ILLYML – 10.2

I chewed up my innocent lips. My stamina has been pushed to my limit, and if I continue, I will soon be defeated by him.  

I wanted to use magic, but I couldn’t do it right away.  

To defeat Mikhail, I had to cast strong magic, and to do so; it required complicated calculations.  

There is no magic in Korea, but various calculations were required to use magic in this world.

Distance calculation, moon phase, sun position, strength calculation, etc.  

Mathematics was essential for magic.  

The pace of my calculations was getting faster and faster as I was also busy concentrating on Mikhail. 

I clenched my teeth and tried to concentrate on two things. 

‘It’s almost done now.’ 

Chaeng! (sword clash sfx)

It was a moment when I thought it was done. 

Despite hardening my sword, Mikhail broke my sword again.  

‘Damn it!’  

“Huh……!”  

I quickly made a sword, but I couldn’t wholly resist Mikhail’s attack, who was faster than me.  

As I rolled back to the floor and staggered, I decided to gamble.

Now not only was my kicked abdomen aching, but my whole body was suffering.  

Mikhail came to me with all his might.  

I energized my narrow arms and drew his sword toward my neck.  

And at that moment, I regained my magic power but had no sword.  

“Ugh……”.  

“You······!”  

The sword that was facing my neck stopped at a breathtaking moment.

The tip of his sword slightly stabbed my neck and it started bleeding.  

He apparently thought I would stop it.  

Mikhail’s eyes shook wildly.  

I looked at him with a victor’s smile, and Mikhail belatedly noticed my smile and his face was filled with admiration. 

Finally, I made a perfect gap in his defense.  

I couldn’t check it, but luckily I had just finished the golden calculation.

“Destroy.” 

“….!”

Realizing his mistake, Mikhail hurried to wear magical power around her body, but I was one step faster than him.  

Quang!

A white streak of light that hit Mikhail. 

My eyes were dazzled by the light, and I frowned reflexively. 

Mikhail was struck by a powerful blow and fell to the floor.

I approached him on the floor at a slow pace.  

Of course, I couldn’t walk quickly because my whole body was tattered.  

“Listen, Brother. I’m not as good at swordsmanship as you, but I’m much better at magic than brother.” 

“……” 

“It’s funny who’s worried about whom right now. But just one thing, brother, you don’t need to worry about me.”

“………” 

Mikhail glanced at me once and quietly closed his eyes. I looked down at him calmly, and Mikhail sighed.  

“······Mine 30%. Not below that.”  

As I looked at him with absurd happy glittering eyes, he shrugged while lying down.  

“I told you not to go, but you’re going anyway, right? If you can’t stop them, you should join them—might as well be compensated for it.”

Mikhail’s face was smiling softly again. 

I got the inkling that it was a lie, like the mask he showed me before. 

“So where’s Toshiff’s invitation?”

“I put it on page 273 of <The History of Imperial Rebellion>.”

“It’s a book that suits you brother.” 

“Hey, you wicked little sister.”

I left Mikhail on the floor behind me and headed to his room. 

* * * 

Following the instructions on Tosiff’s invitation, I entered a dark and cramped alley.  

Wondering if I took the wrong turn as I passed through the cramped lane, a big building appeared around a dark corner.

Who would have guessed that there would be a large illegal slave headquarters in these quiet outskirts?  

“Do you have an invitation?”  

“Here you go.”  

I handed the man the invitation from Mikhail.  

The man who opened my invitation opened his eyes wide as he looked at the seal and name written on it.  

“Go, gold….. Rotor-nim…?”

No one could see my face by wearing a mask, but a smile slowly spread from behind the mask.  

The man who received the invitation looked surprised and then ordered the man next to him.  

“Hey, quickly, call the manager…! Rotor-nim is here…!”  

“……Yes? Rotor-nim?”  

“Idiot! Why are you still here? Go now.” 

 The man who received the order immediately gasped and reacted to the name ‘Rotor’ and panicked.

 The more he offered and did, the more I tried to reject politely, the more eager he became to find something I liked.

He wanted to give me everything I wanted it seemed; he looked mildly perplexed when I declined. 

He must have wondered what I would buy at the auction for plenty of other things for sale other than slaves.

Finally, the manager arrived and smiled and cried at me.  

I realized Mikhail’s influence in the world behind me.