Chapter 18 Ch. 18: A Naive Boy [4]
Before the dagger landed on my throat, I quickly evaded and jumped backward.
"Oh, wow. Nice reflex."
Trickster clapped his hands happily. I should have run when he revealed his weird nickname, who would know that I would be tricked by a trickster named Trickster--just, damn.
I swept my surroundings and saw many people starting to appear behind and above the trees. They wore black attire and a mask that covered their faces. To think that the sender sent more than twenty assassins, the felon really wanted me to die so badly.
I tried channeling my mana but canceled it anyway as the Mana here had been manipulated. Looked like they planted a Mana Disruption device to mess up the Mana flow in this area.
I didn't know who but, the culprit definitely knew that I was an Elementalist from the very beginning. I took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly.
'I need to calm myself down so I can think more clearly.'
I glanced at Trickster.
"To think you were lured and prepared a surprise for me, I'm flattered."
"Lure? Weren't you the one who followed me willingly?"
Uh, yea, well. What he said was true.
'Ah, I guess, I have no talent for stalling time with words.'
<strong>===</strong>
"What do you think of this magic?"
"It's useless."
'What is the point of learning to make a vapor?'
Count Andreas chuckled at my blunt answer.
"Yeah, maybe this magic is useless. But, do you know that even useless magic like this can become lifesaver magic in a life-and-death situation?"
'But, how? It's just vapor.'
He stared into my eyes before he resumed his words.
"Let's imagine that you are being chased by a bunch of assassins. Do you know how to escape their eyes?"
'Oh, I think I know where this conversation is going. If it's a small amount it's vapor. But, if it's in a large amount then–'
"Create a fog?"
He smiled and nodded.
"Correct. The important thing is we could escape their eyes. What's next?"
"Using a teleport magic paper?"
Count Chislon made a thinking pose as if judging my answer.
"Hmm... Do you think the assassins will let you do it? Not to mention that we need more than 10 seconds to activate the teleport magic paper."
"Of course, they won't."
'Why is he asking something obvious?'
"How about we changed our perspective? Let's say that you create the fog, then what will the assassins do?"
"They'll rush in or throw their weapon into the fog to prevent me from using the teleport paper magic."
"Now that you know what they are going to do, then what will you do?"
"Defend myself with Earth Elemental?"
Chislon shook his head.
"Prince, when we're outnumbered by assassins, it is best if we can stall as many times as we could while escaping, whilst waiting for the reinforcement to arrive. So, why bother to cast an elemental if we could paralyze them even before they could rush in or throw their weapon toward us?"
"How?"
'Is it even possible to paralyze many assassins all at once?'
"Then, I will give you a clue. Fog is a thick cloud of tiny water droplets. Even if it is just droplets, it is still water. Prince, do you know what Elemental becomes more powerful when combined with Water?"
"Lightning."
"Correct."
Count Andreas nodded in satisfaction.
"Since Your Highness is a Quint Elemental Bearer, you are capable of making many Elemental Fusions. But, what we are discussing right now would be in vain if the assassins use this item."
He took something out of his jacket and a clear crystal point came to view.
"Mana Disruption Device."
Chislon nodded.
"That's right. The maximum range of this device is 2 km and will last 30 minutes. This device will disable any magic devices that require Mana and also mess up the flow of Mana in the area."
It would be such a pain in the ass if the assassins used that damn device. Because I couldn't use my Elemental, then it seemed I had to fight with my sword for 30 minutes or more. How bothersome.
But then again, I like how Count Andreas mentioned every possibility that might occur, so I wouldn't be panicked when I faced something similar to this.
"But, Your Highness--"
Chislon's expression became serious and glared right into my eyes.
"--are you confident in fighting many assassins at once? Also, they must be well-trained assassins."
"Well, I'm confident that I'll be dead in no time."
Chislon burst into laughter.
"I like how Your Highness knows your limitations."
He put the Mana Disruption Device back and took another item. This time he took out a small box, he opened it and a blue crystal point that I had never seen before came into view.
"This one is called Mana Stabilizer. This device can stabilize the flow of Mana. In other words, this item can counter the Mana Disruption Device for 5 seconds."
Not only I had never seen it, but I had never heard of it either. But to think it could counter Mana Disruption Device, even if it only lasted for 5 seconds, that item was still considered amazing.
"This device was invented by my team, it's still a prototype. So it hasn't been released in the market yet."
I couldn't help but furrow my brows.
'Is that really alright for him to show me an unreleased item from the Arcanist Tower?'
Chislon closed the lid and put it back into his jacket then clapped his hands.
"Alright, shall we begin our training then?"
To tell you the truth, I was interested in that item.
"If... If I can cast paralyzed fog in 5 seconds, could you give that device to me?"
Chislon looked at me for a few seconds before he nodded.
"Actually, I'm going to give you this as a present, but now that you want a deal, alright then, it's a deal."
<strong>===</strong>
"Oh my, Prince. You're surrounded. Kekeke."
Trickster smiled widely whilst juggling his dagger. The assassins began to unsheathe their weapons. He stopped his action and licked his dagger.
"Your Highness, do you have any last words?"
"I do."
"Better say it then."
Trickster laughed madly. I secretly took something out of my pocket and clucked my tongue in annoyance. To think I would use the Elemental Fusion a week after I learned it in actual combat, how amusing…
"Fuck you."
I could see how Trickster abruptly quit laughing, he was stunned by my words.
"Fuck you."
He looked at me with bloody eyes and his hands trembled with anger.
"Kill him!"
The moment all of them jumped rushedly toward me, I hastily activated the Mana Stabilizer and the paralyzing fog spread throughout the forest in no time.
"How did he--Aargh!"
"Urgh!"
"Arghhh!"
Unbothered by their screams, I sprinted as fast as I could.
"Fuck you."