I am a member of nobility and I will proudly carry out my duty

“Finally.”

As soon as the emissary left, someone uttered these words, as though he had been holding it in all this while. These words broke the solemn atmosphere in the plaza, and drew everyone’s attention. “I was afraid of the emissary and didn’t dare to make a move but she’s finally gone.”

“Stetmann,” William asked with bewilderment at the subordinate who had stood up all of a sudden, “What the hell are you doing?”

Stetmann laughed inexplicably on hearing William’s words.

“Haha! Your Highness the Prince, have you not detected it yet?”

“Detected what?”

“Kuku, everyone knows that Txarango Kingdom’s First Prince is a genius at combat, but who knew he didn’t understand his own subordinates at all, otherwise…”

Stetmann held up his necklace and the star within the pentacle started twirling. A magic formation formed beneath his feet and swept through his body before disintegrating at the top of his head.

Stetmann changed his looks in an instant; his face became white and handsome, his ears became pointy and long green hair swept down.

“You wouldn’t have thought that I was your beloved subordinate for this long.”

“An elf? You aren’t Stetmann? Where is he?! Where is my subordinate?”

“Are you talking about that fellow you sent after us? Because a mimicry spell like this needs the original body so… Well, you get the drill, we minced him into bits, mixed them together with som reagents to make the materials for the spell which I then used to take his form.”

“… Impossible, I have never heard of a spell like mimicry, you must have used some sort of illusion.”

“Hmph,” The elven youth scoffed with contempt, “The number of spells you know not of are more than you can imagine, like this one.”

The elven youth’s eyes turned red, but there was no sign of any offensive spells. Just as William was in doubt, the subordinate nearest to him drew his lonsword and stabbed towards him. William reacted instantly and dodged to the side, before pulling out his own sword and facing his subordinate.

“Nick! Have you gone mad!”

“Wowee! To have dodged even that, as expected of His Highness the Prince.” The elven youth whistled as he gave a round of applause.

“Answer me Nick! Do you know what you are doing!” William roared furiously at Nick but Nick ignored him, merely maintaining his stance that allowed him to launch an attack anytime motionlessly.

“I don’t think he knows, Your Highness,” the elven youth said, upon which Nick began to move again with stiff and unnatural movements and an vacant look in his eyes, “He’s my puppet now.”

Nick charged at William as he thrust his sword, forcing William to dodge to the side but before Nick could follow up, William gripped his sword tightly and knocked Nick out with a blow to his neck.

“… You’re saying, you can control people.”

“That’s right, you guessed it in an instant. This magic is too hard though, even with the noble blood of elves coursing through my veins, I can only control 1 person.”

“But,” the elf said as he took a tiny glass bottle no bigger than a fingertip, and held it towards the evening sky as he spied it closely, “Everything changes with this bottle of black liquid.”

He opened the bottle and drank its contents in 1 gulp.

Upon imbibing the black liquid, he began coughing incontrollably and vomitted a big pool of blood before reaching out and tightening his grasp around his throat, letting out howls of pain. His eyes turned blood red, and veins all over his face and temple bulged, looking hideously evil.

William’s face darkened as he saw what happened with the elven youth.

“What did you drink, poison?”

The elven youth was rolling on the floor.

“*Keh*! Tearing…*Keh Keho*… Erosion… But… *Ke Keho*! *Ke ke keho keho*! But, I, I… *Keh keho*!”

(TL: Cough sounds)

And then it stopped, the elven youth stood up unsteadily with his left arm swollen and misshapen and frightening black spikes protruding from his back.

“…But, I feel endless power.”

As the elven youth raised both hands like a sovereign, a magic formation rapidly expanded beneath his feet until it enveloped the entire plaza, and the people who were watching on stood up gradually with unnatural movements, their eyes vacant.

The elven youth gave a twisted laugh that sent chills down everyone’s spines.

“I now have an army. Your Highness William, let’s see if your life is as hardy as they say.”

(TL: Fans of Marvel’s Loki can superimpose his image onto Cruise, his behaviour and mannerisms are exactly like Loki)

“Your Highness! Are you being controlled!”

“No, I’m good.”

“To, to think that there are spells that can mimic the form of others and control others… This is simply preposterous!”

“Even after that elf turned into a walking horrow show, he still can’t control everyone in the plaza. Could it be that he is unable to control those with stronger magic capabilities?”

“That damned elf, to think that he would dare lead such a brazen attack in the most sacred of places in this Oracle Plaza!”

“No… For him, this is quite possibly the best place to do such a thing.”

“Eh? Is, is that so? Speaking of which, Your Highness, Prince William is still surrounded, shouldn’t we go and save him? Our nation has been allies with Txarango for many years now…”

“Idiot, why do we have to help? That elf is only after William, why should we draw attention to ourselves. Besides, William is the most likely successor of Txarango. When the time comes for him to ascend the throne, it won’t be a surprise if Txarango’s territory doubles. Why do we have to help a potential threat?”

“Eh…”

“That said, we can’t be accomplice to any act against Txarango. We will just do the same as all the other delegations… Just sit and watch and do nothing.”

(TL: With just a short passage, author shows the complexity of international relations in the world, more will come in future chapters)

“That person’s blood is terrible, so is that one, his seems not bad… Ahh~ I want blood, master! Why won’t you let me drink!”

“Noisy!”

I swung Shuoxue and used the back edge to knock the charging guy out.

“Blondie said that all those here are important officials and even members of royalty from various nations, if anyone is killed, there will definitely be war on our hands!”

If the delegates from small nations were killed, Txarango would even gladly declare war first but if delegates from several big nations were killed, then an international coalition army might come to wipe Txarango off the map.

“Those bastards standing far off that clearly have their minds, don’t think I didn’t see you all! It’s one thing not to help to defeat that unarmed green haired elf, but to think you all are munching on snacks and chatting away! What is this, a play!”

Just as I had knocked one man out, the person who I knocked out just before got up and charged right at me.

“Is there no end to this!”

Just like chewing gun that couldn’t be shaken off, no matter how many times you stepped on the ground, it got stuck back to your sole every time.

“Master, be careful of your right.”

“What the fuck!”

The blade slashed down at my shoulder but good thing I dodged quickly and only lost a bit of skin.

“OWWWWWWWWWWWWW!”

“It’s okay master, I’ll heal it up for you.”

A warm pulse entered my arm from the hilt and gathered at the wound, regenerating the wounded areas in no time at all.

This was my 7th wound already, the most serious one was when my calf tendon was sliced. It hurt so much I fell to the ground and cursed in my mother tongue, Mandarin. Hopefully my pathetic state was not seen by Tina. The green haired elf was ultimately after William so me, the headmaster, Tina and the rest of Txarango’s delegation who weren’t controlled stood in a protective formation about William. Tina, who only knew hot to use magic, stood in the center with William. As for me, as I only knew close quarters combat, I was at the edge of the formation.

Even if my little finger was cut off, it grew back out almost instantly. Eh, even this much is possible? But it still hurts like hell!

“Why do I have to deal with this!”

After coming to another world for so long, all I’d been doing was eat, drink and make merry. In an instant, I was right smack in the middle of a battlefield with flesh and blood flying about, this is too much of a genre shift! Reverse this sudden plot shift! The story doesn’t flow at all! And no matter what, I was just an ordinary Chinese high schooler before I transferred, we Chinese love peace yo!

“Fucking hell, you dare to slash at my crotch! That’s way out of line! Even if it can grow back, I won’t forgive you!”

“No-no master~ I can’t do anything if important places and organs are damaged. If master’s little trunk goes poof, I can’t lick it back.”

“You think I will tsukkomi to your “little trunk” and “lick” comments? I’ll tell you now that I’m not an automatic tsukkomi machine that can dish out tsukkomis just like that in such a tight situation!”

“Do your best master and don’t die, or I’ll have to hibernate again.”

“I know! I won’t die! Until I have ascended to peak of happiness by marrying Tina, I won’t die!”

(TL: For a diehard otaku, he really doesn’t know how to avoid death flags)

“Oh oh, what an admirable aspiration! Speaking of which, master, didn’t I tell you not to fall in love with anyone. If you must fall in love with someone, fall in love with me, instead of that expressionless, speechless and feelingless young mistress. Where am I lacking in comparison with her? Where am I lacking?”

“You are not lacking in any way with her! Don’t worry, I won’t die, someone like me who fears death so much will normally survive until the end of the story.”

(TL: Can probably make a game of taking shots whenever he raises a death flag in action scenes)

“Be careful of your left, master.”

I returned a slash to the enemy that came at me and knocked him flying.

“Close!”

“Master, it has nothing to do with whether you are afraid of death or not. Did you know? All my masters have died at the hands of their loved ones.”

“Isn’t just the Sword Saint?”

“Yes, the first master has proven it. This is something like a curse, or perhaps a price to pay in exchange for power? I’m not an ordinary sword, believe me master.”

“Of course I know you’re not an ordinary sword. Where do you find swords that turn into a loli at night and snatch your blanket away? The curse is just a coincidence, don’t worry, don’t believe in unscientific things. My Ma always told me that fate is in one’s own hands, it won’t happen like what you said.”

“That would be for the best.” Said Shuoxue who went silent for a moment before continuing, “But that’s not a problem anymore!”

“What happened?”

“Because, the expressionless, speechless and feelingless young mistress you like, seems to have died just now.” Shuoxue said blandly.

I turned my head frantically.

William was using his sword to block the attacks of 3 people whilst staring wide-eyed behind him. Tina, who had her arms wide open, was pale as a sheet as the colour seemed to drain from a gaping hole in Tina’s chest from which an empty-eyed assailant pulled his sword out of.

Time seemed to stop as I stared at the scene before me, and it seemed like an eternity before I could react.

After taking care of the subordinate who came right for him, William quickly assessed the situation before him.

“All those who aren’t being controlled, give me a reply!”

“Jiang jiang~”

The headmaster made a cute sound as he raised his hand, as though he did not recognise the seriousness of the situation. Molan and Tina also raised their hands, as did several members of the guard.

“13 men. And our enemies number more than a thousand. The elf’s goal is me, so get into a formation with me as the center! Swordsmen out at front and mages inside!” William yelled, “Remember this! Not a single enemy is to be killed! They are all important people from various nations, if you kill them, war and ruin will come to Txarango! I repeat! Do not kill a single person! Just knock them out!”

Everyone quickly followed his orders and got into formation. As Tina was the only one who knew magic and had no close quarters combat capability, William pulled her to his side.

“Sorry, for putting you in danger.”

Tina raised her head and looked at William.

“… What are you talking about, Your Highness.” She replied nonchalantly as she drew her wand, “Protecting you is the duty of the House of Faburando.”

William laughed bitterly. Since 3 years ago, he had been used to Tina’s distant mannerisms to him. This was, after all, all his fault.

“I feel safe with you all around.”

A magic circle expanded from the formation and pillars of stone emerged from the ground haphazardly, forming a complex labyrinth, trapping the enemies within. This was one of William’s prize spells. In situations such as this when one is surrounded, erecting walls or creating high ground can greatly hinder the attacks of the enemy. But this can also restrict one’s own movements and with the sheer imabalance of numbers, it would only be a matter of time before they were overwhelmed by brute force. A maze, however, was a good tactic as it separated the enemy and forced them to waste time as they figure out the correct pathway while his subordinates would lie in wait at critical points and ambush those who came.

As expected of the most brilliant Prince of Txarango, even in the face of peril, William found the best tactic quickly.

However, the situation quickly deteriorated.

“Sire! They get up quickly after being knocked out!”

“Same here!”

“Your orders sire! The encirclement is tightening!”

“Stay calm!” William berated his panicking subordinates, “Just keep knocking them out! Don’t break formation! Keep stalling for time! I have a plan.”

In actual fact, he had no plan, but had no choice but to lie to maintain troop morale. Though he was calm on the outside, he had long lost his cool inside.

How could they awaken so quickly! Could control magic be able to forcefully awaken people?!

It could only be this.

Just then, 4 people broke through the protective circle and charged at William. William grabbed Tina with one arm and knocked them out before knocking them out of the formation with a stone block.

What should he do, what can he do!? He cannot kill them, knocking them out doesn’t work, they number more than a thousand and are eventually dismantling the labyrinth. If only he could kill the green haired elf standing outside, the control spell would probably be dispelled. But he didn’t dare to fire off a spell at the elf. Every time someone tried to attack the elf, someone would run into the attack pathway and block it.

William was out of options, and as he saw the dwindling formation, he realised that he was going to die here, today. But he had done his best in protecting Txarango, by not endangering national interests and maintaining the pride of the Txarango royal family. He only hoped that the elf would not do anything to his subordinates after his death. He had already lost a brilliant subordinate in Stetmann due to his foolishness…

Feelings of bitterness filled his heart. The path he had walked was by no means easy. He had to eat dirt to survive on the battlefield and resorted to the dirtiest of tricks in order to win, and he had to give up a great many things and people, such as Tina behind him… Everything was for the sake of realising the cherished dream and ambition that lay in his heart of hearts since he was a child. Was all his effort going to go to waste? He had not even found that person yet! The mastermind behind the cloaked man and the elven youth!

“Your Highness.”

Tina’s voice was shaky, but her determination and will shone through those words.

“Don’t worry about me, please protect yourself. I am a member of nobility and I will proudly carry out my duty.”

She let loose a chain of balls of light which exploded on the ground and halted the advance of the enemies. Though she was so petite and frail, at this moment, she was braver and stronger than anyone else.

William was captivated by the beauty she exuded.

“Tina… You’ve changed.”

“Eh…” Tina went silent for a moment, before continuing, “I am, no longer the child Your Highness first met.”

“Haha… Yes, you really showed me up.” William laughed as he let go of Tina, “Miss Faburando, can I leave my back to you?”

“It is an honour, Your Highness.”

Thanks to Tina, William had a newfound confidence. Though the situation was getting worse by the minute, he felt uplifted. Though death may greet him today, it has yet to come! Who knows! Maybe that elf will collapse before we are defeated! He was using the power of 1 to command 1,000 after all, let’s see how long he can last!

William had no reason to be optimistic. He did not know that what the elven youth drank was a vial of precious serum extracted from an ancient demonic beast of a most evil and mysterious race, one that even the book of legends had almost no mention at all.

He should also have never let go of Tina. Though she could wield powerful magic, she had no physical capabilities and asking Tina to protect his back was the same as getting Annie to block Garen’s attacks (TL: League reference)… He should have known this, which is why he pulled her close at the start to prevent her from being injured. But when Tina said she would protect him and not to worry with a resolute expression, those beautiful and distant eyes made him forget this fact.

Love really does make people stupid.

As more enemies broke through the protective circle, 3 came right for William. He was unable to dodge in time and used his sword to stop their attacks, both sides at an impasse.

“Sire! Behind!”

His subordinates screamed. William couldn’t dodge, his time was up. Suddenly cerulean hair blocked his vision as Tina blocked the attack with her body.

His mind went blank. In his daze, he heard the distant howl of the young man which sounded like a beast in despair.