Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan
There was a locator spell on the amber orb Railin had given Annette. He pointed Raphael in the direction where she had thrown it, and Raphael shot away at once.
He had to scour the area once he arrived, but quickly found her with Celestine and Allamand. He was furious when he spotted her injury.
âAnyone that wants to live, leave now,â he said, brandishing the branch in front of him.
The Kingâs men had not expected to fight a Master of Swords. They had been in service from a very young age, but a Sword Master was on an entirely different level. Even if they outnumbered him, they were ants before a lion.
Raphael had never expected them to save themselves. He charged at them with a smile on his face. With nothing but a branch in his hand, he swiped at them mercilessly, and they were swept away like leaves.
In the meantime, Annette rushed to help her father sit down, tearing a strip of cloth from her sleeve to staunch his bleeding. Something rustled in the bushes behind her, but she only took it as her own nervous imagination as she examined Allamandâs wound.
It was bleeding through the bandage.
âFather, does it hurt much? Hang on, itâll be all right.â
What if he lost his arm? Tears streaked her face, but Allamand only looked at her, as unconcerned as if it were someone elseâs arm.
âWhat were you going to do?â He asked.
âJust now. Before. Why did you tell me to cover my ears?â
Annetteâs mouth shut with shock. She had been about to use her power publicly, for the first time. Raphaelâs timely appearance had mercifully spared her; her skill would be useless if anyone else knew about it.
Fortunately, Allamand desisted when he saw the worry in his daughterâs face. Instead, he looked to his son-in-law, who was busily slaying the last of the Kingâs men. When he spoke, Annette couldnât tell whether it was admiration or insult.
Raphael held only a thin branch in his hand, but when swords struck it, they shattered. With every swing of that branch, men fell in every direction. Incredibly, when he slashed the branch at the arm of one of the men, the manâs arm split open as if it had been struck by an axe.
This guy is unbelievable.
Allamand frowned. Raphael had completely reversed the situation. Even though Raphael was on his side, a shiver ran down his side. He didnât want to admit it, but it was reassuring to know that his son-in-law was protecting them.
It wasnât long before he had finished all of them off. He only spared two, stunning rather than killing them. They might be useful as witnesses later.
âAre you all right?â Raphael asked, casting the bloody branch aside as he approached. The question was reluctantly addressed to Allamand. It was an awkward question to ask; they were hardly close.
Nor did Allamand feel comfortable in answering.
âHe has lost a lot of blood,â Annette answered for him when he frowned. âWhat should we do?â