Chapter 18
Chapter 18 - A Plain and Unjust Conclusion (2)
"Keuaaak!"
I screamed and immediately fell away from Leila. I almost collapsed from the pain in my side, but I gritted my teeth and endured it.
Right now, if I fall, I'll die. That instinct struck my brain like a whip.
'Eh, ether!'
I immediately rummaged through my bag and pulled out an ether bottle. I hurriedly put my mouth to the bottle and sucked it in.
Swooosh. With a cool, refreshing sensation, a pale blue light flowed out of my body. At the same time, the pain in my side quickly subsided, and the wound began to heal.
"Oh my. You have something troublesome, junior. Potions are incredibly expensive items."
Keeing! Leila held out the broom in her hand and spoke like that.
Looking closely, a bluish blade was protruding from the tip of the broom. The length was about 2 meters. When she, who is shorter than me, holds it, it would drag on the ground.
That long blade. Its unique shape. And the iron ball that was in the cart. Now I could no longer deny it.
"As expected. As expected, it was you... That damn serial killer bastard...!"
A suspicious person.
The identity of the suspicious person was the maid Leila right before my eyes.
I thought we might have communicated well and there might be a twist, but no fucking way. This bitch was that infamous bastard.
Chaaang! I immediately drew my sword. And I brought the ether bottle to my mouth. According to my will, the bottle glowed green and spread from my lips to my entire body.
'... Alright. Let's do this.'
The effect of wind ether begins to be felt. My senses expanded, and I felt an illusion of time slowing down. I narrowed my eyes and glared at Leila, who was swaying her broom.
The duration of ether is about 5 minutes. It's just enough to endure one battle. I must end this quickly.
'Here I go!'
I immediately stomped on the ground. Whoosh! An explosive speed that I could never have imagined came from my body.
I was even surprised by the approach faster than I had anticipated.
“Ugh, ugh!”
I somehow swung my sword targeting Leila. But it was too sloppy. She slightly tilted her head and easily dodged my attack.
Gleam. My eyes, filled with panic, and Leila's eyes met in midair.
'Dangerous!'
I immediately brought the ether bottle to my mouth. After a bright yellow light burst out and seeped into my body. Her sword was about to stab my stomach. I couldn't react with my sword at all. I tightly closed my eyes.
Kaaang! Fortunately, Leila's blade did not pierce my belly and bounced back with sparks. Leila widened her eyes for a moment but soon regained her composure and took a backstep.
A skillful movement like an assassin.
"... This is really annoying. Did you enhance your defense? It's quite surprising that my blade doesn't work even on bare skin."
Where Leila retreated was around the cart, and she picked up the iron ball without hesitation. Clang. With a heavy metallic sound, an iron flail with a chain was laid at her feet.
Heh. A twisted smile appeared at the corner of Leila's mouth. She began to swing the iron flail in a big circle in the air. A terrifying sound of splitting air continued.
"Let's see if you can withstand this too?"
How could anyone withstand such a monstrous thing? If hit, I'd be crushed like a side dish on a dinner table. I gripped my sword, now slippery with sweat, and stared intently at Leila's actions.
Finally, she threw her hand. The iron flail flew towards me like an arrow. For a moment, I held my breath, but inwardly, I smiled confidently.
I can see it. I can avoid it!
"... Now!"
As I was timing it, when the iron ball came right in front of my nose, I twisted my body. A savage sound of "Whoosh" scratched my cheek as it passed.
Seemingly unaware that I would dodge, Leila's eyes widened, and her body stiffened. Opportunity! I leaped towards her again.
This time, there will be no mistakes!
"Die!"
A thrust that flew like lightning charged at Leila.
As she tried to call back the iron ball, she bit her lips, perhaps because my speed was unexpectedly fast.
"...Kuh!"
Chaeng! A metallic tearing sound burst out. It was blocked by the broom blade that Leila had raised. To block such a perfectly timed surprise attack, is she even human?
But it's okay. I wasn't originally aiming to kill this woman from the start. I've created a momentary gap, so the plan is a great success!
"Stealth!"
As I shouted the skill, I immediately swung my sword at her face. A half-beat late moment. This is the real timing I was aiming for!
She, who was adjusting her stance, momentarily couldn't track my attack with her eyes. Because the blade became semi-transparent due to the Stealth effect. Leila instantly frowned.
"Not bad!"
For the first time, a loud voice burst from Leila's mouth. Seeing something glinting in the corners of her eyes, I involuntarily pulled my upper body back a bit.
It was a momentary judgment.
"Kheuk!"
Leila’s figure and mine crossed paths in an instant. I coughed violently, letting out a choking sound. With trembling eyes, I slowly looked down at my body.
The trajectory of the sword crossing my chest lingered. The leather armor I had pressed against my chest was effortlessly split by her single move. Regardless of the ether wrapped around my body, it left a bright red stream of blood.
"Ha. It's been a while since I've been wounded. I thought I was going to die. Really."
In contrast, Leila placed her hand on her lightly cut neck. As blood oozed thickly, she licked it. An indescribable madness was erupting from her appearance of licking her own blood.
That leisurely expression. And the state where not even a single breath was disturbed. As I had suspected, this woman is a monster. My instinct became a certainty.
'I cannot win.'
Of course, that doesn't mean I'm going to give up even a tiny bit. I immediately swallowed a water ether down my throat. The wound healed, and my condition returned.
Now it's time to move to Plan B.
"Stealth!"
With a deflating sound, my body wavered semi-transparently. I immediately charged towards Leila. Leila didn't take any action even after seeing me like this. Then at one moment, she swung the iron chain she was holding in her left hand widely.
Swoosh! The iron chain quickly wrapped around, and the iron ball stuck in the ground rushed like an arrow. It was a surprise attack that made the back of my neck dizzy.
"Ugh!"
The iron ball suddenly grew larger. Without time to think, I rolled on the ground.
Boom! A thunderous sound erupted behind me. So, she’s already adapted to my stealth skill, huh? I felt a chill run down my spine as I immediately propelled myself backward. Leila, however, was already aiming her blade at me, charging forward with relentless intent.
Her defensive posture was complete. There was absolutely no gap to penetrate.
But that's okay. From the beginning, the thought of penetrating was smaller than a mosquito's hind leg.
"Damn it!"
I threw the Bestak I was holding directly at Leila's face. I threw it with all the strength I had since being a baby.
Swish! Somehow the center of gravity was well-balanced. Without any wobbling, it viciously split the air as if to cleave her head in two.
"What?!"
Even Leila, who usually had minimal facial expressions, looked surprised by this unexpected surprise attack. She hastily raised her sword to strike away the flying sword. Clang! A metallic sound of piercing air spread. My Bestak was helplessly deflected and rolled on the ground.
But it had done its job completely. It had drawn enough attention to allow me to approach her right up close.
I clenched my fist and charged at Leila.
"Hraaaah!"
Grab! I dove into Leila's embrace and fiercely gripped the abundant frills of her maid dress. This outfit has so many places to grab. I thought that momentarily.
"Aaaaah!"
I pushed Leila away without mercy, screaming like a battle cry. Like tackling in American football.
Leila let out a startled "Ah, What!" Before she could even come to her senses, we simultaneously fell into the sewage's dirty water.
Splash. Water spray rises. I feel the sticky touch of filth. Stench pours in from all directions. I immediately raised my body.
"Puhaaa!"
There's no time to be disgusted. This is essentially my last chance!
I immediately inhaled another wind ether and quickly escaped from the filth. I picked up the Bestak that was rolling around nearby.
And then I started running. I desperately shouted to activate my skill. "Stealth!"
Now that Leila had raised her head from the water surface, I turned my back on her and used my semi-transparent body to flee.
Yes. Fleeing. A complete retreat.
I was running away with all my might, even using a skill to avoid being discovered.
"Haa… Whew… Ugh!"
Swish swish swish!
Perhaps because I had just consumed a wind ether, my speed was truly tremendous. The surrounding scenery passed by like being in a car. The wind roughly scratched my cheeks, and my ears went numb.
Although I was already far from the place where I had knocked down Leila, I did not stop running. The fear she had implanted in me was that massive.
"Just a little... just a little more!"
I soon returned to the starting point of the intersection and continued to move forward.
I explored the front, back, and even the left waterway. But there was no exit. Now only the right waterway remains. There must definitely be an exit in the right waterway.
I'm finally going to escape from this unbearable place. Just as that hope was beginning to sprout in my heart.
"... There was a way to use a sword like that. you pierced my weakness."
That voice came from behind. Instantly, tremors rose from the tips of my limbs. It was Leila's voice.
But the voice was a bit distant. By my estimate, it was absolutely beyond the reach of the iron ball. I was reassured internally and tried to accelerate my running.
"Keu, Ugh?"
Before I could see her broom-like blade piercing my chest.
"W-what is this...?"
The strength drained from my legs that had been constantly moving. Soon I collapsed and fell to the ground.
In a sensation where time seems to move slowly, I desperately looked back. As expected, Leila was far away.
She was extending her hand long, bending her upper body. It was a pose just after throwing something.
That what she threw was a broom-like blade is proven by my pierced body.
"Thank you, junior. I learned a lot."
Splash, splash. Her shoes muddied with filth entered my view. She had arrived in front of me.
This composition feels familiar. That familiarity presented me with a certain realization. An inadvertent bitter laugh escaped me.
"Ha. Hahaha."
I failed.
I have once again failed to survive.