Chapter 18: Julia Hippolia de Hyperion
Russell’s thoughts were simple.
I did all the work, but she’s getting all the glory.
The thoughts of the others were not so simple.
“Your Highness!”
Zeona, who had been trying to approach Russell, hastily kneeled down on one knee and bowed. The knights beside her also knelt like Zeona. Albert and the spirited Elenora did the same.
“W, What the hell? That lady is a princess?”
“She’s so pretty. . . Hey, what are you doing?”
“You idiot, kneel down quickly! Do you want to get your neck cut for disrespect?”
“Ugh, the ground is wet. . .”
The soldiers and mercenaries also kneeled down in unison. Soon, everyone except Russell was kneeling on the damp earth.
Princess Julia, who had been looking down at them naturally, turned her gaze to Russell, who was still standing. Her golden eyes held an undisguised curiosity.
“Aren’t you going to kneel like them?”
Russell was about to speak informally, but then he thought that she was a princess after all, so he spoke respectfully.
“I don’t feel the need. I don’t want to bow my head to someone who isn’t my lord.”
“Hmm. . .”
At that moment, six more riders appeared on the hill where the princess had come from. They quickly found the princess at the bottom of the hill and galloped over.
And unlike those who had bowed to the princess, they found Russell standing at a distance. Immediately, one of the six riders increased his speed and let out a roar.
“You insolent! How dare you stand tall with your waist and neck stiff?”
Who the hell is that? Russell looked at the guy approaching with an annoyed expression. He was wearing a helmet that seemed to depict the head of a lion.
The princess softly sighed and shook her head. On her beautiful face, emotions like annoyance, similar to Russell’s, appeared.
“Bow your body right now!”
The knight in the lion’s head helmet, who had shouted, was so quick-tempered that he kicked the saddle of the horse he was riding and jumped up. He was a knight with a height and size that were larger than the average height of men in this world, wearing gorgeous armor and holding a huge war hammer with a long shaft in both hands.
The knight swung the war hammer without hesitation. It didn’t matter that the princess was nearby, even though he was a little far away. It was impossible to tell if he was confident in his abilities or if he trusted the princess too much.
At the very least, it was clear that this guy was not in his right mind. Was it excessive loyalty, or was he rather a cunning bastard who was undermining his master’s authority?
Russell remained motionless as the hammer, aimed at his head, neared. The power of lightning was still writhing inside his body, along with his magic power.
A more vast magic power rose up at his will and surged through his entire body. His senses sharpened, and his perceived time slowed down.
Entering a different time from the others, Russell observed everything within a certain radius with his five senses and sixth sense.
His senses, which had transcended the realm of the superhuman, transmitted a more detailed view to his brain than what his eyes could see.
Behind him, Zeona, Albert, the soldiers, and the mercenaries were looking at Russell and the knight falling from the sky with shocked expressions. Elenora was as expressionless as ever, and Evelyn had a faint smile, while Lexi had her mouth slightly open.
The princess, who was standing right in front of him, was watching them with a peculiar posture, one hand on her waist and her weight on one leg, as if she found the whole situation amusing. At that moment, Russell noticed the princess’s golden eyes moving slightly in his purple eyes.
Russell was a little surprised. The princess had ensnared the moment, a moment that ordinary people could never feel in their lifetimes and only glimpsed fleetingly as a lantern slide before their demise.
It wasn’t that she could enter or move her body freely like Russell, but that she recognized his ‘time’ and moved only her pupils, and even so, it was a remarkable feat.
“. . . . . . .”
The princess’s golden eyes, which had moved slowly, met Russell’s purple eyes. Her pupils also possessed magic powers. A man with black hair and purple eyes and a woman with silver hair and golden eyes faced each other.
“. . . . . . .”
“. . . . . . .”
The two of them did not exchange any words. To be precise, in this slowed-down time, even if they had tried to make a sound, it would have been a bizarrely slow sound, like playing back a damaged tape, so they couldn’t have.
Even so, Russell could sense a few emotions in the princess’s golden eyes. Surprise, amazement, curiosity, and wonder. Her eyes were filled with a mountain of questions about Russell.
Russell chuckled and turned his head away. The phenomenon that was happening now was nothing more than using his body’s magic power to accelerate his body’s senses, allowing him to move and think at a speed that was invisible to others. He had not actually stopped time.
That’s why, even at this moment, the clouds were moving, the wind was blowing, and the grass on the ground was rustling. The same was true for the unnamed knight, who was swinging his hammer into the air.
Russell moved his body. He pushed the bottom of the slowly falling hammer away with the back of his hand and brought his fist down on the approaching head.
Russell was moving slowly, but that was only in the slowed-down time. In reality, he was moving with tremendous speed and mass.
As Russell watched his own movements, he thought of a famous scene from a movie he had seen long ago. He also reflected on his own skills and domain, which enabled him to effortlessly recreate that renowned scene. ‘As expected, reincarnation was the best.’
BAM!
With a loud noise, the knight, who had missed his hammer, flew backward. The knight was unable to dissipate the force he had received, and he bounced like a water bug several times on the ground, plowing up the dirt before falling over.
Everyone’s mouths dropped open. Their eyes were so wide that if someone were to hit the back of their heads hard, they would pop out.
Even the princess opened her small, plump red lips slightly and looked back and forth between Russell and the flying knight.
All they had seen was the knight with the hammer jump up, Russell blur briefly, and then assume a posture where he had lightly extended his fist.
The princess barely swallowed the scream that was rising from within her. It had been less than a second, but she had seen it clearly. The time within the time, which only the most superhuman of the superhumans could enter for a moment. Russell moved leisurely within it.
Russell flipped his right wrist in circles and spoke.
“You have a pretty hard head.”
As if to prove his words, the knight, who had been thrown far away, staggered to his feet.
Russell’s fist struck the lion’s helmet, but only slightly dented it. Russell’s fist would have smashed an ordinary helmet along with his head.
“Ugh, what the. . . Uurp?”
The knight, who had just risen, crouched forward again. As if it wouldn’t fold like the princess’s, he unbuckled it and threw off the lion’s head helmet. Blood gushed from his mouth.
“Ugh, cough.”
The revealed face was surprisingly young. He looked to be about the same age as Russell, or maybe even younger. He had dull red hair and a fierce-looking face, but his runny nose and drooling saliva ruined that ferocity.
The knight raised his gloved hand to his nose and glared into his brown eyes.
“You son of a bitch. What kind of trickery did you use?”
These guys always call it trickery when things don’t go their way. They were the kind of people who could never admit their own shortcomings or the superiority of their opponents.
The knight didn’t stop talking.
“You cowardly and despicable bastard. Like a lowlife, you didn’t even recognize a noble, and you used trickery to strike a knight of the Order of the Dawn. Your crime is great! If you confess your sins in detail and kneel right now, I will spare your life with one of my arms.
“Lyos. That’s enough.”
At that moment, the princess raised her hand. The knight, who had been talking nonsense, shut his mouth at the princess’s gesture. Russell raised an eyebrow.
“You listen well to her. Unlike the way you look.”
“W, What?! This lowlife-“
“Stop!”
When the princess yelled, the knight, named Lyos, finally fell silent. He gritted his teeth, though. Behind her, the remaining five horses and their respective riders approached.
One was a knight in full armor with a helmet modeled after a wolf’s head, and the others were a woman in a robe and carrying a staff, a man in a light martial arts uniform, an elf in silver leather armor, and a person of unknown gender wrapped in a thick coat.
They all dismounted from their horses in one motion, as if they couldn’t stay mounted while the princess was getting off. They all looked like they were from the same family.
The princess turned her head and looked at Russell. She seemed to be about to say something, but she just stared at Russell. In the end, Russell spoke first.
“What is it?”
“My knight has been rude to you. I apologize on his behalf.”
The princess bowed her head deeply and then raised it. Her brilliant silver hair swayed. Russell could see the Dawn Knights standing behind her, stirring. It seemed that something unusual had happened.
The princess gestured to Lyos, who was staggering over.
“Apologize to this man.”
“. . .Yes? Your Highness?”
“. . . . . . .”
“Your Highness, I was only worried about your safety, and I could not tolerate the insolent attitude of that bastard. . .”
“. . . . . . .”
Lyos looked at the princess with a miserable face, but she was unmoved. On the contrary, her expression became even harder as he made excuses. Lyos chewed on his lips and slowly bowed his head.
“I’m sorry. . .”
Russell accepted the apology with a casual nod. It was a pity that he hadn’t died in one hit, but on the other hand, killing the princess’s knight could have been a problem. He could have pestered him by asking him exactly what he was sorry for, but he didn’t.
In fact, he didn’t care about the apology or anything else right now. His only desire was to swiftly return to the city and cleanse his body, drenched in blood and rain.
Suddenly, he thought of his cigarette. He remembered lighting the cigarette just before the rain began. It had tasted like shit. He should throw it away now. Russell fumbled through his pockets.
Albert and Elenora, who had gotten up after paying their respects, approached with cautious steps. Albert held his staff horizontally and greeted him.
“Greetings to the Emperor of Mankind and his daughter. My name is Albert Delquines.”
In a prayerful pose, Elenora greeted him by placing her clenched fists on her forehead, lips, and heart.
“Servant of the Radiance, humble servant of all mankind, greets the blood of the emperor. I’m Elenora Gracias.”
The princess nodded slightly. It was a simple gesture, but because of her extraordinary appearance, it did not look clumsy or funny.
“Greetings to the noble elf and the priestess of the radiant. As I mentioned earlier, my name is Julia Hippolia de Hyperion. I would like you to call me Julia, but I suppose that is not possible. Feel free to call me whatever you like.”
Albert tucked his staff away and inquired.
“Yes, Your Highness. We have heard rumors that the princess has left the imperial palace and the capital to travel. Did you come here as part of that as well?”
“Yes. To be exact, this place is one of the destinations on that journey. Calisden.”
“Yes. . . . . .?
The elf wizard looked surprised. It was just a casual remark. Why would the daughter of the emperor, which ruled over the vast territory in the west, have this northeastern border town as her destination?
Albert, who had been pondering, had a sudden thought. Could it be?
As Albert, lost in thought, stepped back, Elenora spoke to the princess again.
“Then you will enter the city.”
“Yes. I was on my way to check on something when I met you. It is good to meet Priestess Elenora, who is famous in the north and east of the continent. What brings the priestess of Radiance to Calisden?”
“I also have a purpose in this city.”
“Is it difficult for you to tell me?”
“Perhaps it is similar to the reason why the princess came.”
“Is that so?”
The two women, who had had a difficult conversation to understand, looked at each other with smiling faces. Blue eyes and golden eyes met. Soon, the princess was the first to chuckle and change the subject.
“Hmm, let’s change the subject. As we approached Calisden, we saw strange dark clouds covering the sky. While the skies in other areas were clear, they gathered over Calisden, appearing ominous even from a distance. One of the knights confirmed my thoughts. He said it was the result of evil magic. That’s why I rode my horse in a hurry and witnessed it.”
The princess paused for a moment and looked at Russell. Russell, having removed his cigarette case, discarded the bland cigarette, and selected a fresh one, lifted his head in response to the princess’s gaze. ‘What? Why are you looking at me?’ The princess replied,
“There was a strange black giant standing in the plains under dark clouds, and a warrior with a great sword facing him. At a glance, I knew who was good and who was evil, and I summoned lightning with an artifact. I intended to help the warrior defeat the black giant. However, to my surprise, the warrior absorbed the lightning I sent at the black giant and combined it with his own attack. It was a sight I had never seen before. It was a magnificent sight, as if the god of thunder and lightning had appeared.”
‘What are you trying to convey by talking so slowly? This is killing me.’ Russell put the cigarette he had taken out in his mouth, lit it, and created a fire from his index finger. Albert, who was watching, looked at Russell with concern.
The knights standing behind the princess had fierce looks in their eyes, but the princess seemed unconcerned.
“Ever since then, my whole body has been tingling as if I had been struck by lightning, and I can’t stand it. Warrior, would it be rude of me to ask your name here?”
With a sigh, Russell exhaled smoke. Fortunately, this cigarette tasted good.
As the scent of magic power permeated deep into his lungs, his five senses came alive, and his mood improved. It was enough to blow away the discomfort, if only for a while. That’s why Russell obediently said.
“Russell.”
“Do you have no surname?”
“. . .I do not.”
It was a very impudent attitude and speech, but the princess did not point it out at all, so the Dawn Knights also remained silent.
Only Lyos was glaring at Russell, his face as twisted as possible, as if he wanted to eat him.
‘What’s a cripple going to do when glaring at me?’ Russell chuckled at Lyos, and the veins on his forehead bulged. However, he eventually managed to suppress his anger. Russell was disappointed. It seemed like he could have separated that stiff neck. ‘Should I have simply closed my eyes and blown his head off earlier?’
The princess spoke, her eyes sparkling.
“You said earlier that you have no lord to serve. Would you bow your head to someone like that?”
“I am different from other wandering knights. I neither seek nor feel the need to serve a lord. Why do you ask?”
“What about me? As your lord.”
Leave a Reply