It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 130
Though fighting with Serenia’s carriage at his back would restrict his opponents’ movements, there was a risk the carriage itself could be struck accidentally during the conflict.
Rather than worrying about that, it was preferable to charge directly into his enemies. After repeated lifetimes, Lionel had grown accustomed to battles against multiple opponents.
Lionel’s goal was ultimately to join hands with Solen.
Thus, he had to subdue everyone swiftly, leaving them only lightly wounded before Vaikal, who stood a short distance away observing, could intervene.
As Lionel predicted, the masked men intensified their attacks the moment he moved away from the carriage.
As he leapt upward, kicking away a sword aimed at his shins, several arrows narrowly missed his waist.
He swiftly knocked out the first masked attacker by striking the back of his neck with his scabbard, then immediately turned right, dodging claws aimed at his torso before kicking his assailant hard in the stomach. Despite the severe impact sending the enemy crashing into the city wall, not even a groan escaped.
He had incapacitated two attackers in mere seconds, but there was still no room to breathe.
He moved without pause, swinging, dodging, kicking, and crushing, never allowing a single blind spot.
They were exceptionally skilled at concealing their presence, their tactics clearly distinct from ordinary combat. Thankfully, Lionel had plenty of experience with these sorts of fights as well.
There had even been instances when those attacking him now had once fought alongside Count Solen and Vaikal, each of their weapons coated in poison.
‘No poison this time.’
Thus, Lionel quickly concluded that unlike previously, this time they didn’t intend to kill him.
Still, nothing had fundamentally changed.
Until Serenia herself chose to leave his side, he could not afford to give her family any reason to take her away. Even if they were her family, he had to defeat them decisively.
If they refused dialogue, he would force a situation where dialogue was unavoidable. One instance of such conflict was already more than enough.
The battle ended swiftly, without screams or shouts. In less than three minutes, no one remained standing around Lionel.
He didn’t even need the magic scrolls or daggers prepared for an emergency. Only his sheathed sword and limbs had been used as weapons.
Vaikal, who had been about to rush Lionel, was halted by the man next to him gripping his shoulder.
“Enough.”
Lionel’s gaze shifted from Vaikal to the man beside him. Removing the hood covering his head, the middle-aged man approached with firm, decisive steps, revealing eyes the same shade of amethyst as Serenia’s.
Denoud Solen.
Once considered the Head of Solen, the guardian family at the founding of the Lubarque Empire, now reduced to hunting dogs who betrayed their master.
He was also Serenia’s father.
“It’s been a long time, Count Solen.”
“Duke Luanax.”
Stopping before Lionel, Count Solen narrowed his eyes slightly.
“When Vaikal told me, I doubted my own ears. Yet here you are.”
“If you’re referring to Serenia, it’s true. She’s engaged to me.”
Count Solen let out a short, humorless laugh.
The next instant, sensing sudden danger, Lionel swiftly threw himself toward the carriage.
Though he barely managed to intercept Count Solen’s sword aura before it reached the carriage, the force hurled him violently into it.
He smashed through the door that had been protected by basic defensive magic.
Seeing Count Solen calmly approach, Lionel immediately understood.
Lionel had been certain Count Solen and Vaikal would never harm Serenia.
And Count Solen had been equally certain Lionel would protect the carriage at any cost.
In other words, Count Solen had targeted Lionel from the very beginning, perfectly understanding that Serenia was Lionel’s weakness.
“Come out now, my child.”
Unlike when speaking with Lionel, Count Solen called for his daughter with a voice as gentle and soft as melting snow.
“Haa….”
Lionel rose, gripping his left shoulder, and sighed deeply.
Serenia wouldn’t respond to her father’s call.
She would have torn the magic scrolls the instant the door shattered.
Indeed.
For the first time, Count Solen’s composed expression faltered as he peered into the smoke-filled carriage.
