Chapter 28: The Golden Lion and the Last Mage

Golden hair that resembled a lion’s mane.

Golden eyes just like his.

An overwhelming predator perched at the pinnacle of all lifeforms.

The one who earned the title of Star by the sword.

The supreme knight and their king.

The Imperial Golden Lion, Bitalianus Mahel.

‘Why is this monster here…?’

Hio’s steps came to an abrupt halt the moment he recognized him at a glance.

The skill Fire manifested as the Blue Sun, asserting its presence in the sky, but the presence of the Golden Lion standing beneath it was undeniably just as formidable.

Amidst the throng of people, their eyes met.

“You… what are you?”

A low resonance silenced the surrounding commotion in an instant.

The voice carried the full weight of a Sword Saint’s presence, a sound that alone blossomed like a living thing.

[Mental attack detected]

[Trait – ‘Can’t Live Without Coolness!’ activated]

At the Sword Saint’s single word, the entire area was subdued.

Those who confronted the predator’s presence unprepared simply froze in place, barely able to breathe.

Among them, Hio began to move forward slowly.

“Sword Saint.”

At a pace that did not offend the lion’s temper, he approached deliberately.

The Sword Saint’s voice rumbled low once more at Hio’s call.

“Do you know me?”

Though it was only a reply, the difference in rank was palpable.

A piercing presence that struck the soul.

“Is there anyone on this continent who does not know you?”

In a world where everything except the two of them had come to a halt, Hio kept moving.

Slowly. But steadily, he headed toward where Irina stood.

The Golden Lion’s eyes kept following Hio’s figure.

“How unfair. I’ve never seen a clown like you before.”

“A clown, huh? Not exactly a pleasant word.”

Even facing the strongest man on the continent, Hio’s carefree spirit was either thanks to his trait—or perhaps because Bitalianus, who had relied on him in the past game, was a welcome sight.

No one knew for sure, but he was very clear on what had to be done.

Even now, the process of becoming a pawn was underway.

“If that was unpleasant to hear, I apologize. But understand this: there’s no word that fits you better.”

Bitalianus glanced up at the Blue Sun blazing above him as he spoke.

The Sword Saint knew well.

The strongest in the empire understood the truth behind this skill, drenched in lies.

“Fine. The Sword Saint of the Empire says so, so I’ll take it at face value. But shouldn’t we tone down the aura a little?”

Hio shifted his gaze to Irina as he spoke, and Bitalianus followed that line of sight, scrutinizing her.

Not only Irina, but everyone around was overwhelmed by Bitalianus’ presence, frozen in place with only their eyes moving.

But none of that mattered to the Golden Lion.

“Why should I?”

“Isn’t an innocent child suffering?”

“That girl? Surrounded by monsters. A prime suspect.”

“No, Irina has nothing to do with this. I vouch for her.”

At Hio’s words, one corner of the Golden Lion’s mouth curled up.

“You know? The most suspicious one here is you. Clown.”

Bitalianus’ presence grew even greater, dominating the area.

It was a warning.

A warning not to move any further.

It was to stop Hio from approaching Irina.

Suddenly, irritation flared.

“Hey, Sword Saint.”

Those three people surrounding Irina were probably the friends she had spoken about so often.

Did the Sword Saint not see the sadness etched on Irina’s face?

“Are you blind? What you should be catching isn’t some little girl like that. Control your anger.”

“…What?”

There was no way to reverse a pawn already saturated with the Abyssal Curse.

Unless it was the perfect pawn to be completed in the future.

That pitiful boy, bloated and unstable enough to burst at any moment, could never return to being Irina’s friend.

“Look closely. Does that Irina really look guilty to you?”

How could such a sorrowful expression be the face of a criminal?

Her friend was becoming a monster right before her eyes.

Yet she was powerless to help.

“If you truly think so, I’m disappointed, Sword Saint.”

Irritation boiled inside him.

[Hidden Trait: Violence is Not Allowed! (Patience: 1000 / 1000)]

He was annoyed by the Sword Saint blocking his way, and irritated by the idiots around who just blinked their eyes dumbly.

Anger surged against all that had mocked magic and mocked him.

[Congratulations! You have reached the goal of the Hidden Trait ‘Violence is Not Allowed!’ A hidden reward will be granted]

[Patience is Bitter, Fruit is Sweet!: The skill’s effect becomes reality, not a lie. Skill grade will be readjusted, and the skill name will change accordingly]

Evolved skills granted as rewards will not be deleted

Please select one skill you possess

But above all, what frustrated him most was his own helplessness.

“You have selected skill – ‘Fire’”

[Analyzing the effect of skill – ‘Fire’ linked with the trait]

“…Not bad for a clown, your words sound convincing.”

[Analysis complete]

[Skill – ‘Fire’ will have the Hidden Trait’s reward – ‘Patience is Bitter, Fruit is Sweet!’ applied]

“I have to correct you, Sword Saint. I’m not a clown.”

[Skill – ‘Fire’ has been upgraded to the highest tier]

[Skill name changed from ‘Fire’ to ‘Azure Flame’]

Pushing the flood of messages aside, Hio met Bitalianus’ golden eyes directly.

“Great Mage.”

[Skill: Azure Flame]

[Blue flame that incinerates everything it touches]

[Flames that understand the caster’s will. Depending on the will, it can annihilate everything it touches, or burn nothing at all]

[Duration varies with the amount of magic power possessed]

“The last mage left in this world.”

[Skill – ‘Azure Flame’ activated]

The Blue Sun, now a fact, rose once more, drawing everyone’s gaze skyward.

Contained within the Azure Flame was suppressed rage.

The will of Hio, who had endured and endured once again.

Bitalianus quietly looked up at those blue flames.

“…It was certainly a lie at first.”

At first, it was just bluff.

Brilliant on the surface, but hollow inside.

The Sword Saint, master of freely controlling aura, could immediately see through that.

Certainly… it was certain.

“What is this then?”

But what on earth was this?

‘What was that immense presence in the sky?’

He could read the enormous anger in the flames.

He fully realized that immense power.

It had been a lie at first.

“But it became real.”

Excitement slowly surged in the lion’s golden eyes.

His predatory gaze sparkled so wildly it seemed mad.

Had the truth been hidden within the lie?

‘Had he truly reached that level of mastery?’

Excitement grew.

His full eyes fixed on Hio, and Hio met that gaze squarely, wearing a faint smile.

“Magic, indeed.”

The Imperial Golden Lion finally burst out laughing.

“How amusing.”

How very amusing.

“Yes, amusing.”

The overwhelming presence of the flame floating above his head.

The tension in his sword-wielding hand tightened almost involuntarily.

What kind of resonance would be born when that immense flame clashed with his aura?

What tension and excitement would arise? What outcome would unfold?

A fierce competitive spirit, long absent since the duel with Ataolf over a decade ago, surged forth.

An opponent worthy of showing his full strength.

A formidable rival he hadn’t met in a long time.

“I sincerely apologize for calling you a clown.”

The empire’s great predator apologized for failing to recognize his opponent.

Now, he no longer noticed the pawn or their test subjects.

“You say you’re the last mage in this world.”

His emotions were nothing but fierce pride and curiosity.

“I am Bitalianus Mahel, the Sword of His Majesty the Great Emperor, and Captain of the Royal Knights.”

He placed his sword vertically at the center of his body in salute.

‘How long had it been since he had shown such respect?’

“I acknowledge your strength, Mage. So please…”

Golden aura surged again above his sword.

A blade that could cut through everything it touched.

“Will you entertain me more?”

In response, Hio raised his staff, and the Azure Flame above him flickered its fire, showing his will.

Flames that incinerate all they touch.

In the moments before the clash of two immense powers, what separated them was neither overwhelming force nor a third party’s intervention.

It was the desperate cry of a girl.

“Please…!”

Suddenly, a pure white light seemed to color the world.

The blue flames that dominated the sky, the golden sword reigning below, were both faded by the sacred light.

“Save my friends.”

The sorrowful light filled the world.

“I-Irina…”

Tom. Jadin. Hardy.

***

Friends who had grown up relying on each other since the beginning of their memories.

On cold days, they leaned on each other’s warmth; in the hot summer, on their refreshing laughter.

Friends who had survived stubbornly despite being called filthy, smelly beggars and orphans by the world.

“Run, Irina.”

They told her to run.

“My body… feels strange… my head… my head hurts so much, Irina.”

“Wait! Hang on just a bit! I saw the priests earlier!”

Though flustered, Irina remembered the pure white priest robes and tried to move.

“No. No, Irina.”

Tom stopped her.

“We have to kill them. We must kill them… that’s what we were told…”

The banquet hall was to be turned into a battlefield, blood spilled everywhere.

But the thought of Irina holding onto their fading lives stopped them.

As much as Irina treasured them, they treasured her too.

“Run. Run, Irina.”

With what little strength she could gather, that was all she could say.

“I’ll tell the mage to bring the priests here. Just a little longer…”

Then, an overwhelming presence that bound souls descended.

Predator’s aura that could freeze the bodies of all living things.

It spread equally to everyone.

Desperate Irina’s body stiffened.

Tom, Jadin, and Hardy, who were in the process of becoming pawns, froze on the spot.

This feeling was unlike anything they had ever experienced.

No one had.

A mouse in front of a lion. A frog caught by the hawk’s gaze.

Bodies trembled with primal fear of death, cold sweat pouring down.

Their eyes couldn’t help but be drawn to the golden sword.

And above it, the Blue Sun blazing even brighter.

By instinct, she knew.

‘Mage!’

The thought alone seemed to calm her trembling body a little.

Irina forced herself to look at the golden sword again and then back at her friends.

“Ah… it hurts…”

A faint groan barely whispered.

Her body swelled little by little.

It’s okay. It’s okay. The mage will solve everything.

She wanted to say that, but her body would not obey.

“Irina… Irina.”

Black scales sprouted over Tom’s eyes.

Jadin’s body swelled grotesquely.

Hardy’s arm twisted at an unnatural angle.

‘How much… how much pain must they be in?’

“I didn’t want to sell you to a brothel… Irina.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Irina.”

‘Why were they apologizing?’

She should be the one apologizing.

For living off the food they fetched.

For being worthless and causing them to sacrifice themselves.

“It hurts… it hurts so much…”

“My head hurts.”

“Run, Irina.”

Her precious friends were hurting so much. How could she run away alone?

So many words weighed heavily in her heart, yet none were conveyed.

Her eyes barely moved, scanning around. No one helped.

No, they couldn’t help.

“Please…”

Tom’s eyes finally closed, his face completely blackened, losing all color.

“Please!”

Jadin swelled so much it looked like he would burst at any moment.

Hardy’s twisted body showed no sign of returning to normal.

Anyone—please, anyone—just please.

If only it could be exchanged for her own life, she was willing to pay that price.

“Save my friends.”

A desperate plea from a girl who wished and wished.

As if responding, the pure white light burst forth from Irina’s body.

The holy light rose toward the mage holding his staff.

It fell upon the Sword Saint, who was about to swing his blade.

It embraced her suffering friends.

It descended upon all those frozen in place.

Everyone there witnessed and felt the sacredness contained within.

“Ahhh…”

The old cardinal watching the scene knelt down.

Tears of joy streamed down the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

This girl, who radiated the sacred light, was the bearer of the oracle.

A light that should have gone out did not extinguish.

A girl of fate who should have withered without strength instead shone brightly.

She would be a ray of salvation in a world overwhelmed by darkness.

The birth of a saint who should never have existed.