Chapter 116: Who Else Wants to Kill Me?

Three black beasts, their eyes filled with savage malice, rampaged through the s*ave market, slaughtering everything in sight.

The s*ave traders scattered in panic, each fleeing for their own life without sparing a glance for others, shouting for the stationed knights and their own guards to come resist the beastmen.

A riot erupted without warning. The beastmen pouring into the streets were far more than just these three—they were merely the vanguard. More and more beastmen burst out from underground chambers, wreaking havoc across the city without restraint.

The physical gap between beastmen and ordinary humans was like an insurmountable chasm. The guards accompanying the nobles were like paper in front of these three, easily torn apart. Only well-trained knights could barely hold them off, but the overwhelming difference in numbers quickly turned silver armor into scrap metal, flung aside by massive claws.

The demi-humans bound by runes saw this and realized their chance for survival had come. Some picked up the runes dropped by fleeing s*ave masters; others didn’t hesitate and simply ran.

The flaw of the runes now became apparent—they only prevented beastman slaves from harboring intent to harm humans. If a beastman had no intention of attacking, but only wanted to escape, the only thing restraining them was the linked rune held by the s*ave master.

And once the s*ave master died, that restraint became meaningless. In fact, if a s*ave managed to steal the controlling rune, they would be completely free.

“Damn it, where did these idiots even get high-tier beastmen from? Risking their lives for money?!”

Mara’s head turned stiffly, as if wound by a spring—and just happened to meet a pair of crimson eyes.

“She’s here!”

The two beastmen nearby turned in unison at the shout—not at Mara, but at Peretti.

Without hesitation, all three massive beastmen abandoned what they were doing and charged straight toward her.

Slash—!

Blood sprayed through the air—but it wasn’t Peretti or Mara who were injured. The three charging beastmen were blasted back by a powerful wind blade.

“Miss, it’s dangerous here. I’ll escort you out.”

Peretti glanced at the suddenly appeared young mage and inwardly noted that Mara was indeed no ordinary noble.

Given the situation, protecting Mara and escaping wouldn’t be difficult for her—the key point was that the beastmen’s target was Peretti, not Mara. If she left, they would gladly lose a problem.

Staying here, even with two people, wouldn’t change anything.

“Magic…” The wolf-headed beastman licked the wound on his arm, a trace of disdain flickering in his crimson gaze.

Unlike the beastmen imprisoned underground, these three were trained, their strength reaching fourth-tier Starlight.

Before reaching the Brightmoon stage, human magic was severely limited. A human not yet at that level, when facing a beastman of equal rank, was nothing more than struggling prey.

“Miss Aisha, hold on! Peretti, come with me and leave quickly!”

Mara understood her mage’s strength—holding out until reinforcements arrived was no problem. But if she and Peretti stayed, they’d only be a burden.

Peretti helplessly pointed behind them.

The beastmen pouring out of the underground had completely blocked all escape routes.

“Too late. Every way out is sealed.”

“Damn it, this is bad…” Mara cursed under her breath, stepping in front of Peretti protectively.

“They’re after me. Find a chance and leave.”

Didn’t expect it—this young noble actually has a bit of a hero’s spirit.

Too bad today isn’t hero saves beauty.

It’s beauty saves hero.

The wolf-headed beastman charged straight at the mage, the two clashing fiercely and locking each other down. The other two circled from both sides, their target clear.

With no one protecting her, Mara panicked—but her noble upbringing kept her from screaming.

“It’s over… those idiots are going to get everyone killed…”

She shut her eyes, resigning herself to death.

“Hey, that’s enough. Getting scared by two little dogs like this?”

Peretti’s lazy voice rang out beside her.

Mara thought she was hallucinating. Slowly opening her eyes, she was met with a massive sphere of light. Surging magic poured outward, lifting her hair with its force.

Of the two charging beastmen, one was already down, the other crouched low, baring its fangs and staring warily at Peretti.

The wolf-headed beastman froze.

Years of killing had honed his instincts—he could instantly tell from the sheer density of magic that the gap between them wasn’t even comparable.

Damn it. The intel was wrong.

She’s not Starlight… she’s Brightmoon.

“This… you did this?”

Mara turned her head in disbelief. She had assumed Peretti was just an ordinary traveler—reality had just shattered that illusion.

Someone capable of this level of magic was undoubtedly a Brightmoon-tier powerhouse. In the Empire, such individuals formed the backbone of military strength—strong enough that even a complete novice could be appointed as a legion commander.

And this was light-element magic…

At this level, perhaps only the current Saintess could match it.

And yet… someone like this was wandering as a traveler?

Looking at Peretti’s white hair, a bold thought suddenly formed in Mara’s mind.

Immense power, unique appearance…

Miss Peretti… could she be a scholar of the forbidden school?

That would explain why Mara had heard the name before, yet never seen her.

As well as why someone so powerful would choose to travel—the minds of those forbidden scholars were beyond ordinary understanding.

“Who else could it be? You?” Peretti didn’t bother looking at Mara. The floating sphere of light shrank, drifting into her hand.

“Answer me something—how did you receive the Princess’s orders from so far away?”

The two remaining beastmen glanced at each other, saying nothing.

“No answer… fine. You’re useless anyway.”

She raised her hand.

Two bursts of [Lumen] erupted beneath their feet. They didn’t even have time to react before the three beastmen who caused the chaos were completely erased from existence.

“So powerful…” Aisha murmured in awe.

“Just average.” Peretti replied casually, gathering the two glowing spheres back into her palm.

“By the way, Mara—do you know where the nearest beastman city is?”

“…Why are you asking that?” Mara was caught off guard.

“Answer.”

“Um… head south after leaving the city gates. On horseback, about two days.”

“Got it.”

Three golden orbs rotated slowly in Peretti’s hand as she smiled faintly, sweeping her gaze across the surrounding beastmen.

“So… who else wants to kill me? I’m always ready.”