The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 188

188. What Happened Outside the Barrier

At that moment, Duke Adrian and Isabel were following Rosette and Lucas’s trail. Their expressions were calm, but they both felt a knot of anxiety tightening within them.

“Your Grace, Lady Rose’s mana trace ends here,” Celine announced, relaying information from her familiar. She was part of the escort, a group of knights accompanying them.

Originally, Duke Adrian had intended to ride north with Isabel alone, hoping to retrieve Rosette and Lucas swiftly. He wanted to quickly snatch Rosette and Lucas back before anything happened to them.

However, Isabel, while quietly packing, had cautiously suggested, “Father, perhaps we should bring Celine or other escorts, just in case.”

She elaborated to the Duke, who initially thought it unnecessary, “It’s been several hours since Rose and Lucas left. They’re likely quite far ahead, making a quick catch-up difficult. We need to be prepared for any eventuality – monsters, perhaps, or even assisting the subjugation force.”

Convinced by her reasoning, the Duke agreed to bring Celine and a contingent of elite knights.

The news he received at the Adrian estate, which he visited as a precaution, was alarming.

Not only had the children been there, but he also learned of the subjugation force’s potential annihilation. This prevented him from resting and forced him to head north again.

“The subjugation force was annihilated?”

“It’s unconfirmed, but contact has been lost…”

Upon hearing this, the Duke and his party paled and pressed on, chasing after the two children. This had been going on for days.

Without a precise route, tracking them proved challenging. Had they come alone, as initially planned, it would have been far more difficult.

Fortunately, Celine’s familiar detected magical traces, guiding them this far.

They continued north, inquiring about the children in nearby villages, battling monsters, and tirelessly following Rosette’s trail.

Arriving at the desolate base camp, devoid of any human warmth, they fought back despair and prepared to move on when Celine spoke.

Duke Adrian dismounted and approached her.

“The trail is gone?”

The black cat meowed, and Celine translated, “There’s evidence of a large mana explosion here, after which the trail vanishes. My familiar has searched extensively but found nothing. And…”

She hesitated, prompting the Duke to ask anxiously, “And what else?”

Celine winced as if in pain. “They can’t sense the energy of the young lady’s familiar, Bbibbi. Nor can they sense the Crown Prince’s familiar…”

“Bbibbi’s energy is undetectable? What does that signify?”

“As you know, familiars are acutely aware of each other’s energy. My familiar consistently sensed Bbibbi’s presence until a day ago, when it disappeared.”

“…”

“Initially, I dismissed it as a mistake, but given the cessation of mana flow here…”

She trailed off, but Duke Adrian understood the implications. All traces of Rosette had vanished, as if she had ascended to the heavens, sunk into the earth, or teleported to an entirely different location.

“That’s impossible.”

The Duke swiftly banished the ominous thoughts. “She wouldn’t be defeated so easily.”

Duke Adrian knew his youngest daughter better than anyone.

When they first met, she was as delicate as a glass figurine, seemingly on the verge of shattering. Both her frail body and her spirit were fragile.

Rosette had undergone significant changes since living in Adrian. She had learned swordsmanship, strengthened her body, and greatly improved her magical abilities.

But it wasn’t just her physical form that had grown. Her mental fortitude had also increased over time. The timid child who once trembled at his presence had vanished completely.

Moreover, the Duke was now aware of Rosette’s past actions, the secret she harbored.

She had even used time regression magic, which he had deemed impossible. Therefore, she couldn’t possibly succumb so easily.

“Everyone, step back. Isabel, you too.”

The Duke, issuing a light warning, drew his sword. Forged over years by a master craftsman skilled in mana manipulation, it was one of the three great swords.

The sword hummed, reacting to the Sword Master Duke’s energy, producing a loud, magnificent sound that seemed to shake the very sky.

In an era of peace, the Duke had never had the opportunity to fully demonstrate his abilities as a Sword Master. There were no wars or monsters during his upbringing.

As he gradually released his mana, the marble-white blade trembled, resonating with sound.

The Duke slashed the area where Rosette’s trail ended, creating sparks.

“There’s something here.”

Alongside Rosette’s mana wavelength, he detected an unpleasant, sticky, and damp energy.

This was likely what had consumed Rosette, Lucas, and the subjugation force.

The Duke, gripping the sword with both hands, channeled all his mana into it. Just as he was about to thrust the blue aura-infused sword into the intangible barrier, a soft voice interrupted.

“That’s far enough.”

The Duke found himself immobilized, as if an invisible hand had seized his arm. He felt a sharp pain, as if his arms would be torn from their sockets, when he tried to move.

He groaned through clenched teeth and looked ahead.

A familiar figure stood in the empty space. “Marquis Lschel.”

A man with captivating crimson hair, his youthful face still reminiscent of boyhood, slowly approached.

“To what do we owe the pleasure of Your Grace’s visit?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Father!”

Isabel’s scream from behind made the Duke turn. Isabel and the others were suspended in the air, entangled in thick tree roots that had emerged from the ground.

Upon closer inspection, these weren’t tree roots but byproducts of condensed mana.

This was likely the work of Michael Lschel.

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle this!” Isabel, barely managing to draw her sword, severed a tentacle constricting her. However, the severed part sharpened and began to restrain her again.

The Duke turned to assist his daughter, but a tentacle shot from the ground and ensnared his ankle.

“Oh, my. Are you turning your back on me? That wouldn’t be wise.”

However, the tentacle couldn’t hold Duke Adrian for long. It was immediately incinerated by his released mana, and unlike the ones the knights had cut, it didn’t regenerate.

‘Mana is being consumed.’

As the Duke released mana into the ground, the tentacles began to burn from their base. Michael coughed softly, as if struck.

“Impressive. I underestimated you, assuming that because you’re not a wizard, you wouldn’t be able to handle mana properly. It seems Sword Masters possess a delicate touch.”

He smiled. “Was it Daniel Adrian, the Duke’s eldest son? He couldn’t handle mana, so I was unaware of this difference.”

The Duke, ensuring Isabel’s safety, turned back and pointed his sword at Michael’s neck.

“What have you done to my children? Was Daniel’s injury your doing as well?”

“…”

“Lucas, and Rose, what about her?”

A sudden realization struck the Duke.

“Could all of this be your doing, Marquis Lschel?”

Michael’s lips stretched into a wide grin, devoid of any angelic innocence.

No answer was necessary.

“Why? Is this a preemptive declaration from the Shelton Kingdom? Or a rogue operation?”

The Duke abandoned the honorifics he had been using. Michael was no longer a distinguished guest but an invader targeting his children, his disciples, and the Empire.

Michael shrugged. “Why don’t you go back and ask Louis Ernhardt?”

The Duke flinched at the unexpected name.

“Louis? The Second Prince?”

“Just a greedy brat, biting off more than he can chew. Trying to seize the throne without knowing how. Honestly, I prefer Joshua Ernhardt.”

“…”

“But I promised to give the throne to that incompetent brat, so I must keep my word.”

Duke Adrian was confused.

He knew Louis Ernhardt coveted the Crown Prince position, as did his maternal family, the Lillis ducal family.

The Duke had tried to make his daughter, the Emperor’s unmarried mistress, the Empress, hoping to make his grandson the Emperor.

He had targeted Ophelia, Joshua, and Adrian, who supported them.

Such power struggles were common among the princes, and Duke Adrian had no strong feelings about them.

‘But to involve outside forces?’