TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 146
The Red Thunder pouring down on the heretics showed no signs of stopping.
Once at Hans.
“Kraaaah…! What the hell is that monster?!”
Twice at the Archbishop of Blasphemy.
“What is that monster…!”
And three times at Ruin, reigning over the battlefield.
“Damn bastard…!”
“Apologies. I had to balance things out.”
The Red Thunder rained down, separating the heretics from the students who had lost their will to fight. The relentless onslaught of thunder mercilessly crushed the heretics.
The Red Lightning was fundamentally different from the commonly known Electric Magic.
-Rumble…
In terms of power.
And in terms of the speed of its composition.
It overcame the inherent weaknesses of the electric attribute.
Commonly known Electric Magic had a significantly longer casting time compared to other types of magic.
The very concept of ‘electricity’ was difficult for the people of Another World to imagine, requiring considerable time to apply.
Though it possessed explosive power, the attribute had clear drawbacks. However, such restrictions did not apply to the Wizard with Red Hair.
He was a person from a world where electricity was commonplace and had learned how to efficiently utilize mana from novels.
Ricardo, showcasing an overwhelming difference in skill, was driving them into a corner.
Each time Ricardo snapped his fingers, the Red Thunder struck repeatedly, tightening its grip on the heretics’ throats.
“Was magic always this easy?”
Ricardo threw them a light smile, mocking them.
*
Hans’s mind was in turmoil.
A major deviation had occurred in the meticulously progressing plan.
For Hans, who had orchestrated and planned everything, Ricardo’s intervention was an unforeseen variable.
He never imagined that Ricardo, who was in Hamel, would attend the Academy Banquet, nor did he think Ricardo would recognize Yuria.
The plan was to isolate Yuria, who had lost her Beauty, in a secluded place and kidnap her when no one was around. But everything went awry with Ricardo’s appearance.
There were plenty of fools blinded by Jealousy, making them easy to manipulate.
Yet, this guy, with overwhelming Martial Arts compared to his peers and so many hidden cards that it was impossible to gauge, was disrupting Hans’s plan once again.
Everything had been going according to plan before Ricardo arrived….
Like a well-unraveled thread, things were progressing smoothly, and seeing Ruin torment Yuria more severely than expected gave Hans a thrill.
He had even considered delaying the plan to reveal Yuria’s magic in front of Ruin, wondering what kind of expression Ruin would make upon discovering the identity of the woman he had Neglected. What if Yuria, drenched in contempt, uttered cold words to Ruin? But everything fell apart with that monster’s appearance.
The well-unraveled thread became tangled and knotted repeatedly due to that monster’s appearance, eventually forming an unmovable Knot.
‘To capture that monster…. I’d need the Archbishop of Despair. No, maybe even an Apostle-level figure.’
Hans had thought he was just a guy good with a sword, but what the hell was that?
Hans let out a sigh of Giheum as he watched Ricardo calmly unleashing magic.
It seemed he wasn’t the only one with such thoughts.
The Archbishop of Blasphemy, who was confronting Mikhail, also glanced at Ricardo with an Empty Laugh, as if in disbelief, and his Close Friend was staring at Ricardo with a Stern Expression.
“What the…”
The Voice of his Close Friend, filled with despair, reached his ears.
“What the hell is that bastard.”
*
Ruin looked down at his hands and let out an Empty Laugh. Compared to Ricardo, who effortlessly unleashed magic, all Ruin could do was create more Fireballs than others.
He was already envious to death of Ricardo’s unique attribute of ‘Thunder,’ but seeing him wield that magic as naturally as breathing filled Ruin with a deep Inferiority Complex.
Even if he used the Secret Technique taught by the Tower Master, he felt he wouldn’t be able to defeat him.
Ruin’s confidence stemmed from the Secret Technique the Tower Master had taught him. The Unique Magic created by the Tower Master in the Magic Tower was known only to the Tower Master and Ruin.
He had thought that with it, he could defeat anyone. But seeing Ricardo, Ruin slowly began to acknowledge that such thoughts were sheer arrogance.
He had known it, but not to this extent.
Stealing even magic was going too far.
As Ruin stared at his trembling hands, a Black Orb rapidly approached him.
Without even the sound of a ‘whoosh,’ the orb aimed to strangle him. Ruin barely dodged it and looked ahead.
“Hans…!”
“Ruin.”
Hans loosened his wrist as he walked toward Ruin.
Since kidnapping Yuria was no longer achievable, Hans decided to at least satisfy his personal desires.
Hans, thinking it would be a worthwhile trade to seize Ruin’s Unique Magic, ‘Fire Script,’ which he had failed to take last time, began unleashing magic at Ruin without hesitation.
For some reason, Ricardo didn’t seem inclined to help Ruin.
Though the exact reason was unclear, Ricardo was merely standing still, providing magical support in front of Yuria and Hanna. Moreover, the Archbishop of Blasphemy was keeping Ricardo in check.
Taking advantage of the Archbishop of Blasphemy holding Ricardo back, Hans aimed to secure at least minimal gains.
Using magic to create wind, Hans closed in on Ruin.
“Get a grip, Ruin.”
A sharp, resounding crack echoed.
“Kraah…!”
The Black Orb created by Hans struck Ruin’s chest directly.
Ruin clutched his chest, coughing from the impact of Hans’s attack, which reverberated through the Banquet Hall. Hans pushed himself into Ruin’s space again and opened his mouth.
“We’re in the middle of a battle.”
“…Ugh. You get a grip, Hans!”
“Stop saying stupid things and focus.”
-Crack…!
Ruin was slammed into the wall of the Banquet Hall, covered in dust. Without even a moment to feel Shame in front of the other students, Ruin focused all his attention on defending himself from Hans’s relentless magic.
“You’re nothing. You’re not as strong as Ricardo, and you’re weaker than me.”
“I can beat someone like you, so shut up.”
“Hahaha! Ruin, you’re hilarious. You could be a comedian.”
Hans smiled as he fired a Black Awl at Ruin.
“I used to think you were amazing, you know? Your magic was impressive, and your learning speed was extraordinary. I was so envious and thought you were incredible, but….”
A mocking laugh from Hans pierced Ruin’s ears.
“You’re truly hopeless, aren’t you?”
Hans could hear the grinding of Ruin’s teeth. Seeing Ruin, unable to suppress his rising anger and glaring at him with eyes that seemed ready to leap out at any moment, brought Hans joy.
Though the plan had failed, he could still toy with Ruin.
“You couldn’t even grasp the magic and insulted Yuria.”
“I said shut up.”
“Despite being no match, you let your Pride get in the way and provoked Ricardo, only to be utterly crushed.”
“Keep running your mouth, and I’ll sew it shut.”
“And now, you’re just spouting nonsense without even understanding the situation. Wow…!”
Hans’s eyes sparkled as he spoke.
“It’s pathetic, isn’t it? Don’t you agree?”
“You f*cking bastard!”
Whoosh. Flames grazed Hans’s cheek. Feeling the heat of his Close Friend’s anger, Hans smiled with intrigue and unleashed another spell toward Ruin.
The playful exchange was over.
There was nothing more to say to Ruin.
He had wanted to tease him a bit more, to torment him further, but it seemed the Archbishop of Blasphemy wouldn’t last much longer.
-Haaaah!
-Mikhail, stop messing around and cover your blind spot.
-Haah!
-And stop making those weird shouts.
-Ugh…! Just shut up already!
-Shut up and focus ahead.
Despite pouring all his strength into killing Ricardo, the Archbishop of Blasphemy’s Dark Magic was ineffective against him. Seeing the Archbishop panting heavily, Hans realized time was running out.
Even in the midst of battle, Mikhail was rapidly growing, and Histania Hanna, standing behind Ricardo, was slowly gathering Aura to join the fight.
Hans guessed that if those two joined forces, the Archbishop of Blasphemy wouldn’t last even ten minutes.
Therefore.
Hans thought it was time to put an end to this Accursed Karma.
“Ruin. I’ve always envied you.”
Ruin, unable to withstand the torrent of Hans’s Dark Magic, was slammed against the wall, gasping for breath. His Entire Body, drenched in blood, trembled with frustration as he felt the overwhelming difference in power.
“Damn… Damn…!!!”
Feeling burdened by Ruin’s glaring gaze, Hans kicked him in the head.
With a ‘Kicking Sound,’ the burst echoed.
Seeing Ruin’s sagging shoulders, Hans wore a bitter expression.
“Even though we’re both Orphans, you were great, and I was utterly worthless.”
“…Cough… Cough.”
“It was infuriating to see you loved by the Tower Master and accepted by Friends, even when you acted like a dog.”
“You felt the same, didn’t you…”
“Bullshit.”
Hans roughly grabbed Ruin’s hair and spoke.
“Ruin, people should know humility.”
“…”
“If you were lucky enough to be taken in by the Tower Master, you should’ve lived quietly. We’re both nobodies, so you had no right to look down on me.”
“I…”
“Shut up. I know you’ll just deny it again.”
Hans pressed his foot against Ruin’s face and slowly placed his hand on Ruin’s Body. The Dark Magic that stole the opponent’s Magic began to manifest.
It was his own Magic.
The very Dark Magic that made him superior to Ruin once again emitted an Ominous Energy, tightening its grip on Ruin’s breath.
“Try living without that precious Magic of yours.”
“What are you doing…”
Ruin spoke in a trembling voice. Shivering at the looming foreboding, Ruin grabbed Hans’s hand, but Hans brushed it aside and replied.
“What else?”
The Red Orb slowly emerged from Ruin’s Body.
Hans, his eyes filled with Greed, stared at the Orb and answered.
“I’ve taken what you cherish most.”
As Hans’s words ended, Ruin’s vision went black.
And then.
“Are you done?”
Ricardo’s figure, standing atop the Archbishop of Blasphemy’s corpse, came into Hans’s view.
Hans furrowed his brows and shook his head.
“F*ck.”
*
The Banquet Hall, where everything had ended.
Malik, who had arrived as part of the Imperial Knights’ Order, sighed as he looked at the Chaos that had unfolded in the Banquet Hall.
“So, what exactly happened here?”
Sitting atop the corpse of someone wearing a white Cleric Robe, I gave Malik an awkward Smile as I looked at his bewildered face.
“Surprise?”
“Haa…”
Malik, looking at me with tired eyes, spoke.
“Whose name should I use to cover this up this time?”
“I appreciate how quick you are to the point, Brother.”
“Don’t call me Brother, you Monster.”
“Monster? That’s too harsh. It hurts my feelings, you know.”
I looked at the fallen Mikhail and smiled.
“Let’s go with Mikhail.”