Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Saintess Candidate
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Thud thud.
As I charged forward, the masked man rushed at me as well.
Unlike me, what he drew were two daggers.
But his demeanor was bizarre.
He seemed utterly delighted, for some inexplicable reason.
'Guys in secret organizations are usually the dangerous types.'
Because they love to fight.
That's why they're in secret organizations in the first place.
Our swords clashed.
His blade chased after mine. We exchanged blows for a moment like that. Then he leaped back, speaking in a satisfied tone.
"Heh, worthy of someone disrupting our organization's plans."
As I drew my two swords, he laughed arrogantly.
What the hell was this guy even talking about?
"You know, most swordsmen disdain dual wielding. Because most people are ordinary."
"...?"
"Dual wielding demands hyper-speed cognition and exceptional Gifts. Yet it's not all that effective. Know why? Only the geniuses among geniuses can master it."
His tone carried a deep grudge.
Rishiel, watching from the side, nodded in agreement at his words.
-He's right. Dual wielding is something only those with superior senses can pull off.
But, Rishiel added,
-Dual wielding doesn't have many advantages. You're using two swords instead of one, and for the effort to hone that level of sense, spear arts are easier to learn and far more powerful.
'Spear arts are that strong?'
-Of course. They seize the range advantage outright, excelling in both offense and defense.
I swung my sword while listening to Rishiel.
There was still so much I didn't know. But I had no intention of learning spear arts.
'I've come this far already.'
That wasn't the point. Right now, I needed to focus on the fight.
Clang clang clang!
Swords crossed.
This guy's blade was different from anything I'd seen before.
'Fast and strong.'
It was like lightning striking.
His speed outpaced mine. His strength surpassed mine. That much I could tell.
-A dangerous opponent.
Rishiel assessed.
-Around level 3. But nothing to worry about.
'Why?'
-Because you're stronger.
Rishiel snickered as she said it.
Saying stuff like that in the middle of this. I'd let it slide because she was cute.
Thud thud thud!
His sword pressed me harder and harder. Fast and ferocious.
Splat splat. Blood began trickling from cuts on my face.
'So much to learn.'
He didn't swing his sword politely.
His body... how should I put it.
'Used it masterfully.'
Arms and legs in constant motion. He pushed me with bizarre maneuvers.
One moment swinging from the front, the next leaping low to dodge my sword while kicking and slashing simultaneously.
I observed all his movements. Fortunately, this body could track them perfectly.
However.
'Nothing much worth learning.'
If I had to name something, it might be what you'd call body techniques.
His sword was sharp. But not sharper than Rishiel's strikes on me.
How about speed?
Not as fast as Dark Moon. Going by fundamentals, shallower and lacking depth compared to Ermé's sword.
'Like some knockoff version of me.'
Movements ingrained from pure instinct.
That's what it felt like.
I moved my right hand.
A sword as sharp as Rishiel's pressed him.
At the same time.
I swung my left hand holding the Blood-Soaked Dagger. The blade began disrupting his movements in a peculiar flow.
"...!"
Panic flashed in his eyes.
My sword pressed him sharply. Meanwhile, my sword mimicking Volkan's grew even more refined and swift.
'Break his sword flow.'
Then land the decisive blow.
Stab.
The Blood-Soaked Dagger plunged into the masked man's leg. His eyes widened in shock. Pure bewilderment.
Thud.
He quickly retreated, eyeing me warily.
"Impressive. You have the strength to interfere with the organization's event."
Wasn't it more that you were too weak?
I wanted to taunt him, but I stayed vigilant, scanning the surroundings. No way this guy pulled this off alone.
'A skillless punk like him.'
Yet he ran his mouth endlessly.
Spilling all sorts of info.
No way he'd handle something like this solo.
That was why I hadn't drawn Whisper of the Wind yet.
But.
'He seems to be alone.'
Thanks to Rogue Mastery, I could sense presences keenly.
Yet there was nothing besides this guy.
Well, except.
'Ermé and Rozante heading this way.'
As I watched the masked man's movements, a strange thought struck me.
'Plunder.'
The ability on par with my most useful one, Rogue Mastery.
A power that could steal concepts themselves, limited to theft.
What were the results?
It forced the Villainess Lucia's attention on me—took a bit, but it gained me Rishiel as an ally.
'Could I steal techniques too?'
Something like body techniques would be perfect.
I sheathed the Blood-Soaked Dagger inward.
"...So you're the same. I thought you walked the path of dual wielding."
His voice dripped with disappointment. Did he think I'd switched to single sword just because I put the dagger away?
I ignored his nonsense and focused.
Plunder.
Maybe I could steal his technique with this.
I glared at him.
Plunder whispered to me with an eerie sensation.
That I could steal his signature move.
I reached out my hand.
An empty hand. It felt like plunging into something intangible.
The masked man paused oddly, then his eyes bulged.
"You bastard, what the hell are you—...!"
Just before he could explain.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Plunder (S) has stolen Body Technique.] [Skill: Body Technique unlocked.] A new sensation bloomed in my body. Something like the ability to mimic his movements to a degree.
"You bastard...!"
The masked man charged. His movements excited, unlike before.
I reached out again. He hesitated for a moment, but.
'Not Plunder this time.'
My head throbbed.
Plunder's backlash. It had consumed a good chunk of mana too.
'Gotta kill him in one go.'
I plunged my hand into my subspace and drew Whisper of the Wind.
"...Don't try it!"
As I swung, panic filled his face.
Not using body techniques for those bizarre maneuvers anymore.
'What?'
His body flailed wildly.
'No way, Plunder...'
Regardless of my complicated thoughts, my hands moved honestly to kill him.
Wind lingered on Whisper of the Wind.
Blood spirit rippled along the Blood-Soaked Dagger.
Crossing swords.
Slash.
I severed one of his arms.
'Tch, aimed for the neck.'
Because he was faster than me.
Hard to land clean hits.
"What did you do to me, you bastard?! What the hell did you do?!"
His hysterical scream.
Unlike his earlier composed voice, his face was pure panic now.
Yeah, that tracked.
'The moment Plunder stole his Body Technique, his movements went haywire.'
Did Plunder take his Body Technique itself?
I'd expected maybe a Lv 1 skill at best.
The fight tipped instantly.
The guy who'd pressured me with Body Technique and fast swordplay had forgotten his Body Technique.
It ended in a flash.
Bloody sword rippling crimson, pale green sword shimmering, both pressing him.
Thud.
I sliced his throat clean.
I saw his eyes bulging with resentment.
'...Oops.'
I'd accidentally killed him outright.
A bit of regret hit me.
Focused too much on swinging, ended up decapitating him.
For guys like this, you capture them, torture out the info.
'Though he probably wouldn't talk.'
Mouthy as he was, it was a shadowy guild. One that promised half the world for success here.
Mouthy or not, low chance he'd crack under torture.
'Well then.'
Time to find the kidnapped kid.
Just as I thought that, presences approached.
"Huff huff, are you okay?"
Ermé looking a bit winded, and Rozante on the verge of collapse.
I glanced at Rozante. Not her usual flirty gaze, but face full of worry.
"...Celi, is Celi okay?"
"Celi—the kidnapped kid?"
"Yes."
"No idea. By the time I got here, the mess was already done."
"...Rebelion."
Ermé spoke up after a silence.
"A group called Rebelion. Rebels aiming to overthrow the Empire."
"...Rebels against the Empire."
Rozante said in disbelief. Was the Empire that solid?
"Anyway, I thought it might get dicey with them involved, but..."
Ermé eyed the headless corpse.
Her gaze seemed faintly disappointed.
"...Not worth sparing."
"Eh? What? Oh, no. Do you think I'm that shameless? After you helped in that fight earlier, expecting more would make me heartless."
"You noticed?"
"Not many can pull off stealth attacks like that. Especially not with such low-quality arrows."
Low-quality?
Looked pretty good to me.
"More precisely, any bow that's not magic or specially made. Top archers carry multiples of those."
Ermé said that, then glanced at me.
"Though Yuseong probably doesn't need 'em. With all your skills and such. Still, to save mana, at least carry basics. Might wanna look into it."
"Yeah? Wanna shop together sometime?"
"Huh? Wait, is that a date invite?"
Ermé sidled up beside me, looking up with a grin.
Her upturned lips looked expectant.
'Feels super rehearsed.'
Incredibly cute expression. Suited her beauty perfectly.
"...Um, sorry, but could you help find Celi?"
"Already on it."
Our goal was the kid anyway.
We split up to search for Celi. Found her quick.
Once we got serious, spotting the kidnapping sack was easy.
"...Found her."
"Celi!"
Rozante hugged Celi tight. Ermé watched with a warm smile.
'...Didn't know she could make that face.'
She always seemed so cold.
"...Now our party's got two full members."
Ah, not a smile for the kid—smiling as party leader with a perfect team assembled.
*
"Thank you."
After catching Celi's kidnappers, Rozante bowed to us.
"And... forgive my rudeness when I pretended to be drunk."
"...A bit shocking, but fine."
"You don't even drink for real, Rozante."
"...Haha."
Rozante laughed awkwardly.
"...Right?"
"...Haha, alcohol is the one drink the gods permit me."
Ermé looked crestfallen.
Well, as a Saintess candidate, that was probably fine.
"Yuseong, what? Why the satisfied grin?"
"Just added a hero candidate to the party."
"...Huh? How'd you know Celi's a Mage Hero candidate?"
"...?"
What was this about?
I'd smiled at Rozante, satisfied.
"Rozante's not the candidate?"
"Rozante? Eh? There are already five Saintess candidates..."
"Wha—how am I a Saintess candidate?"
"... ."
Ermé stared blankly.
Sudden realization hit me.
Everyone here qualified as hero candidates.
'Dunno about the others.'
But this made for a pretty damn good party.