Limit Breaking Genius Mage Chapter 117

Episode 117 Unexpected (2)

A fortress built on a steep cliff.

Although it had collapsed in many places due to the ravages of war and time, it still served its purpose.

The owl squinted his eyes.

As expected, there were armed men on guard on the walls. Judging from the fact that there were no people around, it seemed quite strict, so it seemed like Toreld was inside.

“But the problem is how to get in.”

The owl looked around the castle.

No normal passage is visible except the bridge connecting the gate and the ground.

Verden gestured toward the gate.

“I don’t think going head-on is a bad idea.”

Because that's the simplest.

But the owl shook its head firmly.

“Our goal is to capture them alive. The best way is to subdue and kidnap Black Wolf.”

But if he runs wild while using magic items, it becomes a hassle.

“So the best option is to infiltrate first and then attempt to subdue them secretly. If that becomes impossible, we’ll have no choice but to confront them… but since we have other means at the moment, I think a frontal assault would be the worst option.”

“Then how do you plan to infiltrate?”

The owl pointed to the castle.

“Either you climb the wall directly, or you pass through the waterway in the middle of the cliff over there.”

Each person must choose their own route.

Moving together is inefficient in many ways.

It was the owl who spoke first.

“I was mostly assigned to infiltration and assassination missions in Gray. It’s not like I can sneak through surveillance and sneak in. So I think I’m better suited to climbing the walls.”

Verden also has <Transparency>.

However, there is a limit to the number of times you can use it, and if you use magic beyond a certain amount or are shocked, the invisibility will be removed.

Since we didn't know what would happen, it was a reasonable decision to follow the advice of the experienced owl.

And I don't know where Torreld is.

It is most likely inside the castle, but it is also possible that it is hiding underground.

“Okay. Then I’ll go to the waterway.”

Owls fly from the walls into the castle.

Verden is underground in the waterway.

Now that you've made your decision, it's time to make a move.

The owl shot an arrow tied to a rope straight towards the cliff below the fortress. He pulled the rope, making sure it was firmly planted, and then he launched himself into the air.

The owl, which had landed gently on the cliff, quickly climbed towards the fortress.

Verden headed in the opposite direction.

To avoid being detected by the guards on the wall, he used his flight skills to parachute down the cliff, then gained altitude by getting closer to the cliff where the fortress was built.

We arrived at the canal without being caught.

'Perhaps it's because it's an abandoned castle, but there's no trace of water having flowed for a long time.'

I don't think you have to worry about things like sewage or bad smells.

Verden, standing in front of the rusty iron bars, drew out his magic power.

<Flame Curtain>

The flames silently engulfed Verden.

The iron bars within that range slowly began to heat up. After confirming that they had completely turned red, I held the Oculus up to them.

<Freeze>

Wow!

The sudden change in temperature caused the iron bars to break.

Behind it is an underground waterway without a single ray of light.

The figure of Verden, who had written the incantation, disappeared into the darkness.

* * *

There are mice on the floor and bats on the ceiling.

I wandered through the canal, whining at the unfamiliar sounds. It seemed like there was no warning at all here, as there were no traps or guards.

Verden walked along the canal and looked around.

'It's moving upwards, little by little.'

The canal was sloped obliquely.

Structurally, a long passageway was located in the center, and other passageways were located at regular intervals along the walls, but they were not large enough for a person to pass through.

So if you follow the road, you will come across an entrance leading to the castle.

Verden picked up the pace.

After using the flight to speed across the canal, a few minutes later a staircase appeared. Above it was an iron door that looked like it hadn't been opened in a long time.

I pushed the door with a little force, as it didn't appear to be locked, and it opened.

'Is this the basement of the castle?'

The old bonfire is burning.

It was evidence that there were people.

<Transparency>

Yuzu's robe hid her appearance and presence.

It wouldn't be a big deal if they caused some commotion underground, but there was no merit in going all the way to infiltrating and wiping out all of Toreld's subordinates.

After floating close to the ceiling, I quickly began to search. If there were no Torrelds underground, I would have to go up to the surface immediately to find them.

Although the duration of transparency was rather long, there was no reason to relax.

Some time after that.

Verden felt something strange.

'Why is there no one?'

It's literal.

I walked quite a distance, but I didn't encounter a single person. Judging from the pile of firewood around the bonfire, it seems that they are definitely taking care of it…

────!

At that moment, a faint echo was felt in Verden's senses.

It looks like the ends are slightly split… … .

'A scream?'

Judging by the thick line, it's a man's voice. Maybe Torreld is there.

Following the sound, a narrow staircase appeared at the end of the hallway, barely wide enough for two people to pass.

'I thought this was the lowest floor, but was there one more?'

I took a step forward with all my senses sharpened, including sight, hearing, and touch.

As I went down, the smell of blood that I hadn't felt from above became stronger.

When we finally reached the end, there was blood everywhere.

Oddly enough, there was no body, but when I turned my head forward, there was a bloodstain on the floor, as if the body had been dragged by something.

'It doesn't seem like it's been that long since the blood hasn't dried.'

───Kuaaaaaaah!

The scream is heard again.

'be near.'

Into the darkness where the body was dragged.

Verden turned away from the pool of blood and headed forward.

The corridors on both sides of the castle's dungeon were lined with iron bars, and inside there were remains that had been left abandoned for a long time.

The largest prison in the innermost area.

The trail of the body being dragged led towards that place, and at the center of it was the epicenter of the screams.

'That's… … .'

A man with bloodstains on his right arm and left leg.

Although his face was covered in blood and bruises, it was a face that Berden was familiar with. He had never seen it in person, but it was a face drawn on wanted posters scattered all over the city.

'Why is the wizard who caused the flight ban here?'

A question mark appeared in my head.

And what was even more curious was the black robed man next to the wizard and the corpses strewn around.

Then a voice was heard.

“Tell me. Where is the Commander’s Orb?”

“I, I…….”

When the man hesitated to speak, the man waved the cane in his right hand.

A spiral-shaped black line appeared as magic power rose. The moment it touched the corpse, a scream burst out from the man and echoed throughout the prison.

Magical actions that occur through the medium of a corpse.

It was clear from every angle that it was some kind of black magic.

Another question mark appeared in Verden's head.

'Why is the warlock here?'

The Union, Count Plissire, the Three Princes, the Black Magician, etc.

There seems to be some kind of intersection, but for now I can't figure out why.

'But one thing is certain.'

A phrase written on the no-fly notice.

[The wizard seriously injured the count's child and ran away.]

It was clear that this was a lie.

Otherwise, the warlock wouldn't be torturing the wizard in a place like this. Instead, it is assumed to have something to do with the 'Orb of Command' that the warlock mentioned.

I wonder what is hidden.

I plan to find out from now on.

Verden aimed the Oculus at the Warlock.

* * *

Find out the whereabouts of the Commander's Orb.

The black magician, under the command of the old man, tortured the traitor's mind.

I did my best to find out where the stolen jewel was, twisting my mind here and there by inflicting painful curses.

But the spirit of the traitor was quite strong.

Even though he was on the verge of death, even though blood gushed from his throat from screaming, even though the heat boiling inside his body made it difficult for him to breathe, he did not open his mouth.

'A normal curse is not enough.'

So, breaking his promise, he killed the human who had come to spy on the warlock and used his body to inflict an even more powerful curse on the traitor.

“Ah …

A mind torn to pieces.

The traitor fainted several times along the way, and the pain seemed to have imprinted itself on his soul, as he muttered unconsciously, drooling.

It hurts so much.

'Just a little more is enough.'

The black magician, having judged it that way, immediately killed Toreld's men in the castle's basement and collected the missing corpses.

It would be annoying if Toreld found out about this, but that didn't matter. The warlock's mind was solely focused on the orders of the old man.

Anything else was unnecessary.

As the number of useless corpses increased, more words flowed from the traitor's mouth.

it hurts.

Save me.

stop.

The traitor's face began to turn pale.

The severed sections of the arms and legs became infected due to the effects of the Lizard Sword.

In addition, since they had only bandaged the bleeding without any treatment, the inflammation spread throughout his body. His body was hot and the wounds were full of pus.

My head was spinning and the world seemed to be spinning, and I couldn't even cast 1st level magic properly because the infection had spread to my heart.

Irregular breathing.

It's a situation where it wouldn't be strange at all if you died at any time.

Of course, the warlock didn't care about the traitor's life.

The top priority was the whereabouts of the jewel.

For that, he was willing to grind down the minds and bodies of others.

"iced coffee……."

A helpless sigh is heard from the traitor's mouth.

His appearance, with his pupils dilated and his mouth open, oozing blood-tinged saliva, was beyond description.

'I guess this is enough.'

The warlock grabbed the traitor by the throat without even blinking.

“I ask you, traitor. Where is the Commander’s Orb?”

His unfocused eyes rolled around, then he came face to face with the warlock.

The traitor regained consciousness for a moment. His eyes, which had seemed to be dying just before, were filled with a strong determination.

“Get out…… this…… black magic…… you…… shame…….”

Kuung.

The traitor fell to the floor and groaned.

Then he started giggling, as if he was making fun of the pain, the curse, and the warlock he was going through.

The warlock chewed his lip.

‘What the hell is this guy… …!’

The spirit of the traitor was not broken.

Even though I've cursed enough people to destroy their spirits, I still can't believe it.

I couldn't understand it at all.

Why did he persist like this, and for what purpose did he betray me? I wanted to crush him to death right away, but I still haven't heard an answer.

The black magician nervously clenched and unclenched his fists as he felt a suffocating feeling.

But we can't stop here.

If I fail, I'll end up like one of the piles of corpses scattered here.

The warlock began his work again.

The moment when the corpse and the wizard are connected, and the curse is about to be performed again.

Phew!

"……ah?"

The black magician's right hand was crushed by a stone shard that flew in from somewhere.