Quit The Hero Party

EP.94 Sword and Shield (2)

Perfect humans do not exist. Humans seek what they lack in others. Depending on their needs, humans cooperate with one another.

“Constraint one, no preemptive attacks.”

Professor Belnoa, standing at the boundary line, opened his mouth. Shadows coiled around Belnoa’s arms writhed.

“Constraint two, spells are limited to Smite. Also, only used for intercepting spells.”

Circuits were etched into the shadows. Belnoa shot a sideways glance at Lac while gauging the number of stocked spells.

“There are a total of five constraints. Two have already been mentioned by the Master… I’ve found one of the remaining three.”

“Is that so? I’ve found one as well.”

Lac clashed the axes he held in both hands, clang clang. Sparks flew as the stocked spells were heated up on the axes.

“······This is the constraint I found.”

“······That is the constraint I found.”

Belnoa and Lac had different combat styles. Because their styles differed, their perspectives on the battle were also different. These differences manifested in their words. Belnoa’s words did not overlap with Lac’s.

Two constraints were revealed. Only one constraint remained.

Belnoa explained the plan, and Lac listened. After hearing everything, Lac spoke briefly.

“Is that so.”

It wasn’t a positive response. However, Lac bent his knees, thus replacing his answer. Lac lowered his posture.

Thud.

Lac’s shoes dug into the ground. Clods of dirt were pushed back. Crawling close to the ground, Lac set the axe handle against the earth.

Accel.

Muscular Boost.

Thud, Lac’s heart raced roughly. His breathing quickened. Regulating his accelerated breath, Lac began counting.

“One.”

Belnoa pulled out shadows.

“Two.”

The pulled-out shadows twisted into the shape of sharp needles. A total of five twisting shadows awaited.

“Three.”

As Lac pronounced “three,” he slammed his feet into the ground. Boom, clods of dirt erupted. Beyond the clumps of dirt, Belnoa flicked his left hand.

Shadow Needle.

The needles shot out. Faster than the projectile needles, Lac rushed toward Rania.

2.

With every step taken, the distance closed rapidly. Lac, his eyes wide-open, kicked off the ground hard. The distance shrank to about five steps.

Thump.

Yet, the Master still didn’t seem inclined to move. Was it due to the constraint of not making the first attack if the line wasn’t crossed? Or was it just her composure?

It’s hard to tell.

Hard to tell, but Lac knew what he had to do.

Lac did not slow down; instead, he pulled his arms back behind him. Taking another step, he narrowed the gap to about three steps.

Whoosh!

He swung his right arm forward. The hand axe made a swoosh as it was thrown toward Rania.

“······”

Rania, silent and staring at the axe, waved her hand. Lac’s eyes widened.

‘Right hand.’

She accurately struck the wooden part of the spinning axe. The trajectory of the axe shifted vertically and slammed into the ground.

Thud.

At that moment, Lac had closed the distance to one step. He crossed the boundary line drawn by Rania. Rania looked down at Lac, who had lowered his posture.

Her gaze was calm.

Her movements were still leisurely.

Lac swallowed hard, raising the axe in his left hand. The motion was fast. However, Rania was much faster.

Snap.

She caught the axe blade with her bare hand.

‘Right hand.’

Once again gripping the axe with her right hand, she slightly bent her body. Her knee moved toward Lac’s abdomen.

‘So fast!’

He couldn’t dodge it. But, this was the anticipated flow. Lac quickly turned his body sideways.

Swish!

The shadow needle that had been concealed behind Lac swung into view. A spell striking from his blind spot. Yet again, Rania reacted.

She flicked her left index finger.

Boom!

The moment the powerful strike struck, all shadow needles were deflected. However, a gap formed between movements. Using that gap, Lac dropped the axe and rolled on the ground.

Rolling on the ground, he drew out the axe buried in the dirt.

‘Left hand.’

Lac gained confidence from the previous combat.

‘All spells can only be used with the left hand.’

As he pulled out the axe, Lac began to slide to the left, listening to the sound of Belnoa’s footsteps approaching, thud.

‘Even in a situation where the right hand could be used, the left hand is utilized. And, the opposite is also true.’

Lac swung the axe while turning left.

Although it was an easily catchable situation, again, Rania reached out with her right hand.

‘She even lets go of the axe she’s holding.’

The movement was so unnatural.

‘Every strike, grappling, attacks… all physical interference is done only with the right hand.’

As Lac adjusted the trajectory of the axe, he took another step sideways. Rania’s right arm sliced through the air menacingly.

‘Even more so.’

The altered trajectory of the axe aimed toward Rania’s legs. Her right hand was already cutting through the air. She wouldn’t use her left hand. Therefore, only one thing could come.

Her leg.

Sure enough, her leg moved. Her knee bent as she delivered a kick. Watching that, Lac smirked.

‘Even her legs are part of the constraints.’

He predicted that her right leg would move.

‘This is one of the constraints laid down by the Master.’

Lac drew the axe blade against the incoming heel. Clang, the sound echoed as the axe blade collided with Rania’s shoe heel.

“Ugh!”

Lac was the one who was pushed back.

His shoes dragged on the ground. He had no time to adjust his posture. This time, Rania took a step toward Lac.

Her step was light. Joyous.

However, the incoming attack was heavy. She bent her elbow. A fist came in.

Shadow Needle.

But again, the spikes flew in. This time, it wasn’t just the spikes. Rounding from behind her, Belnoa thrust his dagger downward.

Smite.

Crack! As the needles shattered, she spun. Her ashen-haired locks danced. The spinning kick struck Belnoa’s side.

“Guh!”

Belnoa who was hit by the kick rolled on the ground, standing up. Lac also rolled on the ground, picked up his axe once more, and created distance again.

“Hmm.”

Rania tapped the ground lightly with her toes, tap tap.

Watching that, Lac swallowed hard. Sweat dripped down his back.

Tension rose.

However, excitement loomed even larger.

“······Ha.”

A smile formed on Lac’s lips.

‘I can see it.’

The solution appeared.

The answer lay one step ahead. Lac opened his eyes wide. His pupils shook as he observed every small movement of Rania.

‘I can do this.’

Faced with Rania, Lac exchanged glances with Belnoa. Belnoa launched a shadow dagger. The dagger exploded, causing shadows to surge up.

Rania reacted to the shadows.

Ka-boom!

A flash exploded. It was as if lightning struck from below to above. The Smite tore through the shadows. Amidst the scattering shadows, Lac moved in, swinging his axe.

Whoosh.

A kick flew in. It was with the right foot.

He lowered his head to dodge it. If he knows how each leg will move, it was manageable.

While dodging, he lifted the axe. Rania leaned her upper body back. It was the first sign of a dodging action to show itself.

Tracking back behind her was Belnoa stabbing in with his dagger. Without even looking, Rania extended her right arm back.

She caught the dagger.

It was nearly a miraculous maneuver. It made Lac wonder if she even had eyes on the back of her head.

‘But, that’s okay.’

The conditions were met.

‘What’s left?’

Lac brought down the axe, which had been raised high.

He had to draw Rania’s attention away from Belnoa and toward himself.

‘It’s just about stalling for time.’

She let go of the dagger. Turning her waist, she spun around, delivering an elbow to Lac’s abdomen. Lac gasped, getting pushed backward.

However, he didn’t fall.

Lac charged in again.

Gritting his teeth, he swung the axe, and sometimes dodged, sometimes took hits.

With every blow he took, his vision blurred. He felt he might fall. However, Lac endured. It was to seize one chance at victory.

‘Belnoa said.’

Endure.

‘Not to let her resume that movement.’

With narrowed eyes, Lac stared at Rania’s left hand. Watching her glove intensely, he leaped forward the moment she tried to touch it.

‘Two seconds.’

He counted internally.

Even while rolling on the floor, he stood back up.

‘One second.’

The promised moment by Belnoa drew close.

Lac threw both axes to buy time. He managed to stall for one second.

‘Now.’

Lac opened his eyes wide and charged in empty-handed. As he approached, Rania’s pupils flickered for an instant.

Her head snapped around.

She glanced over her shoulder. Behind her, Belnoa reached out. Shadows danced around him. Not just the shadow needles were swaying.

Offering.

Belnoa’s two fingers were bent. The completed circuit was about to burst into light. Reflexively, as she tried to flick her left finger, she clicked her tongue.

She stretched her hand as if to tear apart the circuit.

However, that hand never reached Belnoa.

Thud.

Lac, charging in with bare hands, clung to Rania’s right arm. Though that move didn’t stop her, it certainly slowed her down.

Flash.

Finally, with a flash, the circuit completed. A shadow in the shape of a beast gaped wide.

The deal was sealed.

The star granted Belnoa the proper phenomenon.

‘It’s complete.’

It wouldn’t be easy to dismiss the shadow beast without a spell. It was a shadow beast worth two fingers.

‘And.’

Lac smiled.

‘The Master can’t cast spells anymore.’

It was the constraint he heard from Belnoa before starting.

– Master Rania can only cast three spells. No more than three at a time. After casting three, she must perform that movement.

The movement to draw her left hand’s glove.

– Up until she performs that movement, she hasn’t cast any spells yet. So, stall for time while preventing that movement.

If that’s the case.

– We win. Because she’ll unleash a spell she can’t block without another spell.

The beast’s jaws yawned open, swallowing Rania. Compared to the massive beast, she looked so small. Both Belnoa and Lac sensed victory.

‘······Huh?’

But that moment.

Hanging on Rania’s arm, Lac noticed a sudden change. He looked at Rania’s face. Specifically, those azure eyes.

They were calm.

Still unwavering.

Before the gaping jaws of the shadow beast, only those eyes darted rapidly. The once-quickly-moving eyes focused on Lac for a fleeting moment.

Freeze.

Those eyes halted. It felt like time stopped. Locking eyes with Rania, Lac instinctively felt a warning from his accumulated instincts due to the ongoing battle.

‘I failed.’

The plan had shattered.

However, there was no time to inform Belnoa.

Bang!

“Guh!”

For a moment, he didn’t grasp what had just happened. His vision swayed, and he fell to the ground. Pain surged from his chest.

‘Did she stamp down on me with her knee?’

It was too fast to notice.

Yet, the movement didn’t stop there. Lac, still lying on the ground, looked up at Rania.

Thud, she slammed her hand into the ground.

He dodged the rain of needles. He neither deflected nor caught them. Just by twisting his body and tilting his head, he avoided the needles. The shadow beast also chased after her but was slow. Too slow.

“······!”

Belnoa swallowed hard, moving toward the stump. But, the Master was quicker. Burrowing in, she reached out and grabbed Belnoa’s head.

She yanked him with her right hand.

She turned her pelvis and extended her leg. Her slender leg caught Belnoa by the nape.

“Ah.”

She swung him.

Crash!

Belnoa’s body slammed into the ground. It was a blow close to knocking him out. His vision flickered. He struggled to keep his consciousness intact.

If the sorcerer’s mind is intact.

Magical spells do not cease under any circumstance.

The shadow beast rushed in too late. Rania only slightly tilted her head to glance. She raised her left hand, tugged the glove, and pulled.

“Ha······.”

Belnoa let out a hollow laugh.

Feeling the impending failure of the plan, he deeply lowered his head.

Chick.

A crisp sound of fingers snapping rang out. Following the sound of fingers snapping, lightning burst forth, illuminating the shadow beast’s jaws.

Boom!

With one powerful strike, the shadow beast scattered.

Recognizing that the spell was dispersing, Belnoa buried his head in the ground as he sighed deeply.

‘······Even with two fingers sacrificed.’

There’s no escape.

“Can we really win…?”

It was unavoidable for such mutterings to escape him. He couldn’t see any answers.

“Huff···.”

While lying flat on the ground and catching his breath, something touched Belnoa’s line of sight.

‘The axe.’

It was the axe Lac had hurriedly thrown earlier. It stood at an angle embedded in the ground. Looking at it, something sparked in Belnoa’s mind.

‘Found it.’

He muttered inwardly.

‘The last constraint.’

Perhaps even the way to win.

3.

“Hmm.”

Looking at Lac and Belnoa lying side by side, I stroked my chin.

“Impressive.”

Then I adjusted the disheveled skull motif on my head.

With my arms crossed, I lightly tapped my forearms with my fingers. I had given out plenty of hints to notice the constraints. But I hadn’t expected them to catch on this fast.

‘Originally, I had planned to beat them up until sunset and teach them a lesson.’

It seemed it wouldn’t take that long. Their observational skills were beyond my imagination, not just Belnoa, but Lac as well.

‘Still, it’s a bit disappointing.’

I walked toward Lac. Kneeling before him, I lowered myself.

“Lac.”

“···Cough, cough. Yes, Master.”

Lac looked at me while coughing repeatedly, laying flat as if he had no strength to get up.

‘How should I explain this?’

I pondered for a moment.

Lowering my head slightly caused my hair to fall over Lac’s face. I slowly opened my mouth while locking eyes with him.

“You are, first and foremost, a mage?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t forget that you’re a mage.”

Lac blinked.

I let out a sigh and stood up. Giving this kind of advice might be good for now. The exam wasn’t over yet.

“So.”

I settled on the stump, crossing my legs.

“Are you going to do it again?”

“······I will challenge again in a little while.”

At my question, Belnoa staggered as he stood up from the ground. He tried to lift Lac by the arm, but Lac continually flopped back down.

“···What are you doing?”

“I can’t get up. It’s too hard.”

“You have to go outside the boundary line.”

“Um, it would be great if you could just drag me along.”

Belnoa, exhaling a sigh, grabbed Lac by the ankle. He pulled him along while stepping outside the boundary line.

“Ow, wait. Belnoa. Wait.”

“Why?”

“I’m getting dirt in my mouth.”

“Then lie the other way.”

“Indeed, that’s a viable method.”

Lac rolled over to lie down properly.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. It suddenly reminded me of an old memory.

-······ I can’t get up.
– Shouldn’t we be moving soon? This isn’t a place to lie around.
– I’ll be fine in a little while. I just can’t move right now. Can you carry me?
– Are you crazy? Can’t you see my ankle is a wreck? I’m dragging you along.
-······ That’s too much.

Thinking back, Lac and Belnoa had many similarities to Kyle and me.

‘Lac is hundreds of times better than that bastard Kyle.’

While I was lost in these silly thoughts, I suddenly heard a voice near my ear.

『Uh, Master Rania?』

It was Professor Mackhart. I nudged the magic tool in my ear as I replied.

“Yes. Please go ahead.”

『Uh, it’s nothing, but… I was keeping an eye on you, you know?』

“Yes, and?”

『Isn’t this a bit too much…? I’m worried that you might break a bone…』

Breaking a bone?

‘Did it really just feel like a few light taps?’

I tilted my head and answered.

“Is this really too much? I was just being gentle.”

『······.』

“Professor Mackhart too, as a knight from the battlefield, you’ve surely disciplined someone before, right?”

『Well, I have.』

“It’s just like that, you know? Don’t worry.”

『I can’t help but worry······.』

I half-listened as Mackhart’s murmurs flowed into one ear and out the other. It didn’t sound particularly important.

“······.”

While wrapping up the communication, I caught sight of Belnoa as he dragged Lac along again. Belnoa squinted his eyes and shot me a glare.

“What?”

“Uh······.”

“What?”

“It’s nothing······.”

Belnoa sighed while rubbing his ribs. He looked incredibly wronged.

‘What’s his deal?’

It was just a few gentle taps.

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