Reborn as a Useless Noble with my SSS-Class Innate Talent-Chapter 134: Ch : It is too late - Part 4

Bruce followed, muttering to himself before taking a defensive stance near the perimeter of the clearing.

Queen, in its hawk form, circled above them, its piercing gaze scanning for more enemies while its mana linked with Kyle's, silently supporting him.

Kyle dropped to one knee before the second ruin.

Like the last, it was buried beneath layers of dirt and tangled roots, pulsing with a sickly, cursed light.

He placed his injured hand on it despite the pain.

The array immediately fought back—shoving its influence into his body, clawing at his mana circuits, trying to take him over just as it had tried with the others.

Kyle's brow furrowed in concentration.

He drew a deep breath and began the reversal process.

Kyle's mana surged and pushed against the cursed flow, twisting and rewiring the flow of energy.

His vision blurred slightly from the strain, but he kept at it, the pain in his arm intensifying with every passing second.

Behind him, Bruce and Queen were holding off another wave of frenzied beasts.

Bruce kicked one wolf-like creature back and muttered.

"If he's not done in a minute, I might have to start praying."

Queen let out a screech and dove, transforming mid-flight into its Frozen Armored Bear form.

It slammed into a trio of monsters with enough force to shake the ground. The temperature around them plummeted.

Kyle didn't hear any of it.

His world had shrunk down to the ruin in front of him and the burning inside his arm.

Then, finally, the cursed energy trembled and collapsed inward. The ruin began to break down under the strain of Kyle's mana until it could no longer hold.

But this time, the defense mechanism activated with a vengeance.

The moment the core destabilized, the ruin exploded in a blinding flash of light and heat.

Kyle sensed it just in time.

He threw his mana up as a shield, protecting his face, but the explosion licked across his left arm before the barrier fully formed.

The searing heat tore through his sleeve, and he winced, falling to one knee.

The ground shook.

The animals, suddenly freed from the ruin's influence, let out confused cries and began scattering into the woods, no longer hostile.

Bruce lowered his fists and let out a deep sigh.

"Finally…"

Turning toward Kyle, Bruce's relief turned into panic the moment he saw the blood and burns on his young master's arm.

"Y-Young Master! Your arm—what happened? Why didn't you say something?! Does it hurt? Should I carry you back? Do you need herbs? We can—"

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"Queen, please shut him up. My head hurts."

Kyle muttered without looking up.

The hawk, already in flight once again, swooped down and began pecking at Bruce's head.

"OW! Ow, alright! I get it! I'll shut up!"

Bruce ducked, rubbing his scalp.

Kyle slowly rose, wincing.

"We're done here. The cursed barrier around the village has been dismantled. Let's head back to the center before anything else shows up."

Bruce hurried to his side, trying to support him.

"Are you sure you're okay to walk? I can carry you if—"

"I'm fine," Kyle said flatly, brushing Bruce's hand away. "I've dealt with worse."

Queen circled overhead, its wings slicing the air as it kept watch over the now-quiet forest.

Though its shape was once elegant and regal, there was something almost monstrous about its form in the fading light, like a silent protector that had once been something more.

Bruce glanced around warily.

"You think that was the last of them?"

"No. But it's the last one for today and the last one we have to deal with as a part of helping out"

Kyle said.

And with that, the two of them—followed from above by Queen—began their walk back toward the village center, the burned remains of the second ruin still glowing faintly behind them.

______

Margrave Ricca led the frightened servants toward the village center with Silvy and Melissa flanking the group.

Despite the shaking earth and the fading light, Ricca remained composed, her voice steady as she barked orders.

"Stay close! No one wanders off! We'll be safe at the plaza!"

But safety was short-lived.

Barely moments after reaching the center, growls and snarls echoed through the village streets.

From the shadows emerged monsters—warped and frenzied creatures clearly affected by the cursed mana.

Melissa didn't hesitate.

"Silvy, left flank!"

"On it!"

The elf responded, unsheathing her bow ready.

The pair launched themselves at the first wave, blades flashing, striking down the beasts that dared get too close.

Despite their coordinated attacks, the monsters kept coming.

Ricca quickly turned to her guards.

"Support them! Keep the beasts away from the villagers!"

Her knights joined the fray, but the tide didn't slow. The creatures just kept pouring in.

The terrified servants screamed and huddled together, unsure whether to run or hide.

Just as despair began creeping into their hearts, a strange light shimmered across the sky—followed by a loud crack.

Everyone looked up to see the barrier surrounding the village flicker. A jagged fracture split across it like lightning across glass.

Melissa's eyes lit up.

"He's doing it… Young Master is handling the ruins."

More cracks formed, one after another, racing along the sky like breaking ice.

The monsters froze mid-charge, sensing the change. Panic gave way to hope as the corrupted beasts slowly began to retreat.

Then, with a sound like a thunderclap, the entire barrier shattered. Light rippled outward as cursed energy bled away into the ground.

The beasts howled in confusion and bolted back into the forest.

A collective breath of relief passed through the villagers. Some sank to their knees, others openly wept.

Margrave Ricca looked skyward with awe, then toward the forest where Kyle had gone.

"He really… did it."

She whispered.

Silvy lowered her weapons, panting.

"Of course he did."

Melissa smiled, brushing blood off her cheek.

"That's our Young Master."

Servants began to cheer, voices rising in gratitude. Though they had barely glimpsed him, they all knew who to thank for their survival.

Young Master Kyle and his courage.