Chapter 35
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Fragment of the Demon God (3)
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Pant Pant
Jerka felt his breath rising to his chin.
Fight, fight. After nonstop battling, somehow Jerka alone stood unscathed on the deck.
The rest had all fallen to his strikes.
Jerka had taken down fifteen assailants single-handedly.
Is it over now?
Just as he caught his breath.
Gibner spotted Jerka belatedly and rushed over to him.
J-Jerka! Youre safe!
Gibner gasped at the sight of Jerka splattered in blood.
A-Are you all right, Jerka? Y-You need treatment right away
Im fine. This isnt my blood.
Jerka had only minor scrapes.
The blood belonged entirely to the assailants collapsed on the deck.
Jerka shook the blood from his sword and sheathed it.
What about the others?
Theyve evacuated to a safe spot. I snuck out because I was worried about our wagons, and then I saw you, so I came running.
Gibner had plenty to worry about right now, no doubt.
The Griffner Merchant Group relied heavily on oupf for its biggest sales.
And now, in the midst of all this, assailants had suddenly started causing chaos inside the ship.
No wonder he was rattled.
No way theyre after the oupf and pulled this stunt right?
No.
What they were after was definitely the Demon Gods fragment.
No matter how valuable oupf was, they wouldnt deploy this many mercenaries just to steal it.
Jerka suddenly grew concerned for Den and the others hed sent ahead.
Anyway, take the merchants and stay in a safe place.
What about the oupf? You sure itll be okay?
Was it because he was a merchant?
Even in this chaos, Gibners mind was solely on the cargo.
Jerka could reassure him on that front, at least.
Itll be fine. Dont worry.
No one but Roin had rushed off eyes blazing to guard the oupf.
Even if the ship sank, the oupf would survive.
The man named Hef, who had planned this operation with the mercenaries, didnt immediately grasp what had just happened to him.
Hed tried to take out Den in one blow.
But suddenly, a kid much smaller than him appeared and sent Hef flying with a single kick.
Was this even possible in reality?
At least according to Hefs common sense, no.
Hef stood, brushing the dust from his clothes.
His legs trembled.
Not just his legs.
His side still throbbed.
Hef glared sharply at Roin.
Who are you?
Didnt anyone teach you to introduce yourself before asking someone elses name?
One thing was clear to Hef, at least: Roin was an insolent brat.
At the same time, he realized the kid was no ordinary punk.
Hef pressed the button on the handle of his two-handed axe. With a clank! it split into two separate axes.
Gripping one in each hand, Hef shifted into a new stance.
Roin clicked his tongue at the sight.
Whats with that ridiculous trick?
Youll find out if its a trick or not once you feel it.
Hef swung his left hand wide.
The axe spun wildly, flying fiercely toward Roin.
Roin didnt even think of dodging.
Thwack!
He batted it away with his left fist.
While Roin was distracted by the incoming axe.
Hef closed the distance to Roin in a flash.
Just now, hed been caught off guard by a surprise attack and taken a hit.
Face-to-face, he wouldnt fall for the same thing again. Thats what hed thought.
But it was a huge mistake.
Didnt I tell you not to approach the oupf?
Roin ducked low and slipped inside Hefs guard.
Then he drove his right fist straight into Hefs lower jaw.
The impact shot straight to his brain.
To lose his senses from a single punch by some boy.
Hef couldnt believe it.
Guess Ill have to teach you a lesson.
Only then did Roin draw his sword.
First, the legs.
Circling behind, Roin targeted Hefs Achilles tendon.
Thud!
The big man toppled forward.
Then the right shoulder.
Roin raised the rapiers blade and thrust it into Hefs shoulder.
Grrgh!
Does it hurt? I told you not to touch my stuff.
That was where Roin made a crucial mistake.
Strictly speaking, the oupf wasnt his.
It belonged to the Griffner Merchant Group.
Jerka, searching for Den and the kingdom knights, came upon an unbelievable scene.
Assailants bound tight with ropes.
Roin, having tied up even the last one perfectly, gave Jerka a casual wave.
Whyd you take so long? I nearly died of boredom waiting.
What about the Demon Gods fragment?
Den has it.
As if to confirm Roins words, Den pulled out the fragment and showed it directly to Jerka.
And the oupfs safe too.
Roin patted the wagon holding the oupf, flexing proudly.
He considered protecting the oupf a greater relief than safeguarding the Demon Gods fragment.
Jerka let out a short sigh at the sight of him.
Either way, theyd successfully protected the Demon Gods fragment.
The port was just ahead.
Hand these guys over to the soldiers then.
Before that, Jerka approached Hef, the mercenaries leader, and asked.
Whos the client that hired you scum for this?
But Hef just smirked.
He didnt answer.
Jerka, slightly annoyed by the attitude, drew his sword.
If you wont talk, Ill make you.
Roin stopped him.
Better not.
Why?
Asking them wont reveal the client anyway.
Just make them talk. Isnt that your specialty?
At the swordsmanship academy, no one topped Roin at toying with or tormenting others.
For him to say no now was baffling.
Theyre under a binding spell.
A binding spell?
Yeah. Say certain words, and boomtheir heads explode. I checked myself earlier.
Was it Roins words?
The mercenaries faces suddenly darkened.
W-Were under a binding spell?
N-No way!
That kid might be lying to make us confess. Dont panic!
They reacted with disbelief.
Hef startled at first too, but suspecting it might be one of Roins schemes, he clamped his mouth shut again.
The other mercenaries followed his lead, staying silent.
Roin smiled at them instead.
Yeah. If you wanna live, better keep your mouths shut like that.
Theyd face judgment soon enough anyway.
Staying quiet until then actually helped Roin and the others.
Meanwhile.
Jerka quietly called Roin over.
The binding spell thingis that true? You didnt just lie to trick them, right?
Why bother with that hassle? Anyway, there are a few trigger keywords, so when you hand them over, explain it properly.
He planned to dump all the annoying work on Jerka.
Jerka had no complaints about that.
Roin wasnt the type to handle it anyway.
Well, good results are what matter.
Working with Roin meant not overthinking.
Otherwise, it felt like youd only lose out.
Upon reaching the port, Jerka immediately handed the ship-raiding mercenaries over to the soldiers.
He roughly explained the situation on the ship and who these men were.
As he finished.
Den approached Jerka.
Thank you so much, Jerka. Thanks to you, we could safely deliver the Demon Gods fragment to the Bertium Research Institute.
No need. And it wasnt just me.
Jerkas gaze turned to Roin.
Roin was chatting with Gibner.
Den followed Jerkas gaze to Roin and tilted his head.
Whats Lord Roin discussing with that merchant?
Trying to sell him a few more oupf. Thats the gist.
Haha, so thats why Lord Roin fought so desperately to protect their oupf.
Thanks to the oupf crates falling from above, Den had survived unscathed.
Well, his back was wrecked, but still.
Jerka asked Den about his plans.
What now?
Ill stay here awhile to recover, then return to the knights. Will you head straight back to Loud Swordsmanship Academy, Jerka?
Probably. Report the mission, then rest.
If you need my help reporting the details, contact me anytime. Ill cooperate fully with you and Lord Roin.
Thanks.
After bidding Den farewell.
Jerka approached Roin, still deep in talk with Gibner, and asked.
How much longer?
Almost done. Wait a bit.
Roin was negotiating for as much as possible.
Jerka couldnt help smirking at his more desperate fervor than during the actual raid.
Roin, youre truly unpredictable.
Meanwhile.
Hef and his crew, temporarily locked in holding cells, glared resentfully at the soldiers standing guard outside the bars.
One subordinate mercenary quietly asked Hef.
Boss. What happens to us now?
Dont worry. The contract covers contingencies like this.
Their client had promised to handle any fallout.
The mercenary whod asked continued.
So we just trust Selbre, that guy
In that instant.
The subordinates throat suddenly swelled up.
B-Boss!
Not just Hef, but the other mercenaries in the cell and even the guarding soldiers outside.
Everyone was stunned.
Moments later.
Splatter!
The subordinates head burst like a balloon.
Bits of flesh sprayed everywhere.
Roins words flashed through Hefs mind.
Theyre under a binding spell.
Hed warned that certain keywords would trigger the magic and blow their heads.
That damn sorcerer!!!
Only then did Hef realize theyd been deceived by their client.