Chapter 109: Guild War — Sunlight (2)
The Schemer’s ultimate objective was to obtain the management authority of District 3.
For that single purpose, he had drawn a vast picture upon the canvas called Pletikara through hundreds of sinister schemes.
The Ashen Wolf Guild had become an opponent that could be fought on relatively equal footing thanks to leaked internal information.
And the explorers had formed a fairly sturdy alliance because of it.
Up to this point, everything had gone according to plan.
The allied explorers would clash with the Ashen Wolf Guild, while he slipped away and activated the hidden piece to claim the [Orb of Lumerlan].
A strategy that eliminated potential variables with excessive thoroughness.
In other words, a meticulous and certain plan for victory.
But it was all ruined.
Because I interfered.
“Die…!”
The Schemer pressed me relentlessly without giving me a moment to breathe.
The face of the jewel elf he wore through [Human Skin Garment] was filled with resentment.
“Do you even know how much effort I put into preparing for this guild war?”
Of course I knew.
That was why I sabotaged it.
Like a cat gently knocking a carefully obtained ornament off a table just to watch it shatter.
“You should live honestly with that level of effort.”
While stubbornly blocking every attack with aura generated by [Avatar of Earth], I transformed my leg into black lightning and kicked.
A move called Thunder Kick.
“…!”
The electrocuted Schemer flinched briefly, then suddenly fired a poison needle from his mouth.
Ting!
I repelled it by coating my face—the predicted point of impact—with aura.
It was an attack pattern I already knew.
The Schemer immediately formed a series of elaborate hand seals and spewed flames from his mouth.
The color was blue.
Since it looked interesting, perhaps I should try taking it once.
Whoosh!
I received the incoming flames directly with my face.
“…?”
While the Schemer widened his eyes in shock, I swallowed a portion of the fire burning my face.
《Through the effect of [Sin: Gluttony], your body has acquired properties similar to [Ninjutsu: Azure Flame]!》
“…A bit hot.”
I raised my left arm, which flickered like a flame.
Fwoosh!
Red and blue flames fused together into Arteyn fire and shot forward.
A collaboration of [Four-Flame Transformation] and [Ninjutsu: Azure Flame].
“…Tch!”
The Schemer quickly formed complex hand seals again.
Water surged from the empty air, taking the shape of an Eastern Continent dragon to block the flames.
To produce such a powerful water-ice Mystery in empty air—
I briefly admired it and raised my right hand.
Just as intended, the Schemer was soaked.
Crackle!
A high-output black lightning bolt surged forward.
There was nowhere to dodge on the bridge.
Jumping off meant falling to death.
Taking it head-on meant fatal damage.
“…Ghk!”
The only escape was the air.
The Schemer leapt upward.
I immediately redirected the black lightning that had been rushing forward upward.
Because [Black Thunder Flower] had reached the Fifth Tier, controlling lightning had become fast enough to instantly change its trajectory.
Pazzz!
The ninjutsu Mystery activated just in time, diverting about half the lightning.
The Schemer landed far behind me and threw needle-shaped shuriken.
Two blades aimed precisely at my eyes—the only place aura could not cover.
—Caw!
The waiting blind crow immediately flew out and deflected them with its wings.
Perhaps because every threatening attack had been casually blocked, the Schemer’s face twisted.
“…It’s as if you can see straight through my thoughts.”
“That’s correct. Lady Ridni knows everything. Reading hearts is no difficulty. Anyone interested in the faith of Twisted Truth may consult this cultist Kar—”
Before I could even finish the promotional line, the Schemer rapidly formed hand seals and released poisonous mist nearby.
[Ninjutsu: Extreme Poison Fog].
Touching it would drain large chunks of life force.
“…I will never let you leave peacefully.”
Retreating slightly, the Schemer drew a threatening wheel-shaped shuriken.
The artifact [Supreme Assassin].
Once thrown, it ignored intermediate processes and embedded directly into the enemy’s body.
Judging by the way he was mobilizing both ninjutsu Mysteries and artifacts that heavily consumed ninja energy, he intended to face me seriously.
“That looks like it would hurt a lot.”
I raised both hands as if surrendering.
“Please spare me just this once. I’m sorry.”
“…Shut up!”
Just as the Schemer prepared to throw [Supreme Assassin]—
Slash.
Suddenly, Brunelda appeared from the sky and severed the Schemer’s shoulder.
“Impressive skill. I aimed for the neck.”
“…Brunelda.”
Clutching the blood gushing from his severed shoulder, the ninja dropped to one knee.
“A Northern Continent barbarian warrior doing something like this… aren’t you ashamed?”
“You’re not a warrior. So it’s fine.”
Brunelda answered indifferently while gripping the katana [Nightfall] with both hands.
Now surrounded, the Schemer had no escape.
His face twisted.
“Don’t get cocky, brat. Right now I—”
“Yes, yes, I know. You can’t use your full power yet, right? And even so you fought me evenly! That’s truly impressive!”
“……”
While the jewel elf was momentarily speechless, Brunelda swung her blade horizontally.
Slash!
The Schemer’s head separated from his body.
In its place, a log fell to the ground.
Wrapped in the skin of jewel elf Raenis.
Brunelda lightly nudged the log with her foot and scratched her head with the sword hilt.
“Is this the Mystery Kar tribe member mentioned?”
“That’s correct.”
[Ninja Art: Life-Death Distortion Escape].
It was essentially an extremely enhanced version of that ninjutsu commonly seen in ninja stories.
When fatal damage was received, a log was left behind while the user reappeared elsewhere, preserving their life.
“A maximum of three activations. Once all are consumed, it requires at least half a year to recharge. Since we just killed him once, two extra lives remain.”
In other words—
We had to kill him three more times.
That was the decisive reason the Schemer was such a troublesome enemy.
“I see.”
Brunelda smiled with satisfaction.
“I like it. Honestly, one time wouldn’t have been enough. Besides, he wasn’t even fighting at full strength.”
I felt the same.
Only when both sides fought with their full strength could the winner feel proud and the loser feel satisfied.
“Kar tribe member, you already know how he’ll appear next, don’t you?”
“Of course.”
The Schemer was an experienced ninja.
But he had chosen the wrong opponent.
“That gloomy ninja is already in the palm of my hand.”
He could never imagine it.
That someone knew the locations of every hiding place he could possibly think of.
“Please move to the place I indicate.”
“Very well!”
Brunelda hoisted me onto her back and ran toward the location I pointed out.
KWA—!!
During our movement, the Eclipse Wyvern unleashed another breath attack.
This time the southern ruins were devastated.
Only the eastern and western areas with the two towers remained.
—KROOO!
Despite its terrifying destruction, the wyvern stomped and flapped its wings violently.
As if it had been thoroughly enraged.
“It seems Yallen is doing well.”
“Indeed.”
Following my instructions, Yallen was provoking the Eclipse Wyvern to force it to release its breath attacks.
The Western Continent dwarf possessed a natural talent for provocation.
His speech was so irritating that even speechless monsters seemed to become enraged.
“It has fired twice. One remains.”
Once all breath attacks were exhausted, it would become easier to deal with.
It also had the added effect of eliminating hiding places for explorers and ghouls.
“We’re here.”
The barbarian taxi arrived at its destination.
The entrance of the golden tower.
I climbed down from Brunelda’s back and loosened my left arm.
“Shall we begin?”
The cheerful extra-life-stealing show.
The Schemer crouched in a narrow space.
…I must endure for now.
An eighth-level ninja.
Once a conqueror of the Eastern Continent.
Yet he could not always unleash his full strength.
To escape the innate limits he faced every day, he still needed time.
Moreover, immediately after [Ninja Art: Life-Death Distortion Escape] activated, all physical abilities temporarily dropped.
Inside this labyrinth where the soul rank was fixed at level 5, the side effect was particularly severe.
First wait for the side effects to fade… then eliminate that cultist Kar.
After that, he intended to run for victory again.
The enhanced wyvern was impossible to defeat.
Perhaps an inglorious victory was the only option.
Strong individuals like Targon or Luphrite would be difficult to beat, but with the wyvern’s chaos he could manage something.
Tap. Tap.
…Hm?
While constructing a new guild war victory plan in his head, quiet footsteps suddenly echoed.
Step. Step.
An ominous sound filling the silent space.
Someone was approaching.
It was strange.
…How?
This was the lowest floor of the golden tower.
Because of an inexplicable mechanism, explorers who climbed into the depths could never descend here again.
To reach this place, one needed at least three Primordial Fragments and had to step on the staircase in a complicated sequence.
“When hiding, you must use the terrifying truth that darkness lies beneath the lamp.”
The Evil God cult.
Kar descended the stairs as if dancing, wearing a terrifyingly calm expression.
“H-how did you even learn this hidden piece…?”
“I told you. Lady Ridni informed me.”
It was clearly a lie.
If that evil god were truly that knowledgeable, she would have been a popular deity long ago.
“Damn it!”
The Schemer drew his dagger and rushed forward.
At this distance, Kar would not be able to fire the flames of that unknown evil god—
Fwoosh!
A blazing red inferno surged forward.
Flames containing the power of an evil god.
Both the Schemer and Kar were engulfed.
“Isn’t it warm?”
“You madman…!”
Even while surrounded by roaring flames, Kar showed no pain whatsoever.
What kind of half-elf was this?
The Schemer quickly donned a flame-resistant cloak, pushed past Kar, and ran up the stairs.
“Have you arrived?”
At the golden tower entrance—
The Schemer came face to face with the Northern Continent barbarian holding [Nightfall] in both hands.
Even before the Schemer appeared, Brunelda had already swung her blade through empty air.
Slash.
Following its master’s movement, a dark slash cut through the space at the tower entrance.
The martial Mystery contained within [Nightfall].
[Gathering Night].
“…This time it’s different from that cramped bridge!”
Rolling aside, the Schemer formed hand seals with one hand.
His figure instantly multiplied into dozens.
[Ninjutsu: Clone Swarm].
The countless clones charged toward Brunelda simultaneously.
“I’ll kill you!”
“You trampled my efforts!”
“Disappear!”
Murmurs echoed everywhere.
Identical voices from all directions as daggers rushed forward.
“Oh.”
Brunelda briefly admired the sight.
Then she casually swung her sword diagonally.
Slash!
A nearby building beside the golden tower was cut clean in half.
“…Impossible.”
The Schemer, who had hidden among the charging clones, found a long line carved across his chest.
“…How did you know?”
“It was impossible not to find you.”
Brunelda smirked and swung again as she charged.
“Your killing intent reeks too strongly.”
Slash!
The Schemer’s head was severed once more.
Another log appeared in midair.
“Amazing!”
Kar emerged from the tower, clapping enthusiastically.
“Until all extra lives are consumed, only one remains now.”
“This is the worst outcome.”
Between two buildings—
Three Slaughterer Ghouls gathered in a narrow alley.
“Are the rest of our kin dead?”
“Not all, but we’ll be attacked soon. That wyvern is rampaging.”
“To think we joined hands with those cursed vampires and still ended up like this….”
The Eclipse Wyvern had completely annihilated the inner ruins.
Only half of the area remained for hiding.
“How about this?”
The most well-composed of the three ghouls spoke calmly.
“Even if we unite, we cannot defeat that wyvern. Therefore we should hide until the vampires destroy it. I hate to admit it, but their strength surpasses ours.”
“That makes sense….”
“That’s the only option.”
The Slaughterer Ghouls immediately scattered in different directions.
The one who suggested the plan leaned briefly against the wall.
Once the others had gone far enough, he slipped quietly out of the alley.
Step by step, moving carefully.
If I go this way…
The eastern outskirts of the ruins.
Passing the final building and approaching a faintly glowing cave wall, the ghoul felt along the ground.
Then he found a slightly protruding handle.
Clank!
After pulling it several times with force, a door in the ground opened.
A hidden basement in the depths.
…This should be safe.
This place was a hidden location unknown to the world.
The Slaughterer Ghoul—the Schemer—entered deep into the basement.
This must be it.
In a square recess carved into the innermost wall lay an old pouch.
Inside were three yellow pills.
Gulp.
After swallowing one immediately, the Schemer felt his presence completely vanish.
A hidden piece that erased one’s presence, making it easier to deal with the Light Wyvern.
According to the informant, even one pill ensured that within the [Battlefield of Sun and Moon], no one could detect the user’s location.
Now it’s done…!
He would remain hidden until the side effects of [Ninja Art: Life-Death Distortion Escape] disappeared.
Then he would eliminate the cultist Kar.
Only then did the Schemer finally relax and lean against the wall.
Knock. Knock.
A knocking sound.
The Schemer instinctively covered his mouth and held his breath.
Don’t tell me again…?
Thump. Thump.
“….”
After remaining perfectly still for a moment, the presence outside moved away.
Did they leave?
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Someone suddenly began pounding violently on the basement door.
Clack.
The Schemer tensed in shock.
Then the door opened.
Someone slowly walked inside.
A blond half-elf.
Kar spoke with a completely emotionless face.
“Why pretend you’re not here when you clearly are? That’s hurtful.”
The Schemer swallowed hot breath and slowly backed away.
And realized something with certainty.
…Those are eyes that could kill someone without feeling anything.
The Schemer, a ninja, had killed countless people.
The revulsion of killing had disappeared long ago.
Yet—
“I am a half-elf who gets offended more easily than you might expect. Please be careful.”
Facing the cultist before him felt even more uncomfortable than murder.