Chapter 441
"......."
Malcolm and the red-haired boy faced each other. Malcolm wiped the surprised look off his face, and let out a crooked smile.
"What the hell is this supposed to be, out of nowhere?"
"You thought I wouldn’t know?"
The red-haired boy did not back down, and answered.
"The Randolph Gang targeting the Pharonna Peninsula, that intel was already in our hands. Your objective is, nine times out of ten, the ‘Skull of Deimos’ stored in the museum. And, as it happens,"
The sword he raised gleamed sharply in the sunlight.
"The boss’ son of the Randolph Gang is personally on site. Do you need more explanation than that?"
"......Unbelievable."
Malcolm shrugged his shoulders.
"Then do you know this? Before I was a member of the Randolph Gang, I was Ke......."
—That’s the end. Do not return to Roke Island.
In that instant, his father’s voice came to mind.
The word ‘Keyzen’, which he would have once spoken with pride, lingered in his mouth without leaving. His fists trembled.
‘Damn it.’
Now, he was no longer Keyzen, no longer anything. Just a cheap criminal belonging to the gang.
That fact hit him deep in his body.
"Yeah, damn it. It doesn’t matter anymore."
Tsususususus—
Shadows appeared around Malcolm’s body, and then, five duplicates of himself scattered across the ground.
It was impossible to tell the real one from the fakes. Not only their looks and clothing, but also their gait, their stance, even the movement of their chest as they breathed, all were identical.
The red-haired boy wore a startled expression, then struck toward the Malcolm standing in the very center.
Thwack!
The Malcolm in the center, struck by the sword, scattered like coal dust and vanished. The remaining four Malcolms grinned.
"Shifting the true body’s position at the moment of casting is basic. You’re not thinking too simply, are you?"
Tsusususus—
Sususus—
The four Malcolms split again, becoming eight Malcolms. The eight Malcolms split once more, becoming sixteen Malcolms.
"Damn!"
Surrounded on all sides, the boy glanced around frantically. Sixteen Malcolms spoke at once.
"You use a sword, so you’re just a mercenary hired by the Lord of Pharonna, aren’t you? But…"
Tatadadat!
All the doppelgangers charged toward the red-haired boy at once.
"This time, you’ve met the wrong opponent!"
Slash!
"I am no worthless mercenary!"
The boy thrust his sword forward and rushed in. With clean, efficient movements, he cut down two duplicates, then lowered his body to evade a strike from behind. Using his rear foot as a pivot, he spun his body sharply.
"My name is Arthur Bleman!"
His sword strike flashed like a crescent moon, six doppelgangers scattering like coal dust at once.
Haa!
As his body, driven forward like a drawn bow, came to a halt in a wide swing, countless sword wounds appeared across the bodies of the remaining doppelgangers behind him.
Chuk!
He lowered his sword gently, and raised the sheath upright.
"I have inherited, perhaps undeservedly, the title of Mercenary King!"
Clack!
At the moment the sword was sheathed, the sword slashes burst forth like an explosion of light. All the doppelgangers turned to dust, scattering helplessly.
‘......This bastard.’
Malcolm grimaced.
That just now was without doubt Darkness.
‘A necromancer?’
And for such a young brat to be the Mercenary King.
He had heard rumors. But was the name of that Mercenary King truly ‘Arthur’? No matter how he thought of it, it felt like a different name.
"Give it up!"
Arthur swung a sword strike, and Malcolm’s body, lost in thought, was split cleanly in two.
Arthur clicked his tongue, and turned around—only to see another ten Malcolms standing in the same posture.
‘Whether he’s the real Mercenary King or not, this Arthur is stronger than I thought. Taking him down in a short time will be difficult.’
Malcolm’s troubled eyes slid subtly toward the museum.
‘If Simon Follentia comes down after hearing this commotion, it’s over. I’ll withdraw here.’
"I won’t fall for the same trick again!"
Arthur shouted boldly, thrusting out his left arm.
From his palm flowed an inky Darkness, scattering through the air, before taking shape as a magic circle.
<Moon Head>
Arthur gripped his sword with both hands, and cut the magic circle.
At once, a silvery wind spread out widely.
Shaaak!
Shaaaarrr!
Every doppelganger within range was struck and vanished.
"Kh!"
Among those doppelgangers, the real Malcolm was also caught. With sharp slicing sounds, wounds appeared on his arms and legs as though scratched, blood spraying.
‘This bastard! Even an area attack!’
"I’ve found you!"
Arthur instantly lowered himself, and charged toward Malcolm.
Still within the storm of blades, any doppelganger he summoned would only be cut down and vanish.
"......No choice then."
Malcolm muttered, and drew something like a bottle from his chest.
"You’ve investigated the Randolph Gang thoroughly, so you must know what this is too?"
Arthur’s eyes widened sharply as he charged.
‘Liquid bomb!’
An explosive unique to the Randolph Gang, which detonated in reaction to Darkness. Without hesitation, Malcolm poured Darkness into the liquid bomb.
Kiiiiiiing!
A blinding flare roared out from the bomb. Arthur slammed down his heel, braking hard.
"W-wait! If you do that, you’ll—!"
Malcolm’s figure was obscured by the blazing light, but through the glare, his face was faintly visible, wearing a bitter smile.
"Enough. I’m sick of this kind of life."
"N-no!!"
Kwwwaaaaaaang!
The liquid bomb exploded at last.
Arthur’s body was blown back by the blast. Struggling, he braced his legs, drove his sword into the ground, and raised his head.
"Malcolm Randolph!!"
At the explosion site, black smoke rose in thick plumes. Arthur stood there for a moment, blank-faced, then collapsed to one knee on the ground.
"You idiot!"
He struck the ground hard with his fist.
"You could have just served your sentence in prison! What kind of man ends his own life! Was your life so worthless, that you could throw it away so easily!"
Arthur shouted at the top of his lungs, but of course, no answer came back.
"I only meant to subdue him! Saying I’d take his head was just a bluff! Why!!"
Arthur pounded the ground again and again, like a man blaming himself.
After a while of self-reproach, his hollow eyes turned, and he activated the crystal orb on his arm.
Woooong!
Within the crystal orb, a blurry silhouette of a woman appeared.
—Hey, Mercenary King! I’ve been waiting. You caught Malcolm, right?
"I-I’m sorry."
Arthur’s voice trembled as he lifted the orb, showing her the site of the explosion.
"Malcolm Randolph took his own life. I could have stopped him! I could have stopped him!!"
—.......
It seemed the artifact had been specially modified, because the woman could also see Arthur’s side.
But.
The woman inside the orb watched the explosion for a moment without a word.
—......You idiot.
"What?"
—That’s just a smoke bomb!!
Arthur jumped to his feet in shock.
"R-really?"
—Yes! What kind of bomb in the world just spews smoke and nothing else!
Arthur slashed his sword, parting the smoke. Sure enough, Malcolm was nowhere to be seen. And as she said, for a so-called bomb, the damage to the surroundings was minimal.
"H-huh? That can’t be......."
Arthur made a foolish face.
—What do you mean it can’t be!
"His profile clearly said he carried a deadly liquid bomb, warning us to be cautious....... but there was nothing about a smoke bomb! I swear it’s true!"
—Aaagh! You blockhead!
"If he had mentioned smoke bombs too, I wouldn’t have fallen for it!"
—You’re not the Mercenary King, you’re the Idiot King!
Arthur lowered his head with a sulky look, while the woman raged furiously and shouted.
—I can’t take this! Find Malcolm before he does anything, now!
"Y-yes ma’am!"
* * *
Meanwhile, Simon and his party had left the museum, walking through the market streets.
"Ahh! That was fun!"
Leading the way, Maelyn stretched with a yawn. Simon glanced at Dick and asked.
"Dick, where to next?"
"I was thinking of checking out ‘Whale Hill’ ahead of time."
At those words, Kamibarez blinked.
"Isn’t that where we’re supposed to go tomorrow, when Deimos passes by the sea?"
"True. But even without Deimos, the scenery there is killer. Thought we could stroll up and take a look."
"Hey! If we’re going tomorrow anyway, let’s just go back to the inn!"
Maelyn’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.
"Honestly, during the whole museum tour I was dying because my head was bursting with student council ideas! Let’s hold a meeting back at the inn!"
"......We haven’t even officially started student council activities yet, aren’t you overdoing it?"
"Of course we have to give it our all."
Maelyn straightened her shoulders with determination.
"This 330th student council, I’m going to carry it! I’ll make it a legendary student council that’ll be remembered for years to come!"
"I’m already tired just thinking about it. Simon, if you end up as student council president again in third year, make sure to appoint a quieter vice president. Someone like Loraine."
"You think you’ll even stay in Keyzen till third year, you 400th-place commoner!"
"You two, don’t start fighting again!"
Watching the same old scene, Simon chuckled.
"Cool, refreshing ice cream here~"
Just then, a vendor carrying a tub of ice cream walked by. Maelyn’s face lit up.
"Don’t you feel like something sweet right about now?"
"Sounds good, let’s buy some."
"Mister!"
Maelyn ran over. The vendor spotted her and called out.
"Welcome, pretty student."
"Four ice cre—"
Thud!
Blood gushed out of the vendor’s body.
Hot droplets splattered across her face, and the expressions of Dick and Kamibarez behind her froze.
—Kyakyak.
From behind, something green-eyed glared, its claws stretched long and sharp.
The vendor collapsed, and the creature advanced on Maelyn. Splattered in blood so suddenly, she froze in place like a statue.
Boom!
The first to react, as always, was Simon. His kick smacked the monster’s arm upward.
Dick snapped out of it next, drawing a dagger from his belt and hurling it. The enchanted blade sank into the creature’s body, and Kamibarez rushed in, purple hair streaming.
<Blood Strike>
Kwaaang!
The monster’s stomach was smashed by the blow from her glowing hand, sending it flying into a wall. Maelyn’s eyes flashed fiercely as she swung her arm.
<Ice Bolt>
Kwadadadadak!
The monster, pierced by her final ice shards, died on the spot. The magic had fired instinctively, and Maelyn staggered, collapsing to the ground.
"M-Maelyn!"
Simon rushed forward in alarm. She raised her palm, signaling she was fine.
"Sorry. I was just startled."
Muttering this, she waved her hand. One after another, magic circles formed in the air, launching shards of ice skyward.
Thwack! Thud! Thud!
As blood rained down, Simon looked up in shock. Other green monsters, which had been surrounding them unnoticed, were impaled midair by ice spikes.
"Gasp!"
"Kyaaaa!"
Tourists and vendors, seeing the monster corpses, screamed and scattered in panic.
"Hahh, that gave me a scare."
Maelyn grumbled, approaching the fallen monster.
"A Naga. They live in the sea, but can walk on land too. Weak ones are risk level 2, stronger ones up to level 3. But why are they here in the city?"
Kamibarez closed her eyes, sniffing the air.
"Simon! I smell the same blood everywhere. The Nagas are swarming all over the Pharonna Peninsula!"
Simon hesitated, then looked at Dick.
"Dick. Any idea what’s going on?"
"Well."
Dick stood straight.
"Nagаs are basically risk level 5 when they obey the ‘Naga Queen’, an alpha entity. They absolutely obey only her signal. So even the sea’s ruler, Deimos, can control them with its wavelength."
Maelyn cut in.
"So for some reason, Naga Queens came to the Pharonna Peninsula? Maybe several of them teamed up."
"Alright."
Simon spoke firmly.
"Change into your Keyzen uniforms, split into three groups, and protect the people."
"What about you, Simon?"
"I’ll patrol a wider area, find the queen, and capture her. And also,"
In Simon’s mind, the face of a man seen earlier in the Deimos Museum rose up.
"There’s something I want to confirm."
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters