Chapter 55: Ice and Thunder
Chapter 55: Ice and Thunder
Alice, why did you come here?
Its obvious, isnt it? Because I love you.
Youre not worth talking to. Mia, is this someones order?
Thats so cruel Hah-hah.
Well There was a report that Luke was being put on a carriage, and we were worried, so we got permission from Lady Julia and came to check on you with Eleanoras magic
I see, thats understable. You on the other hand, cant you give a more concise explanation, Alice?
Uh
Im sorry I mean, if Im looked at with those eyes, then I
sigh
Hahaha, you guys are amusing.
Mia looked pleased when she was told her explanation was clear, while Alice was excited to receive the scornful gaze of Luke. Eleanora watched them with amusement and laughed.
I have a lot of questions for both of you. Firstly, could you tell me why youre here?
Uh
Luke turned his sharp gaze towards the two cloaked figures, Canis and Ferris.
Ahaha Well, we saw Zach and you guys being taken away, so we decided to follow. Turns out you didnt need our help at all. Really.
I see. Thats what happened. Thank you.
No problem at all
Canis grinned at Zach before casting a quick glance towards Luke, his eyes filled with intense fear.
(He can use skills after all. But I know, after thoroughly investigating it. That this kid learned how to use skills without being taught by anyone)
Trembling with horror, Canis held his breath quietly. Luke sensed the fear, but he didnt know the reason behind it and wasnt particularly interested. However, he did find it intriguing that he couldnt sense Caniss presence despite him being right next to him.
Just as he was about to inquire about it, he felt a tug on his sleeve. Turning his head, he saw the other beastman, Ferris.
What is it?
Want to talk, Tonight if thats okay.
The polite language was delivered awkwardly and in a hushed tone for some reason.
Luke had numerous questions for these two, although their intentions eluded him. Nevertheless, this was precisely what he had hoped for.
Sure, thats fine.
Thank you very much.
(That girl always doing things on her own)
Canis, who had picked up the conversation with his acute hearing, felt the need to lecture her once again. However, before he could speak, Alice barged in, clearly dissatisfied with the secretive atmosphere.
Whos this kid?
Her blatant annoyance was palpable.
Whoever she is, isnt she a little too comfortable with you?
No way!
It was Mia who raised her voice.
Is she Lukes new
Woman!? Dont tell me shes here to steal
Enough already, you guys.
Huh? Im included too
Mia had meant to say pawn, but Alice misunderstood and grew excited, as was her usual demeanor. Luke accurately sensed their patterns and swiftly redirected the conversation.
Letting out a sigh, Luke shifted his focus.
Hey.
Guh w-what do you want
He asked the writhing man, holding down his arm.
Whos your client?
I-I dont know
Ha?
Yeah, its not a lie! Im an old friend of the chief, I was there when the deal went down! But they had a hood on, so I couldnt even tell if it was a man or a woman! But the pay was good
I see. Are you mercenaries?
Yes. Were truly sorry! Well pay you whatever you want! Please spare us
Dont waste your breath. Just guide us and keep quiet.
It was meant to be a simple job.
Accept the request and get paid.
That was it.
(What the h**l did we get ourselves into)
Regret flooded the mans mind, but it was too late to turn back now.
After a while, a cave came into view, and two men stood guard at its entrance.
Hey, welcome. That Nobles child sure caused you trouble
Sorry I messed up
You sure look like it
Cold blades were pressed against the necks of the two men who were controlling the horses.
The carriage came to a graceful halt, and Luke and his companions stepped out with a man missing an arm.
Arvent!!
Gather here, everyone. All the mercenaries.
As soon as he got off the carriage, Luke said this without changing his expression. The two men guarding the entrance looked puzzled.
You guys can leave.
Is that okay?
Yeah, let them go.
Got it.
Luke gestured for Arvent, the man missing an arm, to depart as Canis and Ferris released the two hostages.
Despite their willingness to do almost anything for money, this mercenary group had developed a strong sense of camaraderie after surviving the war together so they knew when to give up.
(What an idiot. He let the hostage go so easily)
There was confusion but also a sense of relief. With their comrades freed, they could handle the rest now.
There were eight people in total at the scene, including the target, Luke. Three were noble girls who clearly lacked combat experience seeing their stature.
Hurry up. Dont keep us waiting.
Ah, Ill bring everyone right away.
Supporting their injured comrade, the men entered the cave with a slight smirk on their faces.
After a few minutes, one of the men spoke, Well-well, noble-sama? Our friends took care of you guys, right?
There were nearly fifty mercenaries gathered there.
Hmm, is everyone here now?
What did you say?
Agolte, leader of the mercenary group, furrowed his brow as he observed Lukes calm demeanor in the face of their overwhelming numbers. It was clear to Agolte that his group lacked knowledge of magic and considered anyone with unusual abilities to be a magician.
Despite this, Agolte remained cautious, especially since Luke had easily disarmed the third strongest member of their group, who happened to be a close friend of his.
(Dont think you can die so easily. Ill show you h**l!)
Agolte couldnt forgive Luke for treating his comrade in such a way, and he could feel a boiling anger in his gut. He wasnt thinking of attacking Luke based on his own judgment, but rather acting on his intense emotions.
So thats all, huh?
Ha?
Lukes disappointment was palpable, and it was clear that his words had irritated the men standing in front of him.
Alice.
Yes?
You do it.
Huh Are you sure? I dont want to take away your fun.
It doesnt matter. Besides, I havent seen your magic in a long time.
At that moment, Alice felt an unexpected surge of joy run through her body like an electric current at his words.
Whats wrong?
No, if you want, Ill show you everything I have
Suddenly, multiple layers of magic circles extended to the sky, and a tremendous surge of magic power, freezing and immense, blew around Alice like a storm. They could instinctively sense the danger, even without much knowledge.
What the h**l is this!?
Boss!! This is bad!! I dont know whats going on, but this guy is insanely dangerous!! Hurry and run
Dont be stupid!! Our comrades were treated like this!! We cant run away!! Were gonna beat the h**l out of him, you guys!!
The men who had resolved to attack Alice made a simultaneous run towards her, closing the distance rapidly. Their goal was to cut off her head before she could react. But then, Alice spoke a single word that froze the atmosphere:
World of Ice.
In an instant, the merciless cold of her magic froze the men in their tracks. Alices natural talent for magic had always been strong, but after meeting Luke, her destiny had taken a different path. Watching a simulation battle between her brother Yolande and Luke had ignited a desire to become stronger within her, and she had continuously worked hard ever since. Her natural talent, combined with her unrelenting effort, had led to the development of overwhelming magic power.
Wonderful
Luke couldnt help but admire as Alice not only froze the men but also the entire area around her.
Fufu, thank you.
It was unusual to see Alice like this, and it was easy to see that she was embarrassed.
This is truly amazing. To think to think that much. Alice, would you like to fight me seriously!?
Eleonora exclaimed in excitement.
W-wow amazing
Zach was sweating profusely.
(For this beautiful girl to do that!? Huh!? Her magic is so scary!!)
He had already developed a certain resistance to shock from spending time with Luke and witnessing monstrous strength, but now he realized that it was all just the tip of the iceberg..
It was clear to anyone who looked at it that the frozen men would never move again. However, Mia interrupted their admiration by saying,
L-Luke look at mine too
Hmm? Hey.
Luke had previously been amazed by Alices magic, but now he suddenly noticed the immense power brewing inside Mia that had gone unnoticed until now. Unlike Alices magic, Mias power seemed to cut through him like a sharp knife, commanding his full attention once again.
Mias heart was consumed by an intense and overpowering jealousy that she could hardly contain. Though she acknowledged Alices presence, there were also inexplicable feelings stirring within her that she couldnt quite make sense of.
She longed for Lukes attention to be directed towards her as well, wishing he would look at her and only her. Her desire to be seen and noticed grew more and more intense with each passing moment, until it was all she could think about. And so, when she channeled her magic, it was infused with all the murky emotions that swirled inside her.
Luke knew he should have intervened, but he found himself unable to resist the temptation to see Mias magic unfold before him.
( When did they become so strong?)
Alice and Mia initially, their combat abilities didnt capture Lukes attention. However, they had rapidly grown stronger beyond what was expected in the original story, and it was all thanks to Lukes encounter with them.
Thundering Hammer
Then came the Thundering Hammer a display of thunder that tore through the world of ice with a massive lightning bolt that felt like divine punishment. The sight was otherworldly, almost magical.
Ahahaha. What a great magic.
Unexpectedly, Luke found himself laughing at the sight, unaware of how insane his smile looked.
The lightning seemed to defy the laws of nature, instantly melting the world of ice and causing a rapid steam explosion from the heated water. The air swelled up at an incredible speed, as if it could barely contain the power of the magic that had just been unleashed.
Luke had recognized the immense potential of Mias magic and attempted to intervene, but it was too late.
Spatial Disruption
Suddenly, Eleanora magic enveloped everyone in the area.
Kuku, dont do anything unnecessary.
Dont say that. Let me do something too.
With a deafening roar, the magic was unleashed. Everything in the area was blown away like scraps of paper, leaving behind a scorched earth landscape. The frozen flesh of the men was scattered, but Eleanoras magic managed to block it all.
As the dust slowly settled, Mia whispered an apology, her small form seeming even more fragile than usual.
Im sorry, she said. Im always like this I cant seem to do anything well.
Her self-loathing was intense, and tears threatened to spill from the corners of her eyes. But then, someone reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder.
Youve trained yourself well to get this far.
Th-thank you
No need to thank me.
Those were the words that brought Mia the greatest comfort. They infused a poisonous dose into her heart, which was already consumed by sweet and deadly thoughts.
Then, Luke abruptly gazed into the void, sporting a twisted grin on his face. He performed an incomprehensible action that left everyone there baffled.
So, how was it? Did you enjoy it? Dark Suction.
Luke cast his magic towards the void. Nobody there understood what he was doing.
Black hair boy- Abel
Green hair girl- Lily
White hair girl- Alice
Yellow hair boy- Luke
Brown hair girl- Mia