RMA 23

chapter 23

For ordinary humans, the normal reaction upon encountering a creature larger than themselves would be fear.

But Lawrence and Leila? Seeing such a massive troll, their first reaction was laughter.

Whatever effect the previous events had on them, they were experiencing more exhilaration, anticipation, and catharsis than fear.

“Come at me, you furry bastard!”
“We need to take its heart intact. It’s an ingredient for the princess.”
“Really? Got it!”

[Kruooooaargh!]

The troll’s eyes glowed with a strange mixture of green and red.

Its undead transformation was underway, likely amplifying its berserk state.

Ordinary trolls were slow but destructive. A berserk troll was different—now an undead, tireless creature.

And it was fast. Several close calls ensued.

A thorny club brushed past Leila’s arm, leaving a shallow scratch.

But blood only heightened human excitement.

“My blood isn’t cheap,” she said.

Gripping her sword with both hands, she planted her feet firmly.

Thoom!

All strength comes from the legs. With her aura reinforcing her stance, Leila’s strike unleashed tremendous power.

A roar echoed, and her blade moved without faltering. Blood splattered in rhythm.

A cold, freezing aura blocked the troll’s veins, preventing regeneration.

Genius skill combined with an extraordinary aura.

“This is the power of someone just awakening their talent?”

Leila was truly a monster—a future guardian of the North. Anyone underestimating her would end up like the troll’s severed arm.

Lawrence smirked and activated an artifact.

“I can just make another if needed.”

After all, he could always craft better artifacts and discard the old ones. No need to save anything.

[Holy Arrow]
[Multiple Manifestation]

An artifact upgraded by Dragon Body, allowing three simultaneous activations.

The sacred arrow pierced the troll’s leg instantly.

[Kruooooaargh!]

The troll’s agonized cries echoed as it forced itself to regenerate, while Lawrence kept assaulting it.

Crackle!

Pulling an artifact from his pocket dimension, he swiftly swapped it out—this time to assist Leila in a clean cut.

[Holy Chain]
[Multiple Manifestation]

Clang! Holy chains whirled around, binding the massive troll.

The chains tightened with ominous creaks. The troll’s immense strength made it seem like they would snap at any moment.

But there was no need to worry.

Leila’s eyes sparkled as she slashed her sword horizontally.

“Ugh!”

[Gaudi Swordsmanship]
[Wolf Hunting]

A technique designed to sever a charging wolf from jaw to tail in one clean strike—adapted for survival in the North.

Her blade glowed blue, cold magic freezing the troll’s legs.

Leila’s strike severed all its limbs—but she suddenly froze.

“Ugh!?”
“Oh no!”
“This is the moment I’ve been waiting for!”

A dark mage appeared suddenly—perfect timing for a crisis.

“Damn it, now!?”

Pain shot through Leila; she collapsed.

Not just pain, but her body refusing to obey. Breath ragged, limbs powerless, she was completely vulnerable. Meanwhile, the dark mage began a chant.

“Dark mana that rules the night—”
“These bastards really—”

Why do they have no foresight? If they start chanting early, they’d be discovered. Still, shouldn’t they at least prepare a little?

Lawrence began his incantation immediately.

[Holy Bomb]

Crackle! Crackle!

A white sphere formed in his hand, buzzing ominously despite being divine magic.

But that wasn’t all.

[Haste]
[Strength]
[Artifact capacity…]

He added Haste and Strength, charging at the chanting dark mage.

Disaster for a mage often comes in the form of a brute-force attack. Lawrence’s sudden approach disrupted the mage’s concentration, preventing a proper spell.

His hand, holding the Holy Bomb, struck the mage’s head.

KABOOM!

The cavern shook; the mage vanished without a trace.

With the deafening noise gone, only the dying troll’s whimpers remained.

Lawrence turned to check on Leila.

“You okay?”
“Ugh… thanks to you.”
“We should get you treated quickly.”
“Haha… I can really survive this, right?”

Leila sat, swinging her limbs energetically. Lawrence nodded.

Power never fails; her chronic illness, like a curse, would also disappear.

“Because I’ll make sure of it.”

Leila smiled—a pure, beautiful smile, nothing like the frenzied girl swinging a sword moments ago.

“That’s a relief.”

“Hey—Lawrence! Princess Leila!”

Voices came from the entrance. Seeing them running in, it seemed the outside had been mostly cleared. Lawrence waved.

“Help me, sister!”

We need to move the fresh troll!

#2

“Good work, everyone.”
“Anyone injured, come this way~.”
“Who is this prince really? Why can he cast healing magic?”
“See? A child of a magic family, as I said.”

Too lazy to explain divine powers, he simply answered that.

Before returning, Lawrence collected all spoils, stocked his inventory, and freely used healing artifacts on the wounded.

The preparations for such occasions paid off.

“Hope I can get better relics later. And…”

They acquired quite a bit, especially extracts related to dark magic and necromancy. Lawrence believed these would be useful, particularly back home where their utility would increase.

“I’ll use these to uncover the masterminds.”

After tending the last patient, Lawrence rose. Though thanked repeatedly, he answered mechanically, lost in thought.

Turning his stiff body, he finally noticed the crowd.

Eyes filled with admiration. Faces truly grateful.

Yes, he had felt this before, long ago. Memories faded with time.

“There was a time like this. On Earth, my subscribers always encouraged me.”

<Wow! Author! Amazing!>
<How do you make it so precise!? >
<Incredible, please make more! I’m your fan!>

Unlike his miserable past, he had once reached mastery. The feeling now was similar: pride and satisfaction.

“Let’s head back.”
“Everyone, gather your things! Anyone who can’t care for their weapons will have it deducted from their pay!”
“Yesss!”

Despite previous tension, the lively atmosphere was striking. Freya, Loria, and the Phoenix Mage Squad wore proud smiles.

Victory was theirs; the hunt concluded brilliantly.

“Good job, little brother.”
“You too, sister.”

Loria patted Lawrence’s back, smiling.

“Can’t reach your shoulder?”
“Hey! I’m fine!?”

She was still a teasing sister. Lawrence pondered as they walked.

“Why did the dark mages know all the paths? Also… what deal did Freya and Medea make? And Loria—why try to kill her, even as a direct heir?”

Loria was a direct heir, part of Monteemer’s main branch—not collateral. Why the attack? Or is there a story he didn’t know before his return?

Curiosity grew.

“First: Loria’s secret. Second: contact with relatives. Third: deal with the tower.”

Solving immediate tasks would naturally expose Medea’s schemes. His dragon instincts told him so.

Looking at the blue aura shot vertically in the distance, he muttered:

“So the Duke succeeded too.”

Fireworks signaled victory. Today, he could finally rest. Exhausted body, light heart. Steps felt lighter.

#3

Thoom!

Giant monster corpses and barely-living trolls poured from the air.

The Duke, Freya, Loria… all who watched gaped.

Such a pocket-dimension spell was enormous—beyond the capacity of normal mages.

Typical pockets only stored weapons, books, or potions. Lawrence’s divine power boasted a vast, immense pocket dimension.

“Can I leave the dismantling to you?”
“What…?”
“Prince Lawrence, really…?”

Shivering, Freya looked up at him. Lawrence smiled. How would they value him now?

“I told you—behave well, and I’ll let you research.”
“Really!?”
“Of course.”

Lawrence grinned. Freya, a Monteemer combat mage, was also a key researcher at the tower.

Future young Monteemer mages would train there; this connection would be invaluable.

While others learned magic, he could craft artifacts and increase Dragon Body mastery.

There would be extracts and components, maybe materials he never encountered before.

“I should research guardian data too.”

Perhaps he’d find another dragon’s legacy.

At that moment, something appeared—a troll’s heart brought by the Duke.

“Here’s the troll’s heart. Very fresh.”
“Ah.”
“Should I have washed it first?”

Blood dripped from the heart as it was handed over, eerily psychopathic. But so what? Neither he nor Lawrence were entirely normal.

“No, we’ll start immediately.”
“Without rest?”
“I enjoy this work.”

Lawrence couldn’t resist fun. After finishing a tough job, could he immediately collapse? Hobbies and fandom had to come first.

He smiled brightly, holding the blood-dripping troll heart.

“By the way, is troll meat big and beautiful?”