Chapter 238
Chapter 238
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 238
Chapter Title: Chapter 6-1. Iris
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Mute!"
That single word drew everyone's gaze to one side. Not just because of the loud voice, but because it pinpointed a specific target with sniper-like precision.
'Who the hell is that guy?'
What a gutsy bastard. Turning his head to look, Judah saw a group of rough-looking mercenaries occupying two tables, their faces twisted in scowls. They'd clearly been drinking since midday—their table was littered with empty bottles and bowls scraped down to scraps.
"Mute! You deaf or what!? I've been calling you! We called first. Why're you going over there!?"
What a bunch of impatient pricks. Another server nearby hurried over with a soft, soothing voice.
"Sorry about that. What can I get you?"
"I called for the mute, so why'd you come over!? Hey, you! Get over here!"
"Oh my, our big strong mercenary brother. You've had quite a few, haven't you? If you want to order, just tell me. I'll bring everything right over, so cool off~"
She even threw in a nasal whine and some coquettish charm, but the drunk mercenary—who saw nothing standing in his way—didn't buy it. Instead, he roughly shoved the server clinging to his side and stood up from his seat.
"I said come here! Deaf as well as mute?"
The mute server turned away, covering her mouth with the menu board she held. She trembled like she was terrified, glancing around for help, but everyone was just watching. No one stepped in to stop it.
"I said come here!"
With a bellow, the mercenary grabbed an empty bottle and hurled it.
'Strength in stupidity, I guess.'
Judah found it impressive that these mercenaries, who terrorized the Byron Empire without restraint, were boldly acting up without realizing their target was the Shadow Queen. Watching as the mute server kept up her act to the end—squeezing her eyes shut and raising the menu board—Judah stood from his seat.
She clearly knew where the bottle was headed; the menu blocked it perfectly. It might look like coincidence to others, but Judah knew better. He reached out and snatched the bottle's neck as it spun toward him like a boomerang. No sooner had he grabbed it than a thin ice barrier formed in front of the mute server girl. Lime's doing. Unnecessary, but whatever.
"Huh?"
"Whoa!"
Snagging the fast-flying bottle was impressive enough, but when magic appeared too, gasps of admiration erupted around them. Ignoring it all, Judah looked at the bald mercenary who'd thrown it. The man stared in shock at the bottle now held intact in Judah's hand, shattering with a crash!
Their eyes met, and the man flinched, his body jerking. He seemed to judge Judah's build as unthreatening and opened his mouth to say something. But Judah was faster, hurling the bottle he'd just caught.
A bottle wasn't a dagger, so it got no correction from the [Mercenary Left-Hand Dagger Technique] skill.
Even so, the proficiency built up from throwing daggers compensated with pinpoint accuracy. It didn't spin like a boomerang. The bottle's base hurtled like a sharpened stone, slamming into his head.
"Urk!"
No mana infused. Strength controlled. Still, it hit the bald mercenary's forehead dead-on, and the fragile glass shattered. Shards embedded, scratches bled, and the impact floored him—he'd stood pushing back his chair, but now slumped powerlessly, head lolling back. His body twitched; he wasn't dead.
"Phatal! You crazy bastard!?"
His presumed comrades leaped up, glaring. A skilled group, apparently—fierce auras rose from them. The onlookers, hopeless at reading the room, chugged their drinks, whistled, and cheered. Like they were settling in with cola and popcorn for the world's best show.
"Have fun with that."
Judah grinned. He was happy to provide entertainment. The mercenaries drew swords from their belts, poised to charge.
"You'll regret this."
As they brandished weapons, Judah heard Arhil and Lime rising behind him. Glancing back, he told them to sit and watch. Lime's face stiffened as if to protest, but recalling Judah's Spirit Sword ownership, he smirked and sat back down.
No matter how menacing they looked or how they drew arms, they couldn't harm Judah. Common knowledge that people die from severed necks or pierced hearts—but once mana flowed through them, their bodies turned rock-hard. No way he'd lose to these fist-fighters.
"Um... be careful."
Arhil glanced between Lime and Judah, hesitating before sitting. Anxious, she tried to cast a blessing, but Judah waved it off. As he stepped forward, he felt a faint tug on his coat from behind. Turning, he saw the mute server gazing anxiously, shaking her head.
"......"
Not acting—she seemed to say there was no need to intervene. Or maybe not to kill. Either way, Judah nodded lightly and advanced. The mercenary scoffed at Judah approaching fearlessly despite the drawn weapon.
"Hey, you. Kneel and beg forgiveness now, or you're dead."
"Kill me and you get the death penalty too, right? Didn't hear it from the guards on the way in?"
"Hah, then we just won't kill you! Gotta lop off a limb or two to knock some sense into you, you damn punk!?"
Judah shrugged. No talking to drunks. They just spun in circles. Irritated by the posturing, a silent glaring mercenary hurled a dagger at Judah. Less a dagger, more a one-handspan poniard. Four flew: two from each hand, staggered.
Judah activated skills.
Shadow Sword 1st Form - Potential Release
Shadow Heresy 2nd Form - Demon Eye Open
One after the other, but under a second apart, the two skills triggered. Just activating physical prowess with mana would suffice, but he decided to crush them overwhelmingly.
Shadow Heresy 4th Form - Greater Black Artifact Creation
It formed irregular gauntlets of shadow. The poniards were slow. Fast to others, maybe, but to Judah—beyond human stats—with no mana on them, snatching was effortless. The completed gauntlets, spraying black mist, batted aside the first two, caught the next, and flung them back.
Shick-!
Twice the speed of the throw. He'd gone easy on the bottle to avoid instant death; these aimed for thighs, no mercy needed. They embedded in the mercenary's left thigh and shoulder. Bone-slicing pain. His scream suggested the alcohol shock cleared right up.
Judah charged the one drawing his sword. Glancing at their fallen comrade, they went all-in. One hurled a chair with his left hand; another tossed a bowl piled with bones. Judah smashed the chair, dodged the bowl. Drunk or not, they knew not to kill—aiming for non-vitals. He grabbed a sword thrusting at his shoulder.
Kclang!
Shadow gauntlet palm met blade in a clear metallic ring, sparks flying. Before recoil or withdrawal, Judah gripped the edge. Mana surged late on the blade, but Judah—with fragments—had far more.
"Casting wrinkles in front of a pupa."
Who knew if he got it, but superior mana and B-rank strength shattered the sword. Breaking glass cups was child's play here. But refined metal? Insanity. The crunch of fragments inside the gauntlet sounded; the mercenary's eyes bulged point-blank. Judah punched that stunned face. The rest watched frozen, not charging. Even the one about to stab halted, holding breath, eyeing Judah.
"Quick on the uptake live long and healthy, they say..."
Muttered like to himself, but meant to be heard. The eye-contact mercenary swallowed, sheathed carefully, pulled a pouch from his bosom, set it on the table. Then knelt, head bowed; the others followed. Knowing they were outmatched, pride in booze would've left them maimed or worse.
"Sorry. We got carried away drinking."
Wise choice. Though the real apologizer was elsewhere.
"Whew! Awesome!"
Whistles and cheers nearby. Ignoring the rowdy crowd, Judah opened the pouch on the table. Two gold coins at bottom, thick silver stack atop. Conscience took just the golds, returned the pouch.
"Pick up what's on the floor."
"Got it. Yep."
"Any injured?"
"Heh heh, what happened? Drank too much, memory's fuzzy... Guess we got cocky showing off tricks and hurt ourselves."
Quick actions, quick wits. Built to last. He and the others who'd chickened out bowed and scraped, tidying fast, hauling their groaning comrade out the door like fleeing. Onlookers just chuckled.
'Two gold coins.'
Nice haul.
The gauntlets vanished to smoke as mana cut. Returning with the coins, the watching server whipped out a notepad from her waist pouch, scribbled fast. As Judah sat, she tore the sheet, handed it over, bowed deeply. The mute server hid her cleavage with the menu too.
-Thank you so, so much for helping.