Chapter 46

Chapter 46 (46/324)

46

The guy whose real name was Karl and whose fake name was Evan or something was screaming in agony. A flame with intense heat was burning fiercely in the center of his heart.

He seemed to have some skill, probably due to his position as the chief manager.

However, he still couldn't avoid my magic that came from close range.

Indeed.

It was a spell with the Great Mage's quick-casting formula applied. It was absurd to think that a mere manager of an illegal arena could dodge it.

Soon, the guy, who was on fire and screaming, collapsed.

‘I’ve taken care of the manager.’

Basement Level 3.

Perhaps due to the loud screams, thugs were gathering from all directions. Among them were figures that seemed to be knights of the viscount.

“...What is this!”

Hmm?

Since they were involved in kidnapping, murder, and drug trafficking, I had no intention of letting them live.

Naturally, I looked at Leonhard.

“Kill them. All of them.”

I gave a simple order.

“Yes.”

The moment the senior knight responded to my words, his figure blurred instantly.

His speed was so fast that even my mind's eye could only perceive his movements as a faint afterimage.

A sword infused with aura.

As the sword swung, the thugs began to fall without any resistance.

“Uaaaaah!”

“My arm!”

“P... Please, spare me!”

Indeed.

His skills were top-notch.

As soon as ten thugs were cut down, spewing blood, the viscount's knights seemed to realize the severity of the situation and drew their swords.

Clang!

“...A senior knight! Divide into groups of three and five!”

Eight junior knights and one intermediate knight.

Among them, the intermediate knight, four junior knights, and the remaining ten thugs charged at Leonhard.

The remaining three were junior knights.

Naturally, they started to charge at Ersiel and me.

It's time to use the artifact.

I took out the Staff of Valor from my magic bag.

‘Three expert junior knights.’

Ersiel and I.

We both look like children, so it's no surprise they only assigned three to us.

Even three junior knights are formidable, capable of slaying dozens of strong men.

As soon as I activated my mind's eye, I began to see their insides.

The yellow aura was flowing into their legs.

They must have been exerting force in their legs to run.

‘I need to take them down in one go.’

Even though they are expert knights, I can't be careless. Moreover, with three of them, there's a high chance one will dodge even if I cast a spell.

‘This is troublesome.’

The three spells stored in the staff.

I thought about how to deal with them.

A sword infused with aura could easily cut through a reinforced shield.

Defense was the worst option.

So, it would be better to immobilize them.

Once Leonhard finishes off the thugs, these guys will soon follow.

The spell to use came to mind instantly.

‘Hold.’

It was a spell I had studied recently.

I naturally remembered the in-game method to maximize its power.

‘Good.’

Casting was instantaneous.

The moment the Hold spell, with 100% power, was completed, I quietly extended my hand toward the knights.

‘Hold.’

Hold has two activation methods.

One is to dominate the space, and the other is to emit magical threads to forcibly block movement.

I used the former method.

It's more difficult but more powerful because it dominates the space itself.

Especially in a situation like this, where they are coming from all directions, it's the best response.

Whoosh!

The mana with the activation method began to flow out from my right hand.

The space I aimed to dominate was a 5-meter radius around where I stood.

Since the knights were already charging at me, they would naturally enter that area.

The remaining distance was about 10 meters.

The knights running toward me from three directions were forming a precise formation.

It looked like a triangular formation.

They were clearly well-trained.

Just because the viscount is a greedy pig doesn't mean his knights are incompetent.

Well, because of their competence...

“Gah!”

“W... What is this?”

“My body...”

They got caught in the web I set up much faster.

Even though it's just a 2nd Circle spell.

When I activated Hold with my unique spell formula, a dizzying sensation began to rise.

It felt like I had downed a cup of strong liquor.

The mana in the circle was rapidly drained, and a severe feeling of fatigue began to set in.

But there was no choice.

I haven't yet created a mixed activation method for Hold, and even if I had, it wouldn't have immobilized all three knights like this.

‘Based on the mana consumption... about two minutes, I guess.’

Enough time to completely immobilize the three.

As I started to move the mana, a warm light began to pour from behind me.

It was Ersiel's buff.

‘Phew.’

The buff was a bit late, but its effect was excellent, making my complaints disappear.

My head, which was dizzy just a moment ago, felt much lighter, and I could feel mana gradually filling the circle that had been empty.

‘I can hold on for four minutes.’

Is this the power of a Tier 1 buffer?

Indeed.

It was a good decision to raise her.

“Thank you.”

“Master, are you okay?”

“Ah, these guys?”

I smiled at the three junior knights standing motionless with their swords drawn around me.

“Holding them is no problem.”

Of course, to maintain the Hold spell, I had to remain still and focus my mind.

As soon as I finished speaking, harsh voices were heard.

“What the hell!”

“I'll kill you!”

“Everyone, raise your aura!”

Since Hold doesn't paralyze the mouth, the knights were shouting with fierce expressions.

The three knights began to raise their aura, their faces turning red.

However, they couldn't move a single step within the area dominated by my spell.

Naturally.

The power of my Hold was at least 5th Circle. Only knights of intermediate rank or higher could move.

In exchange, I couldn't activate any other spells, but that didn't matter.

The staff I held.

It already had three spells stored, 2nd Circle mixed activation spells that could be used without mana consumption.

It was the limit of what the staff could store. Real activation methods were too powerful to be stored.

‘By the way.’

These guys were part of the thugs who had taken over this place.

I shouldn't let them off easily.

I looked at the three and smiled.

“Holding them is no problem.”

Of course, to maintain the Hold spell, I had to remain still and focus my mind.

Immediately, harsh voices were heard.

“What the hell!”

“I'll kill you!”

“Everyone, raise your aura!”

Since Hold doesn't paralyze the mouth, the knights were shouting with fierce expressions.

The three knights began to raise their aura, their faces turning red.

However, they couldn't move a single step within the area dominated by my spell.

Naturally.

The power of my Hold was at least 5th Circle. Only knights of intermediate rank or higher could move.

In exchange, I couldn't activate any other spells, but that didn't matter.

The staff I held.

It already had three spells stored, 2nd Circle mixed activation spells that could be used without mana consumption.

It was the limit of what the staff could store. Real activation methods were too powerful to be stored.

‘By the way.’

These guys were part of the thugs who had taken over this place.

I shouldn't let them off easily.

I looked at the three and smiled.

“Holding them is no problem.”

Of course, to maintain the Hold spell, I had to remain still and focus my mind.

Immediately, a huge fire arrow rose from my staff. The three knights' faces turned ashen.

“...”

“This... damn...”

“What the...”

Slowly.

The fear that gripped their hearts seemed to loom before my eyes.

Their facial expressions were so dramatic.

I kindly told them.

“If you want to live, you should move quickly.”

Of course, if they could.

Soon, the huge fire arrow pierced one of the knights' heads.

He tried to block it with his aura, but his weak body couldn't withstand the flames for long.

“G... Aaaaaah! A... A...”

Despite the screams from the knight next to him, the other knights couldn't move a single step.

Well.

Even if I gave them a choice, they couldn't take it.

So, they had to die.

Perhaps because they no longer heard the screams, the remaining knights began to scream.

The screams didn't last long.

* * * * *

“Good job.”

“Yes.”

The bodies with limbs cut off in all directions.

The scene created by the bodyguard knight was chilling.

I wonder if Ersiel is okay with this.

“Are you okay?”

“...Yes.”

Fortunately, she seemed to be holding up well. At least she didn't vomit.

I felt like giving her a pat on the back for doing so well.

“The key... is here.”

The manager, whose face and body were burned.

The key was in his pocket.

The platinum coin I gave as a tip was also there.

After recovering the money, I picked up the key ring.

From 1 to 15, they were clearly the keys to the cells where the senior gladiators were imprisoned.

There was another key ring.

1, 2, 3.

Just three keys.

They were probably the keys to the cells where the top-tier gladiators were imprisoned.

The manager carried quite a few useful items.

Searching the bodies of the other guards, I found the keys to unlock the chains on the gladiators' hands and feet.

The senior gladiators were murmuring as the battle ended quickly.

I planned to release most of them.

If I left them here, they would surely tell the viscount about my actions.

It would be better to release them and have them distract attention when I escape.

‘If I release all the gladiators in the basement... there will be quite a number.’

If I was going to release them, it would be better to release all of them.

The more chaos, the more the viscount's attention would be diverted from me.

Of course, surviving after being released was their own responsibility.

Some might be captured and interrogated by the viscount, but that was unavoidable.

‘Just buying time is enough.’

Trasden?

If I can safely move there, the viscount can't touch me.

He can't send private soldiers to the viscount's territory just because I destroyed an illegal business.

‘At most, he might send an assassin.’

Well, that's a small price to pay for acquiring Seron.

Having made my decision, I looked at the gladiators.

Since they would be forced to fight monsters as slaves again if left in the cells, fighting for freedom would be a good choice for them.

Jingle.

I shook the key ring slightly and looked at the senior gladiators.

“Those who were made slaves without committing a crime or were kidnapped, raise your hands. I'll release you.”

Sure enough.

As soon as I spoke, all fifteen raised their hands.

Of course, not all of them were good guys.

Fortunately, there was a way to distinguish them.

Gladiators were basically slaves.

Slaves.

To prove their status, a brand is placed on their palm when they are sold.

A black brand was given for serious crimes like murder or rape, and a red brand for other reasons.

Usually, it was due to financial issues.

Fortunately, Ersiel didn't have a brand because I refused to have one placed on her when I bought her.

If she had, it would have been quite heartbreaking.

I looked at Leonhard.

“Leonhard?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Release those with a red brand. For the black brand...”

While I was thinking about how to deal with them, Leonhard immediately responded.

“I'll handle them as I see fit. There's no need to save those who have committed unforgivable crimes. Besides... if we let them go, they will only reveal our movements.”

His tone was firm.

Indeed, his values leaned toward the good side.

Of course, he wasn't as merciful as an angel.

He was a merciless knight to evildoers.

Even now.

“Then do that.”

“Understood. Everyone, extend your hands. I need to check your palms.”

The result of the check: three with black brands and six with red brands.

The three with black brands had their heads cut off by Leonhard's sword as soon as they showed their palms.

There were six without any brand.

‘Indeed.’

They were bought as slaves for gladiators, but the lack of a brand means...

The remaining six were likely kidnapped and brought here without knowing why.

Seron was one of the gladiators without a brand.

He was probably kidnapped or brought here by some unknown phenomenon.

I think it's the latter.

But that's not important.

“Gather around.”

Perhaps because they had seen Leonhard's skills, the twelve gladiators who were released from the cells moved without a word when I spoke.

“Do you want to leave this place?”

“Yes!”

“Ah. Answer quietly. Anyway, if you follow me, I'll get you out of here. After that, you're on your own. Understand?”

“Yes.”

“I'll unlock the shackles on your hands and feet. Equip yourselves with the dead guards' gear.”

“Understood.”

“Then wait. I'll be back from the lower level. By the way, don't go up first. There are many thugs up there. It's better to get help from me and my knight.”

“Yes.”

Perhaps instinctively recognizing me as their savior, the twelve gladiators nodded obediently.

Well.

If someone offers to get you out of a prison, you naturally nod.

“Then, let's go. Ah, Seron. Follow me.”

“Yes.”

Since he was going to be my subordinate, it was natural to include him in the group. Thanks to being released from the cell, Seron's affection towards me increased from 0 to 20.

It was a good omen.

Thus, Seron joined the group.

A sword was already hanging from his waist.

Perhaps due to his survival instinct, he was a quick mover.

‘By the way, if they are top-tier gladiators...’

Not all three are likely to be criminals, so even if I save some of them, it will be a big help in escaping.

They may not have aura like knights, but they didn't earn their top-tier status for nothing.

They are probably capable of taking out a few soldiers easily.

If such people are released, the viscount will be even more distracted.

Thus, we began to head down to the fourth basement level.