Chapter 129

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 129

Chapter Title: Target

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I landed precariously below the alleyway and Arknon, then lifted my head. Rumble rumble rumble. A building collapsed into a heap, kicking up clouds of dust.

'Unbelievable. That was at least ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠800 meters away, and they sniped me from there?'

Last time, they'd attacked from outside my line of sight too. This guy had ridiculously sharp eyes. Arknon spat out the sudden mouthful of dirt from the flying debris and brushed off the dust.

"Truly monstrous power. Thanks. You just saved my life."

"Don't mention it. If you weren't with me, you wouldn't have been targeted in the first place."

"Heh, fair point."

"But didn't you say they stopped throwing axes lately?"

From what I'd heard earlier, they weren't hurling axes anymore.

"Oh, right, I forgot to mention. Your notoriety's spreading like wildfire in the palace and the guard posts these days."

Nod. During a war between two factions, gaining fame with one side naturally paints a target on your back with the other.

"Word is you're slippery as hell, dodging everywhere. They probably figured it'd be tough to catch up, so they chucked it from afar."

And apparently, [Nimble Seagull] was the name the city guards had slapped on me, not them.

"So, special treatment, huh."

"Spot on."

No joke—if I didn't have ten years of experience, if not for my sixth sense, that ambush would've cleaved my head in half.

Rumble rumble rumble.

The bombed house finally crumbled to rubble. Arknon and I exchanged a glance and bolted as if on cue.

No need to check—that massive brute was charging straight here.

"Arknon, head straight to the harbor."

"What about you?"

"Gonna scout for more empty houses."

Judging by that thing's temper, it'd chase us all the way to the harbor. And that'd be a problem.

Sure, the Black Anchor Merchant Company was a safe zone for times like this, but I planned to handle things on my end without bothering Varkus unless I had to.

'Favor, achievements—everything's hitting its peak. Not long now.'

So I sent Arknon to the harbor and veered into a side alley. Sure enough, thud! The ground trembled violently as a heavy presence landed near the ruins.

'Did I see that right? It jumped over 200 meters in one leap.'

The guard captain hit the ground and scanned the settling dust, then started tracking our footprints.

But I'd already slipped away, heading steadily upward through the city.

'Market district's crowded—tricky.'

The guy would fail to track me and climb the tallest building nearby to scan around. Low ground made spotting easy, but the market—higher than the harbor—would help evade scouting.

Whoosh!

And as expected, the guard captain scaled the tallest structure in the area and swept his gaze around.

'He's thorough.'

Eyes bulging, scanning intently. Plenty of players dotted the view, yet he didn't budge, just searched in place.

Clear proof he was after me.

By then, I'd reached the market outskirts and ducked behind a wall, safe from those piercing eyes.

Bam!

Unable to find me, he vented on an innocent roof and dropped down.

'Whew, shook him off somehow.'

Humanoid raid bosses were the trickiest. Their moves were varied, agile.

Especially since they could equip gear like us—dive in blind, and you'd get wrecked.

'Looks like he's rocking at least four Mythic items.'

Mythics came packed with headaches. No intel on this one? Best avoid fighting.

"Oof, anyway, dodging around like that took me pretty far."

Unfamiliar shops surrounded me. I climbed a wall cautiously and surveyed.

'West Haran, huh.'

The east gate was where we'd entered on day one—all players got dragged from the east coast.

Harbor was east too, so player hotspots clustered there.

Bottom line: no players here. Empty houses galore.

'Next time, play in this neighborhood. Looks like the rich houses are over here.'

Away from slums, warehouses, harbor... Plenty of upscale soldier homes—thousands, easy.

Meant Haran crawled with active soldiers.

'Alright, this one's today's pick.'

I'd broken into one of those many houses, grabbed loot, mounted a pretty housewife, and was shaking my hips like a cuckoo when—

'Hm?'

The air grew heavy, killing intent thick. I pulled out of the unconscious, piss-soaked woman, dressed quietly, and stepped outside.

"......"

74 men waited in the yard, weapons drawn.

Black anchor tattoos on every hand. At the center, a familiar face smoked, grinding ants under his boot.

"Inope?"

I got it instantly—rage boiled. Inope kept stomping ants without looking up.

"...I told you. You never know when or where a blade'll end you. Varkus had your back then, but not here. No one's gonna help a foreigner like you."

He'd timed it perfectly when I strayed from the harbor.

"This turf's mine. Even if bodies drop, Varkus won't hear. Sorry, but die here, outsider."

I snorted and tried soothing.

"Hey, no beef. Let's both walk away clean. We're both working for Varkus, right?"

No point stirring trouble here. He might be somebody, but I wasn't ready to burn bridges yet. Time to build favor quietly.

But Inope glared coldly, dead serious.

"Hmph. Think Varkus's nod makes you hot shit? You outsiders are worthless trash. Without us, you're just monster chow—food scraps."

"Harsh words."

"Women at least have holes to use. Males like you? Useless. So drop dead."

He nodded to his men; they drew weapons and closed in. I stared, dumbfounded.

Blatant misogyny for men, yet no underling flinched...

They saw us as beasts, not humans. Like killing a useless drone was natural.

I raised both hands.

"Okay, fine. Info for free, as you want. Happy?"

Playing it smart—genuine surrender.

High ground was close; no way I'd botch it over small fry.

His men glanced at Inope. Short-cropped hair, feminine face—petty as hell. He tossed his cig, ground it underfoot, and growled low.

"Kill him."

"...For real? He's offering info."

"I said kill! Shut up!"

Thwack.

"Urk."

The questioner took a soccer kick to the groin and crumpled.

"Can't let cocky punks live! They'll look down on us forever! Kill him!"

No change—foes advanced to kill me slowly. Sigh. I scratched my head.

'No choice.'

Hated using this, but...

No other options now, and good chance to test it. I kicked off the ground and leaped skyward.

"Huh?"

"W-what?"

A casual jump shot me 15 meters up. Enemies gawked, eyes wide.

"How's the jump that high...?"

Even Inope stared blankly. Never dreamed my stats were this stacked.

From there, I used telekinesis like sky-walking and fled.

They looked like dogs chasing chickens.

"Ch-chase him! Get after that bastard!"

Inope yelled late; they moved to pursue but froze at changes in their bodies.

"Guh?"

"W-what? Why's breathing..."

Some gasped raggedly; others stripped from "heat," tossing clothes.

Effect of [Stripped Night].

I'd sprayed the colorless, odorless aphrodisiac, then bolted upward fast.

Ignorant foes inhaled it all like idiots.

"Hah. Hah."

True to name, Inope's men stripped naked soon, cocks raging hard.

"Y-you guys, why look at me like... Eek!"

Inope—higher stats—snapped back quicker, leaped to the wall.

Grab.

But aroused underlings wouldn't let the only woman go. They chased, snagged her ankle.

"Let go! Release me, you idiots! How dare males touch me with filthy hands!"

Thud thud thud!

Overwhelming stats let her kick free—some released, others crumpled with caved faces. But numbers won; one hand off, another grabbed.

I floated above, calling to Inope.

"Hey, boss-man. Treat your crew that rough? They look beat—give 'em a breather."

"Don't make me laugh! Why pity these worm bastards? Filthy males!"

Oof, that line's risky.

Note: Even in heat-blind frenzy, they remember everything once sober.

[Stripped Night]'s terror.

"Argh! Get lost, worms!"

Thud!

"Gaaack."

Not fully neutered stats—Inope kicked them all off. Barely; fallen men clung to the wall, climbing back.

"Nexy Sa's marriage is golden lately. Total buzz."

"Hoho, think just theirs?"

Women's chatter from alley-side.

Freeze.

Inope's men scanned. Target Inope had vaulted the wall, vanished.

Hearing voices beyond, they zombie-ran over like movie undead.

"Kyaaah!"

"W-what are you?!"

Women's screams followed.

Peeking: 74 men piled on four women, pistoning hips wildly.

"Eh? Wh-what?"

Screams drew more housewives out; they shrieked, became new victims—sprawled, moaning in rhythm with thrusting waists.

Chaos spread; soldiers swarmed.

"There!"

"What the hell? Lunatics?!"

"Kill 'em all!"

Stab. Stab stab.

"Gurk."

Too busy pounding wives, no resistance—they died easy.

"Get off! Off the women now!"

Thud thud thud thud thud.

Even dying, they thrust to the end, pumping final loads deep.

I watched from high above, like observing a clinical trial through binoculars.

'Potent stuff. One spray, whole yard affected—even thrusting till death. Top-shelf quality.'

Inope's crew all slain, sprawled. Fun fact: Decapitated, cocks stayed erect till blood drained.

'Not my kills, so Varkus's favor stays intact.'

One survivor, though...

I turned to limping Inope in a side alley.

Bad shape.

Eyes shaking wildly, nipples stiff through clothes. Crotch clenched like desperate to pee; midway, she'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠squat, squirting juices.

Flinch.

Any noise, she'd hide fast, dodging people. Knew she'd lose control like her men if spotted.

'Higher stats holding out, but time's ticking.'

In peril, she'd flee to a safe spot—her secret hideout.

Limp limp.

As predicted, desperate Inope, fighting urges, vanished into a pricey house at harbor's edge—civilian housing.

Right behind the city guard HQ alley—prime real estate no player touched.

'Nesting there? Makes sense—darkest under the lamp.'

Patrols would skip it.

I followed slowly as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she glanced around and slipped inside.