The Second Encounter (Part 2)

At the northern edge of the cliff, Falcoa stared at the sea, puffing on a cigarette.

Behind him stood a subordinate with a bandaged head, wearing a grim expression.

Falcoa: "Annihilated, huh?"

The subordinate flinched and bowed his head.

Subordinate: "I'm sorry, boss. We fought without regard for our lives, but they used some strange magic..."

Even if they could have escaped using magic circles, annihilation wasn't an excuse.

Falcoa raised his head.

"...."

If they had passed through the valley, the only ones left were Freeman and his damn subordinates.

Though he acknowledged their skills, Freeman's tendency to avoid dirty fights often clashed with his own men.

'Heh, the dirty work always falls to me.'

It's not like he was ordered to do it.

If Freeman had staked his life on the Parrot Mercenary Group, Falcoa was just living his own way.

Honestly, all I wanted was to pick up the dirt-covered loop and shove it into my mouth right away.

Falcoa bit down hard on his own wrist.

As he greedily tore into his flesh with his teeth, he began sucking the blood with a slurping sound. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and droplets of red blood fell to the ground.

Gradually, his eyes regained focus, and he finally seemed to recover his full vitality.

He flung his arm down as if shaking something off, then tore the corner of his blood-stained mouth like a wild beast and let out a roar.

Falcoa: "Grrrrrrr!"

Tess kept looking back. Amy, whom they had left behind on the battlefield, still lingered in his mind.

'Is this plan really going to work?'

Even if a gunner's firepower was inferior to a mage's, they still possessed physical abilities comparable to a swordsman.

'Mages are high-value assets. But still…'

It would be a mistake to think that Schema users feared magic like ordinary people.

Magic focuses on specific phenomena, but Schema enhances all physical activity.

Even a simple increase in physical strength exponentially expands the range of tactics one can employ.

They can wield heavy equipment, scale cliffs hundreds of meters high, run as fast as horses, or leap between buildings.

To such individuals, magic is merely a tricky phenomenon to deal with, not something to fear.

'Amy is also a Schema user, but they're on a different level. They're veterans with extensive combat experience.'

Shirone, running alongside him, spoke up.

Shirone: "Tess, don't worry too much. Amy will be fine."

Tess: "I can't help but feel uneasy about leaving her behind. At least I should've stayed with her…"

The reason they couldn't do that was because Falcoa was still with the Parrot Mercenaries.

Of course, Rian had physical strength comparable to a Schema user, but to handle other threats, Tess's presence was absolutely necessary.

'Well, he must know that.'

Shirone was probably the one most worried about Amy.

Realizing that even his anxious expression could affect the team's morale, Tess acknowledged his mistake.

Tess: "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking clearly."

Shirone: "It's fine. Amy didn't sacrifice herself. She sent us away because she truly believes in her abilities. While it's a mage's basic duty to account for all variables, Amy is exceptionally strong at long range."

Sometimes, the safety of a comrade can unsettle the mind more than life-and-death situations, but Shirone remained unwavering.

It was unclear whether this was due to Shirone's composure or the mindset a mage must inherently possess.

'They're such good friends…'

Tess began to understand why mages were often portrayed as cold-blooded in public perception.

Rian pointed ahead.

Rian: "Shirone, we're here."

As the terrain flattened, the sea could be seen shimmering beyond the cliffs in the distance.

Shirone spotted a brick house peeking out from the forest, its roof rising above the cliffs.

'Yuna must be there…'

When he turned his gaze, he saw a familiar face blocking the forest path.

Shirone: "Falcoa."

Tess's brow furrowed slightly.

'His aura has changed.'

It wasn't just the blood smeared around his mouth.

If the Falcoa at the tavern palace was a rabid dog, the one before them now was like a fighting dog cured of its madness.

'He's still the same dog, though…'

In any case, this Falcoa likely resembled the one from the Parrot Mercenaries' heyday.

Falcoa grinned, the corners of his mouth stretching wide.

Falcoa: "Heh, I knew you'd come. Freeman was always like that. The boss was right. The girl you're looking for is in that building. Go in and try to take her, if you can."

Falcoa pretended to step aside, but Shirone's group didn't move.

Tess realized that Amy's decision to fight alone had been the right one.

Tess: "He's trying to distract us. Rian and I will handle this. Shirone, you go rescue the hostage."

Shirone nodded calmly, and Tess understood Amy's feelings.

'He's not cold.'

Behind the mage's rational judgment lay a deep sense of camaraderie.

Shirone: "I'll be back."

With those brief words, Shirone cast a teleportation spell and disappeared into the forest.

Falcoa didn't pursue him.

He couldn't, and there was no need to.

'Kid, what's waiting for you is hell.'

Marsha was there.

Having fulfilled the boss's orders, Falcoa finally revealed his true nature.

Falcoa: "Heh, it's been a while since I've had some blood."

Sensing the killing intent, Tess explained to Rian.

Tess: "He's a Schema user. I'll hold him off since I don't know what tricks he might pull. Look for an opening to attack him."

Rian: "No. I'll hold him off. You attack."

Tess: "Are you stupid? How are you going to hold him off? It's not that I'm underestimating you, but without understanding Schema, you'll just get crushed."

Rian: "That's why I'll do it."

Tess: "What?"

Rian: "I'm not fighting to save my life. I'm fighting to win. If you hold him off, we'll buy time, but we won't win in the end. I'll hold him. You kill him."

"..."

Tess swallowed hard.

'Rian's right.'

No matter how strong a shield is, if the sword is weak, you can't win a war.

Even if it means sacrificing an arm, you have to strike the enemy.

Tess: "His Schema isn't at the level of a student. Can you really hold him off?"

Rian: "If I can't, I'll lose."

As Rian stepped forward, raising his greatsword, Tess moved to the side, trying to stay out of Falcoa's line of sight.

Seeing the textbook two-man formation, Falcoa sneered.

Falcoa: "Looks like you've seen this before. But kid, do you really think you can stop me?"

Rian: "Come at me. I'll take it…"

Before he could finish, Falcoa lunged forward, swinging his sword at Rian's head.

The speed was dizzying.

Falcoa: "Hahaha!"

Rian hastily raised his sword to block.

The moment his vertical blade met Falcoa's strike, a bone-jarring impact shook him. It felt less like a sword and more like a hammer slamming down.

Falcoa: "What? Are you already done?"

Before Rian could react, Falcoa's sword slammed into his greatsword again.

Rian: "Ugh!"

All Rian could do was raise his arms to support the blade.

Falcoa let out a roar and swung with full force.

Falcoa: "Raaaaah! Raaaaah!"

Bam! Bam! Bam!

The relentless pressure forced Rian's knees to the ground, and Falcoa kicked him in the stomach.

Tess: "Rian!"

Tess shouted, unable to break formation. It seemed like the fight was already over.

But defying Falcoa's expectations, Rian rolled on the ground and sprang back to his feet.

Rian: "Hoo."

Falcoa's eyebrow twitched.

A critical hit, especially to a vital point, should have left him unable to stand.

This wasn't just physical ability—it was something more.

Rian: "I get it now. This is your level, huh?"

Seeing Falcoa's face twist, Rian pointed his greatsword straight at him and taunted.

Rian: "Come on, give me all you've got."

Falcoa: "Heh, I'll kill you."

The corners of Falcoa's mouth stretched to his ears.

This was the visage of the battlefield demon he was once known as.

Shirone stood in front of the brick house, which looked like something out of a fairy tale.

The fact that he couldn't sense any killing intent only made him more nervous.

When he opened the door, a pleasant fragrance greeted him. A tidy living room unfolded before him, with potted plants decorating the space beneath the windows.

As Shirone stepped inside, he froze upon seeing a woman sitting on the bed.

'Marsha.'

Her face was familiar, but the feeling was entirely different from when they had spoken before, when he knew nothing about her.

Marsha smiled and spoke.

Marsha: "You've come, Shirone. How have you been?"

"..."

It was a severe case of cognitive dissonance.

She was the leader of the Parrot Mercenaries and the one who had taken Yuna.

Yet, her warm smile was exactly as he remembered from their first meeting.

Marsha: "Why do you look so tense? Did you get home safely that day? Did you make up with your friend?"

Shirone swallowed the words that had risen to his throat.

She must have been watching him all this time. The reason she hadn't handed over Yuna was clear.

Shirone: "You already know, don't you? You must have heard everything."

Marsha: "Why so serious? You're not scared of me, are you? Are you mad? I'm sorry for deceiving you back then."

As Marsha rose from her chair and approached, Shirone instinctively stepped back.

Marsha: "Hoo, you really are mad, huh? What can I do to earn your forgiveness? Should I kneel?"

Shirone: "…Please return Gis's sister. That's all we ask."

Marsha: "His sister? Ah."

Marsha pulled something out of her pocket.

It was an old necklace, singed and worn.

Marsha: "What should I do? This is all that's left of her."

Shirone's eyes shook with shock.

'Yuna…'

He couldn't believe it, yet he couldn't deny it either.

A mix of contradiction, betrayal, anger, and emptiness churned in his stomach, threatening to spill out.

Marsha: "Was killing her too much? I was so angry, I lost control. But you'll understand, right? You're a good person. Won't you?"

Shirone couldn't comprehend her words, nor did he want to.

Shirone: "Why did you do this?"

Marsha: "Oh, you're really mad, huh? But this is all your fault. You kept getting in my way, so I got annoyed."

"..."

Marsha: "How does it feel? Does the world still seem beautiful to you? Do you still want to help those in need?"

For the first time, Shirone thought that Marsha might be mentally ill.

And severely so, which was why he had been fooled so completely.

If she was sick, she needed treatment, but his gaze remained cold.

Shirone: "Are you that curious? About what I'm thinking?"

Marsha: "What?"

Shirone: "I'll admit I misjudged you. This is your victory. But that doesn't change how I feel. One person's madness doesn't make me see the world differently. Should I tell you what I think of you right now?"

"..."

Marsha glared at Shirone.

Her eyes looked uneasy, almost anxious.

Shirone: "I think…"

Marsha: "Shut up!"

Marsha's expression twisted viciously.

Though she had never been swayed by others' opinions, Shirone's attempt to voice his thoughts about her was unbearably irritating.

Marsha: "You're so annoying!"

Shirone felt a sharp, thorn-like Spirit Zone emanating from her.

'A mage.'

The space was too cramped for teleportation.

Urban combat was tricky for mages.

It was like a spearman fighting in a dense forest.

'What type is she?'

Shirone prepared a photonization spell, ready to move at any moment.

What kind of magic would she use?

Fireball? Wind Cutter? Lightning Bolt?

As countless spells flashed through his mind, Marsha suddenly widened her eyes and let out a scream.

Marsha: "Kuh!"

A deafening roar pierced Shirone's eardrums, and his Spirit Zone trembled.

It felt like a needle had pierced one ear and come out the other.

'Sonic cannon. She's a sound mage. This is dangerous.'

Sound mages specialized in the study of sound waves.

Even without a human voice, vibrations in the air could create various waves. Among the representative offensive spells was the Sonic Cannon that Marsha had cast.

The sound pressure of the Sonic Cannon exceeded 150 decibels. At close range, it was powerful enough to rupture eardrums.