Chapter 43

Shuu and Iris entered the second-class section, heading for the shops in the first-class section as planned. Compared to the third-class section, the second-class section was much cleaner and better maintained. The roads were leveled, making it easier to walk. Incidentally, the first-class section would even have paved roads.

“Ugh… I’m so full, it’s uncomfortable…”

“That’s because you ate too much, you idiot.”

“I thought it would be fine since most of it would be converted into magic power…”

“Think about your limits, will you?”

Humans and monsters replenish their energy from food and convert it into magic power. Therefore, magic knights and high-ranking mages, who possess a lot of magic power, tend to eat a lot. Moreover, they don’t gain weight because most of the food is converted into magic power. However, a portion is reserved for maintaining and growing their bodies. The rest is stored as magic power, and when the magic power reaches its limit, it is stored as fat.

However, awakened magic knights, who can naturally regenerate their magic power, are an exception. Additionally, Shuu and monsters can absorb magic power by killing beings that possess it or by absorbing magic power from the air, making them exceptions as well.

“Maybe I should use magic to reduce my magic power…”

“Where in a big city are you going to use magic? Just accept the extra fat.”

“Sigh…”

Iris sighed and leaned on Shuu’s left arm. Shuu, who didn’t complain about the weight, was considerate.

At that moment, they noticed five men approaching from ahead. They had a wild and barbaric appearance, but their uniform attire indicated they were soldiers serving the castle. Their gaze was immediately directed at Iris.

“Iris.”

“Yes.”

When Shuu called out, Iris responded flatly. With her cute appearance, it was not uncommon for her to receive such gazes. Therefore, it was easy for her to sense the lewd atmosphere coming from the men ahead.

“This could be troublesome.”

“That’s the equipment of a magic knight serving the Eldorado Kingdom’s royal family. If they start trouble using their power, it will be a hassle.”

“I understand. If they’re annoying, I’ll hear their story and kill them.”

Shuu casually said something terrifying, but Iris didn’t particularly comment on it, as she knew well what kind of person he was.

As expected, the five men approached and surrounded Shuu and Iris.

“Do you need something?”

“We don’t need anything from you.”

“At least introduce yourselves.”

When Shuu said this, the men nodded in agreement and began to introduce themselves, though not formally.

“I’m Donpa Ricardo, the captain of the Second Prince’s Royal Guard.”

“I’m Bar, also from the Royal Guard.”

“I’m Rize.”

“I’m Marcel. Remember that.”

“Ha! I’m Gearze. I’m also part of the Second Prince’s Royal Guard.”

Shuu didn’t react at all to their introductions. The royal guards, who were used to instilling fear with their names, were accustomed to this. It was due to their power as magic knights and their authority. However, Shuu’s expression didn’t change.

Donpa felt uncomfortable.

“Hand over that girl. The Second Prince Linvold has need of her.”

He pointed at Iris with a displeased tone. It was a well-known fact that the Second Prince used his power to gather beautiful girls, and those who were taken by the Royal Guard usually looked desperate. However, Shuu and Iris remained calm.

Moreover, they responded normally.

“Save your nonsense for your dreams, third-rate.”

“We respectfully decline.”

The immediate and unthinking response left Donpa and his men stunned. They were momentarily taken aback and quickly drew their swords to threaten them. Recently, such stubborn women were rare, but they had dealt with them before. Although they were a bit slow to react, their actions were the same.

Rize and Gearze, who used weapon-type magic equipment, readied their magic swords and spears, while Donpa, Bar, and Gearze drew their steel swords from their belts.

“Unfortunately, this is an order from the Second Prince. Besides, this is a legitimate tax collection. Calling us third-rate is quite rude, isn’t it?”

Donpa deflected Shuu’s provocation and showed a piece of paper from his pocket. It was written in the imperial language, detailing the tax collection order, which Shuu and Iris couldn’t read. However, Donpa explained with a triumphant expression.

“We take women as a tax from the commoners. This is our job, guaranteed by the laws of the Eldorado Kingdom. If you don’t want to become a criminal, don’t interfere.”

“Moreover, if you resist and become a criminal, we’ll execute you on the spot.”

“Hahaha. There’s no such fool!”

Marcel and Bar also mocked, as they had been using the Second Prince’s authority to act as they pleased in the capital, Drain. Today, they intended to do the same, using the prince’s power to act arrogantly.

Rize, with his magic sword, made a threatening slash at Shuu. It was adjusted to just miss, demonstrating his skill.

“Take that!”

The sound of the sword cutting through the air made Shuu’s clothes flutter. Rize, who was unsatisfied with Shuu’s lack of reaction, showed a displeased expression. As members of the Royal Guard, they were professionals in combat and could tell whether Shuu was afraid or had read the attack and remained still.

In particular, Captain Donpa quickly understood that Shuu was a seasoned warrior.

(This guy isn’t just a civilian. He’s a battle-hardened warrior. I didn’t notice it before, but he has the scent of someone from the underworld…!)

The moment he realized this, Shuu’s aura changed. It was as if Rize’s threatening attack had flipped a switch, and he began to exude a dense aura of death.

The five men took a step back from the overwhelming presence.

Shuu slowly gathered his magic power and spoke.

“Sorry, but she’s mine. I have no intention of giving her to the likes of you. If you back off now, I’ll let you go.”

The condescending tone of a superior left Donpa and his men thoroughly irritated. They understood that Shuu was strong, but their pride, nurtured by their position in the Eldorado Kingdom, prevented them from making a rational decision.

“Die!”

Marcel, who was in Shuu’s blind spot, lunged with his steel sword. With the prince’s document, taking a woman was legal—though it was actually illegal. This fact drove Marcel to act. Being small, Marcel was skilled at quick, precise movements, and his sword aimed directly at Shuu’s heart.

However, it was blocked by a small magic circle that appeared just in time. It was an acceleration magic circle that reversed the vector.

“Gah!?”

A steel sword with little magic power could be easily deflected by a small magic circle. The reversed vector hurt Marcel’s wrist. Without the enhancement from unaligned magic, his wrist would have been broken.

He groaned in pain and dropped his sword. Shuu turned and extended his right hand, making a motion as if to crush something.

“‘Death.’”

The death magic activated, draining all of Marcel’s magic power. As Marcel fell silently, Shuu continued.

“If you want to fight… I’ll kill you as planned.”

“Sigh. It always ends up like this, doesn’t it?”

Iris, who was exasperated, watched as Shuu activated more death magic. This time, he drained the magic power of three men simultaneously, converting their life force into part of himself.

The lifeless bodies of Bar, Rize, and Gearze fell to the ground. Only Captain Donpa remained.

“What the…? Marcel, Bar, Rize, Gearze! What are you doing!”

He couldn’t imagine that his comrades would die so easily. However, his ability to counterattack without hesitation showed that he was a top-tier warrior.

“Damn it! Haaaaa…”

Donpa leaped back and exhaled a wide breath. Shuu’s magic perception detected the magic power in his breath.

(Expansion-type magic equipment. It likely gives his breath a specific effect.)

Expansion-type magic equipment enhances a specific ability of the user. Donpa’s breath had a magical effect. Shuu didn’t know it, but this breath had a charm effect.

He used it to subdue resistant women. The charm effect was also effective on men. However, the effect of this type of magic equipment depends on the target’s magic power. With Shuu and Iris’s vast magic power, the charm effect was meaningless.

“Useless.”

Without even dodging, Shuu used death magic to finish Donpa. As the last man fell, the crowd erupted in cheers. However, the cheers were not loud and jubilant but rather quiet and subdued, indicating how much the Royal Guard was despised.

Indeed, it was no surprise, given that they had been taking girls under the guise of tax collection.

“Wow!”

“You did it!”

“But are you okay?”

“They are, after all, the prince’s subordinates.”

“It’s not good….”

“Idiot. They were scum! They were the best!”

While many cheered, others were worried about the consequences of killing the prince’s subordinates. Some even feared that the entire second-class section would be punished.

“You’ve made quite a scene, Shuu.”

“Leave it. There’s no evidence. My death magic drains magic power, leaving no magical traces. Eyewitness accounts are the only way to identify the culprit.”

“What if someone reports you?”

“No problem.”

Shuu ignored the crowd and started walking towards the first-class section. The crowd was quite lenient towards Shuu, who had killed the five men without hesitation. Iris considered why this was acceptable. If the people were on their side, the eyewitness accounts would never reach the royal family.

“But, Shuu. If they interrogate you, you might talk under threat or torture.”

“…? What are you saying, Iris?”

“Huh?”

Shuu asked with a puzzled expression, and Iris, not understanding, asked again. A moment of silence fell between them.