Chapter 425
Chapter 425
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: My Friend Asel (1)
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"Ah, fuck... my head."
I opened my eyes to the chill wind brushing against the bridge of my nose.
The first thing that came into view was a ceiling made of leaves and twigs. Every time the wind shook the trees, crimson sunlight peeked through the gaps in the densely overlapping foliage.
I was lying sprawled under a hefty oak tree.
"Where... is this?"
It felt strangely familiar. I rubbed my eyes and sat up. The oak grew on a fairly high hill. Following the slope downward with my gaze, a cozy rural landscape unfolded before me.
Smoke rising from chimneys, a river winding around the village. Humble but familiar houses dyed in the colors of sunset.
As I took in the all-too-familiar sight, I raised an eyebrow.
"Nimburton."
It was Nimburton, the village where I was born and raised. No wonder the leafy ceiling looked so familiar. It was where I'd napped away my shepherd boy days as a kid.
'Damn, did I really smash it properly?'
I hurriedly scanned my surroundings. No sign of the rift connecting to that last parallel world. I'd swung my sword practically unconscious right after escaping it, but thankfully, it seemed I'd destroyed it clean.
"Ugh."
Suddenly, my chest throbbed. Starting from there, unpleasant pains surged through my back, thighs, and arms—like a herd of angry buffalo had trampled me.
"Damn that bastard..."
It was Akasha's death throes. Passing through rifts to other parallel worlds was always a bitch, but this time it was especially brutal. Akasha's mana, blocking outsiders like desperate last-stand soldiers, had pummeled my body.
'Honestly, that was close. Guess a wounded tiger really is the most dangerous.'
Partly my technique's backlash too. Fleeting Slash—that hyper-focus state where everything slows down. Great name I came up with. But the extreme fatigue afterward was a downside. Slicing away every particle of Akasha in that state? Even with four arms, no easy feat.
Still, not bad enough to hobble me, so I grumbled as I got to my feet.
"First things first... gotta check if sis is okay."
And with that, I headed down the hill.
The breeze from the village carried the smell of baking bread.
All in all, not a bad outcome. I'd shoved Akasha back for good, and landing in Nimburton meant I could check on my sister.
I could snag the Bloodline Needle from under the bed too, but after handing over Akasha's blood for Sita's rift expansion project, it was pretty useless right now.
Rummaging in my coat's inner pocket, I let out a relieved sigh.
"Phew. Still good."
My two key items were safe. The Seniel fragment and the vial of Akasha's blood.
Had to keep the vial to get home. And that Seniel fragment I'd lucked into was proving more vital by the day.
'Does it have a faint trace of Seniel's ego? Otherwise...'
I remembered what the fragment had done in that final battle.
Cutting off Akasha's leg and landing a fatal blow? That little stone chunk had helped. Sucking up the life mist right where it counted—otherwise, the bastard would've slipped away.
"Feels even prettier somehow."
I pulled out the fragment and examined it.
Having soaked up that parallel world's life force, it gleamed with an even deeper hue. Hopefully it'd boosted its healing power. No clue what this world had in store, and I'm a killer, not a healer.
I was nearly at the village when...
"You see that fucker's face? Flopping like a snared deer, whining 'put me down~' Shoulda paid up on time, dumbass."
"Kuhahaha, pissed himself later too. Hanging upside down like a bat, shitting all over."
"Bats piss standing up, idiot. Anyway, vice captain made it easy."
Crude chatter drifted from nearby. Turning, I saw a dozen grubby thugs swaggering along. Familiar faces—I raised an eyebrow.
"Those assholes...?"
Nimburton's headache, the Orphan Club. Their skin had some bounce, so they looked a bit younger than me now. As kids, they'd shake down shepherds and smash fences—pathetic shit. Grown up, same old.
The blond leading the pack burst into booming laughter.
"Kahaha! Nowhere our vigilante crew can't handle! I'm feeling it! Tonight, forget this dump—let's hit Marbas with the good rivers and bang some bitches!"
"Yeehaw! Hans captain's the man!"
The pack cheered. Horny monkeys screeching—painful to watch.
Prime candidates for needing a beating to wise up. Looked like they'd blow cash on gambling or shady merc work. Leading this ragtag vigilante crew? Hans, unbelievably.
'Both ears still attached. Weirdly off.'
Seeing him after so long stirred memories. Felt like yesterday I'd cropped one for messing with my sis, but in this world where I'd run off, he was living large.
'Talked big about becoming a great merc. Ended up village punk. Anyway...'
But what shocked me more was the guy walking right beside Hans.
Short, long hair tied back. Boyish youth. Tulip-red hair and girly beauty stood out amid the drab crew.
Hans slapped his back.
"You lot, what'd I do? All thanks to our vice captain! Give our hardworking number two a big hand!"
"No kidding. We trust only the grand mage next time too!"
"Grand mage! In Marbas, I'll hook you up with the hottest chick!"
Cheers erupted from the self-proclaimed vigilantes.
The redhead gave an awkward smile, scratching his cheek.
"Ahaha... grand mage? You guys say the weirdest shit."
"Lifted four guys without touching 'em—what else is that? Heh, expect more next time."
"...Yeah. Don't worry."
He nodded. His tone held guilt, but he wasn't hating the praise—lips twitching up.
Looking at the pathetic monkeys, I muttered his name.
"Asel."
"Alright, let's roll. Follow me and vice captain Asel!"
Hans pointed east toward Marbas at the same time. Asel stared the same way, face half-worried, half-excited (hottest chick!).
'What the fuck's this idiot doing here?'
My mind went blank. Too absurd—I even forgot Akasha. Like possessed, I strode forward and blocked the trash heading to Marbas's night streets.
"Halt. Self-proclaimed vigilantes."
"Huh? What's this?"
Hans scowled. His eyes bugged out like I'd popped from a rock.
"Wait... Ronan?!"
His voice dripped shock. No wonder. That hooked nose like a hell mushroom? My handiwork. Personally, any patience he had—like mouse whiskers—I credit to my physical therapy.
Anyway, after that thrashing, Hans never touched me again. Till I snapped and left Nimburton.
The trash buzzed at my name.
"W-what? Ronan's back?"
"The Ronan? Who broke captain's nose... ngh!"
Someone clamped their mouth. Didn't remember faces, but seven in ten had eaten my fists. I didn't start shit, but starters? Left 'em crawling.
Asel, facing me, gasped.
"R-Ronan?! For real?"
Stuttering now, he seemed himself. Violet eyes quaking. Couldn't meet mine, head dropped.
Trauma-overcoming Hans finally spoke.
"Whew, long time, Ronan. Where you been wandering? Took you long enough. You know how much I—"
"Fuck off, ugly."
"What."
I shoved Hans aside, stood before Asel. Trash gawked at their ignored captain.
I growled low at Asel.
"Asel. What the hell you doing here?"
"Uh, wha...?"
"What're you doing here? Your parents know?"
Asel couldn't answer. Glancing up sheepishly, he ducked again. I heard his ragged breaths.
"Heard it all. You're their vice captain? Better to be a pathetic straight-arrow than this shit. What happened while I was gone?"
"...Th-that's."
"Say something. This your dream life? Huh?"
Hands in pockets, I pressed him. More rage than joy. Wanted to string him up and beat sense in, but patience held.
Then, pale Asel spoke.
"R-Ronan, you... what do you...!"
"What?"
"What do you know... huh? Popping up outta nowhere..."
"Ha."
Hollow laugh. His upturned eyes blazed defiance.
Made sense from his side. Me lecturing after years? Annoying.
But not my problem. If he manned up, I'd respond in kind. Grabbed his collar to slap sense—
"W-wait...! Hans!"
Asel's eyes fixed past my shoulder. Glancing back, Hans had drawn sword to strike.
"You fuck! Listen when people talk!"
Saw the monkey with sword, sighed. Stance worse than kid days—proof no training, just strutting. Reached out, grabbed his left ear.
"You were human?"
"Huh?"
Hans faltered. Self-defense time. Yanked the frozen ear. Rip like radish, ear tore free.
Blood sprayed like fountain over sunset field.
"Gaaaaah!"
Hans collapsed. Blood gushed between fingers over ear. Tossed the ear behind like trash. Spun and landed smack on Asel's crown.
"Hic."
Asel froze. Blood trickled from ear down his forehead.
I nodded at one-eared Hans.
"That's more like it."
Missing ear soothed me. Hans suited asymmetry. Better born that way.
"C-captain! Jesus...!"
"This guy's insane!"
Stunned trash snapped to. They'd saved cash—most drew blades. Ragtag charge.
"Kill him! Slice to sashimi!"
"Think you're hot shit?! Huh?"
Only Asel held back. Trash life, but mage talent shone—sharp judgment.
I glared at my life's best friend, met in my third parallel world.
"We'll settle after. Friend."