Limit Breaking Genius Mage Chapter 286

Episode 286: Subjugation (2)

‘I never thought things would turn out like this… …!’

It's not like I've never been caught stalking anyone before, but I've never been caught so easily like this.

The opponent is known to be a powerful elemental wizard.

Of course, just because someone has strong magical powers doesn't mean they have exceptional magical senses.

However, in order to rule out even that slim possibility, he suppressed his magical power as much as possible.

He began to act covertly, beyond what he had learned.

Moreover, since this was the first time I had properly tracked his movements, I had no reason to lose focus and make mistakes.

But I got caught.

No, I ended up getting chased in reverse.

Is it because I have an unusually good sense?

It was creepy, but I also felt a little scared.

The opponent was a villain who ruled Loafra, a hotbed of criminals. I couldn't even imagine what would happen to me if I got caught.

'I have to hurry and meet Ethan.'

I did leave a message before entering the culvert.

Ethan will be here soon. It would be safer to join him, avoid pursuit, leave the Dominion for a while, and then come up with a plan.

To do that, we had to escape the underground sewer first.

But you met the wrong person.

───!

A crashing sound is heard behind me.

I turned my head slightly and saw Verden following me in the darkness.

“What……!”

Flight speed exceeding Rebecca's.

Despite having to change direction several times using the labyrinthine terrain, he never slowed down even once.

'You don't even think you'll hit a wall? What kind of wizard would do that?!'

If you're not careful, you might get caught.

But there was no way to avoid a head-on confrontation.

Thanks to the necklace my master gave me, I was able to block the opponent's magic and presence, but my instincts were still ringing the alarm telling me to run away immediately.

He operated the magic circuit and squeezed out magic.

At the bottom of the canal, successive columns of water rose, obscuring the view. Then Verden moved nimbly and passed through the magical gap with ease.

“Leave me alone!”

I tried targeting it with a single spell, but it didn't work.

The spiraling flames not only evaporated Rebecca's magic, but also the waterways in the nearby canals.

A firepower gap that is beyond comparison.

However, rather than slowing down, the speed was accelerating.

This is some kind of numerical monster.

Rebecca bit her lip as the distance narrowed further, her efforts in vain.

'The entrance is just around the corner… …!'

If we continue like this, even if we escape through the underground sewer, we will be caught up right away.

So, I had to somehow secure some distance. I needed a single opportunity to fool the opponent's senses for a moment.

Teachings given by the Master.

Although it was a burden on the magic circuit because I hadn't fully mastered it, it wasn't the time to think about the aftereffects.

Rebecca used her magic to strike the floor.

<The Blind's Rapids>

Kwaaaaah!

A frothy, turbulent storm engulfed the space.

The magical water and the turbid water of the canal mixed together, but there was no time to hesitate.

“Ugh!”

Rebecca took a deep breath and jumped straight into the waves.

At the same time, as she used her magical power, her presence began to disperse. A special magical power usage method that literally becomes one with water and confuses the opponent.

I have never met a wizard who has not been able to do this.

'Fortunately, it seems he didn't intend to kill me.'

I let out a sigh of relief inside.

It would have been really dangerous if I had suddenly used high-level magic. If I had, I wouldn't have had the chance to escape like I did now.

Of course, it was horrible to dive into such dirty water… …but I had no choice but to endure it.

I didn't want to die in a place like this, and I didn't want to be caught and tortured so brutally.

Instead of focusing on the disgusting experience, I focused on saving my life and health.

That moment.

Hwaaaaaaaah!

A powerful wave swept through the waterway.

The wave flew away in an instant without a trace. Rebecca's body, which had been hidden, was revealed.

The staff's cutting edge appeared before her eyes.

“Uh.”

───Kuung.

Orient grabbed Rebecca's neck and held her down.

The pressure from above and the repulsive force from the floor crushed the airway. My airway was instantly blocked.

“Keep on…… Kekeke……!!”

“Did you think that the method you used once would work this time too?”

Verden looked down at Rebecca.

He is a master of elemental magic and is gifted with an unfathomable understanding of magic.

Even if it is an elemental magic that is not in the existing hierarchy, it is not difficult to understand some of its principles the moment you come into contact with it.

If it's your first time, it might not be so bad, but it never happens twice.

Kkuk.

Verden put in a little more force.

Since he didn't seem like he would be very obedient, I planned to knock him out first and then take him to the mansion.

It's not too late to interrogate them.

“Ugh…… Keueek……!”

Rebecca resisted desperately.

He operated the magic circuit and swung his limbs, but Orient did not move at all. His voice did not come out properly.

Fear surged through me as the pain suffocated me tightly.

'Ethan… …! Save me… …!'

My eyes turned red and filled with tears.

Rebecca's consciousness, which had been clear, gradually faded away with a creaking sound. Her bright green eyes slowly turned upward.

It was at that time that my whole body lost all strength and I was slumping.

“Could you please stop for a moment?”

A shadow approached from the entrance to the culvert.

Like Rebecca, he was a man wearing a green robe.

'Is this woman's colleague?'

Thick black hair and a slender figure.

Between her squinted eyes, which were either open or closed, a faint blue-gray light shone through.

The man stopped walking some distance away.

He raised both arms as if he had no intention of confronting them, and faced the wall that was staring at him.

Unlike the woman, he had a calm and cool attitude.

I relaxed my hands a little.

Verden said, listening to the wizard's faint breathing.

“Reveal your identity.”

“My name is Ethan. And the woman you’ve captured is Rebecca. I may seem more mature, but she’s my───”

“Do I have to tell you twice?”

Names and such come later.

Verden was asking about the affiliations of the two men.

The man, Ethan, glanced away.

His poor private quarters are helplessly held captive. With a hostage taken that he absolutely cannot afford to lose, he is forced to make a choice.

It's a bad idea to try to deceive someone hastily.

Since the initiative has been taken away, the important thing is to follow.

In the meantime, it is best to continue the conversation and look for an opportunity.

Ethan hid his left hand behind his back.

Then he answered, placing his right hand on his chest.

“We are part of the ‘Society’.”

* * *

A new power that operates in the Eastern Continent.

The Society, a group of magicians who oppose the current system of the Ten Towers.

'I've heard of it.'

A goal so bold that it could be considered arrogant.

Meanwhile, because of his powers that were completely unknown to the outside world, he had been secretly rumored to be almost infamous among the Magic Towers in recent years.

When I was working at Berden Tower, I only came across his name once or twice.

“What is that society doing in the Midloth Dominion?”

“You know about us. We’re not really well known names in the world. Are you by any chance connected to the Magic Tower?”

“Is this a necessary question?”

“It’s not just necessary, it’s important. Very important. In order for me to answer that question… So if you expect our unhindered cooperation, please answer sincerely.”

Ethan asked softly.

“Are you a servant of the Bohemian Tower?”

For the past few days, Ethan has been exploring the back alleys of the Dominion.

Asher, the king of the underworld.

He appeared out of nowhere and moved the organizations as if he was digging up the entire Dominion, including finding out information about the Mamentus Company.

As a result, the Dominion and the two towers reacted.

'Then it's one of two things.'

Either he came to sort things out under orders from the Bohemian Tower, or he had another purpose.

There are some suspicious aspects, such as the fact that it moves too obviously to be called electronic, but that alone does not completely rule out the possibility.

So, let's find out now.

The bracelet on Ethan's left hand that he hides behind his back.

A disposable magic item that can distinguish the true feelings of others.

The opportunity came immediately.

“……That’s the most unpleasant thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”

Verden blinked.

A strong magical power and an obvious murderous intent took over the space. Crash. Some of the walls of the waterway were cracked.

“Ugh……!!”

Ethan, exposed to him, knelt on one knee.

Contaminated water splashed everywhere, but that didn't matter. I somehow managed to check the bracelet on my left hand, enduring the overwhelming force.

The color is red.

The hostility towards the Bohemian Tower that the opponent was showing was genuine.

Verden stared at the bracelet that had turned red.

“Is this a magical item that can judge the true intentions of the opponent? Then is this enough of an answer?”

“Yes, yes…… that’s enough.”

Ethan nodded and stood up unsteadily.

Fortunately, the opponent was not a Bohemian Tower thief. There was no reason to risk Rebecca's life and escape with uncertain odds.

But I couldn't completely feel relieved.

‘… … It far exceeded my expectations.’

I knew it was strong, but experiencing it firsthand made me realize it was way beyond the pale.

It wasn't even a day before Rebecca's pursuit was discovered… … She never thought she would be crushed by magic alone.

And intense hostility towards Bohemianism.

What on earth could possibly be the story behind the man who rules Loafra that makes him harbor such feelings?

It was a question that was unknown at the time.

At that moment, Verden grabbed Rebecca by the back of her neck and threw her.

She was held in Ethan's arms.

Rebecca, who had long since fainted, was drooping her head, tears and drool dripping down her face.

“You probably already know where my mansion is. Take me with you and lead the way. This is not a place for long conversations.”

"……All right."

Ethan, carrying Rebecca, headed toward the entrance.

I had already given up on running away. If I did, one of us would die. As long as the other person wasn't a member of the Magic Tower, there was no need to make a life-or-death decision.

However, I couldn't shake the feeling of suddenly being taken prisoner.

The night walk home is filled with silence.

Verden looked at the backs of the two people.

'The appearance of a society I had only heard of through rumors.'

I released the bait and caught something I never expected.

The fact that there is a society here that aims for the Half-Tower… …maybe it has something to do with the forces that are hostile to the Bohemian Tower that Verden is looking for.

I'll have to see it for myself to know for sure, but it's definitely the most significant achievement since I came to the Dominion.

'But this may not be all.'

The Dominion, the Two Towers, the Third Power, and the Society.

Now that the fourth force has been revealed, we cannot say for sure that a fifth force will not appear.

What Verden is most wary of is the third countermeasure of the Bohemian Tower.

In other words, it is possible that Baloch Besias hired an outside force to wipe out those who attacked him.

Of course, this could be speculation, but intuition and experience speak for themselves.

There is no doubt that something big will happen in this Midloth Dominion, where various forces that could become a fuse are gathered.

I don't know when that will be.

But if we were to guess… … it might be very soon.

* * *

The corners of the mouth are torn all the way to the earlobe.

A magnificently decorated carriage with an eerie, smiling face carved into it passed through the forest.

Moving around the Midloth Dominion without any escort is like jumping into a fire of your own.

As expected, a group of Gnolls emerged from the forest, recognizing him as prey.

[Karrrrr!]

[Kaaaah!]

Sharp claws and vicious teeth.

Although their eyesight is poor, their keen sense of smell, sensitive to the smell of blood and meat, means they never miss their prey.

Tata-tata-tak. The guys were running on all fours through the grass, slowly catching up with the carriage. Among them were the higher-ranking species of Nol.

A double horn, a two-horned instrument.

The three of them were each leading their own herds, while one, a more evolved Triple Horn, was in charge of the whole group.

[Krrrrrr… … .]

A race of subhumans who have broken free of the limitations of play and have acquired bodies and physical abilities comparable to or greater than those of humans. They wear weapons and armor taken from human corpses.

The moment such intelligent monsters seize tools and use them themselves, the level of danger increases. Adventurers were not something to be feared by them.

But it wasn't just adventurers they were targeting as prey.

“Huh, huh?”

A gap in the curtain that covers the inside of a room.

Among them, large eyes blinked.

“The beastlings are following behind you? Let’s see, they seem to be a bunch of playthings… Double horns and triple horns? They’re already a rare top species, and they’re even holding human weapons in their hands? If we do something wrong, we won’t even be able to find their bones.”

“Hahaha. What does that matter? It’s not our troupe’s job to deal with such monsters. We’re just clowns who received a commission.”

The leader, a middle-aged man wearing a purple top hat and heavy makeup, shook his shoulders and shouted at the troupe members who were driving the carriage diligently.

“Stop for a moment! I think it would be best if we deal with these beasts here and then go!”

“Understood, Captain!”

The carriage slowly slowed down and soon stopped.

Then, in an instant, the playful creatures took over the surrounding area. It was a thick and fierce encirclement that would not be easy to escape with bare hands, but there was no fear.

“Okay, okay, the attack is coming! It’s right before our eyes! If everyone comes forward, there’s nothing we can’t kill, but if my members get hurt, it could cause a disruption to the play!”

The captain smiled and looked to the side.

He waved five fingers at the man whose face was covered by a metal mask.

“It’s your turn to fulfill your promise.”

“…….”

The man got up without saying a word and got out of the carriage.

Even though vicious eyes were directed at him, he didn’t waver an inch. He grabbed the rusty sword handle and lowered his upper body to assume a proper stance.

Choaaaah!

A single line of black energy.

Dirty blood soaks the ground.

Sharp blades that were invisible to the eye cut through muscle and bone. Triple Horn's head, which had been rushing forward, was split vertically with one blow.

Break it! Break it!

The pitiful sound of crying continues to resonate.

A massacre that is so brutal it feels refreshing.

Five clowns, including the leader and the groom, gathered and gossiped at the sight of blood everywhere.

“Hey, as expected from the Bohemian Tower, you’re the one who sent it!”

“He’s not a wizard, so where did he send that monster… Commander, isn’t this dangerous?”

“Haha. The more dangerous the request, the greater the reward. Even the famous Bohemian Tower. It’s said that the reward is greater than the combined rewards of several requests!”

The captain smiled broadly and spread his arms wide.

“And it’s the ‘Carnival’ that we’ve had for a long time! How could I miss this opportunity that has come so long ago! I absolutely cannot! If it’s my, our theater company! And the task I’ve been asked to do is really simple and clear!”

He jumped up and spun around lightly.

He danced with exaggerated gestures as if he was performing a play.

“As soon as we arrive at the Autonomous Territory! If that inspector destroys the Volcanic Island’s Magic Tower and the Larian Magic Tower’s branch and kidnaps the Autonomous Territory Lord! I’ll use my ability to extract information! That way, I’ll find out their location and take that man straight to the Autonomous Territory!!!!”

The captain's expression disappeared.

“But it’s going to be so noisy, so I’ll have to act as a windbreaker to divert the audience’s attention.”

Both arms were twisted grotesquely.

A finger covered with a white glove pointed at the two clowns.

“Our proud hypnotists, Massey and Devonie! You could make a city in the Midloth Dominion bustle, right?!”

"of course!"

“How much time do you need?”

“Half a day!”

“Confident answer! Very good!!!”

The captain covered his face.

The water droplets drawn under the eyes were visible between the fingers.

“I would like to stage the play myself, but I have work to do, so I will yield to you two. So, throw a bloody festival in the Dominion! And when we reunite! Tell us what you think!!”

“Understood, Captain!”

“Of course!”

The clowns were dancing happily.

Devonie raised her hand in the midst of the mad laughter.

“Oh my! But Commander! When will the Dominion arrive?”

“Hmm, let’s see…….”

Clang.

The captain looked at the map.

After roughly figuring out the location, I estimated the distance to the city.

He flashed his gold-plated fangs, and showed only the index and middle fingers of his clenched fist.

“The next two days.”

The fingers opened and closed like crab claws.