<h4>Chapter 56</h4>


    "It seems like he is serious. Do you want me to join you?" Keh added from behind.


    Kyle, trembling with anger, shouted back, "Don''t fuck with me! I''ll kill you too if you interfere!"


    Kyle then red at Ian with reddened eyes, grinding his teeth fiercely. "I''ll rip that mouth of yours first, you bastard!"


    <i>Yep, just as expected</i>, thought Ian.


    Kyle charged the moment Ian, with a smirk barely concealed, drew his sword. His speed was deceptively fast for his size. The dagger flew at the face of Kyle once more.


    <i>Crack, whoosh!</i>


    Kyle deflected the dagger with his arm and then struck down the sword. Ian rolled to the side, as the Scale Sword sliced through the air. The force of the blow cratered the ground.


    <i>That''s one hell of a force</i>, thought Ian.


    In the blink of an eye, Kyle, having abruptly stopped with one foot, swung his body around andshed out with his sword. Ian quickly raised his own in defense.


    <i>ng!</i>


    The swords collided, pushing Ian back as the Sword of Judgment caught between them. Ian, bracing the sword with his arm, barely managed to stop himself.


    Kyle red at Ian as if to devour him whole, "So you''re a master swordsman, huh? Is this all you''ve got?"


    "You''re mistaken about something," said Ian.


    It was then Ian''s eyes gleamed red. Ian continued, "I never imed to be a master swordsman."


    <i>Whirl.</i>


    Balls of fire sessively burst into existence around Ian. Kyle squinted his eyes and pushed Ian away, retreating backward.


    <i>Boom, boom, boom!</i>


    Following him, the fireballs exploded one after another. Kyle raised his arm to shield his face.


    <i>Swoosh!</i>


    Breaking through the explosion, Ian swung his sword horizontally. Although caught off guard, Kyle still managed to raise his sword in defense.


    <i>Crackle, boom.</i>


    A silent explosion emanated from Ian''s sword. It was the Vacuum Explosion that drew everything in before sting it away, one of the most convenient spells in chaotic fights, as it was barely recognizable as magic.


    <i>Crash</i>.


    Kyle, hit as if by a shell, rolled across the ground.


    <i>Woosh!</i>


    Igniting the Dancing mes once more, Ian charged at the fallen Kyle again. As the Sword of Judgment was about to strike, slicing through the air,


    "A sorcerer, huh? Even better!"


    <i>Zing!</i>


    With a shout, a shockwave burst forth from Kyle''s entire body. From the intense heat of the shockwave, Ian was pushed back, and the approaching mes exploded mid-air. Pushing through the thick smoke, Kyle got to his feet.


    "I can do something simr," said Kyle.


    Despite being hit by the Vacuum Explosion, his arm wasn''t even close to being broken. The magic stones embedded in his ck armor shimmered with a red glow.


    <i>Cleng.</i>


    Sparks flew as Kyle gripped his sword handle tighter.


    "Ah, right. You''re the type to be overgeared to win," said Ian as hended and regained his posture.


    Kyle retorted, "Overgeared...?"


    "It means you rely more on your equipment than your skill."


    "This damned sorcerer...!" Kyle charged like a cannonball, sparks flying in all directions behind him.


    <i>Maybe I should have fought with blue magic,</i> thought Ian.


    Ian, with Wind de, wrapped around his body, propelled himself forward.


    <i>Woosh!</i>


    mes followed the trajectory of the shing de.


    <i>Ha, a full magical armor for mere escort of merchants</i>. Ian couldn''t help but scoff, though considering the opponent was from the empire, it wasn''t surprising. This was why the border kingdoms, no matter how hard they tried, could never surpass the empire. They couldn''t secure or manufacture personal magical armor like this for each individual. The magical armor wrapped around that guy was some kind of a privilege.


    <i>Sizzle.</i>


    Kyle''s continued relentless attack gave Ian no time to breathe. Thoughcking in details, Kyle’s strength and stamina were formidable. He had finally pushed Ian, who had been dodging the attack using the aid of his Concentration, Intuition, and Wind des, to a moment Ian couldn''t avoid.


    Gritting his teeth, Ian raised his sword to meet the iing trajectory. The approaching Scale Sword etched slowly in his eyes and the scorching heat rushed along its trajectory. However, it wasn''t the mes that made Ian''s brow twitch. It was the sudden sense of ominousness.


    <i>ng!</i>


    Sparks flew as the Sword of Judgment shed with the Sale Sword, and a murderous intent shed in Kyle''s eyes.


    "Die!" Kyle shouted.


    <i>Click, shrrrr.</i>


    Pressing on the handle of his sword, the Scale Sword momentarily stretched out like a snake. The de then coiled around the Sword of Judgment, aiming for Ian beyond it. It was then Ian instinctively leaned back.


    Kyle''s eyes, which had been sure of victory, widened atst. The Scale Sword barely missed Ian''s face. The ensuing mes, though they chased the de''s path, weren''t enough to break through Ian''s resistance. The mes only reddened his skin and slightly singed his hair.


    <i>Shrrrk</i>.


    While Kyle was retracting his elongated sword, Ian, springing up like a coil, didn''t miss the gap and plunged into Kyle''s reach.


    "Try blocking this," said Ian.


    As the Sword of Judgment swung close to the ground, it ignited with a blue light.


    "What?!" Kyle''s eyes filled with bloodshot fury.


    <i>Zing!</i>


    And those were hisst words. The Sword of Judgment thrust upward, embedded itself in Kyle''s side, yet the sh continued its path, piercing through his upper body. Blood gushed from Kyle''s gaping mouth. His torso, sliced diagonally from waist to chest, fell backward. The surrounding mes and sparks gradually died down.


    "...Huh." Keh''s mouth opened btedly at the sight through the smoke.


    Since the smoke filled up after Kyle’s strike, all he had seen was a sh of blue light. The next moment, he saw Kyle, dead with his chest split open, and Ian, who was now looking at him.


    "This is absurd. Is what I''m seeing real? This is the first time seeing a mage who uses a sword, but now divine power..." Keh barely managed to blink while speaking.


    "No matter how sacred the relic, the Gods wouldn''t bestow holiness upon a mage. How did you do it?" Keh asked.


    "Well, they seemed to have granted it to me." Ian shrugged.


    "What exactly are you? There is no way a wandering mercenary from some backwater possibly killed Kyle," Keh asked.


    "Well, I''m not of this world," Ian replied.


    "...?"


    As the answers continued, Keh''s expression grew increasingly bewildered. Ian, without saying more, flicked the blood off his sword.


    A hollowugh finally spread across Keh''s face, "Okay, you have no intention of answering directly."


    "I only spoke the truth," said Ian.


    <i>Why lie to a man who is about to die?</i> Ian mused inwardly, watching Keh with a deep gaze.


    "Let me ask you. Among your group, where does he rank?" Ian asked.


    Keh''s gaze shifted to Kyle''s corpse. A bitter smile spread across his lips as he spoke, "I''d like to say he was the weakest... But unfortunately, except for Charlotte, they''re all about the same. Charlotte is definitely different."


    "Charlotte...?" Ian remarked.


    "Ah, you might not know her name. She''s a beastfolk. She remembered you. It''s thanks to her that we''ve been chasing you," said Keh.


    ”Ah, the beastfolk. I do remember her. I actually thought she would be the one toe after us. But it was you guys who showed up." Ian nodded.


    "That probably is the case. We''re just the advance party. ...I thought we''d kill all of you and take thedy back with us. Never thought this backwater ce would be my grave," said Keh.


    "That’s how life works. I never thought I''d fall into such a godforsaken world either," said Ian.


    "You have a way with words. Must be a mage thing," said Keh.


    Keh drew the spear slung on his back. Twisting the handle, a crescent de popped out from the side of the shaft.


    "Even with a relic, I don’t think you can''t keep borrowing divinity indefinitely. I''ve figured out you''re a red mage and that your swordsmanship isn''t all great. Seems like we''ve seen the extent of your abilities..." Keh continued calmly, smiling at Ian.


    "How about we call it here? Honestly, I''m not confident I can win without any injuries," said Keh.


    "If I let you go, you won''t chase after us?" Ian asked.


    "I would like that, but I can''t say the same for my employer." Keh''s smile deepened into a bitter grin.


    "Looks like we''vee to a conclusion, then.” Ian shrugged, and his breathing was almost back to normal.


    "What a pity. Like you said earlier, I should have joined forces with Kyle. I thought you were just taunting him, but you were actually showing us a way out," said Keh.


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    Suddenly, Keh charged without warning. The magic stones embedded in his armor lit up simultaneously, and a chilly mist pushed him forward.


    <i>Red followed by blue, huh?</i> Ian smirked and leaped back, simultaneouslyunching a fireball at Keh.


    <i>Boom, boom!</i>


    Keh, with a sweep of his halberd, easily cut through the fireball and continued his charge, closing the distance in an instant.


    <i>Crackle!</i>


    Ice spikes sprouted instantaneously behind and beside Ian. Ian rolled to a stop, and the continuing spikes blocked his retreat.


    <i>Ah, so there''s a reason for thebination,</i> thought Ian.


    Ian crouched low, watching Keh''s charge. He might have acted defeated, but the look in his eyes was far from that of a man who had given up on life. It was all to catch Ian off-guard. But then again, neither did Ian. He had no intention of prolonging this battle in the first ce.


    <i>Crackle!</i>


    An ice wall sprang up in front of Ian.


    <i>Crash!</i>


    Keh, eyes wide, struck the wall. However, he wasn’t able to shatter it with a single blow. Instead, ice pirs, like stgmites, shot out from the surface, stabbing into his armor. A Frost Shield, manifested from chaotic energy, could block even a dragon''s breath if just once.


    "Blue...?!" As shock spread across Keh''s face,


    <i>Bang! </i>


    The shield exploded, sweeping him with shards. Cuts appeared on his face, visible beneath his helmet. At that moment, Ian, with magic swirling in his eyes, faced Keh. As Keh grimaced, attempting to activate the magic in his armor,


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    A surge of magical energy burst from Ian''s grasp.


    <i>Fizzle.</i>


    The forming spell scattered, and the magic stones in the armor started blinking erratically right after.


    "What is this...?!" Confusion spread across Keh''s face.


    <i>It’s called a magic backflow.</i> Ian mentally retorted, preparing the next spell as he jumped.


    Magic backflow was, as the name suggests, an arcane skill that reverses the flow of magic, temporarily neutralizing magical artifacts or spells being cast. Despite its seemingly useful ability, it required close range and precise timing to use. Also, it couldn''t neutralize artifacts, relics, or the skills of boss-level named beings. However, it was decidedly effective in catching an opponent off-guard. Ian,pleting his spell, extended his hand toward Keh, who was still trying to grasp the situation.


    <i>Crackle.</i>


    Ice pirs that resembled a beehive, sprung up around Keh. It was blue magic, Ice Prison.


    "How did you...?" Keh''s breath halted. It was because Ian''s eyes flickered red once more, who was looking down at him.


    <i>Crack, crash!</i>


    It was toote when Keh, gripping his spear, began to furiously strike at the ice prison.


    <i>Swish.</i>


    But the bright yellow mes engulfing him were faster.


    The mes covered not only Keh and the Ice Prison but also the surrounding area. It was the intermediate red magic, me Barrier. It was one of the new skills Ian had mastered.


    Breaking through the prison and engulfed in mes, Keh tumbled out. Finally, the magic stones on his armor sparked again, and a wave of frost burst forth, but it was already toote. Keh wasn''t dead, but he was severely burned all over his body and had even lost his sight.


    "Ha...." A sigh of resignation spread from Keh’s lips as Ian, with a furrowed brow,nded in front of him. This wasn''t the oue Ian had intended. He didn''t want Keh to suffer this much, he had thought it would be a quick burn to death.


    "Sorry, I''ll make it quick for you," said Ian.


    A hollow smile spread across Keh''s lips as he spoke, "So this is how I pay for living a life of killing people for money...."


    <i>Crack!</i>


    Ian''s sword swiftly decapitated Keh, and the surrounding chill dissipated.


    "Phew...." Ian sighed deeply and sat down beside him.


    The headache and dizziness came crashing down on him, the result of expending too much magical energy in quick session. However, it wasn''t all for naught. He had confirmed that hisbat style, which he had researched and mastered over time, was effective even against the empire''s skilled fighters. They might not have been the strongest, but since Ian hadn''t used his full strength either, the encounter was meaningful. It gave him a strange sense of relief.


    "I guess I could use a little ... less," said Ian.


    It wasn''t time yet to use all his stat and skill points. Just realizing this made Ian feel as if he had been granted a reprieve in life.


    Ian''s gaze sharpened immediately afterward. A strange flow of magic was emanating from the bodies of the two guards. It wasn''t a sign of the deading back to life, so it must have been something happening with their magical gear. Grabbing Keh''s corpse, Ian''s brow furrowed.


    "Oh, no," said Ian.


    Magic was gathering beneath the corpse, forming a pattern. Just like with Conrad''s essence bead, a faint wave of magic followed. It was likely sending a signal to their employer. Destroying it was, of course, impossible.


    "...Life was easier when I was just dealing with backwater folks." Shaking his head, Ian finally stood up.


    ***


    "So, this is, what, a magic mark or something?" Miguel asked.


    "Probably." Ian nodded.


    "Oh, damn it, we''re fucked," said Miguel.


    "Does this mean our location is revealed?" Lucy, peeking out from the cargo hold, asked.


    "It seems so. If theye this far, they''ll definitely know we''re heading north." Ian replied, turning to her.


    "Stop looking and lie down. Don''t get interested in this kind of thing anymore," said Ian.


    "I''m used to seeing dead bodies. It doesn''t bother me. It''s not the first time," said Lucy.


    Ian''s sigh deepened. A twelve-year-old ustomed to seeing corpses was as dreadful as him bing a ruthless killer.


    "Could you help me take this off? It won''te off easily." In the meantime, Miguel, struggling with Kyle''s corpse, spoke up. Even in the moment, his eyes were set on the guards'' magical gear.


    "To take that off, you''d have to chop the body into pieces." Ian scoffed.


    "Eh...? Why?" Miguel asked.


    "It seems to be bound by an ownership spell." Ian knew this because, of course, he had also tried to strip the armor from them.


    "These weapons too, if you''re not the owner, you can''t use their full capabilities," said Ian.


    Ian looked at the Scale Sword of Libra and the Halberd of Libra. These weapons, identifiable and verifiable, required a re-engraving process to unlock their full potential. A skilled artisan familiar with magical gear was necessary for this task. A system clearly designed in the game to prevent too much ease of y was still functioning in this reality.


    "Oh, but this crossbow looks usable. It''s a bit scorched, though." Miguel, picking up a crossbow from Keh''s waist, was thrilled. It was apact crossbow with a double-string mechanism.


    "That... um, about this..." Miguel trailed his words.


    "You can use it. Don''t look at me like that," said Ian.


    "Really? Are you sure?" Miguel''s face lit up as he hugged the crossbow.


    Ian added nonchntly, "We might be chased relentlessly soon, so we need to use whatever we can."


    "...Oh, is that why?" said Miguel.


    "There are probably more of the guild''s trackers out there. Plus, the mercenaries from Bel Ronde will probably catch up soon. The trackers from the guild will be noticeable," said Ian.


    Ian checked the weapons and magic stones looted from Kyle and Keh. Although they couldn''t strip the armor, twisting and inserting the des allowed them to separate the magic stones. They might not be as valuable as essences, but they could be useful in emergencies. Stowing the Scale Sword and the Halberd in his spatial storage and strapping Kyle''s empire-made dagger to his waist, Ian headed to the carriage with Keh''s daggerst.


    "Is this for me?!" Lucy''s eyes widened as Ian offered the dagger.


    "It''s not for ying. Only draw it in a real emergency. If you don’t, I’m going to take it back," said Ian.


    "Yes...!" Lucy nodded, epting the dagger with seriousness.


    <i>I got a bad feeling already,</i> thought Ian.


    As Ian was clicking his tongue, Miguel''s voice chimed in, "You know, upon closer inspection, sir, you seem to nag more than you appear. Lucy''s not a toddler. She knows what to do... ahem."


    Receiving Ian''s gaze, Miguel coughed awkwardly. Quickly approaching the carriage, Miguel continued, "So, what''s the n now?"


    "We need to move faster," said Ian.


    "How...?" Miguel asked.


    Ian''s gaze shifted to the side. Following his gaze, Miguel''s eyes also widened. Only then did he notice the two battle horses d in armor. The magic stones embedded in the armor were still sparkling.