Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Became History's Greatest Genius
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I aimed the gun barrel at Ouriel from atop the rooftop.
The surprise attack was definitely a success.
Even with Nob AI's support, I had a fatal weakness: my mana reserves were only 30% of a normal person's.
My physical abilities were just as ordinary.
No amount of AI assistance could overcome my innate constitution, so I couldn't wield aura like the knights.
But.
Humans are tool-using creatures by nature.
Why did humans dominate Earth?
The moment they picked up spears and bows, they gained the predatory prowess of massive beasts. And once they wielded guns, they became nearly invincible.
Of course, this world had mana as a powerful variable, so it wasn't exactly the same as my previous life's rules.
『Hit her in the leg.』
I had a powerful ally who could wield mana freely.
The weapon in my hand right now was the Nob Gun.
It was an anti-personnel weapon named after my beloved Nob AI.
It resembled a pistol in appearance, but its barrel was unusually long and slender.
Its operating principle was the same as any gun.
It accelerated mana-formed bullets to high speeds and fired them.
The only requirement was mana.
Unlike conventional firearms that relied on gunpowder for kinetic energy, there was no need to carry ammunition.
It was compact with excellent portability.
Mana consumption was comparable to mana bullets, and thanks to Nob AI's ultra-high-speed calculations, reloading was unnecessary.
Nothing could be better for protecting my body.
"......"
I looked down at Ouriel.
The Nob Gun's advantage was its freely adjustable power.
It could be used for simple suppression, but at maximum output, its lethality surpassed a rifle.
No matter how superior an aura user's body was, they couldn't dodge bullets traveling at twice the speed of sound, and the fatal injuries would be the same.
However.
『She's receiving help from something akin to magic.』
Ouriel was no longer human.
The wounded area was regenerating at rapid speed.
No known magic could achieve that.
The only beings capable of such feats were demons, who defied conventional laws.
Had the terrorists granted her that power? That was the only hypothesis I could think of right now.
"You're just thrashing about."
No matter how impressive her regeneration, it wouldn't change the outcome.
I'd told her before.
She'd be better off using her head for something more constructive.
It seemed my eldest sister's advice fell on deaf ears.
Even if the terrorists empowered her and she rampaged, nothing would change.
You're just dancing in the palm of my hand.
She moved to escape my sight.
Ignoring Zephyr near the window, she slipped into the mansion.
『The enemy is in the study.』
But Nob AI detected her easily.
I descended slowly from the rooftop to the ground.
I leisurely stepped into the burning mansion.
It was time to hunt.
She probably hadn't fled to lure me in, but I'd humor her.
I climbed the stairs.
The Tristy Mansion, where I'd mooched off for the past fifteen miserable years, was turning to ash.
Either way, it was time to draw this to a close.
Hot heat seared my skin, but I had no intention of letting her go.
"Brother."
Zephyr was struggling down the stairs, supporting two injured knights.
He continued urgently upon spotting me.
"We'll save the thanks for later. Haniel's in danger. It looks like Ouriel sent assassins after her."
I already knew.
I'd rescued fleeing servants on my way in and heard the full story.
Seeing her reveal her true colors to Zephyr meant she'd likely targeted Haniel too.
"Brother, gather the soldiers and head to Daebo Village right now."
"Got it."
He nodded.
"Urgh...."
He said he'd evacuate the knights to safety and head out immediately.
With Dalphi and Ian at her side, my sister wouldn't go down easily.
Zephyr and I exchanged glances.
"Be careful."
"You too, brother."
I entered the study.
The kindling novels I'd devoured were burning black.
Countless books that formed Nob AI's foundation shared the same fate.
There were so many novels I hadn't read yet, but I didn't feel regret.
I'd just acquire new ones after leaving the mansion and starting fresh.
"Ouriel."
I aimed the gun barrel forward.
"It's over."
Ouriel tried to move from behind the bookshelf.
But my trigger finger was faster.
The bullet pierced the bookshelf and struck her directly.
"Urk."
Even if she could regenerate, the pain didn't vanish.
"You can't beat me."
Constables from the capital were already en route to apprehend her.
She'd face trial for collaborating with terrorists and plunging the Tristy family into chaos.
"You can't escape either."
I'd sealed off all means of flight.
It was checkmate.
She was a rat in a trap.
Any further resistance was pointless flailing.
Even if she'd chosen flight over fight, the result would've been the same.
"Heh, impressive."
Ouriel's voice came from beyond the bookshelf.
"If I'd known it'd come to this, I should've just killed you back then. How does a person change so suddenly? Are all my men guarding outside dead?"
The Nob Gun hurt, it seemed.
Her intent to stall and distract was obvious.
I denied her the bait and pulled the trigger.
Bang-!!
Ouriel made excellent use of the study's terrain.
Dodging bullets behind cover, she relentlessly clawed at me.
"Do you have time to deal with me? By now, your precious Haniel might be dead."
The gun barrel didn't waver.
My mind was calm, my task clear.
Ouriel charged forward, toppling the burning bookshelf.
Or darted quickly, aiming for my blind spots with clever maneuvers.
Bang-
I simply pulled the trigger in response.
She couldn't reach me.
No matter her speed, her paths were predictable, and Nob AI ensured perfect accuracy.
The Nob Gun's stopping power was formidable too, so the gap never closed.
At first, she moved vigorously, thinking she'd win if she closed in.
But soon, I made her realize how foolish that was firsthand.
Even if that blade could kill me, it meant nothing if it didn't connect.
Bang-!!
Bang-!!
The one-sided battle dragged on.
And then.
The tenth bullet hit, and Ouriel's scream echoed.
The floor was soaked in blood, and she hid again.
"Surrender, or die."
I meant it.
I could aim for her head and pull the trigger right now.
Beyond her heinous crimes, exterminating a monster was only natural.
In my eyes, Ouriel was no different from a demon.
She was a pest harming my loved ones and the world.
But since I suspected she knew the terrorists' intel, I offered surrender.
No matter how tough, she wouldn't withstand the Justina Security Force's interrogation.
"Hah, urk...."
Ouriel seemed completely broken mentally.
Just moments ago, she'd taunted me with feeble provocations, brimming with confidence.
Now, she cowered like a whipped dog.
『Regeneration is slowing.』
"......"
Had she finally grasped reality?
Ouriel discarded her sword.
She slid it across the floor toward me.
It clinked against my foot.
"Hands up. Come forward."
The battered Ouriel raised her hands and emerged from cover.
I kept the gun trained on her and ordered her to kneel.
She obeyed.
For a moment, her compliant kneel—like a student punished by a teacher—struck me as odd.
And then.
Ouriel's eyes locked onto mine with eerie intensity.
『Warning.』
『Trouble in optic and auditory nerve signals. Presumed caused by X.』
Right.
As if you'd behave so nicely.
Her mental breakdown was an act for this one shot.
In summary, Nob AI said everything I saw and heard was an illusion.
My eyes and ears reported her kneeling submissively, but reality differed.
She was probably gripping the sword, aiming to behead me.
Good attempt.
『From now on, I'll actively use other senses to assess the surroundings.』
『Activating auto-defense program.』
But.
The illusion gripped me, not Nob AI.
My body moved on its own.
The sensations clashed wildly with the scenery I perceived.
Was this cognitive dissonance?
Soon, my vision normalized.
Ouriel lay collapsed on the floor.
"No way.... Kahk, h-how did you break that... You should've been under... Urk."
When I asked about her condition, foaming at the mouth.
『She won't die if left like this.』
I aimed the gun at Ouriel.
"Told you. You can't beat me."
My finger rested on the trigger.
She wouldn't have committed these crimes without reason.
Doubting it was for family headship seemed unlikely.
From Dargishkal onward, torching the mansion, tangling with terrorists.
It wasn't simple.
But that wasn't the point.
Ouriel had crossed the line.
The line I absolutely couldn't forgive.
Even setting aside her childhood atrocities against me.
She'd pay for those too.
I pulled the trigger.
『Insufficient mana to fire bullet.』
She got lucky.
My mana had bottomed out perfectly.
"Sir Ester. What in the world happened?!"
"Are you hurt? The servants said you entered the building...."
Constables rushing from the capital arrived, saving her life.
Or not.
Perhaps this was worse than dying here.
The Security Force had black ops agents who didn't hesitate at murder for the kingdom's peace.
I kicked her sword away and holstered the pistol.
"Bind her and take her away. Her wounds keep regenerating, so stay vigilant. I'll explain everything once it's over. Please."
I entrusted her custody to them and hurried toward Daebo Village.