Chapter 30

The easiest way to define Bercht was to call it a village built on the ridge of snowy mountains or an independent country with no borders with a population of about 1 thousand people in the heart of a snowfield.

It was divided into 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th borders, each having its own entrance, residences, and restrictions.

The first border was open to civilians, including knights and adventurers, but only wizards could enter the borders that followed it.

Sylvia had already spent two nights at the second border.

"…"

She was bored.

She thought there would be something special. But aside from the occasional magical phenomenon, there really was nothing to see.

There was still time until the Bercht conference, so all she could do was study.

"… Information…"

But, her father's words kept bothering her. There was apparently a planned ambush on one of the trains heading to where she was. She questioned if it was really a secret.

If it wasn't, then what would it be?

By any chance, wasn't it an instigation?

"My lady, 14 Families have already arrived."

Syrio went inside the cabin then, enjoying his specialty snowfield ice cream.

"Who has arrived from the 12 Families?"

"Hmm? Oh, everyone has arrived aside from Yukline and Riwaynde. That aside, I heard many of the chaperones are the same age as my lady. Of course, there are more who are three or four years older than you, but would you like to meet them? There are also people from the kingdom. It's an opportunity to broaden your horizon~"

Yukline.

She paid attention to that family more than anything else. "There's no need for that."

Sylvia shook her head, pretending it was insignificant. "I'm going to get some fresh air."

"What? Oh, okay. Do with this information what you will, but the assistants are enjoying tea time at a cafe called 'Snow and Rain.'"

Sylvia left the hotel without listening to Syrio.

Walking out, she hid somewhere with no human traces and rummaged through her pocket, enveloping a blue pebble with her hand.

It was the mana stone given by Deculein as a reward for passing the test.

"… With this…" She closed her eyes and released some mana, causing the mana stone to coagulate each of the released pieces together.

Mana gathered around it, forming a specific outline. At first glance, it was a silhouette that was hard to identify.

Sylvia colored the empty line. Her 'red, blue, green' colors spread like smoke and soon breathed life and perfection into it.

It was tied up.

For the first time, she completed a creative activity. Dizzy, Sylvia stumbled for a moment but still admired her creation.

'As expected, I'm a genius, but I can't get careless.'

The hawk could flutter its wings and blink its eyes, and it could even move by itself. However, the most important aspect of it was its function.

Sylvia took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

She surely couldn't see anything beyond her eyelids, but gradually, a completely different landscape appeared despite the darkness.

She was watching the world through the hawk's vision.

Sylvia opened her eyes, satisfied.

"Fly high and show me what you see."

The hawk nodded as if it understood.

"Follow the train tracks and show me what's going on."

Whooooosh—!

The hawk's wings flapped, and it then soared.

Sylvia looked at the figure of fluttering sleet flying high for a while.

*****

… 30 minutes later.

It didn't take long for the express train to pass the fourth station.

They looked at the ground as they sat in the mountain range, igniting a bomb attached to the bottom of the train.

It was the appointed time, the appointed place.

Booom—!

The explosion broke the train's frame and caused it to shoot up.

Due to the explosion, the train got derailed, rolled into the cliff, and was crushed when it slammed against the bottom.

Or at least it should have.

"…!"

Instead, the train stopped midair, with a total of 3 carriages remaining suspended in space.

That was as expected.

He was a little surprised by Deculein's ability, which far surpassed his imagination, but Deculein's magical talent didn't catch him off guard.

He agreed to do the job, knowing full well he'd have to deal with him, after all.

There was also no need to kill him.

They only needed to hold him back from attending the Bercht conference. Not long after, they received the order to charge.

Dozens of them rushed into the train midair, smashing the windows for a swift entry.

At that moment, however, an unknown metal rose.

Ting ting ting ting—!

Like stepping on a trap, a fragment-like awl appeared and pierced their vital points, penetrating through their flesh too easily.

Their numbers quickly dwindled down to five. However, those survivors were the core, the strongest, of their team.

"…"

Deculein sat down relaxedly and looked at them. His valuables were unscathed, and the terrorists couldn't hastily approach him.

He looked off-guard, but they couldn't be fooled. They never knew when metals would break out again.

"Huuuuuuh….?"

Allen opened his eyes then, looking at Deculein groggily. Deculein put into practice what he learned from the martial art book.

That was, he pressed the acupressure point on Allen's neck to knock him out, causing him to fall asleep again along with the sound of a balloon being deflated.

"…?"

Deculein felt some sense of incompatibility at that point. He was so disparate and had seemingly forgotten the situation he was in. He looked at his hand.

The sense of his fingertips….were too soft. It was tender. The acute sense of his [Iron Man] ability allowed him to distinguish even the faintest differences in his skin.

Allen.

He already expected one of his secrets, but the other…

"…"

Deculein looked at his unconscious Assistant Professor and looked outside the train again. From far away, Veron was approaching.

The situation had already been wrapped up to some extent, though.

"It's over."

At Deculein's words, his enemies laughed, then swiftly ran out the window again. He wanted to catch them, but he lacked mana.

"…"

Only then did he stand up. It was time to get off the train, after all.

"Did you say you were Roen?"

"…!"

As he was about to crawl out, Roen felt a jolt course through him. Sweating profusely, he looked back at Deculein. "Y-yes. That…"

"Take this kid with you."

"Oh, yes, yes! Sure!"

Roen got up quickly and carried Allen and was about to get off the train when he paused. The distance between the train in midair and the train track was too far.

"Uhm…can you lower the train a bit….." Deculein shook his head.

Despite its enormous weight, the train was mainly composed of the 'metal' attribute, making simple 'stops' possible.

But no further movement was possible.

"Get off on your own."

Just in time, Veron jumped onto the train.

"Oh, Sir Knight!" Roen was overjoyed.

Veron held him, who had Allen on his back, like an object. "I'm going to jump."

"What? No, Sir Knight! I'm not prepared yet—"

"That's okay." He jumped off.

"Gaaaaaah—" Roen, shrieking strangely, fainted as soon as he landed on the ground. The knight placed the two unconscious men on the train track and jumped back onto the train.

"…"

He then stood still as he looked at Deculein, who thought he was here to pick him up. An important truth entered his mind soon enough, however.

This was it for Veron.

He came 'walking.'

Deculein calmly called his treasure, and the knight looked inside the train that was floating.

"… The front of the train already departed for Bercht, but a follow-up countermeasure will come up soon." Veron explained.

Deculein replied. "Are they safe?"

"Yes. There's only the two of us in this carriage now."

Deculein glared at Veron. Beside him, a blood-thirsty finishing move was rising. Was he off-guard?

Or was Veron too perfect?

Whatever it was, it was truly amazing. He managed to even fool his character's eyes.

"Veron."

"We've rescued the rest of the passengers," He continued as if telling him not to worry. "So, it's now your turn to die."

Deculein laughed in vain at the weird flow of his reasoning. "… I'll give you a chance to think deeply about this."

"I've thought about it hundreds of times. You have to die."

He couldn't count the reasons. Veron kicked the ground and pounced on him. The treasure arrived just in time and blocked his way, but he quickly unsheathed his sword and swung it 180 degrees.

Claaang—!

With one swing, the treasure with ten handles tumbled down.

The sword that bounced off floated and continuously attacked Veron in every direction.

Clang—! clang—!

The frictional sounds of swords clashing thundered through the place like raging fires.

There wasn't any gap in his refined swordsmanship, and his defense was reaching a certain point of mastery as well.

"…"

There was a clear difference in their class.

At this rate, Deculein knew he would be defeated the moment he used up all of his mana.

Hence, Deculein recollected his treasure. Veron, still on alert, attacked with all his might again. However, even with such a violent attack incoming, Deculein didn't close his eyes.

It was all to cancel out his psychokinesis.

It was a much better choice than being hit by that blade.

"—Uugggh!"

Kuuuuung—!

Their drop, which had been suspended midair, continued again, the train swiftly being swept down by the gravity.

*****

… It didn't fall all the way to the bottom, however.

Fortunately, the train got caught at the sharp side of the cliff, leaving only one of the VIP carriages skewered.

"… Ribs."

The impact of the high-altitude fall resulted only in a few of my bones being broken.

My [Iron Man] body was added on top of the defense from the suit. My fractures would recover soon, while my senses were awakened by murderous intent.

A stream of attack flared up, and I rolled almost instinctively. At the same time, I called my treasure, which I had left somewhere. Fortunately, it immediately came up and hit the knight on the shoulder.

Clang—!

It was blocked by powerful innate defense, preventing it from causing much damage, however.

"You're persistent." He babbled on and raised his sword again. I applied psychokinesis on his sword, but it bounced off my interference.

I had no choice but to back away as he rushed in without giving me a break. As his blade was about to fall down my shoulder, I twisted my hips and reached for his neck.

He was a little faster.

He hit my side with his elbow, the impact strong enough to cause me to be slammed to the side. A gale of wind then blew through me as I was sliding at the slope of the train.

"...!"

The blade-like wind slices hit me from my collarbone to my hip bone.

Blood dripped out of the corners of my mouth. He was dealing damage much faster than my recovery speed.

I was about to stand up with my seat held, but I suddenly looked back. The cliff was a long way down.

"This is tough."

He walked straight up to me.

I had no choice but to acknowledge him. Veron was much stronger than I was today.

Even if we fought in perfect condition, I would still be pushed back. I used up too much mana to hold the train.

"… Are you betraying Julie?"

Nevertheless, my body and mouth were still full of vigor. It's not only [Personality], but also an effect of [Characteristics].

—— [ Even if it Breaks ] ——

◆ Class: Rare

◆ Description:

– It may break, but it will never bend.

– When combat is in motion, it maintains mental strength until the battle is over. Almost all mental magical interference will not work.

—————

It was one of the basic characteristics of Deculein that I didn't add. I wasn't nervous even in the face of death.

I was in a life-or-death crisis, but Deculein's heart was still beating steadily.

"You have to die, so my master can live," Veron said.

I let out an unconscious jeer. "If I live now, is your master going to die? If no one dies, then no one dies."

He swung his sword without answering, and I lined up the wooden steel in its path, turning it into a shield and blocking his attack.

"… Huuup!"

He destroyed it with a simple chop, though.

It scattered like debris as he dug through it.

… It didn't make sense. It was as if he had become the sword itself. He raised his weapon once more.

For a moment, time seemed to slow down. Looking at the scattered pieces of the sword, I had a simple thought.

If I get cut by it, would the game be over? Like nothing ever happened?

Was I going to open my eyes in the office again?

If not… Then…

A strange phenomenon occurred.

A distortion appeared on his wrist as he was about to swing it down. Like a haze, the whole space was distorted.

Veron looked at his arm with curious eyes.

Shhhkkk—!

It then got tangled up, causing blood to splatter. His wrist was then neatly cut, causing his sword to drop and skid on the ground.

"—!"

Veron glared at his wound in pain.

I didn't understand what was going on, but I couldn't miss this chance. I swept down my sword on his staggering ankles.

"Arrrrggh!"

Losing his balance, he slipped off the train. His whole body was pushed off by a gust of wind.

"…"

I finally found silence at this unexpected moment. My opponent wasn't dead yet, however.

His bloodthirst was still flowing.

Clutching my side, I stood up and walked using the edges of the seats as support and looked under the train.

Whiiiiing—!

Inside a raging wind, he had stabbed his dagger into the bottom of the train with his remaining left hand.

"… I was hiding my dagger."

Veron showed a calm smile, causing anger to rise from within me, which I could almost mistake for passion. However, the words that came out of my mouth were extremely serene.

"Veron. Do you think this situation is right?"

"…" He shook his head as he swayed in the piercing wind. For a man who would die if he released his grip, he was unusually composed.

"Of course, it's not right. However, I cannot help but remember all the evil deeds you've done to my master." Veron's voice was filled with poison. "You may not know of it or have forgotten about it—"

"… No, I know."

I knew all too well.

This death variable was the consequence of Deculein's numerous evil deeds. No treasure could ever compensate for all that he had done in the past.

Nevertheless…

"You've been patient, Veron."

He laughed at my smirking remark.

"… That's right, but no. Patience can recover, but mine no longer can. This is my end."

He closed his eyes. It seemed like he was trying to recall something at the back of his mind. No, his whole mind seemed to have been filled with that one memory.

"I, my body, has been dead for a long time now."

I heard him reminiscing.

"I still remember the day she saved me, a person no different from trash, from dying by being stepped on by a horse. I remember her smile. I remember everything from that day. I was dead, but the moment I stood up holding her hand, I was reborn."

The raging winds rose through the cliff. Veron slowly opened his eyes and laughed. He was still stuck in those days.

"My life belongs only to her."

I despondently laughed. "You should have at least told Julie about your intentions."

"The commander definitely would have refused."

"Why did you make such an arbitrary decision, then?"

"That's also because I'm dead."

At some point, a blizzard began flowing through us. Fragments passed by his dagger; his only support would soon collapse.

"I know that my feelings are bothersome to her. The mere existence of my emotions is a burden to her." He gave strength to the hand holding the dagger.

"Regardless, I know you have to be stopped. Otherwise, the day will come when you will surely ruin her." Veron recited with certainty.

I looked into his eyes and nodded. "… That's right."

That was extremely right.

Deculein's twisted love made Julie break her principle, and made her kill Deculein with her own hands.

"But you're also mistaken."

I wasn't Deculein.

I would change Deculein's future. I had no doubt that I could change it with my own hands.

So…

"… Believe in me." I reached out to him. "I will not do anything to harm Julie."

Veron didn't say anything. He just held out his right arm in silence. Like he's telling me to take it.

"…"

But I didn't take it. An unknown heat burned in my heart.

"… Veron." I clenched my teeth. "Even if I save you like this…"

His murderous intent was getting even heavier, swiftly turning to a ferocious flame that seemed to engulf the world.

"You're still going to kill me."

A fire that could never be extinguished.

The root of his hatred could never be resolved and could never be soothed unless I died by his hands.

"… Yes."

Veron was honest.

"I see no hand towards me anyway. A knight without a hand can't be helped. You can't be beside her." I uttered Deculein's retribution.

"I want to kill you with my remaining hand." At the same time, Veron remained foolish.

I held back my anger. "… You hopeless and stupid being."

The wooden steel in my hand flew. With a tight grip on his dagger, he spoke.

"Listen carefully." Veron closed his eyes. "I….love Julie."

Kuuuung—!

The train trembled.

His bloodlust still seemed to be pondering about how to kill me… but suddenly stopped.

He shook his dagger… to drop the entire carriage off the cliff.

"I will release Julie."

This fucking bastard was no knight.

He was just a fanatic who had lost his mind in his path of worshipping and admiring only one person.

Crazy psychopath.

"But your choice today…"

Duk, duk, duk.

Blood flowed from my hand holding a sword, the droplets of which hit Veron's forehead.

"…will torment Julie for the rest of her life." My mana was already depleted.

"You…."

I was going to do it with my own hands. I was going to kill him.

"You're a dog who gave up on being a human being."

I strengthened my wrist and arms and threw the sword. It burst like an arrow and pierced Veron's neck.

Schwaaaak—!

…

Now, there was only silence.

Even the wind seemed to have stopped raging for a moment.

It was as if the sound of the world itself disappeared. Veron quietly let his hand go from the dagger.

Just like that…

He lost the light in his eyes, plunged into the cliff, and finally…

His murderous intent was extinguished… Not by my death, but his.