Chapter 46
The man whose real name was Kalron and fake name was something like Evan was screaming in utter despair.
This was because flames with intense heat were blazing right at the center of his heart.
Perhaps it was because of his position as the chief manager, but he seemed to possess some skill.
Still, it appeared he wasn’t skilled enough to dodge my spell cast from such close range.
Well.
The spell I used applied the Archmage’s rapid-fire formula, after all. There was no way someone managing an illegal arena could avoid it.
Soon, the man, who was engulfed in flames and screaming, collapsed.
“The manager is taken care of.”
On the third underground floor.
Perhaps due to the reverberating screams, thugs began to swarm in from all directions. Of course, mixed among them were knights that appeared to serve the Viscount.
“……What in the world!”
Hmm.?
They were trash involved in kidnapping, murder, and drug trafficking. I had no intention of sparing them.
After naturally glancing at Leonhardt, I issued a simple command.
“Kill them. All of them.”
“Yes.”
As soon as the senior knight answered my command.
His figure blurred in an instant.
His movements were so fast that even with Heart Eye, I could only perceive a faint afterimage of him.
A sword brimming with aura.
As it swung, the thugs began collapsing without any resistance.
“Aaaargh!”
“My arm!”
“P-please, spare me!”
As expected.
His skills were exceptional.
In the blink of an eye, ten thugs were down, spraying fountains of blood. Recognizing the dire situation, the knights serving the Viscount drew their swords.
Clang!
“……He’s a senior knight! Split into groups of three and five!”
Eight junior knights and one intermediate knight.
Among them, the intermediate knight, four junior knights, and the remaining ten thugs charged at Leonhardt.
The remaining three junior knights started rushing toward Erciel and me.
It seemed it was time to use an artifact.
I pulled out the Staff of Valor from my magic pouch.
“Three Expert-level junior knights, huh.”
Erciel and I.
We both looked like children on the surface, so it was obvious they had assigned only three knights, underestimating us.
Even three junior knights were skilled enough to cut down dozens of well-built men.
As I activated Heart Eye, the internal flow of their bodies gradually became visible.
The yellow aura was flowing toward their legs.
They were gathering strength in their legs to leap forward.
“I need to finish this in one strike.”
Even though they were junior knights, they were still Expert-level, so I couldn’t afford to let my guard down. Additionally, with three of them, there was a high chance at least one could dodge a spell.
“What a bother.”
I considered how to respond with the three spells stored in my staff.
If their swords infused with aura could cut through a reinforced shield in an instant, defense would be the worst option.
In that case, binding their feet might be the better choice.
Once Leonhardt finished dealing with the thugs, these knights would soon follow, losing their heads.
The spell I decided to use came to mind instantly.
“Hold.”
It was a spell I had studied not long ago.
I also remembered the in-game mechanics to maximize its effect.
“Alright.”
The casting took only an instant.
The moment the Hold spell, with one hundred percent power, was completed.
I quietly extended my hand toward the knights.
“Hold.”
Hold had two activation methods.
One was to dominate the space, and the other was to release threads of mana to forcibly stop movement.
The method I used was the former.
Though much more challenging, dominating the space itself yielded a stronger effect.
Especially in situations like this, where enemies were charging in from all directions, it was the optimal response.
Whoooong!
Mana started to seep out from my right hand, where the activation mechanism was applied.
The space I decided to dominate was within a five-meter radius of where I stood.
Since the knights were already rushing toward me, they would naturally enter this domain.
The remaining distance was now about ten meters.
The knights charging at me from three directions formed a precise assault formation.
It resembled a triangular squadron.
Certainly, it showed that they were well-trained.
Although the Viscount was a greedy pig, it seemed the knights under him were not incompetent.
Well, it was precisely because of their competence that…
“Ugh!”
“What… is this?”
“My body…”
Though they were caught far faster than expected in the web I had set.
It was still just a 2-circle spell.
As soon as I activated Hold using my unique spell formula, a dizzying sensation began to rise within me.
It felt like I had downed a bowl of strong liquor in one go.
The mana within the circle drained rapidly, leaving me with an intense feeling of exhaustion as a side effect.
Still, I couldn’t help it.
I had yet to develop a mixed activation formula for Hold, and even if I had.
If I used that formula, I wouldn’t have been able to immobilize the three knights as completely as I did now.
“Judging by the mana consumption… around two minutes, I guess.”
That was how long I could hold the three of them in place perfectly.
As I continued manipulating the mana.
A warm light began pouring over me from behind.
It was Erciel’s buff.
“Phew.”
Although the buff came a little late, the effects of the light were so remarkable that any complaints vanished.
The dizziness that had clouded my head moments ago had cleared, and I could feel the mana slowly replenishing in the circle that had seemed empty.
“Now I can hold out for four minutes.”
Was this the power of a first-tier buffer?
As expected.
Raising her had been the right choice.
“Thanks.”
“Are you alright, young master?”
“Ah, these guys?”
The three junior knights, frozen in place like mannequins with their swords drawn, surrounded me.
Looking at them, I grinned.
“Keeping them restrained is no big deal.”
Of course, to maintain the Hold spell, I also had to remain completely still and focused.
No sooner had I finished speaking than rough voices began to shout.
“This bastard!”
“I’ll kill you!”
“Everyone, raise your aura!”
Since Hold wasn’t a spell that could seal their mouths, they shouted with ferocious expressions.
The three knights began intensifying their aura to the point where their faces turned bright red.
However.
Within the domain colored by my magic, they couldn’t move a single step.
Naturally.
The power of my Hold spell was at least at a 5-circle level right now. It would take a knight of intermediate level or higher to even begin moving.
On the downside, I didn’t have the capacity to cast any additional spells, but that didn’t matter.
The staff I held in my hand.
It already had three spells stored in it.
These were 2-circle spells using a mixed activation formula, which could be used without consuming any mana.
That was the limit of the spells the staff could contain. True spells with proper activation formulas had power so immense that the staff couldn’t contain them at all.
“Now that I think about it.”
These knights were accomplices of the thugs who had taken over this place.
There was no need to let them off easily.
I scanned the three knights and smirked.
Then.
Fwoosh!
A massive Fire Arrow formed above my staff. The expressions of the three knights hardened like lead as they saw it.
“……”
“Damn it…”
“What is this…”
The creeping terror that began to constrict their hearts seemed to flicker before their eyes.
Their expressions changed so dramatically that it was almost theatrical.
Looking at them, I kindly explained.
“If you want to live, you’d better start moving.”
Of course, if they could, that is.
The massive fire arrow immediately shot forward, scorching one of the knights’ heads cleanly.
They tried to counter with their aura, but their fragile bodies couldn’t withstand the flames for long.
“Argh… Aaaaah! Ah… ah…”
Despite the screams coming from right beside them, the knights couldn’t take a single step.
What a shame.
Even when given a choice, they couldn’t take it.
Then they had no reason to live.
Perhaps due to the silence from their fallen comrade, the remaining knights began screaming this time.
Their screams didn’t last long.
_
“Good work.”
“Yes.”
The corpses with severed limbs scattered everywhere.
The grim scene was the result of the escort knight’s merciless actions.
I wondered if this would be too much for Erciel to handle.
“Are you alright?”
“…Yes.”
Fortunately, she was holding up well enough. Just the fact that she wasn’t retching was a relief.
I felt like stamping a gold star of approval on her performance.
“The key… it’s here.”
The manager, whose entire body had burned starting from his face.
The key was in his pocket.
Of course, so was the platinum coin I had tipped him.
After reclaiming the money.
I picked up the bundle of keys.
The keys, neatly numbered from 1 to 15, were obviously for the cells holding the senior gladiators.
There was another set of keys.
Numbers 1, 2, and 3.
Clearly, these were for the cells of the top-tier gladiators.
Being the manager, he had quite a collection of useful items on him.
Searching the corpses of the other guards, I found the keys to the chains binding the gladiators’ arms and legs.
The fight had ended so quickly that the senior gladiators were now murmuring amongst themselves.
I intended to release most of them.
If I left them there, they would undoubtedly report my actions to the Viscount.
Instead, releasing them and having them cause a distraction during my escape was the better option.
“If I free all the gladiators underground… the numbers will be quite significant.”
Since I planned to release them anyway, letting them all out would also work to my advantage.
The more chaos there was, the more the Viscount’s attention would be diverted away from me.
Of course, once they were out, their survival would be up to them.
Some might get captured and interrogated by the Viscount, but that couldn’t be helped.
“Even if I only buy some time, that’ll be enough.”
Trastan?
If I could just move safely to that place, the Viscount wouldn’t be able to touch me.
No one in their right mind would send private soldiers to the Marquisate’s territory just because an ‘illegal’ establishment was destroyed.
“At most, he might send an assassin or two.”
Well, that much was manageable.
The cost of acquiring Seron was relatively light.
Having made my decision, I looked at the gladiators.
Since staying locked in these cells would only force them to fight monsters as slaves again, fighting for their freedom was a better choice for them as well.
Clink.
I lightly jingled the bundle of keys.
Then I turned toward the senior gladiators.
“Anyone who was enslaved unfairly or kidnapped, raise your hands. I’ll set you free.”
Well, would you look at that.
As soon as I spoke, all fifteen of them raised their hands.
Obviously, not all of them were innocent.
Fortunately, there was a way to distinguish them.
Gladiators were, by default, slaves.
Slaves.
To prove their status, a brand was stamped on their palms upon purchase.
A black brand indicated those enslaved for serious crimes like murder or rape, while a red brand marked those enslaved for other reasons.
Usually, it was due to financial problems.
Fortunately, Erciel had refused to have a brand stamped when I purchased her, so she bore no such mark.
If she had, it would’ve been heartbreaking.
I shifted my gaze toward Leonhardt.
“Leonhardt?”
“Yes, young master.”
“Release everyone with a red brand. As for those with black brands…”
While I was briefly pondering how to handle them, Leonhardt responded decisively.
“I will handle them as soon as they appear. There’s no need to spare those who have committed unforgivable crimes. Besides… even if we let them live, they’ll only reveal our actions.”
His tone was firm.
His moral compass leaned heavily toward justice.
But that didn’t mean he was merciful like some angel.
He was a knight who showed no pity or mercy to villains.
Even now, it was the same.
“Alright, do as you see fit.”
“Understood. Everyone, hold out your palms. I will inspect them.”
After inspecting, three had black brands, and six bore red brands.
The three with black brands were beheaded by Leonhardt’s sword as soon as they revealed their palms.
There were six without any brands.
“As expected.”
If they had been purchased as gladiators, they would have had brands.
The six without brands must have been kidnapped and brought here unknowingly.
Seron was also among the unbranded gladiators.
He was likely either kidnapped or brought here by some unknown phenomenon.
Probably the latter, but.
That wasn’t important now.
“Gather around.”
Perhaps having witnessed Leonhardt’s skills earlier, the twelve freed gladiators quietly stepped out of their cells and moved without resistance when I, his superior, gave the command.
“You all want to get out of here, don’t you?”
“Yes!”
“Ah. Keep your voices down. Anyway, follow me, and I’ll help you escape. What you do afterward is up to you. Understood?”
“Yes.”
“From now on, I’ll unlock the chains binding your hands and feet. Arm yourselves with the equipment from the dead guards over there.”
“Understood.”
“Then wait here. I’ll head to the lower floors. Oh, and just in case, don’t go upstairs yet. There are still plenty of thugs up there. You’ll need my knight’s and my help to deal with them.”
“Yes.”
As if they instinctively recognized me as their savior, the twelve gladiators obediently nodded at my words.
Well.
If someone offered to free them from a place like this, of course they’d nod.
“Alright, let’s get going. Oh, Seron. You come with me.”
“Yes.”
Since he was going to become one of my subordinates, it was natural to include him in the group. Perhaps due to being freed from his cell, Seron’s favorability had risen from 0 to 20.
A very promising sign.
With that, Seron joined the group.
By the time he joined, a sword was already hanging at his waist.
Was it survival instincts?
He moved remarkably quickly.
“Speaking of which, the top-tier gladiators.”
Not all three of them would be criminals, so even if I rescued only a few, they would significantly help with escaping this place.
Though they didn’t possess aura like knights, they wouldn’t have earned the title of top-tier gladiators for nothing.
They could probably crush a few soldiers with ease.
If such individuals were freed, the Viscount would have no choice but to be even more distracted.
With that thought, my group and I began descending to the fourth underground floor.
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