Chapter 68 – Struggle

“Damn it! Why! Why did it come to this!”

When I went downstairs and peered from the staircase, Fernando was sticking his head into every guest room one after another, checking inside before moving to the next. Occasionally he’d fire a blade of fighting spirit at soldiers peeking out from the entrance, but only as a deterrent.

Combat Skill: Flying Slash. Mercedes had used it in Dusk Forest too, but it’s a technique commonly used by swordsmen due to its versatility. While not particularly powerful, it’s a convenient means of attack from mid-range.

But still—what a pathetic sight. I pointed at him while he was engrossed in searching for potential hostages, deliberately not completing the incantation to extend my range, and activated the magic.

“Air Bullet.”

Just as he stuck his head into a room, a wind bullet flew and slammed the door shut.

“Uggh!?”

Fernando’s scream echoed through the hall. With his head still inside the room, the door naturally crushed his face when it closed.

He staggered back while clutching his face, but never let go of his sword.

I would have preferred to use a more powerful spell, but we were on opposite sides of the hallway. There was no guarantee someone wouldn’t accidentally step into the line of fire, so I couldn’t just unleash flashy magic recklessly.

“Y-you bastards!”

But well, it seemed effective enough to get his attention.

When he recognized us, his eyes bulged, and he spoke in a voice trembling with rage.

“S-so it was you!? You’re the ones who set me up!”

…I don’t understand. There was no trap—this was simply the result of his own actions failing.

“…What is he talking about?”

Mercedes muttered the question to no one in particular.

I couldn’t understand it either. I doubt even King Melvin expected him to start that solo performance with cheap theatrics.

Anyway, Fernando seemed to have targeted us, though it was misplaced resentment. He glared at us with bloodshot eyes. I raised my Dragon Staff in response, but Mercedes stepped forward and drew the sword at her waist.

“Theodore-dono. Please leave this to me. I have a debt to settle with him.”

“…Understood.”

I could clearly sense anger in Mercedes’ tone. In that case, I’ll leave this to her.

After being taken hostage through a surprise attack, then nearly having her rescue turned into some heroic tale… Even if she’s controlling her emotions, it wouldn’t be surprising if her blood was boiling.

“Mercedes! Damn it! I spared you when I had my eye on you!”

Fernando roared at Mercedes as she charged with sword ready.

“You make me sick!”

Mercedes channeled her momentum into her sword, slamming blade against blade as if trying to smash through.

They locked swords in a standoff, but with her running start, Mercedes—who should be physically weaker—pushed Fernando back.

As his stance broke, Mercedes pressed her advantage with pure force. Deliberately crashing sword against sword, her movements were rough and crushing. Each time their blades crossed, the sound of metal rang through the hall.

“Damn it!”

Fernando tried to shake her off with brute force, but Mercedes—who had been pushed back—moved lightly. She closed the gap created by his wide swing by kicking off the wall and immediately closing the distance.

She slipped past Fernando’s attempted counter, ran up the wall and kicked off the ceiling, bringing her sword down from above. Caught off guard by the three-dimensional movement, Fernando raised his sword with both hands and blocked the strike relying on instinct. He’s competent enough that Greg considered him for Chester’s replacement, I suppose.

That triangular jump was the only unorthodox movement Mercedes showed. After that, she planted her feet firmly again and continued her relentless, brute-force sword arts.

The two exchanged positions so rapidly amid the clashing steel that the soldiers who had caught up couldn’t intervene. Chester was among them. He must have returned after hearing the commotion.

“Fernando! You scoundrel!”

Chester showed an angry expression, but for some mistaken reason, Fernando roared back.

“Damn it! Everyone’s ganging up on me, how cowardly!”

“A lowlife like you has no right to be picky about your opponents!”

Mercedes snapped, her brow furrowed. She’s right. Even this one-on-one with Mercedes should be beyond his expectations. Even if he had the skill to intervene, it’s hard to imagine Chester butting into the fight.

So if he’s complaining about cowardice and unfairness… it might be about this situation itself, which wouldn’t improve even if he won.

“Here I come.”

As distance opened between them, Mercedes held her sword at hip level. Fighting spirit concentrated around the blade, glowing pale.

Fernando clicked his tongue and showed a similar stance, concentrating fighting spirit around his own sword. Mercedes maintained her stern expression and stepped forward without hesitation.

In response, Fernando—instead of meeting her—jumped back while releasing a blade of fighting spirit. A smirk was plastered on his face, as if he thought it was a good move.

But—Mercedes seemed to have anticipated even that. She gritted her teeth and drove forward from the shoulder.

Calculating that a blade fired while retreating wouldn’t be fatal if it hit armor, she charged straight through.

“Uggh, wha—!?”

Perhaps thinking it would at least slow her down, Fernando hurriedly readied his sword to counter Mercedes’ combat skill and swung.

But—Mercedes’ fighting style until now, her angry expression. And the conspicuous display of a major technique’s precursor—all of it had been setup.

Mercedes suddenly stopped her charge, crouching low. The fighting spirit enveloping her sword vanished unexpectedly, replaced by a pale glow around her greaves. Fernando’s sword sliced uselessly through empty air—and in the next instant.

Using her whole body like a spring, Mercedes kicked off the floor and accelerated explosively.

This was the real attack. Distracted by Mercedes’ sword, Fernando took her knee strike directly to the face.

“Gyaaaah!”

With his nose and several front teeth broken, Fernando tumbled onto the hallway carpet.

The match was decided. Throwing himself on the floor and dropping his sword, Fernando covered his gushing nosebleed with one hand while showing the palm of his other hand as if begging for mercy, screaming as he scrambled backward toward the wall.

It was striking how Chester’s expression grew increasingly clouded as he watched.

“P-please stop! I was wrong!”

His nose was clogged with blood, making him slightly hard to understand, but he said something to that effect.

“P-please! I was just doing what Greg told me to! Please intercede with His Majesty for me!”

“You… enough already…”

Mercedes finally showed an expression of disgust.

That’s when it happened. Perhaps because the clashing steel had stopped, a servant cautiously opened a hallway door and peeked out.

“Guh, eek!”

Spotting this immediately, Fernando’s face twisted with glee as he tried to grab the servant. He’d even drawn a knife from his pocket.

Even his earlier plea for mercy was probably just an act—he’d have cut us down given the chance.

“Too slow.”

Fernando thrust his hand right into the fire defense magic—Flame Wall—I had prepared.

Furthermore, Mercedes’ sword swept aside his outstretched arm, while Chester’s spear thrust in from the side, piercing through his shin and pinning him to the floor.

“Gugyyaaaaah!?”

Screaming in agony but unable to roll around with his leg impaled by the spear, he could only pound the hallway carpet.

Putting Mercedes aside, that was quite decisive action for Chester.

“…That’s enough. Take him away.”

At Mercedes’ weary voice, the soldiers moved. Several pinned him to the floor before forcibly standing him up and dragging him away. He kept shouting something until the end… but the content was unbearable to hear. Eventually his voice faded into the distance and disappeared.

Well… that takes care of Fernando.

Chester remained grimacing, holding his head as if enduring a headache while shaking it. Well… no matter how desperate he was, having a colleague show such disgraceful behavior…

“Are your shoulders alright?”

“Yes. A combat skill fired from such a defensive posture is nothing.”

“Shall I cast some magic just in case?”

“…My apologies.”

Mercedes showed a small smile. The gap in her armor was slightly cut… but my emergency healing magic should suffice.

While using healing magic, I spoke to Mercedes.

“…By the way, there’s something I’d like to ask of you, if that’s alright?”

“Of course. If it’s something I can do.”

“No, not to you, Mercedes-san, but rather a message or request for the interrogation team.”

When I said this, Mercedes blinked.

“I’d like them to find out the whereabouts of the adventurers Fernando took to Dusk Forest. Depending on the situation, this might be more important than uncovering the background of this incident.”

“Understood. I’ll inform them immediately.”

For my part… there’s something about the earlier conversation between King Melvin and Fernando that’s been bothering me.

That part about getting burned when touching the Sealed Door. Our party touched that door too, but nothing happened to anyone.

If the door just underwent some change, that would be one thing. But… if that’s not the case—

However, if I try to ask anything here, he’ll probably try to use it as bargaining chip—offering to talk or not talk in exchange for help or something.

It doesn’t really matter whether I question Jasper or Fernando. I can’t trust his words and actions anyway, so it’s more reliable to have them questioned during the Magical Inquisition.