Chapter 196
Chapter 196
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 196
Chapter Title: Extra Edition!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A blue dagger shimmered beneath Barsabe's palm.
A weapon forged from mana. She yanked Berik toward her and swung the dagger down onto his armor with all her strength.
Chaeng!
Swishhh!
It struck right at the collarbone. It was a powerful, flawless attack that would have killed an ordinary person instantly.
But Barsabe's mana blade shattered like sand against the armor. The fading streaks of light were so astonishing that she instinctively ducked low.
"...What the hell are those things?"
Only a scratch from a single blow. Armor that could withstand a Sword-Mage's attack. Was it made from mana stones? Come to think of it, it looked familiar.
"Haiman, fuck, you sons of bitches. That shit hurts like hell, for real."
Berik rubbed his side, breathing raggedly as if it hurt to even inhale. Barsabe frowned at his muttering.
Right. It was armor in a similar design to the bank guards. But why were they doing this? And threatening Berik—or more precisely, the [Mailly Daily]?
"Fangless, where the hell did you pop out from?"
"I've been tailing you since you left the gates."
"You into stalking or something? Low-class."
"Ha."
Who the hell was this idiot calling low-class? Barsabe gnashed her teeth and grabbed Berik by the collar. The armored group facing them was already out of her mind.
"You lunatic, I can take shit from anyone else, but not you. I saved your ass when you were about to explode, and this is what I get?"
"Ahaha. Yeah, thanks a ton. But you got a track record, fangless. Last time you tailed me and Ian, you lost your fang, right?"
"Shut up! I was on standby on Lord Jairut's orders. And you just happened to be the one who came out, so I followed!"
When the gates opened midway, Jairut had given instructions to some subordinates as he entered the palace. Stand by outside just in case, maintain public order, monitor the situation, and if contact was lost, regroup on their own.
"Why'd you come out? How?"
"Ian sent me on an errand."
"Everyone okay?"
"Your friends? Who knows? Probably? Oh, Riama, right? Same outfit? That woman's dead. Pretty sure these guys killed her."
Barsabe blinked as if she'd misheard when Berik jerked his head.
What was this bastard saying? Lady Riama was dead? One of the Three Great Commanders?
"They fucked up the Imperial Palace real good. Ian's shitting bricks cleaning it up. Ptoo!"
The clues were fragmentary but certain. Berik gripped his black sword and charged again, deflecting the incoming fist like water. Barsabe just stared blankly at his back.
'Riama got taken out.'
"No!"
"Ugh!"
Slashhh!
A chill flashed, and Barsabe quickly yanked Berik back by the scruff of his neck. Off-balance, he staggered zigzag like a drunk, shaking out his legs.
"What the hell?! Don't get in my way!"
"You idiot, Riama got taken out, remember? Even if we both rush them, no way we win."
The title of Three Great Commanders wasn't given lightly. It was an honor bestowed only on the strongest knights who served and guarded the emperor himself, called the world's dignity.
If one of them, Riama, was down, there was no chance for the two of them.
"No way we win? Who decided that?"
"No need to decide. It's already decided."
"Fangless wonder talks big."
"Hey!"
"I'm gonna win!"
"You're gonna die?!"
"If I can't protect Vivianna, Ian's gonna chew me out!"
Tadak-tadak! Kwang!
Slash!
It was like Berik's head had no concept of strong or weak. Just win, kill, crush. His eyes blazed with that single-minded fury as he dove in.
Berik slipped through the gaps in the barrage of attacks, infiltrating their midst.
"You idiot!"
Gritting her teeth, Barsabe leaped in too, barely deflecting a fist aimed at the back of Berik's neck.
Chaeng!
"I'm gonna win!"
"Ah, seriously!"
"Fuck, I only know how to win!"
Kwaaaang! Kwang!
Boom!
As Berik soared into the air and smashed down on an opponent's helmet, his black sword glowed purple, unleashing a massive shockwave.
Nearby building windows shattered in sequence, and cracks spiderwebbed the ground. The one hit dead-on staggered but barely regained its footing.
'Dangerous.'
Creeeak.
A crack formed in the helmet. Through the gap in the armor, the wearer locked eyes with Berik's flashing gaze.
Were those human eyes?
They burned red, capturing the full blaze of crimson flames.
"There's a little bastard inside after all. Heh."
"Y-You crazy..."
"Changed my mind. Gonna smash just one."
Kwang! Kwang!
Pwoof!
Every time Berik kicked off the ground and lunged, three or four attacks rained down. He laughed wildly, fixating on that one cracked spot where he could see his foe.
"If I kill this one, does that make me stronger than Riama? Huh?"
"Even mad dogs don't fuck around like this."
Slash!
Thud!
Another grabbed Berik's head and hurled him into a wall. Flying a dozen meters before crashing into the stone, Berik realized his neck wouldn't turn.
"Ah. Ahh. Fuck, gonna die, ugh."
"Too much noise. Clean up before the guards come."
"Doubt they'll show. Haven't seen guard faces since the palace lockdown."
Crack. Creak.
Berik lolled his head, gauging if his bones were shattered. Good, it moved a little.
As he shook off his spinning vision, Barsabe stepped between him and the armors, sword at the ready.
Plunk!
"Do you know who your masters serve?"
"Out of the way. Can't help it if you wanna die first."
"Our master doesn't know I'm out here. So yours probably doesn't either."
The advancing ones halted at Barsabe's shout.
Her mind was a whirlwind. Thoughts and judgments formed simultaneously, spilling out unfiltered. Every second counted, so it was inevitable. She just hoped it landed right.
"Not sure what you're getting at."
With the palace locked down, they couldn't have gotten direct orders from Haiman. They just knew their master's plan and were acting to stop anything against it.
"Berik, tell me now! Who ordered you?"
"Ian, I told you."
Why ask that out of nowhere? Berik dusted off the dirt as he stood, then noticed Barsabe signaling with her hands behind her back.
Right? Left?
One? Fist? Ground?
What?
"I'm on duty under Magic Department Minister Ian Hielo's orders. Keep interfering, and I'll report it to the palace. I'll even file a formal complaint with your masters."
"...Dead men tell no tales."
"But I'm alive. You know they make you drink truth serum during Magic Department investigations? Even if you claim ignorance, your master won't escape responsibility. Oh, rude of me. Should I say 'Duke Haiman'?"
Ta-at!
Barsabe deliberately scattered mana to blind them.
It was a split-second moment. Shadows blurred amid the light beams. She was clearly one person, yet two shadows split left and right, vanishing.
"Chase them! Heading to the palace for sure."
"Typical Sword-Mage trick."
"Two right, two left! Catch and kill."
"Grab before they contact outsiders."
"One stay and clean up here!"
Of the five armors, four split left and right after Barsabe. The [Mailly Daily] clung to one corner, and she dashed into spiderweb alleys, so of course the pursuers stuck close.
Tadak-tadak!
Thud! Thud!
Watching them vanish, Berik grinned like he got it now.
'Right, left, one, fist, ground.'
She'd lure them by splitting right and left, so you handle one. Or die trying.
"Ahaha! Crazy. Fangless is gonna lose her front teeth too."
"Smiling when you're about to die?"
"Of course, idiot. She's taking four, I'm taking one. Ah, fucking hilarious. Who's dying? Kekeke."
Ptoo!
Berik spat blood-mixed saliva and gripped his black sword tight. He grinned, revealing his teeth—all soaked red in blood.
The opponent gulped and clenched its fists.
The madman's aura pierced the armor. It knew it had the advantage in strength, but the enemy's energy burned so hot it didn't feel real.
"Ian's gonna! Treat me to-!"
"Shut it!"
"Pork BBQ-!!!"
Kwaaang! Kwang!
A thunderous clash.
Vivianna gripped her daggers tight in both fists, her shoulders trembling. Inside the building, she could only hear sounds—no visuals.
Clack-clack, whirr.
Thud! Tadak! Screech!
Amid the printing press's rumble, [Mailly Daily] staff hammered typewriters nonstop. Printing the same lines over and over, aiming to churn out as many extras as possible.
Kwang! Pwoof!
Clack-clack! Tap-tap!
"Uwaaaah! Fuck!"
"Flip the paper over!"
"Ink's low! Get more from the back storage!"
"Die! Die! Uwaaaah!"
"Hand-print while copying! Keep going!"
The steady, monotonous din from the office blended with the violent, sporadic booms outside into a harmonious discord. Vivianna kept praying to the gods.
How much time passed?
Someone grabbed her shoulder.
"Madam!"
"Ah!"
Everyone's faces were flushed with excitement and tension, sweating profusely. A staffer pointed at the clock and yelled. It was nearly five.
"Done! Let's go!"
"Y-Yes, g-give it here! Hurry!"
"Back door to our wagon. Load the extras and head to the main road! Get as close to the palace as possible and scatter them!"
"Go! Lock up here and get out! It's dangerous!"
"Whoa, move it!"
An hour's print yielded ten boxes of papers. Vivianna rolled up her sleeves, hauled them to the wagon, and took a seat by the driver.
"Anyone who can't fit on the wagon, get to safety first! Five o'clock, palace gates open! See you when it's safe!"
"Please, please."
"Yes. Please."
No long words, just exchanged glances wishing safety. Mini and one staffer climbed into the wagon bed, clutching the strapped boxes.
Hiiing!
Tadak!
"Giddyup!"
The horse, spooked by the chaos, bolted eagerly.
Rounding the building, Vivianna gasped, hand over mouth at the sight by the entrance. Berik, soaked in blood and ragged, clung to the doorframe with both hands, barely upright.
"Lord Berik!"
"Ah, fuck..."
"Lord Berik!"
"Damn it!"
One armor tried to pursue the wagon but got tangled. Berik had wrapped around it like a koala.
"...Where you going."
"Out of the way!"
"...Yeah, don't die."
Tadak-tadak!
Vivianna twisted back to look at Berik. Everything but his pupils was red; his face was unrecognizable. Biting her lip, she yelled.
"We'll be right back!"
"Bring Ian."
"Stay alive! Please stay alive!"
The wagon nimbly exited the alley onto the main road.
For the past three days, hardly anyone had been out. Spotting distant figures, Mini sobbed as she tossed papers.
"Extra! Extra!"
"Extra! Marib and Gail clashed in the palace!"
"Magic Department mediated and resolved it!"
"Extra! Extra!"
Tadak-tadak!
Papers fluttered in the wagon's wake. Street-side people picked them up, read, and looked toward the palace.
"Extra! Finally some news!"
"Gimme one too!"
"Prince Marib and Second Prince Gail?"
"Your Highness? Shit! What the hell are the princes doing?"
"Extra! Extra!"
Deeng-! Dang!
Distant bells tolled.
Signaling five o'clock.
Vivianna gathered her flying hair and shouted.
"Extra! Palace gates opening soon!"
Deeng! Dang!
At the same time, the sealed gates slowly creaked open. Crowds waiting up front stirred, inching forward.
"Extra!"
Slash!
A sharp wind sliced through the gap, heading straight for Vivianna's wagon without a millimeter's error.
"Magic Department is resolving the palace situation!"
"Huh? Wh-what?"
The driver gripping the reins stuttered and froze at the approaching chill.
Wind.
A massive, razor-sharp wind, like a veil.
"Extra!"
Flap-flap! Flutter!
Slash!
The wind pierced the wagon.
The loosely stacked papers shot into the air, then scattered everywhere on the gusts.
Like the magic pollen the Magic Department had shown before New Year's, the extras blanketed all of Bariel.