I Became a Civil Servant Who Can Use Magic

Flash!
The moment the duchess’s arm, stretching out like a snake, was blocked by the mana shield, light burst forth.

“Kyaaah!”

The duchess’s face contorted at the flash that exploded before her eyes. She, who showed an excessive aversion reaction like demons, threw the baby at Loen and retreated.

Throwing the baby outright?

Loen’s eyes turned towards the baby. Her mind spun quickly.

‘The possibility of it being a disguised demon? The possibility of self-destruct magic being engraved on it?’

It couldn’t be completely ruled out. But judging by the fact that the flash magic had no effect, the possibility seemed low.

Ha, really..
After briefly gritting her teeth in deliberation, Loen eventually caught the baby with her left hand.
To be precise, she chose to catch it.

For safety, it would be a rational decision to swat the baby away, but if she did that, it felt like she would truly be crossing a line.

Slash!
As soon as she caught the baby, the duchess attacked again.

“Give me back my baby!”

She who had retreated bent her knees and charged again. Her long, sharp nails aimed for Loen’s neck. As if she didn’t care what happened to the baby.

You’ve even fallen into madness..

Loen hardened her expression as she watched the duchess spout words completely opposite to her actions, with eyes tinged with madness.

And she counterattacked.

She twisted the angle of the shield to deflect the duchess’s hand, and swish. She swung her mana sword to cut off her arm. Then she concentrated mana in her foot and kicked the duchess’s body. Thwack! As soon as her foot touched her body, she released mana to send her flying.

Thud.
The duchess slammed into the corridor wall with her body bent.

“What’s going on!”
“What was that scream?”

Right after the commotion broke out, the mansion guards appeared. As if they had been waiting.

Soon they looked back and forth between Loen and the duchess with surprised expressions.

“Madam!?”
“What on earth..”

Then the magic-armored knight members who were on standby in the next room also appeared, opening the door.

Click, click click, click.
At that moment, the duchess slowly stood up, bending her body at a grotesque angle.
Words demanding the baby back were endlessly repeated from her mouth.

Everyone was shocked by her grotesque appearance.

On the other hand, Loen wore an expression that said she had expected this and entrusted the baby to a nearby knight member. He carefully received the baby.

“Leave it to me.”

Afterwards, Loen stared intently at the duchess while holding a mana sword in her hand.

Beyond collusion with demons, once she directly accepted their power, there was no room for excuses.
I can roughly guess what circumstances there might have been, but still, this was crossing the line.

Thump, thump.
Loen walked towards the duchess.

Her skin dyed gray and her face distorted like an evil spirit were captured in Loen’s eyes. Above that, Loen’s gaze met the duchess’s black eyes.

Before the duchess could open her mouth, she swung her sword.

Slice.

The duchess’s body, which had lost control, fell sideways.

“Huk.”
“..!”

Everyone around took in a breath.
To think she would cut the duchess’s neck without hesitation….

“The duchess has been killedㅡ”
“Assassinㅡ”

Magic bullet.
Loen fired magic towards the guards who suddenly started shouting.

Boom!

Seraphine stammered as she watched them disappear without a trace.

“W-why the guards?”

Though he didn’t say anything, the magic-armored knight captain was also puzzled.
Of course, Psyche just wagged her tail.

“Everyone, to my side.”

Loen said, wiggling her finger. Given the situation, her words became shorter.

Thud thud thud thud.
Just then, the sound of pounding on the floor began to be heard from beyond the corridor.
It was the sound of dozens of footsteps. The sound grew closer.

Loen said.

“The duchess who came in the middle of the night, and the guards who immediately shouted assassination despite clearly seeing her abnormal state. Anyone can see this is….”

As if he had an idea, the magic-armored knight captain continued Loen’s words.

“A trap.”

Loen nodded.

They put the corrupted duchess at the forefront to induce a clash between her and the Inspection Corps. Then the moment the duchess is injured or dies.

‘They plan to attack us while framing us as assassins.’

As Loen’s group formed a formation.

Dozens of knights appeared at the end of the corridor, exuding a menacing aura.

Befitting the knights of Duke Donnelly’s family, whose main business was war-related, the level of their armor seemed extremely high. A faint light flowed from their swords.

“It seems they’ve decided to eliminate us outright, without any situation assessment or anything.”

The knight captain said as he examined them. All of Loen’s group nodded in response.

Step, step, step, step.
Simultaneously, knights poured in from the opposite corridor as well.

Loen’s group was instantly surrounded from front and back.

The corridor, wide enough for five grown men to stand side by side, was filled with the duke’s forces.

At a glance, it looked well over a hundred. Judging by the unending footsteps, there seemed to be follow-up forces as well.

Tension that felt like it could be cut with a knife overflowed in the corridor.

Huff, huff.
Rough breathing sounds flowed from the mouths of the knights who had lowered their helmets.

Grip.
Everyone tightly gripped their swords and raised the tension in preparation for the imminent battle.

Loen’s gaze swept her surroundings.

Four magic-armored knights including the captain in the vanguard of the allied formation, the remaining five in the rear, and three mages including myself in the middle. The knight member holding the baby was in the innermost part of the formation.

For reference, the reason for placing fewer knight members in the front was to smoothly launch magic through the gaps.

On the other hand, the enemy had over fifty knights armed with armor. There were even more troops.
The situation was the same in the back.

The time had come to make a decision.

Loen, having finished her thoughts, spoke in a firm tone.
There was no room for courtesy.

“The goal is to escape the mansion.”

Thud.
At Loen’s words, the magic-armored knights planted their shields on the ground.
It was a silent signal confirming the order.

Charge!
Before the sound of the shields even ended, the duke’s side’s attack signal rang out.
Knights from both directions charged towards Loen’s group all at once.

Regardless, Loen gave the next order.

“Maintain formation according to the mages’ pace.”

Thud.
With another shield sound ringing out behind her, Loen stepped forward without hesitation.

And she stretched out her hand and shouted.

“Chain Beam.”

The mana she had prepared in advance gathered at her fingertips and soon transformed into a long gray beam that was fired.

The beam collided with the shield of a knight on the duke’s side.

Crack, crunch.
The beam pierced through the knight’s shield and armor in turn. As soon as the beam touched the knight’s flesh, it split into five branches and spread to the surroundings.

The beam that split into five branches split into five again.

“Aaargh!”
“Urgh.”

The knights at the front collapsed one after another.
In an instant, twenty enemies rolled on the floor.

No matter how armed they were with shields and armor enhanced for magic resistance, it was far from enough to block 5-star level magic containing light and darkness attributes.

Following this, the magic-armored knights advanced forward in step with Loen’s footsteps.

At the same time, Seraphine’s voice echoed in the corridor.

“Lightning Lance.”

Crackle—!
Two blue lances extended through the gaps between the members’ shoulders.

Zap zap zap.
The lances that stretched out like lightning pierced through the charging knights.

Urgh.

In the blink of an eye, six knights were penetrated.
Nearby knights were also electrocuted by the current and froze in place.

And Loen stepped forward again.

Loen, who had passed Seraphine, cast her second spell.

“Chain Beam.”

This time too, over twenty enemy soldiers collapsed.

The enemies in front rapidly decreased under the time-delayed attacks of the two mages.

However, not all the enemies at the front had fallen.
There were also high-level knights mixed among them.

“Die!”

Just as the elite knights who had endured the successive magic barrage approached right in front and were about to swing their swords,
Boom!

“Gack.”

The enemies who collided with the magic-armored knights’ shields were thrown back helplessly.
The magic-armored knights in black armor repelled the duke’s knights with precise movements without a single error.
It was truly a blade-like movement that was thoroughly calculated.

Like mounted knights sweeping through a battlefield, Loen’s group advanced forward relentlessly.

The magic-armored knight captain suddenly let out a laugh.
It was because the magic level of the inspectors far exceeded expectations.

‘Both power and casting speed are at an absurd level.’

There were no gaps between the successive spells of the two mages.
As a result, only a few enemies succeeded in approaching.
Thanks to this, there was no damage to the magic-armored knights.

‘Judging by their equipment level and momentum, the enemies are by no means pushovers, yet to push through so overwhelmingly.’

He felt relieved to the point that they were allies, not enemies.

The group’s advance continued.

Bang, slice.
When the magic-armored knights repelled enemies with their shields and swung their swords to cut down those who approached,

Lightning Lance, Chain Beam, Mana Blade.
Immediately, Loen and Seraphine’s magic poured down, breaking the enemy’s formation.

The enemies attacking from the rear corridor were blocked like an iron wall by the members positioned at the rear of the formation. Psyche assisted them.

Advancing in this way, they approached the end of the corridor.

The number of enemies also gradually decreased.

The moment they reached the end of the long corridor and entered the T-shaped corridor.

Two huge gun barrels positioned at both ends came into Loen’s view.

‘Cannons?’

Loen’s red eyes narrowed.
No matter how you look at it, those are fixed cannons.

As expected of a leader in the weapon manufacturing business, they seemed to have made thorough preparations.

The angle of the gun barrels, the personnel standing by, the lit fuses….
The cannons were about to fire.

Loen quickly judged.
The gun barrels were too large for the magic-armored knights to block. There could be damage. The mages were focused on attacking and hadn’t prepared defensive magic.

Then….

Block the right side with the Seal of Protection artifact, and for the left side.

“Psyche!”

At Loen’s shout, Psyche glanced with her eyes. Having grasped the situation, she rushed towards the left cannon without delay.

Thud, thud, thud.
Psyche, who had become heavy due to various enhancement magic, charged towards the cannon.
The floor vibrated with each step she took.

Meanwhile, the cannon was fired.

Bang! Whoosh.

A huge cannonball was captured in Psyche’s eyes.

Immediately, she drew upon the power of the dragon race.
As if paint was spreading, blue scales spread all over her body, starting from her skin.

At the fleeting moment when the scales covered even part of her face.

Psyche, who had thrust her left shoulder forward, collided head-on with the massive cannonball.

Boom!

Despite the intense impact that struck her body, Psyche seemed unaffected. Her speed didn’t decrease at all either.

The eyes of the magic-armored knight members who watched this widened.
It’s not even a siege tank, what in the world.

“..?”

The jaws of the enemy soldiers dropped at the unbelievable sight.
You’re telling us to block… that?

Soon, Psyche, who had succeeded in approaching, said with a big smile.

“Is that all you’ve got?”
“S-surrender—”

Before the soldier could finish speaking,
Psyche’s fist pierced right through his face.

Crunch.

The trap Duke Donnelly had set was not just one.

In the mansion’s courtyard, hundreds of soldiers and over a hundred knights had already formed an encirclement and were waiting.

This place would become the inspectors’ grave.

Everyone thought so… or so they had.

Boom.
The troops waiting outside swallowed hard at the thunderous sounds and screams echoing from inside the mansion.

“Captain..”

The adjutant opened his mouth worriedly.

In response, the man who was Duke Donnelly’s closest aide and knight commander spoke in a calm tone.

“Adjutant, don’t worry needlessly. Even if they break through our troops’ encirclement, the damage will be severe, so what is there to worry about?”

The commander was certain.

The troops and knights deployed inside the mansion were elites that Duke Donnelly had put his heart and soul into training.

According to the plan, at least one out of the three inspectors should be incapacitated.
And there’s a high possibility that at least a third, or up to nearly half of the magic-armored knight squad has fallen.

Therefore, worry was a luxury.

Above all.

No matter what they say about inspectors, their highest combat power was two novice mages who had just reached 5-star rank.
Moreover, I heard they were ducal ladies.

Of course, the rumors surrounding one of them were not ordinary, but.

Still, rumors are just rumors.

On the other hand, what about himself?
He was a seasoned swordsman who was on the verge of reaching 5-star high rank.

‘I’m not one to lose against exhausted youngsters.’

He sneered.

Meanwhile, the sounds were getting closer and closer.
They were certainly breaking through the encirclement.

Flick.
The commander raised his hand.
At his signal, the soldiers and knights drew their weapons.

After a while, the screams subsided.
A sudden silence fell all around.

And not long after.

Bang!
With an explosion, the mansion’s main gate shattered into pieces and fragments scattered in all directions.

Hiss—
The thick smell of blood spread into the air.
The lingering scent of slaughter that stung the nostrils seeped into the soldiers’ noses.

Eventually, three silhouettes covered in blood gradually revealed themselves through the gaps in the dust and smoke.

Behind them, ten knights in black armor walked out with clanking sounds.

Parts of their shields and armor were dented and covered in blood and soot, but they didn’t seem tired.
Rather, they only exuded an overwhelming pressure.

At their menacing aura, the soldiers guarding the mansion entrance unconsciously took a step back.

“Hmm.”

The knight commander, who was watching the situation, let out a groan.
They’re this unscathed?

No, no.

They only look like that on the outside. In reality, they must surely have no proper strength left.

The commander judged rationally.

At that moment, he saw fear spreading among the soldiers.
It was not a good sign.

They must not let the enemy take the momentum.
The commander, who had pulled himself together, stepped forward.

“Not bad. To think you’d break through the encirclement inside the mansion.”

They remained silent even at the commander’s words.

“Ahem. Let me briefly introduce myself, I am Duke Donnelly’s closest aide and hold the position of knight commander….”

The commander stopped mid-sentence and hurriedly drew up mana.
What in the!

It was because the woman with the fierce impression suddenly started casting magic.

“I haven’t even finished speakㅡ”

The gray spear and sword collided.

After deliberating for a moment, the commander eventually chose to meet it head-on.
If he showed hesitation here, the soldiers’ morale would plummet rapidly.

The second spear flew in succession.

Crack— Clang!

Just as the commander was flustered by the spear’s power, which was much stronger than expected,
the third spear revealed itself.

The commander’s eyes shook greatly.
Not two but three?

A word that flashed through his mind for an instant.
Triple Casting.. No way!

He was inwardly shocked, but it was already too late.

When he realized the truth,
the third spear was right in front of his eyes.

At the same time, a blue light flashed from the woman with noble features.

A moment later.

“Gu, gack.”

The commander, with a large hole in his chest, collapsed powerlessly to the ground.

His two eyes, with an expression of disbelief, were staring at the distant void.

“C-Captain?”
“….”

Silence fell in an instant.

All of the ducal forces froze with their eyes fixed on the commander’s corpse.