Battle War; Magic, Sword and Dragon

Change Plan

The Knight Leader who was fighting with a group of masked men named Siegfir. She was an A rank Contractor type magician. His Magic Beast was a chameleon monster with disguise ability. This was why his magic beast was invisible.

Right now his magic beast was all around him and was looking for a gap to attack an enemy that possessed mysterious power.

Why mysterious?

From the previous attack that had slashed his subordinates in half, he realized that the enemy attack was no ordinary magic. But even though it is called magic, it cannot be called magic.

From his experience of fighting, whatever kind of magic, if the two magic collide with each other, then each magic will push each other. The winner determines whose magic is strongest and how a magician embodies his magic.

But when an enemy attack penetrates the shield made by his subordinates, the enemy attack is like cutting the shield and finally splitting his subordinates. At first glance they were like dealing with a witch of the sacred element.

Not only that, but they are also dealing with non-humans. Though they were made of flesh and blood, they were like painless puppets.

[You beware and whatever happens do not take direct attacks from them. Perhaps their attacks will not be held back by ordinary magic.]

[[[[[[[Okay!!!!]]]]]]

The ten of his men answered compactly through communication magic.

After that, the fight between the Knight and the masked man began. Knights split up and fought with their respective opponents. Arguably an unbalanced fight because the number of enemies is more, but that does not mean it makes the Knight surrender.

Siegfir fought with a short sword made of magilium. He fought with an enemy that had previously killed his subordinates. Although using one hand, but the enemy does not mean easily defeated.

So far the enemy has easily defended and attacked. Despite wanting to give a final attack, Siegfir has not found a gap so far.

"Tch!"

Having no choice, he used his magic beast.

(Cameleon, get him.)

The enemy in front of him arrived unable to move like he was bound by something. The enemy tried to thrash, but the invisible power was too strong.

Utilizing that, Siegfir quickly beheaded the enemy. One enemy is dead.

Siegfir then prepared to help his subordinates who looked difficult to face the enemy. Two of them were even seriously injured.

But that's when he suddenly felt the feathers standing up.

"?!"

He realized a figure behind him. That figure was the enemy he had just cut off. Despite being headless, the enemy could still move and prepare with a deadly attack right at Siegfir who was off guard.

Blood spread, but it was not Siegfir's blood. It was the blood of a headless enemy.

"Ap-"

She's surprised. The enemy who almost killed him now has his heart pierced. Not by a sword or a spear, but by a hand. That hand belonged to the white masked young man.

The young man pulled his hand and blood gushed to Siegfir's face. The enemy's body slowly fell and did not move anymore. This time the enemy really died.

"Don't let your guard down. Your enemies are not human. They were Homunculus with a power similar to a saint element mage. If you want to kill them, target their heart. That's where Hybrid Heart is."

The young man showed a purple-colored crystal-like object in his hand. While stabbing with his hand, apparently the young man took out the Hybrid Heart and that was what made the enemy die.

"Thank you, eerr...."

"We forget about introductions, now that we know their weaknesses, can't you face them?"

"Y-Yes, thank you..."

But knowing the opponent's weaknesses does not mean that the fight becomes easier for Siegfir. Enemies who have powers similar to magicians of the sacred element coupled with bodies that cannot die unless their hearts are destroyed. They were like fighting a human monster.

"Drauis, retreat. Let me face it."

"Thank you..."

"Reply recover your wound first and ask for help. We'll beat them by the numbers."

His subordinates were away from the battle site. He was a Contractor, so even though he was currently injured quite badly due to the enemy sword, yet he was still able to fight. At the same time he asked for help from the Knight group from the nearby region.

While waiting for help, the fight continued. Siegfir and the other Knights had managed to defeat three enemies, but the enemies had still not greatly reduced.

The young man who helped her now helped them. Even though the young man had speed and strength, but since he was not a magician, it might be a tough fight for him.

But all these assumptions are wrong...

The young man dodged the enemy's slash by tilting his body. He then turned towards the enemy's blind spot and that was when he pierced the enemy's heart with his hand. Blood hit the young man's face and clothes, but he didn't seem to care much and headed for the next enemy.

For Siegfir, it was an incredible and at the same time frightening sight. From his clothes the young man was not a person who liked to fight, but as the saying goes, do not judge a book by its cover to be suitable to describe the young man.

While thinking that, the enemy attacked. He then resisted the attack with the sword he had taken from the opponent. Unlike magicians who will lose their magic arm or magic beast after fainting, or dying. The enemy's weapons were still left behind when they died.

From the weight and color, Siegfir could see that their weapons were made from a mixture of Mithril. While trying to channel mana, the sword did not react, in other words it might only be enemies who could use their sword force.

But it's not a problem. As long as there was a weapon capable of counterbalancing the enemy, that was enough.

Siegfir then uses the same magic to bind the enemy's movements. He then pierced the heart of the enemy and destroyed the Hybrid Heart. Another enemy is dead.

He then snatched the enemy sword and threw it at the Contractor-type knight. The knight then imitated Siegfir and with the help of other knights, one by one the enemy was defeated.

The enemy has only five left. Among them one of them was seriously injured, but there seemed to be no significant problem for them.

"it's opportunity. We're gonna finish them here‼!"

""Ohh‼!""

The other knights started to get excited because victory was already in sight, but the enemy did not show fear.

Siegfir and the other Knights advanced with enemy weapons in their hands. That is when the enemy's sword is shining. That's a sign they're going to attack.

"Observe heart!"

Siegfir and his men were on alert for enemy attacks. They also know they might die.

And the enemy attacked

"?!"

The light shot out like a bullet from the enemy's sword, but the enemy's attack was not directed at Siegfir and other knights. The attack led to a figure that was below them.

It was the figure of a red-haired woman burning. The woman walked alone without any fear despite a battle on it.

Siegfir doesn't know if women are stupid or not, but they can't let civilians die.

(Damn!!)

Siegfir quickly descended and attempted to save the woman, but the enemy attacked too quickly.

"Be done‼"

He accelerated his movements. Although he could save the woman, he could not resist all the enemy's attacks. He realized this might be his last rescue.

But Siegfir has to see the reality. The enemy light sword was too fast and would immediately turn the woman into a lump of flesh.

But that was when the figure of the masked young man suddenly appeared with a white sword in his hand. With a movement invisible to the eyes, the young man slashed all the enemy light swords to pieces like glass.

"Wha-‼"

Siegfir doesn't know if what he saw was an illusion or reality, but that doesn't change if the woman survives.

Siegfir then slowed down his speed and landed beside the young man.

"Uncle, the fight is not over. This is not the time to breathe a sigh of relief."

The boy was right, but

"No. It's over."

Suddenly five blue fireballs appeared around them. The five fireballs turned into fire spears and shot towards the enemy.

The enemy dodged and tried to slash the fire spear, but when the fire spear was at a distance of one meter, it became thousands of small and spread throughout the enemy's body like needles. After which, the enemy's body started burning into dust a few minutes later. All that was left of the enemy was the purple crystal which was the Hybrid Heart.

"Wa-"

Siegfir was surprised. After all, what he saw was not magic that ordinary magicians could perform.

In awe and fear, he remembered that in the capital there were some magicians who were able to do that. Especially with the unusual blue flames possessed by the fire element magician and scarlet red hair, then only one person matched the description.

Siegfir then looked at the woman's face and his conjecture grew more correct.

"Mrs Lia?"

"Sorry for interrupting your duties, but you don't mind if I help, do you?"

Siegfir is sweating coldly. Although there was a ban on civilians to help the Knight while fighting, there were still some people who broke that rule. And the woman was known to break the most.

Unfortunately, no one dared to refuse his help. Even a Knight like Siegfir.

"Of course not, Miss Lia. We can win with your help. Instead we feel ashamed because Mr. Leon's wife bothered to help us."

Her name was Lia Allein Fortisillein. The wife of the strongest paladin in the Houou empire. Unlike Leon who went directly into government and the military, Lia was a civilian. However Lia was also a Master rank magician, so her strength was beyond doubt.

Unfortunately, he has bad habits. And that bad habit was already well known to the entire empire.

Perhaps this was because he came from commoners and former adventurers. So he doesn't really care about complicated rules at all.

"Ah.. same, but please don't tell Leon. He'll be angry if he finds out I helped you, and you'll have the consequences. Can you guys do it?"

Although Lia asked with a smile, Siegfir felt a huge and frightening pressure. Surprisingly, that fear was not because he knew Lia was a master ranked magician.

Siegfir glanced at his subordinates who were on the roof of the building to ask for help, but the ten subordinates only gave a look of pity.

"Surely, I can do it. Moreover, that's your request, so I'll do well. But if you can figure out why you're here?"

"I'm just shopping." Lia answered casually. "But because of them, my subscription store is closed. Oh yeah, did you see my mom? He disappeared during the attack?"

Siegfir was surprised and disappointed to know the reason Lia was helping them was only due to irritated reasons, but this was indeed Lia's habit from long ago.

"No-No, we don't know the whereabouts of Scarlet's great mistress, but I can order my subordinates to conduct a search if you will."

"Ah no. No need, .mom does like to disappear, so this is not the first time. Instead of thinking about my mother, you better do something more important."

Siegfir remembered that his men were seriously injured and had to undergo treatment immediately. He also had to take care of the bodies of his men. After that he had to give a report and much more. You could say he's very busy.

Then he heard that help had arrived. Although late, Siegfir could not protest.

"....thank you for your understanding, Miss Lia. And again thank you for helping us."

"No-no. Just so you do what I ask is enough. Now I'm willing to leave because I have to find mom."

Lia then turned around and left.

Siegfir then refocused on the problem. His men who sustained direct injuries were treated with healing magic for first aid. While the dead bodies of his subordinates were horribly brought to be buried immediately.

He was saddened at the loss of one of his subordinates, yet as a Knight, death was always close to them. If you are afraid of death, that is natural. But how to die is something that one must choose.

"..."

Siegfir picked up the purple crystal lying on the road. Facing witches may be common to Siegfir, but this time they are dealing with the Homunculus.

Man-made. Only dolls.

At the same time he recalled the incidents that occurred several years ago. Everything is different, but it has one thing in common. For the most part, the incident was done by an ordinary person.

He did not know if the Homunculus they were fighting was the new way the enemy was doing, but that did not change the fact that the enemy had caused chaos and disrupted the peaceful life. That's what Siegfir can't forgive.

At the thought of that, he was reminded of the white masked young man. But looking around, the young man was gone.

"...."

He doesn't know what the enemy really wants, but he knows this is just the beginning.

And for some reason, the young man became the center of an imminent problem.

💠💠💠

Two kilometers from the scene of the incident, a masked young man walked among the crowd. His fancy clothes that were splashed with blood almost in some places made people wonder what happened to him.

Despite the chaos in other regions, the people around Kuro are still doing their usual activities. Not because they were unafraid, but because of the almost daily chaos in the capital. Most of them are used to this.

There is no safe place in the world. That's reality. Although the capital is a gathering place for powerful witches, there are even the strongest, but at the same time the number of criminals is also many. And although entering the capital was strictly checked, it did not reduce chaos or crime at all.

Kuro walked into one of the clothing stores. He went to the receptionist and asked for a change of clothes and at the same time asked for permission to use the bathroom.

After her body was cleared of bloodstains, she changed into the clothes she had ordered or bought.

The clothes he bought were trousers, t-shirts and jackets. But when wearing it, the jacket provided is colored.

"....are you kidding me?"

He glanced at the sekelilling. There were other customers who were shopping at the store, but strangely he only found one woman.

A beautiful blonde woman like Laila, but in terms of height, the woman was shorter and exuded an adult aura.

Kuro realized there was something strange about the woman. From the aura that emanated, it was certain that the woman was a witch. But the question is whether women are enemies or not?

Kuro had just been attacked anyway, so the possibility was there.

"This is the jacket you asked for, Mr. Akashi. Again forgive our carelessness."

Kuro received the jacket and immediately put it on.

"It's okay, I don't think about it too much. Then excuse me first."

Kuro stepped out his legs and left.

As Kuro leaves, the shopkeeper looks down to apologize and drives Kuro away.

After exiting, Kuro continued his journey. He jumped onto the roof and jumped onto the other roof like a ninja. He did so not because he was faster, but to keep watch if any enemy attacked him once more.

(The enemy seems to know who I am. It's bad, but it's okay.)

Only a few people knew about Akashi and Kuro were the same person. In addition, Kuro also did not keep his identity too secret, so it was natural that the enemy knew about it.

The problem is, if the enemy knows who he is, it makes it difficult for him to get close to the enemy. Plans to use Akashi's connections have now failed.

But Kuro is not a person who will despair just because one way fails. If it fails, use another method. And if it runs out of sense, just make a new one.

Kuro took his cell phone to contact Guila.

"[What can I help you with, Master, no, Shiro.. fuf ufu.]"

Kuro could only sigh smallly. The relationship he had with Guila was not just a master and a servant, but more than that. If you think back to how their relationship process, Kuro will immediately smile.

"Originally you don't call me that in front of my wife, I'm not going to make a fuss about it."

"[Fufu. I don't know. maybe I will.]"

"I don't have time to joke right now. The enemy already knows who I really am, so we're going to do plan C. Can I count on you?"

"[It is with pleasure that we will carry out your orders, but do not forget our gifts if we do well. Fuf ufu.]"

Kuro nodded again. The reward Guila asked for was not difficult, but it was a little disturbing for Kuro.

"Well, isn't that as usual. Oh yeah, can you ask Tula to investigate something?"

"[Hands? Could something be bothering Shiro?]"

"Little bit. If dealing with a witch is not a problem, but I was attacked by the Homunculus."

"[.....Homunculus.?]"

"You must understand what I mean, right?"

"[. I'll ask Tula to do it right away, Shiro]"

"Thank you.."

Kuro disconnected his call and he instantly changed directions. If he finds Benjamin as a free Akashi, then he doesn't have to find him.

Kuro whistled and continued to jump from the roof to the roof. After a few minutes, a shadowy figure passed over the sky of the capital. The shadow figure was from a 5-meter-long red dragon. It was Rubya, the dragon who came to the capital with Yui.

Kuro jumped high up and landed right on top of Rubya. Rubya roared a small sign of pleasure because Kuro had not ridden for a long time.

"Rubya, we're going west. I'm counting on you this time..."

💠💠💠

At the same time, Laila was still searching for clues regarding the imminent large-scale magic ritual. Dozens of books were scattered on the table, but none of them could give an answer.

Tiredness and sleepiness begin to attack. After all such boring work was more suitable for Kuro.

"Sister Laila, how about we take a little rest?"

Yui put a stack of books on the table then sat down next to Laila.

"But we don't have much time. You know the importance of what we're doing, right?"

"Yes, but rest is important too. Maybe you don't know, but your face is really scary right now."

"..uh?"

"You're trying too much, though,. Didn't Brother Kuro ever tell you that rest is also important. Remember, you're different now than usual, so you need to take care of your condition."

Laila sighs.

"Alright, you start like Kuro. To be honest, I'm not strong if I have to deal with you two, I'm going crazy."

"He he. I know what you mean."

The two stopped reading and headed for the canteen which was in a separate section. They also had lunch to replenish the energy and mind that had been drained. While eating, of course they discuss their loved one, Kuro.

After enough rest, they resumed their search, but they had not found any clues.

"Haa. Does the magic ritual really exist?"

Yui put her cheeks on the table with a tired expression. It was only natural that they had searched for 6 hours and over 100 of their books were open, but their results were still nil.

"If the enemy intends to use it, it means there is. If we don't find one clue, it means that there's no clue in this place or..."

"...we're looking for clues in the wrong place?" continue Yui.

Yui and Laila looked at each other and nodded compactly. They have the same thoughts now.

They quickly returned the books they had read to their original place. After that, they went to a different section. The place was on the 3rd floor, so they had to go up.

Because it should not be noisy, they walk quickly, but try maybe so as not to disturb other visitors.

Not long after that they arrived. If the previous section contains about magic rituals, the shelf in front of them is a book that contains history. History that occurred for 400 years or longer is recorded in the form of writing on paper.

Without a doubt they began to search for books and after finding a book that bore a resemblance to what they were looking for, they picked up the book and took it to a reading place.

To save time, Laila is in charge of reading while Yui searches for books on hundreds of shelves. If they had subordinates, perhaps their work would be faster, yet this was not the time to think about it.

And after opening and reading some books.

"...Yui, I found something."

Yui then approached to see what Laila found.

A book full of small words. There are no signs or symbols that are similar to magic rituals, but there is content that contains about events that occurred two hundred years ago. It happened at the time of the Ringblood Moon as it is today.

[Blood red night. A scary and at the same time beautiful night. But its beauty is like a god of death who uses the form of an angel. Tonight's the night when two worlds are connected by a thin thread. When one tries to pull the thread, the sky splits showing the blood red that comes from hell.]

After reading that, Yui's comment is-

"The blood red night is undoubtedly the Ringblood Moon. For two interconnected worlds I think the meaning is a dimensional gate. For the next word, I don't know why I feel something bad."

Laila nodded.

"I found many of the same paragraphs in other books. At first I thought because history books were mostly similar, but somehow I felt like something was hidden."

"...sister Laila, can you go to the next page?"

Laila does. There was only small writing and made the eyes sore, but for Laila it was not that that made her not want to continue reading.

"Everything is largely the same as the history books I used to read. There isn't much written about the Ringblood Moon let alone some sort of magic ritual."

"Perhaps because the magic ritual is very dangerous if misused, then the magic ritual is removed and forbidden. I don't think we're gonna find any clues in the regular history books."

"..."

Yui's right. There may be thousands of history books in the library, but not necessarily the one they are looking for is in one of them. In other words, their efforts were in vain.

No. gabe. Just because they know it doesn't mean they're in vain.

There was a reason why Kuro had sent the two of them to the Aste library. If they only needed to find clues regarding the ritual, then Kuro should have had most of the servants in the house to help them. In other words, even without the help of the maid, Kuro knew Laila and Yui would find her.

"...I'll find another book first."

Laila stood up from the bench. I don't know why he smiled.

"Could you have found a clue?"

"Okay, but I should have known that Kuro wasn't the one who did, or gave a direct clue. Yui, please replace me for a moment."

Yui doesn't know what Laila is thinking, but if it gets them one step ahead, then Yui won't prevent it.

"You can count on me."

Laila went to the bookshelf. He looked around. Thick, old, even new books on the shelf and neatly arranged.

He took it at random and opened it. The book he picked up had nothing to do with the history he was looking for, but something caught his eye.

The book is about the destruction of the city called Limphis. 50 years ago, the city became a battle site due to a neighboring country's attack.

The enemy suddenly appeared using teleportation magic. Because the arrival arrived and without any preparation, the casualties of large numbers are inevitable. The city of Limphis finally fell into enemy hands.

But one day the city vanished due to some sort of large-scale magic attack that only Paladin-level magicians had. The enemy forces were all wiped out along with the surviving inhabitants of the city of Limphis.

After that, the enemy retreated and the war was over.

"...."

Laila sighed then returned the book to its place.

He had never expected such a thing to ever happen in the empire. But after reading the book, for some reason there were no pity or feelings like that.

This was not because Laila was merciless, but in her memory she had seen something worse and sinister. Death was not unusual for Laila.

Even when he killed for the first time, his feelings were so calm. He considered death to be something that happens to every human and living thing. There's nothing to be afraid of, but how someone dies is all that matters.

Die for protecting something, die for attacking and intend to commit other crimes but fail. Death by disease and all else is just one person's path to death.

But Laila didn't have time to think about it.

(This incident is similar when searching for the Grimoire of Dragon. But right now Kuro is just telling me to come here.)

Laila was told to ask Diana and was given a small bottle containing Kuro's blood. Thanks to that Laila and the others were able to find the Grimoire of Dragon. Although in reality the book was a decoy, it became a worthwhile experience.

And that's when Laila found out why Kuro was able to give such an unreasonable order. That's because-

(He believes I can do it, but compared to before.-).

Diana's room was like a small library and there were only dozens of bookshelves, yet now she was in the largest library in the largest country in the world.

"Aha ha. This isn't funny."

But that doesn't mean he's giving up. There's no reason to give up.

"If my guess is right... Kuro must have known I could find it, but... how do I find the book Kuro meant?"

Putting his hand on his chin, he walked around the bookshelf without any clear direction. Tired and not wanting to get dizzy, he picked up a random book once again.

He did not pay much attention to the cover or title of the book and just opened it.

But when he opened the first page, all he found was a question.

"Hm?"

[What do you want to know?]

Laila smiled slightly.

"What I want to know is not truth or falsehood. All I want to know is the answer. It doesn't matter if it's a truth or a lie."

Laila opened the next sheet. What he saw was another question.

[After getting the answer, what did you do?]

"I'm not gonna do anything. The answer is a result of the question. That answer will change as time goes on and who answers. Getting answers does not mean you have to do something. There are times when one has to be quiet and watch, but one must also know when to act or do something."

Laila opened the next sheet. This time the question did not appear and the actual content was visible.

But that was when he realized something strange.

(Why did I answer that strange question? Hmm... )

After that, he began to read.