Gunmage-Chapter 204: The sound of breaking glass

"Would you like to test that theory?"

Lugh pointed the revolver straight at him, drawing more than a few nervous glances.

Aunt Sylvera, who had been quietly fidgeting until now, finally gave in, heeding her mother’s advice and staying still—though her restless thumbs and uneasy footwork betrayed an underlying anxiety.

She had known most of these children since they were toddlers, after all. Except for Lugh.

He was the one variable she didn’t understand. No wonder she looked this shaken.

The youth on the receiving end of the barrel met Lugh’s eyes. Marcus’s shield had broken in an instant, and Marcus was widely considered stronger than him.

Though, if he was being honest with himself, the gap wasn’t that large.

Still...

He shook his head.

"No, I’m good."

"You sure?"

"Yeah"

Lugh clicked his tongue.

He couldn’t force it.

"Okay then,"

He said, relaxing the gun.

"Let’s try a less direct approach."

He took a step forward, gesturing casually with the revolver.

"Imagine this—a division of Heieg soldiers. A division means ten thousand, by the way."

He clarified, knowing many of them weren’t exactly military-minded.

"They invade Pyrellis, each one armed with a rifle. Longer reach, faster reloading, far more powerful than this."

He gave the revolver a casual wave.

"Do you think we would survive?"

"Hm."

A girl, Elizabeth, spoke up.

"Even if we’re not strong enough, that doesn’t mean others aren’t."

Her words, though couched in caution, carried a clear subtext: just because they, the younger generation, were helpless, didn’t mean the same was true for their elders—especially not the crown-level experts. And above all, the elves.

Lugh picked up on it instantly.

"So you agree that we can’t do anything."

"...T-that’s not what I—I mean, er..."

"Right?"

He didn’t raise his voice, but the pressure in his tone made it feel like he had.

After a moment of hesitation, she realized she’d already fallen into his trap. Struggling now would only drag her deeper into the mire.

"...Right,"

She muttered.

"But,"

She added quickly,

"like I said, just because we can’t do anything doesn’t mean Pyrellis isn’t safe. The older generation—"

"Can you still say that,"

Lugh interrupted, turning slightly, voice quiet but sharp,

"When that pretty lady over there—" freewёbnoνel.com

He pointed to Selaphiel, seated and observing them quietly with her face obscured beneath the wide circular brim of her hat.

A thin red veil draped from its edges like a curtain, shielding her expression from view.

"—had her magic barrier shattered in seconds? Just like Marcus."

Marcus turned toward him, eyes wide in disbelief.

The others immediately spoke up.

"You’re talking nonsense."

"Stop exaggerating."

"You’re full of it."

All of them seemed to share the same sentiment.

That was, until a soft voice drifted across the hall, quiet yet absolute. Like smoke sliding between the cracks in a wall.

"...It’s true."

Selaphiel had spoken. The confirmation landed like a slap to the face.

Though it slightly undermined her prestige, she wasn’t about to lie over something like this.

She, too, seemed to have fully grasped the message Lugh was trying to send.

The entire hall fell into stunned silence.

"R-really?"

Someone stammered.

"Yes,"

Selaphiel answered, her voice unhurried and detached.

"Like a stone hitting glass... my magic barrier shattered without resistance."

"...How is that even possible?"

The question hung in the air. The realization was beginning to settle in.

Lugh smiled—not out of smugness or pride, but in appreciation for her helping him and also in preparation for his next words.

"Now you understand don’t you?"

He said, voice low

"Ah! But don’t worry, it’s not like there’s an army of bloodthirsty soldiers wielding countless, lethal variants of these weapons, hell bent on annihilating us."

The silence was deafening.

"So, you don’t really have anything to fear."

Lugh finished.

It was a joke. A sarcastic one. A cruel one.

Before anyone could respond, Selaphiel rose from her seat and clasped her hands, commanding the room with a single motion.

"That’s enough for today,"

She said.

"We’d best be going, lest we risk being late."

Though the words were for everyone, her gaze stayed locked on Lugh—as if to say,

Shut up and move. You’re wasting my time.

Lugh didn’t need to be told twice. He followed her out through the main door, the others falling into line behind them.

He did a quick headcount.

Eighteen in total, including himself. Four adults: Selaphiel, her two children—Edrin and Sylvera—and finally, the elf known as Jahira, who seemed to share a strange, possibly familial connection with Selaphiel.

For all he knew, the tall figure could just as easily be another daughter born centuries ago.

’Elves’

Lugh thought, shaking his head.

Their family structures were absurd. No rhyme or reason. Terms like "father," "mother," and "cousin" didn’t seem to cover it anymore.

New vocabulary was probably required just to map their tangled bloodlines.

Was he right? He’d find out, maybe, if he ever visited the elven kingdom of Jazeer.

Not that he saw that happening any time soon... or ever.

Once the last of them had left the manor, shadowy figures began to move—silent silhouettes navigating secret tunnels and passages that led into the underground depths of the grand and illustrious Von Heim estate.

There, in a sterile, dimly lit room, stood Isolde.

She wore transparent, non-prescription glasses, a surgical mask, and white clothes beneath a disposable leather poncho stained with blood.

Her gloved hands hovered over a silver tray filled with sharp, delicate instruments. Some were already streaked with red.

A servant approached and gave the report.

"Selaphiel and the others have just left."

"...Finally,"

Isolde muttered under her breath.

She stared down at the corpse laid out before her—a middle-aged man with refined features and a death mask of frozen pain etched into his face.

It was the assassin. The one lured to the third floor.

The one who was suppressed by Lance the elf and had promptly taken his own life.

Now that the young ones were gone, it was time to begin the next part of the plan.

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