039 – When do you think a person dies?

[Personally, a Place Harder to Survive Than Any Boss Battle]

That would be the Northern Border.

(Picture)

Why is it only here that’s such a damned hardcore zone?!

Why are quasi-boss level monsters congregating here in droves?!

Why can’t *I* get doppelgangers, elves, vampires, blind dogs… stuff like that, dammit!!!!!

(Picture)

A horned, giant axe-wielding ape warrior in armor, why the hell does *that* show up?!

(Picture)

Get up… Get up, Alex…!

Remember Hye-jin, who’s waiting for you at home!!

If you die like this, Hye-jin will have to live without a father!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Comments]

– The monsters that have survived weathering harsh winds, they looked like chumps to you, huh?

– I can do Hye-jin four times.

ㄴ (Original Poster): You little shit??

ㄴ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– If you look closely at the photo, you can see that the poster saying to get up is making his own little buddy perk up.

ㄴ LOL ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

ㄴ Ah ㅋㅋ That dude’s named ‘Alex’ ㅋㅋ

– So *this* is why people are always talking about the Border Marquis… I just thought they were sucking up to the border guards, but they’re holding *these* monsters back, wow…

ㄴ Who’s sucking up to who?

ㄴ (Original Poster): Sucking up where?

ㄴ Just go die already, please

– There are dozens of quasi-boss level monsters like True Ancestor vampires near the Magic Kingdom, and that’s why it hasn’t fallen. It’s guys like the Border Marquis, the Magic Tower Lord, Lillian Isolede, they’re practically the only ones keeping the country safe.

ㄴ (Original Poster): I wondered why there weren’t any heroes in this world, but it’s because they just didn’t need any.

ㄴ There *is* a hero.

ㄴ (Original Poster): ?? Where’s the hero?

ㄴ (Original Poster): Hey man?

ㄴ (Original Poster): Hey man???

ㄴ (Original Poster): Answer me, you little shit!

—

“You must win, no matter what.”

“…Eh?”

Before the sparring match began, Miss Ella sidled up to me and dropped that single phrase, making my head spin.

I was dizzy enough at being told to beat the Border Marquis.

Seeing a daughter tell me to defeat her own father, I got dizzy all over again.

‘Win, no matter what…?’

What possible way is there for me *not* to lose?

If I *were* to win…

‘Sleep?..’

Suddenly, the sleep skill I hadn’t even considered using in my mock spar with Lilian Isolden surfaced in my mind.

‘Are you telling me to win, even if it means putting him to sleep…?’

Judging by Ella’s actions, she truly wants me to win against the Margrave in this duel.

‘…Is this test really that important..?’

In truth, was dueling in the Eloise family far more important than I had originally thought?

‘If I can’t fight here, am I disqualified as a man? Man disqualified, woman accepted?? ..Wait, no! Ugh!’

It was unfortunate to be cursed with a kidnapper skill set but no proper battle skills..

“Are you prepared?”

“I am.”

There was no other way.

To prepare myself mentally, I rose from my seat and slowly walked toward the dueling arena, a fair distance from where the Margrave stood.

“Your weapon of choice is the dagger?”

“That is correct.”

The Margrave, calmly inquired only about my weapon, then hefted his greatsword.

“Rest assured, I will not be the one to initiate an attack against you.”

However, thankfully, in this terrifying situation.

“I will only receive your attacks, so do your best to strike me.”

Hearing that the Margrave would only be receiving my attacks.

I knew that Alexander Eloise would not cleave me in half today.

“I would hope you possess an attack capable of surprising me.”

“…Pardon?”

“By any means necessary, if you can create an attack or situation that would surprise me. I will deem you the victor of this duel.”

This situation…

It feels like I’ve experienced something like this before?

‘Ah.’

I had heard the phrase ’cause surprise’ before.

The entrance interview for the academy.

Professor Layton asked me to surprise him, and I responded by threatening him with his daughter…

‘Hmm..’

Even if I were to threaten the Margrave using Ella in this situation.

There would be no reason for the Margrave to be surprised… ..Or wait, perhaps.

“Would it be acceptable to use magic?”

“Of course.”

“Would it also be acceptable if I didn’t directly use that magic on you, Margrave?”

“That too, is acceptable.”

“Truly… ..If I can surprise you by any means necessary.. would you unconditionally grant Ella whatever it is she desires?”

‘For now.. let’s put that plan on hold for the time being.’

I had an extraordinary idea spring to mind.

But there was no need to resort to it, when there may be better options.

“Only Ella and I will witness your efforts here, Meehan. Please, feel at ease and show us your true skill.”

I steeled my resolve and drew the dagger from its sheath.

“I shall begin.”

“Come at m-.”

“Sleep.”

Keeping my gaze fixed on the Margrave, I cast the Sleep spell.

And just as expected, Alexander Eloise closed his eyes almost immediately.

Now, approach him, place the dagger against his throat, and tell him to awaken-

*CRASH!!*

“!!!”

“Hoo…apologies. Did I doze off for a moment there?”

Having fallen asleep standing, the Margrave nearly lost his balance and stumbled to the ground…

But with his right foot, he slammed the earth in front of him, regaining his equilibrium and snapping awake.

“No, I did not merely doze. It seems you attempted to lull me to sleep.”

Living for decades on the border, where life hangs in the balance with the slightest lapse in attention…

Even in sleep, his body reacted on instinct… a truly overwhelming, monstrous presence.

“..!!”

Look at that grin, I’ve seen that expression before!

A lion before its prey!

A tiger before its prey!

A wife telling her husband she’s going to shower…!

“I only intended to parry, but if you employ such arcane magic, I have no choice.”

*Whoosh-*

With those words, the Margrave effortlessly lifted his massive greatsword as though it were made of paper, and slightly bent at the knees.

*He’s coming…!*

It was obvious to anyone that this was an attack, a charge aimed directly at me.

To throw the Margrave off balance in this situation, I would have to resort to ‘that method,’ the one I had originally considered.

“Sleep.”

Again, the Margrave’s eyes snapped shut as the Sleep magic took hold.

But those eyes would surely open again in no more than two or three seconds.

“Abduct.”

“?”

I immediately abducted Ella and brought her before me.

“Forgive me, Ella.”

“Huh?”

I covered Ella’s neck with my arm, the one in the cast, and placed the dagger against her throat.

At that instant.

*CRASH!!*

The Margrave, once again awake with a forceful stomp, looked towards us.

“Wouldn’t you rather concede the defe-.”

“I’ve taken your daughter hostage!”

I had managed to deliver the most convincing look of panic I could muster…wait a minute?

You should stop, shouldn’t you?? You shouldn’t be coming closer!!!

“St, sto…!”

My eyes were clearly seeing the Margrave right in front of me…

But every sense I possessed, amplified by the Madoehwan, was screaming in desperation.

Behind me.

He’s behind me right now…the very mountain that even the Beijing mobsters couldn’t penetrate was about to cleave me in two.

“Hiss!”

I channeled every ounce of aether I could into my body and shoved Miss Ella away.

My legs alone wouldn’t be enough to get me out of here, so instinctively I pushed Miss Ella, using the recoil to propel my legs…

‘Ah…’

I’m dead.

Of all times, why do my legs have to give out now…

‘So, this is how I die…’

When does a man think he dies?

When a bullet lodges deep within his heart?

True. Even a doppelganger would die then.

Anyway, when does Mikhail think he’s going to die?

When he holds the Margrave’s daughter hostage right in front of him?

I must be insane… How could I threaten someone with their own daughter in front of their father?

‘It was! A truly good life…!’

“Father!!!!”

Thanks to Miss Ella’s ear-splitting scream calling out to her father.

For a brief moment, the Margrave’s head turned towards Miss Ella, and he stopped, his massive greatsword poised just inches from my head.

‘Woaaa!! I’m alive!! I’m alive, I tell you!!!!’

Before I could even savor the aftertaste of survival.

I was about to drop to my knees, ready to beg for my life with a good explanation, but…

“..Huh?”

A moment ago, I thought my legs had given out and I couldn’t stand up…

“Is this… isn’t the leg… supposed to bend at the knee?”

Without even realizing it, my right leg was twisted outwards.

‘Margrave… I thought you only teleported behind me, but you also shattered my leg…!’

As is often the case with accidents.

Like when you barely feel anything after first colliding with a car, but the pain gradually intensifies over time.

“Oh… oh oh… oh oh oh…”

I don’t feel the pain yet, but I know that in less than ten seconds, excruciating agony will come crashing down on me…

Thanks to Lillian Isolde, I had a little advance warning about this.

“Peeking.”

Therefore, I immediately cast ‘Peeking’ on Isabella, who was watching us from the ceiling of the training hall with a fierce gaze, allowing her to see me on her stat screen.

—

Mikhail (22)

[Kidnap] – Inactive

[Surveillance] – Isabella Lilith

[Sleep] – Active

—

I cast Sleep on myself.

“Sleep.”

Sleep-induced anesthesia.

Truly, this was a triumph of modern medicine.

*

“Papa!!!!”

The sound of my daughter’s voice brought me to a full stop.

Ordinarily, I would have cleaved the man before me without hesitation…

‘Ah, damn…’

At the sight of him, pushing Ella away to save her even at his own demise.

It didn’t take long to realize this was my mistake.

“William!!”

Immediately, I summoned the head butler, who was waiting outside, to heal the man, now collapsed in agony.

“…”

I couldn’t bring myself to speak as my daughter, tearful, followed the butler.

“So, this is how you chose to fluster me…”

After giving the condition to make me flustered no matter what… And the decision I made in my flustered state was this.

“Nicely played, indeed…”