Volume 10 Chapter 39 Infiltration Battle! VS Majin Roldi
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
What a damn hassle this turned into.
A skill that drains stamina—just my luck.
My body aches all over, but it’s not like I can’t move. It just feels like the weight of the world settled into my limbs. Easy to say “I can still fight,” but every motion drags like chains through mud.
Klock staggered upright, legs trembling. It felt like trying to stand after a full sprint—every muscle screaming. Just that small act took more effort than it should have.
He steadied himself and stepped back once.
”Hmm. I can’t sense your magic power… but why is that, I wonder?”
Roldi circled him slowly, measuring every breath, every shift of balance. Always five meters apart—just enough to dodge or counter any trap.
Careful bastard. That kind of wariness comes from experience—and brains.
”If you’re pretending to be weak to catch me off guard, it’s wasted effort. A true warrior doesn’t need tricks.”
He wasn’t wrong. Cianie always fought head-on, overwhelming everything in her path. Against monsters of that caliber, deceit meant nothing. Roldi looked like someone who’d learned that lesson firsthand.
His fingers aimed at Klock.
Magic, then. He’d keep his distance and test from afar.
Klock raised his Cianie Knife. Even without swinging, it could release a slash—but he chose to show the motion deliberately, keeping the illusion of normality.
Careful, minimal movement. A single downward arc aimed for Roldi’s arm, sliding toward his face.
”—!”
Roldi’s eyes narrowed, reading the motion in an instant. He twisted aside, evading the invisible cut.
A few strands of his hair floated down between them.
”Tch.”
The dodge flowed seamlessly into a counter. His finger leveled again.
”Wind Spear—Raafika!”
”Whoa—?!”
A wall of air slammed into Klock head-on.
The blast tore at his footing, flinging him backward like a rag doll.
Wind magic. That explained it—how he spread the poison so fast before. He’d carried it on the air itself. Even his own allies were hit because they stood in its path.
Klock hit the ground hard, rolling. Too slow to brace, too sluggish to react—his body dulled by exhaustion. Only when his back struck dirt did he realize he hadn’t even tried to break his fall.
Then came the sound of pounding footsteps.
He froze. A follow-up attack.
Roldi’s hand rose again.
”Water Lance—Idrante!”
Water gathered at his fingertip, shaping into a sharp, glistening spear.
He hurled it.
Klock twisted his body with everything he had—like a newborn struggling for its first turn.
The spear hissed past, stabbing into the earth beside his ribs. It shattered into a splash, drenching him.
But even that water slithered, drawn back to Roldi’s hand.
He was already forming another spear.
Still keeping his distance. Still cautious.
So much for that talk about “not fearing tricks.” Maybe he really was wary that Klock’s missing aura meant a trap.
After all, a Brave Knight like Klock shouldn’t be weak. He had to suspect something.
Damn it. I can’t use my control on him.
His trump card flashed through his mind—but that power needed direct contact, and Roldi stood more than ten paces away. Worse, he wielded both Unique Skills and Magic. Even if Klock stole one, it wouldn’t stop him.
Should’ve borrowed Kaitney’s earth-magic tool… no, a master snatching gifts back from his apprentice? That’d be pathetic.
Klock scraped together what little mana he had left.
In his pocket, a compact magic circle waited. He wasn’t reckless enough to infiltrate enemy territory armed with only a knife. He’d spent days preparing contingencies.
But activating it would drain him further. With his tiny mana pool, even a small cast could leave him too empty to use his own power.
Either use the Skill—or the magic seal. Not both.
He pulled out a folded piece of parchment, creased like wrapping paper.
Normally, folding breaks a circle’s function—but this one was drawn small enough to survive, almost like something hidden in a packet of contraband.
Inside lay a fingertip-sized firestone.
A basic, low-level spell—simple, but just enough.
”Shine—Brillare.”
The paper disintegrated in an instant. The magic stone’s energy flared, burning all at once.
A blinding flash erupted, pure white and searing hot.
”Gah—!”
Klock heard the grunt—proof Roldi had taken it full in the eyes.
His chance.
But before he could move, another water spear was already flying.
”Shit—too close—!!”
He opened his eyes just in time to see it coming straight for him.
Klock swung instinctively, sending a crescent slash slicing through the air.
The water spear split cleanly in two, collapsing into a harmless splash that rained down over him.
”Stone Wall—Muro di Pietra!”
Roldi crouched low, still half-blind, fingers brushing the stone floor.
With a deep rumble, the pier erupted—slabs of rock bursting upward like geysers.
Damn, that was fast.
Chunks of earth and shattered stone rose between them, forming a thick barrier.
He’d switched to defense in a blink. Even with his sight impaired, Roldi had reacted before Klock could press the attack.
Experience like that wasn’t something training alone could buy.
Still, Klock thought grimly, I blocked his strike too.
Now’s my window.
The water spear was gone. The enemy’s view was cut off.
Behind that wall, he shouldn’t be able to strike again just yet.
If Klock was going to move, it had to be now.
The stone barrier crumbled moments later, collapsing into rubble.
No Roldi behind it—just sinking debris and dust.
He’d already shifted position.
From the corner of a nearby building, the Majin emerged, eyes narrowed as his vision cleared.
So he’d cast the wall only to buy himself time to retreat to cover.
”Tch. Where—?” Roldi hissed, scanning the pier.
But Klock had vanished too.
He could’ve sent a cut through the wall—Cianie Knife could easily slice beyond obstacles—but instead, he’d chosen retreat. It took everything he had left just to put distance between them.
The knife’s reach was limited; its strikes could leap past barriers, but the effective range matched its length. Without a direct line of sight, Roldi might dodge. And if Klock missed, he’d reveal his hand too soon.
He’d spent years keeping his Unique Skill secret.
A one-use ability—one chance per day. Every activation had to land, no exceptions.
He understood better than anyone that secrecy was survival.
Even the Cianie Knife, though it appeared to release slashes of wind, hid the truth:
It didn’t project blades. It teleported them. He could cut any chosen space in range, invisible and instantaneous.
But he never showed it unless he was certain of a hit.
”Hff—hff—hff—”
His breathing rasped, loud in the silence.
He forced himself into a crouch inside a nearby building—the closest shelter he could find.
Just that short sprint felt like a full-speed dash through fire. Pain consumed every joint.
The poison had spread completely.
To think it could weaken him this much, this fast.
What a vicious ability… even retreating felt impossible.
(Master, are you all right? You’re in quite the pinch already, aren’t you? ♡ That splash of water magic just made it worse, too. Could this be the end? ♡)
Kispe’s voice, far too cheerful for the situation, purred in his head.
He bit back a growl. Sometimes he truly forgot she was supposed to be on his side.
…The water magic had poison too?
Of course. Layering poison over poison—to deepen its bite, prolong its effect.
He’d assumed Roldi spread toxins as airborne mist, but maybe it was more deliberate.
Poison woven into his very mana—every spell imbued with venom.
If so, everything Roldi cast carried that taint.
Yeah… that fit.
Klock had noticed Roldi carried no weapons. Magic was his sword, and his arsenal—wind and water—were the hardest elements to avoid.
He was coating them, like poison on a blade.
”Haah… haah… damn it…”
Klock lay sprawled on the floor, staring up at a cracked ceiling.
This wasn’t a favorable matchup.
He had the power to cut Roldi down in one strike, sure—but the same applied in reverse.
Beyond offense, Klock was no better than an ordinary man.
If Roldi closed in, it’d be over.
So… what now?
The simplest solution was to summon Kispe.
Her Cursed Eye of Charm could flip the entire fight in an instant.
But against someone like Roldi?
Even her gaze might not take hold so easily. The stronger the opponent’s mana, the slower the charm’s bite.
Still, she had other tricks—Melfi’s Daydream, Alice’s Illusion Eye—abilities that could unravel minds with a glance.
If she truly wished, she could end this without lifting a finger.
Yet Klock hesitated.
He hated relying on her.
She was a contracted demon. Any request meant a signature on her damn “alternate approval” pact—one that twisted obligations into servitude. “You’re happy to serve me, aren’t you, Master?” she’d purr, forcing consent with that cruel smile.
She’d already warned him: there would be a price.
Once he asked, the contract would seal.
He didn’t know what she’d demand, but he was certain it wouldn’t be pleasant.
So—no. Not yet.
(Master, are you sure you’re all right? If you require assistance—)
(Save it. I’ve got enough energy to lie down, don’t I? Look for yourself.)
(Oh my♡ my apologies, Master. A woman’s meddling was uncalled for, wasn’t it? Then, if you ever truly need me, just whisper my name♡ I’ll give you everything—every drop of me—for you…♡)
Kispe’s voice dripped with false sweetness—she didn’t mean a word of it.
”Yeah, sure,” Klock muttered under his breath. “Next time I call you, it’ll be on a bed. Go pick out something worth wearing.”
He flipped her off, and her laughter rang like bells inside his skull—bright, teasing, insufferable.
She was a failsafe, nothing more. The final trump card.
And he wasn’t done yet.
The fight stood at an even draw… or maybe, if he was being honest, just barely tilting toward defeat.
Gritting his teeth, he forced his body upright.
Even that tiny motion sent his breath stuttering. But he’d endured worse—hell, compared to that incubus Roper’s aphrodisiac venom, this was a stroll through hell’s garden.
Once you’re poisoned, finishing the job becomes a nightmare.
So fine—he’d wait for Roldi to drop his guard.
Attack from behind, evade up front. Keep it simple.
He fixed the plan in his mind.
Strong fighters, like Primlena before, always had the same instinct—they flinched the moment a slash flew their way, even if they’d never seen one travel through the air. Roldi’s caution came from that same reflex, sharpened by experience.
He couldn’t sense Klock’s mana at all, yet he didn’t underestimate him. That meant he knew Klock’s title.
A Brave Knight.
Maybe weaker than monsters like Cianie or Viola, but still enough to put Roldi on edge.
So, he knows my name from that captured scout, huh.
If he’d known me properly, he’d realize I’m not half as dangerous as my title sounds.
Which means—he doesn’t know the full picture. Not my ability, not my tricks.
He probably thinks I can only fling slashes.
Good. Let him stay cautious. Fear works just as well as power.
That thought had barely settled when a chill ran down his spine.
What would a cautious enemy do next?
He’d blinded Roldi and used that chaos to escape. But anyone with half a brain would assume a poisoned man couldn’t get far.
The logical next step—check the nearby buildings, the cargo piles, the hiding spots.
So why hadn’t Roldi come here yet?
”Explode—Esplosione!”
Klock’s blood froze.
He threw himself sideways with everything he had, wedging between stacked crates. His body hit the ground hard.
A heartbeat later—the world erupted.
The blast swallowed the scene. Crates splintered, buildings shattered, debris turned into shrapnel. A wooden plank slammed into his ribs, knocking him airborne. Flames surged, devouring the air.
No clap of hands could match the deafening crack that followed. His hearing cut out—replaced by a piercing ring. The world blurred red. Even with his eyes shut, the light seared through his lids, heat burning across his skin.
Fire magic—or maybe wind, feeding the explosion.
Didn’t matter. Roldi wasn’t bound by “preferred elements.” He used whatever killed fastest.
So he’d been building that spell all along, huh? Enough to level a damn building.
Don’t give a mage time to cast—wasn’t that rule number one?
Klock hit the ground again, rolled, and somehow managed to lift his head.
His limbs felt hollow, like they belonged to someone else.
Not pain—just that eerie, too-clear awareness that came right before it hit.
Blood soaked his clothes. Splinters jutted from his skin like thorns. His right sleeve was gone, his arm burned raw, his ribs exposed.
”Damn it… I really screwed up this time.”
He could tell from sensation alone—he was badly hurt.
No time to assess. He forced himself upright, muscles trembling.
He had to move. Had to get out.
But his body refused.
He glanced around—the pier lay in ruins, cargo scattered, flames licking the night. Beyond it, the sea shimmered in the dark.
He could see it, so close. Freedom.
But he couldn’t dive in.
His right side screamed, every breath stabbing deep.
With poison still eating through his veins, the cold water would finish him. He’d drown before he even surfaced.
Roldi was beyond him now.
There’d be no defeating him tonight.
Maybe regroup with Primlena…
But this wasn’t the rendezvous point. Too far from the landing zone. Even if he swam for it, no one would find him. To reach her, he’d have to make it north, to the cliffside. A distance his body couldn’t possibly cover.
And worse—he had no mana left.
That same emptiness that let him slip past detection now doomed him.
No signal, no beacon. No way his allies could even sense him.
The fires crackled, smoke thickening into the air. Heat pressed against his back.
He scanned the nearest pile of cargo. He needed shelter—anything.
If this spot went up next, he was dead.
But there was no better choice.
His thoughts blurred under exhaustion. Logic fell apart.
He knew he had to flee. But the poison gnawed at his will, whispering rest, whispering surrender.
What a cruel ability—to make fatigue itself your enemy.
He pried open one of the crates.
Hide. Just hide. Rest.
That single thought pulsed through the haze as he peered inside—
—and froze.
”…Fit?”
Inside the box, limp and barely conscious, lay a familiar girl, eyes dull and unfocused.
Notes:
• Roldi – A male subordinate of Bandanzine, executes orders efficiently, tasked with commanding forces in Orrid and coordinating the invasion strategy.
• Cianie – A noble girl with a fluffy white and light blue dress, indicating her high status. She has a hesitant and flustered personality but is kind and courteous. Her relationship with Klock begins as an accidental encounter and develops into a romantic interest. She has a fiancé but expresses feelings for Klock, complicating their relationship.
• Alice – Rabbitkin adventurer; appears at the same Barreith gathering, playful and mischievous, interacts with Klock, part of recruited volunteers
• Primlena – Orange-haired merfolk priestess, fierce yet elegant | First v8c3 | Sister of Sea General Primjune, subordinate to Primrity | Once captured and violated by Klock, now obsessed with reclaiming honor | Commands Obsidian Riders on giant fish, fights with trident | Seeks to drag Klock to Seabed Temple for marriage trial or execution | Unique note: revenge-driven siren bride who masks fury under ritual grace
• Fit – Solo archer adventurer; first appears at Barreith volunteer gathering, introduces herself to Klock and group, joining Brave Knight against Demon Lord’s Army
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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