Life's Lessons, Life's Price

Lord Barthomeloi looked at the young man who had been blasted away and frowned.

He sensed the aura around the young man and raised a hand, signaling everyone to stop.

"What are you doing?! You're a mage too, young man!" Lord Barthomeloi barked. "Move aside, now. Half of London has already been destroyed. This situation must be dealt with!"

"Of course I know what I'm doing." A hole had been blasted through Ruslan's chest by magecraft, blood steadily streaming from it, yet he still forced himself back to his feet.

The blood dripping onto the ground formed a tragic yet beautiful pattern. Bloody tears continued to run from Ruslan's eyes.

His voice broke. "I just... don't want to stand by and do nothing anymore."

"Besides, if I don't stand by his side..." He turned and walked toward the monster standing there in a daze. "No one will stand by his side."

His steps staggered, yet they were incomparably resolute.

"Ah... ah... pfft..."

Lord Barthomeloi sighed. "Though I don't know what happened between you, and though your resolve moves me, still..."

He gave the surrounding mages the order to attack. "We must intervene in this incident. If you insist on standing in our way, we will not show mercy."

"I know." Magecraft was already about to strike from behind. A bleak, mocking smile appeared on Ruslan's lips. "Isn't that just what mages are like?"

Arno No. 1 wanted to protect Ruslan, but before it could run over, Ruslan—half-kneeling on the ground from excessive blood loss, still weeping tears of blood—was already swallowed by magecraft.

Its compound eyes reflected Ruslan's final expression.

It was a complicated, strange expression.

For some reason, Arno No. 1 could understand what it meant.

"Goodbye."

Boom—

Boom boom—

Ruslan was blown to pieces by all manner of