Chapter 56
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Vagabond (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, 10 PM.
Near Dobongsan, a Seeker of Truth hideout.
No clues, none at all. Tsk.
Vagabond grumbled, tearing roughly into his rations.
In one hand, he held a crumpled information booklet he'd taken from the investigation team he'd attacked.
He'd searched everywhere worth searching, but nothing turned up.
Should I have just let Hermit come?
Vagabond recalled the emergency meeting before he came to Korea, where Unknown and the seven executives had gathered.
Find them and bring them before me. They're honored guests.
For Unknown, it was an uncharacteristically excited expression. He even seemed a little impatient.
Maestro had been the first to react to those words.
Boss. Does that mean we should halt all preparations for the upcoming raid on the national competition?
A small dispute had broken out after that. They knew why the boss wanted to find the otherworlders, but it was too hasty a decision.
You must consider our top priority: analyzing the System.
Deploying all seven executives was, by any measure, out of the question.
Something along those lines.
...That makes sense.
With each point Maestro made, Unknown gradually returned to his usual self. The smile and impatience vanished.
Alright, David. As you say, we mustn't forget our original purpose. But the investigation of the otherworlders is essential.
Then how about sending just one executive? If we can't do anything to the angel by force, one person should be sufficient, no?
Unknown nodded.
Then I'll go.
And that's when Hermit stepped forward.
Investigation and infiltration are my specialties. It's only right that I go.
Just as everyone was about to agree.
No. I'm going.
Vagabond stepped up.
Hermit, you must have a lot of work piled up. I don't, so I'm the perfect fit.
His reason for volunteering was very simple.
...Vagabond. You don't actually want to fight the angel, do you?
He wanted to fight an existence beyond all standards, an angel.
Kahaha! You think I'd disobey the boss's orders? I'll focus on the investigation. But well...
Vagabond said.
If the opportunity arises, I wouldn't mind crossing blades.
And so, Vagabond was put in charge of the otherworlder investigation. There had been much talk about how he couldn't possibly handle the job properly, but in the end, with Maestro's full support, he was assigned the task.
Tsk. I shouldn't have volunteered.
To think I'm stuck doing this tedious crap just because I was blinded by the thought of an angel.
Maybe it's because I haven't had a proper brawl in three days. My whole body feels stiff.
Ah, I'm itching for a fight.
I want to go on a rampage in a warzone. I want to fight Unknown. I want to fight that angel bastard! To hell with orders, I just want to storm the Korean Association and beat the shit out of those superhumans!
...Shit.
Just as he was muttering curses.
*Whoosh-!*
He heard something flying toward him. It wasn't a hidden weapon. It was something lighter.
Vagabond quickly raised his spear and swung it to strike the incoming object.
!
With a surprised expression, Vagabond suddenly pulled his spear back.
He had clearly identified the approaching object.
*Whoosh- Thud-*
It soon embedded itself in the floor.
...A feather.
It was a feather.
A feather with a small note tied to its tip.
Vagabond extended his senses to scan the surroundings. He felt nothing.
Where was that thrown from?
No, how did they even know about this place?
Vagabond frowned and picked up the feather.
A very large, pure white feather.
Mana?
The feather was imbued with mana. And that mana showed no signs of fading.
An ordinary feather couldn't be like this.
...Don't tell me.
Vagabond quickly opened the letter.
[To the Strongest of Humanity. I have heard much of your renown, even in the Celestial Realm. That such a person is seeking me is a great honor. If I had the chance, I would like to cross blades with you. Though, of course, I would win.]
[If your 'Spear of the Red Vow' and my 'Spear of the White Resolve' could clash, I would consider it the honor of a lifetime. For you, of course.]
[If you have any intention of dueling me, come to this location tomorrow at 21:30. Though I'm sure you're frightened. From. The Angel]
Khahaha.
Vagabond, holding the letter, burst into laughter.
***
...Will he really fall for a letter like that?
Yuhwa, the pro at stealth, asked me with a dubious expression.
A moment ago, it was Yuhwa who had sent the feather to the hideout.
Thanks to her, we were able to deliver the message without being detected by Vagabond's senses.
Yes. He'll fall for it, 100%.
But still, for an executive to fall for such a suspicious letter...
Yuhwa looked at me with doubtful eyes.
Vagabond is a maniac obsessed with fighting. He's been suppressing that nature for quite a while now, so he'll jump at the chance for a brawl.
Vagabond was a pretty significant villain in the original story.
He was the very definition of a simpleton.
A madman who would seek out a breathtaking battle no matter where it was.
I mean, the whole reason he joined the Seekers of Truth was because he wanted to fight Unknown. That says it all.
And Unknown got him on his side by promising to fight him once a month.
Plus, I filled the letter with things he'd love to hear.
Like 'the Strongest of Humanity' or his fame reaching the Celestial Realm.
Well, on the other hand, I also threw in a ton of childish provocations.
Finally, I even mentioned the Spear of the Red Vow, so he's unlikely to be suspicious.
I even included the name of that rusty spear, which only Unknown knows.
Vagabond is probably thinking something like this:
Ah, a being from the Celestial Realm must know everything. Then of course, they'd know I'm the Strongest of Humanity.
His simple mind is undoubtedly entertaining such ridiculous thoughts.
You said their goal is to find the angel, right? What if Vagabond reports to his organization? Won't the other executives come with him?
That's not a problem either.
Why not?
Hmm. It's a bit of a long story...
I explained.
First off, neither Unknown nor Maestro would have planned to handle the angel with force. They would have told Vagabond something like, 'Even if you succeed in finding the angel, don't do anything rash. Resolve it through dialogue.'
Ah~
Yuhwa nodded with an expression of understanding.
And the battle-crazed Vagabond wouldn't like the order to talk?
Exactly. He'd want to fight first, talk later. And now that he has the perfect opportunity for a fight, would he really report it to his organization and let it go to waste? Considering Vagabond's personality, that's absolutely impossible.
The letter was designed from start to finish based on Vagabond's personality.
Hmm. You speak as if you know his personality inside and out.
Yuhwa gave me a curious look.
Yes. Well, as you know, I'm well-versed in information about the Seekers of Truth.
She already knows I have excellent intel on the Seekers of Truth, after all.
But there's always a 'what if,' right? Isn't it possible he won't show up?
No, he'll definitely come. He'll show up and scout the area first.
No matter how much of a battle-crazed lunatic he is, an executive is still an executive.
He's bound to consider the possibility of a trap. So he'll scout first. And since Vagabond has a wide-range detection ability, he'll meticulously check the surroundings for traps.
Then won't he get caught because of the traps we've already set?
Hmm. Well, if that happens, it can't be helped.
When I said it playfully, Yuhwa shot me a death glare.
Just kidding. Vagabond's detection is specialized in sensing mana. That's why he couldn't find you, Ms. Yuhwa, since your stealth technique blocks both your presence and your mana.
...Aha. So he can't detect traps that don't require mana?
Correct.
That's why I told Jia in advance to install devices near the meeting place that don't require mana.
We'll use those traps to block Vagabond's escape routes, then deploy the S-rank superhumans. Situation over. Easy, right?
...Hmm. Who's the bait?
The bait.
The person who will stand at the location pretending to be the angel to lure Vagabond out.
This bait is the most crucial part of the operation.
High-quality bait that will make Vagabond drool and force him to reveal himself.
Jia said she has a suitable superhuman for the job. They apparently custom-made everything to be identical, from the body type to the moving angel wings.
Even the wings? They prepared all that in such a short time?
Yes. It's impressive.
***
Of course, the high-quality bait, identical down to the body type and moving angel wings, was none other than me.
Custom-made? There was no such thing.
How could anyone make moving wings in a single day? Even if they did, Vagabond would never be fooled by such shoddy wings.
Of course, only Jia knew this fact.
Yuhwa and the other superhumans believed it was an imitation of the angel.
I put on the clothes and mask I wore when I dealt with the Great Fissure and checked the time.
[7:11 PM]
It was now two hours before the operation began.
I started to feel a little nervous.
...Ancestor. Are you going to be okay?
Hm? What about?
Jia looked at me and asked with a worried expression.
About you taking the role of the bait.
After the Great Fissure incident, I had told Jia this:
I've recently broken my seal twice in a row, so I want to refrain from breaking it any further.
...or something like that.
That's why she was asking.
She was worried about my safety.
Well, breaking it to some extent is fine.
I made a rough excuse.
Ah. That's a relief.
Jia sighed in relief.
But, um, Ancestor.
Yes?
Can I ask you one thing?
Jia fidgeted with her fingers, hesitating.
What is it?
Um, your goal is to prevent the Great War in the future, right?
Right.
...But why are you trying to stop the Seekers of Truth?
Jia quickly added.
Ah, of course, they're evil bastards eating away at the world, so they should be dealt with. But I was just wondering if you really needed to put yourself at risk to do it...
Hmm...
It's certainly understandable that she'd think that.
Just because. I don't like them.
You don't like them...?
Yeah. I can't stand the thought of vermin like them breathing the air on this land.
This was from the heart.
And in a way, getting rid of them is also saving the world, isn't it?
...Ah.
Jia nodded as if she understood.
Anyway, don't worry too much. There won't be any problems.
I patted Jia's shoulder.
...Okay.
More importantly, did your written exam go well today?
Today was Thursday.
The day of the first written exam.
Ah, yes. I think I did well.
That's a relief. I felt bad for causing all this trouble during your exam period.
Aww, don't be sorry.
Jia gave a fresh, bright smile.
Oh, right. I prepared the thing you asked for.
Jia rummaged through her bag and handed something to me.
A small equipment transport case.
A case for carrying accessories.
Thanks. I'll return it right after I use it today.
Inside was a ring of the Celestial race. I had asked to borrow it since there was an Angel race relic stored in the Shinhwa Group's warehouse.
As a form of insurance, just in case.
I couldn't ask to borrow it before because I didn't have a good reason.
But now that they think I'm a half-Celestial, half-Elf, I could ask for it with peace of mind.
You're not going to have to write an apology letter later for sneaking this out, are you?
As long as you return it properly, Ancestor, there shouldn't be a problem.
Jia responded to my playful words with a playful answer of her own.
Anyway, thanks.
I put the box in my pocket. The clothes themselves were baggy, so it wasn't very noticeable.
What about the item Ms. Yuhwa sent?
Ah. That's in the car, too.
Really? Then let's go.
It's time to go fishing for Vagabond.
***
9:29 PM.
I was standing alone in the ruins near Dobongsan.
With my wings spread wide, in a conspicuous pose.
The S-rank superhumans were on standby about 5 km from here.
It was a bit far, but any closer and there was a high chance Vagabond would notice them, so it couldn't be helped.
The key to this operation was how well I could stall for time.
I fiddled with the accessory box in my pocket.
I'm nervous.
Next, I rechecked the equipment I was wearing, one by one.
Items borrowed from Bihon and Shinhwa.
First, the armor.
I had specifically chosen items with ridiculously high stat requirements and excellent defense.
They should have been incredibly heavy, but they weren't for me.
Next, the sword.
Similarly, I borrowed the [Frey Sword], which also had absurd stat requirements. It too had the drawback of being too heavy to wield properly, but it wasn't heavy for me.
Good.
All checks were complete.
And the current time was 9:30 PM.
The appointed time.
Seeing as he hadn't appeared yet, he must be suspicious.
I had expected this.
Well, if he's suspicious, I just need to show him proof that I'm an angel.
*Whoosh-*
I spread my wings wide and flew up from my spot.
And hovering at an awkward height, I spoke.
I know you're there. Come out.
It was then.
Khahaha. So you're a real angel lord.
A tall figure of 190 cm.
Hair tied back.
A swaggering walk.
A rusty spear slung over his shoulder.
It was Vagabond.
He must have revealed himself after confirming no one else was around.
As soon as I saw him, I quickly opened the accessory box in my pocket.
Well then, my lord.
...Vagabond's first rule.
No sneak attacks.
Shall we begin?
...Vagabond's second rule.
Men don't need words to communicate.
I equipped the Angel race relic I had prepared: the [Disterion Ring].
An item classified as [Ancient Relic / A+ Rank].
The [Disterion Ring] was a Celestial race relic unparalleled in terms of defense.
Vagabond vanished.
...Vagabond's third rule.
Aim for the neck on the first strike.
And the next moment.
*Kiiiiiiing-!*
A deafening screech echoed right in front of my neck.
Kyahaha!
It was Vagabond's spear.
Hmph.
And the sound came from the space between it and the [Saint Wall] formed by the [Disterion Ring].
...One minute.
The time remaining until I dealt with this bastard for good.