Completely Overwhelmed

Though it was just convincing them of something they already wanted to do, neither Sebastian nor Amy wanted it to seem like that they were scared in the least.

The pair who had met them were practically sweating bullets by the time the discussion ended.

"I'm glad that ended peacefully."

"Peacefully..."

Amy's nonchalant comment prompted Sebastian to retort but he merely smiled wryly. Amy was practically threatening them during the conversation.

"Don't I deserve a reward?"

"Yes, yes, good work."

Sebastian ruffled Amy's hair causing her to yell and run to the mirror. She had always taken good care of her hair and Sebastian would make it messy if he wanted to mess with her.

"Jeez..."

Amy pouted and sat back down on the sofa.

"Still, they're already aware of Sana, aren't they?"

Amy's pout disappeared and she took on a solemn expression, "yeah."

"We don't know just how large the enemy force is but what we know for sure is that they have a summoner."

A summoner is feared. In the battlefield, it is a monstrous ability that could decimate hundreds and outside, it could be used for various utilities.

Summoners required a contract with their monsters but so long as they had energy, they would be able to summon them for as long and as much as they wish.

"Aren't we going to tell them that the enemy are already aware?"

"What's the point? Weren't you able to sneak into their headquarters without any trouble?"

"You have a point."

Sebastian sighed and buried himself deeper on the sofa.

"Since we've made contact with one side, we can expect an attack from the other side soon."

"Yeah, I'll wear my armor underneath my clothes from now on."

"Good."

In Amy's case, wearing armor would just impede her. Unlike Sebastian who fought with both close and long range, Amy relied on her abilities as an Inheritor and didn't need her physical prowess.

"I was going to give this to you on your birthday but... I'll give it to you now."

Sebastian's birthday would be in a few more months. Amy's birthday on the other hand, would happen as soon as they return to Aurum.

Amy left the room then returned with a person-sized figure covered.

"Tadah!"

Amy took the covers of a person-sized figure and then wiggled her hands. It was a pitch black set of light armor.

"Armor?"

"Yeah. Its defensive capabilities are definitely above yours that were made from monsters but it also has an added effect. The material it's made from absorbs shock and is hard to cut."

"Amazing..."

"What are you waiting for? Try it out!"

Amy took the chestplate and then put it over Sebastian's head then she took the other pieces and waited for him to take them all on.

The armor was very light. Sebastian couldn't even feel the armor's presence. It also covered only the bare minimum of his parts. His abdomen, lower back, knees, back of the legs and arms, and head were all open.

"We can test it out here. Make sure you don't get blown away!"

"Nn."

Sebastian firmly planted his feet in the floor and waited. Amy covered her hand in light and hit his chest.

It was just a light punch but it would've been enough to blow away a normal person. But forget being blown away, Sebastian didn't even move.

"I didn't feel that at all..."

"See? Try pinching it."

Sebastian followed Amy's instructions and pinched the armor.

"It's somewhat malleable."

"Exactly. With this, regular blunt attacks won't deal you any damage and if there are any that could break through the armor, they'd be so weak your actual body could take them on just fine. Blades would also be stopped in place."

Amy took one of the daggers on Sebastian's person and slashed at his arm. The dagger didn't get stuck, but it slowed down. It couldn't cut smoothly.

"Although it'll leave a mark, it will help you fend against most physical attacks."

Sebastian was stunned. What was this armor? If he had a set that covered him from head to toe, wouldn't he be almost invincible?

"The downside is... well, the material it's made of is very rare and its boiling point is unbelievably high. So far, the House of Luna can only spare this much."

"Amy, I can't accept this..."

The price for such armor would be astronomical. It most likely cost more than the ride on the airship by severalfold.

"Then, I'll lend it to you. It's still mine but until I ask for it, you don't have to return it to me."

Instead of trying to convince Sebastian, Amy decided on a roundabout way of giving him the armor.

"Haaa..."

Sebastian sighed and hugged Amy.

"Thank you for the present."

"You're very much welcome. Hehe..."

"Still, I can't accept it all."

Sebastian released Amy and removed his chestplate, and the left side of his armor. He made Amy wear them and then held her hands.

"I'll only be able to focus if I know you're protected as well."

"..."

Amy was flushed. No, flushed was an understatement. She was as red as a tomato.

"I-I'll go check on Sana..."

She promptly decided to run away.

Sebastian chuckled and decided to rest on the couch.

...

That afternoon, Sebastian decided to head out by himself. He was going to stay in the library until it was near dinner.

While he could stay at home and read, he had already read all of the books there several times.

Once he finished, he stretched his body outside of the library and prepared to head home.

"..."

Someone was watching him. It wasn't harmless surveillance either. There was killing intent.

It was night, but it wasn't devoid of civilians.

Sebastian made the first move. He threw a dagger at the stalker and leaped at them.

The distance between them wasn't large so he reached the stalker in no time.

DING DING

Sebastian's dagger was blocked by the stalker's dagger.

'He's strong!'

With just a single exchange, Sebastian could tell that this opponent was several levels ahead of the ones that had been watching him so far.

DING DING DING DING

Sebastian and the stalker exchanged half a dozen blows but there was no clear winner.

"Flame Thrust!"

Sebastian's dagger burst into flames and stabbed at the stalker.

The dagger missed its mark.

The stalker moved to the side and sent a kick at Sebastian's sides.

"Gah...!"

Sebastian released a breath from the impact. He quickly tried to stand up and boosted his legs with flames but the stalker dodged his movements again and stabbed Sebastian in the shoulder.

Sebastian tried to regain his footing but the stalker wasn't done. He leaped forward and dug the dagger deeper into Sebastian's shoulder.

"Agh!"

Having the stalker advance toward him put him at a disadvantage. Sebastian set his body ablaze and forced the stalker back.

The civilians in the area began vacating in fear of being caught up in the fight.

Sebastian tried to catch his breath while covered in the flames but the stalker didn't give him a chance. The two of them continuously fought with Sebastian being on the defensive.

"Fireball!"

Sebastian managed to land a hit on the stalker but it was superficial. After staggering a few steps, the stalker continued the assault.

Sebastian couldn't defend against the assassin with just a dagger for long. He used the stigma to recall the other dagger then began defending with both of them.

Any attacks that got through his defense were stopped by his armguard.

"Ha!"

Sebastian let out a roar and forced the stalker to stagger with his heavy attack. He quickly raised his left arm and fired the three bolts but the stalker was too nimble.

"Gravity."

"...!"

Sebastian's movements were slowed. He used more energy and managed to move the same as before but...

"Gravity."

The same technique as before. This one was several times stronger and forced Sebastian on his knees.

Sebastian increased his energy output even more but the pressure kept on increasing until he hit his limit.

"AGGGHH!"

Sebastian forced himself to stand and stabbed at the stalker. The weight on his body suddenly disappeared and he nearly lost his balance.

"Gravity."

Once more, the stalker used his skill and Sebastian was caught off guard. He crashed into the ground without any resistance.

"Agh...!"

Sebastian couldn't even let out any words.

"Farewell."

The stalker held a dagger at Sebastian's throat and was about to kill him but another cloaked figure stopped him.

"Wait, orders to retreat were given just now. We can't deal with the backlash from killing the House of Sol's heir yet."

"..."

The stalker didn't have any qualms and retracted his dagger.

"Wait...!"

Sebastian tried to stop the retreating duo but the gravity proved to be too much. It wasn't until the duo were out of sight did the gravity disappear.

Sebastian sat in his place and breathed roughly. Soon, knights arrived with their armor and weapons.

"Are you alright?"

One of the knights lended Sebastian a hand.

"I... need to rest for a bit..."

"Did you see the culprits?"

"They were wearing cloaks, I wasn't able to get a clear view of their faces."

The knights knew that Sebastian wasn't the culprit instantly. He wasn't wearing his uniform but there were many witnesses and they were informed of the threat properly.

"Would you please cooperate and follow us?"

"Yeah, just send word to my house."

Sebastian told them the address and followed the group of knights to the barracks.

As expected, he was interrogated. If it was a few days ago, Sebastian would've told them everything but just yesterday, they had been warned that the royal family had planted spies among the knights as well.

Sebastian made it clear that he hadn't figured out the cloaked figures' identities and he didn't know the reason either.

After a few more hours, Sebastian was allowed to go home.

"Sebastian!"

Amy ran up to him and embraced him. Then, he inspected his body for wounds.

"I'm fine..."

"Don't lie to me."

His shoulder had a hole, there were numerous cuts all over his body, some were even deep. And, there was a line of blood on his neck.

Although the knights wrapped his wounds, they hadn't dealt with any of the minor wounds. Amy cleaned them and asked Sebastian.

"Was it the ones targeting Sana?"

"Most likely."

Sebastian explained the events that had occurred to Amy.

"Tomorrow, take a break off school. I'll do the same. We can't afford to leave Sana's side right now."

Sebastian nodded and closed his eyes.

"I'm going to go rest."

"Alright."

Sebastian fell asleep while Amy stroked his cheek. His stigma was devoid of energy and his body was wounded.

He was... completely overwhelmed.