My Unrestrained Lives-Chapter 52: Taking Action (3)

It was a sunny day, just like any other. The weather was nice, the breeze was gentle, and the shade of the trees was good.

Coren, lying back on one of the thick branches of the tree, had one leg dangling lazily as he stared up at the swaying leaves above.

He looked completely at ease, as if the world’s troubles had nothing to do with him.

And yet, he couldn’t help but lament how these good days were ending soon.

He was doing his job, of monitoring the palace from a little distance away, and couldn’t help but be amazed at how noisy it had become these past few days.

The working servants, maids, and guards, once numbered in mere dozens... had grown to nearly a hundred.

He naturally understood the reason. It wasn’t to protect whoever was inside.

It was to hide them.

With the current banquet still going on in the royal grounds, and the many guests and bustle surrounding it, they clearly didn’t want anyone to find out what was happening here.

They even seemed to become even more cautious after the crown prince was announced yesterday.

But Coren didn’t care about any of that.

He just felt a little sad that this easy mission, where he didn’t need to do anything, let alone risk his life, was coming to an end.

After all, he had already received the order: as soon as the banquet ended, everyone would be pulled away.

So, he was intent on cherishing these last few beautiful days.

He cast a lazy glance at the two colleagues stationed in different directions, who had arrived a few days ago to tighten the security, and how they were still far too tense.

Coren couldn’t help but shake his head at how overly cautious they were.

They really should have taken things easier.

They didn’t seem to realize just how easy, and enviable, this mission actually was. And so, Coren felt a little sorry for them.

In the end, he didn’t plan to comment on their behavior.

He just let them be, and continued lying down on the tree, enjoying the peace while it lasted.

But, maybe it’s really not meant to be?

Because, it was at that moment that he suddenly noticed a noise, stirrings and shouts coming from the palace, and he couldn’t help but stand up and straighten his posture.

What’s going on? he wondered, frowning, as he hadn’t seen anyone enter the palace.

And then, he caught the sound of screams.

Screams of guards... dying.

He intended to go closer, to assess the severity of the situation.

If it was something even he, along with the other two, couldn’t handle, then they’d need to report it to those above. Immediately.

... But in the end, he didn’t have to.

Because the one responsible for all the chaos came in their direction himself.

He was running toward the nearest of the three, toward Flint, with a speed that could rival Coren’s own, and Coren had always taken pride in how fast he was.

Still, that alone wouldn’t have been enough to shake him.

What truly baffled Coren was how the hell the boy even knew they were here. They were stationed far away... supposedly hidden.

He cursed silently. The mission, which had been so easy until now, was suddenly turning upside down... just a few days before it was supposed to end.

While grumbling, Coren still moved closer to his teammate. But just as he took a few steps forward, he finally noticed something...

The intruder was actually...

A kid?

"A kid?" Flint echoed, his voice full of disbelief, perfectly mirroring Coren’s astonishment.

But the kid didn’t care for their reactions.

He didn’t speak. He didn’t hesitate. And from a distance, he suddenly raised his hand... and used magic.

What?

A mage who could run this fast?

Coren’s instincts screamed at him that something was wrong... that they weren’t facing an ordinary opponent.

He watched as the boy launched his spell.

And to his surprise, Flint managed to dodge, just barely.

Despite how fast the attack had been.

Could I have dodged that?

Coren couldn’t help but ask himself, even while still on the move.

But, it was then he noticed Flint’s expression. Horrified. Pale.

And Coren understood instantly. Flint had only gotten lucky.

He hadn’t dodged because he was capable...he had just survived by chance.

Unfortunately, the boy didn’t seem to think the same, as seeing that Flint had evaded the first strike, he conjured another.

This time, not just one. But many.

And even from a distance, Coren could feel it... the stench of death.

His face lost all color. And cold sweat drenched his back.

He immediately turned to his last teammate, Elsin, and shouted, "Immediately run away! Send word that a kid... no, a monster appeared in Nore Palace. We need reinforcements, now!"

Seeing the woman startled but still nod and take off running, Coren felt slightly relieved.

Just slightly, because the next moment, he saw the kid had already finished with his teammate and was now coming straight for him.

His heart was gripped with fear, but he still moved... moved with his prided speed, intending to stall for time, to survive just long enough.

But how could Ellis not notice that?

So, instead of finishing him off from a distance like before, he moved closer, holding the sword he had just taken from the one he killed.

He multitasked.

Sending one, just one, but a large mana bullet in the direction of the fleeing woman, and at the same time, closing in on Coren with the sword.

Coren was astonished. Even in close range, the monster was strong.

They clashed in close quarters for several seconds, and Coren actually held the upper hand for a brief moment.

Until he heard it, Elsin’s scream in the distance.

He couldn’t help but glance back.

And it was that single glance... that single distraction... that sealed his fate.

The world suddenly turned upside down. And everything went dark.

Beheading the man before him, Ellis didn’t stop. He moved forward, toward the woman who was limping, dragging her injured leg as she tried to escape.

He didn’t care that she was a woman.

And simply cast his skill once again, aiming directly at her head.

The mana bullet smashed into her skull and exploded it like a watermelon.

And so, Ellis finally turned around and headed back toward the palace, his mind echoing with a thought—

Maybe I overestimated them?