7
EP.60 Mission (6)
The hallway, swept by the blade's storm, was filled with blood.
Despite this, the spinel's feet, walking through the horrific scene, were left untouched.
As she walked alone in the air, there was no need to step on bloodstains.
Spinel Clover Bloom.
This was the power possessed by the Archmage, a part of the Order.
"It's quiet now."
Spinel, who cleared the passage, said in a light voice.
Surprisingly, there were quite a few numbers, but it seems that it was not too difficult for her.
Archmages were all such beings.
It's a fighting weapon that can face a lot of people even alone.
It doesn't matter what magic they learned.
Simply reaching the 6th circle is intimidating enough.
That's why it's the dream of all wizards.
- "be careful. A great intellect will be nearby."
And our opponent, the Great Intellect, was also one of those Archmages.
Although not an instant mage, he was the only one who was allowed to become an archmage.
That's Serena Edelbit.
As long as she didn't know what kind of magic she would use from the beginning, it was better to be on the lookout for it.
"You don't need to be afraid already."
- "You're full of confidence."
"Because that's how I've been living. And she survived that way."
It's a pretty convenient way of thinking.
Maybe it's because she's lived like that, and she looks so bright.
After having a conversation full of self with Spinel, he crossed the passageway guarded by the bodyguards.
At the end of a hallway filled with darkness.
I was wary of the enemy that might be beyond the door, and I pushed open the door that vibrated with the smell of gunpowder and blood.
- "...."
profit.
The door that had been closed opened with an eerie sound.
The office, with the lights off, as well as the hallway, greeted us.
weak breathing. The faint smell of blood.
And an intermittent muffled moan.
In the pitch-black darkness, there was a feeble figure of popularity watching us.
"Better than expected… It's very, very noisy... … ."
A familiar voice echoed through the office.
Little by little, my eyes began to adjust to the darkness.
With the blurred vision of the figure, I moved my eyes to the place where I could feel the popularity.
It was not difficult to find the owner of the voice in a small office.
- "I was here."
"which… Are you a guy? … ."
There I saw an old woman limping and bleeding.
All say, the greatest wizard.
A great intelligence that many wizards followed.
The last orthodox wizard in the city stood in our way with a shabby look than anyone else.
- "Is that important?"
"...."
- "I'm going to die soon."
drag.
The sound of her deafening laughter filled the office.
It's creepy yet annoying.
Even so, her voice, which seemed to have lost her strength, was a clear indication of her condition.
To be honest, it wasn't a very good voice to listen to.
"A young man… No manners, though. If that girl knows... I will be sad."
I was startled at Serena's next words.
I certainly have memories of encountering great intelligences before.
I thought it was a passing relationship, but her explanation was more detailed than I thought.
- "… … Do you know me?"
"okay. As you get older, things you can't see... … . You keep seeing it over and over again."
I expected something like this to happen, but Serena seemed to know exactly who I was.
I can't see my voice or face properly.
Still, she sees something special.
Indeed, it was the ability that would make the heir want to kill her.
I took out the pistol I had in my arms and pointed it at Serena.
- "You're too old."
"It's not wrong. Now, I ate too much... … ."
His voice was trembling.
It may be because of the damage to the rebar and its by-products, but Serena's condition did not seem to be normal.
I thought that the fight might end sooner than I thought.
- "Did you want to live like that?"
"Do you want to live… did you ask I don't want to live."
- "Then why did you do that?"
"Looks like you've already seen everything."
Traces of people hanging out in the hallway.
The great intellect survives by sacrificing children.
hundred years. maybe more than that.
In order to continue a longer life than anyone else, he is constantly burning other lives.
Although she listened to my questions, she did not express a negative opinion.
- "okay. It wasn't something to look at. How many did you catch?"
"That's something I don't even know anymore. too long time... It has passed."
- "Ask me again. Have you ever wanted to live like that?"
what do you live for
Sacrificing others for what?
The answer of the great intellect to him was simple.
"Empire. In the darkness of the empire... There are people who are called dead. Now, as if you came to me."
- "What about that?"
"I have a role to drive away the darkness of such an empire. Even the deepest darkness... … ."
To defeat the heir.
The moment I heard Serena's answer, I paused for a moment and pondered.
If the great intellect is fully prepared, will it be able to defeat the successor?
Well. No matter what I thought, it wasn't.
It is a battle with a time limit from the beginning.
And the great intellect was destined to die right here and now.
- "That's stupid. You cannot defeat the Heir."
"Chuckle. One day, there was a great prophecy."
- "prophecy?"
"The ruler of death… will go away And, the ruler of life will take his place."
A great intellect has a high level of predictive power.
The prophecies she conveys are not stories to be passed on in vain.
lord of death. and the ruler of life.
Perhaps the death ruler most likely represented the heir to the association.
Because the magic he uses has a similar effect.
So, who is the latter?
Usher Hayes? Or is it someone else?
At least, it seemed clear that the subject was not the dying old woman in front of him.
- "At least you don't seem to be the protagonist of the prophecy."
"Do you think it's impossible?"
- "okay."
"Wizard. I am a wizard."
- "What do you mean about that?"
"Wizards use magic, and magic can do the impossible."
As soon as those words were finished, Serena's expression changed.
The slurred pronunciation returned to normal.
The hazy old woman's gaze was vividly revived.
Did you say it's called a glare banjo?
Like the last strike before the end, she stood taller than ever.
"An archmage—everyone is given a mission."
- "suddenly… Something has changed."
The air surrounding him has changed.
Spinel waved his hand with an unusual look.
The scattered spinel blades began to cohesive.
"What all wizards call the inner truth."
"My true self, hidden in the darkest places, showed me the way forward."
I have no intention of ever listening to her story.
He pulled the trigger of the pistol he was aiming at.
Taang! Her muzzle spewed fire, and her bullets flew at her.
However, the fired bullets failed to achieve its purpose.
Barrier magic to defend against physical attacks was applied.
A translucent magical barrier had arisen, blocking Serina and us.
"Magic is not a miracle."
Why did this happen?
The hint about him was in the words she uttered.
Serena Edelbit. She is the 6th Circle Archmage.
Each Archmage is given a mission.
And he lives faithfully to the mission given to him.
It's about working hard on a huge goal that runs through your life.
This was by no means an exception, even for an orthodox magician who had built up his studies in the right way.
"There is no such thing as a miracle that happens without cost."
A mission is usually what the wizard himself truly desires.
Only the will to longing for is recognized by the world, and it is established as a milestone to walk through life.
But sometimes it becomes a shackle.
Just like the old woman in front of you.
Is it a goal for life? Or is it a life for a purpose?
It is a story that is difficult to draw conclusions about.
"So, no matter what I sacrifice, I will survive to the end, whether it be a hundred years or a thousand years."
shudder.
I loaded the next bullet and looked at Serena.
The story of her that I had read in a novel one day flashed through my mind.
mission.
It was a story about the mission that the old woman in front of me was given.
"...until I defeat him."
- Survive to the end.
That was the mission given to the great intellect.
And, it was an old ghost that still possessed her.
"You know, Sinel."
"yes."
The dark merchant's office where only the two of them remain.
Sinel looked out the window where the snow was falling and turned to look at the voice of the swordsman calling him.
swordsmanship. A wizard wearing a giant sword was putting a wrapped gift on the table.
When Sinel stared blankly at the sword castle, the sword castle opened the gift package and asked Sinel.
"Do you know what day tomorrow is?"
"tomorrow?"
"yes. Tomorrow is Christmas."
"Christmas… … ."
Christmas.
At the first story he had heard, Sinel asked blankly.
Gumseong made an expression as if he had heard something, and then started explaining to Sinel again.
"… … No, Christmas."
"Christmas."
"It's such a day."
"What day is Christmas?"
"uh… It's someone's birthday that's amazing."
"Who is that?"
Whose birthday is Christmas?
hmmm. The groan of a troubled swordsman resounded in the office.
However, in the end, it seemed that he could not come to a conclusion, so he returned to Sinel again.
"Mole? Lu"
"is that so."
It's a great person's birthday.
Sinel thought quietly in his head at the words of the swordsman.
great person
Who was such a person around him?
The first person that came to mind was one.
Percival Smith. It was her employer called the Dark Merchant.
"I know."
Christmas is the birthday of a great person.
oh Christmas is the boss's birthday.
Sinel nodded her head, making a quick conclusion.
"That's why you should prepare a present."
"You must have a present."
"It is."
"yes."
If it's your birthday, of course you need a birthday present.
You have to prepare the boss's birthday present.
Percibal's birthday present plans began to form in Sinell's mind one by one.
However, Swordsman's explanation of Christmas was not yet finished.
The swordsman looked at Sinel and further told the story of the tradition of Christmas.
"And the Christmas present is from Santa."
"Santa?"
"Santa… hmmm. Yes, it's like a gift fairy."
"… … A fairy of gifts."
Santa should give you the boss's birthday present.
An additional fact was entered into Sinel's mind.
He hadn't even thought that there must have been a gift fairy in the past.
Unfortunately, there are no fairies in modern society.
"Anyway, let's understand these things well and have a merry Christmas."
"yes."
Gumseong left the Christmas present to be handed to Percibal on the table, and left the office to go to the next destination.
After the swordsman left, Sinel stared blankly at the gift of the swordsman on the table.
it's a fairy You can't catch a fairy that doesn't even exist.
Unfortunately, it seemed like he had to be Santa today.
for now… It would be good to start with attire.
Cinell Clover Bloom. It was the moment she was about to use the price of her hamburger, which she had kept for so long.
* * * * * *
Christmas Eve. Or Christmas Eve.
As I walk through the snowy streets, I often think of my thoughts before entering the War City.
decorate the christmas tree Give each other gifts.
And Christmas carols were always sung in the snowy streets.
"It's Christmas. It will not be here."
Even if I go back to the office like this, no one will know.
it's christmas Isn't there an event that is the origin of the anniversary here?
Still, the reason I prepared the cake was simple.
I just wanted everyone to have fun together.
As we met an anniversary we didn't know what it was, we smiled at each other.
"...."
Is it because you are thinking like that?
As I approached the office through the long alley, I couldn't help but be a little surprised.
There is a Christmas tree. There are also flashing light bulbs everywhere.
The office was filled with special things to celebrate Christmas.
"Are you here?"
profit.
When he opened the door to the office and entered, Sinel, dressed as Santa Claus, greeted him.
I don't understand what happened.
There would be no Christmas here, but Sinel was wearing Santa's clothes.
A hopeful thought ran through my head.
Like the amazing dishes I ate at a restaurant the other day, maybe the author was playing a prank again.
If that was the case, it was understandable that Sinell was celebrating Christmas.
"You look like you know what day it is."
When I asked Sinel such a question, Sinel, who was holding a gift, offered it to me.
It was a gift box carefully wrapped with ribbon.
"Today is… … ."
"Today is?"
"I am the boss's Santa."
"… … Is that so?"
"Happy Birthday."
Did you say hello at Christmas?
Obviously, in terms of Christmas, it's probably closer to a birthday.
Seeing that I was troubled by a greeting that I would not normally hear, Sinel held out a gift box again.
The box handed over must be a Christmas present.
I received the gift from Sinel, struggling to keep the corners of my lips raised.
"Thank you, Sinel."
"It's a birthday present."
"Uh, uhm."
If it's a Christmas present, is it a birthday present?
After all, it seems to me that
For today, I think it would be better to match the beat of Sinel.
I received the gift from Sinel with a happy heart, opened the wrapping paper and checked the contents.
And—to my surprise, there was a gun inside.
"… … Pistol?"
"Shoot it once."
"Inside?"
"yes."
I can't help it because the person who bought the gun said so.
The gun was aimed at the ceiling so as not to damage the furniture in the office as much as possible.
The moment I pull the trigger, ready for the percussion that will come to my ears,
Paang!
With the sound of fireworks exploding, colored paper was scattered everywhere.
There were no bullets coming out of the pistol.
Sinell said he was expecting that, voila, pointing at the firecracker gun.
"It's the magic of Christmas."
"… … Magic."
"yes."
"is it."
Confetti comes out instead of bullets, so is it magic?
eating. I unconsciously put a smile on my lips.
it's magic I definitely think so.
Aren't you receiving this gift at a moment you didn't expect?
It was definitely a magical day.
Serena Edelbit.
She is a type that differs from ordinary wizards and arks.
You can use all kinds of magic regardless of the magic you have, and it can be expanded more deeply than instant mages.
But that didn't mean it was superior to the Instant Mage in every way.
Disadvantages were also clearly present.
First of all, the magic activation speed is remarkably slow.
Compared to the instant mages that have a single circuit, the spells Serina uses take time to use.
And another one. Only prepared magic can be used.
It is an advantage that it is not limited by the type of magic, but it is ambiguous to use it in practice if you have not memorized it beforehand.
In short, it meant that the fight with her was highly likely to become a battle of attrition between each other.
"[Ice Arrow]."
blatantly.
Five arrows of ice appeared in front of Serena along with the cold air.
Ice Arrow. It is a magic that shoots arrows made of ice.
Even if it's ice, it's fatal if it's actually hit.
The option to endure with the body did not exist from the beginning.
Paang-!
With the sound of bursting air, arrows of ice came out and flew in aiming at the spinel.
"It's a trivial attack."
Kaang! Kang!
Spinel's blades spinning in mid-air struck Serina's arrows.
As a result, none of the flying icy arrows reached the spinel.
However, not all arrows were arranged.
Because one arrow that was shot at me from the beginning was still flying straight.
- "I wish I had cleaned it all up."
"I'm a little curious about your skills too."
- "It's unfortunate, but I'm not the type to go to the forefront."
He briefly complained to Spinel, who was watching him leisurely.
It was slower than a bullet, but it was a fairly fast arrow.
I kicked the floor and escaped from the arrow's trajectory.
Aside from the magic performance I was holding, this body itself performed quite well.
Immediately after leaving the seat, an arrow of ice flew and landed on the ground.
As fragments of the arrow flew in all directions, the ground that collided with the arrow froze slightly.
"[pie… … ]."
- Bang!
bang! Taang!
Immediately after dodging the arrow, the gun fired.
If possible, Serena should not be allowed to rest.
Several shots were fired, and the fired bullets collided with the barrier.
Tung-. The fired bullets were blocked by the barrier without exception.
Contrary to its appearance, it seemed to have considerable defense.
Even using a spinel blade, it seemed that it would take time to break it.
- "The pistol seems to have its limits."
"Shall I go?"
I didn't have to answer.
Because Spinel didn't wait for an answer and threw his blade away.
As the spinel's blades collided with the barrier, I slowly scanned the nearby terrain.
Is it because it has already been stirred once with rebar?
The office was turned over in our favor.
- "You don't seem to need an answer."
"I want to check how strong it is."
It seems that this aspect resembles Sinel to the extent that it is excessive.
I left the spinel attacking the barrier and immediately opened the pistol chamber.
Click. The appearance of a few bullets left, caught my eye.
He took out the bullets in the chamber, and put them all back in place except for one.
Then he put the other one in his pocket.
It was a simple move, but the purpose was to deceive Serena's eyes.
He sent a telepathic message that only Serena could hear while stroking the bullets in her pocket.
- "I will use a space-transfer type magic bullet."
Actually, I don't know if such a thing exists in this world.
It was just something Serena had told her to listen to.
But Serena, who heard the telepathy, looked at me with a serious expression, wondering if she had grown vigilant.
It's a space-transfer type magic bullet.
It seems that even Nara would be afraid to hear such a story.
Serena, who has been studying magic for a long time, seems to feel that fear even more.
"Do you think it will work out?"
It may be because of the injuries sustained in the first attack, but Serena was unable to think soberly now.
I put the bullets in my pocket back into the chamber.
At first glance, it may seem like a secretly developed magic bullet is inserted.
Especially when it comes to being wary of magic bullets.
- "Spinel. I have something to say, so just listen."
"...?"
He raised the pistol with the cylinder turned back and aimed at Serena.
This time, I was going to use telepathy so that only the spinel could hear it.
nod. Hearing my telepathy, Spinel shook his head slightly.
without possible damage. As fast as possible.
For the purpose of this operation, the battle had to be ended quickly.
- "The rebar on the window side. Move forward a little."
"...."
- "And after a second or so, push the fire extinguisher next to you."
"when?"
"[Chain Lightning]!"
During the conversation, Serena, who was wary of us, used magic.
The magic used was 'Chain Lightning'.
It is a magic that sends electricity in a chain to nearby targets.
The chain lightning sent by Serena hit the spinel blade close to the barrier.
As a result, Serena's attack never reached us.
The blades of the spinel that rotated in a circle caught Serina's lightning and threw it away.
After Serena's magic passed once.
I timed it right away and signaled Spinel.
- "Now."
- Taang!
Pretending to pull the trigger. And immediately after that, gunshots rang out.
Serena was nervous and chased the space-transfer-type bullets that were about to hit her.
However, the direction in which the attack is flying is not straight ahead.
The rebar in the office moved by Spinel's magic.
Kugugugugugu-!
As the rebar moved, the floor of the building shook with vibration.
"[Barrier]!"
Perhaps he was wary of an attack from the rear, and Serena, who looked back, used the stored barrier.
Due to the magnitude of the vibration transmitted to the floor, it seemed difficult for her to stand up and endure.
Even the current barrier would have barely caught on and used it.
Using magic to defend against attacks has now reached its limit.
"It's nonsense. Did you think such a masterpiece would work?"
The rebar that the spinel was moving was blocked by the structure of the building, preventing it from moving forward any further.
Unlike the previous attack, which fell from the sky, it was due to the lack of strength to penetrate into the building.
Of course, it does not end here.
It was a plan from the beginning, assuming that the attack would be blocked.
- "Spinel."
"Ahh… … !"
Kaang!
A fire extinguisher that flew in from the side hit Serena's head and flew away.
A horrifying crashing sound echoed through the office.
It is a blow that blows away a heavy fire extinguisher with all its power.
Serena, who was hit by a fire extinguisher, could not have been in good shape.
Serena's body staggered for a moment in shock, then fell over with a loud noise.
thud. As Serina fell to her floor, the barrier blocking her passage also disappeared.
"The barrier magic is gone."
- "I can't keep it any longer. My consciousness started to shake."
"Unlike it looks, it was a rather vicious strategy."
- "How did you do that?"
At Spinel's words that the operation was different from what it looked like, I reflexively asked her.
hmmm. Spinel, contemplating, said as he moved the blades.
"Because the face looks quite exciting."
- "It's exciting… … . I don't know."
It's a fun-looking face.
It is a story that is difficult to understand when you stand still.
After smiling lightly at her answer, she approached Serena who had fallen on the floor.
Blood was dripping from Serena's head, who had fallen.
Even so, he was still hiding, showing that he was shaking his body little by little.
"Is this the appearance of the wizard who was called the Great Intelligence?"
"Uh, uh… … ."
"It's disappointing because it's so shabby."
Spinel lowered her posture and made eye contact with Serena who was moaning.
Blurred eyes looked into Spinel's eyes.
It was Serena who had been weakened from the beginning.
Now, gradually, he began to meet the limits of his body.
Everyone admired her, and it was hard to find a gun in her eyes anymore.
"I… … ."
- "It seems that there are still things I want to say."
The great intellect, who was trembling on the floor, opened his mouth.
The voices mixed with moans were unclear in pronunciation.
However, it didn't look like he was going to use magic.
Even if you want to use it, it may not be possible.
Are you thinking of leaving a will?
It doesn't matter how much you listen to the last words.
"Gee, the winner… have to knock it down... … ."
- "...."
Serena's will remained the same until the very end.
It is an obsession close to madness.
Even before her death, her thoughts do not seem to change.
under. A short sigh escaped my lips without realizing it.
"You are such a fool. Let's end it now."
- "If you want to finish it, do it as you please."
Originally, this mission was given to Spinel.
I thought I would die if I left it alone, but it was also a good option to finish it with certainty.
I was going to let Spinel take care of Serena.
But Spinel's reply back was unexpected.
"no. you kill me."
Spinel smiled and took my hand.
I could feel the cold spinel's body temperature through the hand holding the pistol.
The muzzle caught by Spinel lifted up little by little, and was aimed at the head of the fallen great intellect.
She was expecting me to pull the trigger myself.
- "Is there any reason?"
"I wanted to see you."
- "… … Was that the reason?"
That's a really fickle reason.
There was no reason why they couldn't get along.
If it was to trust each other, they were willing to pull the trigger.
Taang!
Gunshots resounded through the office with the touch of the index finger.
It was the last moment of the wizard who was called the great intellect.
- [According to an old oath, I will give you a mission.]
And immediately after that, an unfamiliar voice was heard.
It wasn't like the telepathy I usually use.
no. It doesn't sound like it at first.
It was a will that penetrated clearly into my mind.
- [Shake the world.]
And it was a mission.
I heard the mission.
And it became 5th circle.
According to the agent of the mystery, the ordeal I receive is applied one level higher than that of a normal wizard.
So, by receiving the mission, it became the 5th circle.
It's something to be happy about because the circle has risen, but there were a lot of things that didn't make sense.
One is about the mission I received.
'Shake the world.'
As with most missions, it was too comprehensive to be abstract.
The mission is given in the direction you want without exception.
If so, who was given this mission?
Percibal Smith, the original owner of this body?
If not, am I myself in this body now?
No matter how much you think about it, it is not a story that can be easily concluded.
"The security forces will come soon. Let's go down now."
- "You don't do that."
The other is that we don't have much time given to us.
There is no time to check the effects of the magic that has evolved since reaching the 5th circle.
As Spinel said, he could see the security forces coming from afar.
Confirmation of the telepathic magic change will only be possible after returning to the office.
As I accepted Spinel's offer, I opened the chamber and refilled the spent ammunition.
It was to prepare for the possibility of a battle occurring below.
"Are you ready?"
- "It doesn't matter if you leave."
"Then run."
bump widely.
The spinel jumped towards the hole in the wall made by the rebar.
Serena's office is located on the 12th floor of the Tower.
It was dizzying to even imagine that you were trying to freely fall from the 12th floor without safety equipment.
Shortly after Spinel jumped off, I followed her down as well.
Without Spinel, it was crazy that I would never do it again.
Whoa, whoa, whoa-.
The cold wind that brushed my cheeks woke me up.
Spinel, who jumped to the ground first, was waving a little further down.
Behind her, a small car and a large crowd could be seen.
The image of the ground increasing in size in an instant made my heart flutter.
"[Levitation]!"
Spinel with his arms wide open used magic.
Levitation. It is the magic of spinel that makes objects float.
As the magic unfolded, the body that was falling to the ground slowed down.
The floating body slowly descended to the ground, and soon it was able to settle down without any shock.
widely. I stepped out of the floating magic with my feet on the ground.
As soon as my feet touched the ground, I looked around.
- Crumple!
bang! Wow!
I saw a troll waving his arms and breaking things.
A fierce battle was still going on on the ground.
Not to mention the battle between the swordsman and the transforming magician, there were countless casualties from the secondary beats and the ghost corps around them.
I don't know if it was involved in the battle between the swordsman and the transforming magician, or if there was a battle between them.
Either way, it was clear that he suffered considerable damage.
Is it because me and Spinel came down from the sky?
The sword spirit, who had deflected the troll's fist and slashed a ghost corps, looked up at the tower for a moment.
"Has it already happened?"
- "You have failed. Don't keep fighting meaningless."
Although it is said that the swordsman was not at the scene, it would not be difficult to grasp the situation from above.
The expression of the swordsman who understood my words was distorted.
I left the sword demon whose complexion was darkening and looked at the commander who was nearby.
All of the goals have already been achieved.
The security forces were also close, so now we had to retreat.
- "The operation is over. Withdraw now."
"Is it over already?"
- "okay. When you've got everything you need, slowly back away."
"Still, I don't think we should go back yet."
However, returning from the commander was an unexpected answer.
Naturally, I had to ask again.
- "What are you talking about?"
"I think we need a little more time."
Maybe you haven't secured a safe yet?
At the reaction of the ghost corps, anxieties began to rise slowly.
I wondered if he would respond appropriately to the operation, but in the end he showed signs of going wrong.
Suddenly, you can see the security guards approaching from all directions.
The mercenaries of the secondary beat were all around, and the patrol car of the security force was gradually narrowing the distance.
In fact, it was on the verge of siege.
In this situation, the help of the ghost corps is essential to escape.
I had to convince him.
- "There is no time. The security guards are also approaching."
"That has nothing to do with us."
- "… … Commander."
"All right. If you are in such a hurry, you can get out first."
The moment when the rustling of the teeth beyond the mask is transmitted.
All allies in the vicinity disappeared at once.
Invisible. The magic of the ghost army that made the designated target within the range transparent was unfolded.
Spinel. transformation wizard. Commander.
It was hidden from anyone.
Except for me, all the members of the association that were in this place vanished.
"you… … ."
What remains around are swordsman and secondary beat mercenaries.
And behind them were the security guards who started to line up one by one.
I am alone in the middle of the enemy camp.
okay. The ghost corps blatantly fed me shit.
If this happens, the enemy's attention will unconditionally pay attention to me.
A security guard who blocked the escape route with the elite of the Secondary Beat.
How long can I hold out against all of them?
Just thinking about it made my head hurt.
In the situation that suddenly came upon me, I uttered anything as I could.
- "Surrender. You are surrounded."
Because if you didn't say anything, bullets were going to come flying.
The mercenaries of the Secondary Beat, who heard my words, made blank expressions.
Even the swordsman holding the sword right in front of him didn't seem to understand.
But it wasn't completely unfounded.
The evidence of that was that the men of the death row in front of them disappeared.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
- "Where do you think the missing guys went? I am already aiming a gun at your head."
"You are crazy. besiege."
it's okay
The mercenaries weren't stupid, and there was no way this could work.
Should I surrender now?
If they surrender, what words should they say to convince them?
All sorts of thoughts rushed through my head and then subsided.
Just as he was seriously contemplating surrender, a familiar voice in the dark reached his ears.
"[levitation]."
Spinel's soft voice resounded around him.
Immediately after that, silver blades flew into the sky.
👌👌👌👌👌 Whoa!
A silver trail drawn in the air.
And on top of that, a silver trace is drawn again.
The mercenaries of the secondary beat retreated one by one to the attacks of the blades that flashed nonstop.
"Aww… … !"
"It's a surprise! Watch your surroundings!"
Some were injured, and others fell by grabbing their necks.
The support of the hidden spinel was continued due to the effect of Invisible.
Was the trust that had been built up in the upper floors fortunately remained?
Taking advantage of the slight gap that Spinel had opened, I ran towards the inside of the tower.
Due to the aftermath of the previous battle, the first floor of the tower was in a mess.
"Follow him!"
The mercenaries of the secondary beat, led by the swordsman, started chasing after me.
If you are a transforming magician or a ghost army, you might be able to hold on to time against the secondary beat.
But unfortunately I wasn't them.
For me, I couldn't possibly stand up to a head-to-head match.
At best, all he could do was run away into the tower and spread the sound around him.
- "Here it is."
"Looks like this!"
- "Here it is."
"I'm going to split up and chase him. you over there, you over there The rest follow me."
After hearing the telepathy, the secondary beats scattered around and started chasing after me.
However, as much as the group led by the sword spirit was coming straight towards me.
They couldn't go higher than the first floor just because they were chasing them.
From the second floor, it becomes difficult to escape.
Finding the way out had to be done only within the first floor somehow.
"Ha, ha… … ."
Fortunately, it is because it is a tower with all kinds of symbols.
There were more places to hide than I thought.
I ran through the complex rows of structures to avoid the sword spirits and the party.
Taang! bang!
Bullets flew from behind as they stepped forward.
Barely avoiding them and going deep, the sound of footsteps chasing them immediately followed.
"Where did you go?"
thud. thud. thud. thud.
Hearing the sword spirit's voice, my heart pounded wildly.
Lungs that lacked oxygen in successive sprints were also demanding to breathe.
But I forcibly held my breath and covered my mouth.
If you make a sound here now, you will definitely be caught by the sword demon.
"...."
If caught, you die.
Secondary beats are different from security guards.
If it was a police force, I would go through a trial after going through a minimum investigation, but if the swordsman finds me, I will just kill him.
So even in the worst case, being caught by the sword demon had to be avoided.
Forcefully pressing the breath that was about to explode, he telepathically spread the sound of footsteps around him.
- Tick, tick, tick.
"Probably… It looks like he went over there."
Hearing the sound, the swordsman moved his legs.
Tub. Tub. Tub.
You can hear the footsteps of the sword demon walking leisurely.
And right after the sound of footsteps, which was gradually getting louder, resounded in my ears the loudest.
The swordsman stopped his feet.
Hearing the sound, the swordsman moved his legs.
Tub. Tub. Tub.
You can hear the footsteps of the sword demon walking leisurely.
And right after the sound of footsteps, which was gradually getting louder, resounded in my ears the loudest.
The swordsman stopped his feet.
"...."
The momentary silence that was thus created.
The swordsman who stood still in the silence looked around.
The mercenaries of the secondary beat who followed the swordsman also stopped.
A strange confrontation continues over a structure in the dark.
Watching the sword spirit, my heart was beating with an irregular beating.
"Captain, did you find anything suspicious?"
immediate situation.
The swordsman's eyes glanced around him lightly.
He stood in place for a while and pondered, then shook his head at the mercenary's question that followed.
Then he started walking again.
"… … it doesn't look like it Let's go back."
I continued to hold my breath until the group of sword demons stopped in front of me disappeared from view.
After some time has passed since then.
The breath that had been suppressed so much finally burst out.
After confirming that the sword spirits were not returning, I breathed out the breath I had been holding back.
As if thirsting for insufficient oxygen, the out of breath became rough.
"Puha… ha ha ha... … ."
While the sword spirit was chasing me, I thought I was really going to die.
Although I had been through many crises of death, it was the first time in my life that I experienced a chase like this.
A tense pulsation from the tense body shook her body.
I calmed my breath and looked around slowly.
Various symbols lined up in all directions caught my eye.
It seems to be an exhibition room to display something, or a place that plays a similar role.
Even if there are complex structures, the places that people can pass through are always limited.
It was clear that the sword demons who were pursuing me would soon come back feeling suspicious.
"Whoa… … ."
The lungs, which used to be busy, seem to be a little calmer.
Even his breathing, which had become rough, had changed to a fairly even level.
If your breathing has subsided to this extent, moving from here won't make a big difference.
There are still many signs left on the first floor.
Now I had to move again.
If you don't move, you will be discovered by the enemy.
'Which way should I move?'
where to get out
I try to relive the structure of the first floor that I've been missing so far in my head.
The security forces that have been dispatched have reached a short distance.
It must have been a long time since there was already a siege at the front gate.
Therefore, it was necessary to use an unpredictable exit rather than the front door to get out.
Fortunately, most of the outer walls of the tower were made of glass.
You can see the inside from the outside, but you can also check the exit as quiet as possible from the inside.
First, it would be better to move in a direction where the sword and the movement line do not overlap.
I got up from my seat again, and started moving in the opposite direction to the direction the sword spirit was moving.
"Where did he go?"
1 minute. Or has it been shorter than that?
As I passed the passage, I could feel the popularity of people.
What was heard was a thick male voice.
I leaned close to the invisible wall and focused on the voices of the passing mercenaries.
It was to check the number of mercenaries heading here.
"Captain Darren is chasing him now."
"The security forces have arrived. Bring everyone back except for those who were pursuing them."
"All right."
Judging from the content of the conversation, it doesn't seem like they were from the tower.
Chief Darren. and security guards.
Approaching from beyond the corner were obviously the mercenaries of the Secondary Beat.
The number appears to be only two.
Due to the structure of the passageway where I am hiding, I will inevitably run into people passing by.
It seemed that the battle was unavoidable.
I quietly raised my pistol and pointed it at the corner where the mercenaries would appear.
"And, the guys who attacked me this time. What was your name?"
"combination? I think that was the name."
In my case, I'm not very good at person-to-person combat.
When this side had the advantage of surprise, it was dangerous to not finish the opponent at once.
Prepare to boost your telepathy to full power.
The moment the bullet flew, the presence of this side would be detected, so it was intended to confuse the direction even a little.
The moment you want to activate the magic and fire the gun.
I couldn't help but feel something uncomfortable.
- ....
- ....
- ....
Always before using telepathy, I would go through a procedure.
echo. It was a procedure to confirm the sound to be transmitted to the other party prior to the activation of telepathy.
The telepathy that came back like that was a different feeling than usual.
The used sound comes back, but nothing is heard.
His telepathic ears were unable to perceive any sound.
It was truly an area of complete silence.
- ....
- ....
The silence that I emitted continued to come back incessantly.
There is no guessing part.
In the fight against the Great Intelligence, I defeated her and reached Circle 5.
After reaching the 5th circle, telepathy must have gone through some kind of growth.
If the telepathy of the 5 circles that had grown like that was sent out to the maximum output, it seemed that no sound could be heard.
"At the end of the day, he also told the team leader… Are you listening?"
When the magic output was reduced, the sound that had disappeared returned.
The changes achieved by becoming a fifth circle were by no means small.
The ability to completely paralyze hearing within range.
This was a factor that made a significant advantage in battle.
Humans cannot fully perceive their surroundings through sight alone.
In other words, they become more vulnerable to attacks from blind spots.
"for a moment. Something is strange."
"What do you mean?"
"From before, the sound… … ."
You can fight and win.
The moment I was convinced of that, I raised my magic again.
A silent area develops, completely encroaching on the surrounding sound.
They do not hear the sound of loading bullets or moving their feet.
He was the only one who could hear the sound in this realm.
He spotted an enemy emerging over the corner, and pulled the trigger straight toward the target.
- ....
- ....
"ah… … !"
- ....
Taang!
Gunshots rang out, and bullets were fired at the mercenaries.
The result was, of course, a hit.
A mercenary who had his head pierced by a bullet let out a short flurry.
The mercenary sitting next to him calmly conversed, then checked the situation with his own eyes and distorted his face.
dump. The body of the mercenary hit by the gun falls to the side.
Shortly thereafter, the barrel of the reloaded pistol was aimed at the one remaining enemy.
"this… … !"
- 'how… Why didn't I notice until now?'
There was a big difference between recognizing a situation by hearing a gunshot and recognizing a situation by seeing it with your eyes.
My gun was aimed at him before the other mercenary, who came to his senses, aimed his weapon.
Taang!
Once again, the gun fired fire.
The mercenary fell to the floor while holding his weapon.
He met the same end as his colleague who had fallen before.
Having defeated the two mercenaries in an instant, I looked at the pistol in my hand.
"under… … ."
My impression of looking at the pistol was a little different from usual.
Finally got the ability to use it in battle.
Of course, the opponent's defense was weaker than expected, and there were drawbacks that it could only be used for surprise purposes.
Still, the fighting ability was the fighting ability.
It was important to be able to use it with some power.
Even right now, isn't there room to use this to escape?
It is also like this.
'[Telepathy].'
If you go through the hallway quickly, you will hear footsteps.
However, you can reduce that risk by using the newly acquired function.
Using telepathic magic, I immediately developed a silent area and started running.
With a certain level of leeway, it was a speed that was not out of breath.
- ....
- ....
- ....
Tick, tick, tick, tick.
The sound of my footsteps running down the hallway echoed.
Still, only my ears could hear footsteps.
The sound of my footsteps resounding around me was swallowed up by the magic of silence that was now unfolding.
About 10 seconds after starting a short run.
In the stillness, he moved his eyes to confirm the position of the person.
Hiding in a nearby structure, I picked up the silent area while holding my breath.
"What didn't happen just now?"
"what?"
"No, I think I heard a tinnitus."
Afraid to pick up the magic, the voices of the mercenaries passing by were heard.
This is why I haven't run for a long time.
If there is no sound for too long, anyone will doubt the status quo.
Even if communication is impossible in that state.
But if it's your first time, you tend to dismiss it as your own problem.
This happened because the phenomenon was not fully understood yet.
Therefore, it is best to use it only for a short time, and cut it off whenever there is a break.
Afraid to pick up the magic, the voices of the mercenaries passing by were heard.
This is why I haven't run for a long time.
If there is no sound for too long, anyone will doubt the status quo.
Even if communication is impossible in that state.
But if it's your first time, you tend to dismiss it as your own problem.
This happened because the phenomenon was not fully understood yet.
Therefore, it is best to use it only for a short time, and cut it off whenever there is a break.
"what. It didn't matter. Let's go quickly."
"okay. let's go."
The mercenary, who was suspicious of the tinnitus, moved in a different direction after a while.
He seems to have thought that it was not a big deal.
If you take this situation seriously, the only thing you can do is go to the hospital after this is over.
Now was the chance to move.
The mercenaries left the hall without any doubt, and I started to move through the hall to another place using the gap.
- ....
- ....
Tub. Tub.
Telepathy swallows the sound echoing in the hallway.
Having developed a silent area, I passed the hall where the mercenaries were and walked down the hallway towards the outer wall.
The outermost part of the tower. A hallway full of doors.
Upon entering there, I saw several rooms with the doors firmly closed.
As it is the outermost passage, the rooms inside will have glass walls that look outward.
You'll have to enter one of the rooms here to get out through the window.
I started checking the doorknobs one by one with my gloved hand to see if the door was locked.
"Whoa… … ."
shudder. shudder.
The first handle he grabbed only rattled, and other manipulations were impossible.
The door to the first room could not be opened.
I confirmed earlier that door snitching was impossible at my level.
The only way was to look around the rest of the room.
Continue to check the other rooms sequentially.
First. Second. and third.
I grabbed the handle in order and checked the condition, but then I stopped in front of a certain room.
'… … The door is open.'
shudder. profit.
The fifth room, counting from the inside.
Apparently there was no lock on it, the door opened easily by pulling the handle.
I was worried that all the rooms would be locked, but it didn't take as long to find an open room as I thought it would.
There must be a translucent glass wall installed inside this one.
If you break it, it won't be difficult to outrun the pursuers.
I went into the room and closed the door before anyone saw it.
Immediately after that, I turned the lock and locked the door.
"Chief, over there… … !"
The moment I entered the room with such peace of mind.
I couldn't help but stop staring at the glass wall.
It was because the voices of strangers came from outside.
"what?"
"There is a suspicious person over there."
Beyond the thin glass wall.
I saw patrol cars with sirens sounding.
Next to me were the security guards looking at me with bewildered faces.
tt I reflexively clicked my tongue at the sight.
Apparently, there were security guards waiting by the window where they came in to get out.
In fact, it was safe to say that all roads in this direction were blocked off.
"He's a suspicious guy! Everyone, follow him!"
A security guard holding a loudspeaker looked at me and shouted.
Judging from the clothes and location, it seemed that he was in a role of commanding other security forces.
As I looked around and checked the total number of the security forces, I quickly raised my magic.
Only one thin glass wall.
It was a situation where he could encircle me at any time if he broke through.
Something special had to be done.
- "Cancel! Retreat now!"
"What… … ?"
- "Send it again. Retreat!"
With the voice of the security guard, he gave orders to the entire security force.
The security guard, who was in charge with a loudspeaker at him, was bewildered.
It is natural.
It was normal for anyone to be embarrassed, as there were words that were circulating that he did not even say.
"That's bullshit! Follow him right now!"
- "Shut up! Retreat now!"
"What nonsense is this?"
- "In me… Something else is coming in. Run away now!"
"No, no! Everyone right now... … !"
- "Run now! Before he wakes up!"
The entire security force was bewildered by the similarity of seeing the acting of two roles.
He succeeded in paralyzing the chain of command, at least temporarily.
The security guard, who was holding the loudspeaker, received a strange gaze from those around him.
It was the moment when their guns were split between me and the security guards.
I don't think the chase will go away completely, but it will work to delay it to some extent.
With the security guard's feet tied, I spread telepathy and opened the door and walked out.
- "Run quickly! When the being hidden within me awakens, we will all die!"
"No ah ah ah-!"
After making a thriller movie in an instant, I opened a silent area and rushed out of the hallway.
Sooner or later, the security forces over there will come after me.
I had to quickly find another way.
Either attack in the opposite direction, or go through the hole.
If it wasn't for him, he trusted Spinel and jumped from the top floor.
None of the best options existed.
The biggest reason was being too late.
"I will go back."
All around you are surrounded by enemies.
If I go forward, the mercenaries of the secondary beat will follow me, and if I go backwards, the security guards will follow me.
That doesn't mean I can't get out of here after killing them all.
If you had the ability to do that in the first place, there would be no reason to take Shinel with you as an escort.
The end of the run was slowly approaching.
"The rat was here."
As I was about to cross the hall in the middle of the passage and enter the other hallway, I stopped at a familiar voice.
They say that if you call a tiger, they will come to you please.
Fearing that escaping would be the limit, the cause of having to run away appeared nearby.
Darren Belts.
The sword spirit of the secondary beat was holding a sword and looking at me.
- "… … What is it?"
"Probably your co-worker. It seems like we're on a bad relationship."
In the other hand of the sword-wielding swordsman, a bloodthirsty person was dragged along.
tuk. He threw the person the swordsman had brought in front of him.
I saw a monster wearing a mask.
It must have been one of the ghost corps.
The sword spirit that moved past me seemed to have caught the members of the ghost corps who were robbing the safe.
- "You must have been too greedy."
"I thought it was the end, so I just killed it. After all, you are the more important person."
- "Aren't the fortresses leaving the important people behind and running away?"
"Well. It looks like they had a fight. I will kill you anyway."
Whirick-.
The sword spirit, who had shaken the sword he was holding, lifted it up.
It was a luxury item with a black secondary beat with a blue luster.
There are many wizards who use cold weapons in this city, but the sword demon is one of them who has reached the apex.
Surely, before my bullet could reach him, the sword of the swordsman would be swung at me.
- "Don't be silly and step back."
The most effective way is to make them retreat without fighting the sword spirit.
I don't know if there really is such a way.
I couldn't stand still, so I pulled out my pistol and tried to bluff him.
"Are you even confident in fighting?"
- "Bombs have been planted all over the tower. If you come close, I will use the detonator."
"Are you going to die too?"
- "All the mercenaries to kill me… … ."
He must have been watching his eyes.
Short interval between breath and breath.
As soon as he exhaled the breath he had inhaled, the sword spirit that had disappeared from sight appeared right in front of him.
Suddenly, the sword of the sword demon who had reached a short distance flashed.
Die. Sensing it, I reflexively leaned back.
Whoops!
The sword that was stabbing me at my neck pierced my shoulder.
"Stop the bullshit."
"ね… … !"
In the blink of an eye, the sword spirit that came close to me swung a sword.
A burning pain came from the shoulder blades pierced by the sword.
Forced to suppress the moan that was about to burst, I waited for the sword of the sword spirit to come out.
And the moment when the swordsman draws out his sword for the next attack.
He moved his legs quickly and kicked him in the stomach.
puck-. The sword's ears that had been kicked back a bit with the feeling of heavy blows coming from his feet.
"… … My feet are a bit bitter."
There was no time to respond to the sword demon's scolding.
He was distracted by the pain from his shoulder.
It was an unfavorable fight nonetheless, and it was crazy to even get injuries.
Even so, if I kept my eyes wide open and focused, the sword spirit in front of me disappeared from view again.
"You should return what you received."
As soon as the sword spirit came into sight, I pointed my pistol straight at him and pulled the trigger.
It was a difficult location to avoid.
bang! A gunshot rang out, and bullets were fired aiming at the sword spirit.
However, he was soon swept away by the blue wall that covered him.
It's a fact I've felt in previous fights, but it was really annoying magic to deal with.
Whoops!
The swordsman's knee was stuck in my abdomen, which had missed the sword.
It seems that returning it was revenge for the attack he had just hit.
"Cuckoo… … !"
Wow! blatantly.
The body pushed back by the sword spirit's attack collided with the glass wall of the tower, and then it cracked and collapsed.
The body was pushed out of the building in an instant and rolled around.
Pain that radiates to the shoulder and abdomen.
Perhaps it wasn't an attack that he was trying to kill, but he could barely stand it, but his body that had managed to rise up staggered backwards.
A sour taste seemed to come out of his mouth that swallowed a moan.
"Do you think you can run away?"
"under… … ."
"I want to torture myself, but I also have face. I'm sorry, but I have to die."
The sword spirit holding the sword came towards me.
The security forces are still searching the other side of the tower.
The sword spirit raised his blood-stained sword upwards, presuming to clear up the situation before the security forces arrived.
Blue energy began to flow from the sword of the sword demon pointed toward the sky.
"[Spell Overlord: Auror]."
A spell overload that was allowed only for magicians of the 6th circle unfolded in front of him.
A blue haze that soared up to a length of close to 10 meters fluttered in front of my eyes.
This attack cannot be avoided.
Even if you try to run away, you will be cut before you escape.
The auror that the sword spirit had decided and pulled out meant that it was sure to end with this attack.
"bye. The trash of society."
- "I am alone… Do you think you are going to die?"
"You must die. then."
profit.
The blood on the sword evaporated in the aura that burned like a flame.
With an intense momentum that seemed to crush everything, the sword of the sword spirit was howling brilliantly.
can't stop can't be avoided
Now he had no choice but to quietly accept his death.
The moment the sword demon's hand, holding the sword, began to move.
I sensed my own end and closed my eyes.
"What are you?"
"...."
But even after more than 10 seconds had passed since I closed my eyes, the moment of death never came.
Rather, what he heard was the voice of the bewildered swordsman.
What the hell happened?
I opened my eyes again and looked around.
Right in front of him leaning against the wall.
In front of the sword demon wielding the auror, a familiar face was holding the sword demon's arm.
- "I'll protect you."
Gray hair fluttering in the wind.
A strong will that is transmitted in my head even when there is no sound.
There was a girl wearing goggles.
And, it was his colleague.
- "I'll protect you."
Gray hair fluttering in the wind.
A strong will that is transmitted in my head even when there is no sound.
There was a girl wearing goggles.
And, it was his colleague.
- "… … why."
I didn't even call, but he came.
So Sinel saved his life.
Nevertheless, I could not happily welcome this situation.
There are several reasons.
Sinel came to the tower without any disguise.
The situation is completely different with me, who has my face covered.
Just because we got out of here safely doesn't mean it's over.
No matter how things turned out, it was clear that he would eventually be arrested by the police.
- "Why are you here? Sinel, this is a dangerous place."
Above all, the opponent standing in front of her was the problem.
No matter how much Sinel was, there was no way he could last long against the sword spirit.
The difference between the two in battle was clear.
It is a swordsman who put the secondary beat at the top of PMC.
The swordsman who came back alive from countless battlefields still had enough skills and experience.
I was really starting to worry about her.
"Seeing you torment someone who has been hurt, you must be a bad person."
fresh.
With a small smile, Sinel stepped back and drew a dagger.
You don't look at me and pretend you don't know me.
I was just trying to make the current situation a minor mistake.
Perhaps the effect of the Spell Overlord had ended, or the aura that covered the sword of the sword demon also faded.
The sword demon looked at his sword, which had escaped the heat, and said in dismay.
"What are you trying to do now?"
"Bounty Hunt."
"What?"
"I still have a lot of debt. therefore… You should get a lot of bounties."
Sinel's dagger was aimed at the sword spirit.
It looked like they were going to fight the swordsman one more time.
The sword demon's face, which had been full of anger, was already dyed with absurdity.
I don't understand.
Because it was an excuse that made no sense to me.
Whirick. The sword's ears swung her sword, wiping away the blood that had been buried there.
He doesn't seem to be refusing to fight the fight he's walking towards.
"I don't mean to call nonsense as an excuse… Are you sure he's his friend?"
"The purpose is a bounty."
"I don't see any need for an answer."
"...."
The fight had already begun at the point when each took up arms.
The swordsman, who had come to a conclusion alone, raised his sword.
It was a simple slashing motion that showed a lot of gaps.
Nevertheless, Sinel did not dig into the sword spirit.
It is void and not void.
Synell must feel the same pressure I just encountered.
The sword demon's attack was that kind of thing.
"[Auror]."
A sword clad in blue light is swung aiming at Sinel.
Whik-. A blow that hits the floor in a straight line.
The sword demon's aura embodied by magic ignores most of the defense.
It was impossible to stop it, so avoiding it was the correct answer.
With a narrow gap, Sinel barely avoided the sword demon's attack.
It was a possible evasion since it was a Shinel using Haste.
"The moving tempo is fast. Are you using any magic?"
"… … The attack is terrible."
"Well, okay. It's not the first time I'm dealing with a fast-paced enemy."
The speed of wielding the sword is also speed, but the scary thing about the sword spirit's attack is that it digs into a gap in consciousness.
It was also the reason I couldn't even react to the first attack.
Fortunately, Sinel's Hast seemed to be a good match against the sword demon.
That doesn't mean I'm sure I can win, though.
The sword spirit returned the sword and took a stance again.
The sharp sword reflected the moonlight and shone beautifully.
And at the same time, a familiar voice echoed in my head once again.
- "I hope you get out safely."
Sinel's eyes stared at him for a moment.
brief moment. Facing those still eyes, I understood her intentions.
Cinell Clover Bloom. What did she come here for?
She intervened with the intention of being caught by the police from the beginning.
With only one thought to save myself.
Leaving all of the things behind it to the future me, I risk everything in the struggle of the present moment.
- "Sinel. I… … ."
- "I believe."
Through the telepathy that became the 5th circle, Sinel's heart flowed in.
Warm. and soft
What kind of answer should I give back to this heart?
I couldn't easily decide what to tell her.
Meanwhile, time did not stop and continued to flow.
"This way!"
"Move towards the 2nd entrance of the tower!"
The space that had been engulfed in silence suddenly became noisy.
Maybe it was because the battle with the swordsman was quite noisy.
Police officers who were nearby gathered here one by one to catch the current criminal.
Secondary Beat's mercenaries also followed the security forces and came to this place.
The crowd gathered behind the swordsman and became another witness.
"… … Did I take too much time?"
close. The swordsman who looked at us sharpened his teeth.
Secondary Beat is a company that has thoroughly established its feet in the sun.
The swordsman was not a felon like Usher.
Since the security forces began to step behind him, he could not kill his opponent at will.
Of course, it was not only the security forces and the secondary beat that came to hear the commotion.
Among the crowd surrounding the sword spirit, there were people who could be called friendly.
"[Spell Overlord: Levitation]."
Skyscraper Wizard, Spinel Clover Bloom.
In her hand, the archmage's exclusive possessions unfolded.
The floating magic, which was strengthened to the limit, cut off the gravity nearby, and the area where she was standing quickly turned into a chaos.
A space you can't step on. All the crowds mingled in it.
Each started screaming and grabbing someone nearby.
"What, what!"
"My body doesn't move well… … !"
"It's magic! Everyone be on the lookout!"
The great power that had always supported him disappeared.
The only way they could feel secure was to grab hold of something else.
People's arms are intertwined and intertwined, creating huge connections.
It was like looking at a net made of people.
I watched it quietly, felt a hand grabbing me, and looked up.
"I came to the rescue. let's go."
Spinel came closer and hugged him from behind.
I guessed it was the previous support fire, but it seems that Spinel didn't want to give up on him.
I felt a complicated feeling in my body that was slowly starting to float.
When I bowed my head and looked down, I saw the figure of Sinel struggling in the sky.
- "Spinel."
"You will hear the nagging later. [levitation]."
You can't save her from here anyway.
It's a stupid bummer
Although the head clearly knows it, the heart does not try to understand it.
The ego, which could not be abandoned, grabbed his heart.
It was like being a fool.
* * * * * *
District 8 boasts the worst security in the city.
There is a small private hospital operated without a license.
Where various kinds of outlaws came, I was lying in a hospital bed with a ringer plugged in.
The wounds made by the sword of the sword spirit have long since healed without a single scar.
It was because I paid a fairly large amount and received the emergency treatment service here.
Doctor Peronoff. The quack who runs this hospital has a healing magic called 'Recovery'.
His healing magic instantly restores trauma except for defects.
In addition, the hospital does not leave any patient records.
That's why outlaws who wanted a quick recovery would occasionally visit Dr. Peronoff.
"Are you all right?"
Spinel asked as he sat down on the chair next to the bed.
All my treatment costs were paid by Spinel for me.
Since it was an injury caused by the betrayal of the Ghost Corps in the first place, it seemed that she was fully responsible for it.
Besides, it was Spinel who brought me here from the tower.
If Spinel was simply caught up in the magic of the ghost corps, it was not easy to hold her all responsible for this incident.
"okay."
"It's expensive magic. If it doesn't work, it's difficult."
"It's all good already. There is no need for this."
I pulled out the ringer that was stuck on my forearm and threw it at random.
The body that uses recovery will consume that amount of calories.
It looks like it was plugged in to supplement him, but now, such a ringer wasn't important.
tuk. The needle that had lost the patient fell on the floor.
A little blood oozes from the forearm where the needle came out.
"Are you still mad?"
"I would be lying if I said no."
"You're worried about Sinel."
"...."
Sinel was taken into custody.
It was information confirmed through Brian.
From the moment she battled with her face exposed, it was inevitable that she would be called to the police force.
Worrying was then.
No matter what excuses Sinell made, there was a high probability that she would be sentenced to death in the end.
Because Sinel's appearance in the battle would look like a gang of raiders to anyone looking at it.
"Don't worry too much. Because it won't be a big deal."
"Have you used your hands already?"
"Not that. Still, he will take care of the convenience, so after a year or two, Shinel will be more docile."
I wondered if Spinel had moved to save his brother, but unfortunately it wasn't.
Rather, she seemed to welcome her detention.
It was calculated that she was not only less likely to be in danger if she was in the security guard, and that she would be freed if the plan of the association went on.
plan. That damn plan was the problem.
It is the absurd plan of the association to destroy the city.
What I need is the power to protect me until the very moment.
It means that I am not a colleague who grieves at me, who has cooled down after the story has already ended.
"Aren't you worried about Sinel?"
"It's not anywhere else, it's a security guard, right? There is no need to worry."
"… … My head hurts."
"Don't worry too much. If it were him, he would get along well there."
It is a thorny interest.
Is this the love of an older sister looking at her troubled little sister?
It may sound like a swear word, but I can't be too harsh on her, who will be a helper in the future.
In the end, it was a problem I had to solve.
after. I sighed and reached out to Spinel.
"telephone."
"yes?"
"I want to contact the successor."
Spinel's eyes alternately looked at my hand and me.
It was an expression that seemed to have heard the words.
"What do you mean all of a sudden?"
"I have something to tell him."
"What do you want to say? I'm going to bring up some stories... … ."
"no. It's something we have to do right now."
I flatly declined her offer.
It was a meaningless story through Spinel.
As if to urge, he held out his empty hand closer to her.
Spinel hesitated for a moment, looking at my hand, then closed his eyes tightly and pulled out his phone.
"… … okay. You better not sound too rude."
Did he feel responsible for what happened in the previous operation?
It was Spinel who reluctantly accepted my request.
beep. beep.
Spinel's hand moved busily as if pressing a password.
Then he put the cell phone in my hand, which started to hear a ringing tone.
- "I would have done it earlier if I had seen it."
A male voice is heard over the speaker.
If Spinel had not done anything fancy, what he heard from the speaker was definitely the voice of his successor.
The opponent is the ruler of the association and the person at the top of the wizards.
I expected to meet one day, but it was too early.
If it wasn't for Synell, there would have been no contact in this way.
I calmly cleared my voice and brought my phone to my ear.
And then he called out the other person's name.
"Abel Terdos."
- "―――What are you doing?"
"Let's make a deal."
I calmly cleared my voice and brought my phone to my ear.
And then he called out the other person's name.
"Abel Terdos."
"―――What are you doing?"
"Let's make a deal."
Abel Terdos.
He is the city's permanent member and also serves as the chief of the magistrate.
At least when it came to dealing with the police, no one could match his successor.
That was also why I took the risk and offered Abel a deal.
He was the heir who spoke with an irritated voice, but a calm voice returned in the words that followed.
- "Who are you?"
"Percival Smith. He is a dark merchant."
- "What did the wizard of the skyscraper do?"
"He is by my side now. Her contact was through her."
Spinel, standing next to him, looked restless.
Even if I had a conversation with the heir, I felt a little bit of remorse for breaking my promise to do it in moderation.
Still, compared to what happened in the Magistrate's Tower, it's not a big deal.
So I thought I'd get over this kind of thinking somehow.
- "It's okay. I've heard some stories about the Dark Merchant."
"What do you think about trading?"
- "Are you sure you know what the story you are talking about now means?"
"of course. I made some resolutions."
The fact that the successor of the Order is Abel Terdos.
It was a big clue that could change the flow of the story.
In fact, to some extent, the content was close to intimidation.
The biggest reason the great intelligence was removed is the possibility of the successor's personal identity being exposed.
As long as I knew the identity of the successor, it was not unusual for me to be eliminated by the association.
So it was kind of a gamble.
It's a gamble where you put your life on the stake.
- "what do you want."
"Sinell Clover Bloom. Free her from her guard."
- "Clover Bloom… … . Spinel's younger brother. It looks like you've been arrested for some troublesome work."
It has the same last name as Spinel.
It shouldn't be difficult to recognize that the two are sisters.
In the first place, I think the investigation into spinel is long overdue.
I asked the heir if it was possible to free her.
"Is it possible to solve it?"
- "If the charges themselves are crushed, it will be quite troublesome. Spinel doesn't seem to want it either."
"Even if I have put together a great intellect?"
- "I don't think I remember asking you to do such a thing. Of course, I can take care of her convenience."
There was no way I could write a hand for free.
The hand that was holding the phone suddenly felt strong.
It was only to gain Spinel's trust that he helped the association.
This means that all responsibility and situation management should be left to Spinel.
As long as the heir was aware of that fact, he had no choice but to throw in a subject that would appeal to him.
"is it. Then make a deal."
- "It's a deal. It's fun. What are you going to bet on?"
The opponent is a powerful person from a prestigious family.
money. honor. authority.
There was nothing lacking in him.
So, to change his mind, he needed something precious.
Things that money can't buy.
And things that cannot be obtained even with power.
Among the things I could suggest, there was only one that matched that value.
"I'll put a Mithril bullet."
- "… … That's a funny joke."
"Does this look like a joke?"
- "Do you have such a thing?"
Mithril bullets.
Hearing this, the successor's reaction changed.
It's a story that anyone should be interested in.
This is especially true for heirs who are more passionate about collecting mithril than anyone else.
Because the mithril was an essential item to fulfill the dream of the association.
"okay. There is only one, though."
- "That's right. It was bigger than I thought."
The mithril bullet used as a negotiating card was an object possessed by a great intellect.
To be precise, it was the name of a great intellect, and it was kept by a wizard called a warehouse keeper.
As long as you know the password, it doesn't matter if it's not the great Jisung himself.
It was a method that the great intellect could not even think of when she was alive, but the situation is different now that she is dead.
It was a waste to use a mithril that could be a hidden card in this way, but it was best to hand it over to the death row as it is difficult to disclose or sell to the outside world.
"What are you going to do? Will you accept the deal?"
Fortunately, there was no fear that this bullet would fire at us.
What the successor truly desires is the overthrow of the empire.
As much as that, all the mithrils collected in the society were prepared to kill the false emperor.
At least the association won't use this item for anyone in the city.
It was also the reason why I was able to hand over the mithril bullets to my heir with confidence.
As I presented the terms and waited for the Heir to respond, he spoke to me in a slightly elevated voice.
- "Hey. Dark Merchant."
"...."
- "The value of things is greater. If you just check things, I'll make sure to bring you some change as well."
"It's an unexpected answer."
What came back was an answer beyond imagination.
He didn't stop at just accepting the deal.
Rather, they promised to offer additional rewards if they brought mithril bullets.
It was an unexpected income.
- "How long will the goods be ready?"
"Tomorrow at the earliest."
- "When you're ready, hand it over to Spinel. Compensation for that will be processed after checking the item."
tuk. After talking about the deal, the heir hung up.
Considering the character of the successor, the reward would not be a small amount.
I stared at the disconnected screen for a moment, then turned off the phone's screen and handed it to Spinel.
Spinel picked up his phone with trembling hands.
Then he looked at me with cold eyes.
"what are you doing… … ?"
"It was necessary. They told me to hand them over to you."
"Percival Smith… … ."
Spinel looked at me with ferocious eyes.
The young lady who was unprepared for medicine had eyes like that, so it didn't seem like the aftertaste would be very refreshing.
I thought it ended quietly.
She seems to have a different opinion.
It felt like the hospital room was going to be noisy for a while.
* * * * * *
"What made you go there?"
Zone 3. Inside the interrogation room located in the security guard.
Second-level investigator Wilton Liegerberd looked at the girl in front of him and asked.
The name on the file is Cinell Clover Bloom.
It was the suspect who was arrested in yesterday's Matter Tower terrorist attack.
It was Wilton who had already conducted several interrogations, but had not yet received the desired answer.
"I heard rumors that there was a terrorist attack on the tower."
"therefore. Why did you run to the sword demon?"
"I think that if we catch a terrorist, we'll pay a lot of bounty."
"Don't be silly. Oh really… … ."
bang! Wilton smashed the file he was holding onto his desk.
How many times have the same questions been answered since the suspect in front of you was arrested?
Each time, there was only one answer from the other person.
They tried to catch the terrorist and collect the bounty.
If you think about it in common sense, it was a story that never made sense.
Do you mean that you go to catch the bounty criminals knowing who will be on the scene?
In Wilton's view, it was just a ploy by which the criminal tried to stick out his flippers.
"Really."
"Oh, is it? Then move on to the next one."
"yes."
"Do you know about the Dark Merchant?"
Slowly suppressing his longing for cigarettes, Wilton brought up a question about her identity.
According to Wilton's investigation, the girl in front of him was working for an information merchant named Percival Smith.
Percival Smith. The world calls them the Dark Merchant.
Although it has a grand nickname, if you look at the reality, it appears that it is only an informational business operating without a license.
Wilton's idea was that if Sinell himself couldn't find the culprit, he would investigate the surrounding area.
"This is our boss."
"What kind of person is he?"
"The boss… I am a dark merchant."
"and."
"The Dark Merchant… He's a great informant."
"Don't talk about what everyone else knows! Well, you have an important story that only the staff will know!"
Hearing Wilton's question, Sinell put on a worried expression.
Unlike before, this time he seems to have been thinking for a long time.
Is it possible that a man named Percival discovers a suspicious circumstance?
Wilton waited for Sinell's answer with eyes full of anticipation.
Then, after thinking about it for a long time, Sinel's mouth opened.
"Actually, the boss… … ."
"The boss?"
"I buy you food every day."
"Are you kidding me now? Anything other than that?"
"I'm even giving you a free night's sleep."
"Wow! lodging! Built-in! You have a damn good job! Oh really... … !"