Ducking the Camera at a Short Warp is the Taste of Resentment

“René……!?”

"What?"

The duke was momentarily thrown into a panic, but quickly regained his mental equilibrium, perhaps from a sense of security in knowing that Brian was right beside him.

Brian, on the other hand, simply tilted his head questioningly.

"Impossible. You'll die a miserable death, you fool."

"Unfortunately, I'm already dead. No, this body is still alive."

Apparently, Brian, unlike the Duke, believed that the "Rose Princess of Hellrage" had been defeated already.

Perhaps Lawrence's failure was top secret.

"Watch out! That woman has strange powers...!"

Godo, who was huddled with one arm missing, shouted to Brian.

But Brian, cool as a cucumber, replied.

"It's probably just a physical reflex."

"W-what?"

"It's magic you don't see very often, though. But once the seed is broken, it doesn't matter."

He then held up his sword toward Iris (René).

"Magic Sword Release."

With Brian's words as the keyword, the dazzling silver sword became clad in blue lightning.

--He is wearing armor that clearly has some kind of magic defense, and of course he must have a charm. And his weapon is a sword that looks like it does magic damage... I see, it would be tough to fight him head on.

Iris (René) assessed Brian's fighting ability.

If she was serious, she might have many ways around it...

--Do I use it? No, let's fight as 'Iris' as much as possible. If I use that, I won't be able to disguise my presence the moment I step out of the barrier.

Iris (René) dismissed the thought that came to her mind. She would like to find a way to overcome this with magic alone.

--I think I should try that strategy. It's a good idea since we're indoors.

Iris's (René's) decision on how to deal with the situation and Brian's rush were almost simultaneous.

“Kieeeeeeeeeeeee!!”

A quick, sharp step that one would not expect from someone wearing full body armor. Lightning flashed through the air!

And then, the magic sword cut the empty air.

"Wha-what? Disappeared?"

Brian, who had lost sight of Iris (René), looked around, and the others were also in a state of shock.

Iris (René) was watching their backs.

"≪Death Cloud≫”

"What!?"

They finally turned in the direction of Iris (René) when they saw the fog of death that was brewing.

Iris (René) was sitting on the fireplace, legs dangling.

"Onii-san here..."

"≪Short Teleport≫ Hah!"

As expected, Brian seemed to have guessed immediately what had happened.

The lowest level of teleport-type magic, which can really only be used to move in the immediate vicinity.

It was surprisingly useful for adventurers, for example, to enter a room through a keyhole, to pass through iron bars, or to jump up to a higher place and pull up a comrade.

However, if it were to be used in battle, it would have to be able to be wielded without chanting. That would require a lot of skill on the part of the magician.

Brian immediately turned on his heel and slashed at her.

But by that time, Iris (René) had already deactivated the «Death Cloud» and moved to the corner of the room with another «Short Teleport».

"You, Chocomaca!"

"Well, 'it doesn't matter if the seed is broken', right?"

"You!"

Iris (René) again avoided Brian who was slashing at her, "«Short Teleport»", and hung on the chandelier.

"≪Death Cloud≫”

Once again, the fog of death was released.

"I won't let you!"

A moment later, Brian's lightning sword, which leapt ahead with a running start, was about to catch Iris (René). She teleported again, and Brian's attack only half-destroyed the chandelier.

While the two sides were attacking and defending, the rest of the guards and non-combatants were moving stealthily. Toward the hole that Iris (René) had just blasted open as she entered the room.

"The two of you get out while you still can!"

"Oops, I won't let that happen! It's a dead end, ≪Masonry≫! "

"Wha..."

The stone scattered around the area floated and blocked the wall like a puzzle being put together. Furthermore, they were originally piled and assembled stones, but now they were adhered together as a single block.

The guard who saw the hole close up in front of him was immensely surprised.

"I'll tell you if you don't know. You have to defeat the boss to get out of the boss room."

"This is my reception room!"

"You say so, I see!"

While the duke was yelling back at her, Iris (René) manipulated her magic and extended stones from the surrounding walls to block the door that was the original entrance.

"Make way with magic!"

"...≪Explode≫!"

Of the two magicians who were on the defensive, the one who seemed to be the duke's subordinate fired an offensive magic.

The wall was blown away, creating a hole.　

But...

"≪Masonry≫”

Iris (René), who had decided to teleport again, decided not to attack, but to plug the hole.

The escape route was soon closed.

"I appreciate you going out of your way to wear me out. Do you want to give it another try?"

"Guh…"

The magician's face turned red then blue. The duke's emotions gradually began to mix with impatience.

"Hey, you people watching over there!"

Brian shouted in frustration at the guards and the leader's bodyguards, who were just sitting idly by.

"You should also attack! There is no possible way that her magic power will last forever after using so much consumption-heavy teleport magic. Cut it down! Cut down her magic!"

"B-but with our swords!"

"Use magic enchantment!"

At Brian's words, the magician subordinate to the duke began chanting.

"≪Enchant Force≫! "

Granted magical enchantments made the warriors' weapons glow with magical radiance.

This was a magic enchantment that would allow them to inflict additional damage through magic power. This would also damage Iris (René), who had physical reflection.

However, with this magic enchantment, the magician finally reached his limit.

"Ah, ahh ... higg."

The magician fell straight down, seemingly clutching his chest.

It had already drained a lot of magic power to defend against her magic. He seemed to have exhausted himself with that and the magic enchantment.

He was breathing heavily with blood spraying from his mouth and seemed to be unconscious.

“Is this guy dead?"

The duke snatched a charm from the magician's pocket.

The Night Pythons magician, who was defending himself, no longer seemed necessary to protect him, and removed his defensive charm out of the range of the spell. The fallen magician stopped breathing at the next «Death Cloud».

"I'm sorry, I'm about to...!"

"Hurry up! Cut off her magical power!"

Another Night Python magician also raised his anguished voice, and the leader commanded in a dusky voice.

The whack-a-mole game of hell continued.

Warriors ran around the room in a frenzy, and every time Iris (René) was approached, she would teleport and unleash a ranged attack.

"Agaah..."

The remaining magicians soon fell, and now the only thing protecting the poor victims trapped in the boss room was charms.

"You have a charm, as I would expect. But when it runs out, that will be the end of you. It's a short time for despair, but take your time and enjoy it."

Standing on the table, Iris (René) looked down at everyone, their gazes wavering.

“Gugyaaaaaaa!!”

"Uh..."

"Jig, jou..."

"Guooh..."

The official who apparently did not have a charm died immediately, followed by the warriors who had apparently used up their charms.

Godo, who was supposed to still be breathing, was also dead before long.

All that remained was the duke, the boss, and Brian.

"Tsk! Another one down...!"

Brian tossed away a gold plate, blackened and billowing white smoke.

"We're running out of time, Brian! You're a former 7th class Great Adventurer! You can't even take down one kid! What do you think I'm paying you so much for?!"

"I understand!"

The Duke ranted hysterically.

"It's about time, you've reached your limit, you too!"

For the umpteenth time, Iris (René) teleported, dodging Brian's sword.

And that was when she unleashed the next «Death Cloud».

Brian, who was rushing toward her, eventually fell down with tumbling feet. The sword did not reach Iris (René) and rolled on the floor.

The last of the protective charms had snapped off.

"Disappointing."

Brian barely looked up and stared at Iris (René). She looked down at him.

"From the beginning, I've used only enough magic to match my natural magic recovery."

"You monster ...!"

Those were his last words, and Brian expired.

"...Monster, huh. I wonder who is the real monster, those who can do such terrible things to a helpless girl, or me?"

“Oh, no! No way! Brian... oh my God!"

"Ha... I'm getting burnt, too."

The duke clawed at his waxen head and the boss laughed as though he had given up on the whole thing.

The last of their remaining charms. Both of them were not experts in combat, and it was already only a matter of time before Iris (René) killed them.

“Actually, I'd like to make you suffer a lot before I kill you, but the Duke still has his uses. I hope you die a clean death... «Pain Whip»."

You can get access to 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on my Patreon. <3