Parallel Memory

-WHOOSH! -THUD! -THUD!

I was jumping from one tree to another as I tried to quickly reach my destination. I could use My FrostWing, however, that would alert monsters and enemies. Moreover, it takes too much of my mana to use that skill.

I don't want to reach my destination just to be exhausted. And I didn't sense any fight happening. Or so I thought when I saw a huge energy spike just a few kilometers ahead.

-WHOOSH!

I speed up.

-CLANG! -CLANG! -CLANK!

I thought that Saintess and her team might be fighting with Devil Contractors. However, when I reached the location of the fight, Saintess was not there.

"Quick! We need to retreat."

"Sir, we can't! We have been surrounded!"

"Dammit!" …

I looked at the group of people who were surrounded by the Devil Contractor. I knew that those people were not associated with the Saintess as they didn't have Holy Knights. However, there was one person that I recognized.

"Christian La-Minings"

He was the brother of Adeline who is currently serving as the maid of Saintess Amelia. I met him after I had recovered all my injuries at the church.

During that time, Christian acted arrogantly just like any other young master. However, he didn't seem hostile to me even knowing that I was spending my days in the Saintess' room.

Later, I knew that Christian had never cared about wooing Saintess and was just coming to check on his half-sister. I felt that he was a good guy and judging by the situation he was in, I could see how Christian met those Devil Contractors.

I assume that Christian was following Saintess' team because he was worried about Adeline heading to war. At that time, they must have encountered one of the Devil Contractors groups which led to this situation.

-SHING!

I brandished my sword. If I left them be, I am sure that they would get themselves killed. However, I also made sure to change my appearance to that of Jester. It would be better for me if my identity was not revealed.

"Keke… I thought that it was reinforcement for Saintess, however, it was just a bunch of weaklings!"

One of the Rank-A Devil Contractors said.

Christian and his group only had Rank-B which was the mercenaries that Christian had hired. His family was wealthy but didn't have the actual power. At most, he could hire Rank-B which he thought would be enough.

However, he encountered a Devil Contractors group that had a couple of Rank-As. Many of the mercenaries had been killed and only a couple of them had survived this far.

"Kill them! We don't have time to play. I don't want to miss the chance of killing the Saintess. Keke…"

He commanded.

At that time, he was already called back by Kurtis. It was at that moment that they saw Christian and their group. Thinking they might be reinforcements, they attacked them.

[ "Blizzard Storm" ]

-SWISH!

I first used Blizzard Storm to spread the Christian team with Devil Contractors.

"What is this?"

"Who interferes with us?"

The Devil Contractors were obviously confused by what was going on. Some of their weaker members had even been frozen to death.

Christian and the mercenaries were also confused. However, judging by the situation, they thought that their savior might have appeared.

While I had obstructed Devil Contractors' vision with Blizzard Storm, I could know their position through Blizzard Storm.

-SLASH!

I took care of the nearest Devil Contractor who didn't even realize that I was right behind him. And I moved on to take care of another one.

-CLANK!

However, it was not as easy as the first one. While his movement was sluggish, he was definitely a powerful Devil Contractor. Zero assumed that the person was a Rank-A Devil Contractor.

"I won't die easily!"

He said as he tried to counterattack.

-CLANG! -CLANG! -CLANK!

I easily parried his strike. However, I also lost the chance to kill him sneakily. With the fight so intense, it had alerted another Devil Contractor who came to support the Rank-A Devil Contractor.

[ "Shadow Dance" ]

I immediately retreated and went to find another prey. While Devil Contractors were still in shambles, I had to reduce the number of Devil Contractors as much as possible.

"Where is he?"

The one who came to help the Rank-A Devil Contractor asked. He was also the leader of Team B. However, when he reached the location of the fight, Zero had already gone to find another Devil Contractor.

-SLASH! -SLASH!

I targeted all the Devil Contractors who were alone. With them being inside my Blizzard Storm, I could pinpoint their location. Some had managed to survive while many had died under my sword. Most of them were Rank-B Devil Contractors.

But the effect of the Blizzard Storm soon passed. I could have kept it for a longer period of time but it was not worth the mana consumption. Devil Contractors who survived were in a group and I could not take advantage of Blizzard Storm as before.

I had to save the mana for the confrontation against those Rank-A Devil Contractors. And I also managed to save Christian and his team which was my objective. Devil Contractors who were trying to kill Christian had already retreated.

-SWISH!

The snow that was blocking their vision was slowly being removed. And I went to check on Christian while also protecting them in case Devil Contractor fired some spells at them.

"Are you okay?"

I asked.

"Who are you?"

Christian asked instead of answering my question. He was more cautious than I thought and didn't jump on me excitedly. Well, that is obvious as he is converging on getting killed.

And he has also never seen my current face which is that of Jester. Well, even if I didn't change my appearance, I don't think he would remember my face because of just one encounter.

"My name is Jester. I sensed some fighting going on here and came to help. I did not expect that La-Minings' heir would be here."

I gave my reply.

"Ooo… Thank you!"

After knowing that I was indeed an ally, Christian thanked me. The mercenaries also thanked me with their faces showing relief.

"Don't thank me now! There are still enemies and I would need your help."

I said.

- GLUP!

At the mention of that, many of the mercenaries were nervous. They had lost a lot of their comrades today and they knew that they were not powerful enough.

"Don't worry! It will be nothing difficult. You just need to appear when I call you. Before that, I think it would be better for you to hide."

I said while turning and pointing towards Devil Contractors who were rushing towards us. Nodding to my instructions, Christian and his group immediately ran away from the place. I don't know whether they would do what I want but when the plan that I thought happened, I knew that they would cooperate.

At least they would if they didn't run away and hide close to the battlefield. Anyway, even without their help I could defeat the enemies. Only it would take more time which I don't have.

I stood there waiting for Devil Contractors.

-WHOOSH!

"Who are you?"

The Rank-A Devil Contractor who seemed like a leader asked. He seemed angry though I could understand him. I interfered and killed his subordinates. Though considering he is a Devil Contractor, he must be angrier about interrupting his plan than his subordinates being killed.

"And why do you want to know?"

"I thought that I could at least keep your name in my memory before you are dead."

"OOO! Even though you are the one getting killed?"

"Humph! I will remember your name as an arrogant human who didn't know his place."

The leader took out his Ax and hurled it toward me. It is almost like a Destruction Disk. And he was also not the only one, others were also making their way toward me including two Rank-A Devil Contractors.

"Sorry, but I have no time to waste!"

[ "Dual Art: Dark Icy Surface" ]

I made the ground unstable for the incoming attackers. Though the Ax was still making its way toward me.

[ "Frozen Shadow Dance" ]

I dodged the attack as I merged with the Ice surface. I appeared behind one of the Rank-A Devil Contractors.

[ "Glacier Shadow Slash" ]

"ARGH!"

The Rank-A Devil Contractor cried out in pain as my blade cut through his body, instantly freezing his wound. The other Devil Contractors paused for a moment, surprised by my quick and deadly attack.

"You are quite skilled."

The leader said, eyeing me warily.

"But you cannot defeat us all."

"I don't plan on fighting you all."

I replied, smirking. The distance was okay and I also had support from Christian as I noticed they were hiding just as I instructed.

[ "Dual Art: Ice Prison" ]

I was surrounded by Devil Contractors. They thought that they had managed to corner me, not knowing that they were all inside the range of my Ice Prison.

"Argh! I can't move!"

"Help! It's freezing me!" …

The reason why I needed Christian and their help is that while using Ice Prison, I needed to concentrate fully so that they couldn't escape, especially when there are Rank-A Devil Contractors.

"NOW!"

I shouted. I hoped they would know what to do in this situation. However, there was also a chance that they would not help me out because of fear.