Scum-lesse Oblige, I Have Been Reincarnated as a Scum Villain in an 18+ Game World, and I Absolutely Want to Grasp the Mob Life with the Power of My Knowledge of the Original Story - Chapter 28

For Who is That Strength?

Iris’ side

“Fireball!”

Focusing her magical power into her spell, Iris released her magic.

However,

“I see.”

―Iris’s fireball didn’t reach.

All of Iris’ fireball was blocked by Bard’s shadows.

It seems those shadow has the ability to nullify magic.

‘No way…we can’t be this far apart.’

Iris thought so to herself.

“Hah, hah…”

No matter how hard Iris tried, her magic just wouldn’t reach him.

‘Is this the extent of my own power?’

Iris’ breathing is getting heavier.

‘No…I can’t lose here. That’s right, I have to fight. I have to survive!’

“Uwaaaaaa!”

There was no other choice.

Iris began to gather her magical power again.

Because at this point, no matter what happens—

“Let me tell you something—”

As if to make Iris even more despaired, Bard said so.

“I’ve fought against that ‘Demon’ before.”

“—what?”

“We fought for three days nonstop, but we couldn’t reach a conclusion. Both of us were heavily injured. Since then, I came to be known as the shadow that severs everything. That’s why I’m called the [Shadow] Bard.”

“T-That’s…”

Certainly, it’s common for adventurers to boast about their strength by mentioning well-known individuals and saying, ‘I am on par with this person.’

Even so,

“On the same level as that ‘Demon’…!?”

Enrique.

Iris is also familiar with that name.

S-rank adventurers leaving the guild is not uncommon.

They leave the guild usually because they receive a territory from the king, joining a knight order, or entering an academy as a mentor due to recognition of their magical abilities, and so on—

However, that is not the case for Enrique.

It is said that he was expelled from the guild because of his arrogance.

In other words, he’s insane.

A former S-rank monster.

To think this man, Bard, is on the same level as that monster, made Iris even more despaired.

‘Can I actually win here? Am I not strong enough?’

Despair starts to consume Iris’ heart.

Not only Iris’ confidence, but also her pride slowly started to fade away.

However,

Before despair could engulf Iris completely, something reached Iris’ ears.

Bard is the one who first noticed it.

“Hmm?”

Bard turns his attention to the source of the sound.

Thudding sound of footsteps can be heard.

It’s getting closer and closer.

“Who is it? I made sure to tell them not to enter this room—”

The sound of the footsteps continues.

Eventually, Iris feels someone’s presence behind her.

“Run!!”

Even though Iris doesn’t know the person behind her is a friend or a foe, she can’t help but shout so.

Iris is desperate, she knows that there is no way she is going to win against Bard.

However, there is a chance that she can save that person’s life.

There is a chance for that person to survive.

That’s the reason why Iris shouted so in the first place.

“His target is me!!!”

Even though Iris said so, she actually wants to be saved.

Iris warns the person behind her that Bard is actually a monster who is at the same level as that [Demon] Enrique.

‘Please, help me.’

Iris can’t help but to wish so in her heart.

“I see.”

The voice heard from behind sounds surprisingly young.

“As strong as Enrique, huh?”

“Yeah, that’s right! So quickly—”

However, unexpectedly—

“Well done.”

Saying so, the person lightly pats Iris’ shoulder and stands in front of her.

“…eh?”

Iris is taken aback.

The man is wearing a strange grey mask and dressed in all black.

Iris can’t help but to wonder why is this man standing in front of her.

It’s as if he intends to fight in her place.

“…I don’t even know who you are…do you have a death wish or something?”

Trembling, Iris asked.

“No, I don’t have a death wish.”

The man calmly said so.

“But, helping me here won’t bring you any benefit…I’m just a daughter of a concubine…”

That’s right, a child of a concubine.

Even if he saves her—

“It’s not about gaining benefits or anything like that.”

Iris can’t believe the words that just came out of the masked man’s mouth.

“However, you see, that man…he is a user of extradimensional magic, a magic that surpasses human understanding…”

“Oh, is that so?”

At first, Iris thought that this man is a fool.

“That doesn’t matter at all.”

However, Iris realized.

This man is not a fool.

It’s not that he is unaware of the threat of the enemy.

On the contrary…

Even though the masked man knows that his enemy is as strong as the [Demon] Enrique, he is still as calm as ever.

“But, why…”

Iris says so in a voice that seems to be fading away.

That’s right.

Why is he helping Iris?

Even if he saves her, there is nothing to gain.

It was the same in Lyon.

‘Please, help me’

Even though Iris wished so, none of the nobles listened to her.

Duke Randall still listened to what Iris had to say kindly, but most of the nobles, when asked for assistance, they just twisted their face in disgust saying, ‘What can you offer us?’

‘There is no way someone would help me without expecting something.’

Iris has nothing to offer.

Even if someone were to help her—

“—because, it looked like you need help.”

“……!!!”

To Iris’ surprise, the masked man said so.

What a surprisingly noble and pure reason.

The only reason why he is helping Iris is just purely because she needs help.

“…there’s—”

‘—no way.’

As Iris is about to say that, she suddenly remembered her grandfather’s words which she had long forgotten.

‘—Iris, you are blessed with such great talents, more than anyone else.’

‘…yes.’

‘―that’s why, you should use that strength for the good of others.’

‘Yeah!’

Iris’ grandfather used to tell Iris so over and over again.

Noblesse Oblige.

It is the duty of those with power to fight for the sake of others.

Not for the good of oneself, but for the good of many.

The masked man calmly walks towards Baldo.

Iris’ gaze is focused on the masked man’s back.

—Iris can sense the masked man’s ‘Noblesse Oblige’.

“Well then, substitution. Are you okay with that?”

“Hmph, you didn’t take your chance to escape. Interesting.”

Bard and the masked man face each other.

Iris can’t do anything but to watch them with a worried expression on her face.

Then, Bard starts to emit a pitch-black magical power.

On the other hand, the masked man just stands there in silence.

That’s right, there’s hardly any magical power can be felt from the masked man.

“I’ll tell you, masked brat! On the battlefield, those who act for others end up dying—involving yourself in pointless battles with no benefits, what will that achieve!?”

Saying so, Bard charges toward the masked man.

Iris desperately follows his every move with her eyes.

He is really quick.

However,

“Eh?”

The masked man stays calm and intercept Bard’s attacks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The intense sound of swords clashing echoes.

Iris can’t seem to believe the battle happening before her eyes.

Each person has different amount of magical power they possess, it is innate from birth.

The greater the magical power one possesses, the greater the amount of magical power they emit from their body.

Judging from their amount of magical power, Bard seems to have the advantage.

However…

Iris follows the masked man movements with her eyes.

Each time the masked man changes his position, swing his sword, and dodge Bard’s attacks, it’s as if he is dancing gracefully.

‘This can’t be true…’

Iris thought so.

Gradually,

‘The battle is turning to his favour?’

Even thought the battle is turning to the masked man’s favour, his magical power can be hardly felt.

Since Bard can use his shadow to defend himself, Bard should have a significant advantage.

However—

The masked man swings his sword with incredible speed.

“Ughh…! You!!”

Bard could barely defend the masked man’s attacks with his shadow, it seems like Bard can’t keep up with his speed.

Bard has a worried look on his face, he must realize that he is the one being pressured in this battle.

‘How?’

Iris thought so with a calm head.

No matter how you look at it, Bard has all of the advantage…

‘Wait, don’t tell me…’

Suddenly, something crossed onto Iris’ mind.

‘No way. Is it really possible to use magical power that way???’

Author’s Note:

Iris → A highly talented girl in magic who mastered think-rank [Fire] magic even before going into the academy.

Bard à His past battle with Enrique is truly legendary. On contrary to Enrique who has tremendous raw strength, Bard honed his technique to its perfection. He combines his excellent swordsmanship with his [Shadow] extradimensional magic, automatically using it for defence.

Iris’ Grandfather → A great noble who takes good care of his territory and people.

Main Character → Only his back looks good.