Chapter 496 – Fate.

Usher’s use of magic was truly a reflex action. The moment that sound rang out, everything in the world slowed down and only Pirika’s image came into view.

She immediately threw herself into the fantasy of her red longing, fluttering like flower petals and seeming to envelop her. This time too, she wrapped her arms around Pirika with only the determination that she could not lose.

-Ting! Tigrrrr.

Soon, the sound of a bullet hitting his back can be heard falling to the ground and rolling. There was no special shock felt.

“Ugh! Usher, I’m fine.”

Pirika, who was held in his arms as hard as she could, pounded Usher’s chest, making a painful sound as if she was choking.

“…There are no injuries, right?”
“Huh.”

She nodded in response to her own question and looked down at her, rolling her bullet to the floor with her foot.

“Copper? No, the content is lead.”

It is difficult to check because usually bullets lose their shape as soon as they hit the target. Thanks to his magic, the bullet did not lose its shape and it was possible to immediately see what material it was made from and how it was made.

Also, who fired the gun.

“W-what is it?”
“Someone shot a gun!”

People are running away in panic at the sound of a gunshot that rings out of nowhere. That person was approaching alone, making the sound of heavy iron armor clanking.

A knight wearing matte iron-grey armor covering his entire body, a short-barreled musket and two swords hanging from his waist.

He completes the symmetry by leisurely putting the smoking musket into the empty holster, as if he had no intention of hiding the fact that he had fired the gun.

However, his most notable feature was the sword he carried on his back, an ambiguous shape as to whether it was a sword with a long hilt or a spear with a wide tip.

“Sir Manuel…?”

Did you recognize who the driver was? When Lydika muttered her name in surprise, Pirika also opened her eyes wide.

“Do you know who it is?”
“He is the leader of the Central Knights. He is said to be the strongest knight, but… He would normally be in the center protecting the Führer and Endymion.”

She asked, looking at Manuel as if she didn’t understand.

“Why are you here?”

Then Manuel bowed his head politely and answered.

“The Fuhrer has ordered your rescue.”
“Huh? Rescue?”
“Rescue?”

While Pirika and Ridica were puzzled. As the knights who followed Manuel began to surround them, they could understand what had happened.

“Tsk, Paris.”

Because Paris stood between them.

“I came to save you, Pirika.”
“Paris, I definitely…!”
“Pirika.”

Pirika tried to say something, as if she wanted to defend Usher like before, but Usher gently pulled her by the shoulder and whispered to her.

“There’s no use explaining it.”
“You bastard!! Where are you touching Pirika-sama with your dirty hands!?”

Pirika looked dumbfounded when she saw Paris shouting in a voice so evil that he was afraid to talk. Because he was no longer in a position to communicate.

“Take care of Pirika-sama.”
-Sreung!

Seeing Manuel also giving orders to his knights, Usher immediately drew his sword and pointed it at him.

“If you want to take hostages, beat me.”
“Usher!?”
“Shh.”

Pirika called to herself, but she covered her mouth. Because they were already under siege. It was even more problematic if Pirika was threatened in this state.

‘And there’s even Elkanah.’

Since Pirika had the status of Mynades, she would not be treated so harshly, but Elkanah was a different story. Because I saw and heard how ordinary witches are treated here.

Did Usher understand when he saw the hem of Elkanah’s cloak where she was hiding? She eventually nodded and pulled Elkanah into her arms.

“Sister? We have two sisters.”

Only then did the girl, who had escaped from the hem of his cloak, look at Pirika and Lidika alternately, unable to hide her jealous gaze. But she couldn’t listen to Elkanah’s words now.

“Even other witches? Was your goal the witches?”

With the knights approaching, Usher jumped forward and swung his rapier at Manuel.

-Chaeng!
“Tsk, that’s harsh.”

When he lunged at her, Manuel quickly pulled out one of the swords at her waist and blocked her, but he could see her hands shaking due to her strength.

‘We must prevent people from pulling out their spears.’

By looking at the type or shape of the weapon, you can tell what kind of attack the opponent is making and what type of battle they are engaging in. The swords and guns at his waist were only sidearms; in reality, they were sword spears.

“I will take you there.”
“But…”
“Leave this to us.”

At first glance, I saw Pirika looking at me with a worried expression, but she eventually disappeared somewhere as if she was being dragged away by the knights and Paris.

‘Lidica…’
“It is dangerous to stay here.”
“I’ll walk on my own feet, so let go.”

Lydica also watched this way and disappeared towards Pirika, led by a knight like them. Now, the only people left in this square were Manuel and a few knights blocking the street.

“I won’t ask why someone as good as a Holy Knight would do something like this.”
“Thank you so much for that.”

She listened to him and she was convinced. Manuel knew that he was not the one who kidnapped Pirica or Elcana.

“But that’s strange. If you wanted to catch me, wouldn’t it have been better to mobilize other knights?”

But now it was only Manuel who was dealing with Usher. No matter how strong the opponent is, there is no way he would not know that it is impossible to deal with a large number of people.

“It is said that each Paladin uses unique powers, like magic. In that case, subordinates are a hindrance.”
‘Have you ever dealt with this paladin?’

He had a hunch after hearing Manuel’s story. He probably seemed familiar with paladins or had experience fighting swords. The scene that followed the next moment made Usher feel a chill running down his spine.

-Squawk!
“And it’s a hindrance to me too.”
“!!”

The moment Manuel barely blocks Usher’s sword with one hand, he pulls out the sword with his other hand. His breastplate lifted up, revealing four gun muzzles hidden underneath.

‘Guns inside the armor!?’
-Tadadadang!!!

The muzzles that appeared from under the breastplate fired at once.

“Pfft!”

Fortunately, the bullets didn’t do much damage thanks to his magic and armor, but the problem was different. As the gun fired the bullet, thick smoke came out.

‘Performance? ‘Is this what you were aiming for?!’

Normally, the bullet alone would have been fatal, but the ensuing smoke obscured the view, making Manuel’s movements missed. Usher tried to catch the guy’s movements by pushing his sword forward, but it was already too late.

-Whoa!

Because in the thick smoke, the sound of a large blade cutting through the air could be heard. Although it was only for a moment, I noticed the shadow falling on the smoke and tried to pull back.

‘The length… Has increased?’

When I saw the length of the shadow, I tried to get away from the lich, but the shadow reflected in the smoke increased. Eventually, she realized the reason when she saw the sword spear emerging through the smoke.

‘At first I held it briefly, then I swung it and held it long!’

Anyway, it is a sword that stays somewhere between a sword and a spear, so no matter how you hold it and use it, it is up to the opponent. It was such an unexpected attack.

However, instead of dodging his body, Usher once again brought his rapier into the path of the sword spear. The sword spear looks heavy and sturdy at first glance.

A blow that might break a normal rapier before the sword is even released. However, Usher was an exception.

“…This?”

The sword spear, which was not suitable for its large size and weight, lost all strength and stopped the moment it came into contact with the rapier.

“Is this the first time a paladin uses power like mine?”

This was his magic. The strongest shield that my colleagues say makes all shocks disappear. Maybe it could have been dangerous if it had been other Paladins other than Usher.

It would be almost impossible to think of guns coming out of armor, and that strangely shaped sword spear. Above all, a knight named Manuel who wields that sword spear.

Normally, the moment an attack is blocked, panic would have created an opening. Although it was probably the first time he had seen this phenomenon, he immediately pulled out his sword and stepped back to assess Usher.

“”…””

I knew that Parsiphenia was superior to Holy Land in these technologies, but I never thought that even armor could be modified in that way.

‘I may not be able to use magic, but I think I’d trust him even if he were a paladin.’

They say they use firearms, but if you think of it as a Paladin using magic, a man named Manuel was great.

‘He definitely deserves to be called the strongest knight.’

In particular, when the gun barrel was exposed under the breastplate, the act of removing the sword from his waist to push away Usher’s rapier was an action to reveal that device.

‘I can’t see any gaps.’

I want to take out the shield behind my back right now, but I don’t think Manuel will allow it. I didn’t think they would treat Pirika or Lidica harshly.

‘I finally met you.’

This situation was truly outrageous.