Chapter 254 – The Origin of Benedict

By the time Caduceus flew into the castle, things had already become quite hectic.

He began assessing the situation within the castle. There was a possibility that demons might be present here as well, but if that were the case, he would need to consider Claudia’s evacuation via Teleportation Magic while also having Grace and Sheila’s group provide backup.

Caduceus moved smoothly along the castle’s ceiling—through the shadows. Below him was a mixed group of young knights and magicians. Six in total. That was two squads’ worth of people.

Since their preferences had been considered during squad assignments… it was only natural they’d be exposed like this.

“Captain Volis, aren’t there guards in the VIP room as well?”

“I heard foreign nobles brought their own security. Perhaps out of deference to them, the number of soldiers is low. And that security consists mostly of women and children. Nothing to fear!”

“If we capture Lady Belinda or Lady Romina, we win, right?”

“Exactly. At worst, we should at least be able to escape the town along with Sir Benedict who’s currently here!”

“The Vice-Commander is right. Hurry! Our movements will be discovered soon!”

Well, that was the general tone. Belinda referred to the Marchioness… but these were hardly the words of loyal retainers.

Where they were moving within the castle, what their objective was—everything was being transmitted clearly through the communication devices.

Their target was the VIP room. Today was the day the sailing ship returned, so many personnel were occupied with security throughout the town. The castle’s guard was somewhat thin, creating a perfect opportunity for the traitors… but that too was part of the exposure strategy, playing right into their hands.

They’d deliberately made the security around the VIP room light today as well. Though admittedly, the guest in question possessed considerable combat power, so their assumptions were wrong from the very beginning.

“There she is! Romina!”

Romina’s figure appeared at the end of the hallway. Upon seeing the men—and their fierce determination—she showed a panicked expression and fled like a startled rabbit.

“Capture her! Flank her! The target is alone!”

Romina fled toward where the guard presence was thinner. She descended the stairs as if avoiding those trying to flank her, heading toward the underground training ground inside the building. Given the current emergency situation, the training ground was empty. The men exchanged glances and laughed. She was like a rat in a trap.

They noisily descended the stairs and cornered Romina deep within the training ground.

“Please remain calm. You might get hurt if you resist,” a soldier told Romina, but she gave a faint smile and held something high. A flash grenade. The men who didn’t know what it was followed it with their eyes.

The moment it was smashed against the floor, Caduceus hid behind a pillar and weathered the flash. A blinding white light filled the training ground, painting everything pure white.

“Gwaaah!?”

“Y-you bastard!”

The men who had taken the full brunt of the flash drew their weapons while covering their faces.

“Stop! Don’t draw your swords! You’ll end up fighting each other!”

Then—Ignis charged in from behind. It sent a robed man flying with a powerful fist, crushing his leg to eliminate any means of escape.

Ignis’s target—was first and foremost the troublesome magicians.

Even though they could use magic, they too valued their lives. So by taking their legs and sealing their escape routes, it created a situation where even if they tried to counterattack with magic, they ultimately couldn’t escape. The aim was to rob them of the very will to fight.

Meanwhile, Ambrum—who had been disguised as Romina—revealed his true form as a Doppelganger and fled to a corner of the training ground.

Ambrum’s original role was to be Princess Stephania’s Shadow Clone. But once they learned the enemy’s objective was the Marchioness and Romina, Rosemary chose encirclement through diversion rather than defensive repulsion.

The group still hadn’t recovered from their confusion. During that time, Ignis brought down its combined fists on a second man, crushing him.

“Uwaaah!”

As one screamed uncontrollably and tried to run away, projectiles—Saucers, chunks of ice, and Sound Bullets from a horn—flew down from the top of the stairs, blowing him away.

Ignis scattered them indiscriminately. Its heavy armor made counterattacks meaningless. Even if they managed to get through the narrow passage—Dullahan was waiting at the top of the stairs. At this rate, the traitors would be subdued quickly.

Now then—time to focus on the matter at hand.

I was facing Benedict while raising my magical power. He showed no sign of being disturbed by the magical radiation enveloping Ouroboros.

After gradually closing the distance, I stepped in all at once. With enough force to snap his rapier, I slammed my entire body into him.

But what deflected it was a large shield. An ice shield formed on his left arm. While forcefully parrying with the shield, his magic-wrapped rapier flashed.

He unleashed a series of shallow thrusts aimed at my face. Feinting a straight thrust, he subtly altered the trajectory of the tip through wrist movements.

I avoided them with just neck movements and Steps, then bent my upper body and scooped upward with Ouroboros.

He jumped. Benedict leaped backward. While jumping, he swung both arms to the sides, and intersecting ice shotgun blasts formed a barrage closing in.

I didn’t create distance. I didn’t dodge. Because if he escaped, it would all be for nothing. I deployed a Shield in front and charged straight through. My target—was his landing point.

A Magic Circle glowed on Benedict’s left hand. An ice wall grew to block my path. I feinted left, then kicked off the Shield mid-air to fly right. Drawing a trajectory that seemed to bounce left and right, I closed in on Benedict.

“Such dexterous tricks!”

Instantly, Benedict’s right arm—from the elbow down—was encased in ice. The rapier transformed into a massive Greatsword, and he swung it down from the upper left to knock aside my attack. Simultaneously—ice vines crawled across the ground from Benedict’s right foot. A diagonal attack, but I could see it.

I fired a Fireball from my toe as if executing a roundhouse kick, blowing away the vines, and using the momentum of the kick, I stepped in and shifted form. I avoided the ice Greatsword and closed in.

Close combat again. I shattered the Greatsword from the middle, revealing Benedict’s original right arm and rapier, which immediately came to meet me.

Gripping the Dragon Staff at its midpoint, I unleashed chain attacks from both sides, exchanging blows with Benedict. The clang of steel rang out as we engaged in ground combat, trading thrusts and strikes as if dancing a waltz.

A blow from the Dragon Staff slipped past the rapier and struck his flank. Against a human, it would break ribs; against a demon, it would at least stagger them.

But what returned was a hard sensation. Benedict was clad in ice armor.

No matter. I slammed a magical shockwave along with a palm strike.

Gritting his teeth, Benedict took a step back. Bending his body, he used both his body’s spring and magic to charge in at maximum speed. I flew past the bracing Benedict as if slipping through his side.

As we passed each other—Nemea leaped out, swinging her claws.

“What!?”

A snapping sound like a string breaking. A hat and mask dancing through the air.

My target from the very beginning was his mask. That string connecting the mask to Benedict’s head was in the way.

“You bastard!”

Benedict’s face twisted in rage as he leaped back. His face—from his left cheek to his temple—definitely bore a single burn scar. Whether exposing it was humiliating or not, Benedict covered the scar with his left hand and glared at me.

But the problem wasn’t the burn. My attention was focused elsewhere.

The gem embedded in the center of his forehead. And… that face.

Silver hair and purple eyes. They held some resemblance to someone close to me—.

From the deck above, Lavigne’s long, long howl echoed. Her voice seemed to be desperately trying to tell me something.

…Ah. I understand. I get it now, Ashley. So that’s it? That’s how it is?

I created distance again, facing each other. After a few beats of silence, I spoke.

“…You’re Elliot Silune, aren’t you?”

“What… are you talking about?”

Benedict showed a confused expression as if he didn’t understand what I was saying. Was the amnesia real? Or was that gem sealing his memories?

Elliot Silune. Ashley’s older brother, who was said to have died in a ship accident six years ago.

The ship sank, but his body was never recovered.

His study abroad destination shouldn’t have been Silvatoria—but perhaps the ship docked somewhere in Silvatoria along the route. Or maybe he survived and washed ashore somewhere in Silvatoria. I don’t know what circumstances led to it, but Elliot is here.

The reason for wearing the mask too. While ostensibly to hide the burn scar, the real purpose was probably to hide that gem.

“It’s your real name.”

“Nonsense…!”

“It’s the truth. I know your sister too, and she’s in this town right now.”

Benedict… no, Elliot’s eyes widened.

I relayed instructions through Caduceus. The traitors in the castle had been subdued. There was no problem with Ashley coming here.

“What is that gem? Was it prepared by Zadias? What is it for?”

“Silence! I have no need to tell you anything!”

As I spoke, the gem on his forehead flickered, and haze wrapped around him. Yes. Every time I shook him.

Whenever Elliot considered doubts about Zadias or past memories—that gem interfered. Which meant—the gem’s control wasn’t complete.

“Brother Elliot!”

Riding on Lindwurm’s back. Ashley came rushing from the castle. Right to my side. Jumping down from above.

When Elliot saw Ashley landing on the ground, his eyes widened in astonishment.

If a girl resembling him appeared, he couldn’t just dismiss it as nonsense. Elliot shook his head.

“I… I don’t know you. I don’t have a sister. My sister was much smaller. So, no. That can’t be right…”

Elliot’s words became incoherent. The gem flickered more intensely. As Ashley watched, he muttered something under his breath, but eventually Elliot began to laugh.

“…Yes, yes. If you say you’re my sister. Then you should serve His Highness Zadias alongside me! Ah, that’s good! That’s perfect! Come, Ashley. Come with me!”

At Elliot’s laughing words as he extended his hand, Ashley showed a sad expression and shook her head, then spoke clearly.

“…I won’t go. My place is by Theodore-sama’s side. Brother Elliot, who left long ago and never returned, please come back. Me, the butler… everyone in Silune has been waiting for your return all this time.”

As she spoke, Ashley no longer wore an expression of sadness. She looked straight at Elliot as if having resolved something.

“Oh… ah…”

As if overwhelmed by the strength of will in her eyes, Elliot retreated one step, then two.

I took a deep breath and raised Ouroboros.

“…Another reason not to let you escape has been added. No matter what happens, you will remain here—no, you will definitely return alive to Ashley’s side.”

“Theodore-sama…”

I met Ashley’s eyes and nodded. Ashley also nodded while looking at me.

“Ha—haha! Ah? So, that’s how it is!”

Seeing this, Elliot laughed. He laughed with wide eyes.

“You! It’s because of you that Ashley won’t come with me!”

Magical power surged from Elliot’s entire body as he closed in. I—stepped forward to meet him.

He slammed his Fighting Spirit-wrapped rapier with brute force. After blocking two, three times with Ouroboros, he leaped back while raising his rapier overhead and deploying a massive Magic Circle. Not even disguised. The Spell Formula was exposed.

7th-class Water Magic Frozen Beak. A giant ice bird began to take shape. At 7th-class, the destructive aftermath would be significant. To avoid involving the surroundings, I also deployed a Magic Circle and flew upward.

“I won’t let you escape!”

Elliot swung his rapier. In sync with that motion, the ice bird was released. Flapping its wings, it charged toward me with ferocious speed.

“Naive.”

Just before impact, my magic completed. Compact Leap. Using short-range Teleportation Magic, I circled behind Elliot, wrapped my arm around his neck in one motion, and tightened my grip.

It’s been since Talcott. Choking him out, taking him down unharmed.

“Wha—!?”

Elliot, whose distance had been nullified, cried out in astonishment. He tried to stab his rapier into my arm, but it was futile. Nemea and Capella clung to him, sealing his arm movements.

“Guh…!”

Completely locked in. As Elliot cried out, the Frozen Beak that should have passed by drew an arc and headed toward us. Probably intending to smash me along with it, but that won’t happen. I made a promise to Ashley.

“Grace!”

The next instant, a purple flash ran from ground to sky. Piercing through the Frozen Beak’s torso and leaving an afterimage, it shattered the ice statue to pieces.

“Interference is unnecessary.”

It was Grace, enveloped in Fighting Spirit. Seeing this, Elliot struggled even more. Struggling, he released ice spears from his entire body. But I wouldn’t let them through. The Dragon Scale Armor with activated Protection couldn’t be pierced.

Ice fragments grazed exposed parts like his face and hands—but such things weren’t even worth considering.

“Ash… le…”

With those words, all strength left Elliot’s body.

Simultaneously with his loss of consciousness, I applied a Magic Seal and moved away from Elliot. Then restrained him with Light Bind.

“Haa…”

“Theodore-sama! Brother Elliot!”

It was over. I let out a deep breath, and Ashley came running over. At any rate, Elliot was unharmed.

“It’s fine. Elliot isn’t hurt.”

When I answered, Ashley looked like she might cry, but after confirming the situation, she showed a relieved expression. Then she shook her head slightly.

“But Theodore-sama… you’re injured.”

She healed the minor wounds on my cheeks and elsewhere with Healing Magic.

Her complexion was somewhat pale. Right. At the end, I was close while blocking the ice spears… from Ashley’s perspective, she wouldn’t want either of us getting hurt.

Well, mine were just grazes. I should thank Alfred. And the Water Dragon and Arachne too.

Now then. This gem. Whether it’s alright to destroy it as is.

There are two people knowledgeable about such hidden techniques and ancient secret arts. The proper response would be to consult them first.