21st Century Archmage

‘My liege, where are you?!’

Fwooosh. Fwooosh.

Even within the shadowy clouds, the gruesome light from the burning corpses of monsters was illuminating the darkness.

After hearing the Fort Ciaris soldiers say even they did not know of his liege’s whereabouts, Skyknight Cedrian took off from the fort, suppressing the anxiety in his heart.

Kyre was the liege he chose at the cost of throwing away his family vendetta. His lord was quite a bit younger than himself, but Kyre had overwhelming charisma and a tranquil, warm heart.

Cedrian scanned his surroundings with wide-open eyes.

Guoooooooooooooo!

‘That’s Bebeto!’

As expected for Bebeto, who was half a size bigger than other wyverns, his bellow carried loud and far.

“That’s where the Lord is at!” shouted Cedrian with mana to the flight formation behind him.

Flap, flap flap flap flap flap.

Clenching the reins, he increased his speed, praying that his one and only liege in the world was safe.

* * *

Craaaash!

‘Dammit…’

These demon beasts were really able to use their noggins. If one of them was in danger, another would jump in, as if perfectly coordinated.

I would have liked to knock them all down, but after such a long fight, there were only seven demon beasts collapsed on the ground. There were still over ten of them left, and I could even feel that there was still a boss-level demon beast—that hadn’t yet made its entrance—lurking in the darkness.

Guoooooooooo!

My mana was nearing its limits when I heard Bebeto above me—he had been alerted by the sound of explosions. The loyal little guy circled the air above the clearing, checking to make sure I was okay.

‘Let’s do this!’

Just knowing you weren’t alone could sometimes grant enormous strength. I didn’t know where the beastmen were, but Bebeto alone was enough to bolster me.

Paarrrrrrr.

Chik chikkk.

The demon beasts surrounded me, communicating in some language I couldn’t understand. The one with long horns on its head and a sharp, skewer-like face looked the strongest. It had long rakes with sturdy claws for hands, and even though its slouching upper body was longer than its lower body, its posture looked stable.

‘Let’s send that guy off first.’

My mana was almost gone—I could last around 10 minutes, at most. I had to send as many demon beasts as possible on a special express trip to hell before time ran out.

KRAAAAA!

Perhaps irritated by my glaring, the demon beast growled low in its throat.

Daaaaash.

Spuuuuurt!

In that moment, the Slenderman looking demon beast charged at me like a bolt of lightning. At the same time, the beast with a scorpion lower body behind it spat fluids at me.

‘Keep your spit to yourself, freak!’ I thought while hastily dodging. ‘Oryaaaaaa!’

The demon beasts boasted incredible speed belying their size.

CLAAANG!

My sword clashed with an arm of iron and bounced off.

Sizzleeeeee.

‘Way more potent than hydrocholoric acid.’

While facing the demon beast in the front, I had swiftly dodged, and the scorpion demon beast’s venomous spit had struck my former position. The ground bubbled up, making a blue venomous broth.

‘See you later! Slenderman!’

The demon beasts were strong, but their skills still couldn’t match up to a Master, the limit of humans. After clawing at me ten times, its waist was unprotected for a moment, and I aimed for that opening with my Aura Blade.

Crunch.

The resistance my blade met made me feel like I was cutting a rock. Clenching my teeth, I doubled down and completely cut through the beast’s iron waist.

SPUUUUUURT.

Blood more intensely blue than that of monsters fountained out as the slenderman demon beast was cut in twain.

Hissssssss.

I was vulnerable while finishing off the slenderman, and sharp claws came plunging towards me.

‘Hng!’

Even a moment of carelessness could be fatal. I clenched my teeth and blocked the protruding skewer claws.

CLAAAANG!

‘Urgh!’

My hands felt incredible pressure. I felt like throwing up—the impact had traveled all the way to my insides.

Ziiiiiiiiing.

Having failed its attack, the beast glared at me with its red eyes as if trying to kill me with its gaze.

Swooooosh.

Suddenly, a black body appeared from the darkness, and my hand automatically moved to block it.

CRAAASH!!

“Ugh!”

‘T-Tail!’

To my shock, it was the beast’s steel-like tail that had ambushed me.

Blood dripped from my mouth.

As a kid, I got a double nosebleed once, but this was my first taste of bloody outrage in a while. It made me suddenly remember the injury I suffered from the Triad gangster before coming to this continent.

‘You’ll be the last!’

KRAAAAAAA!

The demon beast screamed as if rejoicing at the sight of me bleeding.

* * *

I launched forward. I couldn’t hold on any longer, so I intended to bounce after beating up one last beast.

Swoooooosh.

As if it had expected me to charge at it, the beast leapt into the air. It flailed both of its 3-meter long arms and struck me first.

‘Have a taste of this!’

Until now, I hadn’t used my secret move.

‘GHOST METEOR!’

A special technique only a Blade Master could unleash, my very own Sword Art!

Flash!

Like rays of hope piercing through the darkness, eight Blade Swords bloomed from my sword.

Cla-cla-cla-cla-cla-clang! BAM!

The beast’s steel-like fists were deformed like taffy due to several Blade Swords bouncing off. Afterwards, the remaining few Blade Swords exploded into its vulnerable body, causing a heavy booming sound.

“BEBETO!!!!!!”

I only had a few drops of mana left. With all my strength, I called Bebeto, who was circling in the air.

GUOOOOOO!

Hearing the urgency in my voice, Bebeto gave a powerful roar and plunged down.

‘They’re truly strong.’

I was given a profound taste of the demon beasts’ true strength. Rather than feeling relieved that I had repelled monsters and beasts, a part of my heart was cold with fear. If these demon beasts had combined forces to attack the fort from the start, Fort Ciaris would have become a haven of monsters by now.

Flap flap flap flaaap.

Guooooooo!

The wind from Bebeto’s wings brushed my head.

“Fly!”

Using the last drops of my mana, I cast Fly, and my body floated up.

Because a fairly strong beast had been sliced into pieces, the demon beasts had momentarily given up on attacking and were just staring at me in a daze.

‘Just wait, bitches! I’ll come back soon!’

As I flew towards Bebeto, I looked around at all the beasts below.

“…..!!!!!”

Just then, a black body suddenly hurtled towards me in the darkness.

KYAAAOOOO!

‘F-FUCK!’

My body was already at least 7 meters above ground when I saw it—a winged demon beast 4 meters large with a lion head and black scales all over its body. Its wide-open maw was filled with cruel-looking shark teeth, and the claws on its front feet were giving off an aura darker than the night.

‘D-DAMMIT!’

I was caught off guard by the demon beast’s sudden counterattack. I knew a sneaky bastard was lurking in the back, but I didn’t expect it to appear with such perfect timing.

GUOOOOOOOOOO!

As it flew over, Bebeto roared in alarm, sensing the danger. But I couldn’t move my body to dodge. I wasn’t on the ground, but using Fly—which I didn’t even have mana to freely control— so my movements were stiff.

I raised my sword. It was a shame, but all I could do was hurl my blade at the bastard’s maw.

‘Damn!’

Without any mana, the sword was just an ordinary lump of steel. I didn’t expect anything.

‘Aramis!’

And then, I thought of Aramis, the woman who must be praying even now for my safe return.

KYAOOOOO!

Horrifying bloodthirst struck my feet.

I closed my eyes tight.

‘Please, save me just this once! I will do everything you tell me to do!!’

In my hand was the encircled golden cross of the Goddess of Mercy, Neran.

Schwinnng.

Baaam!

“…..?”

I suddenly heard the sharp whistling of steel cutting through the wind and then the brief sound of something exploding.

KYAAAAAAAAAAAAK!

Then came a demon beast’s mournful wail.

‘Eh?’

I swiftly craned down my head.

‘T-That is—!’

A single spear plunged in the black lion demon beast’s body was glowing bright with mana.

“MY LIEGE!!!!!!!!”

A familiar voice called me, thick with anxiety.

‘CEDRIAN!’

Schwing schwing schwing schwing!

Ba-ba-ba-bam!

GAAUUUU!

KEUGAAAAGH!

A volley of Blessed Spears hurtled to the ground.

‘AHH! You beautiful bastards!’

I saw Cedrian, who had miraculously saved my life, as well as ten other wyverns and Skyknights. It wasn’t just them, either—the clouds had receded and moonlight was shining on dozens of other wyverns flying in the distance this way.

My heart swelled with emotion. They were my knights, and they had come just because of me.

“MY LIEGE!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“MY LIEGE!!!!!!!”

The knights’ anxious cries of ‘my liege’ filled the air.

‘Thank you! Let’s live on together!’

I could feel all my accumulated stress lifting away. Even though I almost died just now, what was left in my heart was overwhelming joy.

I landed onto Bebeto’s saddle.

“Ah….”

And then, an indescribable feeling of security swept through me.

GUOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Bebeto rejoiced at my safe arrival with a happy roar.

“Attack!!” shouted Cedrian, angrily hurling another Blessed Spear at the demon beast that had attacked me.

Sch-sch-sch-sch-sch-schwip!

Enraged by the danger I had faced, the Skyknights fired at will, turning the clearing into a pincushion. The ten or so demon beasts unable to escape were skewered by Blessed Spears.

It was a case of misfortune turning to fortune. The demon beasts had gathered to eliminate a single person, me, and using my life as bait, most of the demon beasts were exterminated.

“Phew…”

I breathed out a long sigh.

I was happy.

At this moment, I realized once again how wonderful it was to be alive.

‘But damn, the beastmen are fine, right?’ I thought, worrying a little.

No matter what anyone said, I was a lord, the liege of everyone living in Nerman.

Kyre de Nerman—that was my name!