Chapter 15: Settling Scores (Part 1)

 "You've grown up," the Marquis finally remarked, his smiling eyes scanning Asa from head to toe. "In every sense, you've grown."

"So, it's you. You're the necromancer hiding in the capital. You're the one who stole Sandru's book and cloak. I didn't expect... even Bishop Ronis couldn't uncover you." Asa stared at the Marquis. Even now, despite everything—the close calls where he almost died thrice under this man's hand—Asa found it hard to reconcile the reality that this witty, elegant, understanding, and charming aristocrat, famed as the most dashing and talented man on the continent, was, in fact, a necromancer.

Moreover, the Marquis had been a close friend of Bishop Ronis and had lived openly under everyone's gaze in the capital for so many years.

But feelings and disbelief no longer mattered. The truth was right before his eyes—the hand with the lethal ring rested on Elaine's shoulder, ready to pierce her with its deadly needle at any moment.

The Marquis said calmly, "People tend to be lax about what's right under their noses. And Ronis... well, he practically watched me grow up from boyhood. Naturally, he wouldn't suspect me. Besides, I never went out of my way to deceive him. I truly regarded him as a friend—up until the day he died."

Asa froze, then snapped sharply, "Was his death related to you?"

The Marquis merely offered a faint, sorrowful smile. He didn't answer directly but said, "From an emotional standpoint, I truly didn't wish for his death. I've never had many friends. Honestly, if not for opposing positions and some unavoidable reasons, we might have been friends too. What a pity..."

Elaine couldn't move her body, but the shock in her eyes was beyond measure. From the Marquis's initial actions, to the black magic emanating from his grip, to the revelations in the conversation—each moment felt like a surreal dream.

"Fortunately, I'm not one of your friends. For someone as deeply hidden and secretive as you, to suddenly expose yourself now—there must've been some unexpected circumstance, is there right?" Asa said slowly. His bloodshot eyes locked onto the Marquis, every muscle and nerve taut, his focus razor-sharp. He was prepared to act at the slightest opportunity.

"Yes, that 'unexpected circumstance' is you. I saw the traces you left escaping the crypt. If I'm not mistaken, you've successfully used True Meditation to fuse the power of the Sunwell and the World Tree Leaf. This marks the maturation of your spiritual strength. I absolutely cannot let you escape again, or it would spell endless trouble and chaos beyond my control. Fortunately, I knew exactly where you would come first after escaping, so I rushed here as fast as I could," the Marquis said with a bitter smile. "Though I miscalculated a bit. I thought I could subdue you immediately, but I didn't expect... you've truly grown more cautious and capable."

Asa responded, "That's thanks to your son. Honestly, without the setbacks and challenges he gave me, I wouldn't be where I am now."

The Marquis nodded lightly and said, "A good enemy is often more beneficial for growth than ten friends. And truthfully, without you, he wouldn't have achieved what he has today."

Elaine gave Asa a confused look, and he sighed, explaining, "I was just about to tell you earlier—the new Cardinal Jarvis is actually Claudius from before. This 'great father' saved him from the chaos your father caused, took him to the Necromancer's Guild, and gave him a new face and identity. He's back now to reclaim everything he lost before—including you."

"Alright, let's not waste time chatting. Don't worry, no help will arrive. The guards outside, under my mental magic, don't even realize I'm here. And as it stands, there's no one in the capital who can save you. If you're trying to distract me, it's futile."

A drop of sweat fell from Asa's chin onto the floor.

The Marquis was right. Despite all Asa's efforts to draw him into conversation and split his attention, he still couldn't find an opening. The Marquis remained in his casual, relaxed stance—no tension, no exertion of aura or strength. But Asa knew that no matter how he acted, the Marquis could press that deadly ringed hand onto Elaine in an instant.

Suddenly, the Marquis said, "Miss Dark Elf behind me, I advise you not to move. I know you take pride in your stealth and silent movement, but let me tell you this: even at the cost of your life, you won't give him an opening to act."

Jessica froze mid-motion. The Marquis had his back to her the entire time, and she had approached silently, nearly within striking distance. But just as she was about to make her move, he issued the warning. It was clear the warning wasn't an empty threat.

"If your goal now is to subdue me, you've succeeded. So, what next? Do you want me to kill myself?" Asa asked bitterly. He knew he was truly out of options this time. Even he hadn't noticed Jessica's gradual approach due to his scattered thoughts, yet the Marquis, entirely turned away, had sensed her clearly. This alone proved that in terms of mental state, spiritual power, and perception, Asa was at a disadvantage.

This opponent was unlike any Asa had ever faced—there was no oppressive aura, no display of overwhelming strength. By all appearances, the Marquis seemed the least threatening. But Asa was certain he was the most dangerous, precisely because he was the hardest to grasp. A snake hidden by your side for so long is far more terrifying than a roaring beast.

"Kill yourself? Of course not. Even if my goal is your life, I'd never ask for that. Who knows? People might sacrifice their lives for love..." The Marquis let go of Elaine's shoulder and pulled out two teleportation scrolls, tossing one to Asa. Though Elaine remained paralyzed by dark magic, the Marquis's ringed hand never left her shoulder. "But I'm confident of one thing: as long as there's even a glimmer of hope to save her, you won't give up. Let's open these teleportation scrolls together, shall we?"

Asa accepted the scroll. He recognized it—adorned with small purple skulls at both ends. He smiled bitterly, "You want me to follow you to Dehya Valley? That's as good as asking me to die."

"It's not the same. You might hesitate to kill yourself, but you won't refuse this. When we both activate the scrolls, we'll teleport simultaneously. Don't worry—Miss Elaine isn't my target. I have no intention of killing her and making that boy hate me for life. I already owe him a lot." The Marquis smiled reassuringly. "Besides, I might not kill you. At the very least, I'll let you meet someone before you die so you can tell her in person that she was wrong. And who knows? With the power you've gained from the Sunwell and the World Tree Leaf, you might flatten Dehya Valley and kill me instead."

"Thanks for your blessing," Asa said grimly, gripping the scroll. He had no choice; it was his only path. "Count to three, and we'll open the scrolls together."

"One, two, three."

The Marquis flicked his hand, and blue teleportation light enveloped both of them.

Just as the teleportation magic was about to take effect, the Marquis's smile faltered. His eyes, once warm like sunlight, turned sharp as blades. With a cold snort, he said, "You Fool!"

"Don't go!" Asa roared as he lunged at the Marquis.

The teleportation light dissipated at the last moment.

Behind the Marquis, Jessica's lithe body, which had leapt at him like a black panther, suddenly hit an invisible wall and was violently flung back. She let out a scream as her slender, powerful waist—once full of agility and allure—was silently and mercilessly severed in two.

As Asa broke through the teleportation spell, the Marquis's gaze revealed immense anger and disappointment. But whether it was due to the stiffness caused by the Blade Barrier spell or a moment of hesitation on his part, the hand he had poised on Elaine's shoulder ultimately failed to press down in time. In the blink of an eye, his figure vanished under the effect of the teleportation magic.

Jessica's body was split into two, her halves falling in opposite directions amidst a rain of blood and torn entrails. Asa barely managed to catch her upper body, warm blood instantly soaking through him. He felt as though something deep in his heart had been torn apart.

"That bastard… How could he…" Jessica managed to gasp out, her face twisted with fear and pain, though faintly tinged with a bitter smile.

Fighting back the overwhelming grief and terror that threatened to drain him of all strength, Asa worked with desperate speed to bring Jessica's severed waist together, channeling all of his white magic energy into her.

If he had a month to dedicate himself to learning advanced white magic, perhaps there would still be some hope. His body, now fused with the powers of the Sunwell and the World Tree's Leaf, brimmed with unparalleled magical energy infused with boundless vitality. If he could wield advanced white magic, its effects would rival even those of a Cardinal. But that was only wishful thinking. In this moment, he simply could not use such high-level white magic. And this was no longer an injury—it was a loss of life.

The mid-tier healing spell he unleashed with all his magical power only delayed the black elf's life from slipping away by the tiniest margin. Asa could feel it—her death was inevitable. He opened his mouth, but no words came out, and his tears fell uncontrollably.

Even though Jessica's body had been mended with white magic, no amount of magic at this level could halt the catastrophic damage. Blood continued to flow, spreading across the floor of the study until it formed a small lake.

"Don't… get so worked up, you idiot," Jessica managed a faint smile, struggling to speak with the last remnants of her strength. "Where I'm from, men who cry don't deserve to live…" Her voice was weak and halting. "Actually… I wanted to force him to kill that woman… So you wouldn't have to hesitate… wouldn't have to throw your life away… You'd actually be willing to die for her… I'm a little jealous…"

Elaine's body trembled slightly, the Marquis's restraints vanishing as he left. But she didn't speak or move; she simply stood there quietly, watching Asa and Jessica.

Asa held the dark elf tightly, squeezing as hard as he could, but no matter how much strength he used, he couldn't hold onto the life that was slipping away. Instead, he could feel her body gradually, irreversibly growing colder. He didn't say anything; he didn't want to say anything. All he felt was sorrow.

"Men crying… It's so ugly…" Jessica's voice grew weaker and weaker. The light in her eyes dimmed, slowly fading away. "But for some reason… seeing you like this… makes me a little happy…"

The body in his arms finally turned completely cold, devoid of any trace of life. Asa pressed his face against her icy cheek, unable to suppress the tears and sorrow pouring out of him.

Men who cry are indeed not "real men," but men who refuse to cry are not truly men either. Real men are strong, yes, but the most important thing is to face their emotions—laugh when it's time to laugh, and cry when it's time to cry.

It was unclear how much time passed, but by the time the blood on the floor began to coagulate, Asa finally lifted his head. Gently, he laid Jessica's lifeless body down and stood up.

"Was she your….?" Elaine asked softly.

Asa shook his head. "She was just herself. I owe her." The tear tracks on his face had dried, and his eyes were not swollen or red. There was no trace that he had just wept bitterly—only an unshakable weariness and a deeply etched sense of sorrow remained in his expression.

"What are you going to do now?"

"The biggest villain is gone. Next, I'll deal with the smaller ones."

"Damn it! I can't take this anymore. Can you slow down? Don't you realize at least thirty of my bones are broken? I'm completely out of magic energy, too!" Far away, three hundred miles from the capital, Sandru was perched on Commander Roland's shoulder, yelling. "Damn it! I haven't been treated like cargo like this in at least forty years… When I catch the bastard who set me up, I'll make him pay. I'll shove his head up his own ass!"