Chapter 86

Zephyrus was toying with the Adamantine Party in battle. His real name is Hayano Ran. Until recently, he was the next head of the Hayano Viscount family.

The name Zephyrus was chosen arbitrarily to connect with the origin of the "Anemoi," the gods of the winds in mythology.

"Zephyrus. My name is Zephyrus. Hahaha, it's great, really great! I am the god! You flies buzzing around me, I am the god Zephyrus!"

With the red wings of the Anemoi spread wide, flying at high speed in the air, Ran laughed loudly, thinking it was the perfect name for him. This was his life. Dealing with noisy flies that buzzed about business, deficits, and important clients seemed absurd to him. Why was he doing such things?

Ran was a wind mage. However, he had been studying business management since he was young and was also a capable businessman.

He added ramen to the menu of a high-end Italian restaurant. For some reason, the average revenue per customer and the number of customers decreased.

In a family restaurant chain, he stopped the drink bar. Selling drinks one by one would have been much more profitable, but his subordinates were foolish. The number of customers decreased.

Then, to cut costs, he fired employees at an izakaya chain. It was supposed to be a surefire way to increase profits. However, it seemed to be a plot to bring him down. Many part-timers quit, and the service became poor, leading to a huge deficit in the izakaya chain.

After that, he came up with ideas that no ordinary person would think of and fired executives who complained loudly. He even cut ties with clients who offered friendly advice. His dramatic business strategies were supposed to boost sales, but they resulted in a massive deficit.

Puzzled, he thought someone was interfering. Recently, he finally understood. A kind friend, whose name he couldn't remember, but who had been saved by Ran in the past, told him while drinking at a bar after being disinherited and losing his guards.

"It's all because of Riretsu."

It seemed that his magic-less, good-for-nothing younger brother had been secretly plotting revenge. A cunning guy, he must have teamed up with the Duke of Ryusui. That old woman had suggested showing the Hayano family's power at a party, but when Ran did, she betrayed him.

Hearing that it was all Riretsu's fault, it made sense. Anger mixed with a calm part of him spoke.

He, a powerful mage, was not good at political struggles and plots. His way was to sit confidently and show his immense power. Acting secretly like a fly was impossible from the start.

Once he realized this, the rest was easy.

"Being a great wind mage like me, being bothered by trivial matters was a mistake! My magic shines only in battle!"

He was furious when he was removed as the next head of the Hayano family, but now he doesn't think so. On the contrary, he might even thank the emperor and the brat. He will kill the brat who, by chance, obtained the holy attribute and brought him down.

That's why he had been targeting today. He planned to use the "Mystic Armor Anemoi," incorporating the Hayano family's secret treasure, the "Wings of Anemoi," to kill Riretsu and his group who came to the mansion. Before leaving the mansion, he bowed his head, which he didn't want to lower, and entered with a pile of money, saying he wanted to apologize. He waited for Riretsu and his group to arrive.

However, a servant who hadn't been paid noticed the hidden "Anemoi" and started a commotion, so he had to move up the plan. Fortunately, Riretsu and his group were already in front of the mansion, so he laughed, thinking he was blessed by the gods.

"This fallen former noble!"

A female mage with a shield raised her axe and attacked, but at the speed of a commercial floating board, she couldn't keep up with the "Anemoi."

"Fool! I've broken free from the noble framework! My magic shines on the battlefield!"

The axe of the foolish large woman, who wasn't used to three-dimensional combat, couldn't hit him. The "Wings of Anemoi" looked like wings but didn't float by their power. The secret treasure itself provided the lift. Its ability allowed any acrobatic movement.

He deliberately stepped half a step to the side to avoid the axe. The sound of the wind slicing through the air was a pleasant music. The others thrust spears and shot arrows, but he deflected them with a flick of his wrist.

"Damn! This guy is pretty skilled!"

"Of course! I'm the mercenary Zephyrus, you know!"

The name Zephyrus suited him. This was where he belonged. From now on, he would live as he pleased. Joy filled his chest, and his heart soared.

He would kill these people, the foolish brother, and the brat. After that, he would live as a mercenary. With his skills, he could earn a lot. His kind friend had already prepared to hide him. From now on, he would be free.

"Alright, playtime is over!"

He didn't want to waste mana on such opponents. He also wanted to use another secret treasure he had only used a few times.

He took out the secret treasure from his pocket and showed it.

"Huh? What's that?"

The large woman frowned at the magic power but looked confused. Indeed, anyone seeing it for the first time would be puzzled.

What Zephyrus took out was a feather duster about 10 centimeters long. It was a small feather duster perfect for cleaning eraser crumbs. The ancient feather duster had a beautiful emerald embedded at the tip, but that was all. If it didn't have powerful magic power, even a mage would frown at it.

"Hahaha. This is the 'Zephyrus Feather Duster.' An excellent secret treasure for cleaning crumbs!"

The feather duster, which had magic power, looked like a sword and he swung it at the large woman, who was still out of range.

"Bad feeling!"

The large woman, who had good instincts, quickly raised her shield. It was the right move. When the feather duster was swung, the shield groaned, cracked, and was pushed back.

"Ugh, what?"

She leaned back in shock. Even though she was still five meters away, something had attacked her shield. Feeling superior, he revealed the secret.

"This 'Zephyrus Feather Duster' creates invisible wind blades. The power is evident. Oh, I wasn't even trying my hardest."

The lightness of the feather duster allowed the invisible wind blades to reach opponents far away. It didn't look like anything was happening, but it was a completely invisible secret treasure passed down in the Hayano family.

"The sharpness can be increased. It's time for you to leave! I need to go kill my brother and the brat!"

He would catch and kill them when they tried to escape. Imagining their desperate faces made him shiver with excitement. With the mobility of the "Anemoi," he could easily catch up. He had deliberately let them buy time, but now it was over.

"Trouble! Everyone, scatter!"

"A board rider can't keep up with my movements!"

The "Zephyrus Feather Duster" was an overpowered sword. Light and invisible, it could cut through enemies without any recoil. It could slice through a mass-produced "Mystic Armor" with one blow. The large woman had good instincts and raised her shield, but it was supposed to cut through the armor as well.

Probably because the armor was designed for defense like the Black Tortoise. But it was no match for the "Zephyrus Feather Duster."

"Die!"

He swung the small feather duster wildly, sending countless invisible blades. The large woman and her group defended with full magical barriers, unable to resist.

"Come on, come on, come on, what's wrong? You were talking big before!"

Swinging the small feather duster was effortless. A light overhead chop, a sweeping slash from the right, a quick spin, and a rapid series of swings.

Movements impossible with a normal sword. A sword that could cut through enemies with just a flick of the wrist, like twirling a pen, was unique to the "Zephyrus Feather Duster."

"Ugh! This guy..."

The large woman stepped forward to protect her group, holding a shield that was already completely broken and had lost its magical effect. The countless slashes tore through the shield and hit her armor.

The sound of metal bending, her body being pushed back repeatedly. The magical barrier of the "Mystic Armor" flickered, and the wind blades cut through her body, splattering blood.

"Hmm? You're surprisingly tough. Using a powerful defensive martial art, huh?"

He frowned, annoyed that she was only slightly damaged when he should have cut her to pieces.

"Hah! The name Adamantine isn't just for show. I'll buy some time."

Her helmet was dented, her armor was cracking and sparking, and she was bleeding from the mouth, but she still smiled arrogantly. Her companions, though injured, showed no signs of fleeing or fear, and were still ready to fight.

Frustrated by their attitude, Zephyrus decided to get serious. He didn't need to waste time on such troublesome opponents.

He poured mana into the "Zephyrus Feather Duster." The wind around Zephyrus began to howl, the feather duster glowed faintly, and he was about to unleash its power. The large woman and her group, sensing the immense magic power, realized he was about to use a powerful technique and began to strengthen their magical barriers, but it was futile.

"Hahaha. This one blow will end you!"

Laughing, Zephyrus was about to unleash the true power of the "Zephyrus Feather Duster," which would turn them to dust.

"Huh?"

But he noticed a shadow falling on him and looked up.

"Mace Throw!"

"Brain Shaker"

From above, a girl fell from a great height, her gray hair fluttering in the sunlight, her canine teeth bared like fangs, and a fierce smile on her face. She approached Zephyrus and struck something. There was a sound like breaking glass, and the magical barrier deflected the attack.

Something fell onto the helmet's magical camera, and Zephyrus instinctively stepped back.

Spinning his body to regain his balance, he fell, intending to kill the brat. She laughed and fell.

"Quack!"

A huge monster fell from the sky, accelerating, and caught the girl on its back.

"Griffin! You, this brat... What?"

Enraged, Zephyrus raised the "Zephyrus Feather Duster" to kill the brat, but his head began to spin, his vision distorted, and he felt sick.