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Chapter 254: Rinella’s Destiny is Her Own (47)

The blood-soaked clearing fell into silence.

Mitram's "masterpieces" possessed power befitting their title. Even Seria, the second strongest in the vanguard after Ian, was caught off-guard and defeated in a moment.

They were monsters capable of regenerating even limbs that were severed.

Yet, these formidable foes were annihilated by the man without being able to understand how.

Their struggles and difficult battles of the past seemed laughable now. Moreover, the group not only failed to endure but also ended up being subdued by them.

In contrast, before the man, the test subjects were swept away like autumn leaves.

Even the immortal-like regenerative abilities boasted by Mitram had no effect.

The chopped-up bodies did not revive and Mitram showed no signs of coming back to life after her head was severed.

It was clear the man had employed some tactics.

Yet, no one dared to question him.

The group, while managing to stand up, only watched the man with wary eyes.

Their instincts were warning them.

He was different.

This man was somehow different from the 'Ian Percus' they knew.

Perhaps they might have overlooked it, if it were in the past.

Back then, their connection with Ian wasn't deep, and any oddities were brushed off as mere feelings.

After all, it was hard for any other possibility to be conceived..

A change in personality while retaining the same body.

Such a tale was unheard of until their encounter with Mitram.

Even if heard about, it was usually in the context of discussions about the monster’s mysterious abilities or powerful curses.

Those were rumours of uncertain authenticity. Moreover, even after the gathered information was pieced together, that man’s existence was impossible to explain.

Mind controlling sorceries tended to have significant side effects.

It was considered fortunate if even fragments of the original personality remained, let alone sanity. Yet, not only was this man thinking clearly but also adapted to the possessed body too naturally.

This was why Celine failed to notice, despite her long association with Ian.

At best, she felt a slight sense of unease.

If even Celine felt that way, for the rest of the group it was much harder to suspect the man.

But now, they had no choice but to realise.

The man before them was not the Ian Percus they knew.

If he were Ian, the many crises they had faced so far together wouldn't make sense. Nor was there any rational reason for him to have such skills concealed until now.

Following the Dragonblood Script, another facet of Ian was revealed.

As secret after secret came to light, the group couldn't hide their confusion.

The first to regain her composure was the Saintess.

She was a woman who had navigated the precarious political landscape of the Holy Nation. Regaining her composure and thinking strategically in the face of unexpected challenges were her forte.

Of course, even the Saintess had yet to completely recover from the shock, but she managed to steady her trembling voice.

To ask the man the most fundamental question.

"...Who are you?"

"Ian Percus."

His reply was utterly straightforward.

No emotion could be read from the man's expression as he spoke, his tone casual as if stating an obvious fact.

However, the man directed his golden eyes solely towards the Saintess.

Upon meeting his gaze, she couldn't help but flinch.

She had treated numerous patients over the years.

Amongst them were veterans who had spent years on the battlefield.

There were demon hunters who sought vengeance for lost families or lovers, and those who had lost the will to live due to repeated betrayals.

Yet, the Saintess could assert.

That no one had a heart as worn-out as the man's.

Rather than displaying any particular emotion, his eyes were filled with floating fragments. And within those, all that could be seen were negative emotions such as regret, resentment, hatred and despair..

As the Saintess hesitated on what to say, another spoke up in her stead.

"W-What are you saying... you monster freak!"

A woman jumped up, venting her anger.

She was a lovely girl wearing a pointed hat.

With brown hair and blue eyes that complemented each other well. She was an impressive beauty with a determined gaze, despite her stature.

Her name was Elsie Rinella, a woman who had always claimed to be Ian's loyal dog.

Initially, Elsie was stunned by the appearance of the Dragonblood Script and the man's unbelievable prowess.

However, as time passed and she reflected, she realized there was a significant problem.

If that man is not the 'master,' then isn't it true that the whereabouts of the real 'master' are now completely unknown?

While she was anxiously pondering this, she heard the man's indifferent response.

Elsie couldn't help but burst out in anger.

The gratitude for having her life saved had long vanished. More than that, Elsie was concerned about her beloved Master’s well-being.

Soon, an angry voice spilled from Elsie's cute mouth.

"C-can't you return our Master this instant?! Ian Percus, huh?! To hell with you! Our Master is much more magnificent than the likes of you! And more kind, cruel and merciless…!”

"Shut your mouth."

His tone was cold.

Elsie’s expression turned dumbfounded with just one phrase thrown by the man.

For years, she had not heard a harsh word from anyone.

Of course, she had been scolded in her youth and even humiliated at the academy.

However, Elsie personally repaid those debts with interest later on.

It became rare for anyone to recklessly provoke Elsie after that.

At most, if Elsie started a quarrel, Delphine would respond.

It was quite a shock to hear someone telling her to shut up.

Anger fueled her throat after the moment of shock passed.

Her gaze instantly turned fierce. If left as is, it seemed her renowned eloquence might make an appearance.

It was then that, with a weary voice, the man added.

“I was going to return him anyway... If you want 'Ian' back quickly, start preparing to leave. There's a mountain of work still left to do.”

His attitude was unexpectedly cooperative.

Elsie flinched, her body trembled and she had no choice but to halt the torrent of curses she was about to unleash.

She felt like she wouldn't be satisfied until she poured out all the insults that were swirling in her mind.

However, the prospect of getting her Master back silenced her, and the fear of provoking the man and endangering Ian held her back.

For now, following the man's advice, dubious as it was, seemed the best course of action.

Worried he might change his mind, Elsie hurriedly began packing, as did the rest of the group.

However, the man was the one to momentarily hesitate.

He turned around with a look of distrust in his eyes.

His furrowed brow testified to his discomfort.

"...But, 'Master'?"

"W-What! Why!"

Elsie stopped packing and brandished her tiny fist.

Her demeanour suggested she was ready for a confrontation.

Against a man who had single-handedly defeated ten test subjects, each with the strength of an expert or greater.

It seemed she particularly disliked the man who had briefly taken her Master away.

However, it seemed that the man was shocked about a slightly different matter.

He stood there, staring blankly at Elsie, then shook his head and swallowed a hollow laugh.

"...Ha."

After that, he no longer spoke to Elsie.

He only glanced at her occasionally, with a complex expression.

Once preparations for departure were completed, handling the aftermath in the clearing was left for the Rinella family's mage corps.

Reynold’s expression stiffened upon first entering the clearing..

The quantity and quality of the fallen test subjects made it clear.

That the test subjects of Mitram they had faced were merely bait.

"This was the real deal... How did you kill them?"

The man silently tapped his scabbard.

It was a silent signal, but its meaning was clear.

The only problem was whether his word could be trusted.

In any case, Reynold didn't have the luxury to immediately verify the truth of the testimony.

After a moment of hesitation, he sighed deeply and conceded.

"…Alright, we'll hear the details later. For now, we'll take care of this place."

The journey then continued towards the Percus Manor.

For about half a day, an awkward silence loomed between the man and the group.

Even Celine, who was the most sociable, was too intimidated to do anything but look around cautiously.

The man's demonstrated abilities were astonishing and, in some ways, frightening.

If he wished, turning the group into a puddle of blood didn't seem impossible.

Given the uncertainty about the man's identity, their unease was inevitable.

Surprisingly, it was the man who couldn't bear the subtle tension.

"...Aren't you curious how I killed them?"

As always, the question was devoid of emotion, making the intention behind it unclear.

For a conversation that transcended time, the topic was rather lacklustre.