I Killed The Game's Protagonist
Chapter 48: Shadows and Sparks

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Shadows and Sparks

The driver had already stepped down from the carriage.

A faint breeze rustled his coat as he stood between the group and the door, arms relaxed at his sides. But there was a quiet menace to his stillness—one that didn’t go unnoticed.

"I’m afraid," he said again, more firmly this time, "that the young lady is not to be disturbed for the rest of the night."

Noah tilted his head slightly, his crimson gaze sharpening.

"You’re really planning to stop us?"

Without a word, the man unsheathed a long, sleek blade. Its edge shimmered with a dark, oily mana. The ground itself seemed to hum in response.

Cordelia took a step forward, eyes narrowing, fingers flickering with residual flame.

Lys didn’t speak. Her stance dropped subtly—center of gravity low, elemental spirits already beginning to circle her like glowing wisps: Gaia and Aqua flickered into view, while Fire pulsed more aggressively at her shoulder.

The butler planted the tip of his sword into the ground before him and bowed his head with solemn reverence.

"I am Ser Mathien, steward and blade to Lady Saphielle. She gave a command."

He looked up, unwavering.

"And I shall fulfill it. Even if it costs me my life."

Noah’s expression remained unreadable.

"She’s not going to die," he muttered. "But you might, if you don’t move."

Mathien raised his sword again, pointing it directly at Noah.

"Then I shall fall with pride. For I serve a house of necromancers sworn to silence and secrecy. No one touches the Hollow Echo. Not even curious children wearing masks."

Cordelia smirked, her hair flickering with heat.

"He talks too much."

Noah took one step forward, and in that moment, the wind shifted.

"Let’s get this over with."

Sir Mathien didn’t flinch.

His grip on the sword was steady—firm with the resolve of someone who’d sworn loyalty not just with words, but with every breath he took. His gaze stayed fixed on Noah, even as a bead of sweat rolled down his temple.

"You wouldn’t kill someone over this," he said, voice taut. "You’re just bluffing to scare me off."

Noah didn’t answer.

Instead, he activated Gibbous Step.

With a faint snap in the air, his body blurred—vanishing from view. A half-moon afterimage lingered where he’d been, and then he reappeared beside Mathien, fist already in motion.

The butler reacted just in time. His blade caught the punch, but the sheer force drove him back, boots skidding through dirt and gravel.

"You’re... actually serious?" Mathien breathed, disbelief flashing across his face.

Cordelia snorted, flames flickering to life in her hands.

"Didn’t anyone ever teach you not to doubt a guy with glowing red eyes?"

"He’s not going to kill you," Lys added softly behind them—though her tone carried more hope than certainty.

"Probably."

Mathien straightened. His loyalty, however shaken, hadn’t crumbled.

"If you insist on disturbing the young lady, then I must fulfill my duty."

He poured mana into his blade. It gleamed blue with energy, crackling faintly, the ground beneath his feet cracking.

"For Lady Saphielle, I will hold the line!"

He launched forward, blade whistling through the air—

—but Noah was already gone, a blur in the shadows again.

Gibbous Step.

"You’re fast," Mathien muttered, spinning with his sword extended—

But he sliced only through an afterimage.

A wall of flames erupted in front of him, forcing him to halt.

Cordelia stepped in, fire spiraling along her forearm.

"We’ll try not to burn you too much," she said with a grin. "Unless you get annoying."

The air pulsed.

The first real clash had begun.

Sir Mathien twisted mid-air, slamming his sword downward in a precise arc aimed at Cordelia’s shoulder.

But she wasn’t there.

A gust of wind burst beneath her feet, launching her skyward in a blink. The cloak around her danced like fire as she rotated mid-air, a fiery circle blooming in her palm.

"Didn’t expect a butler to be this annoying," she muttered.

From her hand, a blazing firebolt streaked downward. Mathien barely managed to deflect it with his mana-coated sword, but the explosion that followed cracked the ground around him, sending shards of rock in every direction.

"Keep him busy!" Noah barked, his figure darting low across the battlefield, a blur of crimson eyes and enhanced movement.

Cordelia smirked. "Gladly."

Mathien charged forward again—straight into a burst of lightning. It crackled out of Cordelia’s other hand like a coiled serpent, catching him in the chest and making him stumble, armor sizzling.

His eyes widened. "You’re a quad-elemental?"

"Surprise."

Her grin widened as she formed a second bolt of lightning and hurled it, this time forcing him to dive to the side.

Lys had remained silent—until now.

The ground beneath them trembled.

Noah didn’t need to turn to know what was coming. "Here we go..."

From behind Cordelia, massive roots burst from the earth, snapping through the soil and wrapping around Mathien’s ankles. He tried to slash at them, but more surged forward like vipers, binding his legs, arms, and midsection.

"Gaia... bind him!" Lys whispered, her eyes glowin, her spirit hovering behind her like a silhouette made of trees and moss.

Mathien snarled, eyes fierce despite being restrained. "I won’t fall here. I must protect her—"

"From what, a minor interrogation?" Noah appeared behind him, crimson eyes gleaming under his mask.

"You’re loyal, I get it," Noah said coldly, "but this isn’t your fight. Don’t throw your life away over an item that won’t work the way she thinks it will."

Mathien struggled, roots tightening.

Cordelia stepped beside Noah, fire still burning around her palms.

"Last warning. Stay down."

But Mathien simply looked up at the stars, muttering:

"Forgive me... Lady Saphielle."

Mathien, completely wrapped by Gaia’s roots, had stopped struggling. His breaths were slow but steady, head tilted downward as if resigned.

Lys took a cautious step forward. "I think he’s calmed down now..."

Cordelia crossed her arms, still glowing faintly with residual fire. "You think he’s going to tell us where she went?"

Noah approached the restrained butler, looking him over.

"Maybe. He’s loyal, but if we press a bit—"

Suddenly, Mathien’s head twitched. Just the faintest jerk. Maybe a reflex. Maybe not.

Noah’s eyes narrowed.

"He moved."

Crack!

A clean right hook, enhanced with just a dash of mana, sent Mathien’s head snapping to the side—completely unconscious.

Cordelia’s jaw dropped. "What the hell, Noah?!"

Lys gasped. "W-Why did you punch him?! He was tied up!"

Noah stood over the knocked-out butler, shaking his hand slightly. "Reflex. You saw it. He moved."

Cordelia marched up to him. "Moved?! He blinked, maybe! That’s not a reason to fold a man in half!"

Noah shrugged. "He had that ’I’m about to yell a spell’ twitch."

Lys knelt beside Mathien, checking his pulse. "He’s fine, but... you didn’t have to deck him like that."

Cordelia huffed. "No, seriously, you’re a menace, and he was an Augmentor. What spell Noah!?. What if this comes back to haunt us?"

Noah tilted his head, thoughtful. "Then I’ll punch it again."

"...Unbelievable," Cordelia muttered, turning away and muttering something about sociopaths with pretty faces.

Lys tried not to laugh, covering her mouth. "Um... Should we leave a note or something? ’Sorry for the concussion’?"

Noah adjusted his coat. "Nah. He’ll understand."

"He’ll understand a concussion?"

"It’s the language of warriors."

The trio stood in silence for a moment, letting the stillness settle after Mathien’s "nap."

Then, Cordelia pointed to the ground ahead.

"Hey... tracks."

Lys leaned closer, her eyes scanning the dirt road. The deep grooves of wagon wheels were still fresh, pressed into the soft earth between fallen leaves. The path turned sharply toward the treeline, winding into a more private trail.

"She didn’t go straight back toward the city," Lys murmured. "Looks like she took the longer route..."

Noah crouched beside one of the tracks, fingertips brushing the edge of a hoofprint. His eyes followed the curve of the trail until it disappeared into the hills in the distance. At the top of that hill stood an ominous silhouette—a tall, wrought-iron gate nestled between dark trees. Beyond it, barely visible in the moonlight, was a gothic mansion wreathed in shadows.

Cordelia followed his gaze. "That... that’s her place, isn’t it?"

Noah didn’t answer right away.

His lips pressed into a tight line.

His crimson eyes narrowed.

"...Shit."

Cordelia raised a brow. "What?"

"She made it home," Noah muttered. "We’re too late."

Lys looked between them. "What does that mean? Can we still go after her?"

Noah stood slowly, brushing dirt from his hands. "We could... but it’s going to be a lot harder now. That place isn’t just a house—it’s a necromancer’s fortress. Wards, undead, spiritual defenses... And if she’s already started the ritual..."

Cordelia’s expression darkened. "So... we either go in now, or we miss our chance."

Noah gave her a look. "We’re not missing anything. We’re just going to have to break into a haunted castle. That’s all."

Lys blinked. "I’m not sure that’s supposed to sound casual."

Cordelia cracked her knuckles. "Sounds like fun to me."

Noah smirked, but inside, he was already calculating.

If she’d started using the Hollow Echo... then they had minutes. Maybe less.

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