༺ Eyes of a Dragon and the Human Heart (47) ༻
After exerting a lot of effort, I finally arrived right outside of Verlata Pavilion.
However, with security guarding the entrance, getting inside the dormitory was proving to be somewhat of an obstacle.
There was no way I would simply be allowed to enter when the entire academy knew of the antagonistic relationship between me and the princess.
While I felt tempted to show them the Dragonblood Script and tell them to move aside, that also had its own complications and was best to keep to myself.
Ultimately, I sighed in resignation and backed away from the security guard.
“Well, it can’t be helped then.”
The guard heaved a sigh of relief. It seemed he was worried he’d also have to deal with someone known as a ‘mad dog’ within the academy when it was already hectic enough dealing with the demonic beasts.
He then opened his mouth to explain politely.
“Thank you for understanding. We really can’t be too careful with everything that’s go-“
-Pak!
Unfortunately, he didn’t get to finish his sentence.
A hatchet smashed into the side of his head, and the guard collapsed to the ground as the light in his eyes faded away.
Although it was with the blunt side, the weight of the strike alone made it fairly deadly.
“You crazy bastard! I knew this wo-“
Witnessing the sudden violence, a nearby guard, who had been on guard since the beginning, thrust his spear with a shout.
However, it was practically impossible for someone who wasn’t even a knight and was merely a security guard to stand against me.
Like a leaf fluttering in the wind, my body turned along the trajectory of the spear.
The guard’s eyes bulged in shock as I spiraled down the spear shaft before slamming the hatchet into the side of his head.
Backed by the centrifugal force of my spin, the hatchet carried a formidable amount of force, and the guard limply fell forward in the same thrusting posture without even being able to groan.
Although the guard had moved before me, I was the one to hit him first.
It was the revolving counter technique passed down by Mr. Gilford.
I was worried that I had lost my sense for it since it had been a while, but the guard’s spear was so slow that my body instinctively carried out the technique. In the end, he made for good practice in preparation for actual combat.
Despite having knocked down two guards, the threat posed by the guards wasn’t their individual skill but rather their strength in numbers which allowed them to overwhelm their opponents.
As proof, four more guards hesitantly took their positions in front of me.
To have six guards stationed at the Verlata Pavilion even with the chaotic situation outside… it truly was befitting of a dormitory where the children of the imperial family stayed.
Heck, there probably wasn’t anyone left within the dormitory either, but it was possible that they hadn’t left because they were unaware of the secret underground passageway.
Feeling sorry for these ignorant guards, I shook my head.
“…I apologize in advance.”
Then, as a spear lunged right at me, I swung down against the shaft.
Although it didn’t break the shaft, strong vibrations reverberated through the spear and up the guard’s arm, causing him to drop his spear with foolish stammers.
At that moment, two more spears snaked in to form a cross from the openings on the side.
Quickly calculating their trajectories, I slammed down my hatchet once more, aiming precisely at the intersection of the two spears to drive them into the ground.
After rendering them harmless, a single kick to the intersection was all it took to send the two spears flying into the air.
The last guard was clearly frightened by how he was fidgeting hesitantly in his spot, so I chucked my hatchet, deciding to relieve him of his fear.
-Thuuk!
Hit right on his forehead, the guard’s eyes rolled up, and his body crumbled to the ground. While I had controlled my strength to avoid breaking his skull, it should have been enough to concuss him.
Now unarmed, I weaved through their ranks, and with an elbow to the solar plexus, a kick to another, and a punch to the jaws, three more bodies fell to the ground.
“Huu…”
A sigh escaped my lips as I dusted off my hands and walked over to pick up the hatchet.
It didn’t even take a few minutes to overpower the six guards. It was a martial prowess on par with that of an expert.
Yet, the aura covering my sword was still faint.
It wasn’t a strange thing, though.
No matter how skilled one was, there were countless variables in actual combat, and it was difficult to judge the outcome of a battle just by the level of the combatants’ mana or aura.
However, the reason for my recent frustration was that the wall to becoming an expert constantly eluded me while seemingly being within reach.
It was a wall that many failed to overcome in their lifetimes, while others joined the ranks of the strong after surpassing it.
Naturally, I wanted to be among the latter.
Becoming an expert was more than simply having more aura. It was being able to distort reality by materializing aura into their mental projection.
Of course, it wasn’t odd for aura users who had only recently become experts, like Seria, to not awaken the characteristics of their aura immediately upon rising to the level.
However, it wouldn’t take long for Seria to refine her aura into her mental image, and when she finally succeeds, it would grant her an overwhelming advantage over others who hadn’t yet refined their aura.
Due to the limitless applications of aura and its unpredictable nature, aura was capable of shifting the battle in countless ways, and fighting someone skilled in manipulating their aura was both challenging and dangerous.
For instance, my battle with Senior Neris. Fighting her was a struggle due to her unconventional aura abilities, and frankly speaking, I was on the brink of defeat.
Thinking back, Professor Derek had also advised me on overcoming the wall—‘Adhiṭṭhāna’ and awakening to a single determination. I still couldn’t grasp what that really meant.
With such thoughts, I moved my feet towards the basement of Verlata Pavilion, sprinting through the tunnel until a bitter taste filled my mouth from exerting my body.
It was shortly thereafter that I came face-to-face with her.
Mitram, the dark priest controlling the head maid, greeted me with a maniacal laugh.
*
The situation was dire.
Weak groans filled the air as knights, marred by traces of an explosion, lay scattered across the ground.
The ground was caved in at what seemed to be the center of the explosion, but instead of what should have been scorch marks of a conventional bomb, only pools of blood and remnants of flesh and bones littered the area.
It was a familiar scene.
Right. It resembled the self-destructive explosions of the demonic cats. But judging by the magnitude of the destruction, it seemed that one of the knights had been sacrificed for the explosion.
Just thinking about it was appalling. Even if they were the Dark Order, to think they would turn humans into living bombs…
My gaze turned grim as I stared at the woman whose laughter became increasingly crazed at my growing hostility.
“We were just talking about you, Ian Percus… Oh dear, I haven’t introduced myself yet, have I? I am…”
“Mitram.”
The name abruptly popped up in my head.
Leto had previously mentioned it, saying it was recorded in the orphanage’s ledger.
It was no coincidence that I thought of the flesh nests and flesh seeds upon seeing the hordes of demonic beasts.
People who held so much contempt for others’ lives that they could unhesitantly subject them to such inhumane fates were few and far between.
And one of their leaders was currently standing before me.
Surprise briefly flashed in the woman’s eyes before she bowed her head with a bright smile.
“That’s right. It seems you were already aware of me?”
“Yeah, I owe you a lot for what you did at the orphanage.”
More laughter echoed through the tunnel as intense murderous intent shone in her eyes.
It was sheer coincidence that my guess was correct, but it seemed she was misunderstanding all on her own.
“So, you’ve been tracking me since then… How surprising. To think the empire still had such talents.”
The bubbling flesh soon receded and revealed her newly regenerated arms.
Then, she leisurely turned around and looked down at the girl lying behind her.
The girl with midnight-blue hair and ash-gray eyes was letting out faint groans. Her eyes were unfocused, and it was clear she was suffering from some sort of poison. It was impressive that she was even managing to hold onto her consciousness.
The ‘Dragon Eyes’ she possessed were proof of her draconic lineage, and the ability to read the hearts of others was only a single aspect of it, as the thick dragon’s blood flowing within her also bestowed her with exceptional magical aptitude and resistance to poison.
And it was likely that the female knight collapsed beside Mitram also had some resistance to poison. Considering she was the head of the knights responsible for the fifth imperial princess’ safety, she most undoubtedly possessed skills befitting her position. While her name eluded me, a female knight with refreshingly blue hair was hard to forget.
It appeared that they were the only two who were still conscious.
However, it didn’t change the fact that they were both incapacitated and would be of no immediate help.
Having concluded as such, I discreetly observed Mitram while paying attention to their safety.
A sneer was plastered on her lips.
“But the descendant of the great dragons tried to oppress such a talented individual… Even though you tried your best to save her… This. Trash!”
Her foot crashed down onto the princess’ head, pressing her face into the mud.
“uuuhp! uuu, uhp!”
Suffocated, the princess writhed weakly against the ground.
Even under the effects of a paralytic poison, her body seemed to retain its survival instincts. The princess repeatedly tapped the ground with her hands, but the dark priest continued to grind her foot into the princess’ head.
And the female knight, witnessing her princess being humiliated under someone’s heel, struggled to get back on her feet, only to collapse back down.
It was understandable. No matter how skilled they were, it was the end if they were poisoned by a strong toxin. While they would be able to last longer than the average person, it was impossible to neutralize the poison from within. It was why most knights carried antidotes and other neutralizing agents with them.
However, it appeared that they weren’t given any time or opportunity to take the antidotes.
I calmly shifted my gaze back towards Mitram.
It was yet unclear whether she truly intended to kill the princess. Rather than provoking her, it was safer to strive for the hostages’ safety by remaining composed.
“This… this… Trash! This worthless piece of trash! They’re all sheltered flowers raised in a greenhouse! Don’t you think so as well, Ian Percus?! You should know as well since you’ve crossed the line between life and death numerous times even as a fellow noble!”
-Pak!
Mitram kicked the princess’ head, causing her limp body to flip over.
“Kuhk…”
With every cough, dirt leaked from her mouth. Her white cloak, which indicated that she was a first-year student of the academy, had long been stained and dirtied.
It wasn’t a sight befitting a member of the imperial family.
“They’re incapable of doing anything in the face of real danger! They only wield their authority to try and save their worthless pride! This girl’s no different!
Moisture gathered at the edges of the princess’ eyes that had lost their light, and soon, a single tear streamed down.
Fear. Regret. Remorse.
That single tear embodied all her feelings.
On the other hand, I silently received all of Mitram’s rage in its entirety.
“You won’t be rewarded for your efforts, no matter how hard you try! It’s only natural to question and seek the truth when something feels off, but just because you bruised her ego… Pfft. Do you want to know what this girl did?”
Desperation filled the princess’ eyes as she gasped for breath, her eyes pleading to stop.
But Mitram did not stop.
And with every word that left her mouth, the princess and the female knight’s eyes sank deeper into despair.
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