Chapter 15 – Ambush (Amended Aug 6)

000

“Damn…! Damn!”

The voice of the hero Alvein echoed through the alleys lined with taverns.

Something is strange. It was hard to understand how his party or adventure was twisted this far.

Quon, who had been kidnapped by Cleon, returned with Lila, but Alvein vaguely felt that the way they looked at him was a little different from before.

As for Quon, he has a hard time making eye contact with himself. … He did that the last time we saw each other, so it must be natural.

For Alvein, the only thing that burns me is the anxiety that the women might have turned their backs on him.

And in order to solve it, he was drinking at a bar today, and he ran out because he couldn’t stand the situation where the people around him laughed at him.

“Cleon… If we don’t do something about that bastard…”

He didn’t think about what he had done, but the holy sword at his waist quietly emitted light in response to his will to burn his anger against him. Is it to calm him down or is it to instigate him.

Alvein, who could not hear the holy sword’s voice, could not understand.

“Hero. Are you Alvein?”

“Who are you!”

When Alvein hurriedly turned his head at the sudden voice from the darkness, a woman in a red uniform he had never seen before was standing there.

She wore a hat that covered her face deeply, but her enchanting body was evident from her voice and uniform. And, the strange smell of perfume emanating from his body.

“Excuse me. I’m a human from the academy. If you don’t mind, may I help you?”

“…Academy? You want to help me?”

At the woman’s words, Alban gave a suspicious glare, but the woman calmly continued the next story with a smile on her lips.

“Yes. Magic swordsman Cleon. You must want to kill him, right?”

Alvein widened his eyes at those words.

“…Is it possible?”

“Of course. With the information we have…”

Saying that, she handed the thin booklet she had to Albein. In it, it is related to the guild in this city that the academy has investigated.

It contained top-secret information that should never be revealed to others.

“Is this… Is it true?”

“Of course. Even in the kingdom, only a few high-ranking people know about it… But as we are one of the forces that divide the world into thirds, our academy’s intelligence is not inferior to them.”

“Ha, haha… Anything is fine. With this, I’m sure… I can use her…”

Albein realized that an opportunity had come to her as well, and the corners of her mouth naturally went up.

“Of course. There are terms of the deal. After killing Cleon, you go to the academy with me.”

“To the academy…?”

“Yes. We need your strength. There are great things that only you can do.”

All the words that came out of the woman’s mouth were words that satisfied Albain’s desire for self-approval.

“Okay… I’ll accept your deal.”

“Then let’s get her moving fast. I’ve already called her.”

Saying that, she held out her hand to Albein. The light in her eyes, hidden under her hat, seemed to glow red.

Albain held her hand like a demon whispering.

She thought she didn’t mind selling her soul to the devil to kill Cleon.

001

The sun rises as always when some conspiracy is born in the dark.

When the door to the adventurer’s guild opens at the same time as the morning bell rings.

To get the best conditions for the quest.

They hit each other towards the bulletin board where requests are issued.

Like war.

Guild staff keep order by arranging disorderly adventurers as much as possible.

Someone cheers for finding the best job.

Someone kicks their tongue at having such a request stolen right in front of their eyes.

The adventurer’s guild in the morning, even more chaotic than the market.

But – there.

Let’s hear footsteps on high heels ringing again.

The adventurers stopped the fuss and all at once turned their gaze towards the place where the footsteps had sounded.

“Uh, hey… That’s…”

What they focused on was one woman.

And it is the scroll she is holding in her hand.

As for the woman, she was a pretty girl with light pink hair that fell below her waist.

The color of amber, like the dark brown of her eyes.

Compared to girls of the same age,

Tidy eyes nose mouth.

No one actually knows her age, but she looks very young after working in the guild for 10 years.

What he wore was the same uniform as the other guild staff around him.

A white keytone blouse and a black jacket top and skirt.

Is the size just right?

The curvature that draws the S-shaped line stands out.

But nonetheless.

Neatness that does not disturb the clothes with a light step.

A golden badge in the shape of a ‘wing’ hung on the left chest.

It is the symbol of adventurers represented by freedom.

Even within the adventurer’s guild, only the guild master was allowed to wear it.

“Lu, it’s Luti…”

“To be able to see Mr. Luti from the morning… I’m sure the request will succeed today.”

[Wind of Happiness] Luti Sions.

A guild master located in a city on the outskirts of Cleon’s base—

For male adventurers, he is like an idol.

A girl who is like a living goddess who always smiles at the adventurers who are treated as day laborers.

Although she holds the high position of guild master at a young age, she is never arrogant and genuinely cares about the staff and adventurers under her command.

Although she usually does not come out of her office because of the sheer amount of work.

Sometimes I show my face to the rest area to drink tea or communicate with adventurers…

When the time comes, how will you know?

The guys who went out to the request urgently returned to the city.

However, she usually has a smile on her face, but today she is quite serious-somewhat uncomfortable.

She was walking toward her bulletin board, a roll of red parchment in her hand.

The red scroll—what this meant.

The ‘Wanted Bounty’ quest.

Originally, the adventurer’s guild did not issue subjugation requests for targets, except for certain bad guys such as thieves and criminals.

If such requests are successful, it will be no different from the ‘Assassination Group’ that exists in the dark.

However, nonetheless.

To keep the order of the guild inevitably.

If there is a person who has violated the adventurer’s guild’s treaty and has had a serious adverse effect on the guild.

Worst action ever executed from a guild.

A red scroll made in order to keep in mind that the very existence of the request should be regarded as a disgrace to the guild.

Luti sighed quietly and unsealed the parchment in front of everyone.

“Listen. Children of Liberty. Adventurers.”

Another voice. She cuts off her usual kindness and is as businesslike as possible, but starts talking in a powerful voice.

“By the guild’s rules that have been handed down since ancient times. Blessed by the wind and stars. We have left our mark on the world.”

“However, trials came to us as well. Those trials were born within us.”

“As a guild master, I cannot underestimate this… I hereby declare the enemy of the guild through the Scroll of Shame.”

Lips that hesitate the moment you say the enemy’s name.

Soon, her eyes turn sad.

“Magic swordsman. Cleon.”

“The crime of kidnapping and sexually torturing a former colleague. The crime of injuring a colleague. The crime of inciting conflict between them…”

“To the target. ‘Bounty’ is enforced.”

──A moment of silence.

But a little later

It contains the anger against the immortal enemy who left a stain on the history of the guild, no matter who came first.

He let out a battle cry.

—The parchment is slightly crumpled.

The hand holding it seems to be indignant.

002

“…Are you satisfied with this?”

An office with the door completely closed.

Outside, the chatter of excited adventurers leaks in.

Looking away from the huge amount of paperwork piled on the desk.

Luti looks at the face of the man standing in front of her.

Blonde hair… A symbol of nobility.

If Ruti is a pretty girl, she’s sure to be called a pretty girl, so there’s no problem.

However, there was no ‘kindness’ on his smiling face.

Hero Alvein.

Certainly a special existence among the adventurers belonging to the guild in this city.

The hero chosen by the holy sword… A boy full of confidence.

And an adventurer with potential as high as that confidence.

– It must have been.

Rating a few months ago.

Luti was also aware of occasional injuries to the body due to overdoing the request.

However, he is still young. Considering the potential for future growth.

Such a failure would rather be good medicine for him.

Become poison. Luti didn’t think that the whole party would be shaken.

“Yes, thank you Mr. Ruti. You personally listened to my request.”

Albain replies to Luti with a slight smile as if he is in a good mood.

However, Ruti bites her lower lip and sighs.

“Ahaha…With such a scary expression. What are you doing?”

Alvein talks tremblingly as if the appearance is strange.

However, every single action of this heinous man.

It was getting on Ruti’s nerves.

All in all. Of course, to be caught by this man’s weakness.

Let’s look up Alvein without Luti saying anything.

He quietly goes to Ruti’s side and puts her face close to her ear.

The distance your nose can reach.

Luti was appalled, but he couldn’t help but shout at his actions.

“…Keep doing that. You know very well that you can’t do that, right?”

A small ringing voice.

However, it was full of malice, and something seemed to come up from within.

Luti closes her eyes, still unable to say anything.

Resentment and urgency.

And it was the aversion to this ‘evil man’.

It looks like it’s fun.

Albein licked her lips for a moment before falling away from her.

“Okay. If you act as I intend… As promised, let’s keep ‘that thing’ in the dark.”

Shrugs his shoulders and speaks as if patronizing.

Luti wanted to twist the man’s neck at any moment, but she had to hold back.

“…No way. You and your subordinates are from the old empire—”

“Stop!”

Alvein gets excited when he sees Luti disintegrating, and makes a mistake.

Then, Luti interrupts him with a loud voice.

Squeak-

With a shout.

Books lying on one side of the office are cut in half in a heap.

The sword of invisible wind pressure.

Alvein unknowingly swallowed at the phenomenon that Luti had in controlling his emotions.

“I know best that the magic swordsman Cleon is not that kind of person. I did your favor… Because you took the guild as well as everyone in the city hostage.”

“…”

Silent Alban.

Ruthie continued her speech.

“If I can prove Cleon’s crimes. At that time, I’ll give you my life- even this body if you want.”

“Whoa…That’s pretty good news.”

A guild master who says he trusts Cleon more than Alvein.

However, even so, she does not change that she has an advantage.

Alvein judged that.

Even though he has this much power, he can’t lay his hands on himself.

A promise engraved in the soul.

Curse of forced subordination.

She has hundreds of curses on her body, but among them, what Alban knows is-

‘It is impossible for Rooty Sions to take preemptive action against them if they do not suffer physical harm from humans.’

‘Lutie Sions must think of the safety of the guild and city first in everything and must act for that purpose, excluding personal feelings.’

‘If Lutision’s identity is revealed to the public, he will be subject to the kingdom’s purification order.’

That is why, with his own remarks without clear evidence, he must have executed Cleon’s wanted bounty request.

“Thank you for your continued support. Guild Master.”

—In the guild. No, the highest-ranking woman in the city.

Albein greeted her insincerely, feeling a sense of accomplishment as if he had put her Luti in her hands.

She left the office.

Luti’s office where Albain escaped.

Ruti organizes her scattered papers.

The investigation and report on the huge magic event that took place a while ago was still ongoing, but even Alvein did that –

No, you’re doing crazy things. She was her maddening as she was.

The breathing that had risen due to excitement and the pupils that had turned vertically returned to their normal appearance.

Those who are chosen by the holy sword are destined to protect the world.

A hero who received God’s protection saves people.

—Did someone tell you?

Ruthie leaned back in her chair. She covers her eyes

“What can I do now…”

Right after, Luti got her body up and quickly wrote down the letter.

She then imbued her with the magic of autonomous flight, using her own blood as her vehicle, to follow the trail of her faint magic formed by her past ties.

After that, she immediately sent a telepathic message to the staff on the first floor.

[Do not share information with adventurers about the person who is currently wanted. I’m going to spend as much time as possible and gather evidence in his favor.]

In a way, abuse of power. However, to her, her Cleon was a person with whom she shared memories with her dearest friend, and a person who was forcibly torn apart by her oath, like her family.

“…Please. Protect Cleon.”

When he opens the window, the letters he has created fly through the sky. If the form disappears with the magic of stealth, no matter what kind of magic poetry you use, you won’t be able to see through your own magic.

Please, don’t be late in finding him.

And to protect him.

003

A leak…A leak…Like the sound of a child’s breathing after falling asleep reverberates in a room a bit large for one person to use as a bedroom.

Around lunchtime, Cleon fell asleep in the drawing room after sending Laila back.

Even after the sun had completely set, he was sleeping there as if he were dead.

When the twilight moonlight shines on him through the window.

Shadows created from it.

In the shadows, something was moving.

Soon, it turns into a sharp blade.

It was to pierce the sleeping Cleon’s head.

Cleon’s body tumbles backwards along with the sofa.

However, the shadow of the moonlight does not leave its place and gradually rises and changes its shape.

What appeared there was a black-haired man wearing a mask resembling a skull.

Long, long hair and a cloak of the same shade swayed quietly as if they were united.

The clothes worn on the body were also jet-black.

It was unknown what material it was made of, but it was clear that it was light and movable light armor that fit snugly to the body.

“…It’s futile. Even a heinous magic swordsman is no different from a child when he falls asleep?”

His low-pitched voice was quite low compared to his shallow appearance.

However, it is a gentlemanly and at the same time intelligent voice.

Bow down, pay respect to the life you took.

No grudges——it was just work.

The moment after I was about to leave because I had done my job quietly.

“To say hello to someone you killed with your own hands. What a strange guy.”

A man’s voice came from the door of the drawing room. The assassin opens his eyes wide under the mask to confirm what he has killed.

——What I thought was Cleon’s corpse was slowly fading and disappearing at some point.

However, there was only a beautiful sword lying there.

“…Illusion magic. Unsurprisingly…I heard that you are a magic swordsman. You know how to perform illusions of this level. There were definitely signs.”

The assassin seemed to be meekly admiring it.

I turned to the real Cleon.

The arm is free, but there is no gap in sight.

Seeing the assassin’s posture, Cleon noticed something.

This man’s main job is ‘human hunting’.

“I got a letter saying someone is coming for me. More than that… You, [Veil Tooth].”

Then, the assassin once again expressed surprise.

“…It’s amazing. I never thought you would know our names.”

“—A little before. There was only a connection.”

“Are you involved in the ‘Assassination Group’…”

The assassin put his hand to his mouth and chuckled.

Cleon called him a strange guy. As an assassin, Cleon was twice as strange.

He caught himself off guard with illusion magic and did not attack from behind.

In fact, the Assassin hadn’t noticed his presence until Cleon spoke to him.

Plus, his knowledge of them more than necessary. It is said that the magic swordsman walks with the darkness, but—

“…Guild’s wanted bounty.”

“You know it well. That analytical ability. Calm and calm demeanor. It’s scary to have as an enemy.”

At the assassin’s candid impression, Cleon narrowed his eyes.

Obviously, he spoke first.

Even though the crime was discovered, he did not run away and had a calm attitude to talk with himself.

The moment I thought I was different from a normal assassin

The assassin’s body his shook.

Cleon instinctively adopts a defensive posture.

A basic posture in which both arms are raised and vital points are blocked.

However, next.

Cleon moved his eyes, feeling a cold sensation on the left side of his neck.

The assassin stood upside down on the ceiling, holding a dagger to Cleon’s neck her.

I don’t know how – with the cape and hair defying gravity and being straight.

Cleon broke out in a cold sweat.

The trajectory of this man’s movement is not normal.

He decides to shake off the guy with magic, but unexpectedly, the dagger falls by itself and the man returns to the same position as before and lands on the ground.

“With this. Let’s say there is no debt. You didn’t kill me even after you grabbed my back.”

“——Yes.”

Cleon judges. He was a strange guy who belonged to the upper ranks among the men he knew.

“It’s pretty fair. Are you really an assassin?”

“For an assassin, ‘assassination’ is something that must be succeeded with the first blow. It is the only ‘surprise’ permitted by the scriptures.”

“What if that ‘surprise’ fails?”

The assassin quietly took a stance, holding the dagger in each hand.

“From the front… It kills its target, even at the cost of its own life.”

“──”

─ He was a really strange guy.

Sensing danger to his body his, Cleon stretches out his hand towards Galatea, who was knocked over by the assassin.

The assassin must have noticed that too, so he turned around and avoided the flying demon sword.

And in the next moment, he violently collides with Cleon, who is running toward him——and flies out through the window.

A strong shock shakes the mansion’s garden.

Cleon slides on the ground while gripping the assassin’s face with a strong grip.

The top of the grass turns upside down and clods of dirt rise.

I stabbed Galatea and finished it. I thought so, but it was the assassin who moved first.

Under the mask his, his chin drops abnormally and something pops out of his mouth his.

It was a kind of memory.

Cleon quickly falls off the body, but part of it becomes lodged in his left arm his, which was holding his face his, and his blood his spurts out.

Cleon, who opened the distance, hurriedly pulled out the memorization of his left arm.

It can be seen that the area around the wound is dyed black.

Painful, but still able to move.

“In a little while you’ll be paralyzed.”

An assassin who returns his jaw and rises from his seat.

It was as if he hadn’t been shocked before. He was staggering a little.

Cleon clicked his tongue and looked down at his left arm, then assumed his posture holding a demonic sword in one hand.

If you move hastily and approach it, you will be counterattacked by the memorization hidden in your body like before.

This time it was an arm, but if it hits the heart or head directly, it won’t be safe.

But there was nothing more foolish than giving an assassin the initiative.

“A veil of darkness.”

Then, a black mist escapes from the magic sword and covers Cleon.

The assassin seemed briefly surprised by the sight.

In the blink of an eye, Cleon’s figure disappeared.

“… You are versatile.

An assassin who praises Cleon’s skills with a pure heart.

Cleon quietly injects power into the magic sword while silenced.

Then- Galatea changes her appearance.

Gray Magic Palace. The bow that appeared when Lyla was dropped before.

I borrow that skill through my connection with Sasha.

By now, Sasha must have been surprised by the sudden glow of her engraving her.

The black arrow is loaded, and Cleon speaks quietly with words.

“Meteor shower in the blue sky.”

The assassin is alerted to the black light that suddenly rises into the sky.

However. Before long, he backtracked and left her mansion and ran towards the forest.

The arrows that floated up in the sky fell towards the assassin in dozens or even hundreds.

Charrrr-! Arrows of magical power like rain that flew with a clatter.

Originally, I was supposed to use arrows that each had their own substance.

The technology reproduced by borrowing the power of the demonic sword did not require such a thing.

Therefore, technology that is expressed in a form different from the original.

The assassin runs through the forest at a speed close to the speed of sound, while sweating coldly from the attack of the formidable enemy.

No matter how wide the range is, if you spread the distance, you won’t be able to chase yourself.

Even more than an open garden, if you guide Cleon to the forest, you have a chance to be yourself who can pose freely anywhere.

However, his judgment her too.

You will soon realize that you are mistaken.

Chased by an arrow, he moved without hesitation, and arrived at the place.

A small lake inside a living forest.

If you wrap your magic power around your feet and naturally stand on top of the lake-

Noticing the existence of a barrier surrounding the surroundings, Cleon quietly lands in front of the assassin.

The assassin, who felt that this more than necessary fancy technique was just a maneuver to drive himself here, had no choice but to let out a dry laugh.

Open space.

Every time you move, the water splashes under your feet.

Even his unusual movements, which he specializes in, remain traces due to the presence of water.

Unlike the barrier that denies intrusion from the outside, the barrier that prevents entry from the inside.

Even in the worst situation, despite the penalty of not being able to fight head-on with the man in front of her.

The Assassin wanted to personally face Cleon once.

When the bright moon shines on the two of them, a shadow is cast on the water.

So, without a word, I raised my dagger.

Cleon also holds the magic sword with one side of his right arm.

A slight gap and the two men rush towards each other.

Cleon, who has one arm disabled, and an assassin with a geographical disadvantage.

It was the assassin’s side who took the initiative.

A dagger stabbing the left side of the neck.

Then the right chest.

A vertical slash aimed at cutting the shoulder like water flowing

A kick aimed at the side.

Aim for damage with the blade embedded in your shoes.

Cleon had the blade and handle of a one-handed demonic sword.

And through the cross guard in between, the attacks are blocked in turn.

Block the dagger aiming at the neck with the handle.

Guard his chest with the blade.

After dodging the shoulder slash by leaning back the upper body.

The kick is blocked using the elbow and knee to catch the foot.

The man quickly dropped the dagger into the water and, with his open palm his, struck Cleon in the stomach.

In an instant, the shocks gathered on the stomach, passed through the body of his, and exploded on the back of his, sending Cleon’s body flying backwards.

It controls its body her so that it does not fall under the water through magic, but before long it shakes its body when it comes up on its neck.

“Cool…”

Cleon vomited blood as if he had suffered an internal wound.

You can see the red light mixed into the lake sinking down like paint.

“Excellent defense. At least one of the organs was meant to be destroyed with the one I just had.”

It seems that the assassin’s hand also had a shock.

The leather on his palm was also wounded and bleeding.

“With this, both sides have to fight one-handed.”

“…”

Of course. Lie.

The shadow of the assassin created by the moonlight rises.

Sky-earth. And the blade of the shadow running beneath the water.

Its speed his exceeds its own maximum speed-the speed of sound, and Cleon rushes into an unavoidable orbit.

It was an instant.

Then Cleon raised the corner of his mouth.

A wall of flames erupts around his body in an instant.

The rushing shadow is instantly evaporated by the light emitted by the wall of flame.

An assassin who judged it to be Tier 2 magic.

I try to distance myself quickly.

“Flame Burst.”

At the same time as the voices heard from inside the wall, intense flames accompanied by splashes spread in all directions.

Water that touches the flame evaporates in an instant and creates water vapor.

The pressure blows the assassin flying backwards.

Before long, the body is driven into the cliffs around the lake.

And the sagging body of an assassin.

Thinking of Layla, embarrassed by the glowing pattern on the ship’s side by now, Cleon dispelled his spell on her.

The hitman seemed to have hit his head in shock and couldn’t keep his body still.

Cleon quietly approached him and aimed his demonic sword at his throat her.

“…”

Cleon looked down silently.

The assassin let out a dry laugh.

“It’s my defeat.”

003

Cleon didn’t kill the assassin.

Instead, he asked him a few questions.

The assassination group, [Veil’s Teeth], Is a group that immerses itself in the darkness of the underworld.

Then—after thinking about it, his idea was correct.

“Enforcement Department.”

“You surprise me every time. Where did you get that name?”

“Stop talking nonsense and answer me.”

At Cleon’s words, the assassin shrugged his shoulders and continued the story.

“There have been times when we have requested work from us as well. Most of them seemed to handle it themselves, but… “

“What kind of guys are they?”

“… Well, even when contacting people, he thoroughly hid his identity. If he said he cared about him, he would be a leader-level person.”

The assassin looks at Cleon quietly and says the following.

“That person is a magic swordsman like you.”

“…”

Even after that, Cleon asked the assassin a few more questions.

It was impossible to get any information of any kind.

Even so. Cleon decided to let the assassin go.

He’s a strange guy, but he didn’t show any sign of hatred.

And even if he doesn’t kill himself…

He had to come to an end with Albein before this became a nuisance.