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    Chapter 97: Conditions of Power (7)


    From the moment Lindsay first saw the boy during the match with Gunther, she could tell.


    His smooth movements, almost as if cutting through space, the light yet powerful gestures.


    Within them, there was even a mercilessness akin to ice.


    Those who could disy such prowess were rare on this continent.


    ‘Mist…’


    The ce she had belonged to, where she gained her power, and the ce she had abandoned in her mind.


    A ce where they persisted in the meaningless waiting for a sessor, despite possessing the unmatched ability of divine power.


    That boy was undoubtedly of the Mist.


    Why would they, who usually keep themselves hidden, be here in Lambert?


    Lindsay could easily grasp the reason.


    They hade to kill her.


    As long as there existed someone other than themselves capable of wielding Aeru’s power, she was well aware that they would eventuallye to eliminate her.


    But just a single boy?


    She pondered.


    Silica, that woman seemed to be underestimating her too much.


    It wasughable, really, that they would attempt to assassinate her with just one high-ranking member.


    It was so pathetic it was almost unbelievable.


    However, there was one intriguing aspect.


    It was the sword the boy had used.


    The crimson de exuding a sinister aura and the ck jewel embedded in the hilt.


    On the surface, it bore a striking resemnce to the Aeru’s demonic sword known as Kaeram.


    But she soon shook her head.


    To think that such a demonic sword would be here, it just didn’t seem usible, did it?


    The presence of a demonic sword meant that its wielder was the sessor, but Lindsay never thought for a moment that the boy could be the sessor.


    To her, the idea of a sessor was akin to a nonexistent entity in this world.


    In fact, she had even entertained the thought of taking on the role of the sessor herself.


    But now, standing before her, was someone she never expected to encounter— the wielder of Kaeram, the one who had been bestowed with Aeru’s mark, the sessor.


    * * *


    The mist that had escaped from Kaeram enveloped my entire body.


    -Swirl-


    In a situation where two ipatible spaces coexisted, the mist within the Mist Space, which had imprisoned me, surged violently.


    There’s a misconception among people that the power of the ck mist is so grandiose that it can destroy everything in the world.


    But in reality, it merely neutralizes whatever it encounters.


    It’s like soothing a crying child, rendering things quiet and subdued rather than causing destruction on a massive scale.


    That’s the essence of the mist’s power.


    -Crack-


    “What… What happened to my mist?”


    With the sound of shattering ss, a rift appeared in the space.


    Her mist, without any resistance, dissipated helplessly.


    Technically speaking, it wasn’t disappearing but rather being absorbed into my mist.


    I shouted at her as she finished getting ready.


    “Shadow Arts 6th Form: Mist Space!”


    It was the same technique she had cast.


    However, the power behind it wasn’t quite the same.


    Still, shouldn’t she make sure to confirm?


    To see what kind of power the sessor, whom she has hated so much, possesses.


    “Do you really think I’ll submit to your mist?!”


    She didn’t retreat, roaring loudly as she embraced the Mist Space head-on.


    In reality, there was no escaping it.


    This ce was an alternate space created by the power of the mist.


    There was nowhere to flee from the mist’s power.


    “Urgh!”


    She was desperate.


    Her gaze showed a strong determination, as if she wouldn’t be consumed by my mist no matter what.


    But can things in the world really be resolved through willpower alone?


    Struggling within the increasingly oppressive mist, just when she thought it would end without any major changes,


    -Rip-


    The Mist Space vanished.


    “Haah… Haah….”


    She had finally broken through.


    Momentarily surprised by the unexpected oue, she soon narrowed her eyes and shouted at me.


    “That gaze! Those disgusting eyes that seem like they’re going to crush me! You’re no different from her!”


    I didn’t expect to hear such words.


    Since when did my eyes resemble those of the leader?


    “Why won’t you vermin just get out of my way? I am the true sessor who should inherit the power of Aeru…!”


    [Then prove it.]


    Lindsay’s gaze turned to Kaeram beside her.


    [Everything will be shown by the oue. If you truly are the rightful sessor who can inherit the power of that ursed god, then why not kill that sessor right here and now? There’s no better proof than that, right?]


    The demonic sword, Kaeram, taunts again.


    Perhaps it’s teasing her to see more amusement, but staying silent in such a situation seems even more strange.


    “….!”


    When our eyes meet, there’s nothing more to say.


    Simply raising my eyebrows as if to say ‘do as you please’, her eyes filled with anger once again.


    “Mist, sessor… You’re of no use to me.”


    -Swish


    At the same time, a dagger appeared in her hands.


    “So, I’ll kill all of you and stand at the center myself! No one can stop me!”


    -Slice


    Do you know one of the things an assassin should never do?


    It’s rushing in recklessly fueled by emotions.


    Although it’s been a long time since leaving the organization, forgetting such basics of being an assassin and trying to take the center stage bewildered me.


    Didn’t she say you need qualifications to possess power?


    That’s correct.


    You should use the given power generously without hoarding it.


    That way, you won’t regret itter.


    -Swipe


    The sensation of limbs being severed was distinctly felt.


    One movement was enough, and I slowly exhaled while bringing down the sword.


    -Thud


    Soon the mist cleared, and from above, crimson blood poured like rain.


    [Wasn’t that a bit anticlimactic?]


    Kaeram asked with a dissatisfied expression.


    “I didn’t see the need to make it moreplicated…”


    I replied indifferently, as usual.


    * * *


    While watching the battle between Lindsay and the boy, Lisa could do nothing.


    In fact, calling it a battle was ambiguous.


    It was more like one-sided dominance.


    Just like in the arena, the boy effortlessly overwhelmed his opponent.


    She felt disheartened.


    At least she thought Lindsay was among the strongest people she had ever seen, yet here she was, facing such a pitiful end.


    Beyond disappointment, a sense of helplessness and misery weighed heavily on her.


    “…!”


    The boy looked at her.


    Lisa still held the sword in her hand, but there was no trace of caution in the boy’s face.


    She thought it was natural.


    To him, she was like a bug he could crush at any moment.


    -Clomp, clomp


    He finally started approaching her.


    All Lisa could do was meet his gaze.


    Three seconds of eye contact with those sinister eyes.


    Lisa silently closed her eyes.


    “What are you doing?”


    The boy asked, and she replied resignedly, “If possible, please let me go without suffering…”


    In reality, it was a forced plea disguised as a request.


    “I know. It’s shameless to make such a request after trying to kill you. If you don’t want to, I understand. I’ll just ept it calmly.”


    The boy chuckled briefly, then squatted down in front of her and asked,


    “Do you think I’m going to kill you?”


    “It’s obvious. I tried to kill you, and I saw your secret that no one else should know. There’s no reason for you to spare me. Even if just to keep me quiet, it’s only right for me to die…”


    “I’m not going to kill you.”


    Her narrowed eyes widened in an instant.


    * * *


    This manager, she’s making quite a fuss.


    Even though nothing is as precious as life, is it right to give up on it so easily?


    “W-What did you just say…”


    “I said I’m not going to kill you.”


    “T-That’s… right! Y-You’ll torture me by cutting off my limbs one by one until the end…”


    “I have no intention of doing that. I’m just going to let you go with all your limbs intact.”


    “…?”


    She looked at me with a strange mix of confusion and astonishment.


    I, in turn, epted her gaze calmly.


    There’s another misconception people have: Mist’s goal is assassination, not ughter.


    Once the target is eliminated, the mission is over. There’s no point in further bloodshed.


    It didn’t take long for her to speak up again.


    “D-Don’t lie to me! You shouldn’t joke around like this! You’re an assassin! What assassin would spare someone they tried to kill! What kind of assassin does that!”


    I replied calmly, “It wasn’t intentional anyway.”


    “W-Well, that’s true, but…”


    I could tell from the moment she shed swords with me.


    Alongside the determination to kill me, there was a subtle agony mixed in, acknowledging the impossibility of it.


    She merely shed with me out of necessity to fulfill her owner’s orders.


    “B-But I know you’re an assassin working for Mist…”


    “So? Are you trying to spread rumors?”


    “N-No! I would never!”


    Well then, isn’t that settled?


    There’s no one around here who will remember my face even if I say something.


    “A-Are you really not going to kill me?”


    “Are you going to keep talking until your mouth hurts? How much more do I need to say?”


    Judging by her expression, it seemed like I would have to repeat it a hundred times for her to believe it.


    “It’s strange to see an assassin so lenient…”


    I couldn’t deny it, so I chuckled.


    “Just one question.”


    She, who had been silent for a moment, blinked once again.


    “I couldn’t wrap my head around it, so I had to ask.”


    “W-What is it?”


    “Why did you tell me to leave?”


    Despite being in a position to obey Lindsay’s orders, she seemed to show unnecessary acknowledgment by telling me to leave if I wanted to live.


    Was there really a need for that?


    We were just a guest and a shopkeeper, after all.


    Her gaze, pondering repeatedly, soon turned to the gruesome sight of Lindsay’s mutted body.


    This kind of situation urred more often than one might think.


    After dealing with the target, being around others who were still present.


    It might seem puzzling, but Mist’s goal was strictly assassination, not massacre.


    Once the initial target was dealt with, that was it; there was no need to eliminate unrted bystanders.


    “Ah…”


    Whether it was a feeling of disappointment or relief, she sighed.


    “I-I’m not sure if this will exin anything, but…”


    I’d have to hear it before I could judge.


    “It was around the time when I was just a guest. When Gunther and I came in here…”


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