A Trivial Little Disturbance Among the Knights

After John was injured, it was as if he could no longer feel pain. He stood where he was, trembling all over, heavy beast-like panting spilling meaninglessly from his mouth.

He stared fixedly at Leo, all reason gone from his eyes, like a beast through and through.

Then John lunged at Leo again.

Leo stepped back with his right foot, then leaned forward and swung the Arcane Hand sword.

Another wound was torn open across John's body.

Yet John seemed completely unaware of it and charged at Leo once more.

Leo frowned. In terms of strength, he naturally held the advantage.

But something was wrong with John. Before figuring out what was going on, Leo did not want to kill him.

Of course, that was also because Leo's strength far surpassed John's. If it had been a Grand Knight like Aifel or Kairila, Leo would have chosen to kill them in a single strike.

For a knight, there was no way to subdue John in his current state without killing him.

However, Leo had a way to subdue John without taking his life.

The sword in Leo's hand dispersed, and Arcane Hand transformed into a great net that enveloped John.

John stretched out his hand, trying to tear the net apart.

But the parts of John's body that touched the net soon began to undergo warped mutations.

This was the corrosive effect caused by the release of spiritual energy.

This move was similar to the method Lane had used to kill that Prossian before.

But with the protection of the Knight Breathing Technique, John had not died immediately.

Even so, being trapped inside a great net formed from spiritual energy was agonizing for John.

John let out a pained howl.

As John continued howling, he continued struggling.

Yet the more he struggled, the more the great net's corrosive effects twisted his entire body and inflicted pain upon him.

Still, Leo was somewhat surprised. "Once this Knight Breathing Technique is activated, the body feels sturdier than steel."

An ordinary body would likely have been corroded beyond recognition by now.

Yet John, who cultivated the Knight Breathing Technique, showed only slight corrosive effects across his body. His flesh remained mostly intact.

John's agonized howls drew many of the knights aboard the ship.

They gripped their weapons, originally intending to avenge their companion.

But when they saw Leo and John lying on the ground wrapped in the net,

not a single one dared to take another step forward.

Even Aifel, the captain of the knights, merely watched from afar.

None of them dared to plead for John either.

After all, Leo was not only a wizard, but also a figure in their eyes who was like a god of war.

Leo's gaze was indifferent as he looked at Aifel in the crowd. "Knight Aifel, I need an explanation. One of your knights suddenly ran over and attacked me just now. Did you order him to do so?"

Aifel opened his mouth at those words, his expression complicated. "Wizard Danville, this is a misunderstanding. We do not know why John suddenly attacked you either."

"Please believe me. This matter has nothing to do with us!"

"If possible, please let me take John away and interrogate him. I will give you a satisfactory explanation."

Aifel looked extremely flustered, as though he truly had nothing to do with this matter.

But Leo could not rule out the possibility that Aifel was putting on an act.

Leo pondered slightly, considering whether he should hand John over to Aifel.

Just then, several knights nearby suddenly shouted, "Damn wizard, I'll kill you!"

"I am the true god! Wizard, die!"

"Wizard, give me back my dignity!"

The several knights shouted as if they had gone mad, then charged toward Leo.

The moment Aifel saw this, his mind began buzzing.

All he could think was that it was over.

John could still be explained away.

But now several more knights had suddenly jumped out to attack Leo. How was he supposed to explain this?

Leo frowned, noticing that these knights were in exactly the same condition as John. They too were in a dazed state.

Just then, a figure stepped in front of those knights.

Kairila knocked the knights flying with the flat of her sword. "Aifel, stop thinking. Something is wrong with these knights. Hurry and subdue them."

"Wizard Danville, there is no need for you to deal with them. Leave them to me."

Faced with Kairila's obvious attempt to curry favor with him, Leo did not know whether to laugh or cry.

This Grand Knight, who had previously treated him with such overbearing rudeness, was now doing everything she could to ingratiate herself with him.

The others had not even figured out what was happening to their companions when they saw their vice-captain rush over and knock those knights flying.

The several knights who had been sent flying soon got back on their feet.

Just as Leo was about to make a move, he saw a pair of bird wings suddenly grow from the knights' shoes.

The next moment, with a flap of those wings, the knights attempting to attack Leo instantly lost their balance.

They fell to the ground.

Nova had made his move.

Yet strangely, after those knights fell, they flailed all four limbs upward unconsciously like reptiles.

It was as if they had forgotten they could stand up and walk on two legs.

The sight was truly bizarre.

Many knights could not help swallowing, their faces filled with fear.

The bird wings remained even after the knights had fallen.

As Leo watched the condition of those knights, he said, "Thank you for stepping in, Wizard Nova."

Of course, even if Nova had not acted, Leo could have handled them himself.

Aifel and Kairila also hurriedly said respectfully, "Thank you for stepping in, Wizard Nova."

Nova, dressed in a long robe, came onto the deck.

Just then, a figure ran out from the cabin, loudly shouting, "What is going on? Are you knights trying to plot against us? You actually ambushed me while I was asleep! If I hadn't been alert, you would have killed me."

Hughes came onto the deck, looking displeased.

His clothes were disheveled, and there was a slash across his clothing.

Though there was no wound beneath the slash, he still looked rather bedraggled.

After Hughes ran out, a knight followed behind him.

That knight was quickly subdued by Nova as well.

Seeing Hughes in that state, Leo frowned and looked at Aifel. "Knight Aifel, I need an explanation. Could it be that hiring us wizards was merely a trap? Were you actually planning to kill us?"

Leo truly had not expected that not only he, but Hughes as well, had been attacked.

"N-No... it isn't like that... I... I don't know the reason either." Aifel's face was deathly pale. He did not understand at all why John and the others had attacked Leo and Hughes. "Respected Wizard, please believe me. Our squad does not have the nerve to provoke a wizard."

Aifel groaned inwardly. He truly had no idea why the knights under his command had suddenly begun attacking Leo one after another as if they had gone mad.

Leo raised an eyebrow, unsure whether he could believe Aifel's words.

But as someone who had been attacked, Leo followed the principle of rather killing the wrong one than letting the wrong one go.

With that thought, Leo tightened his grip on the Arcane Hand sword.

As swords were drawn and bows bent, Nova said, "Danville, I happen to know the reason behind this matter."

"These knights should have fallen victim to a Siren's song and are now trapped in madness."