I Can Hear the Saint’s Inner Thoughts

27 – Continent’s Strongest vs. Holy Nation’s Worst (3)

Typically, high-level mages’ battles aren’t decided by power or the amount of mana they possess.

Of course, the level is divided by the number of rings rotating around the mana core, and the types of magic you can use are also divided.

‘…A combination of holy magic and black magic, huh. I didn’t know that kind of application was possible.’

In the case of Leozac and me, it was meaningless because we could transcend those levels by combining magic.

Rather, victory would go to whoever could grasp the opponent’s weaknesses and respond more effectively.

“It would have been nice if Victoria were here….”

I muttered to myself with regret, clenching my fist and getting into a fighting stance. Usually, the perfect counter to a black mage like him is a priest like her.

The Holy Nation of Aurelium is like Victoria’s hometown, so I also thought it was right for her to handle this.

“…Well, if she were here, things would have been much worse.”

But after publicly announcing that she was my lover, the rumors spread fast among the people. Even more so if it was about a scandal of a woman described as devoted, to the point of being holy.

“Accel, Rage, Strength.”

I created a magic circle on my palm, ready to combine new spells. Each one was a speed enhancement spell, a spell to make the power of my punches stronger, and a spell to strengthen my body’s strength.

‘I’ll fight in the way of the Black Tower.’

Now, I had to fight in the way of the Black Tower, which broke the prejudice that mages are weak in close combat, only then would it be meaningful.

Because of the corrupted black mages like him, the people of the Black Tower haven’t been able to wash away the disgrace until now.

“…Ultimate Berserker.”

Click, clack!

Three different magic circles combined together, appearing like chains being placed on both arms and legs.

This magic right now is for close-quarters combat. Because Leozaak’s life vessel is the staff itself.

‘Just by looking, it’s a staff made by mixing basilisk scales and adamantite.’

I thought, gazing at the unusually shaped staff in my sight. It was a thing with a huge jewel, imbued with a soul, at its end.

The basilisk scales, called the gravedigger of wizards, had the property of deflecting all magic, and adamantite was a steel that couldn’t be broken by ordinary force.

If you break the staff, you win—to say that the other way around, it’s made so it can’t be broken by normal means.

What’s needed is a combination of magic and force.

“So you’re trying to combine magic and force to break my life vessel. It’s a good idea, but can you even get close?”

Leozaak clicked his jaw and, concentrating his mana on the end of his staff, he opened his mouth.

Pure white holy power and murky black magic swirled together, creating a colorless magic circle.

‘That’s… the black magic Skeleton Army that summons an army of skeletons, and the Paladin’s Gift that bestows a paladin’s blessing…’

The principle is the same as when I overlap two different magic circles to create new magic, but I can’t use high-level holy magic.

“Undead Paladin. Undying, immortal holy knights. They look more trustworthy than those womanizing fools up above, wouldn’t you say?”

– S-save… me….

The skeletons that were born like that were all clad in the shining armor unique to holy knights. One of them, making the voice of the pope who had just withered and died, was reaching a hand out toward me.

“Don’t tell me…. did you use the knights and priests you killed as the material for this kind of magic?”

I clenched my teeth tightly as I watched the enemies in my sight make whimpering noises. Originally, magic that summoned skeletons like that needed lifeforce and corpses turned to bones.

But this place is the Sacred Kingdom’s forbidden archive, not a graveyard, so there was no way the conditions for casting that kind of magic could be met.

– I didn’t want to die….

– Why me….

– I only went near the door because I heard voices from underground….

They were constantly telling me to save them, as if some reason was still left, but the way they were moving and brandishing their swords was that of skilled knights.

A living weapon of war referred to the current knights, as well, and it seemed as if they had increased their physical prowess through holy power.

“Well, since there are those who couldn’t even become pope if not for me, it means I can do whatever I want with the knights beneath them, doesn’t it?”

Leozaak clacked his jaw as if laughing, and let out a wheezing sound. I couldn’t understand why a skeleton that was just bones could be so expressive.

“You’re not even letting the dead rest.”

“That’s what a black magic user is. Well, when I was part of the Golden Tower, I didn’t know such a level existed….”

Leozaak was making the paladins in front fight, and he was swinging his staff widely, as if he were going to chant a large-scale spell in the rear.

That’s a pretty classic wizard’s battle method. It’s such an old and worn-out method that it’s barely even mentioned in a corner of textbooks.

“…Things are different now. If you thought that only a genius like you could create new magic, you’re wrong.”

“I’ve never thought that.”

I answered, slamming a magic-infused fist into the paladin’s face. No matter how many times I shattered their bones and knocked them down, they’d just rise again to fight.

It wasn’t the first time an enemy had copied my magic. There was that chameleon dragon before, and I’d taken too much damage to repeat past mistakes.

‘I’m not a genius, I’m a deficient idiot who got my parents killed.’

There was a time I thought I was a genius.

I’d reached the level of an intermediate mage, a feat that even adults struggled with, all through self-study.

Unlike others, I had eyes that could see magic, allowing me to wield it with nothing but a branch instead of a staff.

My hand naturally clenched, veins popping, the tremor barely held back.

‘If this turns into a war of attrition, I’m at a massive disadvantage. I need to get close quickly and break that life vessel.’

My breath, ragged from fighting the undead paladin, I caught again, my eyes locked on the tip of the staff, my target.

Transforming my body into living lightning required too much preparation. My opponent was a seasoned mage, centuries old, there was no way he’d leave such a glaring opening.

Thwack, crack!

Mixing kicks and punches, I pressed forward, felling the immortal army that just wouldn’t die. The skeletons in their solid armor were endlessly chipping away at my stamina.

‘I need to conserve my magic for the final moment. The enemy is a mage who uses classical methods, I need to keep him on edge by making him think I’m relying on brute force…’

Several powerful spells flashed through my mind, but they’d be meaningless if I couldn’t destroy the opponent’s life vessel.

I could unleash magic that blazed with light and heat, but if I was ambushed by a lich with an immortal body, I’d be forced to live as his servant for eternity.

“Oh, paradise of demons slumbering in the abyss,

I offer you blood and flesh, manifest here now,

become the massive jaws that devour the enemy before me.

…Abyss Heaven!”

Leozark’s chant was accompanied by countless magic circles blooming in front of me. They were a different type than anything I could dispel.

Black magic could be done in the style of the Black Tower, using my own life force, but it was the high-level holy magic mixed in there that was the real problem.

Clunk—! Screeeeeech…

A gigantic, dark iron gate filled my vision, emitting the aura of something that could actually summon demons.

The door groaned open, a chilling screech echoing as it revealed countless demonic laughs.

“Is that… a high demon?”

“Yes, an unnamed demon said to be sealed away in ancient times. What do you intend to do now?”

Leozark spread his arms wide, a satisfied grin plastered across his face, his golden robe billowing around him.

A massive hand shot out, scraping the surrounding walls and ceiling, trying to drag the rest of the body through the gate.

‘Should I use the core sword…?’

My hand rested on my chest as I hesitated. Like Victoria had worried before, my body was in desperate need of rest.

Besides, it was going to take a lot of time now. If I didn’t manage to take down Lich Leozark in one go, I’d be the one to die.

But,

‘Worry makes you sluggish. Just do it and think later.’

*Crack*—

I immediately overloaded the mana core, taking the action of bringing it right out of my body. Originally, I would have chosen to get as close as possible to break the Life Vessel, but.

‘If that crazy thing gets out of the Holy Kingdom’s forbidden archive, sacrifices will be inevitable.’

Even at a glance, the amount of mana emanating from that demon was extraordinary. The fact that he had also paused his attack while casting that spell was also telling.

“Ah, rest assured. Even if I raze the Holy Kingdom to the ground, I’ll resurrect you as a corpse that can’t die and thoroughly dissect what magic you’ve learned.”

“…Is he insane?”

Leozark’s attitude, as if he was saying it was nothing, made my teeth grit, and nausea made me blurt out a curse.

“You, are you perhaps strong-willed? You’ll be dissected countless times, and you’ll have to see your own heart and organs with your own eyes…”

Just as those words were about to finish.

“…That’s enough. The only one allowed to torment Astal-nim under this sky is me, Victoria Everhart.”

*KWAANG!*—

With a tremendous roar that shook the earth, a platinum-blonde woman, half of her body covered in flowers, appeared.

“Vic, Victoria…?!”

I couldn’t help but be shocked as I stared at her back. Just when had she been watching my antics?

“How long…?”

“From when you were forcing your body to open a space-time gate. Oh, and I heard your confession of love loud and clear.”

*—You’ve worked hard so far. I’ll work even harder so that one day you can truly become my lover.*

Victoria’s innermost thoughts immediately rang out.

It was like I heard some unsettling whispers, but I never thought she had been following me from much earlier.

“……”

“You’re someone who can do anything, aren’t you? To be honest, I was a little bit swayed. If I were a normal woman and not a Saintess, that is.”

*—I’m now officially your girlfriend too!*

Victoria, giving a V sign and beaming with pride while looking at me. The blush on her cheeks felt a bit awkward.

Why does it seem like she’s happy about my pitiful actions?

I realized something was wrong as I watched Victoria’s cheekbones seem to be rising higher and higher.

“Victoria, there’s something I want to try with you…”

“Are you perhaps wanting a reunion kiss? Even so, this is in front of the enemy. Even if you’re happy to see me again, later…”

– A kiss with Astal-nim. If we did it after this fight, the mood would be right, and the timing would be perfect….

I couldn’t help but be startled, eavesdropping on Victoria’s inner thoughts. It was like the gap between her inner self and her outer appearance had vanished.

I immediately shook my head violently from side to side, expressing my denial.

“…Instead of that, I was thinking about trying to combine holy magic with my own magic.”

What we needed right now was to do the same thing Leozac did, to synthesize holy magic with something else. The idea of adding another power to regular magic was something even I hadn’t thought of.

“Very well. Then I’ll add my power. I can’t leave my boyfriend alone, after all.”

Victoria was preparing to cast high-level holy magic, smashing the skeleton army surrounding me with her hammer in a refreshing way.