outward. Eugene gripped Akasha inside his cloak. Countless spells filled his mind.

[“Aero Blast.”]

Mer's lips moved inside the cloak. At the same time, Eugene thrust his hand forward, completing the formula. The wind raised by Tempest, the Wind Spirit King, mingled with the magic.

A Sixth Circle offensive spell.

But its power far surpassed its prescribed circle.

BOOOM!

Compressed air and wind exploded from a single point. Hector swung his crimson sword force, trying to cleave the spell in two, but its power far exceeded his imagination.

RUMBLE!

The darkness churned. Sent flying far backward, Hector gathered his scattered wits.

'... Good heavens... Even an offensive spell this powerful, without an incantation...?'

He had defended himself. But his whole body tingled as though he had been electrocuted. Hadn't that been a wind spell? ... Good heavens. Hector gave a hollow laugh and felt around his neck.

“An artifact.”

His cloak fluttered in the wind. Looking down at Hector from above, Eugene extended Akasha.

“Two Dispel spells, three counter spells, five enhancement buffs... Seven defensive spells? How extravagant.”

An artifact containing seventeen spells. It was a treasure no fortune could buy.

“You didn't have it the last time I saw you... Your trump card?”

“A lifeline that'll save me time and again.”

“It won't save you time and again.”

Muttering that, Eugene concentrated mana in Akasha.

CRACKLE!

Lightning flame gathered at a single point. ... It hadn't been his imagination. Eugene Lionheart's mana carried lightning. How was that possible? Hector forced his numb body upright.

“... I shouldn't have come.”

Sighing heavily, Hector glanced at the sword in his right hand. The collision with the spell had shattered it completely.

At that moment, Eugene fired his spell. Dozens of beams pierced space—quite literally. Space-Rending Radiance. This spell punched holes through space, disguising its trajectories as it struck.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Hector dragged his feet backward, swinging his shattered sword. He left the spells he couldn't block to the necklace's defenses. Above all, he had to avoid direct hits. He continued retreating, absorbed in his defense.

Dealing with light that burst through space was tricky, but not terribly difficult.

When Eugene joined in, however, it became a nightmare. Weaving between the beams, Eugene thrust his sword at Hector. All Hector could do was narrowly avoid fatal wounds while being cut to a bloody mess.

[“How is it?”]

A voice sounded inside his head. Keeping his feelings off his face, Hector focused on the bracelet on his left wrist.

'I'm going to die. I didn't know he'd be this strong. It feels like I'm fighting a master who's trained for two hundred years, not a twenty-year-old.'

[“I told you, didn't I? He gained the advantage in technique while sparring with Genos Lionheart.”]

'Who would believe that was true? Anyone would think Sir Genos had gone easy on a junior...'

[“Hmm, you're lying. You wouldn't have taken it that way, would you? You were interested in him and simply wanted to fight him once.”]

'Yes, I was wrong. So could you please help me? At this rate, I'll die here.'

[“Six steps to the left. Nine steps backward.”]

'... And then?'

[“Wait there. Don't retreat any farther, backward or sideways. Stay in that exact spot.”]

Hector followed the instructions. He was already being driven backward, so moving a little to the side wasn't a problem. He reached the designated spot, though he didn't know what being there meant.

[“Now, then... Hmm... Count to ten in your head, then jump.”]

That order wasn't easy to carry out. He had to withstand Eugene's attacks right in front of him without retreating a single step.

'I'm going to die—'

One, two...

'So precise. Even among the White Fangs, swordsmen this skilled are rare—'

Five, six...

'No, there aren't any. Some have heavy strikes, some are fast, but none were this precise. It's like he's reading my thoughts... He's moves ahead of me. How?'

Eight, nine...

Hector immediately leaped backward into the air. Eugene raised his head to follow him.

The ground was turning pitch-black.

[“Eugene?”]

Mer's terrified voice.

Eugene's hair stood on end.

“You son of a bitch.”

Feeling a mad surge of rage and killing intent, Eugene spat the curse.

Black spikes erupted from the ground.