LRAB Chapter 8
Chapter 8
[translator - night]
[proofreader - gun]
chapter 8
i slowly spread my aura, as if carefully operating it.
releasing aura outside of the body is something only experts and above can achieve, and precise manipulation is the domain of sword masters.
however, my current state was beyond my control, as an excessive amount of aura was naturally overflowing from me.
controlling it wasn’t particularly challenging since i had practiced it to the point of boredom.
‘yet, they’re not sensing this aura at all.’
[the energy form you possess deviates completely from standard trajectories.]
perhaps it was because i had built it up using a method i created myself, or maybe it was due to the unique environment of the labyrinthos.
whatever the case, it worked in my favor as long as my opponents remained unaware.
i wasn’t leaving this place immediately because there was something i needed to confirm.
‘librarian.’
[awaiting confirmation.]
‘do you remember the business investigation reports in my room?’
[all memorized.]
‘what about the personal details of the merchants or their family status?’
[all retained. i’ll cross-check the details now.]
good.
just confirming that most of the hostages were being held here made my visit worthwhile.
of course, there was still a need to check whether other locations existed.
“come to think of it, i could just ask them directly.”
perhaps annoyed by my muttering, the knight guarding the cell frowned before abruptly opening the cell door and stepping inside.
it was the same man who had threatened me at verus’ house.
“oh? am i being released?”
at my question, he immediately reached out, grabbed my collar, and slammed me against the wall.
as an aura user, his enhanced physique allowed him to lift me effortlessly.
“what the hell have you been mumbling about this whole time? i’m already annoyed enough having to guard a prison like this.”
“hey, what are you doing?!”
the other knight shouted in alarm, but the man gripping my collar ignored him entirely.
“what’s the big deal? he’s going to die soon anyway. let me blow off some steam.”
contrary to what tyvel’s son, vishiri cascadia, had said, it seemed they had no intention of letting me live either.
this made me curious.
why did this man harbor such hatred toward my family, the cascadia family?
could it be that my father had a different side i didn’t know about?
given my father’s generally virtuous nature, i was all the more intrigued.
beep!
[confirmation complete. all individuals imprisoned here match the identified targets.]
with the results in, there was no longer any reason for me to stay in this cell.
while i was lost in thought, not resisting, he pressed me harder against the wall.
“why don’t you at least put up a fight?”
“do you perhaps hold a grudge against cascadia?”
if my father had committed wrongful acts in places unknown to me, how should i reconcile that?
“a grudge? of course, i hold a grudge. a deep one at that. he cut off our financial lifeline while spouting nonsense about integrity.”
frowning deeply, he increased the pressure.
“so don’t take it too personally.”
“are you going to kill everyone else here too?”
“if that’s the order, sure.”
“hmm... and you feel no resistance to that idea?”
“why should i care? we’re just paid to do what we’re told. does pretending to be noble put food on the table?”
finally, he gripped my neck harder, as if ready to break it.
for an ordinary person, the force he was applying would have already broken their neck.
but there was one thing he didn’t know.
the aura overflowing from me was naturally protecting my body without any deliberate effort on my part.
no matter how much force he applied, it was like trying to crush an iron pillar with bare hands—it was futile.
“huh? why isn’t this working?”
“thank goodness. my father really was the man i thought he was.”
since the grudge stemmed from underhanded dealings that my father had blocked, it confirmed he had acted with integrity.
“what...?”
crack!
in an instant, i twisted the arm that had been gripping my neck.
“huh?”
crunch!
the excruciating pain made him want to collapse, but with his arm pinned to the door, he was left dangling and screaming desperately.
"please... please spare me! i beg you!! i was wrong!"
tears and snot streamed down balkom's face as he pleaded desperately.
the pain in his pierced arm was less terrifying than leon's calm and expressionless gaze as he turned the area into a living nightmare.
leon slowly approached and grabbed the dagger lodged in the door, yanking it free with force.
schlunk!!!
"aaargh!!"
completely demoralized, balkom crouched on the ground, trembling uncontrollably.
"the people you captured, are they all here?"
leon finally spoke in a low, calm tone.
"th-that's...."
"if you delay your answer, something will start flying."
flying?
what will fly?
slice!!
"aaaaaaargh!!!!"
as he felt a sharp pain, a finger flew off.
balkom writhed on the floor, screaming.
"i asked if this is everyone."
"y-yes, yes, it’s everyone! this is everyone here!!"
"what about vishiri cascadia?"
"th-that’s...."
"it’ll sting a little."
slice!!
"aaaaaaarrgh!!!"
another scream echoed through the passage.
leon didn’t even allow him the time to process the pain.
"where is vishiri cascadia?"
"he-he went to the count’s estate! the count’s estate, i swear!!"
he was referring to the main estate of the cascadia family, where melissa resided.
at this point, there was nothing balkom could do but spill everything he knew.
"is that so? what about the nobles helping tyvel cascadia?"
"th-that... i..."
slice!!
"ugh!!"
monster.
there was no other way to describe him.
there wasn’t an ounce of hesitation in the boy’s movements, even though he was still young.
it was as if he had spent countless hours fighting for his life against enemies, leaving no room for mercy.
the third question was something that a mere knight like balkom couldn’t possibly answer.
"pl-please... i really don’t know... please."
"no, you can figure it out. think harder."
slice!!
"aaargh!!"
how could he answer something he didn’t know?
balkom’s bloodshot eyes were filled with terror, his breathing ragged and heavy.
his face was entirely consumed by fear.
the cruelty and brutality he witnessed were nothing like what he’d seen from the former count or melissa.
leon hadn’t always been like this, but the labyrinth world of labyrinthos was enough to change a person entirely.
"looks like you really don’t know."
"pl-please..."
"well, then. you’re probably not lying. i’ll find out the rest myself."
thud!!
leon’s blade pierced through his chest, and only then did balkom’s face relax into a faint smile.
the fear of death was nothing compared to the hell he imagined enduring if he survived.
‘now i can finally escape...’
with that final thought, his consciousness faded into darkness.
* * *
as i dealt with the knights, one thought came to mind: right now, i’m only at the level of an aura user.
but when it comes to combat power alone, i’m beginning to wonder if one’s rank even matters at all.
"something's definitely not normal."
[translator - night]
[proofreader - gun]
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