RMA 57

chapter 57

The holy knight asked as they walked.

It was a very instinctive, almost primal question meant to satisfy lingering curiosity.

“Where did you learn holy magic?”
“I taught myself.”
“Wait… is it even possible to learn that on your own?”
“Apparently so.”

He immediately regretted asking.

How could anyone self-learn holy magic? Anyone could theoretically attempt it, but not just anyone could master it.

“If you don’t want to answer, it’s fine to say so.”
“I’m telling you right now. Very honestly.”
“…….”

The knight fell silent.

From the other side, a question came.

“Your unique movements resemble those from the North.”
“Oh, I just copied what I saw.”
“…The fewer secrets, the better.”

Even though he answered honestly again, Beryx didn’t seem to believe him.

Lawrence scratched his head, and Loria shook hers.

Finally, Loria asked a question.

It was a rather productive, constructive question.

“So? What’s the plan?”
“Hmm… still thinking about it.”
“What? Didn’t you already have something in mind?”
“I do, but there are too many ideas—that’s the problem.”

In Lawrence’s mind were about 101 ways to kill a dark mage. Stories Ades told in his past life, rumors he’d heard here and there, reports, documents… Later, because of the coming war, these were explained so anyone could read them like a manual.

Moreover, the dark mages of this time wouldn’t be particularly skilled.

“Holy Knight, do you have anything in mind?”

It’s wise to hear others’ thoughts before deciding. Lawrence thought, asking the unnamed knight:

“We track them down and annihilate them. That is the way of the Holy Kingdom and the Church.”
“So, how… exactly?”
“That’s something you’ll need to figure out from here on.”
“……”

It was not strange, on reflection.

They had been dragged into this suddenly by Lawrence’s impulsive actions. It was natural they had no special plans.

Lawrence revived his memories from his previous life and spoke to Ades. The full-scale operation was about to begin.

“Ades, do you have a map?”
“Of course. Here it is.”
“Hmm……”
“Can you read maps?”

Of course he could. Lawrence looked at Loria, who had asked suddenly, with a strange expression, then refocused on the plan. Freya had blocked their way earlier, he recalled.

‘We need to gauge how far they’ve escaped, if they’re wounded, if the undead are being brought along…’

His mind began spinning rapidly. Various variables intertwined to produce an optimized conclusion. Lawrence pointed to a spot on the map and spoke again:

“We’ll wait here. Ades and you, you’ll need to create some smoke.”
“Me…?”
“Of course. Oh, and get some blood on you too.”
“……”

‘Saying something so dangerous so casually… seems like he does have a plan.’

Loria found herself thinking this way, unconsciously building trust.

After explaining everyone’s positions, Lawrence moved into action.

“We must finish this in one strike. No cowardice, no hesitation. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”

Sometimes there are people like that—knights insisting on honor in direct combat. But in war, that’s a luxury.

Lawrence’s piercing gaze shut down any nonsense immediately.

Although he looked like a young noble, his presence was overwhelming. The aura of a sovereign. Everyone felt it, and the atmosphere dropped.

“Then, let’s move.”

Whether Medeia or the Deferter, they moved to crush their targets.

#2

“Damn it—.”
“Ammon! Why would you subject us to this trial?!”
“Everyone, quiet and walk.”

A dense forest.

Dark mages dodged the pouring rain of fire after breaking through the wall of flames.

With the sacrifices of high-ranking dark mages and countless undead, they barely managed to reorganize the pursuit squad.

And then realized:

“Now I understand why overwhelming numbers are necessary.”
“Ugh… Even with this many, it’s not enough? Is it a budget issue? Or a manpower issue?”
“It’s our mana that’s lacking. For necromancers, mana is numbers.”
“But… where did those bastards go? Huh, over there—!”

They had accepted a mission they thought would be lucrative. A task given by a high-ranking individual: ambush, annihilation, even assassination. Tasks the dark mages excelled at—so they accepted immediately. They even received [expensive goods] in advance.

Then they noticed something.

A woman walking with a limp.

“There she is!”
“Quick, catch her!”
“Damn it, why does this go wrong—! No time, hurry!”

The dark mages moved swiftly. At that moment, Lawrence’s plan began.

The girl, visible from afar, vanished into the fog.

“Quick, catch—huh?”
“What? Suddenly fog…?”
“The target’s gone!”

Ssshh-.

They stopped dead in their tracks. The forest was usually peaceful, with clear skies and birds chirping. But now, dense fog had descended.

“Fog in this place? Today’s weather… ugh!?”
“What the—ugh!”
“Poison! It’s a poisonous fog!”

[Poison Cloud]
[Spreads poison. The poison cloud disperses with the wind.]

‘Gotcha, you bastards.’

Lawrence had been wondering where he could use this, and now was the opportunity.

The dark mages inhaled the poison cloud, scrambling to respond. Some tried to raise mana to detoxify or hold their breath. Several vomited blood and collapsed; others were paralyzed stiffly on the ground.

“Fireball.”

Khaaa-.

A signal spell appeared. Lawrence hurled the instantly-formed fireball.

KRAAAANG!

A 3rd Circle spell, enhanced with mana boost, incinerated the forest. Simultaneously, the hidden holy knight and Beryx jumped out.

“Die, unholy bastards!”
“Damn it!”

Ambushes aren’t only for you. Lawrence landed lightly, swung the sacred meat artifact hard at the dark mages.

Sssshhhk-!

The artifact had healing waves embedded.

“Ughhh!”
“Gross…”
“What the….”

A priest watching from afar clutched her mouth as she saw the heads melt from the meat strike. Her eyes sparkled.

“Such clean, beautiful purification!”

Indeed! This person should be recruited by the Church! A natural talent was visible!

Unaware of the priest’s admiration, Lawrence continued handling the remaining dark mages and the creeping undead.

He placed his hands on the ground. The targets were skeleton soldiers crawling out of the earth: humans, animals, monsters… Various skeletal forms rising.

[Iron Spear]
[Multi Manifestation]

KRAZZZAK!

Iron spears grew from the ground, skewering, slicing, and smashing the skeletons.

Lawrence dashed out without giving the mages time to react.

[Haste]

The artifact amplified his speed. He swung the remaining meat with all his strength. Truly, holy power was unmatched against dark mages and undead.

‘I am a mage. I am a creator.’

Even while swinging violently, Lawrence focused on precision. The dark mage purge ended surprisingly easily.

Outstanding skill, precise planning, and Lawrence’s overwhelming spellcasting speed produced dazzling results. No enemies survived.

“Eh, I thought I’d catch at least one alive, but they really keep secrets.”
“No gain?”
“No. But… when did you start speaking casually?”
“Since earlier. Why? Aren’t you… my subordinate now?”
“……”

Ades sighed deeply and shook his head. Right, he was always a bit crazy. Lawrence accepted it and moved on. In any case, the dark mages were safely exterminated.

No pursuers seemed to follow. Lawrence’s eyes gleamed as he examined the corpses.

‘Materials, materials.’

Components for artifacts were scattered around.

[Burnt Robe of the Dark Mage]
[Engraving: Affinity to Darkness]

[Introductory Necromancy Textbook carried by the Dark Mage]
[Manifestation: Skeleton Summon]

[…]

“Hehehehe—.”

A sly smile spread across Lawrence’s face. A mischievous thought crossed his mind.

It’s said the most infuriating thing to an enemy is the incompetence of their allies.

Exactly. Stories of allies fighting among themselves and falling apart.

They dared target his sister—now they must face the same fate. They would die by the same dark magic.

‘I’ll make it so.’

And maybe he could extract some information while at it. More work for Ades.

#3

The holy knight and priest were genuinely astonished.

Iron mages.

Rumor said they were inferior to elemental mages. They had heard the stories, too.

‘But… this seems far more impressive than I’d heard.’

Especially Lawrence, the youngest prince of Montemer. Was it noble bloodline, or individual talent? Now they understood why these mages called themselves Battle Mages.

‘Mages excellent at close combat.’

Terrifying. If such people were mass-produced as weapons of a family or nation… the balance of power would shift, a new order would emerge.

The holy knight instinctively realized:

“Should we report this to the Church headquarters?”
“Yes, I think we should.”
“Poison Cloud is clearly closer to dark magic… yet this is unusual.”
“True.”

Even more astonishing: Lawrence used Poison Cloud casually.

Holy and dark magic are normally incompatible, yet he wielded both freely.

Not just simple iron mage? Definitely not.

The holy knight and priest were convinced: Lawrence Montemer was an exceptional talent capable of overturning the Church’s balance.

“Alright, let’s go back. We need to storm the fortress.”
“Understood.”
“Yes. Is there any discomfort, Prince?”
“I’m fine. Perfectly okay.”

[Hettling: 79%]

Lawrence smiled brightly and moved.

Ades, Loria, and Beryx watched his back with strange expressions. Then Ades noticed something.

“Wait! Lawrence.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Look at this.”

Ades held a platinum-colored gem lying on the ground. Resembling a diamond but radiating a subtler, more mysterious glow.

He grinned, as if he’d found the key evidence.

“This looks like solid proof.”
“This is…”
“I’d heard about it, but never had physical evidence. Now, it’s enough.”

Lawrence recognized it too and frowned.

Yes. It was definitive proof.