Chapter 184

Me, Hester Ward (2)

Hester, filled with pride from her achievements, held the future archmage dying in her arms as a whirl of purplish ether and blood-red aura wrapped around them.

Shaaaaa!

Now, an etheric circle like Guilard’s, except this time red, wrapped around the ruins. The familiar message of [Level 5 Wizard] that appeared over Hester’s head shattered. Instead, a broken message just like those of the assassins appeared.

[‽7 ※Re… ‼⁑Bell‡•Mage

Title: Kia⁕⁍… Of ⁑√∝ predation ∈ㄱ∬ㅏ…]

Kleio’s high level of involvement revealed Hester’s identity through the broken letters. She had been reborn as a 7th level wizard, The Predator of Hunger. It was an unprecedented title that hadn’t been used before in the manuscript. Hester could see the realization in Kleio’s eyes as her ether filled up.

“Oh, I’m done. I didn’t know I was going to climb this high the night when I secretly stole your jacket wet with the demon’s blood. Then, where shall we write the prophet’s words? [Your beginning was weak, but you will be very prosperous afterward!] 1).”

Kleio’s cold limbs twitched. The mantra must’ve belonged to Guilard, but the context of Hester’s mantra used by absorbing him was wrong. That verse in the book of Job was the basis for Job’s suffering. Nevertheless. Some texts formed their own context and had power even when misread. Hester’s freely quoted mantra made stalks of red ether stretch out toward the knights on the ground, her fake skill shining bright. Crushed by the overwhelming ether, Arthur barely [strengthened] to protect Isiel and Cel, who had lost consciousness. But Arthur alone wasn’t enough.

‘Too much ether has been stolen….’

The amount of ether left was insufficient after being hit by the hex. The red ether swayed like a snake’s tongue, sucking away Arthur’s ether. The color faded as his golden ether was worn out. Kleio shook helplessly. Whether it was by skill or magic, Hester had to be stopped.

“…Okay…!”

“What are you talking about? Everything is possible.”

When Hester’s ether attacked the four, Arthur used his sword to raise his body up.

“Kahk!”

The prince spat out blood and drew his sword up, despite his legs shaking. Kleio, barely holding onto his own consciousness, read the message from Promise.

[Common Skill: The Truth of Light

―Even in the darkest isolation, we find a sword path to the light.]

A single blow. However, that sword destroyed the [defense] magic around Hester. A moment later, a magical flame poured out like a comet, lighting up Hester’s ether. The golden magic formula, burning deeply enough to look almost scarlet, dug into the dark red circle. Hester was unable to absorb their ether as blood was drawn from her mouth. She clicked her tongue in frustration.

“Tsk. I didn’t notice them coming.”

“Hessie!”

Those who leaped through the flames were Daria Isai, the wizard under Ezra Sergey. At this moment, when Arthur couldn’t even stand without his sword, her appearance was their lifeline. The wizard of flames seemed taken aback by the strange appearance of her friend, but she didn’t hesitate to act. A captured frame appeared from Daria’s sleeve, aimed toward Hester, who was still holding Kleio. The capture frame was a disposable magic tool that Ezra arbitrarily modeled after the suppression collar. It was a mana stone iron structure that interlocked and closed in response to ether. Hester, who was entangled by the ether after her circle was destroyed, couldn’t move as quickly as before.

“Sheesh.”

Hester, moving dully, threw Kleio through the open gap in the frame. He clenched his jaw to avoid screaming out as the gaps in the open structure fit tightly over him, blocking his magic. But Hester was still free. Daria began to yell.

“Hessie! Hessie! Wake up! Have you been hit by a skill? What the hell are you doing?”

“Am I being manipulated by others? If you want to believe that, do so, but it won’t be true. I’m not a dog waving its tail anymore!”

Hester pulled a large mana stone ruby from her pocket with a bright smile. Red magic erupted from her palm, the magic formula of [fire] and [amplify]. Hester, satisfied with the boiling lava shape in her hand, reached out.

“[Fire of my anger, be a disaster that will destroy the world!].”

The two’s magic formulas overlapped then fluttered. The fire Daria created was devoured by Hester’s magic and began to fade. The direction of the flames turned in the opposite direction, pouring down on Daria. She urgently used [defense] but was powerful against the wizard two levels above her. The smell of burning flesh and smoke rose in the air.

“Fire is your specialty. But everything you can do, I can easily do as well.”

“Hessie…no, please, Hester. Why are you suddenly doing this?”

Even in the fierce fire that could melt bone, Daria reached out to grab Hester’s ankle in the air. Daria didn’t let go even as her skin burned.

Shaaaa.

Daria’s [defense] magic was finally destroyed. For a few seconds, Daria’s copper-colored hair looked as red as Hester’s ether before it burned black and fell away. Floating in the air, Hester kicked Daria, causing her to roll off. Hester, spitting out more blood, began to dig at Daria with normal words, not even mantras.

“Daria, you don’t understand. What can a human being, who has lived a life without ever breaking their will, know?”

“Hessie…yes, I am self-centered, and I may not have been a very good friend. But you are my only friend….”

“No way. Do you think friendship with the youngest daughter of the Marquis of Isai was something you gave me, a lowly illegitimate child? We’ve never been equal friends.”

“Hester, you’ve always been better than me. You are, as far as I knew, the most sincere sorcerer, the fairest mediator…a person willing to achieve anything. Hexes don’t suit you….”

“That outstanding quality and sincerity? Actually, I’m not that kind of person. But if I couldn’t imitate those virtues, what would’ve brought me here?”

Their long history was scattered by Hester’s magic. Her attention was fully on Daria, which meant Arthur was released from her spell. The prince’s face was blank as if it had been bleached clean of all emotions. He quietly raised his sword, cutting through the capture frame with a silent stroke. Then, he pulled out Kleio, putting a hand on his shoulder. He used [reinforcement] to halt Kleio’s bleeding.

[―User’s narrative involvement increases.

Cumulative rate: 58.5%]

Kleio, his consciousness fading, looked at the golden letters.

‘No, why bother now…?’

The light of the stars went out from the corners of the sky. Kleio couldn’t determine whether it was because of the blood loss or if it was a sign of destruction. That moment seemed like an eternity.

“Ahhhhhh!”

Shaaaaaa!

A white glow of ether, formed in formula [purification], struck. It was a double-load with a rose quartz mana stone. Hester’s red circle, which remained crushed and shattered, revealed the night sky. Hester landed on the blazing ground, the ether keeping her floating dispersed.

“What’s wrong with this~?!”

Ezra’s voice rang over the destroyed mansion. Hester looked over him with a contemptuous expression.

“Tsk, that crazy wizard interferes even now.”

Hester lightly flipped her messy bangs back and bowed her back. Daria was still collapsed on the ground, though the magic fire was now gone. Hester whispered into her ear, which was already starting to blister.

“Listen carefully. From now on, your friend Hessie is dead. The next time we meet, I will end you. Please devote yourself to becoming an advanced wizard.”

Ezra’s [acceleration] and [leap] magical formulas spread under everyone’s feet before the wind could subside. Ezra jumped toward Hester, wielding his wand. At the same time, Hester shattered his circle and vanished. The red magic formula with [acceleration][leap][aerial][attribute amplification] lit everyone up with an eye-catching light. The circle range of a 7th level wizard was 500m. Reaching the edge of the circle, she could cross a few kilometers in an instant if she repeated the magic. The afterimage of a red circle sped toward the tributary of the Tempus river. Ezra, who didn’t know where she was headed, took a handful of pink rose quartz from his pocket and scattered it in the air.

“Where are you going?! There.”

The mana stones burst, causing a brilliant etheric glow like fireworks to burst into the night sky. But to no avail.

“Did I miss it?!”

The difference in levels was significant. Eventually, Hester disappeared over the river. It was impossible for Ezra to pursue, as Hester’s formulas were speeds that no wizard without [enhance] could handle. He paused, looking back at his dying colleagues and students. Arthur, Cel, and Isiel seemed to be out of the ether. Kleio and Daria were in critical condition. Fortunately, Kleio’s bleeding had been stabilized.

“Ah, oh! Damn! Why~?! Uh, uh…”

Ezra Sergey was in the crisis of his life.

1) 『Kai Korean Version』 「Job」