Chapter 217: A New Leader
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 217: A New Leader
Thud—! Crack! Boom!
Um…
Thwack— Crunch!
Hmm…
The sound effects are explosive enough, but isn't this dragging on a bit?
"Akito, I think our WWE match is going on a bit too long."
"Sorry. My stats are mediocre besides my mana barrier, so I guess I'm not doing much damage, huh?"
The fight only ends when the mana barrier breaks, but because my attack power is pathetic, Akito is just stuck there getting pummeled.
I’m really sorry. It must be a blow to your pride to lose on purpose, but if this staged beatdown keeps going, you’re going to look like a total scrub.
“Urgh!”
“Yeaaaaah!”
Only Randall is having the time of his life.
As I kicked Akito in the stomach, Randall let out a cheer and pressed himself against the barrier to get a closer look.
Akito’s followers obviously looked miserable seeing their leader get trashed, and as the battle dragged on, even my own people were starting to stare at me blankly.
Uh… are they getting suspicious?
Akito was actually doing a decent job of acting, so it didn't look like I was winning easily.
Occasionally, he’d launch a fierce attack that forced me to frantically spray magic to dodge or even take a direct hit.
However, Akito was skillfully playing along with Frey’s combat style of dominating space, making his "defeat" look convincing.
Damn it, I can’t even use Counter Magic.
The Counter Magic I’ve learned so far is inefficient; it only packs a punch after I’ve taken a hell of a beating.
Even if I’ve built up stacks, I can’t just use it recklessly.
The moment his mana barrier breaks, it would blow a hole straight through Akito’s body. How am I supposed to use that?
Because of this, I was pulling my punches, which only made the fight last longer.
Akito’s mana barrier was surprisingly sturdy, too, making it incredibly difficult to gauge my strength.
I hurled the Etiquette Infuser to halt Akito’s approach and used Natsume’s original magic, ‘Liquid Forest’—it sounds fancy, but it’s basically just plant manipulation—to bind his feet.
Akito swung his sword to slice through the vines, but I dropped a Coin behind him, teleported instantly, caught the Etiquette Infuser I’d thrown earlier, and slammed it down.
Clang—!
He blocked that? His monstrous reflexes only confirmed that Akito was definitely throwing the fight.
As Akito’s movement stalled from the downward strike, Phantom Swords appeared all around him and lunged simultaneously.
BOOM—!
The Phantom Swords I use are different from Sunwoo’s.
Sunwoo relies on razor-sharp precision, but I have Turk’s Powerful One-Shot.
How could a simple, heavy impact be considered an original magic?
The true strength of Powerful One-Shot lies in how easily it can be combined with other spells.
In a way, it’s magic that reinforces other magic.
That’s why most of Turk’s attacks are reinforced by Powerful One-Shot; even a light swing of a sword carries undeniable weight.
Akito twisted his body to dodge most of them, but one Phantom Sword caught him, sending him flying with a massive explosion until he slammed into the barrier.
His mana barrier… didn't break, right? Seriously, why did we decide the barrier had to break for the fight to end?
“Cough, hack…”
“Are you okay? I think the winner is clear. Shall we call it here?”
“…Not… not over yet.”
Akito staggered to his feet.
That wasn't acting.
A mana barrier protects a mage, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.
I mean… sure, it’s a defense that ignores the laws of physics to the point where a tank shell only feels like a dull ache, but the impact still transfers to the body.
If you rely on the barrier and keep taking hits, the shock accumulates, and the fragile human body inside eventually breaks.
That’s why Frey, back when I said I wanted to be a masochistic tank, went out of her way to find me a rare spell that protects the internal organs.
…Seriously, what would I have done without Frey?
Though his barrier hadn't shattered, Akito looked exhausted from the accumulated fatigue and shock.
It seemed Akito knew internal protection magic too, but he’d activated it a bit too late.
Hey, if you were planning on losing, you should’ve used that from the start. How could you make such a rookie mistake?
But really, if we keep going, Akito’s going to get seriously hurt. What do I do?
Just as I was feeling conflicted, Shiori suddenly forced the barrier open and stepped inside.
At the same time, Turk and Park Yu-jeong entered, standing between us to protect me.
“We have no intention of fighting!”
Shiori shouted urgently as she supported the staggering Akito.
“We lost. Please, end it here.”
“Shiori…”
“Brother. Let’s stop.”
Seeing Shiori’s tearful expression, Akito hesitated for a moment before lowering his head.
Aha! You had a plan all along!
I wondered why he was being so stubborn; he was waiting for Shiori to intervene and wrap things up.
The narrative arc was perfect.
As Akito retreated, leaning on Shiori, he looked back at me.
Good job, buddy. Thanks.
I gave him a wink to show my gratitude for throwing the match. Akito flinched, his expression darkening as he turned his head away.
Was the wink too much?
I guess I’d call Akito a creep if he winked at me, too.
Still, I had to show my thanks for him taking the fall without letting the others notice.
As Emma fussed over Akito and his followers prepared to leave quietly, Fable emerged, leading a massive crowd of people.
“Does the Daihara family have no sense of honor?”
“Honor? My ass. Who do you think you are, talking about the Daiharas, you little shit? You want to die?”
Don't you dare touch our Akito.
Perhaps he wasn't used to being insulted, because Fable’s face contorted as he glared at me.
Just go. You worked hard today. Great acting.
I shooed them away with a hand gesture. Shiori nodded and led Akito back.
“You damn monkey.”
“Sorry, but I’m way too handsome for the word ‘monkey’ to fit. It suits an ugly old man like you much better. Ugh, look at those wrinkles. Do people mistake you for a macaque when you’re in the hot springs?”
“Hey, can we stop the pointless bickering and get to work?”
She says that, but she loves teasing people too.
Park Yu-jeong poked me in the ribs, telling me to stop acting up, so I looked over at Randall.
Feeling my gaze, Randall smirked and took a step forward.
“Randall Rodrigo, Security Bureau 4th Division. You know what I do, right? I hunt down the bastards who rebel against our Great Government.”
Are you here to make an arrest or just to mock people?
As Randall chuckled, Fable glared at him and shouted.
“You ignored all our requests for help, and now you come here to intimidate Shibarata?!”
“Let’s get the facts straight. I’m not here for Shibarata; I’m here to arrest you and a few other bastards for being idiots. You should’ve lived within the law, you criminal piece of shit.”
Is this why this man usually treats people with formal speech?
The moment he switched to informal insults and narrowed his eyes, his aura became so intense that even Fable flinched.
“What wrong have we committed?! When our children were dying on our own land, you all turned a blind eye!”
“No, I told you to stop saying ‘we.’ Shibarata has nothing to do with this. You’re just paying for the crimes you committed.”
Fable kept trying to drag Shibarata into it to muddy the waters.
Even he must realize how bad his position is. Seeing him struggle to survive like that was pathetic.
“Our Shibarata will fight to the death. Go ahead and try. I will show you the power of an Earthbound Person.”
“Pfft—”
Hey, don't laugh. Don't disrespect Akane’s organization.
Honestly, though, is there any place that isn't weak compared to the Government?
Even Yggdrasil would get crushed by the Government.
Worried the members might get offended by Randall’s mockery, I quickly jumped in.
“Why are you talking about fighting to the death like you own the place, you crazy old man?”
“I will make sure you die. To think you’d dream of attacking Shibarata with such a small force… how arrogant.”
Is he really going to fight?
Even if he wins here, how does he plan to handle the Government?
I’d done a few things, but I didn't think I’d pushed him into a corner yet. Looking at him now, though, he was acting like a man with nothing left to lose.
Ding— Ding, ding-ding-ding—
While I was in a staring contest with Fable, the sound of text notifications erupted from all around.
One of his cronies checked his phone and showed it to Fable.
“How dare you mock us with such lies?!”
It looked like the contents of the book I showed Akito had been sent out via text.
Since no one would read a massive list of crimes, I’d put the most extreme ones at the beginning. Quite a few of them were framed setups.
He looked furious. Well, time to make him even angrier so people start feeling even more negatively toward him.
Randall, seemingly thinking the same thing, caught my eye and gave a slight grin.
Just as I was about to open my mouth to join in on mocking Fable, Justina tapped my shoulder.
“Step aside, lowly creature. Do not block the King’s path.”
“You’ve worked hard, Mr. Randall. Please move out of the way~”
Justina and Park Yu-jeong led Akane to the front.
Ah, right.
Our goal was to make Akane the leader.
This was the most critical moment; if Randall and I hogged the spotlight, Akane wouldn't be able to do anything.
The leadership of the organization had to change by Akane’s hand.
Fable’s face twisted when he saw Akane step forward. To that old man, she was a traitor to the organization, and he clearly loathed her.
“Akane.”
“Grandfather, stop now.”
“You carry the blood of the Earthbound, so why do you betray your kin?!!”
The old man sure has a pair of lungs on him.
Fable screamed, but Akane just stared at him with her usual stoic expression before speaking.
“Can you, the grandfathers, uncles, and aunts, actually save Shibarata?”
“Of course! Soon, we will seize the Source and…”
He rambled on, but how did he plan to seize the Source in this situation?
Honestly, I couldn't understand Fable’s behavior.
It was like watching someone with a delusional disorder. Everything was already over, yet his mouth was full of hope.
No… it wasn't just talk. He genuinely seemed to believe everything would turn out fine.
“… …”
What on earth did you two do?
I looked at Park Yu-jeong and Justina, who were smiling at me, and realized the truth.
The idea that we hadn't pushed him into a corner was just my own assumption. Those two had been infiltrating the organization with Akane this whole time.
Yeah, what Fable was doing looked exactly like denial of reality.
You two act all noble and talk about being Kings, but did you go in there and mentally bleed these people dry?
I expected it from Park Yu-jeong, but Justina is no joke either.
Fable’s speech, filled with dreams and hope, failed to convince anyone.
When Akane just continued to stare in silence, Fable’s face contorted again as he surged his mana.
“I will show you the power of Shibarata. Everyone, prepare for battle!”
At Fable’s command, the people behind him all drew their sticks.
Wait, is this okay?
We need to take over the organization while minimizing damage, but if a fight breaks out now…
However, the sticks weren't pointed at us.
“…What is the meaning of this?”
The tips of the sticks were pointed at Fable and his inner circle, and the air was thick with murderous intent.
“A coup always begins with the betrayal of those you trust.”
Park Yu-jeong smiled brightly.
Seriously, how did you do it? Don't just smile, explain it to me.
Seeing Fable and his cronies so bewildered, they must have truly trusted their subordinates. It was terrifying.
“I asked what you are doing!”
“We cannot follow you as you lead Shibarata to ruin. We… we nominate Akane-sama as the head of the organization.”
“You would nominate that stupid girl?!”
Did this bastard just insult our Akane?
But Akane remained calm.
She just watched as Fable screamed, and the members silently gathered their mana.
Leaving us alone, the organization members began to attack Fable’s faction. Randall chuckled and signaled his agents to pull back.
A moment later, Justina tapped Akane on the shoulder, and Akane joined the fray.
Perhaps because she was a mid-boss level character that even Akito had to face with a party in the game, Fable’s faction collapsed the moment Akane stepped in.
She really is strong.
Akane held the unconscious Fable by the collar. His cronies lay scattered around her feet like corpses, while the surrounding members cheered and shouted her name.
It was a scene befitting the birth of a new leader who would take responsibility for the organization.
And these two planned the whole thing?
I looked at Park Yu-jeong and Justina, who were smiling back at me, and felt a chill.
I should definitely stay on their good side.