Illusions. Empty fantasies without substance.
They show falsehoods or illusions to a designated target. Sotis they block the retreat, and other tis, they manipulate the target.
Keyal Klein wasn’t particularly skilled at creating illusions.
‘Well, still...’
Deceiving a powerless princess and the Baron shouldn’t be too difficult.
The black mist swirling around Keyal’s figure separates the two of them, pulling them away from one another.
The illusion fills the Baron's mind, distorting his vision with lies.
“This... What...!!!”
The illusions, impossible to see or feel, overlay his senses.
In front of the princess, cherry blossoms bloom. The blazing heat of the sun turns the area into a sea of petals. Waves rise into the sky, cascading back down like gentle rain.
“...”
The princess, having abandoned everything, reaches out her hand. Her eyes are dead, yet strangely, her lips curl upwards.
Just before giving up on life, had the gods been listening to her plea? If this is what one sees before death, it’s a beautiful vision, isn’t it?
Amid the flowers, she takes her final breath. Her lips tremble, blowing petals into the wind, and the flowers, carried on the breeze, drift gently to the ground.
With a faint smile, she seems satisfied, her eyes sparkling with a hint of joy.
- *This damn bastard...!!!!*
On the other side, the black dog beastkin lets out a monstrous roar as it slashes away at the approaching monsters.
“*Khrkh!*... Lord Brown...?!”
**Clang!!**
The Baron, battling the monsters, seems oblivious to the illusion surrounding him. His sword clashes with the creatures, but Keyal's manipulation continues, distracting him.
At one mont, he thinks, "Is this guy crazy?" but at the sa ti, he realizes that the Baron’s behavior seems strangely controlled, almost as if it were part of so plan.
**Swish!**
But it doesn’t matter.
The Baron, trapped in his illusion, moves toward the monsters with staggering steps, as if he had already lost his limbs.
In reality, his arms and legs have been torn off by the monsters.
**Thud.**
The Baron lets out a scream. However, in that fleeting mont, no one is around to hear his desperate cries.
- *Why aren’t you helping ...?! Hurry and heal !!!*
Despite the blood pouring from his severed limbs, the Baron still manages to drag himself forward, shouting at the knights standing by, who are doing nothing but watching his demise.
- *I paid you with gold! You’re supposed to heal !!!*
The Baron's voice cracks as he screams at the knights, confused and furious at their inaction.
- *You fools... do you not know who I am?! I am Brown Lawrence, the 14th Lord of the Lawrence family!!!*
**Krhhk!**
“*Ugh...!!*”
Brown Lawrence lets out a tortured scream.
But—
**Crack! Crack!**
The creatures, whose language he couldn’t even understand, were not going to listen to him.
A skeleton, drenched in dark magic, raises its large arm to strike at his back, cleaving through it.
**Swoosh.**
- *Khaaaah...!!!*
The deep gash opens on Brown’s back, and the sword’s mark sinks into his flesh.
The Baron tumbles around, screaming in agony.
- *Khaah...!! I... I am...!! Lawrence...! Lawrence...!! I am the head of the Lawrence family!!*
**Drip. Drip.**
- *To these... monsters...!! To this filthy creature...!!*
Blood drips, splattering across the floor, creating a small pool around him. As he crawls weakly, trying to escape, skeletal hands grasp his legs.
- *Wait...!! Please...! Spare ...! My life...!!*
He begs for rcy, tears streaming down his face as he pleads for his life.
**Swoosh.**
- *Khhhhh...!!!*
The skeleton swings its one-handed sword, cutting through Brown’s tendons.
Brown, still writhing, cries out.
“*Aaaah~! Save !!*”
Keyal’s gaze hardens.
“...”
Disgusting. Ugly. There were many words that could describe the current Brown Lawrence.
The way he desperately clung to life in such a pitiful manner, his face streaked with tears and snot, was a grotesque mix of sorrow and foolishness.
When faced with death, people’s true nature is revealed. And now, Brown Lawrence’s true nature—the ugliest aspect of him—was laid bare for all to see.
And as with all things, there is an end.
The illusion continued as the black dog beastkin’s body was torn apart, and the real Brown Lawrence approached the monsters.
As if he had witnessed the approaching death, he whispered sothing, his lips twitching.
**Swoosh.**
In that mont, his head was severed by a clean strike.
By now, the knights who had been too cowardly to act had already fled.
anwhile, the illusion-entranced Layna, too, shared a final mont with the flowers, bidding farewell.
She had received her just rewards for her actions.
---
**Shift.**
The scene changed. Life returned to Layna’s eyes as she awoke from the illusion.
“*Huh?*”
The oppressive darkness drained her energy, and her vision blurred.
Nothing was visible. Only the soft whispers of Layna’s na in the distance.
**“Shh. You shouldn’t wake up yet.”**
A rich, masculine voice whispered in her ear, causing her ears to perk up.
“Let cover your eyes. Princess.”
A mysterious man spoke softly, covering her vision.
“...”
The short words felt strangely sweet, yet the tone that followed was harsh and biting.
*"Princess."*
Had she still been the princess, these words would have been treasured.
But now, she was no longer a princess.
She was a re slave.
“I... I...”
**Shh.**
A brief, almost lodic sound escaped the man’s lips as he smiled at her.
It was almost as if he were always smiling, like a charming boy.
“You’re not supposed to speak yet. I told you, didn’t I?”
He stood so close that his hand covered her eyes.
“Rest for now.”
His voice was gentle, almost coaxing.
At those words, Layna felt herself growing drowsy, the exhaustion overwhelming her.
Her body swayed. She couldn’t keep her balance. She stumbled.
“...”
Her once-proud position as a princess now felt like a distant mory.
She had been born to see and taste only the best things. Now, in this state, she could do nothing but accept the stranger’s embrace.
She closed her eyes, surrendering to sleep.
The voice that had coaxed her sounded so pleasant. She almost thought the man might be a handso young man.
Her hopes faded as she sank into slumber.
---
### **Keyal’s Return**
**“Tch, that was close.”**
Keyal, holding the princess in his arms, returned to the inn.
He looked down at Layna, lying on the bed, then stood up.
His bent arm stretched toward the sky.
His body floated, and with a swift motion, he gracefully landed, legs slightly apart, landing in a stance reminiscent of a famous football player’s celebration.
“*Heh...!! That was aweso...!!*”
Clenching his fists, he flexed his triceps and released them, repeating the motion a few tis. After a mont, he cleared his throat and straightened his posture.
“*Ah, that worked out great.*”
It was a significant win.
The battle against the Death Knight had greatly improved his rank and stats, giving him a significant boost in power.
*Demonic Legion*, a skill that had once summoned only a few weak creatures, now seed useful in certain situations, evolving from an uncommon skill into sothing useful with his enhanced status.
Keyal had used it to great effect.
He smirked at the fact that everything had lined up perfectly.
The timing was ideal. The test subject appeared at the right mont, the one with money. He had bought the slave and wandered down a busy alley.
Then, the illusion worked perfectly, and the knights fled just in ti.
Jackpot. A really good day.
The Barons had sealed their own fate.
Keyal shrugged.
“*Yat hohoi! Hoi! Yat hohohoi! Hoi!!*”
---
**Shift.**
And Layna, who had witnessed the entire scene, stared in disbelief at the man before her.
“What... is this?”
The princess’s face went pale.
“...”
“My... my prince. Give him back to …”
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