A surge of black mana erupted like an explosion.
The wild energy that seemed ready to consume everything slowly settled, eventually surrounding my sword in a steady, controlled flow.
Buzzzzz—!
The sword in my hand trembled, but the jet-black aura enveloping it didn’t waver in the slightest.
Aura. And not just any aura—a highly refined one.
“…!!”
Rodelin, Lowell, Dolores, and even Bickerd—who had been pretending to be unconscious—
All stared at me, mouths slightly open.
They couldn’t see their faces because of the masks, but Luna and Rezé were probably wearing the exact same expressions.
‘Good thing I’m wearing a mask.’Shock, awe, admiration, fear—
A whirlwind of emotions flickered across their faces, but one feeling stood out above the rest.
Reverence.
Aura.
The first threshold that all knights aspired to reach.
And at the same time, a symbol of true strength.
Yet I didn’t just unleash it effortlessly—I maintained it in a perfectly stable state.
“This… doesn’t make sense…”
Lowell muttered in disbelief, glancing down at her own sword.
The blue aura surrounding it wavered, flickering like a flame in the wind.
A clear sign that it wasn’t properly refined.
‘Around this time… Lowell’s level should be in the late-6-star range, right?’
Someone standing at the threshold of 7-star.
At that level, she was already considered an elite warrior.
But if my aura was sharper than hers, it could only mean one thing.
“…A monster has appeared.”
Lowell’s eyes trembled.
Oh, why could I use Aura?
‘Because of [Divine Imitation].’
This was a game world. Even Aura was just another skill.
Of course, simply copying [Aura] wasn’t enough. You needed a Mana Cultivation Technique as the foundation.
In the game, acquiring both required reaching Chapter 4 at the earliest.
But—
‘There are no limits to [Divine Imitation].’
With both [Mana Cultivation Technique] and [Aura] in my grasp, and plenty of strong users standing right in front of me—
For me, using Aura was easier than stealing candy from a baby.
‘I just couldn’t use it before because too many people were watching.’
I had only ever seen Aura in the game.
Now, I was using it myself—and looking damn good while doing it.
I barely resisted the urge to take a selfie.
“Judging by the density of that Aura… It’s on par with Big Sis.”
“I agree. But black Aura…? I’ve never heard of that. Where has this monster been hiding all this time?”
Typically, Aura was blue, but certain [Mana Cultivation Techniques] could change its color.
Of course, my Aura was black because of the [Darkness] skill.
“Keke, your attitude changed all of a sudden. I take it you’ve finally grasped the situation?”
“I see now. Behind that playful demeanor… was a formidable warrior all along.”
“Exactly. And despite what you may have thought, I was the one holding back. Not you.”
Lowell’s lips twisted slightly.
The difference in power was obvious to anyone.
Lowell’s [Mana Cultivation Technique] was currently B-rank, and her [Aura] was D-rank.
Meanwhile, thanks to [Divine Imitation], both of mine were A-rank.
The difference was clear as day.
Sure, my mana was draining fast, and this state wouldn’t last long.
But it didn’t matter.
‘Lowell will back down first.’
Aura wasn’t something that could be trained alone.
It required technique, mana control, relentless practice, elixirs, good mentors, time, enlightenment, and above all—talent.
Only by fulfilling all these conditions could one advance to the next level.
‘Since she thinks I’m on Lucia’s level, she’ll have no choice but to let us go. Right?’
As I waited for Lowell’s decision—
Lick—.
Lowell ran her tongue over her lips.
Why was she licking her lips?
Wait.
No way…
“The world really is vast.”
“…What?”
“Come at me. No, actually—I should be the one attacking. After all, I’m the challenger here.”
Did she just say she wanted to fight me?!
Was she insane?!
And then, it finally hit me.
The person standing before me—
Wasn’t just a lion.
She was a Mad Lion.
“…Big Sis?”
Yes, Rodelin! You’re the only sane one here!
Please, stop this lunatic before it’s too late!
“I wish you luck.”
Rodelin bowed her head.
…Oh, right.
I forgot.
I’m the only sane person in this world.
I was doomed.
“Hah. I must really be getting underestimated if you’re worried about me.”
“T-that’s not what I meant…”
“Forget it. I’ll just have to prove myself.”
Lowell flicked a finger against Rodelin’s forehead as she walked past.
“To show that I’ve become strong enough to protect you.”
Taking a few steps forward, Lowell lightly swung her longsword, warming up.
It was clear now.
She was serious.
Which meant I had to make my move accordingly.
“Keke, I’ll handle this. You all go ahead.”
“Yessir!”
Rezé’s firm reply echoed from far away.
I turned my head.
Rezé, still wearing her rabbit mask, had already made it a good distance away.
Damn rabbit.
Not even a shred of loyalty to her master.
“No. We fight together.”
The real problem was Luna.
Why was this cat so loyal?
Oh.
Right.
It wasn’t loyalty—it was obsession.
“Keke, do you not trust me?”
“…But…”
“Trust me. We’re friends, aren’t we?”
Luna lowered her head.
Was she frustrated at how helpless she was?
She pounded her fists against my chest twice.
“Remember this. Just this once. Next time, I’ll be the one taking this role…”
“Keke, I look forward to that day.”
Luna and Rezé took off running.
They reached the staircase, but Lowell didn’t react.
She must have concluded that I was the real threat here.
“…”
Lowell’s gaze was sharp, eyes locked onto me.
I forced myself to stay calm.
The chances of her actually attacking were low, but even if a fight did break out, I just had to hold out with ‘that’ and wait for an opening to escape—
Whoosh—.
In an instant, Lowell vanished.
Just like in anime or movies.
I’d seen this move countless times before.
Which meant—
The moment I reached that realization, I activated my skill.
The defensive skill I obtained after defeating Mabelga.
The strongest defensive skill in this world.
[Absolute Defense].
BOOM!
“…!”
Lowell’s eyes widened visibly.
She had just witnessed her own attack failing to leave so much as a scratch on my barrier.
Tap!
I casually extended my sword.
Lowell hurriedly retreated.
But the one who needed to back off wasn’t Lowell—it was me.
‘A skill that eats up 1,000 mana per use… What a mana-devouring monster.’
With my current max mana barely 1,300, this skill was practically a black hole.
And on top of that, I was still using [Aura].
My mana was plummeting at an alarming rate.
Now that my trusted defensive skill was gone—
I had no choice.
Time to pull out my final trump card.
“Keke, as much as I’d love to continue, let’s postpone this battle for another time.”
“What?”
“Next time… it won’t end so easily.”
A classic villain exit line.
But for Lowell, it sounded like an ominous warning.
“You think you can escape?!”
I had just started casually walking away when I heard the sound of Lowell kicking off the ground.
Turning slightly, I extended my sword toward Rodelin.
A blade coated in black aura.
Lowell flinched and immediately positioned herself between us.
She hesitated for a moment, and just as she prepared to launch another attack—
“Hah!”
I shouted as if casting a spell.
Lowell instinctively raised her mana to brace for impact.
And then—
“…?”
TATATATATAT!
Without looking back, I sprinted up the stairs.
That’s right.
My final trump card was…
The art of running away.
Simply put—I was fleeing.
Why?
‘Like hell I can win against her!’
The only advantage I had over Lowell was my higher-ranked [Aura] and [Mana Cultivation Technique].
Stats, level, equipment, decision-making, battle experience—I lagged behind in every single category.
And on top of that, my fake Aura had vanished because I ran out of mana.
Running was my only path to survival.
TATATATAT!
After a brief sprint, I spotted two familiar backs ahead.
Luna and Rezé.
The ones who ran first.
“What the hell?! Why are you here?!”
“Keke, didn’t we promise to be together even in death?”
“That doesn’t mean this! You lasted less than five pages in a novel!”
“Five pages is plenty! Do you have any idea how long one page is for an author?!”
I had no idea.
But somehow, I could feel that it was exhausting.
“No! If you’re going to make a cool exit, at least follow through! Give me back my emotional moment! I want a refund!”
“That’s ridiculous! Then how about you stay behind, Luna? Didn’t you say you’d take the role next time?”
“I never said that! Where’s your proof? Huh?! Show me proof!”
As Luna and I bickered—
SWOOSH!
Something zoomed past us.
“K-kkiiiiiik! W-we have to liveeee!!”
It was Rezé.
She was climbing the stairs on all fours like a rabid animal.
Her survival instincts were off the charts.
“For now, let’s focus on escaping!”
“No, you stay behind!”
“K-kkiiiiiiiik!”
Maybe it was thanks to our insane competition.
In the end—
We made it back to our inn in one piece.
A suspicious man wearing a snake mask suddenly bolted away.
“That bastard…!”
Lowell, feeling mocked, immediately prepared to chase after me.
But—
“They’re not ordinary. Be careful when pursuing. I’ll gather allies and—ugh!”
Rodelin collapsed, falling to one knee.
Her injuries hadn’t fully healed.
Lowell had given her a potion, but Rodelin had used most of it on Bickerd.
So it was no surprise that her body gave out.
“Ha…”
Lowell sighed as she looked up at the sky.
Then, she sheathed her longsword.
“…We’re abandoning the chase.”
“Big Sis! You don’t have to worry about me—”
“I’m not worried about you! Do you really think they can move freely while dragging a hostage?!”
That’s right.
Dolores was still here.
And they were still inside enemy territory.
Until Dolores was safely extracted, Lowell couldn’t afford to split her forces.
Lowell kicked Bickerd’s motionless body.
THUMP!
“I know you’re awake. Get up. Or do you want to end up like him?”
She pointed at Redington.
A mangled mess barely recognizable as human.
Seeing that, Bickerd sprang up instantly.
His severe injuries should have made it impossible for him to move.
But the reason he could still function was simple.
The potion Rodelin had shared.
More precisely, the potion Lowell had thrown.
‘So this is the power of a top-grade potion… Incredible.’
A potion so expensive it cost as much as three years’ worth of living expenses for an average household.
And it wasn’t something that could be acquired just with money.
You needed connections and authority to get your hands on one.
‘Using something like this so casually… This is what it means to be part of a noble house.’
Rodelin and Lowell—both from House Lucid, one of the eight pillars of the Empire.
Bickerd knew this well.
He let out a bitter smile.
If he had been born into a family like that, wouldn’t he have achieved greatness too?
“Kicking a prisoner? That’s unacceptable! The Empire’s laws guarantee human rights!”
“What human rights?! These bastards don’t deserve any! Ugh, I should just kill them all right here!”
Wah! Wah!
Rodelin and Lowell started bickering.
Watching them argue, Bickerd chuckled.
Achieving greatness if he had been born into a noble house?
What nonsense.
‘Even if I had been born into a noble family…’
He wouldn’t have possessed Rodelin’s righteous character.
He wouldn’t have had Lowell’s courage to stand against the strong.
And he wouldn’t have put in the effort to become as powerful as they had.
‘Because I’m not that kind of person.’
If he hadn’t met his lord and his comrades, he would have spent his life as nothing more than trash.
At least for a while, he had lived with purpose.
But after their crushing defeat in the territorial war, after his lord had fallen apart—he had gone back to being garbage.
‘Let’s go back. To that time.’
To when he lived each day with purpose, got along with his comrades, and gave his lord loyal advice without hesitation.
Was it because of the lightning-infused spear that had struck him?
Or was it something in Rodelin’s words that had stirred him?
He wasn’t sure.
But for the first time in a long while, he wanted to live properly again.
Tap, tap—.
As Bickerd quietly made his resolution, someone tapped his back.
It was Lowell.
She pointed at Redington, who was still embedded in the wall.
“What are you staring at? Carry him. You criminal bastard.”
Ah.
Right.
I am a criminal.
–TL Notes–
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