Chapter 23: I Don’t Know Why a Martial Master and a Grand Mage Are in a Small Town Like This, But…

Vice had already blended in among her clones. Only Vice herself knew which one was the real body.

The black figure’s eyes glowed. She used an appraisal-type skill, trying to identify the true body.

But she could not see through it, and muttered in surprise:

"These aren’t illusions... to think someone can create this many solid clones..."

Illusion-type clones that had no physical substance only deceived the senses of others, so appraisal-type skills could often see through them. However, clones that created actual physical bodies — even if only temporary — that were completely indistinguishable from the original were extremely difficult to identify.

Creating solid clones was high in difficulty and consumed enormous amounts of mana or aura, making it hard to produce large numbers of them. The fact that Vice could create ninety-nine solid clones was proof that her abilities were on an entirely different level.

Judging that she could not identify the true body on her own, the black figure raised a sharp voice and called out to her companion:

"Ivory! Can you tell which one is the real body?"

"Not immediately! It’s a clone-type skill I’ve never seen before, and it looks like multiple layers of disguise have been applied. It’ll take a few minutes!"

Hearing her companion’s reply, the black figure clicked her tongue.

"That won’t be in time!"

Right after the black figure spat out those words, Vice and all her clones began speaking in perfect unison with the same voice:

"I don’t know why a Martial God and a Grand Mage are in a small town like this, but..."

The "Martial God" Vice referred to was the black figure currently fighting. The "Grand Mage" was the other adventurer who had protected Kazui with holy magic — Ivory.

Vice had already noticed that the adventurer who used holy magic to protect Kazui was at a distance, even before the black figure called out Ivory’s name.

"...one of them would be one thing, but fighting a Martial God and a Grand Mage while I’ve already lost an arm after being caught off-guard is a bit too much, so..."

With a regretful tone, Vice continued:

"I think I’ll run away for now."

As she spoke, she made both herself and her clones sprout wings and tails. Almost at the same time, the clothes that had vanished earlier reappeared, so neither Vice nor the clones were naked any longer.

Vice spread her bat-like wings, activated her flight skill, and began rising into the air. Of course, the clone Vices also spread their wings and, as if freed from gravity, rose into the sky together with the real one.

The real Vice and the clones rapidly ascended several dozen meters. The original ninety-nine clones had already been reduced by more than ten.

Before they took off, the black figure had destroyed over a dozen of the clones. Because the clones Vice created were not mere illusions but advanced solid clones, they could be destroyed and even possessed combat ability.

However, their combat ability was far inferior to the real Vice’s, so they could not stand against the black figure, and more than ten clones were destroyed in a short time.

"I left a little unfinished... such a delicious boy, too..."

Looking down from the sky at Kazui, who was still enveloped in white light, Vice muttered with regret. Then she began high-speed flight toward the far reaches of the sky. Wrapped in the pale-blue light of her defensive aura, she drew a pale-blue trail of light across the sky as she flew away.

The clone Vices also began high-speed flight in every direction. The sight of pale-blue lights flying off in various directions looked as if a flower of pale-blue light had bloomed in the sky.

The clones matched not only the real Vice’s appearance but even the way she flew away. Therefore, neither the black figure on the ground nor her companion Ivory could tell which one was the real body at all.

The black figure also chased after Vice, rising several dozen meters into the air in an instant. However, unable to determine which was the real Vice, she could not decide on a target to pursue.

"Ebony! If you can’t tell which is the real one, chasing them will only waste mana and aura, so stop!"

Ivory’s sharp voice rang out from the ground, giving instructions to the black figure floating in the air — Ebony.

"My mana and aura alone might not be enough to keep this boy alive!"

While regretfully glaring at the real and clone Vices flying away, none of which she could distinguish, Ebony spat out:

"Well, until her left arm regenerates, she probably won’t be able to attack people for a while."

Then Ebony descended to the ground and landed near Kazui, who was still wrapped in light. She spoke to Ivory, who had already rushed over to Kazui’s side at some point:

"Does it look like he’ll make it?"

"It’s touch and go."

While checking Kazui’s condition, Ivory answered honestly and immediately.

"Somehow... I managed to protect him before his Enevitè was completely drained, but it’s a miracle he’s still alive."

With a serious expression, she added:

"He must be a really stubborn type. If he survives, he might become quite the adventurer."

While talking with Ebony, Ivory was writing a spell onto a white card she had taken from her pocket. Spells were normally chanted aloud, but they could also be written down and used that way.

(So... I’m in that bad a state, huh...)

Hearing the conversation between Ebony and Ivory, Kazui muttered in his heart. Strength had left his entire body; he could not move even a fingertip, let alone his body.

His breathing was faint and he could barely manage to breathe. Yet somehow he still retained consciousness, and his eyes and ears were functioning, so he could see Ebony and Ivory and hear their conversation.