Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 042
Chapter Title: Devil
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Before I could even make sense of those inexplicable messages, Walter yelled at me.
"What are you doing?! Hurry up and let's go!"
"Ah, right!"
"3rd Platoon, assemble!!"
I quickly descended to the parade ground with the platoon members and boarded the now-familiar helicopter without delay.
*
Outskirts of District 11.
Carnera Family Town.
The entire village was owned by the mafia, a desolate place that still bore the barrenness of the wasteland.
The town, usually bustling with mafia from various families, was now shrouded in an unprecedented tension and silence.
And at its center stood the Carnera headquarters.
A bizarre atmosphere hung over the don's grand mansion.
"...The family."
"They've all been evacuated, Don."
"Good."
The don, gazing up at the ceiling mural in the massive hall where countless people once gathered for meals, spoke.
"How many reinforcements did we send?"
"...Only about three families, including the Spencers, cooperated in building the defensive line."
"I see."
As expected, the summit had fractured due to severe internal divisions among those who didn't show.
'What a pity.'
Could he have imagined it just a few months ago?
That the empire he had built over a lifetime would crumble because of a single man.
The don finally spoke.
"Prepare. They'll be here soon."
"...Don."
"This is my decision. No more objections."
"......"
With that, the black-suited men filed out.
From the shadows of the hall, a man in black robes emerged.
"Have you made your decision?"
The don looked up after a moment of silence.
"It's certain, right?"
"It's a curse overseen directly by the summoned devil. There's no doubt about its effects."
"...If I become the curse doll and lose my arms and legs to the Butcher."
The man drew a dagger from his robes.
"I'll handle the Butcher myself."
The dagger was none other than a weapon made from the venomous fangs of Nebras, the monster dwelling in deep caves.
The blade was imbued with a deadly neurotoxin.
"A mere graze will kill him on the spot."
And stabbing a immobilized Butcher without limbs would be child's play.
"...I see."
Exhaling softly, the don steeled his resolve.
'The summit is scattered now.'
But it was still fine.
Even if they lost this battle... as long as they killed the Mafia Butcher.
'If we do that, the summit will reunite.'
There was no reason to bow to police without the Butcher.
Even if the means was a forbidden curse devoid of any dignity—as long as the result was good, it could be justified as a cause.
This decision would be hailed as the don's great sacrifice.
That was their true nature, after all.
Mafia could never be nobility, no matter how elegantly they pretended.
Justice and pride were just propaganda; rules and decorum mere image-making.
Entrusting mafia affairs to a great bloodline would be no issue either, as long as the Butcher died.
"The sacrifices for the summoning are prepared right below."
"Good. A hundred. Children and women, as specified?"
"We gathered every orphan from nearby districts and every hostess from our businesses."
The robed man nodded and handed the don a slender iron nail.
"When the Butcher arrives, grip this nail tightly, focus on him, and chant the incantation."
"What's the incantation?"
"'I offer the sacrifice, so you offer yours too.' The devil will be summoned, isolating the Butcher and the don from the outside to begin the ritual. After that..."
The robed man vanished into the shadows once more.
"Good luck, Don."
"......"
The don's gaze trembled with fear as he stared at the nail.
*
30 minutes later.
Skies over the outskirts of District 11.
Several helicopters carrying the 141 Unit pierced the mafia's anti-air network, flying toward Carnera Town.
Piuuuung-! Boom! Boom! Kwarang-!!
Sinister whines of something grazing the fuselage shook the helicopter, followed by explosions.
"Uwaaaak!"
"Eueok!"
The passengers inside wailed, still unaccustomed to the shocks.
"I've been thinking this for a while now...!"
I shouted, nearly choking on my neck.
"What kind of mafia has anti-aircraft guns?!"
Walter replied as if it were obvious.
"...? Because they're mafia, duh!"
"Aha!"
As expected of the 8th Special District.
Here, mafia having anti-air was common sense!
What a mad world.
Lieutenant Roden, somehow standing steady while gripping a handle, spoke into the mic.
His words cut off briefly from the next vibration—Kwarang!—then resumed.
Officers swiftly checked our body cams per procedure.
As the inmates rose in unison, the cabin lamps flashed rapidly.
The massive machine gun on the helicopter's side spewed deadly fire.
Buaaaaaang-!! Tatatatatatat!!
Casings rained down massively for a moment.
Soon, the cabin lamps turned green, and the hatch slammed open—Bang!
"Shit...!"
"Get off quick!"
Disembarking with the inmates, the desolate village entrance came into view.
Inmates from other platoons who arrived first were exchanging fire with mafia, as the helicopter we just left spun around, unleashing another barrage from its machine gun.
Tatatatatatat!!
Amid the hail of bullets, I shouted to Walter.
"I'll head out first then!"
"Go ahead. Sweep as many as you can on the way—let me suck some sweet honey."
"Haha, I'll do my best."
That was when I used [Baal's Minor Curse].
"So cool as always...!"
Chills ran up my spine; instinctively turning, I saw the ever-stoic dark elf scanning the surroundings.
"Sigh..."
'What the hell?'
A nagging unease made me turn back and think.
'Gotta switch platoons for sure.'
I charged straight into the village, right through the mafia's defensive line.
Lightning exploded as if waiting.
"Aaaak!"
"Kuaaa!"
Mafia paled at the sight of allies swept away in an instant.
"M-Mafia Butcher!!"
"The Butcher's at the east gate...!!"
"W-What? The Butcher?!"
"Sh-Shit. Shit! Why here of all places?!"
Kwaaaang-!
One mafia, eyes trembling amid the successive fire magic, spoke.
"R-Run."
He tossed his gun and bolted backward.
"Run!!"
"Uwaaa!!"
From there, mafia fled one by one without resistance.
"W-What the hell, you bastards!"
"Fight! Fight, damn it!!"
A few resisted, but only briefly.
Their defense crumbled without me even touching them. I furrowed my brow.
"Huh?"
A new message appeared before me.
Meanwhile, inmates from other platoons who recognized me cheered wildly.
"M-Mafia Butcher!!"
"The Butcher's here!"
"3rd Platoon's coming this way?!"
"Shit, we're saved! Saved!"
"Wipe 'em all out, Butcher!!"
"Fuck these mafia scum, serves 'em right!"
"Don't let a single one escape!"
"!!"
This must be the true meaning of 'your achievements will significantly influence the war's balance.'
"In that case...!"
I charged unimpeded toward the town center.
'No reason to hold back!'
Strolling in, a few spells, and their defenses crumbled from terror.
"Th-This shit!"
"Butcher!!"
"S-Spare me!"
Breaking through the east defenses too easily, a massive mansion gradually came into view.
'That's the don's place?'
It looked like a small castle. I let out an exasperated breath.
'Been thinking this for a while...'
Mafia sure had it good.
Kwaaaang! I smashed through the front gate and entered the mansion, looking up.
"!!"
"?!"
Dozens of black-suited men stood frozen, weapons in hand.
"......"
"......"
They swallowed dryly, unable to charge first.
I spoke to them.
"If you want to live, drop your weapons now and go. I won't pursue."
"...!!"
A man who seemed like an underboss pushed through, yelling.
"You fucker. We got pride, Butcher, you think that makes you—"
[Wereking Step]
[Internal Force Fist Punch]
Kwaaaaaang-!! The underboss flew through the suits, crashing into the floor.
Splat.
"......"
"......"
"......"
His eyes rolled back. The black suits slowly lowered weapons and backed away clumsily.
A path parted like the Red Sea.
"Where's your boss?"
"......"
A startled thug hesitantly pointed to the ornate inner door.
I nodded and walked past the dozens of suits to the door towering over me.
Pushing the handle—Kiiiiiik!—it swung open.
'Damn, look at this shiny thing.'
A vast hall lay revealed.
Most striking was the glowing throne at the far end.
And there sat an old man decked in luxury, as if it were natural.
I checked the target's photo on my terminal.
"...Don Carnera. That you?"
"Mafia Butcher."
"Yep."
Closing in fast, I grabbed his collar.
The don glared with bloodshot eyes.
"Butcher, if it weren't for you."
"What?"
"If not for you, I wouldn't have fallen this low!"
I couldn't hide my scoff.
"How come none of you assholes apologize first?"
Fucking mafia scum.
Brilliant yellow lightning surged fiercely in my hand.
Suddenly, the don burst into laughter.
"Heh, hehhehe. Hehehehehe. Heheheh, hahahahahaha!!"
"??"
As I frowned at his mad cackling,
he grinned twistedly at me.
"Think I'll crumble just like this?"
"What?"
"You've crawled into hell on your own feet, Butcher...!"
Snap! He seized my arm and shouted.
"I offer the sacrifice, so you offer yours too!!"
At that instant, unbelievably dense mana exploded from him.
*
"43471! Breached defenses and entered the don's mansion!"
Cheers erupted in the command center at the report.
"Good. Perfect."
Councilor Rockton couldn't hide his satisfied smile at the smooth progress.
"East gate! Secured!"
"West gate secured too!"
"Enemy defenses collapsing rapidly... They're fleeing!"
Joseph nodded and ordered.
"Tell the advance units to surround the don's mansion and seal the perimeter!"
"Yes!"
He sighed in relief at the main screen.
"Now if Kyle nabs the don, it's over."
"A historic day. First major success since Project launch."
Rockton turned.
"Right, Inspector?"
Yenitz coughed in surprise.
"Pardon? Ah, y-yes... Of course, Councilor."
"...?"
Rockton pointed at her fidgeting.
"Why's she acting like a puppy needing to shit since earlier?"
"Uh..."
Joseph gave an awkward smile.
"Probably just off today."
"Hm."
Then—
"Captain!!"
"!?"
At the ominous shout, Joseph responded instantly.
"What? What's wrong!?"
The officer spoke incredulously.
"43... 43471's signal is lost!"
"What?!"
Everyone's eyes widened at the thunderbolt news.
"What happened!?"
"D-Don't know. After entering the mansion, suddenly...!"
"Body cam!"
"No connection!"
Another officer shouted.
"Captain, urgent from Delta Team on the airship! Anomaly at the don's mansion!"
"What?"
Joseph's face hardened. He ordered immediately.
"Put Delta Team on the main monitor now!"
The main screen lit up with aerial feed.
Zooming on the clear shot of the mansion, the officer gaped.
"What... is that?"
A translucent monkey hand enveloped the mansion, topped by a sinister skull emblem towering into the sky.
Joseph's eyes trembled helplessly.
"No way..."
The ominous word flashed in his mind; he muttered unwittingly.
"Devil?"
"Pardon?!"
"Did you just say devil...?!"
At his words, Rockton, Yenitz, and the entire command room froze in shock.
[$@%!%!%!%!#@@#-!!]
A grotesque roar beyond human language echoed across the village.
*
'What the hell is this?'
Kyle recoiled from the sudden explosion, frowning.
The hall reeked unpleasantly, thick with mana and foul odor.
"Hehe, he, hahahahaha!!"
Looking up at the mad laughter, the don gripped a large nail before the throne like a lunatic.
"Yes, yes. I can do this. I can do it!!"
Kyle asked him.
"What're you doing?"
"Hehehe, enjoy that leisure while it lasts, Butcher. Only now!"
'Even the Butcher...!'
The don's eyes twisted.
'Can't escape this forbidden curse!'
"!!"
The chilling voice echoed in his head. Kyle looked up, swallowing hard.
A grotesque eye, inhuman, peered down.
'What the hell is that?'
The massive orb urged again.
'Price?'
Then, the don slammed the nail down hard.
"The price...!!"
He crushed his left arm with full force.
"!!"
His left arm vanished as if erased.
"Aaaaaaaaaaak!!!"
Writhing in agony, he gritted his teeth and struck his right leg next.
Kwak! It disappeared, bitten off.
"Kuhuuuuuaa...!!"
Amid unprecedented torment, he thrashed but soon murmured in ecstasy.
"D-Done it. Done...!"
It hurt, it was hellish, but he'd done it.
This should fell even the Butcher.
Then the robed man would finish the crippled Butcher, and his summit, his empire, would return...!!
As the laughing don raised his head effortfully—
"You done?"
"?!"
The Butcher stood unharmed before him. The don's eyes bulged.
"W-What."
His trembling gaze went to Kyle's left arm and right leg.
"Why... why intact... Why."
He looked up at the devil's eye.
The black pupil gazed down curiously.
The devil spoke.
"Then! Then why is that fucker fine!!"
Kyle sighed softly at him.
"Sorry to say this after all your effort."
Shouldering the [Thunder Stake] he'd held back,
"This stuff doesn't work on me."
What?
The don's mouth gaped, eyes wide.
"D-Doesn't work?"
"Yeah."
His gaze fell to his forever-lost limbs.
'Doesn't work?'
His lips paled blue.
"W-Wait. Then... then me, m-me, what was all this for...?"
"What..."
Kyle scratched his head and clicked his tongue.
"That's how it is."
Despair filled the don's eyes.
Kyle plunged the lightning down.
Kwaaaaaang-!!!