Volume 5 Chapter 14 Raid - Silver-Rank Mercenary
"Something's not right."
The Silver-Rank mercenary from the Fraud and Robbery Department raised his face at the words of the ‘Puppet Master’.
It was a normal, quiet night. He was counting money after finishing his work.
It was unusual for the boss, Puppet Master, to be there today, but the work didn’t change much. He counted the money, reported the amount, and received instructions for the future.
In that sense, Puppet Master was one of the better ones. Swallow was so sharp that he could be cut down at the slightest displeasure, and Protean was creepy and scary just by being there.
――Well, Puppet Master wasn’t much better either. A mask, a hat, and a black robe that covered his whole body. But even so, Puppet Master could be reasoned with, so he was definitely better.
"Really? Doesn't feel any different to me."
The other 4 looked at them as the mercenary and Puppet Master talked. All of them were Silver-Rank experts. Masters of fighting techniques like magic and swordsmanship.
For Silver-Rank mercenaries like them to not notice anything meant that it was safe. They had heard the bell ring earlier, but they soon heard the sound of someone falling. The copper underlings had probably restrained the intruder skillfully.
But Puppet Master said.
"No, something’s wrong. There’s a strange smell. A sweet smell, like the medicine used to make puppets. Any idea?"
"No. ――So, someone who can kill their presence, right?"
"They must be Silver-Rank or higher. All 5 of you, attack. I’ll lend you some puppets."
The 3 lifeless dolls that had been left in the corner of the room stood up eerily. As if they were connected by strings to their limbs and controlled from above.
"Well, excuse me."
"Yes. May God bless you."
The mercenaries took their weapons and went outside. They moved quietly and quickly without making a sound.
Silver-ranked mercenaries never let their guard down. They understand that they can crush lower-ranked opponents, but if they encounter something creepy that they can't understand, it's almost certainly an equal or superior opponent.
Only after reaching the silver rank, which is typically considered the pinnacle of an adventurer's career, did the mercenaries realize that there are monsters out there that can easily blow away their talents, efforts, and luck like dust.
The 3 executives are definitely like that. Puppet Master. Swallow. Protean. They knew that they couldn't win against them no matter what they did.
That's why the mercenaries never let their guard down. If Puppet Master says "Attack with everything you've got," they'll do it. They won't say things like, "That's too much caution." They've seen too many of their comrades die because of that kind of carelessness.
So, the mercenaries said,
"...Oh, I know."
They naturally understood that this time, things were bad.
They couldn't see anything. It was a deep, dark night. But this area is brighter than the entrance, so they thought they would notice anything strange right away.
However, that was not the case. The moment they stepped outside, the mercenaries' survival instincts were strongly triggered.
In other words, they were being told to run.
"..."
But it wasn't something they could do right away. Even though Nightfather is a gathering place for outlaws, there is a strict code of conduct among outlaws. Even if they want to run, they can't run away easily.
As if to support their struggle, one of the puppets crept up beside the mercenary. The puppet, who was once human, now has an exquisitely crafted face like a doll.
"Will you protect me?"
The puppet nodded. "You're being cute, really," the mercenary said sarcastically, trying to calm his trembling heart and move forward.
There are 5 silver-ranked mercenaries and 3 puppets. This is the current formation of the mercenaries. It's a pretty solid formation that could even take on a gold-ranked opponent if they play their cards right.
Even so, everyone was sweating cold. The mercenaries continued to move in silence.
The copper-ranked minions' district, where lights spilled out, was as noisy as ever. However, as they got closer, they realized that the type of noise was different.
"Waaaaahhhh..." "Grrr, grrr..." "Help me, damn it... cough, cough..." "Someone, anyoneeeeee..."
"..."
The mercenaries held their breath. They instinctively knew it was poison. Puppet Master had said it was a smell. Then it must be volatile. Even at silver rank, they could fight for several hours without breathing. Of course, the countermeasures would be different for each person.
However, the enemy was not found. Are they trying to disperse them? Then they should think of them as silver rank. True powerhouses don't use tactics. Tactics won't close the gap in skill.
"..."
The mercenaries looked at each other and decided to split up. If the enemy is silver rank, they won't be defeated instantly. If they hear the sound of fighting, they can gather there. That way, they can corner them.
And so, the mercenaries scattered in all directions. However, the puppet from before was next to the silver-rank adventurer who talk to Puppet Master earlier. The man doesn't know if Puppet Master sent it that way, or if the puppet itself had a will and liked him.
Anyway, he walk straight ahead. Sensing the presence of the enemy, he keeps his hands on his weapons at all times.
And then, he encountered him.
"Oh, there you are."
A boy. He is wearing armor on his head. But otherwise, he looked like an ordinary boy. In fact, he even showed a kind of innocence that suggested he hadn't been an adventurer for very long.
That's why the mercenary understands.
That he is a monster in the form of a boy, someone he can never defeat.
The mercenary draws his sword.
"Oh, you're really motivated. All right, let's do it. ―――'Brahma'"
The boy, who is in an unarmed stance, felt something surging inside him. The mercenary carefully raises his sword. The puppet makes a clicking sound as it gets ready.
The first to move was the puppet.
The puppet was much faster than the mercenary. It exploded the soles of its feet and attacked the boy at a speed that humans cannot achieve.
The boy just laughed at it.
"Nice. That was a close one."
Right after.
The puppet shattered from the inside out.
"...! "
The mercenary didn't understand what was happening. Swords that looked like crystals grew from inside the puppet.
Even so, the puppet was still sturdy and was aiming to kill the boy. It opened its mouth. Something was about to be released. But a premonition remained just a premonition.
A giant iron sword, like a lump of iron that fell from the sky, pierced the puppet, crushing it.
"My bad. I don't let my guard down just because I'm immortal."
The crystal sword and the iron lump sword danced in the air on their own, tearing the puppet into 8 pieces. There was magic that was beyond understanding, and a power that was beyond understanding.
Faced with that, the mercenary turned his heel.
"Oh? What's the matter? Are you running away?"
The boy said boredly. But the mercenary had survived because he had always been thorough in his retreats at times like this.
Only because he doesn't die can he train. Only because he doesn't die can he gain experience. If he dies, it's over. No matter how strong he becomes, it's over.
But simply running away from an enemy is punishable by Nightfather. So the mercenary raised his voice.
"The enemy's just a kid! He can control swords that move on their own! The puppet got taken out in an instant! Get over here and help me!"
He calls for his allies. That's how to handle situations like this. It simply troubles the enemy and simply gives the advantage to his side. And the most wonderful thing is that if everyone except himself dies, he is allowed to run away.
So the mercenary yells. He calls for his comrades. And so he fights again, and if he looks like he can win, he takes the head, and if he looks like he is going to lose, he takes his place in the rear and focuses on supporting his allies.
Everyone will probably be killed by this enemy. Puppet Master is unknown, but it will be a fierce battle. Then all he has to do is run away and call for help at the nearby department.
As he thought about this and ran screaming, he suddenly felt a bad premonition in his back.
Avoid. From above, a thick, translucent something pierced the spot where the mercenary had been.
"...!?"
It was something white, like a phantom. But it was real. As evidence, the sand is swirling and making a hole in the ground.
"Ahahaha! You can't avoid it! Ahahaha!"
Looking up, the mercenary couldn't believe his eyes.
There, hovering above the girl, was the phantom of a dragon, its body spread out around her.
But it was no ordinary dragon. It had 9 long, outstretched necks. The mercenary knew this creature. It was one of the myths told as bedtime stories, a terrifying king of poison, a pillar of the ancient dragons who had ascended to godhood.
He remembered its name was Hydra.
'Little girl, this is too much trouble. Why don't we just blow everything away and melt it all down?'
Said the dragon head sprouting from the girl's left shoulder. The manic girl laughed in response.
"Uuuuuuummm, mmmaaaaybe! Let's do it! Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
She laughed uproariously and raised her hand high in the air. In response, all the Hydra's heads turned upward as if to take aim.
Then, she swung her hand down.
"Bye-bye!"
A burst of laughter echoed through the air. The 9 dragon heads turned towards the ground in unison.
A torrent of poisonous breath swept through the air.
"Ggggggggghhhhaaaa!"
The mercenary couldn't even run away. The vast cloud of poisonous breath spread out, engulfing the ruined city in an instant.
The mercenary was instantly enveloped by it. The deadly poison gnawed at his body, melting it away, and he collapsed to the ground. He coughed up blood, realized his body was dissolving, and went into a frenzy.
"A, a, aaaaaaaaaaaa...!"
It was too late for the mercenary to regret his actions. He thought of all the innocent people he had attacked in the past. How he had killed, r*ped, and mocked them, sometimes just for fun.
"Help me, please, no, don't, di..."
His flesh melted away, exposing his bones. He couldn't even tell what was happening to him. Then, he remembered the puppet who had seemed so affectionate earlier.
Was that girl the merchant's daughter? The one he had robbed, murdered her parents, and then handed over to the Puppet Master as a plaything?
"..."
The mercenary died, reduced to bones and sludge.
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