Volume 7 Chapter 54 Oath's Challenge
When I brought Terin back to our base, we found Roman lying in the dark entrance hall.
"Roman!!"
I rushed over to him in a panic. Roman was covered in wounds, leaning against the counter in the lodge.
Looking around, I saw that the entire entrance hall was in shambles. The stone floor was cracked, and parts of the walls were crumbling.
"Well, you...oh, oh. He really is amazing... He has successfully charmed you, hasn't he..."
"Oh, um, well, I wouldn't exactly say 'charmed,' but... Anyway, I'll start treatment for now."
Terin pulled out a syringe-like object from her pocket and said, "Panacea," before injecting it into Roman. As the medicine took effect, Roman's breathing slowly stabilized.
"Ah... thank you. Ah, Terin-san, it was you... Fuu, I feel a bit better now. I can talk properly now..."
"Don't mention it. But we can't talk like this. I'll treat you first."
"Okay."
Roman winced in pain, his face twisted in agony. Then, he looked up at me with a bitter gaze and said,
"...'Oath' attacked this base, switching places with Wade-kun."
"...I figured as much."
Roman smiled wryly, his battered face a testament to his pain, as he responded to my nod.
"He fought me and won. He took Alkei-san and Moruru-chan..."
I lost my breath when I heard that.
"What?! Moruru...―――No, tell me about the others. How many are still alive?"
"The others managed to escape and are safe. Moruru-chan was watching the battle from a distance, but she was discovered and taken away."
At least it wasn't the worst-case scenario. I let out a sigh of relief. Roman continued,
"But the others... 'Oath' doesn't seem interested in them anymore..."
"What do you mean? They're not interested?"
"He took the 2 of them and handed me this letter before leaving..."
I received a letter from Roman. It's a pretty simple letter. I open it and check the contents.
[To Slow,
It seems like you've been playing around for too long. I'm getting tired of it, and I want to fight you directly.
I've taken your daughter, the ancient dragon, as a hostage. You'll come to rescue her, won't you?
Let's meet at the plains outside Birk's territory tomorrow.
I'm looking forward to a fun battle.
P.S. Since you didn't hurt Alkei, I've decided not to hurt anyone except the "Narcissistic Bard" who resisted.
I've made sure their injuries aren't too serious.
It's weird, but the reason I don't want to hurt my enemies too much is the same as yours. It's like we're similar in some way.]
I gaze at the letter with mixed emotions, then look at Roman.
"I get the gist. We'll have to fight directly sooner or later... Moruru will be fine, I think. But I absolutely can't run away now."
No matter what, I was thinking of fighting him anyway. But taking a hostage and gaining the upper hand is pretty annoying.
Moruru needs to get stronger from now on. If not, I'll be the one who's always in a tough spot, and we'll drift apart.
I take a deep breath. For now, I've got to confirm the current situation.
Moruru has been taken hostage, and I have to fight 'Oath' tomorrow no matter what.
Then I'll just prepare for the battle against 'Oath'.
"Terin, I need a favor."
I gather my Durandal and shape it into a sword, then hand it to Terin.
"I have 2 blacksmiths working for me. Can you work with them to further temper this weapon?"
"Y-yes! And, um, this weapon is... ――incredible. The creator's mark is engraved on the core. It's a legendary weapon!"
"What? Gold, seriously... who is that guy?"
Terin is saying something I don't quite understand, but it sounds amazing.
"Where did you get this weapon?"
"Um, the blacksmiths I mentioned earlier made it..."
"Modern blacksmiths can make it!?!?!?!? Ah, I don't get it. Can modern people really create mythological weapons?"
"He said he made it, so..."
"Yeah, that's right..."
Gold's incomprehensible expression has everyone in the room perplexed. Roman doesn't say a word, but his eyes are darting back and forth.
"But, unlike the genuine mythological weapons from ancient times, this one has room for modification... I get it. I'll talk to the blacksmith and try engraving the Great Rune."
"Okay, I'm counting on you."
"'Narcissistic Bard'... um..."
"Call me Romantini. You can call me Roman."
"Okay, got it. Roman, the blacksmiths..."
"There's a transfer crest on the second floor, prepared for lodging..."
After listening to Roman's explanation, Terin says "Got it I'll go!" and runs off with Durandal. I watch her back, then ask Roman.
"How's your condition?"
"Yeah... wow, Terin's healing is amazing. I'm almost back on my feet."
"Don't overdo it. Take it easy."
"Then, excuse me..."
Roman sits up, looking at me.
"What I want to ask is, how was it when you fought 'Oath' and actually fought?"
"As expected, you're perceptive... how was it? Well, it was tough. The swordswoman was extremely strong. But my hidden ace decided the outcome, and I won once."
"Hidden ace?"
"Please keep it a secret. It's a technique that lets me fight on par with the general, and that's all."
"That's really a hidden ace..."
Roman, I knew he was ridiculously strong, but he's still pushing the limits. Sieg is a bit overwhelming, but he's a magician who can't be defeated unless he's attacked with a logical argument, and he can cause a storm of magical attacks.
He's one of the top 4 in the Fist of the Dragon, and his abilities are on par with Sieg's. But he's not called one of the 4 heavenly kings because of his personality, which is more suited to being a supporting character.
Anyway, Roman's hidden ace worked well, and he won once, he says.
Once.
I ask him.
"'Oath' is, immortal or."
"Yeah. That's also an immortal with higher immortality than Wade-kun. Wade-kun can be killed if you destroy the source of his magic, his head, for several dozen seconds, but 'Oath' won't die even then."
"What about Mince?"
"I did."
"He's really more immortal than me..."
I thought my own immortality was pretty high-level, but 'Oath' is doing it with ease. I need to think carefully and challenge myself.
I take out the knife from my chest. The black death sword, Nelgal. My immortality is ultimately based on controlling my body, so I can overcome it, but it might work on a regular immortal.
On the other hand, is there a way to attack the immortality itself? Like how I broke through Roman's iron wall defense with Druid theory.
In the strongest realm, you need the ability to attack things you can't see. But for now, I only have Druid, who's heard of conceptual attack methods.
Sahasraala Chakra seems like it would be good at that, but I haven't tried it yet. I've managed to get by without it so far.
I'm also learning a new magic, recovering gravity magic. It's a strong magic, but it won't be much use if I just use it as is. I need a magic that's strong in its own right.
So... I think to myself.
"Wade-kun?"
"Ah, sorry. I was just thinking about how to break 'Oath's' immortality."
I think I have all the materials. I have a way to do it. But I want to be sure.
I ask Roman,
"Hey, about Transformation Magic... if you haven't used a certain magic before, can't you redefine it with Druid before using it?"
Roman's eyes widen at my suggestion. Then he gives a big, sly grin and says, "That's a really interesting idea, indeed."
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