I took it as a joke and gave a small chuckle.
But Idria continued seriously.
“Surely you don’t think of yourself as human?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“So you’re not even aware. Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter.”
“……”
“What brings you here? If you have got sothing to say, go on.”
Behind the rock, all traces of Offense’s presence vanished.
And in the shadow behind Hyran, a hand slowly rose just a few centiters.
In it was a very specialized tool used by assassins.
Shaped like a thin, pointed needle, it was designed to pierce the skin and draw blood. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs novel~fire~net
It looked painful just to glance at, yet the target didn’t notice a thing, what a strange tool.
Offense carefully cut the edge of Hyran’s trousers.
I opened my mouth to keep Idria’s gaze fixed on .
“Why did you send Hyran to this territory? What is he to you?”
“The sa as with Teranaim. My fourth finger.”
“His na?”
“Sabach.”
“What does that an in the spirit language?”
Idria giggled.
“It doesn’t an anything. Giving Teranaim a aningful na was an exception.”
“Friend…”
“Yes. ‘Friend’ in the spirit tongue. Ophelia was desperately resisting my authority. I got a bit annoyed. But like I said earlier, the others don’t reject .”
I gave a dry laugh.
“Your limbs have poor judgnt.”
“Do not insult my children. They only sincerely wish to witness the world I will create.”
“And what kind of world is that supposed to be?”
“Hm. I don’t feel like telling you.”
She crossed her arms playfully.
“But if you co under , I will tell you.”
“You’re good at jokes too, huh.”
“Out of things to stall with? Can we get started now?”
The mont she said that, Offense had just finished drawing blood from Hyran.
Just as he began to slip back into the shadows—
Swoosh.
Idria raised her foot.
And in the blink of an eye, that foot ca crashing down on Offense’s head.
I shouted, nearly screaming.
‘Trail!’
Ti freezes.
That was close.
Idria’s foot hovered just one centiter above Offense’s head.
‘Damn. She noticed long ago.’
[Whew. That was a close one.]
‘Thanks. If it weren’t for you, I would have lost a party mber today.’
[Save the thanks for later. What now? If you cancel the Eye, Offense’s head is still getting crushed.]
‘I will use the skill. Ti-lock slash.’
Trail sighed deeply.
[I said this before, but that skill…]
‘I know. If Idria notices it manipulates ti, she might figure it out, right?’
[Yeah. And if she does, that Demon King will absolutely find a counterasure.]
‘Then I will just have to invent a new skill.’
Trail let out a dry chuckle.
[Like that’s easy.]
‘You have seen do it before.’
[Hah.]
‘Sure, revealing this skill is dangerous. But losing a party mber isn’t just dangerous…’
[Then what is it?]
I paused, then answered.
‘It’s horrific.’
[…]
‘Luckily, I’m within ten steps. Let’s begin.’
[Why not just chop off Hyran’s head? Sure, you will break your no kill vow, but…]
I gave a bitter chuckle.
‘It’s not about the no kill rule. Even if I cut off his head, that descending kick will still follow through with the sa angle and force.’
[…]
‘Saving Offense is more important than killing the fourth finger of Lies.’
[Got it.]
‘I need to cut the leg. Judging by the speed earlier…’
Sowhere around the knee should do.
I took a slow step forward.
“Grrk.”
Lately, my body had gotten abnormally strong, but this part hadn’t changed since I first created the skill.
Still just as painful. Still wrecked my body.
Drip, drip.
Blood began dripping from my nose.
My arms and legs creaked, refusing to move.
Dragging myself forward, I stood in front of Hyran.
And with all the strength I had, I swung my sword.
Whoosh!
The blade sliced clean through the target’s leg.
My vision blurred, consciousness slipping.
[I’m canceling the Eye! You will die at this rate!]
‘Hold on. Ti it right. Three, two, one… now!’
Pop.
The Eye of Omniscience vanished.
I shouted the phrase I had prepared with all my might.
“Tilt your head!”
Offense tilted his head slightly without thinking.
Hyran’s severed leg, which had been descending onto his skull, skewed off course
It grazed Offense’s ear and embedded into the ground.
Though the force and angle were completely off now, it was still strong enough to tear his ear clean off.
“Hey. Let’s bail.”
I said, then collapsed forward.
Without a word, Offense disappeared into the shadows with .
At the very end, I thought I heard Offense’s voice.
It ca through a bit muffled.
“I have seen many people try to kill . But you’re the first who tried to save . Thanks… Hero.”
anwhile, Idria was deep in thought.
‘That skill…’
She had intentionally allowed him to get within ten steps.
Just to confirm once more that remarkable ability of Mide’s.
For now, she put that issue on hold and focused on the present.
Should she summon Hyran back?
Or let him buy more ti out there?
Kaeld spoke.
“You alright?”
“Mide cut off Sabach’s leg.”
“What?”
“The leg’s already been reattached, so it’s no big deal. But it’s clear Sabach alone isn’t enough.”
“That’s… troubling.”
“Why do I keep hearing a dog barking? Did anyone ask for your opinion?”
Kaeld didn’t respond.
With a sigh, Idria reconnected herself to Sabach.
Then she spoke in a low voice.
“Sabach.”
–Lady Idria.
“Are you alright?”
–Thanks to your care, I’m fine.
“……”
–If you were about to tell to return, please reconsider. I haven’t bought enough ti yet.
He’s right.
If Sabach returned now, the townspeople would go mad without the drug.
Suicides would likely start breaking out.
Seeing that horror, Mide might abandon the Atrium territory entirely and rush to receive the oracle.
Even if it cost him so fa, the oracle was his top priority now.
“…Sorry.”
–Please don’t apologize. I was uncomfortable returning like this anyway.
“Because of that man, Offense Dake?”
Sabach’s voice hardened slightly.
–Yes. The one who killed and turned my daughter into what she is now.
“……”
–But thanks to that, I t you, Lady Idria. Life truly is full of surprises.
“I understand how you feel. But don’t act rashly. Offense is with Mide.”
Sabach’s voice grew exceedingly polite.
–You misunderstood .
“Hm?”
–My personal desire for revenge is insignificant compared to your great cause, Lady Idria. Please think of it rely as a convenient overlap of goals.
Idria gave a small smirk.
One of the reasons she made such a clear distinction between Ophelia and the other four Fingers was because the effort she put into creating the other four was far greater.
But there was another reason too.
‘Ophelia rejected , while the other four accept .’
That made her feel far more attached to them.
Idria spoke.
“As I said before, your top priority is to keep Mide Mohan tied down here.”
–I will do my utmost.
“I don’t an to belittle you, but Mide is no easy foe. So, I have co up with a strategy… Will you follow it?”
Sabach bowed deeply to the invisible Idria.
–To think you would personally devise a strategy for . I am honored, Lady Idria.
“Hmph. Quite the contrast from that insect.”
–Ah. You an that one?
“Yes. Still, even that bug has its uses. Watching it makes realize just how rare talents like you are.”
Kaeld, who had been listening, frowned.
Sabach asked,
—May I hear the plan?
Idria didn’t answer right away.
She paused for so long that Kaeld, watching from the side, began to expect sothing grand.
But what she said next was surprisingly anticlimactic.
“Hide.”
* * *
When I woke up, the first thing I saw was Neril.
Then I saw the rest of my party surrounding .
“Feels like I’m looking up from a coffin at my own funeral.”
Whack.
Neril’s small fist struck in the stomach.
Didn’t hurt at all.
“Don’t say unlucky things.”
“Sorry.”
“You used that skill again, didn’t you? You know you end up wrecked every ti.”
“Yeah. I know. But I didn’t have much choice this ti.”
“Sigh. Fine. Just… please take care of yourself.”
I noticed her eyes were red.
Xenia chid in.
“Playing it cool, aren’t you, Neril?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I an, earlier, you were stroking Mide’s face…”
“Huh? Say that again?”
“…Never mind. Maybe I imagined it.”
What did she do?
Just then, Offense spoke up.
Thankfully, his ear was still intact.
“You alright?”
“Yeah. But why is your ear fine?”
“Should it not be?”
“Even in that ss, you managed to save your ear, huh?”
“Yep. Saved it before I saved you.”
He chuckled and flopped down onto a chair.
“Honestly, I didn’t think my trick would be discovered. Maybe it’s ti for a new profession.”
Serein asked,
“Mr. Offense, are you good with money?”
“…Where did that co from?”
“When you change careers, join my business. I will make sure you are well compensated.”
“Let’s start by defining what ‘well’ ans.”
He turned to .
“By the way, Mide.”
“Yeah?”
“While stalling Idria, you ntioned a na I had never heard before.”
Ah.
Right, Idria did ntion Bion.
Now that I think about it, maybe it’s ti I told them?
[No!]
‘You always get so formal when you panic.’
[Don’t talk about .]
‘Why not? Everyone already knows there’s a soul attached to . Adwin said it when we first t.’
[I just… don’t know how to fit in with your party. I have spent an eternity alone, you know.]
Just do what you always do with .
I gave a small laugh and said,
“I will tell you about that soon.”
“Hmm. Well, that’s not the urgent matter anyway.”
“Right. What matters now is resolving today’s issue.”
I got up from the bed and stretched.
Then asked Offense,
“What ti is it?”
“Morning’s long gone. The green mist will roll in soon.”
I slept a lot.
Xenia and Serein must have treated my wounds early on. Guess I was just really exhausted.
I scratched my head.
“Think Idria left Hyran behind?”
Knowing her, she might have picked up on the blood loss clue and gotten suspicious.
She might think it’s too dangerous to leave Hyran here.
Sure, her goal is to keep tied to this territory, but not at the cost of losing a Finger.
Adwin spoke up.
“Maybe it’s better to assu she did leave him. That way we will be prepared.”
“True. Then assuming that, the green mist will return in a few minutes. Maybe we should abandon today’s plan.”
Offense said,
“Why give up?”
“There’s no way you made the antidote overnight.”
“I did.”
Thunk.
He tossed a small vial.
My eyes widened.
“Already? How?”
“Thanks to Adwin pushing my focus to the limit. I was injured too, but he worked like a mule.”
Lisel added,
“As I recall, Mr. Offense was the one who asked for Adwin’s help first.”
“I don’t rember that.”
“Hehe. Don’t be shy.”
“Anyway, mix this in the rainwater, and all the townsfolk will be cured. And over there is the poison that will kill Hyran.”
I spotted a sack the size of a backpack in the corner.
That’s the poison?
Making the antidote and the poison is one thing, but how did they gather the materials so fast?
As if reading my mind, Neril spoke.
“Before you left, Offense asked to prepare the ingredients.”
“I see. Thank you all. You bought us a ton of ti.”
“This is nothing.”
“Still, I feel bad being the only one lying around.”
“Then don’t co back injured again.”
“Heh. I will try.”
Now, everything was ready.
I stood up and stretched deeply.
Then asked Offense,
“Is it okay if I kill Hyran?”
“Not just okay, I will be delighted. But don’t do it yourself.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t want to be the first one to make you break your no kill vow. I an… soday you will probably break it, but not now.”
“…”
“I will be the one to kill Hyran.”
His expression was deadly serious.
I nodded, then said to Trail:
‘Show the secret between Idria and Hyran.’
[Huh?]
‘I need to know whether she kept Hyran or took him back. If she did, I want to know what plan she has.’
[Got it. One sec.]
I could now see and hear the conversation between Idria and Hyran.
The Eye of Omniscience was disturbingly efficient, it even let spy on conversations between a Demon King and their minions.
[If it couldn’t, it wouldn’t live up to its na. It’s ant to uncover secrets, so it can’t just blank out during secret conversations.]
‘Fair point.’
Sohow, that explanation makes it sound obvious.
As expected, Idria decided to leave Hyran in the territory a while longer.
If she had taken him back, that would have been troubleso, but she didn’t. Good.
[If Hyran disappears, the townsfolk will go mad from withdrawal and possibly suicide.]
‘Yeah.’
[If it gets that bad, she figures you will give up and leave to pursue the oracle.]
I smiled faintly.
Nothing too surprising so far.
Now for the most important part: the plan.
Idria said,
“Hide.”
Cut.
That’s where the vision ended.
…
“Hide,” huh?
Clever move, Idria.
[Huh? That’s clever?]
‘…’
[No matter how well he hides, Xenia’s shared vision can find him. That’s how you got his blood, rember?]
‘True. So maybe “clever” isn’t the right word…’
Diabolical.
Still, that diabolical little plan had one fatal flaw.
I found out about it.
TL : Hmm. I am considering resuming the 2 chapter a day schedule. What do you guys think? Of course, you guys would be happy with it. And honestly, I think I have enough chapters stacked to keep it going for 2 weeks straight. After that, though, we might need to slow things down to one chapter every three days. So LMK
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