C157
“Freeman, thank you.”
"Hehe, it's nothing. Let's get out of this damned place. Wherever we go, I can at least provide for you."
Marsha was taken aback by the unexpected words. Then she realized that it was time, and she said in a sad voice:
"Freeman, I'm sorry. I'm the only one leaving. I won't take you with me."
"What is this? Why? What is a woman going to do alone? The world outside is dangerous."
"I'm fine. I feel like I can handle anything now."
"No! I don't agree! I'll follow you. You can't go alone."
Marsha thought one last time. But no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't see a way to take him along.
Freeman had a family.
Although his father wasn't much different from her abusive stepfather, he was still his real father, with whom he shared blood.
"Freeman, I don't love you."
Freeman's face heated up at Marsha's blunt words.
“What do you mean by that all of a sudden?”
“You are such a good friend. But I will never accept you as a man. It would be unfortunate for you to follow me. I may marry another man."
Freeman felt like his heart was tearing. That's cruel. That's cruel, Marsha.
How could she say that at a time like this? This could be the last time they see each other.
Freeman clasped his fists and clenched his teeth.
That's what Marsha is like. Even if she stayed by her side, she would only end up hurting herself.
"Don’t care. I'll still go with you. I don't want to live hearing insults from my alcoholic father. It's my choice."
Marsha was infuriated. He was so annoyed by Freeman's frustrating personality that it driving her mad.
"You idiot! Why can't you understand what I'm saying? I don't like you!"
"So what? If you don't want to like me, then don't! I'll still love you! You can marry another man, have a child, I don't care! I like what I like, that's it! You have no right to say anything about that!"
Marsha screamed back at him, too.
"Oh, really? Fine. Just look at me for the rest of your life, then grow old and die as a single. Shall I tell you the truth? You following me is a burden. When will I stop having to take care of a coward like you who can't even kill an ant? It just makes things harder for me!"
"I'm not a coward! I'll protect you!"
"Then how will you protect me? What can you do?"
“Euaaaa!”
Freeman screamed at the ground. Then he picked up a sharp stone and began to scrape off his eyebrows.
Marsha was startled and stopped Freeman.
“What are you doing, you idiot!”
"Let go! I said let go!"
Freeman was stubborn.
The sound of skin peeling made Marsha shudder. She stared at the gruesome sight in disbelief.
Freeman kept scraping until his eyebrows were entirely gone, then threw the stone to the ground. . His face, now soaked in blood, looked like Sura.
"How is it? Does this make me look scary? The reason I was a coward was all because of my eyebrows. Now, nobody will mess with me. So, I won't be a burden to you."
"Are you... insane?"
Marsha was so shocked that she was speechless. But Freeman was sincere.
His stern expression with scraped brows was definitely intimidating, but in reality, he wore the saddest face in the world.
“I will become stronger. I will become stronger no matter what. So can't you just stay by my side? I'll never ask you to like me, so can't you let me accompany you?"
"You... Ugh, you idiot.”
Marsha let out a heavy sigh. She thought this shouldn't happen, but even that feeling was also pushed away by her sigh.
"Marsha."
Freeman's eyes brightened. His face, once distorted by burns, had fully recovered.
How much time had passed? It might already be too late. But he had to go. Because he had promised. Until Marsha died, even his life was not his own.
"I am coming now. Wait for me."
The energy spent on returning from the brink of life and death was enormous. His body was heavy, and his legs had no strength.
But Freeman kep walking without stop.
The energy spent on returning from the brink of life and death was enormous. His body was heavy, and his legs had no strength.
Clay Marsha (1)
Amy clenched her teeth and ran up the mountain. Her mental state had recovered enough to think, but it was still difficult to cast magic.
However, she couldn't afford to slow down. The battle was not over yet. She had dealt with Freeman, but there was still another formidable enemy named Falkoa.
"Whew! Just a bit more!"
As the destination came into view, Amy increased her speed even further. And the moment she finally climbed the hill, she was met with an unexpected sight and her eyes widened.
Rian, who was completely devastated, was holding Falkoa from behind.
But the reason Amy was surprised was something else.
It was because Tess was running at full speed, stabbing Falkoa with her rapier.
Tess' eyes were fiercer than ever. If this continues, even Rian will be pierced by her rapier. However, the two seemed to have already reached a silent agreement and didn't hesitate at all.
Finally, Tess' saber pierced Falkoa. Rian's pupils dilated, and his shoulders twitched.
A moment later, blood spurted from Rian's mouth.
* * *
20 minutes before Amy arrived.
Falkoa's attack was the epitome of flashiness. But it was not a display of technique; it was a beast-like brutality.
Rian couldn't even think about techniques. Just enduring the shock had already drained him to his limits.
Falkoa found an opening and cut Rian's thigh.
He heard Tess's voice shouting his name. Rian held on better than expected, but now that his lower body was hit, he had essentially lost half his strength.
Tess, enraged by her friend's injuries, attempted to attack. However, Falkoa truly deserved to be called demon of battlefield.
Most of his movements were focused on attacking, as if it didn't matter where he got hurt as long as he didn't die.
Then, paradoxically, the frequency of Tess' attacks decreased. It was a moment that proved the old saying that the best defense is a good offense.
As the battle progressed, the number of scratches on Rian and Tess' bodies increased. They had avoided fatal injuries, but after ten minutes, their bodies were almost like rags.
"Hahaha! Is it over now? It was fun for the first time in a while.”
Ignoring Falkoa's words, Tess looked back at Rian, who was breathing heavily.
“Rian, are you okay?”
"Yeah, I can hang on. You?"
Tess couldn't continue speaking, her eyes filling with tears. What does 'I can hang on' mean? The trace of Falkoa's sword were clearly etched all over his body.
It was the first time she had ever felt so frustrated. What right did that scumbag have to injure Rian?
Tess gripped the rapier's handle tightly. She intended to cut Falkoa's neck, even if it meant risking her life.
“Yaaaah!”
Tess rushed forward, pulling her rapier toward her body. It was a unique charging posture of the Elzaine family.
However, the gap in power could not be filled by will alone.
Tess' charging speed was incredibly fast, but Falkoa was retreating at an even faster speed.
As he widened the distance, his intention became clear at a glance. Falkoa, with his mouth twisted wickedly, suddenly kicked the ground and charged forward. And with gentle skill, he deflected Tess' rapier.
“Heok!”
Falkoa went around to Tess' side and slammed his knee into her ribs. Tess' breathing was momentarily cut off as her lungs were crushed.
“Kekek, not bad. But you still smell green."
Falkoa's long longsword descended upon Tess.
Tess felt like time slowed down. The path of the sword coming down to cut off her head was clearly visible.
But she couldn't move. As time slowed down, her body also slowed down.
'Sorry... Rian. I at least wanted to pay him back one blow.'
At that moment, Rian charged like a bull and tackled Falkoa.
“Euaaaaa!”
Falkoa's legs floated in the air. But Rian’s tackle was a failure. With terrifying balance even while airborne, Falkoa landed, grabbed the back of Rian's neck and kneeled him up.
“Keok!”
The shock passed through his solar plexus, across his stomach, and out his back.
Is this the combat ability of a demon who has lived for war? It seemed that Falkoa could not be shaken by any means.
"Stop fretting. Don't worry, I'll take good care of your woman."
Rian's consciousness, which had been fading away, returned. Although they usually bicker, Tess is a good friend. A person he respected and recognized as a knight.
"To a bastard like you..."
Rian grabbed Falkoa's collar and pulled with a fiery strength.
“I can’t hand over my friend, you bastard!”
“Keuek!”
Falkoa was puzzled even as he was being dragged by Rian as if he had been swept away by a wave. He knew Rian was strong, but it wasn't enough to match his Schema.
But where did this sudden strength come from?
Rian went behind Falkoa and used wrestling techniques. When he wedged his arm under Falkoa's armpits, Falkoa's arms floated up and he couldn't swing his sword.
"You bastard!"
Falkoa flexed his back muscle (latissimus dorsi/광배근), pulling his arms down. Rian’s nose twitched. Her body was screaming as if a rope had been tied around his shoulders and horses were pulling him.
"Keueueueu!"
But Falkoa couldn't break free.
It was definitely strange. No one he had faced in battle had more strength than him. But how can such power be achieved?
"Shit! Let go, you brat!"
“Huhu! Try to escape. This is what Imagination Schema is, brat."
Mages train their minds, swords warrior train their bodies. But even for swords warrior, whose primary goal is physical enhancement, there is a closely related mental aspect.
It was the brain.
Perhaps thoughts also affect the body?
Although there are only a small number of Schema users, some Schema users dedicate their lives to Brain Schemas. (아주 소수에 불과하지만 어떤 스키마 유저들은 뇌의 도식을 복원하기 위해 평생을 바치기도 한다.)
Rian did not know, but the name "Imagination Schema" was also coined by them.
Does the thought of not releasing Falkoa affect hisbody? If so, does the effect vary depending on the intensity of the thought?
If all of this is possible, if there is no limit to thoughts, then how much can the effect be amplified if one’s thoughts are strengthened to an extreme?
Rian thought he shouldn't move. He issued a specific directive to his body, locking it in place.
A kind of mental lock.
It is a well-established belief that Imaginary Schema is not Schema, but there was no other explanation for Rian's current incredible strength.
"Aaaargh! Let go! I said let go, you brat!"
Falkoa shook his body like crazy. It didn't feel like he was being held by a living being. Lian's body was as if it had petrified, not budging an inch.
"Tess! Stab him!"
“B- But….”
Tess realized what Rian was saying. It was a rational decision. There would be no other chance to defeat Falkoa if not now.
But Tess couldn't make a decision. Killing Lian. Even if she die with him, she couldn't bring herself to stab him with her own hands.
“Rian....”
“Euaaa! Hurry! I can't hold on much longer!"
Warning signals were coming from various parts of Rian's body. The body was 100% carrying out the instructions given by the mind, but its limitations were clear. If Falkoa escaped, it would probably be after Rian's body was shattered into pieces.
“Tess! Do it quickly!"
“Yaaaaah!”
Tess stormed off in tears. Rian was risking his life to fulfill his task. If she missed her timing due to foolish emotions, it would have been like making Rian into a fool of the world.
It was at that point that Amy arrived.
“Tess! No!"
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Tags:
Infinite Mage (Novel)