The Hercules beetle, receiving the rogue mage's command, took flight. Its speed surpassed sound, and an ordinary person wouldn't have been able to react in time.
But…
"Ugh… That was close."
Reacting in an instant, Renya scooped Elfaria up in a princess carry and evaded the direct line of the beetle's charge. Feeling the manly strength of her beloved childhood friend, whom she had reunited with after so long, Elfaria's heart pounded in her chest.
The Hercules beetle, its charge evaded, circled around and hovered again, as if re-aiming.
Looking back, the trees and ground in the path the grotesque insect had taken were split clean in two, as if cut by a sharp blade, and the surrounding area was pulverized by the resulting sonic boom. It seemed those blade-like horns were not just for show, and its speed truly exceeded sound.
"To dodge that... I don't know who you are, but you're impressive."
As the rogue wizard spoke admiringly, he made a move to sic the grotesque Hercules beetle on them again.
"..."
He wasn't one to brag, but within the Gray Sorcerers, Renya was a famous mage. Not knowing that meant this guy was probably just some low-level nobody. In other words, insignificant.
Renya, in contrast, set Elfaria down, took two steps forward, and positioned himself to shield her behind his back as he faced the grotesque insect.
But…
"Wait, Renya."
Elfaria stopped him.
"Elfie?"
"Leave this to me. I'm not just someone who needs protecting by you anymore."
Elfaria, telling this to a skeptical Renya, stepped forward ahead of him.
"I see... Then I'll leave it to you."
"Yeah, leave it to me!"
"Stop flirting every damn time! Stop flirting in front of me!"
Renya, trusting his childhood friend, left it to her.
Elfaria, determined to live up to that trust.
The rogue mage, enraged by their exchange, commanded the grotesque Hercules beetle from behind.
"A girl, a mage at that, thinks she can stop my Flying Blade Insect? No way! No way, no way, no way! There's no way you can cast magic fast enough! Don't get cocky just because you're cute! I'll crush you and make you my first slave!"
The rogue mage sent the Hercules beetlethe Flying Blade Insectto make her pay for her recklessness.
The grotesque insect closed in at supersonic speed. Reaction before interception seemed impossible, but Elfie easily handled it.
[Frozen Ice Coffin]
The ice magic, activated with almost no discernible movement, sent a blast of frigid air.
The Flying Blade Insect, exposed to the polar wind, froze solid as if trapped in a coffin of ice, then plummeted. It shattered into pieces upon impact with the ground.
"Wh-what the hell...!"
At that sightno, confronted by Elfaria's skill, the rogue mage's emotions erupted. They were negative emotions: indignation, obsession, delusion.
"You've improved, Elfie."
"Hehehe. Thanks, Renya."
"...Hmph, haha, hahahahahaha!"
The rogue mage burst into loud laughter at the exchange between Renya and Elfaria.
Being mocked so thoroughly, his emotions had snapped.
The fact that Renya and Elfaria had no such intention made it even more infuriating. They simply weren't concerned with him at all. Fighting him was just a job, a business transaction.
"Come to think of it, did a stray devil flee here?"
"A stray devil? Oh, yeah, there was one acting all high and mighty, holed up here. I took care of it myself."
The rogue mage replied with a sneer. Apparently, the two rogues hadn't joined forces but had ended up killing each other.
"So it seems, Elfie. We'll need to confirm it officially, but it looks like all that's left is to clean up this guy."
"Yeah, Renya! I'm glad it seems like it'll be over soon."
"Don't mock me! Fine, I'll show you! I'll show you something you'll never forget!"
Magical power, separate from the rogue mage himself, gathered beside him and began to form something.
Having been reunited with Elfaria, Renya had pursued and cornered the rogue mage together with her, but the rogue mage was about to unleash what seemed to be his trump card.
"This next insect is nothing like the playthings from before!"
Magical power, refined and concentrated, formed a chitin-covered head, hands, arms, and legs, solidifying into a tangible form.
What was eventually born was a bipedal insect reminiscent of a cicada.
The rogue mage spoke with confidence.
"This is my ultimate combat magic insectSatsuki!"
The bipedal insectSatsukilanded on its own legs a step behind its master, and astonishingly, it opened its mouth.
[What is your command?]
"Kill him! But make sure he fully tastes the power of my art and fear...! However, don't kill that girl over there; just hurt her! Make her regret everything and beg to become my willing slave!"
[Understood! Your wish is my command. I shall surely fulfill it.]
Satsuki responded deferentially to the rogue mage's order.
From this exchange, Renya realized Satsuki possessed intelligence on par with a human.
At the same time, he grasped how formidable it would be.
Anyone with discerning eyes could tell. The magical power emanating from that magic insect rivaled the aura worn by those of High-class and above.
"That thing..."
"That's right! I had my greatest masterpiece incorporate the forbidden artifact I stole! With this, Satsuki has become the ultimate being that will unfailingly carry out my commands!"
An item that grants wishes in a twisted way, combined with a familiar that faithfully executes orders. This combination certainly appeared deadly.
Moreover, a command like "KILL" left no room for misinterpretation. Combined with Satsuki's control spells, it might allow for even more applications.
"I'll say it again, Satsuki, don't kill him immediately! Make him thoroughly realize your power and his own helplessness!"
[As you wish.]
Satsuki, responding deferentially even to its master's sadistic smile and words, struck the ground with the knotted, whip-like tail growing from the back of its head.
Then, as if to make Renya savor the fear, it advanced slowly, step by step…
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