“Oh? Can’t run anymore?”
After Ian and Veronica had finished devising their plan, they stopped running and turned around to face the Black Figure that had also come to a halt behind them.
“Sir, why are you pursuing us so relentlessly?”
Ian asked.
“We are from the Duke’s Mansion. If you have any demands, please feel free to state them. If we can satisfy them, we will do our best to do so.”
Hearing Ian’s words, the Black Figure was momentarily stunned.
He had not expected Ian to actually try and negotiate with him.
“Interesting, very interesting. You are the first person to date who has dared to negotiate with me!”
The figure said with a chuckle.
“Tell you what, to reward your courage, as long as you hand over the person behind you, I can spare your life. How about that?”
Hearing the Black Figure’s words, Ian was completely certain.
This figure had indeed come for Veronica, though he was still unclear about the specific motive.
‘Could it be someone from the Demon Race?’
Ian wondered.
‘Did they see how strong Veronica’s talent is and decide to eliminate her?’
However, although there was a plotline in the game where the Demon Race feared Veronica’s talent and attempted to kill her, that only happened after she reached the Adelan Magic Academy.
At this point, Veronica should not have revealed her talent yet.
‘So, who exactly is this Black Figure? There shouldn’t be a character like this in the game!’
Looking at the silent Ian, the Black Figure grew somewhat impatient.
“What, do you not accept my proposal?”
“No, I completely agree with your suggestion,” Ian replied.
“If I can trade the life of the person on my back for my own, then that is naturally a wonderful thing. However, I am still a bit confused. Why exactly do you want to kill her?”
The Black Figure was not annoyed by Ian’s questioning.
He didn’t seem to hold the two of them in any regard.
In his eyes, Ian and Veronica were just two ants that could be crushed at will.
“Is it necessary for me to tell you that?”
“Of course, it isn’t necessary. I am simply curious. If you do not wish to speak, then forget it.”
“I never said I wouldn’t tell you!”
Several black lines appeared on Ian’s forehead.
‘Is this guy messing with me?’
“The person behind you is the darling of this world’s Deity,” the Black Figure said.
“Naturally, I am killing her so that I can better invade this world. How about it? I think you’re a decent fellow. Do you have any interest in working for me?”
The Black Figure seemed to look down on Ian so much that he revealed his goal with ease.
However, those few sentences struck Ian’s ears like a bolt from the blue.
‘How does he know Veronica is the Protagonist? And what about invading this world… is he not from this world? What is going on?’
Ian was completely bewildered.
‘Could it be that I didn’t transmigrate into the game I played before? System, get out here and explain what’s happening!’
Ian shouted in his mind.
**[The System is currently in sleep mode and cannot explain problems for the host. Please resolve matters on your own.]**
‘???’
The System was playing dead again at a critical moment.
Ian felt incredibly speechless toward the System he was bound to.
“If you are willing to accept me, then I am naturally more than happy to join you,” Ian said aloud.
“But regarding the invasion of this world, what is that all about?”
Since the System wouldn’t talk, he could only try to get information from the enemy.
“Very good, you have made the right choice.
As for what the invasion is about, I will explain it to you later,” the Black Figure replied.
“Now, first, hand over the person behind you.”
Hearing this, Ian knew he probably wouldn’t be able to get any more useful information for the time being.
“Yes, Sir,” Ian said respectfully.
After speaking, he lowered Veronica from his back.
Just as the Black Figure stepped forward, intending to finish off Veronica, Ian suddenly activated his magic.
**Dark Magic — Flash Step**
“Now, Veronica!”
Hearing Ian’s signal, Veronica, who had been keeping her eyes tightly shut, snapped them open.
She drew the Sword of Courage from her waist, channeled her entire Mana, and thrust it toward the Black Figure.
In an instant, the situation changed drastically, yet the Black Figure expressed nothing but disdain for the scene.
“It seems you made the wrong decision,” he sneered.
“But even so, what can two trash like you do to me?”
Seeing the sword Veronica thrust at him, the Black Figure didn’t panic at all.
He formed a magic shield in front of himself, preventing Veronica’s strike from advancing even half a step toward him.
“This amount of strength isn’t even enough to tickle me. If you have any other moves, go ahead and use them so you can die with your eyes closed.”
The Black Figure wore an arrogant expression.
Watching the struggles of ants before their death was truly delicious!
“Since you want to see what other moves we have, I’ll satisfy you,” Ian said.
Ian began pouring Mana into Veronica’s body.
Suddenly, the sword in Veronica’s hand emitted a blinding golden light.
“That sword? Oh no!”
The Black Figure seemed to recognize the sword in her hand, and his mocking expression vanished, replaced by panic.
He surged forward, trying to stop the spread of that light.
However, it was already too late.
A massive silhouette was projected from Veronica’s sword.
‘Is that the God of Courage?’
Ian was stunned as he stared at the beautiful figure clad in armor.
He hadn’t expected the God of Courage to be such an exquisite woman.
On Veronica’s body, several pieces of fiery-red Mana armor appeared, making her look incredibly holy, like a goddess from the Divine Realm descending to the mortal world.
Ian knew that this was a skill Veronica only developed in the later stages of the game.
By borrowing the power left by the God of Courage within the sword, Veronica could burst forth with strength far exceeding her own.
‘If only I had this kind of power,’ Ian grumbled internally.
‘This is basically cheating!’
Ignoring Ian’s internal complaints, Veronica gently swung the sword in her hand toward the Black Figure.
**Divine Skill — Light of Courage!**
In an instant, the entire Magic Beast Forest was completely illuminated by that red light.
Even the people far away in Far East City witnessed the beam.
“Duke, could that light have been released by Veronica?”
“Most likely.”
Aetherinra and Deere, who had already rushed toward the battlefield, saw the holy light emitted by the Sword of Courage flying toward them.
“No, no! How can this be?”
The Black Figure cried out in disbelief.
“How can you use the Power of God?”
“It’s all over!”
Unmoved by the figure’s words, Veronica swung the Sword of Courage straight at him.
The Light of Courage completely swallowed him, leaving not even a shadow behind.
‘It’s finally over.’
Seeing this, Veronica’s tense heart finally relaxed.
Her body, which had been suspended in the air, suddenly began to plummet.
Seeing this, Ian rushed forward to catch her.
He found that she had completely passed out.
‘She must have overexerted her Mana,’ he thought.
‘She should be fine after taking her back to rest for a while.’
After all, with Veronica’s current level, the drain of forcibly using the Sword of Courage was far too great.
However, just as Ian was about to pick her up and leave, a new anomaly occurred.
The Black Figure, which should have been annihilated by Veronica, actually stood up again.
Only now, he didn’t seem to be in human form.
If Ian had to describe what this thing was, it looked more like a Demon.
“Very good, very good. You have successfully enraged me. If I let you return alive today, I am not a person!”
Clearly, the Black Figure had been driven to fury by Ian and Veronica.
Seeing the figure stand back up, Ian couldn’t help but complain in his mind.
‘What on earth is this thing?! Did even that strike fail to kill him?’