The Protagonists of Romance Fantasy Novels Have Escaped

6 – Lacuna of the Saint’s Party (1)”

Hatred naturally befell the Holy Maiden Party that had swept across the continent like a natural disaster, brushing away wicked hordes.

The disappearance of the Holy Maiden Party.

As a result, the suppressed evils resurrected.

It was only natural that animosity would be directed towards the Holy Maiden Party or those associated with it. One could deduce from the successive acts of terror that unfolded.

“The Mercenary King and the Sword Saint. And next in line is undoubtedly a hero.”

It was inconceivable that Maximilian, who had slaughtered countless enemies to protect the saint, would not be targeted by the avenging spirits. Numerous adversaries would have their sights on him. As if to prove this, unidentified villains had infiltrated the stronghold of Count Hohenberg, violating its sanctity.

There were no signs whatsoever.

In other words, the unidentified villains had not been caught at the boundary of the count’s orders but had immediately infiltrated the interior.

Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang!

Only then did the bells start ringing.

It was the alarm bell signaling a crisis.

The bell at the top of the castle rang incessantly.

The soldiers of the house, relying on faint torchlight, belatedly discovered that the castle had been attacked by covert assassins. The dimly lit places, which had relied solely on feeble torches, brightened as if it were broad daylight the moment the assault was recognized. As soon as the attack was sensed, someone from the Hohenberg family had activated flashlights connected to all magical lamps.

“Kuk!”

“Darn it, fire…!”

Assassins who had hidden like mice began revealing themselves one by one.

The Hohenberg family’s swift response left the assassins bewildered.

It was amateurish.

Their lack of skill in covert operations was evident.

The incompetence of the infiltrated villains was comparable to elite soldiers. However, their hurried and clumsy actions betrayed that this was their first experience as assassins. In the face of such a sight, there was a brief sigh of relief.

‘No matter how remote Hohenberg Castle is… How did they manage to infiltrate without being detected by the sentinels? They certainly don’t have the skill for it. They must have employed some trick. Did the dark sorcerers who opposed the Holy Maiden Party lend a hand?’

There was a possibility that dark sorcerers had secretly infiltrated the assassins.

He gripped the rifle.

It was a precaution in case he had to fight with the masterminds behind the scenes.

The Holy Maiden Party, with as many enemies as the great reputation it had built, had to consider various variables. If the forces lurking in the abyss joined the general offensive, the Hohenberg family would face the imminent threat of destruction.

“Edanant!”

“It’s Maximilian’s younger brother! Kill him!”

The revealed assassins, upon finding fallen comrades on the floor, emitted sharp cries.

And wielding the twisted blade of mana, he charged straight ahead.

Bang! Taang-!

The muzzle erupted.

However, the boldly fired bullet was deftly deflected by the mana blade. Shimmering sparks flickered briefly, and at the same time, fragments of the bullet rained down.

‘What a nightmarish ordeal in the middle of the night.’

He drew a new pistol from the holster at his side.

A silver-shining handgun.

He aimed it high, as if ready to cut through the swirling blade of water.

Thwack!!

It fired precisely, deflecting the blade.

Simultaneously, gripping the hilt, he aimed at the disoriented water being.

“Crack!!”

As splattering blood erupted like a fountain, the water being collapsed. Ignoring his screams, he directed the barrel towards another water being rushing from behind.

No need to reload.

It was a weapon that compensated for the significant delay required by firearms. Thanks to its miraculous reloading method that shamelessly absorbed the user’s mana to generate new bullets, rapid and close-quarter combat was possible.

‘Still, it’s a tough situation… engaging in close combat with knights who wield Mana Blades.’

Engaging in close combat with knights, known as the flower of close combat, was virtually suicidal. Especially for someone armed with firearms like himself. There was no room for mistakes.

Miss a shot, and you die.

Allow a blade to strike, and you die.

Continuing close combat with such penalties was like performing a risky acrobatic stunt.

“Using such inferior weapons…!”

“Let the Mana Blade cut through in one stroke!”

Though fallen as members of a criminal organization, the water beings were once knights who served noble families. Hence, they harbored a strong disdain for firearms attempting to replace the martial prowess on the battlefield.

Gunpowder was nothing more than a weapon fit for those who couldn’t manipulate mana.

Was he trying to prove that?

The water beings, revealing their knightly pride, drew out the Mana Blades as if to challenge him.

“Attack all at once!”

“At best, guns like these…! Cut off their arms!”

Masked water beings, their faces hidden, rushed in response to the consecutive gunshots echoing in the corridor.

He surrounded them from the front and the back.

The blades, clenched tightly, surpassed a dozen.

With a pistol gripped firmly in both hands, he extended his arms, waiting for the enemies to rush in. As he tightly grasped the gun handle, the mercenaries shouted and launched their assault.

───!!!

Steps pounding the ground.

Fiery flesh towards the enemy’s bloodline.

Mana blades sharp enough to cut through any metal.

And a countless barrage of bullets that would engulf him.

“Kuh, cough!”

“Take cover! Bullets are raining down!!”

A rain of smoke bombs,

How else could one describe the situation where bullets relentlessly poured down without a break?

Dense gunpowder smoke.

And bullets raining down like a storm.

A fusillade. A spectacle of gunpowder and metal unfolded.

It felt like watching a mesmerizing performance by a seasoned acrobat.

Charging indiscriminately, the mercenaries, including those who rushed in, and the ceramics and artworks adorning the corridor were all mowed down. The surroundings crumbled rapidly, like the view from a speeding carriage.

“Su, surely heard he was an unarmed culprit…!”

“Yes. Compared to those monsters, he is.”

The mercenary, clutching his abdomen and spitting out blood, exclaimed as if squeezing it out.

Answering the desperate question, he pressed the muzzle against the forehead of the last survivor.

He pulled the trigger.

* * *

The villains who invaded Count Hohenberg’s territory were a force decimated by the holy maiden party.

Wolves of the sword.

A band of rogues comprised of wandering knights and mercenaries.

Destroying numerous farms and engaging in looting, they gained an infamous reputation for their lawlessness.

However, within the narrative, they exhibited no influence and experienced the humiliation of being treated as a combat measure for the early-stage holy maiden party. To the party composed solely of superhumans, an armed criminal organization was nothing more than an extra.

“Capture them all!”

“Be cautious! They wield mana blades!”

The ominous tolling of the crisis bell heralded the terrifying entry of the Hohenberg family’s knights.

The assailants, who had attacked the castle, wielded their swords in defense, but one by one, they were captured. True to the formidable reputation of the Hohenberg family, representing the East, they pressed the invaders with overwhelming force and precision.

“Damn it! Mere country bumpkins like these…!”

In an attempt to avenge the ruthless slaughter of their brothers by the formidable warrior Maximilian, the blood relatives of Hohenberg launched a surprise attack on the Count’s command.

However, the outcome was despairing.

Most were either killed or captured.

At this rate, even he, the leader himself, would be apprehended.

Jebeus, the leader who had planned to regroup the remnants scattered by the assault of the Holy Maiden Party, swallowed his frustration, determined to find a way out. He burned with hatred, vowing to revive as a knight and seek revenge on the warrior.

“Darn it, I underestimated these Eastern country bumpkins too easily…!”

The arrogance of thinking that wiping out the guards of the territory would easily destroy the Hohenberg family was a fatal mistake. Moreover, the third son of the Hohenberg family, known only as a scion, proved to be a skilled monster in combat.

The gunfire ceased.

Surely, they were chasing after him.

Though he had narrowly escaped just moments ago, he knew he might be captured at any time.

Feeling a chilling fear, Jebeus sprinted through the corridor without rest.

“All exits are blocked! Even if I escape through the window, soldiers are likely waiting outside! In this situation, I can only resort to holding hostages and barricading myself…!”

Truly a cowardly and despicable method.

He had already lost.

To capture hostages in a situation where he had been completely defeated.

However, unlike his subordinates who were wanderer knights, Jebeus came from a mercenary background. Therefore, he prioritized survival without hesitating about means and methods.

“This way!”

Running through the corridor, Jebeus discovered the study located at the center of the mansion. Believing it to be the study used by the head of the Hohenberg family, he forcefully pushed open the door.

Bang!

With his sword drawn, he entered forcefully.

However, in the softly lit study revealed by faint candlelight, the head of the Hohenberg family was absent. The only occupant was a girl with emerald-green hair, lying peacefully on the desk, emitting soft breaths.

Despite the chaotic situation with the echoing sounds of metal and screams, Jebeus, baffled by the serene sight of the girl left alone in the study, couldn’t help but burst into a bitter laugh. Filled with a sense of futility, he moved slowly towards the girl left behind in the study, intending to use her as a hostage.

“Get up, little one! Get up right now! Damn it, can’t you hear me!?”

Judging by her refined appearance, she seemed to hold a rather noble status.

It was quite fortunate.

Capturing a noble hostage would give him an advantage in the hostage situation.

For a long time, it had been one of the pieces of knowledge acquired through a life of crime.

He reached out his hand.

It was to knock down the cheeky little punk first.

“Cough─!!”

Jebes, who had planned the crude hostage drama, was grabbed from behind by the figure who approached from the shadows. At the same time, a hot metal lump was pressed into his mouth.

Sizzle…!!

He felt the horrifying pain along with the sound of flesh sizzling.

However, he couldn’t resist. He couldn’t even scream.

He tried desperately to break free, but the gun threatening his life and the powerful grip on the figure behind him were too strong.

“Shut up. The kid might wake up.”

A man, covered in blood, warned as he revealed his teeth.

Don’t make a sound.

If you make even the slightest noise, I’ll pull the trigger immediately.

If you pull the trigger, the gun barrel jammed into your mouth will spew flames. The power of the bullets that had turned the assailants who attacked the castle into corpses was beyond description. No exceptions, just shattered skulls and spilled brains.