#254 Elzev
I followed Risanna like I was possessed, staring right through her ass. What a brazen fucking ass. How dare it sway like that, tempting me! That's not just an ass. It's a lewd ass—lewdass for short.
Wait a sec?! As I ogled her lewdass, I realized something was missing. No panty line...! That bitch Risanna! She's going commando! Affinity skyrockets!!!
Well, her attitude's a bit bitchy, but that's just her charm. With my affinity for Risanna shooting through the roof, even her snarky tone started feeling like quirky personality.
"Huh?"
Anyway, tailing her lewdass—no, Risanna—we arrived in a vast chamber dominated by a massive tree trunk crawling with rotten flesh and swarms of flies. At its base sat a throne straight out of some fantasy flick, and on it lounged a hulking old man. Below him, Saint and the rest of Elis's family stood in a neat line. Risanna, who'd led me here, took her place beside them.
"....."
"....."
I stepped forward and locked eyes with the old geezer on the throne. He eyed me back with clear interest.
Buy my unseeing eyes. His wrinkly skin was dotted with black liver spots, his gaze cloudy. A faint, nauseating stench hung in the air.
Huh? Nauseating stench? For some reason, it reminded me of that weird, repulsive odor I'd faintly caught from the Gwen family members I'd fought upstairs.
...Yeah. Same smell. Not a coincidence. The stench I'd smelled back then was pouring off this old man in waves.
So the Gwen family's secret ties back to this fossil. Or maybe heis the secret.
Weeeeeeng—
Fuck. How filthy was this guy that flies were buzzing everywhere?
"Kekekeke."
The old man, who'd been staring at me, let out a meaningful chuckle and spoke. "Gabou siden yotokaji."
"....?" What the hell? Gabou what now?
"Not one of ours, then." He nodded at my confused head-tilt, like he'd expected as much. Bragging about insider knowledge must be a Gwen family trait.
Ah, except our Elis. Elis is an angel.
"We're strangers, so let's introduce ourselves. I'm Steel Armor. Who the fuck are you?"
"Insolent whelp!"
"How dare you!"
Asking for names sets them off? The moment I addressed the old man, Elis's siblings exploded in rage. Saint and Risanna stayed quiet amid the outburst.
Snap!
"....."
"....."
The old man raised a hand, and the furious pack—who'd looked ready to lunge—clamped their mouths shut in unison. I'd suspected from his throne perch, but now I was sure: this geezer was the true head of the Gwen family.
"Introductions... Yes, why not. I am Elzev Gwen."
"Elzev Gwen... As far as I know, only one person in the Gwen family uses that name."
"Kekekeke. Indeed. I am Elzev, chairman of Gwen Enterprises."
Chairman of Gwen Enterprises. Elis's father, Saint, served as president and proxy for the chairman. So this bastard was Saint's father—and Elis's grandfather.
"I heard Chairman Elzev was resting at home due to health issues. Won't holing up in a shithole like this make it worse?"
"Kekekeke. Hardly. No place suits me better."
"Your tastes are rank."
Grind. One guy gnashed his teeth at my tone.
Suddenly, killing intent flashed in Elzev's eyes. "Who dares make noise while I converse?"
"S-sorry... Gaaahhh!"
"....."
The teeth-grinder clutched his gut and screamed. "Gack! Guh!" Froth bubbled from his mouth as he writhed on the floor. Looked like he was gonna die for real.
"One more sound, and I'll make you fertilizer."
"Hah... Haah... S-sorry..."
The pain faded; he staggered up, gasping. Still hunched, though—the agony lingered.
"Was it you who wants my Elis? Or Risanna?"
"Huh? Ke, kekekekeke!"
Crazy fucker? Why's he cracking up?
"She is not yours."
"....?"
"Elisabeth belongs to me. She is fated to receive my blessing and become a true Gwen."
"Can't let that slide."
I crossed my arms and glared at Chairman Elzev, the arrogant prick claiming my Elis. "Listen up, you doddering old fart. Clean your ears. Elis is mine. My woman. Her body, her soul—all of it. You know what happens when you covet another man's shit?"
"Kekeke!"
"This fucker?"
Elzev slapped his armrest, laughing like it was the funniest shit ever. Infuriating.
"Elisabeth came from Risanna's womb. Thus, she is mine. The gall of you, stealing my child midway."
"Then why'd you let her get snatched? And don't bullshit me—you tried handing Elis to that junkie Duran."
When we first met, Elis was Duran's fiancée. And the one who'd arranged it? Chairman Elzev right there. Hilarious, him claiming ownership now. No—beyond funny. Calling his own granddaughter his? Pure psycho.
"Not handing over. Reclaiming."
"What?"
"I planned to use that fool Duran—bewitched by my Elisabeth—to swallow Francesco Enterprises whole."
"....."
That was it? Reason for the engagement? Pathetic and absurd from my view. Selling an angel like Elis to a druggie like Duran for that?
"Guessing already, but gotta ask. What do you mean by 'receiving your blessing'?"
"Kekekeke. What do you think?"
"...You're a real sick fuck."
"Kekekeke."
Elzev's laugh was revolting. Sitting there, his crotch twitched erect. "Blessing" meant fucking him. Murderous rage boiled up. Dare touch Elis? I'd split that wrinkled mug in half right—wait.
No way?
"That 'blessing'... All these fuckers got it too?"
"Kekekeke. Naturally!"
"....."
His proud reply soured my face. Risanna and the women were here, but so were Saint and the men. Meaning they'd fucked Elzev too.
Fucking hell.
[Filthy, ugly, repulsive bastard.]
[That's not madness. Just filth.]
[Eww. 50% chance to erase him now. Snap?]
Elzev disgusted even me. My mental pillars—the three bros—reviled him too. Enough to unite Batman bro and Joker bro, rivals. Anyway, confirmed: upstairs foes' weird power sourced from Elzev.
Better ditch it than bend over for that. Their power tempted me—stronger is always better, more powers too. But if the price was my ass? Hard pass. Ways to get strong without that abound.
Just hop the wall. Cross Dark City's steel barrier, and I'd grow infinitely. One monster touch nets a free superpower level-up ticket. Kill 'em? Quest reward: superpower creation ticket. A year outside, and I'd be god-tier. Just too lazy.
"Well?"
"What?"
"You're the most usable human I've seen. Become mine. Receive my blessing. Serve me."
"....."
What the fuck did I just hear?
"...You want my ass?"
"Kekekeke! Vulgar cur! Yes! Offer your ass to—huh?"
"Eat shit, psycho!"
I launched at the throne-sitter. Thought to drag out more info via talk, but killing this fucker—Chairman Elzev, that shithead—felt way better. Fuck it. Who needs intel on strangers?
Crack!
Punched his face. Felt something crunch.
"...Kekekeke."
Not his face. A swarm of flies blocked my fist. Dozens clustered, shielding Elzev.
"Such vigor."
Slurp.
"Bet you taste divine."
"Fuck! Creepy-ass bastard!"
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Fists flew in barrage. Flies swarmed every time, guarding him.
...Flies blocking my punches?
"Gotta pin him first."
Weeeeeeng! Weeeeeeng! Weeeeeeng!
Elzev raised his hand; tree-covering flies lifted in unison. They moved like an army at his gesture.
"You lot, seize him. Bestow my blessing."
"...Yes."
"Let's go."
Saint and Risanna led the family toward me at his command.
"....."
I backed up, scanning ahead. Flies above, Gwens below. Precarious spot.
"...Heh."
Laughter bubbled.
"Heh heh heh heh."
Steel Armor knows no peril. Just another thrill.
But—
"This time, I'm dead serious."
No thrill. Elzev dared claim Elis and eye my ass. Even I preach calm in crisis, but now? Erased "calm" from my brain.
No-Kill Rule OFF.
"You're dead by my hand."
For Elis. His cloudy eyes confirmed it: alive, he'd always target her. Harmful fucker. Grandpa or not, he dies.
Weeeeeeng!
Elzev twitched his fingers; overhead flies dove. Horrific swarm charge.
Bzzzzt!
Lightning blasted the flies. Hundreds fried mid-air. Incoming swarm was nasty; plummeting corpses too.
Weeeeeeng!
Elzev's flies feared no lightning. They kamikazed anyway. I kept blasting to block, but couldn't stop all. One broke through, stuck to me.
Player 'Horny Guy' has made contact with [Plague Fly].
Afflicted with abnormal status 'Plague'.
Trait 'Disease Resistance' activates.
'Plague' status removed.
...Plague?