Chapter 28: Combat

After discussing the tactical details, Ian and Veronica stood atop the city wall, gazing at the massive swarm of Magic Beasts in the distance.

Even Ian, who knew the numbers would be significant, felt a slight shock at the sight of the horde before him.

“Young Master, Lady Veronica, once the Fang Wolves enter our attack range, I will order the archers to fire a volley to eliminate most of the front row,” the Guard Captain explained.

“At that moment, Young Master Ian, please descend from the wall first to draw the attention of the majority of the Fang Wolves. Finally, when the number of wolves surrounding the Fang Wolf Leader has decreased, Lady Veronica, please deliver the killing blow.”

“The difference between the Fang Wolf Leader and the other wolves is the single horn growing from its forehead. Lady Veronica, please ensure you distinguish it correctly.”

“I understand,” Veronica said, nodding gently.

Having finished relaying the details, the Guard Captain ran back to his command post.

He kept a constant watch on the position of the Fang Wolves, ready to give the order to the archers.

Meanwhile, Veronica and Ian remained on the wall, observing every movement of the pack.

Suddenly, Veronica drew her sword and wiped the blade.

She turned to Ian and spoke.

“Do you know the history of this sword?”

Stunned by the question, Ian turned to look.

He recognized the weapon in her hand at a single glance.

Wasn’t that the Sword of Courage he had helped her obtain at the Black Market yesterday?

‘Why is she asking me this now?’

However, Ian certainly wouldn’t admit that he had anything to do with the sword.

At this moment, he could only play dumb.

“I don’t know.”

Hearing Ian’s reply, Veronica continued, “Actually, this sword was given to me by my fiancé. I consider it more important than my own life.”

If Ian had been drinking water, he would have definitely spat it out.

Controlling his shocked expression, Ian spoke up.

“Then you must cherish it well!”

Before Ian had opened his mouth, Veronica had been closely monitoring the changes in his expression.

She hadn’t been certain before, but after noticing the shift in his face just now, she was 80% sure that Ian was the one who had helped her obtain the sword.

“I was lying to you. Actually, a pervert gave me this sword.”

“Huh?”

Veronica’s words shocked Ian once again.

‘Has the fact that I gave her the sword been exposed?’

No matter how much he thought about it, Ian couldn’t figure out where he had slipped up.

“In that case, you don’t have to cherish it that much,” Ian replied, continuing to feign ignorance.

The two of them lapsed into silence once more.

After a short while, Veronica was the first to break the silence again.

“If I fall in battle during this Beast Tide, please tell the Eldest Young Lady not to concern herself with my life.”

Faced with such a massive Beast Tide, even though Veronica possessed the strength of a Rank 3 Mage, she still lacked the confidence to return safely.

Ian’s face turned grim upon hearing her words.

‘Can this Protagonist stop raising death flags? Don’t you know you’re the main character and absolutely won’t die? In the end, the only one who gets dragged down by these flags is a supporting character like me.’

“Fire!”

With a wave of the Guard Captain’s arm, the order was given.

The archers on the city wall released their bowstrings in unison.

A dense rain of arrows flew straight toward the pack of Fang Wolves.

“Young Master, now is the time!”

The Guard Captain shouted toward Ian.

Hearing the shout, Ian knew it was time to move.

Before leaving, he left Veronica with one final sentence.

“Tell that to Aetherinra yourself. I’m a Villainous Young Master; I have no obligation to pass on messages for you people.”

With that, Ian chanted an incantation.

**[Dark Magic — Ghost Shadow]**.

In an instant, his figure vanished from the city wall.

Watching Ian’s retreating back, Veronica murmured to herself, “A Villainous Young Master? Ian really does have a high degree of self-awareness.”

While Veronica was expressing her thoughts on the wall, Ian had already reached the air above the Fang Wolves.

He was utilizing his magic to suspend himself in the sky. **[Dark Magic — Dark Cloud]**.

‘Even though the arrows killed a large portion of them, there are still quite a lot left.’

Ian frowned as he looked at the wolves below.

‘Now, it should be enough if I just lure them away.’

With that thought, Ian drew his sidearm and raised it high above his head.

He gathered all his strength into the blade.

“What kind of magic is that?”

The people standing on the wall felt the aura emanating from Ian and couldn’t help but ask.

It was a type of magic they had never seen before.

“It looks like Dark Magic?”

Veronica was also shocked as she watched the scene unfold.

Although Ian had long ago awakened an affinity for the dark attribute, he had always been lazy.

The Dark Magic he had developed previously never had any significant effects.

But now, she actually felt a slight sense of danger from Ian.

Even if it was only a little, it spoke volumes.

**[Dark Magic — Might of the Night]**!

As Ian’s final word fell, everyone present felt a wave of invisible pressure.

This was despite Ian focusing the spell primarily on the Fang Wolves.

If he hadn’t, the guards on the city wall would likely have been pinned to the ground.

*Awooo — !*

Feeling the pressure from Ian’s spell, the Fang Wolves entered a berserk state one by one.

This was the effect of Ian’s skill — it could force Magic Beasts into a state of frenzy and draw their hatred.

In the game, this was equivalent to a very useful monster-taunting skill.

‘I’ll leave the rest to Veronica. It’s time for me to make my exit.’

After releasing the skill, Ian moved the **[Dark Cloud]** beneath his feet.

He headed toward the location of the final medicinal herb he needed, according to his memory.

Seeing Ian leave, the maddened common Fang Wolves chased after him frantically.

In an instant, only a few Fang Wolf Guards, who had not been affected by Ian, remained around the Fang Wolf Leader.

These guards were significantly stronger than the average Fang Wolf.

“Lady Veronica, we are counting on you,” the Guard Captain said, bowing to her.

He was placing the lives of all the citizens in the city in her hands.

“Mhm.”

Veronica gave a soft hum and dashed off with her sword.

**[Fire Magic — Fire Sword]**.

A scorching blade of Sword Qi surged from Veronica’s sword.

This was the most basic spell among fire-type magics, but with the enhancement of the Sword of Courage, its power became incredibly formidable.

The guards near the Fang Wolf Leader had barely come into contact with the Sword Qi before they began rolling on the ground, wailing as they were scorched.

“Truly, heroes emerge from the youth. I thought the Young Master was already strong, but I didn’t expect Lady Veronica to be even more powerful.”

“To be able to push a low-level Fire Magic skill to this level… Lady Veronica’s future is limitless!”

*Awooo — !*

Seeing its guards being defeated, the Fang Wolf Leader howled in frustration.

There seemed to be a special magic within that sound.

Suddenly, the fire burning the Fang Wolves was extinguished, and even the wounds left behind were healed.

‘There is a healing ability within that howl?’

Veronica frowned, clearly not expecting this situation.

However, after only a moment, she came up with a way to break through.

‘No matter how wondrous your healing ability is, it must have a limit. I just need to be the one to break that limit.’ —