Chapter 50

"Limitation Restraint." This is a reverse enhancement magic that constantly limits my power.

This restraint affects my strength, magic power, and even my thought speed.

It seems that the human brain doesn't usually operate at its full capacity. If we could train it by constantly applying a load, what would happen—?

In situations that require "instant judgment," one would be able to take the optimal action with certainty. There's no precise way to measure it, but a normal person can't keep up with my situation analysis speed.

The blond man in front of me, dressed like a grim reaper, probably hasn't understood how I've changed yet.

However, feeling humiliated by being intimidated by an unknown opponent, his bewildered face quickly turns to anger.

"Damn it!"

After raising his scythe, he uses the power of wind spirits to accelerate and close the distance. He must have judged that attacking first would give him an advantage, based on experience. Anyone would have to either receive or avoid an unknown attack on their first move.

But that's only if you can't figure out what the opponent is going to do on the first strike.

"Oraaaaaa!"

The man swings his scythe horizontally—I block it with my longsword, which has been enhanced with a "Slash Power-Up."

The man grins, his eyes and mouth curling up mockingly.

"Chaos Wind Blade!"

The spirit magic activates, and the scythe, being a magical artifact, changes shape according to the opponent's magic. The stored cross blades fly out, transforming the scythe into a glaive. Equipped with a "Spirit Reaction Mechanism," the weapon maximizes the power of the wind spirits to execute a technique. The flow of magic, the reaction of the wind spirits present, and the inference from past experiences—all these factors combine to release multiple blades of wind from the scythe. Even if the physical weapon is blocked, the wind blades continue to attack me.

But I smile at the man who is gloating, just for a moment.

After reading the situation, it's time to counter. I just need to launch a counterattack to set up the next strike.

— "Slash Count Enhancement" —

The man's eyes widen. Just as he was about to make a confident move, his feet are swept out from under him.

His absolute confidence in his own strength is shattered. It's no wonder, given that the countless wind blades that were supposed to cut me to pieces are all being deflected and blocked.

"Wind blades... not bad, but. A trick that only increases the number of strikes won't reach me."

"Damn...!"

He has the skill to immediately follow up with another attack after using a major technique. For anyone below S-rank, there would be a gap before they could use spirit magic again, but he smoothly transitions to the next incantation.

"...I'll blow this guild to pieces... O spirits of the wind, stir up a storm, destroy, and reduce everything to nothing... 'Storm Break'!"

"Dick...!"

"...Lady, is that masked man really Sir Dick...!?"

It's no wonder Sherry is worried enough to call my name. She has never seen even a fraction of my true strength.

She knows I'm a former hero and that I'm strong, but she can't really feel it. I told her that if there was ever an opportunity, I would show her whether I'm strong or not.

However, when I fully unleash even a fraction of my power, I realize something.

I can't go all out unless I'm facing another SSS-rank opponent.

The man's golden hair stands on end in the storm he's about to unleash. The magic power within him converges, the wind spirits respond, and they are about to create a force powerful enough to destroy buildings and engulf us.

"There's no way... I shouldn't be afraid of anything!"

"...There's no way. Then, how about this?"

I swing my sword on the spot.

A technique I improvised, mimicking Cody's light sword— "Magic Blade"—to cut something only I can see.

How does magic work? Most people enter into a contract with spirits and draw out their power in exchange for magic power, thereby interfering with the world and causing changes.

A fire spirit can create flames, a water spirit can create water and sometimes freeze it to ice, an earth spirit can raise earth into walls and move golems with spirit power.

Wind spirits create wind, and at their peak, storms. However, these phenomena are not created from scratch by the magic user. They are simply drawing out the power of the spirits through a set procedure.

Then—if the magic power pathways that interfere with the spirits are cut off, the "modern magic users" who can only use magic through simplified procedures due to their contracts will be unable to use any magic at all.

"Why... why... hey... you can't be serious, I can't... fail...!"

The "Storm Break" he was trying to activate ends without causing any phenomena. It probably looks like I'm cutting the air, but he hasn't realized that my magic blade has severed the magic pathways.

"Damn it...! Spirits of the wind, shatter these guys, destroy them! 'Storm Break'! 'Storm Break'!"

The power of that magic alone could destroy this guild building.

It's said that an S-rank adventurer has the strength to capture a fortress garrisoned by a thousand soldiers in one hour.

However, if attacked by someone with a combat rating of over 100,000, such a fortress wouldn't last a minute. I, Miralca, Cody, and Aileen are in that category.

My combat rating hasn't been measured, but theoretically, if I can fight Aileen in her normal state and win or lose, I should have a rating of around 90,000. That's just for close combat—my magic rating isn't included.

From the start, whether S-rank or SSS-rank, they can't stand up to me. Just like with A-rank, no matter how much I hold back, I can't lose.

The man, who still doesn't understand what's happening to him, finally accepts that he can no longer use magic.

—And he raises his scythe, not at me, but at Sherry and Lotte, who are watching from a distance.

"If you hadn't interfered, I could have controlled you and ended it... Damn women!"

"Sister... I'll handle this...!"

"Lotte, no! We can't...!"

A party of six S-rank adventurers can barely defeat one S-rank adventurer. Sherry and Lotte could be rendered combat-incapable in one hit.

The scythe man, even without magic, intends to take on S-rank adventurers with just his weapon. But if he thinks I'm just standing there doing nothing, he's in for a rude awakening.

"Combat Power Lending—Combat Power Reduction"

I lend my combat rating to Sherry and Lotte. In close range and for a short time, I can lend up to 50,000 combat points at once—and.

At the same time, I reduce the scythe man's combat power. Even with a contract with wind spirits, he has no means to resist my enhancement and debuff magic, and he doesn't realize how drastically his abilities have been reduced until the moment he swings at Lotte.

"Ugh...!?"

The weight of the scythe must feel several times heavier to him.

In my limit release state, my "Combat Power Reduction" can reduce an adult male to the physical capabilities of an infant. An S-rank adventurer would drop to B-rank, a nightmare-like effect.

"Haaa...!"

Lotte, determined, delivers a strike with her flail. The scythe blade is deflected, and the man lets go of his weapon—his current combat power is not enough to maintain it.

"Sister, now!"

"Yes... 'Whip Bind'!"

"Whoa...!"

Sherry wraps her whip around the man and restrains him. Her whip has an incredibly long reach and quickly suspends him from the ceiling beam.

"You bastards... I'll kill you... I'll definitely kill you...!"

The humiliation is obvious, but considering what he was trying to do, there's no sympathy for him.

As he was suspended, a leather belt-like object falls to the floor. I pick it up and examine it—it's a magical artifact.

It's similar to the one Aileen brought back, which was attached to Mizuha's neck. That one was cut and unusable, but this collar is still functional.

"You said you were going to control Sherry and Lotte... You were making tools to subordinate not just beastmen but humans too. For what purpose?"

"What does it matter to you...? Just let me down! Let me down! Gaaaaah!"

The man struggles and thrashes in the air. However, Sherry's whip technique is excellent, and no matter how much the weakened man struggles, it doesn't loosen.

"Is this the magical artifact we were asked to test in the request you brought us...?"

"A tool to control people and make them obey. You brought this in to control us... to manipulate the Red Twin Inn as you pleased. What a terrifying person."

Lotte, Sherry's twin sister, looks very similar to her but has a different hairstyle. Sherry's hair is long, reaching her back, while Lotte's is shoulder-length. However, they both wear the same ribbons and have a rather alluring presence for their age.

Lotte, hugging herself, looks at the suspended man with a gaze that sees him as an animal. She is very particular and never lets her guard down with men unless her sister approves of them.

The man looked like he was about to spit, but realizing his resistance was futile, he slumps.

"...Damn women... I'll definitely rape you... I'll kill you and then rape you..."

"You're quite stubborn, but don't spout such filthy words. I'm not a saint, either."

Yuma would probably try to teach the man the ways of the gods, even if he were such a despicable person. But I'm not that forgiving.

"...But I'll kill you first. Take off that ridiculous mask!"

"You have no right to speak. I won't allow you to insult him."

Sherry looks up at the man and says calmly. The man glares at her, but as she just looks up, the strength in his eyes gradually fades.

Sherry of the Red Twin Inn—her magic manipulates "fragrances." Contracted with the flower spirits, she can summon special plants to emit fragrances. If I don't defend myself and inhale carelessly, it can be disastrous.

"...I don't feel good about what you're doing, but I'll make you listen for a while."

"...Yes... I understand, my lady... Use me as you please..."

The man, who was so defiant, becomes obedient. It's terrifying to see, no matter how many times I witness it—her fragrance is a magical effect, so I can block it, but it's almost invincible against men.

However, against a wind spirit user, the fragrance would be dispersed, making it a poor match. In my current state, I can effectively counter it.

Sherry sighs and fixes the fragrance around the man so he continues to inhale it. She then lowers him, and he voluntarily crawls on the floor, trying to lick her shoes.

"That's not necessary. It's too dirty."

"Hmm... I apologize, my lady..."

"Hand over your guild tag. And tell us everything—why you came here and what your purpose was."

Sherry takes the guild tag from the man and hands it to me. It reads "Clive Garland," an S-rank adventurer, and a member of the White Goat Inn.

I decide to hear Clive's story with Sherry and Lotte. What is the White Goat Inn planning, and what were they trying to do with this collar?

But before we start, Sherry and Lotte look at me with admiration, their initial tension forgotten.

"I thought you were someone else at first because of the mask. But I felt so relieved..."

"I feel the same as Sister. Sir Dick... no, you are truly a special person. Your strength is so overwhelming, it felt like watching a play."

I was hoping for a more intense battle, but more importantly, I'm glad they're safe.

As I was about to say that, I noticed something was wrong—my "Limitation Restraint" was still off.

("Limitation Restraint")

I restore the load I had removed. If I don't, all my senses become too acute.

The problem is that I can analyze much more information from visual cues. Even with someone wearing clothes, I can see their body shape just by looking at them.

"...? What's wrong?"

"Ah, nothing. Let's get to the story."

"Yes... Ah, your straightforwardness is also very charming. You are the one who suits Sister..."

"Lotte... You don't need to say more. It might cause a misunderstanding."

Even if it's a misunderstanding, with my limit release, I could read and analyze their emotions—but I must be careful, as I'm beyond the human realm.

Looking at Clive, who remains motionless on the floor, I realize that Sherry's ability, when used properly, is also powerful enough to surpass the S-rank category.