Chapter 46
Chapter 46
46
[Main Story] No.1 Rebellion and Collapse (3)
Dante Hiacapo looked down.
There were those who tried to set fire to the armory. When they opened the armory door, it would have looked like a restroom, and they wouldn't have realized they were seeing an [Illusion Magic].
"Capture them!"
The Discipline Department, arriving at Dante's command, swept them away.
Because the Mana wavered, blood began to flow from his eye, which hadn't fully healed.
'This isn't it.'
He quickly moved his feet.
He climbed the highest 'Mana Transmission Tower'. It could become a target for bombing at any time, but he took it into account.
And so, looking down at Zone 0, the names of the adversaries were visible at a glance.
Among them, according to the 【Script】, there is a guy moving to harm a specific Student.
'…….'
Found him.
* * *
After parting with Professor Gulla.
The trio ran, climbing the ridge with all their might.
The other two ran hard too, but one had to run a little harder.
It was Dominic.
"……."
Dominic was confused.
At the last moment, Professor Gulla handed him the Shelter Port Key while under [Stealth].
And so, the Shelter Port Key was in his hand.
The reason he received it was.
Because he was the closest.
Why?
Professor Gulla had only ever cursed at him?
Why would he give this to him…….
"……."
In the meantime, Dominic was falling behind.
"Dominic! You have to run more."
"Sorry. I'll run a little more."
His flab jiggled. The weight he had gained from a disease since childhood had never been particularly negative in his life, but right now, it was definitely pulling him to the ground.
Amidst his ragged breathing.
Dominic realized that the two had been slowing down to match him since earlier.
"Run faster, Dominic!"
"Ah, okay!"
"Watch your step…! There are a lot of rocks…!"
"Okay!"
The two awakened him with a word each.
However, Dominic began to fall behind, little by little, gradually.
Anxious gazes reached him.
From Hwaru and Forte, alternately.
As if demanding some kind of decision….
It might be a victim complex….
'…….'
In fact. From a long time ago.
Dominic knew.
How he looked to others.
He was different from those two.
Even if they were repeaters.
One was the son of a prestigious White Path family, and a Moon Shadow Scholar.
The other was a cute and kind child who was popular.
He was different from them, who didn't belong to either the Black Path or White Path, had no background, and no remarkable talent, and entered the academy with veteran benefits.
It was strange that they were even grouped together as repeaters.
Once, a Student's passing remark.
Replayed in Dominic's mind.
- Why do they hang out with a guy like that?
Indeed.
"Dominic! If we just get over that ridge, it's downhill―" "…Hey."
Dominic, interrupting Forte's words, said, gasping for breath.
"You guys should go first."
At that, his two friends stopped and asked back.
"What??"
"What are you talking about, Dominic?"
"I'm falling behind. You guys go first."
"What nonsense are you spouting? Run!"
"Yeah, we don't have time for this!"
"……."
He gritted his teeth and ran again for now.
Perhaps.
Just now, Forte and Hwaru's expressions were slightly different from usual.
It might not have been Dominic's imagination.
That's when it happened.
Bang!!!
With a huge explosion, the outpost they had passed was blown away.
"Damn it, they've come this far…! Run more! More!"
"Okay! I got it!"
As the two ahead ran, Dominic shouted.
"Shelter!"
"Huh?!"
"Let's go to the Shelter Port! It's right in front, 100m away!"
"But the Port Key…!"
"I have it! The Port Key! I picked it up on the way!"
"R, really?!"
It was hard to believe, but they had no choice but to trust him in this situation.
And so, the trio ran towards the Shelter Port.
At this time, Dominic became even more confused about Gulla.
Because the Shelter Port was much closer than he thought.
If they had come yesterday, before this situation, wouldn't it have been okay?
However, upon arriving at the Port. And stopping in front of the transparent cylinder engraved with Magic circles.
Finally, Dominic realized.
This Shelter Port…….
"It's disposable…."
"It is."
It was disposable.
"And…."
It was a two-seater.
"……."
Dominic stared blankly at the key for a moment.
Then, he looked up at the two people.
Two pairs of eyes, brown and reddish-brown.
Were looking at him.
Were only looking at him.
'……Ah.'
Dominic realized something.
Why would they hang out with a guy like that?
He couldn't know that.
What could a guy like that give them?
He could know this.
His mind was made up.
"Here. I'll stay behind―"
The next moment, a rough force grabbed his collar and pulled him.
At the same time, Hwaru was pushed into the Port.
Forte was left alone outside.
Immediately after, the Port's magical barrier was drawn.
"N, no…! Forte…!"
Right after Hwaru shouted, Dominic also grasped the situation.
"Forte! What are you doing!"
However, by the time Dominic shouted, the 『Transmission』 to the Shelter had already begun.
Enveloped in the Port's magical power, the two's bodies moved away.
Leaving only Forte behind.
"……."
Forte stood with his back against the lightless Shelter Port.
From the moment he heard that Kreuz had started the assassination, he had kept this situation in mind.
Because his family was Kreuz's biggest enemy.
15 years ago.
During the Second Assassination War.
His father, as an assassin of the White Alliance, sniped to protect the kingdom and its citizens.
After returning home, he would advise the young Forte.
Forte,
- An assassin is a profession that saves people.
He said.
- You must not become an assassin with the intention of killing people.
He said….
- What does that mean?
It was impossible for the young Forte to understand.
In the first place, assassins were created to kill people.
How could they save people?
Saving people was the job of doctors and firefighters…….
But now that he was older, he knew.
This world always provides enough resources for only four out of five people to be full.
And humanity has been putting all its efforts into killing each other from the very beginning to survive.
Somewhere, someone will definitely try to kill your family and friends.
You have to kill them first to avoid being killed.
Even if you get attacked, you have to kill them.
However, if you have already been attacked…….
Forte thought.
"……."
If you have already been attacked….
And if you are going to die anyway….
Saving even a little, saving people…….
'…That's being an assassin, right, Father.'
He had protected two people, so he was following his father's advice as a member of the Asimoff family, wasn't he?
However, feeling the increasingly intense killing intent and hearing the sounds of explosions and gunshots from afar again.
Forte's legs began to weaken. Overwhelming things were approaching.
'This is…….'
…Is this right?
"We found him. The Asimoff rat. Please confirm the coordinates."
Seeing the Kreuz assassins sprouting from the trees in front of him, Forte asked one more time.
Was this really right…….
"Found you. Asimoff. Right?"
As the first assassin who appeared sent a Communication, four or five assassins appeared in a row.
Forte, breathless, took out his sniper rifle and aimed it at them.
Kerrrrng-!!
Suddenly, a throwing star was stuck in the barrel of the gun. He didn't even know when it was thrown, but it was.
The blade split the barrel nearly in half. Then it bounced off and deeply scratched Forte's forehead.
Puhuk-!
The tip of the blade touched his skull.
'Ugh!' Forte's body, feeling the pain, crumpled. Blood began to pour out.
[Throwing-type] overwhelms [Combat Type] and [Sniping System] in its unique range. Even if they were of similar skill, it would be the case. They were stronger than him.
"You're the one. Asimoff. Right?"
At that time, an assassin with his face covered by a mask opened his mouth.
"……."
"It took a lot of people to kill just one of you."
"……."
"Die. Just stop."Cheng-!"
The assassin, taking out a throwing star from his wrist, began to approach Forte like an adult.
Chin.
As the strength left his hand, the sniper rifle fell.
Forte suddenly took out a dagger and shouted.
"Hey! Come here, you bastards! Huh!? Come here-!!"
But such bluffing would not work.
Finally, the assassin who had come close lunged.
Crackle-!
Magical Imprints scattering in all directions.
The assassin getting closer.
Within that.
Forte unknowingly closed his eyes tightly.
Just wishing he was an assassin…….
──The next moment.
Forte had an amazing experience.
The world brightened.
Even with his eyes closed, he felt the whole world brighten madly.
It wasn't just bright. It was as if he was placed in the blessing of some Angel…….
The light swept through the world in an instant. Nevertheless, Forte hesitated to open his eyes because they hurt so much, as if he would go blind.
After a few seconds of that.
"You can open your eyes now."
The moment he heard a very familiar voice, Forte unknowingly opened his eyes.
Slowly,
As his eyes finished adapting to the light and dark.
Forte broke out in goosebumps.
All of the assassins who were approaching were dead in a gruesome manner.
What had happened in just 1 or 2 seconds. Forte trembled intensely at the unbelievable sight.
"You've worked hard. Enduring."
The man standing in the center of them approached. With blood flowing from his eyes, he placed his hand on his head.
His body swayed at the weight.
He was someone he never imagined he would see here.
"……."
It was Professor Dante Hiacapo.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Y, yes…."
"You came an unnecessarily long way."
"T, thank you…."
"That's enough. If you can walk, let's go down right away. It's dangerous to stay here for long."
Forte, with his heart pounding.
Tried to move but hesitated.
"Ah…. J, just a little…. Just a little…."
"What's wrong?"
"…My legs have given out. I'm sorry…. I was very scared just now…."
He confessed his true feelings for now, even if he was embarrassed. Then Dante replied too emotionlessly.
"The guy I sent down to save the kids said he was scared?"
"Y, yes…. I was scared…. Embarrassingly…."
"Is that so."
The professor replied briefly.
"I like that you're honest."
Forte felt something intense from his words.
"……."
After moving a few times, the strength returned to his legs.
"I can go."
"Let's go."
And so, while going down the mountain with the professor.
Forte thought.
His father's words resonated with him once more.
An assassin was indeed a profession that saved people.
Like the professor in front of him.
* * *
After returning Forte to Moon Shadow Hall. I went back up the mountain path.
On the way, my heart was becoming strange.
'…….'
The Hiaka Kingdom is just a background in the game.
And the time I spent as a professor was only a month and a half.
There is no reason for me to empathize with this situation anywhere.
That should be the case…….
Perhaps, is it because of Dante's <Synchronization> emotions?
He was born in Hiaka and volunteered to be a professor on his own.
This situation must be painful for him.
The problem is, I am Dante now.
'…….'
I didn't feel good.
It was nothing compared to when I encountered the Demons, but still, I felt quite dirty.
It was the same with my Student bleeding, and the academy I was in being destroyed.
'…It must be unnecessary sentimentality.'
There's no reason to over-immerse myself.
I shook off my thoughts.
I am a player before I am a professor.
The only being who recognizes and opposes the end of this world.
I need to look further and move.
Clang…….
Even now, the 「Liberator⁺₊⋆」 is screaming.
The reason why something that is just a rifle is dealing damage equivalent to a cannon is because it destructively eats away at [Durability] with each shot.
Now it was slowly breaking down. It was a [Stigma Weapon] so it couldn't be repaired.
'……It'll be over after using it about a dozen times.'
If I get swayed by emotions here, I'll waste these few remaining rounds in vain.
That can't happen.
Protecting the academy is protecting the academy.
For my long-term survival, I'll take what I can get.
First, I went back to the location of the Kreuz special forces who ambushed Forte.
The corpses had already completely disappeared.
They are still there for now.
But they are gradually scattering, dyed in purple.
It's because they are guys who have a lot to lose if they get caught, so they appeared with the 『Curse of Extinction』.
However, the equipment didn't disappear with them, so I decided to take all the dozens of pieces of equipment attached to their bodies.
Because they were assassins who set out with the grudge of the Kreuz royal family, the quality of the equipment was exceptional. [Rare] was basic. There were several [Heroic] items, and surprisingly, there was even a guy who brought an [LegendⅠ] grade accessory.
There was no need to pick them up one by one. The dead cannot be owners. And equipment that has lost its owner can be absorbed into the [Inventory] just by touching it.
I approached the disappearing corpses and took all the equipment.
As any assassin would.
Without leaving anything behind.
Then, when the pendant of the necklace opened and a family photo appeared.
I realize that this is my first murder.
There are things you suddenly realize as you live your life.
Long hair that needs to be cut again, fingernails and toenails that need to be trimmed, faded receipts in your wallet, things like that.
Even though I have lived here for a not-so-short time, I am only now realizing my situation.
I was a person who taught murder.