Chapter 48: You Shall Not Pass Realizing they were screwed, the bastards who kidnapped Haruna were currently fleeing toward the outskirts of the city.
Criminals, or anyone running from a superior power, almost always head for the city limits.
As I've mentioned before, this isn't some soft, sunshine-and-rainbows world.
While everything around Akito might be rose-colored, you only have to shift your gaze a little to see a world as gritty and hard-boiled as it gets.
To give you the layout: City A is the center, surrounded by Cities B through G in a hexagonal pattern. Anything beyond that is an Unsecured Zone.
In the past, humanity was pushed to the brink of extinction before consolidating into a few nations and erecting barriers to keep out the monsters. Now, as time has passed, these unified nations are slowly reclaiming territory by driving the monsters back.
Outside the barriers, the government's reach is nonexistent. Since these areas are dangerous, people tend to avoid them, making it easy to evade pursuit.
Well—you might dodge the government, but dodging a monster's tracking is a different story.
Regardless, it's the final exit and a one-way trip to the afterlife for those with nowhere left to run. These Union pricks were trying to head out there just like any common criminal.
But did they really think it would be that easy? How is some pathetic thug supposed to breach a barrier designed to withstand monsters?
If they were an organization like the Geukryu Society, they might have known a secret passage, but low-level punks like these wouldn't have a clue.
"They're certainly running hard."
The closer you get to the barrier, the fewer people there are, and the more old, dilapidated buildings you see.
I smirked at the sight of their car, unable to pick up speed due to the poorly maintained roads.
"I'm taking them out."
"Yeah, go for it. Just don't kill them."
Having received my permission, Yukina rolled down the passenger window and leaned out.
Blue flames ignited in her hand. With pinpoint accuracy, she hurled her Ghost Fire at their rear tires.
— Screeeech! Boom!
A tire blew out, the car lost its balance and flipped over. The thugs came crawling out of the wreckage.
Muscular build, grey tank top, slicked-back hair, and a scar near the eye.
So you're the one who beat our Somi like a dog, huh?
— Thud!
"…Didn't I say not to kill them?"
"He's not dead. Humans are tougher than they look."
He should have a mana barrier, so he'll survive to some extent.
I rammed the car right into the guy who was crawling out, brought us to a halt, and stepped out.
"Hey, uh… what should I call you? Whatever. You punks dared to kidnap Haruna? I won't forgi—"
But these thugs had no manners; they attacked before I could even finish my sentence.
However, Yukina, who had been suppressing her rage until now, was right beside me. She grabbed the arm of the thug lunging at me.
"Aaaaaagh!!"
The Ghost Fire erupting from Yukina's hand spread across the thug's entire arm.
He screamed and tried to swat at his flaming limb, but the blue fire wouldn't go out. Instead, it spread to the hand he was using to pat it down.
Ghost Fire really is terrifying.
In the game, once the burn debuff from Ghost Fire is applied, it has a lower dispel rate than other fire-type magic and possesses the trait of spreading to the target's allies.
What happens when that becomes reality?
It becomes the Amaterasu of a rogue ninja.
The moment he reflexively touched his burning arm in pain, it spread to the rest of his body. As the thug thrashed and rolled on the ground, the surrounding area turned into a sea of blue flames.
If he were skilled enough, he might have been able to dispel it himself using a mana barrier, but how would a local thug know a high-level spell that even I haven't mastered?
Ignoring the thug writhing in agony, Yukina walked past him and questioned the trembling group.
"You're Keiji, right? Tell me. Why did you do it?"
Faced with the glare of a literal grim reaper, Keiji couldn't say a word, his eyes darting around in terror.
The blue flames in Yukina's hand, who was staring him down with a cold expression, elongated into the shape of a sword.
"Since I was told to only half-kill you, I'll just take your arms and legs. The fire will cauterize the wounds, so you don't have to worry about bleeding out. We'll talk after that."
I wasn't sure if she was talking to me or Keiji, but it was so terrifying that even I found myself walking on eggshells.
As Yukina strode toward the terrified group of thugs who were too paralyzed to even think of running, she suddenly stopped and turned her head.
Following her gaze, I saw Takeo running toward us from a distance.
What the hell are you doing here?
"Stop it!!"
"What are you talking about, you punk? Get with the times. Haven't you seen the crimes these bastards committed on the internet?"
"Shut up! There's been some kind of misunderstanding!"
Simply magnificent. He really is consistent.
Still refusing to listen to anyone else, insisting only he is right.
As Yukina moved to strike, the approaching Takeo threw his greatsword to block her path.
"He's involved too, so I can kill him, right?"
"Uh… wait a sec. And I told you, no killing."
"I meant half-killing."
Was Takeo involved in this part of the story?
I know he gets reformed through Shiori and Park Yu-jeong's sub-stories and joins the Research Society, but I don't recall him being part of the core plot.
I'm not the developer, so I don't remember every minor detail of the game. I'd prefer not to retire a named character if I can help it.
But if he's involved in Haruna's kidnapping…
Thanks to the intel Trevor pulled, I knew how much Keiji looked down on and exploited Takeo. I also knew Takeo wasn't directly involved in the kidnapping, but you never know.
What Trevor got was digital data; there are things you can only know through spoken word.
While I was contemplating, Takeo stepped between us, holding his greatsword and shielding Keiji while glaring at us.
"Get lost while I'm asking nicely."
"Takeo! I knew I could count on you to save your big brother! That's my boy!"
"Keiji-hyung. Is what they're saying on the internet true?"
As Takeo spoke in a cold voice while still glaring at us, Keiji flinched for a moment before immediately making a scene.
"Of course not! So-someone framed me because they're jealous! Yeah! I don't know who it is, but they're absolute trash! Takeo, Takeo! You believe me, right? You trust your brother! Am I that kind of person?"
"Hey, don't look at us. Look at the face of the guy behind you. Does that look like the face of someone telling the truth?"
I offered some kind advice out of sheer disbelief, but the ever-consistent Takeo didn't even turn his head.
"I'll hold them off here. You guys go on ahead."
"Just so you know, Yggdrasil has officially stepped in because they kidnapped Yukina's sister. If you take their side now, you're a criminal too."
"Shut up, you loser. You never stop yapping."
Of course.
I didn't expect my advice to work for even a second.
Keiji and his lackeys started scurrying away with expressions that made me want to smack the back of their heads. Yukina looked at me.
"I waited because you told me to."
Ah, so that's why she was being so quiet? She was actually listening to me?
But seeing the thugs escape seemed to be the final straw for her patience. Yukina was looking at me with an intense gaze.
"I'll handle this guy. You go and half-kill them."
"…Are you sure?"
Wow… Yukina, even you're looking down on me? I'm a little hurt.
Sure, a week ago I was just a punching bag with nothing but a mana barrier, but I've learned Counter Magic now.
It's time to show the true power of an M-type HP-tank build.
"I only avoid fighting because I'm a pacifist. I'm actually incredibly strong."
"..."
It hurts my feelings when you both look at me like that.
Yukina and Takeo both gave me looks of pure disbelief.
"Just go, quickly. I won't lose."
"…If you die, I'll hate you."
"Fuck, you retards! Who said anyone's going anywhere?!"
"Who said? I did."
I gave a thin smile and cast my magic.
Tentacles erupted from all directions, flailing wildly. Yukina, with her vast combat experience, reacted instantly, leaping high into the air by stepping off a tentacle.
"Fuck! Let go!"
"Hehe! You're not going anywhere!"
"Die!"
I dove through the chaos of the tentacles and grabbed his leg. Takeo cursed and swung his greatsword down at me.
However, my mana barrier wasn't so fragile that it would break from a strike delivered from such an awkward position.
While I held him fast, the tentacles that had been thrashing about coiled around Takeo.
Frey really is a genius.
I was just following a build from a walkthrough, but our star tutor Frey had mapped out an entire combat style and magic tree to fit that build.
One of those spells was this Tentacle Magic.
'Once that combat style is established, you must focus on being a nuisance to your opponent. Create chaos or cling to the enemy. Force them to attack you.'
Tentacle Magic fulfilled both criteria perfectly.
Once summoned, the tentacles—which even I couldn't control—moved randomly, coiling around things and turning the surroundings into a mess.
Effectively restrained, Takeo grunted as he tore through the tentacles with brute strength and kicked me.
"You shall not pass~"
"Move, you son of a bitch!"
As the tentacles and I stubbornly held on, Takeo seemed to decide to finish me off first before giving chase. He unleashed a fierce assault.
"Hahahaha! That which does not kill me only makes me stronger!!"
"You crazy bastard!"
A massive swing of his greatsword bent me backward at the waist, sending me flying, but I scrambled back up and charged at Takeo, who was busy tearing tentacles off his body.
"Hey, you loser! Can't you even throw a proper punch?!"
"Just wait! I'm getting ready to hit you—urk!"
"This motherfucker is way too sturdy! Die! Just die!"
My head was slammed into the ground by his greatsword, and I took a beating as Takeo repeatedly struck me with the blade.
I could feel a faint impact penetrating the mana barrier; his attack power was definitely high.
However, as long as my mana barrier didn't vanish, I would never die.
Every time he swung his sword, only the innocent ground was pulverized, leaving the area around us in ruins.
"That's enough, isn't it? You've hit me plenty."
"Just die already!"
— Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
"Huff… huff…"
"Tired already? You should really quit smoking."
"I don't smoke, you moron!"
— Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
When Takeo's movements slowed from the exhaustion of his constant hacking, I slowly stood up.
Seeing me perfectly fine after taking such a beating, his brow furrowed in what looked like sheer exhaustion and disbelief.
He's completely forgotten about Keiji now, hasn't he? I like how simple-minded he is.
"You… what are you?"
"Me? Handsome."
When I swapped my stick for the Etiquette Infuser, Takeo reacted quickly and backed away.
I must have accumulated a lot of damage by now, right?
It's not displayed as a number like in the game, so even I don't know how much has built up.
I did some rough experiments with Frey, but everyone hits with different levels of force.
That's why I made sure to take plenty of hits.
"I don't even know how strong this is. Try your best to block it."
"Bullshit, you loser."
He spoke dismissively, but seeing me perfectly fine after the hell he'd put me through, Takeo was on high alert.
This is the first time since coming to this world that I'm actually striking with intent.
Alright, let's give it a stylish swi—
I gripped the Etiquette Infuser with both hands, hesitated for a moment, then turned it back into a stick.
"…What are you doing?"
"Actually, if I'm being serious, it's all about the fist."
Leaving the confused Takeo behind, I clenched my fist.
It would be embarrassing if the power was underwhelming after taking all those hits.
Hiding my growing anxiety, I watched Takeo, who was holding his greatsword vertically like a shield to protect his body.
Here it comes. Serious Punch.
Just as Frey taught me, I concentrated all my strength into a single point in my fist, starting from my legs, through my waist and shoulders.
SHAAAAAAA—!!
And the earth split.
No, okay, honestly, "the earth split" is an exaggeration, but it did tear a straight line through the nearby buildings and the road.
Like a scene out of a movie or manga, a massive circular hole was gouged out of the landscape. Both Takeo and I stood there, mouths agape.
Why was Takeo still fine? Because I missed.
This magic is harder than it looks.
Maybe there was too much accumulated power, but my body didn't move the way I wanted it to when I threw the punch.
How should I put it? It felt like trying to swing my arm with several sandbags tied to my wrist.
Anyway, the magic triggered before I could properly throw the punch, and it flew off in a weird direction.
Still, it's a relief.
If that had hit him, Takeo might have actually died.
"..."
"..."
"You get the difference in our skill levels now, right?"
Since it turned out like this, I might as well bluff. I'll act like the bigger man who spared his life and put him in my debt.
I felt like I could do it properly if I tried again, but then I'd have to get beaten up all over again.
Takeo, who had been silently staring at the ruins I'd created, turned his gaze toward me.
"You know it's already over. Keiji's been caught by Yukina."
"I…!"
"If this is all a misunderstanding and he's innocent, he'll be found not guilty. You already have doubts in your heart, don't you?"
"..."
Takeo couldn't say a word, his gaze dropping weakly.
Did I convince him?
Just as his fighting spirit was fading, I saw Yukina returning from a distance.
But she didn't look like she'd had the satisfaction of revenge; she looked utterly annoyed.
Ah.
What the hell are you doing here?
Following behind Yukina was Akito, who had arrested Keiji's gang, trailing along with his followers and a bright, cheerful expression on his face.
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