Volume 5 Chapter 32 The Pig Won't Give In So Easily
'Right in that direction, there are the greasy pig you're looking for.'
As Gram pointed, I dashed towards the indicated direction, but the delinquents around sensed it and started swarming in. Naturally, I fought back, but that only made me pause. It seemed they understood they couldn't handle me alone, so they came at me in droves.
"Gram, cast Enchantment - Weight Increase."
'Got it.'
Getting tired of this, I first made Gram, the black spear on my back, heavier. Blocking attacks aimed at my face with crossed arms, I pushed forward regardless of the delinquents. With Enchantment - Weight Increase, I must be about three times heavier than usual. Despite their attempts to hit and kick me, they were overwhelmed by the weight, their attacks bouncing off and actually injuring themselves in the process.
When they realize the abnormal state I'm in, now they're grabbing my arm, grabbing my shoulder, and even clinging to my waist and legs, trying to stop me, but I continue advancing through the crowd without hesitation.
"Hey, this guy..."
"No way!?"
Since I'm just dragging them without punching or kicking, there's no need to hold back, it's actually easier than before.
More people cling onto me, making it about twenty in total, but I keep moving forward without caring. It's getting a bit heavier now, but I can't stop.
Eventually, no one is even trying to hit me, they're just making way for me.
"What the... are you kidding!?"
Before I know it, I break through the human wall and reach my target—the pig, Narinki Kahlua. As soon as he sees me, his eyes widen in intense surprise.
'Well, I kinda get it. If one guy shows up dragging more than twenty people, even someone not used to fights would freak out. ...Actually, even those used to fights would be surprised. I mean, even the guys from the Jingin Family were stunned.'
It wasn't like I meant to do that, but if I could shake Narinki's spirits, that'd be a win.
"Enough of this nonsense!"
With strength in both arms, I shook off the delinquents clinging onto me. Some of them ended up flying towards Narinki, and he is letting out pathetic cries like, "Eek!?" for a Mafia boss. It would've been a jackpot if I could hit one or two, but it wasn't going as smoothly as he hoped.
Originally, since they came to attack directly, it wasn't much of a problem. After shaking off all the persistent delinquents, I felt lighter and dashed towards Narinki again. If I could take down Narinki, tonight's fight would be over. After handing him over to Nikyou, they'd take care of things somehow.
As I charged in, he lets out a squeal like a pig, his face contorting. There was no hint of him attempting to fight back.
But──.
'Oh crap! Partner, above!'
Responding more to Gram's rare urgent warning than to my own thoughts, my body acted first. I pushed off with all my strength from my sprint, braking hard and rolling backward.
──Thud!!
Something came flying down right where I braked, causing the ground to explode with a loud noise. The impact sent nearby delinquents rolling and flying.
What came flying at me── was a person.
He was the guy who accompanied Narinki at the Jingin Family's tavern. He still wore his classy black Western-style suit, but his rough appearance was far from gentlemanly. The ground around him had caved in nearly a meter in radius from the force of his punches.
When his unusually googly eyes locked onto me, I couldn't help but shiver. Being glared at like that, it felt like even people in nearby houses could sense it.
'Sorry, partner... My bad for not noticing. No excuses, but just before you aimed at Narinki, he had completely suppressed his presence.'
Although I relied heavily on Gram for sensing presence and scouting, I couldn't blame him, as his regret was clear from his tone. After all, if Gram hadn't noticed, I wouldn't have either.
"W-Where the heck have you been all this time?! I'm paying you good money, so work seriously!"
While stuttering, Narinki raises his voice slightly, glancing briefly at me before returning his gaze as if losing interest. There's no doubt he's employed by Narinki, but he definitely stands out from the other henchmen.
One thing is for sure.
Those googly eyes are definitely not "normal".
As I reach for the weapon on my back, my mindset shifts.
──From dealing with humans to facing monsters.
Bam!
"────Whoa!"
"Huh!?"
Without warning, relying on instinct, I swiftly draw the black spear and brace myself, feeling a heavy burden on both arms and my feet digging into the ground. In an instant, the guy steps forward and thrusts his hand towards me.
Managing to block with the spear's handle, the sharp claws extending from the man's fingertips were inches from my face. Clearly lethal, but even without claws, his strength alone would have been formidable. If his palm strike had landed, it would have been trouble.
"How...?"
"Haaa!!"
He seemed surprised that I blocked his attack, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. With no time to spare, I forcefully pushed back his arm and swung my spear around, forcing him to step back. There was no room for talk about blades or guards.
"Gramm!!"
'Alright!!'
I launched a powerful overhead strike, even with the Enchantment - Weight Increase, but he dodged it with exceptional agility. The tip of my spear crashed spectacularly into the ground.
I quickly readied my spear for another attack, but he didn't strike back. Instead, he backed off and stared straight at me.
"Phewwww..."
I didn't know his intentions, but I was relieved he wasn't pressing the attack. I took a deep breath, releasing the tension and heat that had built up inside me. Just that exchange alone had worn my nerves thin.
I was on high alert, but the monster attacked with monster-like strength and speed. If I had been prepared to face him like a human opponent, it would've been over with the first strike. I could have lost consciousness, or worse, been impaled by its claws and killed.
'──No way. This guy...'
Before Gram could realize anything, the guy, always ready to pounce, opened his mouth while pointing his claws in my direction.
"A black spear, unmatched strength for its size. Indeed, you must be the 'Black Blade'."
"...Becoming famous sure has its downsides, huh?"
Feeling uneasy about being known by someone else, I still couldn't quite get used to it. But I couldn't shake off a sense of unease at the words he had just muttered. It felt like the murderous intent the guy had been indiscriminately emitting had suddenly become focused.
This might be a more formidable opponent than I had anticipated.
I thought I could easily handle Narinki, but it seems that the wholesaler──no, the pig──won't give in so easily.
'Turns out, you're actually pretty chill, huh, partner? I'm not good at all.'
My best attempt at a joke, unfortunately, didn't sit well with Gram.
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