Chapter 17 - The Child Turned Pale and Trembled!
The Child Turned Pale and Trembled!
Translator : Elizabeth
“Store, store, store.”
Paaaah!!~
A landslide is ultimately matter.
Soil, rocks, trees, etc. In the end, if it's matter that can be put in a sack, there's nothing that can't be put in the inventory.
So I stored the landslide.
Even if I can't stop the landslide I already caused, removing the landslide rushing towards me isn't difficult. My inventory capacity is very large, you see.
Like that, a long time later.
“Phew~ Refreshing.”
Released Serious Mode.
With this, I have seized the board.
I didn't want to go as far as a landslide, but what can I do when the broker is too meticulous.
It's all something you guys brought on yourselves.
“Ugh… Stinging.”
Besides, even throwing a sword at me?
I intended to at least share a word for an ultimatum, but attacking without a word?
Isn't this really too much.
That broker bastard, clearly a psycho.
I was a fool to think of him as a kindred spirit.
Tap.
Touched the dagger stuck in my arm.
If only it wasn't for the fog, I wouldn't have been hit.
Is this reaping what I sowed.
“Ughht!….”
Yank!!
Pulled out the dagger with all my might.
Blood splattered, but ignored. Anyway, thanks to the curse, recovery is good so it will heal quickly.
Pain can also be overcome with will.
And my will is very strong.
As soon as I thought that.
Cough!
Vomited blood from my mouth.
When hiding underground, I bumped into the wall due to the shock of the broker's attack shaking the tunnel, seems I coughed up blood because of that.
This too will heal in a bit though….
Anyway, truly a weak body. If it was my original sturdy body, I wouldn't have even cared.
Wipe~
Wiped the blood from my mouth with my hand and rubbed it on my clothes.
Situation where clothes are already dirty from the blood splattered while pulling out the dagger and coughing up blood. Except for me looking too weak, there is no problem.
And I am actually weak too.
Ugh… originally I was really strong though.
Sigh. Let's not think about it.
Rumble rumble…….
Slowly the landslide is calming down.
Naturally, people were not seen around.
Most fled avoiding the landslide, or failed to avoid and were buried somewhere.
Roughly noted a few places but… first have to save them right?
Because I really don't intend to kill everyone.
No, I have to save them.
Because one of the buried people is the broker.
Can't lose my money line.
Quickly rescue and just take the money-
Poof!!
Huh?
A hand came out from the soil.
That's the place where the broker was buried… surely is he fine even after being swept by a landslide?
Come to think of it, the broker didn't run away but faced the landslide. Shooting dozens of daggers connected by threads to weave rocks and trees, and smashing them all at once to buy time.
Thanks to that, many Hunters ran away safely.
Could see it as loyalty, but in the first place, it must have been confidence that he could survive.
Crazy. Just how much of a monster is he. If I knew he was a guy like that, I wouldn't have challenged him.
Oops, this is not the time.
I intended to steal the money while the guy fainted, but if he's awake, the story changes.
Plan change.
Hide as is, then threaten by text.
Unless he's really trash, wouldn't he give the money.
Effectively I defeated everyone right? If he doesn't give, no choice but to execute a new plan again.
First.
Thud!
Quickly lay on the ground, summoned a pile of soil.
Buried myself alive.
Didn't forget to cleverly make a breathing hole and a small gap to see outside. Let's monitor the broker dead silent here.
Poooof!!
Finally, he came out of the ground.
Surprisingly, not even a scratch was seen.
As soon as he came out, he looked around, then took out a radio from his bosom.
“Those who evacuated, count personnel separately and report. However, radio other than reporting is prohibited.”
Tap!
He moved somewhere after radioing.
Stopped at a point and reached down, pulling out the person buried there pop. Seemed to have rescued a subordinate hearing the radio buried in the ground.
After that, continuing to radio.
One. Two. … Seven.
Quickly rescued seven people.
Roughly seemed to have saved all personnel nearby.
But for some reason, he kept looking around as if something was missing.
Appearance looking very urgent.
But….
Uh oh.
Why is he running this way?
It's troubling if he comes here.
Surely trying to dig me out?
Oh no, should have moved a bit and hidden.
Probably thinks I was buried in the landslide too, must be intending to capture me in this opening.
That can't happen!!
Chwaaaah!!!-
Immediately caused a sandstorm.
Have to stand up the body camouflaged in soil immediately, and hide the body before the guy comes. Honestly, there is no way to beat that guy head-on.
At a glance, he looked stronger than A-Rank.
Naturally above A-Rank. Must be S-Rank.
“Wait!!….”
The guy called trying to stop me, but as if I'd respond.
Pushed through the sand fog quickly.
Dash!!
Looking back slightly, the guy's shadow reflected in the sand fog is seen getting closer at crazy speed.
Wow… damn fast.
No way I can run away. To think S-Rank level was this much. Certainly this is my mistake. Because I didn't know exactly how strong S-Rank is. Furthermore, until the showdown, I didn't assume at all that the broker would be S-Rank.
Just considered him as capable black merchant 1.
Surely didn't know he'd be a guy strong like this. Who knew he would face a landslide head-on. Then alternative.
Swaaaaaah!!!-
Caused a sandstorm.
Confined myself with an earthen wall, and blocked approach with fierce sand wind in a 20m radius. Even if it's the guy, he won't be able to penetrate easily right?
Because it was a trump card for this moment.
One must protect one's own body.
Of course, since he's S-Rank, he might penetrate and approach, but I already finished devising Plan 2.
Absolutely won't be caught.
Noose.
He still couldn't understand.
That his opponent is a girl.
Couldn't see the appearance in detail, but the physique seen in the sand fog and the voice were clearly a child's. In this industry, usually one must be careful of children and old people too, but the opponent is a little different.
Trying to hide appearance until the end.
In other words, not trying to use appearance.
Seeing her get hit defenselessly by his dagger, it was rather closer to the feeling of trying to act strong.
Of course, it's true she's strong too but… the body itself was weak beyond compare. So she must have tried to act stronger.
With such a young body….
So.
‘Where is she?’
After coming out of the landslide, quickly rescued subordinates and looked for the girl.
No way a girl who can't even dodge a dagger avoided a landslide like this.
Must be buried nearby.
Estimating the place where the girl stood earlier, ran there. Destroyed most dangerous things, but still wouldn't have avoided burial.
Must verify.
Quickly before breath stops.
But approaching near to some extent.
Chwaaaah!!!-
Sand fog spewed out.
This is definitely the ability the girl used.
Seeing that, felt relieved for no reason. Because it means she's alive. First, conversation is needed.
“Wait!!….”
But the opponent wasn't.
Hidden in the fog, she ran away opposite to him.
It's because he threw a dagger earlier. Surely thinking of him as a murderer who doesn't even talk. That was an action out of competitive spirit though….
Too late to regret.
Must catch the child.
Swaaaaaah!!!-
Chasing quickly, the child gave up running away, and caused a sandstorm like before.
Power that blew away A-Rank Hunters.
At a glance, must be dangerous.
But at this time.
Rumble!!-
A giant boulder rolled down from the top of the mountain.
Seemed like a boulder rolled down with a time lag due to the influence of the landslide, but of all things, it was the direction where the girl was.
No matter the sandstorm, blowing away a boulder of that overwhelming mass is impossible.
Like this, it will crush the child.
As thoughts reached there, moved body first.
Slash!!
Sharp sandstorm covers himself.
Small stones and soil heaps collided causing wounds, but advanced without hesitation.
He is an S-Rank Hunter.
Could endure this much.
Somehow sustained and arrived at the center.
The center was surrounded by soil heaps, and just in time the boulder collided there.
Thus, at the moment the earthen wall collapsed.
Kaboooooom!!!!
Struck the boulder with fist with all might.
Fortunately, due to intense power, the boulder made a Crack! sound along with the earthen wall and flew away changing course vertically. With this, the girl's safety is secured.
Immediately turned gaze to where the earthen wall was.
Finally, the girl hiding there. Met eyes with the guy who gave him so much trouble.
“Eh?…….”
Tremble tremble.
About 1 second after meeting eyes.
Did she realize something went wrong.
The child turned pale and trembled.
Must be scared of him who appeared piercing through the storm with a powerful roar.
The moment he saw that, guilt rose up.
That trembling appearance. As expected, not the same kind as him.
Just a girl struggling to live somehow. Without knowing that, he mistook that she challenged him with the same competitive spirit as him, and eventually drove the girl up to here.
Just what has he done. What meaning was there in this.
Why was he so obsessed with the showdown alone.
When the opponent was just a child acting strong.
Even the outfit worn supports this.
Must have dressed like this as a behavior peculiar to young children trying to look strong.
Only now did he start to understand everything.
‘Just what am I…….’
Haha.
Futility. Emptiness.
Self-reproach rushes in from deep inside. Forgotten memories brush past the head.
For what reason did he start this work.
Clearly stepped into the industry for revenge. For the revenge of his pretty daughter….
Achieved the goal and became a godfather of the industry.
What meaning was there in that.
Before he knew it, tainted by this place.
Shouldn't have been like that. It was wrong.
Look.
Drip-
Blood is flowing from the child's sleeve.
It was the spot where his dagger hit, but the dagger was not seen.
Probably pulled it out herself.
Must have hurt a lot.
Must have been hard.
Mouth is covered in blood.
Whether she vomited blood several times, red color was added here and there on the clothes.
Very pitiful appearance.
Must have been scary to endure at a young age.
Must have been desperate.
How did she come to vomit blood like this.
Was it because of the attack hitting the ground earlier?
Or did she bump greatly due to the landslide?
Body looking weak at a glance.
A fragile body looking weak enough to break if someone like him touches it wrong.
Did she endure alone with such a body.
Did she have to endure.
Eyes became a little heavy.
How would it be if his dead daughter was like this.
Naturally absolutely unacceptable. He committed such an act.
Something he shouldn't do.
Made a girl scared.
As you can see, the child is watching his mood and taking a posture as if to run away.
Appearance trembling immensely.
Face dyed with panic and fear. Naturally not the same kind as him who enjoyed the showdown. Facing unreasonable situations without complaint must have been adapting to this desperateness too.
True that she is an excellent guy surprising even him, but that was all a struggle to live.
Mean it was to live.
Like a fool. Why did she do this alone.
Why did she have to act so strong.
Just what world is she living in.
Why did she say the world is harsh.
What things did she go through to become like this.
The monologue from earlier. What pain did she receive.
Why like this without even showing immediate pain.
What is the reason for risking life and earning money in a place like this at an age when she should be laughing and playing.
Why… why did she have to go that far.
Why alone… came to a place like this. Just to live?
Ah.
Angry at this ugliness. Expression frowned deeply. Noose.
Because he was also an ordinary human in the past. This is clearly wrong.