I'm a court magician. Recently, I’ve been worrying about the princess staring at me. - Chapter 26

“… Huh!”

I jumped and avoided the approaching torrent of light. However, I didn’t end up landing on the roof, but on the stone paving far below.

I immediately applied shock-resistant magic to my legs to soften the impact.

Well, it’s still painful anyway. Even if it’s mitigated, there’s still some impact. And it certainly resonates with the wound.

I checked the surroundings. This place is… good.

I seem to have lost more blood than I thought, and I feel weak.

“Raize-sama!”

Her Highness collapsed on the spot and called out anxiously to me, as I leaned my back against the wall of the house. Well, I’m not the one she should worry about… but it isn’t impossible, right?

Everyone would be worried when they see such a bloody and wounded person. So will I.

“Your Highness, it’s all right, don’t worry. I’m still alive.”

“You don’t look all right!”

She casted a healing spell on me in a hurry. But what matters now is the amount of blood in the body. Even if the wound is sealed by healing magic, the lost blood will not be restored. It may reduce further bleeding, but will not recover any lost blood.

But it’s much better than nothing… Now I can concentrate on my last blow!

“Finger Light Bullet.”

A number of conical lights flew toward Arsenas, who gracefully descended to the ground. It went straight to his heart, since he is distracted by the shock of the fall. 

“You’re clever.”

He easily struck them off with a sword. At the same time, Arsenas stepped up forcefully and thrust his sword into my stomach.

“Ah…”

I can feel air gushing out of my throat. The pain spreads throughout my body, and the affected area becomes unusually hot. My vision is getting blurred. I lost even more of my already lessened blood. No wonder.

Her Highness’ screams reach my ears.

“Raize-sama!! Stop it now, Arsenas!”

“Your Highness, this is a battle. There is no mercy.”

My abdomen which is stabbed mercilessly is now overflowing with blood. I feel weak and tired. Even though I’m alive… I feel like I’m half dead. I’ll have to cover the wound little by little so that I won’t die fast.

I guess it’s the first time I’ve been hurt so much. But it can’t be helped. This is my job.

“Now, Your Highness, there’s no one in the way. I’ll take you with me.”

Perhaps he thought I was dead, but Arsenas turned to her and held out his hand.

But the princess glared back at him with sharp eyes.

“Arsenas… why are you doing this?”

“…”

Arsenas put his hand on his chin and thought for a moment, then smiled and opened his mouth.

“Possession magic, Your Highness.”

“What?”

“I… No, my Lord wants the magic formula of your Mind’s Eye Apperception. I’m just carrying out my mission to fulfill their wishes.”

“Lord? He? What are you talking about, Ar? And what’s that pattern on your body?”

“Pattern? How did Your Highness know it? That’s something you shouldn’t know…”

It’s abnormal. It’s obviously getting weird.

As soon as Arsenas began to tell her why he was aiming for Her Highness, he looked as lifeless as those zombies, and an eerie black pattern appeared on his neck hidden in his clothes, crawling down his face. I think that’s a magic formula… I’ve never seen it before, but it’s probably so.

And it’s confirmed.

Arsenas, just like the others, is manipulated. He is unaware of his own physical changes and merely moves to accomplish his commanded purpose.

What bothered me was the purpose of all this. 

The aim is possession magic.There is someone called the Lord behind it. Arsenas words suggest that there are more than one of them.There’s a lot to think about… 

“Ugh, ack.”

“Still alive…”

He walked toward me again with his sword.

“Too bad, a hole in your stomach alone can’t seem to stop you.”

“Well, I’m dying enough.”

He grabbed me by the collar, put his sword to my neck, and cut my collar.

My white skin is revealed and the magical formula of Pledge Geass on me could be seen. At the sight of it flashing faintly and truly, Arsenas frowned, and Her Highness pressed her mouth and opened her eyes wide.

“This is… a magic formula of oath, but I’ve never seen it before. What’s engraved on it?”

“… I don’t want to answer…”

“I’m curious, but it’s okay.”

He let go of my collar and I fell on my back. The wound in my abdomen gave rise to tremendous pain.

No, that’s far from it now. If I do nothing, my neck will be cut off. 

While I was thinking, I heard Her Highness scream again.

“Oh, my God! Stop it! You’re gonna kill him!”

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. He is my enemy. The one that loses the fight, dies.”

“That…”

Her Highness collapsed to her knees on the spot, and began to mutter something, with large tears in her eyes. The look on her face was tragic.

The moment I saw her, I felt something very hot coming into my mind.

The sensation is also felt in my neck. Then there was numbness as if an electric current was being passed into me. But it doesn’t feel bad, it feels like something will come to life…

When I saw Her Highness crying again, I realized the change.

Her silver eyes turned blue, as her eyes got activated while her brilliance increased. At the same time, something came to my mind… 

But before I was surprised at the change, I thought.

Oh, I can’t believe I’m making myself look like this, I’m a bad magician.

Arsenas smiled with conviction of victory, lifted the sword on my neck, and prepared to swing it down.

“Nooooooo!!”

A mournful cry.

Certainly in a few moments, the scene where my head is flying will become a reality… if I didn’t do anything.

“It’s all right, Your Highness… no, Richena. I’ve already laid the foundation.”

I said so, and Arsenas frowned suspiciously just as the light passed.

“Gua… ugh!”

Fresh blood flying in the air. I hit it.

Arsenas drops his swinging sword and turns around in the direction of the air that has just opened a hole in his arm. He opened his eyes in astonishment.

“This!”

“Did I use magic only to hit you in a straight line without thinking? That’s not the case, is it?”

What I was looking at was the magic I used earlier, which froze the wall of a house with ice crystals. In addition, it’s a finger light bullet that I fired in rapid succession and he countered!

I froze and fixed my bent legs to jump away. I won’t miss it.

“You said it, didn’t you? That you fight in the best way according to the situation and place. It doesn’t seem to apply to you…”

“Well, you idiot… I can do that.”

“Unfortunately…”

I got up and stuck out my tongue with my thumb down. It’s childish, but forgive me this once.

Because I had just won the battle of my life.

“The opponent was bad. I’m a sniper, who wields magic in any situation or terrain.”

A number of light bullets reflecting from the ice mirror attacked Arsenas, who had become defenseless.

I was precise, but I aimed to strike at non vital points. He dropped his sword and couldn’t escape.

I can relax my mind because I have won, I’m sure my opponent can’t do anything anymore. He was attacked at the speed of light from an unexpected location. There’s no way to prevent it!

“Ack – haa”

Arsenas was punctured, vomited blood, fell down, and was unable to move.

I also feel like lying down like that… 

No, I have to lie down and rest. But that’s going to be a little later.

I have to comfort Richena who ran up to me and hugged me.

“… I’m… hoo… okay… Are you okay…”

“I’m sorry. It’s more difficult than I thought. I made you worry.”

I kept patting her head. I’m worried that her clothes might get dirty with my blood… but if I ask her to leave here, she’ll get angry. It’s almost time for the royal family to start speaking, so I have to go to the royal palace as soon as possible. I have to treat my wound, or rather worse. The place where I was stabbed is vital, and I can still see the bleeding even though it has subsided a lot from other cuts. My skin is paler than usual.

“First of all, heal the wound with healing magic…”

When I put my hand on the wound in my abdomen and tried to give it a simple treatment, a warm light enveloped my whole body.

This… They came earlier than I expected.

“Oh, you’re just right on time. Milena-san, I was just dying.”

“What are you trying to die for? There’s still a lot of work to do.”

“No, please worry a little.”

“Yes, I was worried. Our workload will increase.”

That’s terrible. I can’t believe this reaction when you see your injured subordinates… Is it really a wrong choice to get this job? I’d appreciate it if you could heal my wound.

But, it’s great to be free of pain. Finally… 

“But I honestly admire you for completing your mission. Well done.”

“Thank you very much. Milena-san’s coming here means that it’s over now. Have the zombie soldiers been cleared up?”

“Yes, almost. Elto-san and Arina-san cleaned it up in about 3 minutes. Including the ambush that was planned in the alleys of the city.”

“You finish work too early…”

It would have been better if either of them had escorted her, not me. They will probably take 2 minutes to finish Arsenas at most.

“Well, I’ll send Her Highness to the Royal Palace, and it’ll be over. Right, it’s finally over. I’ll go home early and have some tea — “

“I said almost, right?”

“Is there anything left?”

“Rather than anything left…you could say that there was a new problem.”

New problem… zombie soldiers sprang up again? Then, leave it to those two… I thought, but Milena-san crossed her arms and ordered me.

“It’s an additional mission. You’re going to kill the dangerous species that appeared in the south of the royal capital – Ortros. There is no veto. You have to clean it up in less than a few minutes, can you?”

“… Yes.”

Please refer to the dictionary for tyranny, chief.