Kays Translations

Chapter 42: Unfading Feelings

Lucius defeated the monsters that harmed the people as he made his way to the underground of the mausoleum. Looking down from below, the mausoleum was extraordinary.

There were no windows or stairs, only a tall tower standing there. Despite the flames burning the town, illuminating the surroundings like bonfires, it was midnight. Yet, the outer walls were shining with a beautiful blue reminiscent of lapis lazuli.

Lauren is in here, right?

On the way, Lucius had hoped to meet up with Yu, but it was a large city. In the end, he reached the mausoleum without encountering him.

As Lucius searched for the entrance, the upper half of a knight's armor emerged from the walls of the mausoleum.

Is the armor being born from the mausoleum?

Whether the mausoleum was giving birth to armor or if there was something inside giving birth, Lucius was concerned about Lauren's safety, trapped within the mausoleum. Calmly, he beheaded the armor monsters whose numbers he couldn't even remember anymore.

"Chopping off the heads of monsters without even raising an eyebrow. Are you crazy?"

As he glanced sideways to identify the source of the voice, he saw a familiar man. He was the man Lucius had burned with Dragon Flame during their duel, covered in burns all over his body. The man held a spear and a shield resembling a tower shield.

"Surprising, isn't it?"

"What is?"

"You didn't attack me by surprise and instead called out to me. If I recall correctly, you were Bluesen, right?"

"I knew it, you're irritating."

Bluesen transformed into a sheep-like beastman form and clicked his tongue.

"...By the way, I'm searching for the entrance. Can you tell me? Honestly, I don't have time to waste on you."

Bluesen sneered contemptuously.

"You've become interesting. When we first met, you were so naive and ignorant that I felt nauseated. But now, I feel a sense of familiarity with you."

"...I don't understand. I'm not someone like you. Please don't get in my way."

Lucius glared at Bluesen.

"On the way here, how many people did you kill? I can tell from your expression. Hey, let me ask you something. What has the honor and pride of nobles, the duty of nobility, and the chivalric spirit done to help you in battle? In the battlefield, those things are worthless trash, how does it feel to realize that?"

Lucius felt frustrated by those words.

"...Nothing has changed."

"No, things have changed. The people here weren't like that from the beginning. They all initially stood on the battlefield with the pride of knights and the dignity of nobles. But if you stay in a world where those things will only get you killed, you end up throwing them away like trash."

"Even if that means oppressing and tormenting others?"

"Yeah. The world is like a cesspool once you peel off its outer layer. The knights here have fallen into such a cesspool and are filled with those who stayed too long. And now, you also reek of that filth."

"I'm not like you!"

Lucius unleashed Dragon Flame.

The flames engulfed Bluesen in an instant.

Lucius turned around silently.

"Hey, where are you going? Just when things are getting interesting."

When Lucius turned around again, Bluesen, unscathed, was standing there.

Something's not right. I used Dragon Flame seriously.

Without wasting a moment, Lucius unleashed Dragon Flame again.

"You don't hold back, do you?"

When the flames engulfed the man, it seemed as if an invisible film prevented the flames from reaching Bluesen's surroundings. Only the shield partially turned red and seemed to be melting, as if it absorbed the heat.

Is the shield absorbing the heat?

Ignoring Lucius' question, Bluesen launched an offensive. While he had used a bow technique previously, now he wielded a spear and attacked Lucius.

However, Lucius easily evaded the spear thrusts.

When he attempted to counter with a slash, he felt an impact in his body.

"Gaah!"

All the muscles in his body contracted against his will, as if they were about to tear apart. Struggling to open his flickering vision, he noticed the next thrust about to be unleashed.

The spear blade was surging with purple electricity.

A lightning technique?!

In an instant, Lucius instinctively released a dazzling light from his Holy Sword to disorient Bluesen and create distance. Examining the pain in his body, he realized that his left shoulder had been burned. It seemed he was struck by the lightning charged on the spear.

"How does it feel to have your body burned?"

Bluesen stood a little distance away, charging his spear with electricity.

"...So you had such a technique."

"Yeah, don't you know? This is the Empire's technology. Unlike us, the people of the Empire fight by incorporating magic stones and techniques into their weapons. It's too unfair. They can exchange magic stones and change techniques freely without running out of magic power."

Incorporating magic stones and techniques into weapons?

If it was just incorporating techniques and activating them with one's own magic power, it would be similar to Lucius' sword. But using magic stones as a power source was something he had never heard of before.

Moreover, it felt strongly repulsive.

Magic stones were the souls of monsters.

Furthermore, Lucius couldn't understand why Bluesen, a knight, possessed weapons from the Empire.

However, he had at least understood his true identity.

A spear incorporating a lightning technique and a shield incorporating a magic defense technique.

I can do this.

Lucius created darkness in his left hand and threw it towards Bluesen. The pitch-blackness swallowed everything, but Bluesen, as if refusing to be engulfed, remained standing upright on the ground.

He seemed to be smiling, although only slightly.

Perhaps Lucius just wanted to believe that.

"...Why... aren't you... faster..."

Bluesen began to utter some words but then breathed his last.

"..."

Why Bluesen was alone near the mausoleum is now unknown.

Lucius shook his head and forcefully redirected his focus to what he should do next. Otherwise, the discomfort clinging to his hand would engulf his entire body.

Lucius began searching for the entrance to the mausoleum once again.

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