Chapter 35 : Are You Seriously Using a Cannon to Kill a Mosquito?

“If only… you were a warrior.”

“That guy’s speed and explosive power are just too much. He’s a natural enemy of mages like us!”

Staring at the maniacal Kato, the one-eyed old mage was drenched in cold sweat.

“At least you’re self-aware, old man.”

“You better surrender while the dosage in my system hasn’t overloaded yet!”

“I only want to take that young master.”

“Just a few dozen gold coins a month—no need to risk your life over it, right?”

“Once I completely lose control, it’ll be too late!”

Facing Kato’s offer to surrender, the old mage closed his eyes grimly.

He wanted to surrender.

But if he did, his reputation as a bodyguard would be ruined.

He’d lived a long life already.

And for the sake of his honor—He decided to go all in one more time!

“Young lady.”

“As long as you can follow my instructions, this isn’t beyond saving.”

“I have an A-rank, wide-area killing spell specifically meant to counter assassins.”

“It’ll take some time to cast—about forty seconds.”

“Just buy me those forty seconds, and I’ll take him out!”

The old mage spoke gravely.

The plan wasn’t exactly brilliant, but it was the best he had under the circumstances.

“Even though this is our first time working together, I hope you’ll trust me…”

Before he could finish, Perica gently shook her head.

“No need.”

The old man thought he’d misheard.

“What?”

As he stared in shock, Perica slowly stepped forward—toward Kato.

“I-Idiot!”

“You’re a mage, don’t get close to an assassin like him!”

“He’ll kill you instantly!”

The old mage turned pale with fear.

Even Kato was visibly startled.

Was this woman insane?

She’s a mage—how could she dare approach a close-range assassin?

Though Kato was full of confusion, his hands didn’t hesitate for a second.

As long as he took down Perica, Ron’s close personal guard, the others would fall apart easily!

“You really underestimated me, huh!”

“Die!”

Kato thrust his dagger straight at Perica’s throat!

This was no hasty jab like before—This time, he had infused his blade with a violet magical enhancement, drastically increasing its armor-piercing power.

Perica might be beautiful, But Kato had no intention of showing mercy.

In his mind, he could already see the tragic image of her body falling in a pool of blood.

However—That scene never came.

Kato’s eyes widened in shock as a faint green barrier materialized in front of Perica.

“Wh-What the hell?!”

“My high-grade weapon, plus my armor-breaking spell—”

“How could a shield that didn’t even require chanting block it?!”

Kato looked like he’d seen a ghost.

Before he could work out what was happening, Perica gently raised her staff.

“Winds of Shattering—tear him apart.”

She spoke just seven words.

Kato’s eyes bulged in horror!

To onlookers, it seemed as if he’d simply been knocked down by a strong gust of wind.

But only he knew the truth.

That wind contained countless razor-sharp blades!

Were it not for the fact that Kato’s body had been reinforced through alchemical potions—making his flesh far tougher than normal—Perica would’ve sliced him into ribbons right then and there!

“Gahhh!!”

Though he wasn’t reduced to minced meat, Kato was in terrible shape.

His entire body was covered in countless tiny cuts, and blood oozed from every one of them as he writhed in agony.

Before long, his all-black outfit was soaked through—Kato had become a man in red, drenched head to toe in blood!

“W-What kind of spell was that?”

“That power… could it be an A-rank spell?”

“But that makes no sense!”

“You only chanted seven words!”

Staring at the completely one-shotted Kato, the one-eyed old mage was stunned.

The stronger a spell, the longer and more complex its incantation usually is.

Compressing the casting time without losing power—That’s where a mage’s true skill lies.

And yet—Perica had cast that spell with just seven words!

And those seven words had been enough to instantly take down a nightmare opponent like Kato?

Even with all his years of experience, the old mage was utterly shocked and speechless by the overwhelming spectacle.

As he questioned her in disbelief, Perica rubbed her temple with a faint sigh.

“Was it still too powerful…?”

“I did try to hold back…”

Seeing the brutal state Kato was in, Perica actually looked displeased—at herself—for not controlling the output better.

Hearing this, the old mage was gobsmacked.

This was her holding back?

She had just instantly wiped out a thug who had taken out over a dozen magic warriors—!

Granted, much of that had been due to alchemical poison gas.

But still—it didn’t diminish Kato’s combat power!

“Such overwhelming strength…”

“If I may ask… is your official ranking perhaps…”

The old mage asked with respectful hesitation.

Perica gave a calm nod.

“Yes.”

“I’m a Master-level mage.”

Boom!

To the old man, her words were like being struck by lightning.

Even Kato, lying broken on the ground, stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

“This… this can’t be real…”

“Isn’t that Ron just a powerless failure?”

“Didn’t the Castrellero family fall into decline?”

“Wasn’t this backwater territory given to him as a retirement prize?”

“How could someone like him afford a bodyguard of this level?!”

“This is a complete waste of talent!!”

“Damn it—ahhh!!”

The physical pain was unbearable— But the mental anguish was even worse!

Before the ambush, he’d planned everything so carefully—certain that his target was too minor to warrant serious protection.

No way they’d use a cannon to kill a mosquito, right?

But turns out— They skipped the cannon and launched a missile at the cockroach instead!

On the other side, the old mage was still stunned.

Then, hastily, he dropped to one knee with a face full of reverence.

“A Master… I’m honored to meet you!”

“But who would’ve thought…”

“A genius like you, hidden away on the empire’s border!”

“So young and already Master-ranked…”

“And capable of chantless casting of an A-rank spell…”

“Miss, even in the imperial capital, you’d be considered top-tier!”

The old man looked up at Perica with deep admiration.

Perica, however, seemed a little dazed.

“A genius?”

She knew better than anyone how she had gotten to where she was.

She wasn’t some prodigy.

As for why she’d achieved so much…

She didn’t really know.

But without realizing it, her gaze drifted toward Ron.

As Perica stood there in thought—

Suddenly, a man dressed in equally strange fashion darted out from who-knows-where!

Hunched over like a rat crossing the street, he moved with astonishing speed, scooping up the badly injured Kato and vanishing without a trace.

“What? He had an accomplice?!”

The old mage was stunned.