When the Mid-Boss Villainous Noble Recalls Memories of a Past Life and Gains Game Knowledge. I Will Never Accept a Future Where I'm Called the Jealous Earl - Chapter 28

“Retreat. At least one of you must survive.”

Among the masked figures, one stood out—his mask a different color from the others. He issued the command.

Upon receiving the order, two of them immediately split off, running in opposite directions. Meanwhile, Bosco engaged the masked leader, preventing his escape.

“I’ll leave that man to you.”

“Understood.”

The fleeing presence moved at an astonishing speed, vastly different from before. Perhaps they no longer had the luxury of masking their presence, making it easy to track them.

I chose to pursue the one heading toward the Earl’s estate, while the other was being tracked by a summoned creature.

Despite sprinting through the darkness at full speed, I was acutely aware of my surroundings—down to the placement of each pebble—and felt no exhaustion.

Was this the power of bearing a Deadly Sin?

The thought came to me as if I were observing myself from an external perspective.

“[Water Bind—Ensnare My Enemy]!”

I caught up to my fleeing target and chanted the spell.

A whip of water lashed out from behind, about to seize its target—only for them to nimbly dodge using the trees as cover.

Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.

Even with my jealousy-granted abilities, I lacked real combat experience. While I had an advantage in raw power, fighting a seasoned opponent was an entirely different challenge.

My adversary must have sensed my inexperience, as their movements became more elusive, designed to keep me off balance.

**”I won’t be able to hold back much longer. I suggest you surrender now.

[Water Bind—Ensnare My Enemy]!”**

“I’d rather you give up instead!”

They weren’t trying to kill me.

In fact, they weren’t even aiming to injure me.

Just like how I had only knocked out their comrade, they were exclusively using non-lethal magic.

Thanks to my enchanted items, their spells had no effect on me. However, if we were fighting under equal conditions, I would have already lost.

“[Ice Pillar—Rise Before Me]!”

With a flash of magic, multiple ice pillars erupted between us, cutting off my line of sight.

Were they trying to shake me off?

I quickly retrieved a thumb-sized blast stone from my chest pocket and hurled it at the ice.

It was a byproduct of modifying a trap earlier.

Though small, it was powerful enough to shatter the pillars, sending shards scattering through the air.

“This is your final chance.”

As the dust settled, I spotted my opponent.

Meanwhile, the other target—the one I had sent a summoned creature after—had been dealt with. Nothing remained of them but a lifeless corpse. I dismissed all but one of my summoned beings, leaving only a single entity standing watch.

“Will you surrender?”

“…”

My opponent silently raised a dagger.

How unfortunate.

“[Manifest—The Slaughtering Horde]!”

Seven moray eels materialized from the shadows.

This was the only technique of Kalil Dikaman’s that I had been able to replicate.

For some unknown reason, these eels attacked indiscriminately, needing no commands—they simply sought to kill whatever stood before them.

I still remembered the first time I tried this spell. The eels had appeared, and before I realized it, they had lunged at a nearby gnoll. I had panicked and dismissed them immediately, but not before they had taken a chunk out of the gnoll’s clothing.

“[Ice Wall—Shield Me]!”

—Screech!

The eerie cries of the eels echoed as they tore through the ice as if it weren’t there.

The relentless attack startled my opponent. Their expression twisted in disbelief as they instinctively moved to flee.

“Damn it!”

No matter how many barriers they conjured or how desperately they counterattacked, the eels charged forward without hesitation.

It wasn’t long before their panic overtook them.

And in that moment of fear—one of the eels latched onto their leg and crushed it.

“Aaaahhh!!”

It was over.

The sound of bones breaking sent a sickening feeling through me.

Still, perhaps it was for the best.

I didn’t want to grow too accustomed to killing.

Even though I had become more powerful, my mind—the part that had merged with this knowledge—was still not as strong.

—Screech…

The eerie voices of the eels faded.

They had completed their task.

Now, only two enemies remained—the one Bosco was fighting and the one I had knocked unconscious with magic.

I needed to hurry back.

As I approached, I could hear the clash of swords.

“…Did he lose?”

When I stepped into view, the two fighters broke apart, momentarily halting their battle.

Neither Bosco nor his opponent appeared injured.

“Looks like you two are the only ones left.”

“Two…? What do you mean, two?”

“It doesn’t matter. My task remains the same.”

I didn’t know what he was planning, but I remained on high alert, ready to act.

“Just to be sure—will you surrender?”

**”That is out of the question.

We may have failed, but we were prepared to give our lives from the start.”**

“I see.”

The moment I raised my hand, both Bosco and his opponent moved into position, their swords poised for battle.

“Then, let’s end this.”

But instead of attacking—

The man dropped his sword.

“No need. I’ll end it myself.”

“…! Bosco, stop him!”

Ignoring my warning, he rushed toward his unconscious comrade.

At some point, he had drawn a needle—a weapon no larger than an ice pick—and plunged it into the fallen man’s body.

“Gah…!”

A spurt of bl00d spilled from the man’s mouth.

Poison.

The reaction was far too fast—this wasn’t just any toxin.

Several possibilities ran through my mind, but none of my available resources, including my Item Box, could counteract it.

I couldn’t let him use that weapon again.

I lunged at him at full speed—

But I was too late.

“Farewell, my friend. We will meet again on the other side.”

The enemy took the needle he had just used and stabbed it into himself without hesitation.

This was the worst possible outcome.

Had even one of them survived, we could have extracted information. But now, every single one of our pursuers was dead.

“We’re heading back to the estate immediately. As for these bodies… What?!”

Before I could finish my sentence, the corpses burst into flames.

Their loyalty was absolute. They had been prepared to ensure that no information would be leaked—so much so that they even set their own bodies ablaze.

I hadn’t expected them to go this far.

I should have at least removed their masks and memorized their faces.

“Lord Kalil…”

**”It’s fine. We’ll return to the estate and confirm that all the servants are present.

The traitor has already been dealt with here.

Let’s leave it that way.