Chapter 145
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
On the road from Gavrett Territory to Dungeon City, I came across a troubling scene in the forest.
A pair of travelers was under attack by a group of armed men. At first, the pair seemed to hold their ground, but when the support magician ran out of either mana or catalysts, the tide quickly turned. They were subdued, overwhelmed by sheer numbers.
As the attackers tore away their cloaks and armor, it was revealed that the two were young, beautiful women. From the way things were going, I could easily guess what might happen next.
I couldn’t just walk away and pretend I didn’t see anything—not if my instincts were right.
Still, I wasn’t about to jump to conclusions. There could’ve been a legitimate reason behind the men’s actions. So for now, I decided to step in and ask.
”Um… what’s going on here?” I asked, stepping out into the clearing.
”Huh!?”
Step—shing.
I had already told Iris and the others to stay hidden. As I made my presence known, all eyes turned to me. The men reacted instantly, drawing their swords and readying for combat.
The ones holding the women down didn’t budge, but a man who seemed to be their leader stepped forward and responded sharply.
”Who the hell are you?”
”Just a passerby,” I said with a shrug.
”Then you’re out of luck. Die!”
Fwoosh.
”Whoa—”
The leader lunged at me with a sudden slash. I dodged it, keeping a safe distance as I stepped back lightly.
”If there’s a reason behind this, I’ll hear you out,” I said calmly. “Maybe those two did something that warrants punishment. If that’s the case, it’s not really my business.”
I glanced over, watching him carefully. “So? What’s the story?”
The man narrowed his eyes at me. After a moment, he turned to his comrades and barked, “Sheathe your swords.”
Just as the tension seemed to ease, voices burst from the women.
”W-we haven’t done anything wrong!” one of them cried.
”Yeah! These guys just came out of nowhere and—mmph!”
”Tch! Hold them tighter!” the leader snapped.
”S-sorry!” one of the subordinates stammered.
”…” I stayed silent, taking in the situation.
From their exchange, it was clear the women were trying to claim innocence. The leader, noticing my reaction, must have assumed I’d taken their side.
Shing.
He drew his sword again, eyes full of hostility.
”I could’ve let you walk if you were alone, but now you’ve heard too much. You’ll report us to the guards, won’t you?”
Clack—shing.
His men followed suit, blades drawn as they slowly encircled me.
”So you’re afraid of being reported… which means you’re the guilty ones after all,” I said, eyes narrowing.
”Shut up! You’re not walking out of here!”
”””Raaaaah!”””
With a battle cry, they rushed me in unison. But I was already ready.
Bang! Bang!
”Gah!?”
”Ugh!”
Thud.
Two men collapsed on the spot, bleeding from their foreheads.
The others stopped in place, stunned.
”Was that… a magic item?” one of them muttered.
”Who knows?” I replied with a half-smile.
”…Something flew at us, right?”
The leader squinted at me, eyes drifting toward the wounds of the fallen. He had guessed correctly—it was a projectile.
In my hands were guns, crafted using my ability, “Imitation.” Externally, it only appeared that some kind of construct hovered midair. That was the camouflage. The truth was hidden, and that truth was a pair of pistols.
The design was simple and subtle, built when I specified the caliber and ammo capacity with Imitation. While I originally wanted a long-range rifle for better precision and lethality, I settled on pistols for concealment. No need to reveal what I could do unless necessary.
The sound was faint thanks to the silencer, and the pinpoint accuracy came from a laser sight, bolstered by Magic Armor.
The leader, watching me, clicked his tongue and barked an order.
”Don’t panic! Those things can only take out two at once! Everyone, go—together!”
”””Uoooooh!”””
Rustle—rush!
As one, they charged, trying to overwhelm me with numbers.
They must have thought I’d be forced to hesitate, unable to choose who to shoot in time.
Thud!
”He jumped!?”
Using Magic Armor, I leapt straight into the air, then hovered above them. As their gazes followed me upward, I aimed and opened fire.
Tatatatatata—click!
”Eh?”
”Gya!”
”Hii!”
”Damn—!”
Thud! Thud! Thud!
One after another, the men collapsed under the barrage.
I didn’t count how many were left—some had already been dealt with by the women—but soon only the leader and two of his subordinates remained, still holding the girls.
I descended quietly, landing with a light tap.
Tap.
”Ugh!” The leader’s expression twisted in frustration as I aimed my pistol at him.
”You’ve done it now,” he growled.
”You were the one who picked this fight. That applies to your friends, too.”
He scoffed at my words and muttered, “Is that so? We were just hired. I heard those girls stirred up trouble somewhere.”
”Then you should’ve said that first. Attacking without explanation makes you look guilty.”
”Hmph. We took a contract. What our client uses it for isn’t our concern.”
So they were hired killers.
They wore leather armor, looking like any other adventuring party, but apparently, they worked under someone—probably a criminal group like Gem Snake.
Still…
”You going to answer properly now?” I asked. “Or are you still not giving up?”
The man gave me a sharp grin.
”No. If you’re trying to save those girls, then we still have the upper hand.”
He tilted his head toward the women.
His subordinates pressed their blades firmly against their captives.
”Ah… Hostages, huh.”
”Yeah. I saw you hesitate earlier—you’re not the type to risk hurting innocent people, are you?”
”Of course not,” I replied flatly. “If you’d started with that, we could’ve avoided this whole mess.”
”You might’ve struck without a second thought.”
”That’s true,” I admitted with a dry smile. “I won’t deny it. But even after everything, I still didn’t turn my weapon on the girls. That’s what you’re getting at, right?”
”Exactly. So if you understand the situation… toss the weapon. Far away.”
”…Tch.”
Fwip—rustle… scuffle.
I followed the man’s demand, throwing the pistol deep into the forest. It disappeared into the shadows between the trees.
”You really flung it,” the man muttered, squinting. “Great. Now it’s going to be a pain to find.”
”Call it a petty grudge,” I replied flatly. “Anyway, care to tell me who ordered you to attack those girls?”
”‘Anyway,’ he says. I don’t owe you anything,” the man said with a mocking tone. “She was cloaked, face hidden… couldn’t see who she was. Voice sounded male, that’s all I’ve got.”
That much wasn’t going to help anyone. And judging by how casually he offered the information, he likely knew that.
Then, without another word, the man drew his sword.
”This is where it ends,” he said coldly. “Our numbers are thinned out. I’ll take my time with you. Die slowly—and I’ll be taking your little magic item for myself.”
Snap.
Sword in hand, the leader began to advance. The two men still holding the women tightened their grip, preparing for retaliation.
”Here we go!” he shouted.
Slash!
With a sudden step, the leader lunged at me, blade slicing through the air.
To face a man like this…
I summoned two new pistols in my hands, guided the ones I’d discarded earlier with Magic Armor, and fired simultaneously.
Thwick!
”Gah!?”
Four shots landed cleanly—one in each of the man’s limbs. He dropped his sword, legs buckling.
Thud.
”Ugh… You still had them? Damn… Are the hostages okay…?”
He looked up at me, gasping.
I aimed one pistol at his head, voice calm.
”If I die, the girls die too, right? That’s why I needed to stay alive. I played along to learn about your employer. I figured the people after them would want to know.”
”Kuh…”
Frustration twisted across the man’s face.
Without another word, I disengaged the safety.
Bang.
He collapsed silently.
Seeing their leader fall, the remaining men began to panic.
”Y-You bastard! What have you done!?”
”We’ll kill the women!”
Each woman was restrained by three men, but only one held a blade to each of their throats.
Suddenly, a sharp crack split the air.
Fwwip!
”Gah!?”
”Agh—my hand!”
Clatter—thump.
Screams erupted as their hands were pierced by bullets. The knives dropped to the ground.
”W-What was that!?”
”Where did it come from!?”
They looked around, but there was no answer. Only the forest air, still and heavy.
The shots came from the two pistols I had controlled with Magic Armor, hidden among the trees. I offered no explanation.
Instead, I silently pulled the trigger until not a single man was left standing.
Once it was over, I approached the women. Their clothes were disheveled from the struggle, so I helped them adjust them, then went to retrieve the pistols I had discarded earlier.
When I returned, the two bowed deeply.
”Thank you for saving us,” the cloaked woman said.
”I am grateful,” the one in armor added stiffly.
One had the air of a magician—her tone refined, polite. The other was reserved, less expressive.
I decided to ask about what had happened.
”Um… do you have any idea why you were attacked?”
”That is…” the magician hesitated.
”…”
The armored one remained silent.
Something felt off.
Did the attackers truly act without reason? Or was there justification from whoever hired them?
The leader had hinted the girls had done something questionable. Yet they insisted they were innocent…
As those doubts began to surface, the magician finally spoke.
”Well… I didn’t do anything wrong. But I might have an idea why someone would target me.”
So there was a reason. At the very least, the men were in the wrong for attacking them like that.
Still, even if I was curious, I had no intention of digging any deeper.
”…”
”……”
”…Well then, I’ll be going,” I said, turning to leave.
”Wait!” the magician cried.
”Hold on!” the armored one added.
They had clearly expected me to ask further. When I didn’t, their expressions turned urgent.
”No, really. I’m on my way to Dungeon City…”
This wasn’t the last ambush they’d face, and if someone was targeting them, sticking together might just mean more trouble for me.
I explained that I didn’t have time for detours.
Unexpectedly, their eyes lit up at those words.
”Is that true? Ah… this must be divine will,” the magician said, clapping her hands together.
”Yes… perhaps this is fate,” added the other, nodding with strange calm.
”…You’re kidding me,” I muttered, feeling a headache incoming.
The magician smiled sweetly.
”Yes. We were also headed to Dungeon City♪”
”Really…?”
I turned my back to them once more.
”Then good luck. I’ll be going now.”
”Wait!”
Grab!
Before I could slip away, both women caught my arms tightly.
And just like that, I ended up dragging the two of them back toward Iris and the others.
Notes:
• Iris – The first collaborator to request a curse-breaking item.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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