Irll.
I crushed another enemy, but there was no scream.
The enemies were clearly n who had been trained systematically.
"Kill!"
According to my mother, each of them was at least worth two fingers.
I leaned my body slightly backward. A sharp blade grazed past my chest.
I could have let that attack hit slightly and then cut off the enemy's head — attacks without any divinity didn't really hurt — but since Carn didn't know my true nature, revealing the oddities of my body would've been a foolish move.
I stepped forward and counterattacked with an upward slash.
The fight resembled the one against that bandit leader who fought so skillfully before, but there was a clear difference this ti:
Vrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Now, I had the upper hand in terms of equipnt.
The Butcher let out a rough screech as it lunged for the enemy's neck.
The enemy, recalling how a comrade who tried to block the Butcher head-on was pulverized, dared neither to block nor to deflect it.
The enemy backed off two steps. If so, I'd just follow him.
Using my superior physical capabilities, I closed the distance even faster than he could retreat.
"Haah!"
The Butcher drove itself into the man's chest. The wildly spinning blade ground through the tal plates protecting his body and tore into the tender flesh beneath. Blood and chunks of flesh spilled out.
Another man approached stealthily, aiming to strike while I was busy finishing off his comrade.
There wasn't enough ti to pull the Butcher out and swing it at him.
But I had two swords.
I quickly moved my left hand, drew the Froststeel Sword, and swung it.
Since I wasn't that familiar with swordsmanship using my left hand, the swing was rough.
But it was enough.
Clang!
Unable to withstand the force of the clash, the man's sword was knocked into the air.
Vrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
The Butcher imdiately split the man in half.
Now only five remained.
Clang!
I heard the clash of swords nearby.
When I turned my head to check on Carn, I saw a body lying on the ground with an arrow in its head.
Beyond that, Carn was fiercely fighting two n, sword in hand.
Just as I was about to rush over to help, Carn shouted loudly after seeing :
"Two of them ran towards the carriage! They know they're losing and are trying to flee! I'm fine here — you need to stop the carriage before it gets away!"
At her signal, the Irll family's carriage began picking up speed.
I alternated my gaze between the battling Carn and the carriage.
If I sprinted after the carriage, I'd be leaving Carn too far behind.
There was only one thing I could do now, before the carriage gained too much speed.
It might hurt the people inside a little, but better that than endangering my companion.
I switched the Butcher and the Froststeel Sword between hands, then raised my right hand and threw the Froststeel Sword.
The sword spun roughly through the air and smashed into the carriage's rear wheel.
The carriage lost balance, spun wildly across the snowy field, and finally crashed into so trees.
Thunk!
Or more accurately, after the crash, it tipped over from the weight and collapsed onto its side.
"Uh... oops."
It was my first ti throwing a sword to break a carriage wheel, so I hadn't expected it to turn out quite like this.
Hopefully, the people inside were okay?
I thought they probably were, and quickly sprinted across the snow toward the carriage.
Along the way, I spotted one of the fleeing n — he had smashed his head against a tree trunk and broken his neck.
One more left...
"Kill!"
A blade shot out through the carriage wall, aiming for my heart — a well-tid ambush.
I raised my left hand to block it.
The blade pierced through my hand but stopped just short of my chest. Blood splattered onto the snow.
If I were a warrior or a knight specializing in close combat, I probably could have parried the ambush properly.
Thinking that, I casually swung the Butcher in my right hand.
Even without activating the motor, the stationary saw blade crushed the attacker's skull.
I kicked away the corpse with its smashed head.
That cleared things up on my side.
Was Carn okay?
As if mocking my worry, Carn just then beheaded the last man standing in front of her with a powerful swing.
As expected — a good archer needs strong arms.
Since Carn's side was settled too, it was ti to check on whoever was tied up inside the overturned carriage.
I hoped they weren't too badly hurt from the crash...
"Mmph! Mmph!"
I tore off the jamd carriage door with brute force and peered inside.
A strange scent tickled my nose as I found a woman writhing, tightly bound.
Brilliant silver hair cascading down to her shoulders, and golden eyes shining brightly.
The perfect harmony of gold and silver ant she was unmistakably of the Irll bloodline.
I smiled as kindly as I could and said,
"I'm going to untie you now, so please don't resist.
I'm on your side."
The woman rolled her eyes around in her bound state, then slowly nodded.
I climbed into the carriage and first removed the gag from her mouth.
As soon as it was off, she shouted loudly:
"We have to get out of this carriage imdiately! It's still filled with anesthetic gas—!"
I quickly hoisted her onto my back and got out of the carriage.
Honestly, those kinds of drugs don't work well on anyway, but explaining that would have been more trouble than it was worth.
"Just stay still for a mont."
I pulled out a multipurpose dagger and cut the ropes binding her limbs.
But even free, she couldn't stand up right away.
After calming down a bit, she looked up at with her golden eyes and said confidently:
"My body's still numb, and I'm seriously about to puke right now.
Unless you want to see throw up like a volcano while staring at the sky, could you please carry over there and pat my back?"
"Sure."
Her completely logical argunt made nod imdiately.
I lifted her by the waist and carried her over to the side of the road, then gently patted her back.
"Blaaargh!"
The sound of sothing gushing out filled the air, but I had no intention of witnessing the grueso sight.
Carn, who had approached while I was busy, whispered to :
"Did you hear who she is?"
"Uweeegh!"
I patted her back while shrugging my shoulders.
"As you can see, all I heard was her asking for help with the vomiting. Also, she seems unable to move her limbs yet, probably due to the drugs."
Carn, who noticed the silver-haired figure endlessly dry heaving, asked again.
"Did you see her eyes? Were they golden?"
"Yes. It seems she really is the daughter of the Irl family."
"You, you can stop patting now! If you keep going, I feel like I'm going to puke even more!"
"Ah, yes. But can you stand up on your own?"
"Give a mont."
The woman, after falling onto her butt a few tis, finally managed to get up on her trembling legs. Watching her stand, Carn unconsciously whispered to with admiration.
"She really is a woman of great spirit."
"I agree."
'Murder!'
As I heard my mother's sharp scolding not to say strange things, I gave Carn a signal with my eyes. It would be smoother if the noble among us took the lead in conversation.
Carn stepped forward with a friendly smile and spoke.
"I am Carn Baltas, son of Lord Ensis Baltas. May I ask for your na, lady of House Irl?"
The woman, still patting her shaky legs, glanced at us and replied in a confident voice.
"Nice to et you. I am Dakea Irl, the eldest daughter of Calto Irl, the Duke of Smiles."
If it was Calto Irl, the Duke of Smiles, he was the current head of House Irl. And this woman was his eldest daughter. I was a little shocked to realize she was an even bigger figure than I had thought. Carn's face stiffened as he whispered to .
"If she really is Dakea Irl, the daughter of the Duke, then she's a mage."
Mages were born randomly among nobles and commoners alike. Of course, nobles didn't particularly enjoy having mages born into their families.
Anyway, being both a noble and a mage... that was quite the troubleso combination.
Regardless of our tension, Dakea looked straight at and asked,
"And the na of the one who saved ? I can tell at a glance you're a priest."
I bowed lightly and answered politely.
"I am Marnak, a priest who serves the Goddess of Preservation, who protects our daily lives."
"Marnak, huh... Not a bad na."
She extended her pale hand toward .
"I'm having a little trouble walking right now. Would you mind giving so support?"
'Murder!!!'
Suppressing the furious cries from my chest pocket, I glanced at Carn. I really didn't want to get too entangled with a mage if I could help it. And it would be more proper for the noble to assist her anyway.
Carn, catching my signal, nodded and stepped forward.
"I will assist you, Lady Dakea."
Dakea narrowed her eyes at Carn and spoke in a gentle, teasing tone.
"I was being considerate, thinking about the lover you must have back in the capital. Are you sure you want to help ? If word gets out that the 'Black Hound' of House Baltas and I were seen together, rumors might spread in the capital."
Carn and I stared at each other, mouths open. It was surprising because the words that had just co out of her mouth were far too cultured for a mage.
Carn awkwardly laughed and turned to .
"Marnak, looks like you're the one who has to handle this after all."
Grimacing, I reluctantly took Dakea's hand.
'Murder!'
My chest pocket writhed violently, but I ignored it and said to her,
"For now, please wait here with Carn. I'll go collect the bodies."
I buried the ten bodies in the roughly dug ground and knelt in prayer.
"Mother, I offer you their lives."
'Murder!!!'
My mother, who had suddenly leapt out of my chest pocket, appeared before in the form of a young girl and gave both middle fingers. She was following my request not to rampage when angry by just showing the gesture—but seeing both middle fingers directed at still felt... complicated.
"Mother, please fold your fingers and return to my chest."
My mother stomped toward and poked my cheek repeatedly with her outstretched middle fingers.
'Murder!'
"Yes, Mother. You're right that rescuing a kidnapped young lady could be considered ddling."
'Murder!'
"And yes, you're right that I should stop doing things with no gain and live more selfishly."
I lifted her up into my arms and patted her back.
"But I'll create the gains myself. So please don't worry too much. Just as I trust you, you should trust too."
'Murder...kill...'
As if agreeing, she turned back into a faint light and disappeared into my chest. I carefully placed my hand over my chest and prayed again.
"Please take these lives, Mother."
The divine energy of decay seeped into my body from the grave I made.
[Divinity: 1241]
Having finished harvesting divinity, it was ti to head back.
Golden eyes flickered as they stared into the fire. Dakea slowly spoke while grilling at from the dead horses, tossing the wreckage of the carriage into the bonfire.
"I don't have hard evidence, but I have a pretty good idea who's behind this. Actually, it's obvious. This whole kidnapping was orchestrated by my brother, Daken Irl, who sees as a thorn in his side."
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