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Battle Demon
I thought ‘Where did it appear from?’. The shadow swayed without a sound, without presence.
The light from the lantern illuminated a man’s figure.
With long, messy brown hair that had hardened into a strange, spiky shape. To compare it with something, it’s like the bousouzoku from my previous life. The hair was styled in a pompadour style but it curls back wildly around his temple and the back of his neck. It doesn’t look like it has been styled with hair products so it was probably stiff hair.
He was tall. Around 180 cm, I think. Wearing a leather armor on the inside, but something like a whitish battle surcoat on top of that. A sword was hanging on his waist, but you could clearly understand it was an excellent-quality sword from the scabbard.
And his gaze, which seemed to burn, was directed at me, blocked by his bangs. I had never seen such a sharp sparkle in others’ eyes before.
「Yoo」
A little while later, the man spoke.
A faint smile even hangs on his lips.
But, color drained from my face. I couldn't stop breaking out in a cold sweat.
「Ah.....who, are you」
My throat was parched.
This, was beyond my expectations. What should I do.
「Me? Who am I? I’m Ketz Sepun. I’m a mercenary. Regards」
The man lightly and casually replied.
But, I had already seen through his true nature.
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Keith Maias キース・マイアス (26)
・Material Human Form
(Rank 7, Male, 26 years old)
・Material Mana Core Water Mana
(Rank 3)
・Skill Fores Language Level 5
・Skill Ruin Language Level 3
・Skill Saharia Language Level 4
・Skill Swordsmanship Level 7
・Skill Shieldsmanship Level 6
・Skill Hand-to-hand Combat Level 6
・Skill Water Magic Level 6
・Skill Throwing Technique Level 5
・Skill Stealth Level 5
・Skill Acrobatics Level 4
・Skill Swimming Level 4
・Skill Medical Arts Level 3
・Skill Magical Beast Taming Level 3
Empty (12)
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What the.
What the heck. This guy. Isn’t this strange?
Isn’t he a monster?
Where and how did you need to be to become like that?
Why was he helping such a heinous act of kidnapping in a place like this!
「You?」
「Heh?」
「Your name. I’ve introduced myself after all, so you should do the same」
Err.
Calm down. Gimu said it. You can’t trust Ketz.
Actually, he had lied about his name. This meant, his purpose was not necessarily the same as Gimu and Tuda.
Depending on the situation, I might even be able to work together. If that were to happen, then he would actually be the most reassuring ally.
「I’m, Fay」
「Hm, and then?」
「And then, what」
「So you don’t have a surname? Also, tell me about your occupation」
There was still a distance between us.
Facing an expert of this level, it couldn't be said to be grounds for safety, but I was going to be able to evade an attack.
「I have no surname. I’m Viscount Tviety’s slave」
「Haa!?」
The man frowned and his face twisted. Err, that’s scary, please stop. His eyes were scary enough as it was.
「What kind of joke are you on? You? You’re a slave?」
「It’s the truth」
He got speechless at that. His mouth was half-opened wide. He appears to be genuinely shocked.
「No way..... No, I see. I understand. You, you’re ‘that’ aren’t you. You’re like Ifroz’s apprentice, he trained you from a young age, right」
「No」
「Then, what’s your occupation?」
「Umm, I was in charge of welcoming people at first, aah that is, standing for a long time and just smiling at the guests but.....now I was helping in the trading department」
This answer left him speechless again.
「No way.....they really have no eyes for people either」
Ketz, no, Keith pointed to the staff in my hand.
「That’s Tuda’s, isn’t it」
He’s right. I reflexively snatched it in the midst of battle. It was stronger and more solid then the usual staff since it was reinforced with metal. I was glad I brought it with me instead of throwing it away.
「Even though he’s like that, he’s a Topaz, y’know? And the one who beat him was treated like nothing but a slave, you say」
So it was like that.
He was strong. He also had a lot of tricks up his sleeve. Ever-changing technique and also the sudden stone thrown at you. I think he’s a level above Jusa in ability. I see, Jusa said he was pushing himself to the limit, so it was like that. That Tuda-guy has the real skill of an advanced adventurer.
「Well」
Before I knew it, Keith was wearing that ghastly grin again.
「I thought for sure this was gonna be a failure of a job but.....guess I was just lucky. Hey, you think so too, right?」
「What do you mean?」
「I mean, it’s a noble daughter’s kidnapping, right? I really thought I could surely fight against someone like Ifroz or Mao Fu, y’see」
Against Ifroz?
Does this guy had some kind of a grudge....no.
He said he’s lucky. Also, who’s Mao Fu anyway? In short, he’s fine even if it’s not Ifroz.
「Now then, about time, huh」
After saying that, Keith relaxed his whole body.
Not good. This, he’s preparing for battle.
「What do you mean」
Sparks fly right in front of me.
I was knocked flying and immediately got up.
It was just an instant.
What was this? Even though there was such a distance between us, he drew near in an instant. I put up my staff and managed to block the blow somehow. But, I was sure I would have been split clean in two if this staff hadn’t been reinforced with metal.
「Ora, you want to bring that young lady home, right? Come at me with your full strength」
He makes a small, sharp motion with his finger while saying that. It’s a provocation.
I was kinda starting to understand. This guy, he was what they call a battle-junkie. He was strong by nature and loves getting stronger.
Otherwise, I couldn't explain his behavior. Using a fake name and even went as far as getting involved in a crime. His goal was not the reward in the crime. He just wanted to fight a well-known person such as Ifroz.
「I have no reason to fight you」
This was bad. If I were to fight this guy head-on.
I could win if I snatch his body with Piercing Hand but that would be the last resort. In any case, the young lady was also here. I don’t want to be seen using my ability if possible.
「……rather, could you help us instead?」
「Ah?」
「Please cooperate with the Viscount House. We would be able to give you any amount of reward. If you like, even the status of a knight. And also, if you wish for it.....I could promise you a match with a member of the House」
Hearing what I say, Keith blankly stared at me for a moment, and immediately after that, he burst out laughing.
「Buhahahaha! You, you really have a talent to make people laugh, huh?」
「I’m being serious though」
「You’re just a slave, how could a slave make that kind of promise」
It’s true now that he mentioned it but it was all to take the young lady back safely. But even Ifroz would probably hear me out if I ask for a few things. Putting the Viscount aside, the butler was not an idiot.
「Also」
Keith said after he stopped laughing.
「I have a reason to fight」
「There’s nothing to be proud of by defeating a child, you know?」
「But, y’see, you killed Yashir」
It was so.
Crap. Did it show on my face just now?
「It took 4 years to train her to that point, y’know? What are you going to do about it now?」
Despite complaining about it, he has a grin on his face.
「If you think like that, then you shouldn’t have gotten involved in such a shady job, y’know? You get hurt because you chose to fight」
What to do?
I had to plan for my next move now, while the conversation was going.
「Aah? Sad? I didn’t feel that way at all, though」
「But, you said it before, about Yashir’s revenge」
「Everyone will fight if they’re alive. They will die if they fight. That’s obvious, isn’t it?」
Aaah……
This guy, did he live his life with those sorts of values?
Life was cheap. Others, but also his own. Killing and dying were all natural. That was why he lives in the moment.
Despite having this many abilities. I see, he has no interest in money or fame.
Still, were all the experts in this world all like this?
That homicidal maniac Aneros Kukuban was like this, and this person was also a battle maniac.
「Rather than that, is this okay?」
「What is?」
「……you’re the one who’ll be in trouble if time runs out, right?」
I was startled.
I’d been seen through.
I was just a normal kid without the Body Strengthening magic. In fact, I would become no different from a sick person once the side effects start.
Keith was a battle maniac. He would probably be unwilling to cut down an opponent who couldn't move. But, finishing off a weakened enemy was also a true path in battle. Looks like he’s not going to show any mercy.
「While we’re at it, what about this?」
Saying that, Keith draw his sword closer to his body and started muttering something under his breath. Was he chanting a spell?
For a moment, a mist-like dampness spreads over my whole body. Looking at my hands and feet, they were all slightly wet. There were no longer pain or wound on my body. It did not seem like an attack at a glance.
But, the water droplets on my body were milky and cloudy.
……no way.
「I washed away all the filthy things in your body」
The Physical Strengthening Magic still remains inside my body. If the effect of that catalyst medicine were to be washed off. No, the effect was still continuing. I hadn’t lost my strength yet. But, the magic would probably wear off completely after something like this happens repeatedly.
「Kuhh……!」
I jumped forward out of desperation. I attacked him with all my might.
However, he didn’t waver a single bit even though he took on my strong blows one after another.
So, what about this.
I chanted briefly under my breath.
As a result, Keith.....didn’t writhe in agony due to the instantaneous sharp pain.
On the contrary, he swung down his sword powerfully from directly above at me. Even though I managed to catch the blow with my staff, my footing slipped and I couldn’t put any strength into it. My footing suddenly froze.
As a result, I was sent flying back, unable to suppress the force.
I got up and was astonished. The important weapon has been cut right in the middle.
「That hurts」
Hurt? So there was actually an effect? But, that’s all?
Keith knew about the Body Strengthening Magic. So I guess 『Action Inhibition』magic was also within his expectations.
「It’s time to get serious, yeah」
Looks like he still has plenty of energy to spare. Looks like he want me to bring out all my strength no matter what and crush me.
「I don’t like this. You, you’re still hiding something, right」
What a sharp intuition.
As expected, there’s no choice with such a strong opponent. None of my abilities work. Then, it’s time to use Piercing Hand.
No matter how skilled and a master you are, you couldn't evade this. You couldn't defend against this.
「It’s because you’ve been holding back.....look, see this」
Keith pointed behind while sighing, looking bored.
Again, I was shocked.
I could see a figure on the other side of the gate, unnoticed. And it’s not just one. I couldn't see the person standing in the middle but.....it must be Gimu.
What the.
What should I do now?
If there were no other obstacles, then it would be simple. Once I stole Keith’s body, all that’s left was to escape.
But if I were to do that now, I would have to face the mercenaries led by Gimu. With my current abilities, it’s difficult for me to even defeat Gimu alone. Not to mention, the weapon I had in hand was in this condition.
So, should I take Keith’s ability instead of his body? His Swordsmanship maybe?
But, there was no sword at hand. Did I have to pretend to use swordsmanship with such a useless staff? And besides, this guy still has tons of technique even if I take away his Swordsmanship skill. He could use Water Magic, and he could fight with his bare hands and other tools. In the first place, the people standing by behind him were currently standing still in vigilance, watching what’s going on inside, but there’s no guarantee they won’t come rushing in as reinforcement at any moment. As expected, I couldn't see a future where I could win against them.
Well, if it’s just me alone.
No.
There’s still Kuzur.
Even if I escape using Yashir’s body, it would all be over if Keith orders Kuzur to chase after me.
It’s checkmate.
I had no other hand to play anymore.
「It’s fine if you’ve given up」
Keith approached me while saying that.
He raised his drawn sword and spoke, still with a smile on his face. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「Bye, Fay」
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