Chapter 223 - Chapter 223: Securing
Steve and Bella teleported, of course, right in front of Balt and the others. Balt, surprised by the sudden appearance of the two, immediately challenged them.
"Who are you!"
Steve answered that question.
"Steve T.S. Archibalt. Do you know me? To the people of the Big Bear Empire."
At that reply, Balt rejoiced.
The opponent he had wished to defeat had appeared before his eyes. The distance was well within the effective range of magic. He immediately used illusion magic.
The illusion shown to Steve and the others was himself kneeling in dogeza, begging for his life.
By showing a non-resistant posture, an opening appeared for Steve and the others. Confirming that, the real Balt pulled the trigger of his gun.
All the bullets that flew out hit Steve and the others. They immediately fell to the ground and stopped moving.
"I did it! I defeated Steve T.S. Archibalt, the mage hailed as the strongest!"
Balt shouted loudly, overcome with joy. On his comrades' faces, expressions of relief could be seen.
And, to immediately confirm Steve's death, he approached the fallen body.
But,
"Wha—!!??"
Because the fallen Steve stood up, Balt was surprised and hurriedly jumped back.
"Guns don't work on me."
On Steve's body, which had been bleeding until just now, not a single bloodstain remained, nor were there any traces of bullet impacts. Bella stood up similarly, but there were no traces of having been shot either.
"Why!"
When Balt shouted, Steve answered with a smile.
"This is an illusion I'm showing you, you see."
Yes, this was illusion magic by Steve. Magic that interferes with the mind is determined by whether it can be resisted by mana quantity. For Steve, who has the most mana quantity among humans, illusion magic does not work. Also, Bella was equipped with a magic item ring that nullifies magic interfering with the mind.
Since there was information obtained beforehand, she had made preparations like that.
Balt, returning to the real scenery, tried to hastily aim his gun, but earth chains created by Steve's magic restrained his arms, preventing him from aiming the gun.
(This was the power of the mage hailed as the strongest in history!)
Balt was surprised by Steve's magic he actually saw, and was captivated. He even felt moved by the earth chains restraining him.
But, suddenly he came to his senses.
"Kill the Doctor! If you can't take him away, at least, eliminate the possibility of that weapon being owned by another country!"
He shouted that.
A long-range weapon that becomes an overwhelming threat if possessed. He wanted to crush even the possibility of that weapon being possessed by another country.
Subordinates followed the order, trying to aim their guns at Dr. Bell.
It was then.
Snap
As if hearing the sound of snapping fingers, he saw the gun being blown away with a splash of water.
Steve opened his mouth while laughing.
"No, no, you guys are lucky, today is special. Another one is coming."
Saying that, Isabella was standing in the direction he pointed.
The true identity of the water that blew away the gun was Isabella's magic.
That Isabella, however, had flames of anger in her eyes. The reason was a scandal caused by Archibalt Steel, which she managed. Inducement of illegal export by the Sales Manager. Due to this, the company's trust was lost. She bowed her head to her half-brother Arthur and ran around to have the punishment made as lenient as possible.
Tracking the agents of the Big Bear Empire that caused that. Although Isabella was busy, there was no option for her not to participate in that.
So, she begged Steve and accompanied this tracking.
"To desire the lush orchid to flourish, the autumn wind defeats this, huh."
This was Steve's mutter when asked by Isabella. Steve, who is a doting parent enough to compare his child to a lush orchid, naturally permitted that.
That Isabella, when she drew her sword, kicked the earth. To normal human eyes, she suddenly disappeared, visible only as dust swirling. Only Steve and Bella could follow her with their eyes.
And, when the sword flashed, the guns held by the agents split in two.
"Actually, I wanted to chop your bodies up and make you face west, but I'll hold back because it's in front of Papa."
When Isabella, whose anger had not subsided, said that, Steve smiled bitterly.
"I wish you would hold back even when I'm not around, though."
"I'm doing it after thinking, more than Bella is."
"Rude. I am thinking."
Thus, Steve and the others secured Dr. Bell and the agents.
Steve recovered the car and the wreckage of the guns Isabella cut using Storage Magic.
Balt, who was watching that while restrained, glared at Steve and asked.
"Why did you, while being able to use such magic, develop science and technology and lower the value of magic!"
Teleportation, illusion, earth attribute, and Storage Magic. It is rare even to use two systems of magic, and if it's three, it's about the level of the Yellow Empire's consort. He was convinced the rumor that he mastered four systems beyond that and could use others too was true.
While being such a legendary-level mage, Steve puts effort into science that substitutes magic. He wanted to hear the reason for that.
To that question, Steve answered without getting angry.
"Not everyone can use magic, you see. Considering the ratio of mages, it's not enough to improve the living standards of humanity. Even I can't make everyone in the world use magic."
"Such..."
He heard the reason and thought it was hypocritical sophistry, but since he was actually seeing them doing it, he immediately negated his own thoughts.
He realized the person before his eyes thought that way from the bottom of his heart.
In the end, Balt said nothing more than that.