Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Merchant (4)

#30

The Ironveil Mercenary Group was annihilated.

It did not even take ten minutes.

The smell of blood was vibrating everywhere.

Among the scattered corpses it was hard to find ones with intact limbs.

“Haa··· haaaa···.”

Most were Ilark’s works.

Having finished the massacre she was catching her breath on top of her works.

Hands and feet, the thick tail were dyed red as if dipped in tomato stew and pulled out.

“Tch, guys who are nothing.”

The heat inside the body was being discharged in the form of steam.

Suddenly, one head of a man rolling on the ground came into view.

“What. It’s Roberts?”

Ilark’s eyes opened round.

Rain Roberts the leader of Ironveil.

He thought he wasn’t visible somehow but to think he was already a corpse.

“Bran. Did you catch this guy?”

“Yes. Is he a famous guy?”

“That side. The only guy in this tin can gathering who could endure my fist more than two times.”

“Aha. Somehow it was strong.”

There was a reason the system also certified it as a strong enemy.

Fortunately he stabbed the gap in one strike, if the battle had lengthened he almost suffered a severe experience.

Originally if there was no new sword he would not have thrown this kind of gamble.

“Your breathing is rough Ilark. Aren’t you overdoing it?”

“Haa··· of course. This much is nothing.”

Ilark smiled while baring her teeth.

Unlike the expression full of confidence fatigue was tinged in the voice.

It was the moment her decisive weakness was revealed.

‘As expected.’

Bran twisted his lips.

A characteristic that is identically revealed in the game too.

The character Ilark has explosive instant firepower but sustainability is lacking.

In terms of position a close-range Nuker.

Should it be said a supercar where performance and fuel efficiency are inversely proportional.

The chronic disease that people who start with her as a playable character dislike the most.

Of course Bran knew the improvement method.

“Ilark. No thought of using a weapon?”

“Uung? Weapon?”

Ilark’s eyes contorted.

Unlike usual when she passed everything smoothly it was a sensitive reaction.

“Ha! My entire body is a weapon so why hold that cumbersome thing?”

“But you could end the fight more certainly and quickly.”

“Enough. Have you seen a dragon swinging a sword or shooting a bow? I’m sufficient like this.”

Thud. The heavy tail hit the ground as if displeased.

I knew it would be like this.

In fact he did not even expect to be persuaded in one go.

Because Ilark had an unusually severe complex as a dragonblood.

Confirming that her breathing had stabilized Bran turned to Kale.

“Kale. There were no other people around right?”

“Uung. I clearly confirmed.”

Kale nodded.

His role in this battle was to hide behind a large rock and examine the circumstances.

Until Bran and Ilark swept the mercenary group no one came out from the logistics warehouse.

“But too strange. Even though such a commotion occurred they don’t come out···.”

“It could be that they’re pretending not to be there and preparing a surprise attack. Trying to kill us the moment we enter the logistics warehouse.”

“Hiiik···!”

Kale hunched his shoulders.

Of course that possibility was slim.

Right now no such presence was felt from inside the logistics warehouse.

Crack. Stopping in front of the warehouse door Ilark stretched while twisting her neck left and right.

“Whatever is there just smashing is enough. Let’s enter.”

The copper-colored forearms swelled greatly.

She drove a straight punch into the gate of the logistics warehouse.

Boooom!

The two iron doors fell off at the same time.

The chain wrapped around the handle broke emptily as if it had become a string.

The interior of the logistics warehouse was quiet.

The emptiness unique to a wide and emptied space was being transmitted.

The three who exchanged gazes rushed into the interior.

“What.”

And froze.

What was waiting for them was neither Leodorn nor assassins charging while applying poison to daggers.

A scenery that would be seen in a temple serving an extremely wicked evil god was unfolding inside the logistics warehouse.

Ilark spat out a curse.

“Fuck, what is all this!?”

“Uup.”

Kale covered his mouth.

A smell of blood thicker and more concentrated than outside was stirring in the darkness of the logistics warehouse.

Dozens of male and female corpses with bodies folded in half were lined up in a row.

“Wh-who did this kind of thing···!”

Kale reflexively grabbed Bran’s collar.

The form of the folded corpses was reminiscent of a capital A.

Because the faces were facing outward it felt even more bizarre.

“Bad taste.”

Bran clicked his tongue.

Next to the procession of folded corpses another form of corpses were lined up.

A completely different form of death. Unlike the side line there is no deficiency or change whatsoever.

The appearance of lying still with eyes open was to the point of looking like a living person at a glance.

Ilark opened her mouth.

“······They’re the guys who kidnapped Leodorn.”

“Yes?”

“Certain. These corpses have Leodorn’s smell.”

Kale’s eyes widened.

Showing a sign of disbelief is not unreasonable.

Because the twenty-three corpses were all wearing attire that ordinary citizens of Valkeros would wear.

“A few of these guys were also at the scene of kidnapping Leodorn. I thought they were simple pedestrians···.”

“Wh-why did they do this kind of thing? Who on earth?”

“I don’t know. Fuck, what pervert bastards···.”

Ilark clenched her fist.

He doesn’t know who did it but the feeling was extremely not good.

Judging from the fact that decay had almost not progressed, the tragedy seemed to have occurred only a few hours ago.

‘This trace is···.’

Bran had been maintaining silence all along.

He seemed to have seen corpses displayed in this form somewhere, but he could not recall the memory at all.

While letting out a groan unable to recall the last piece of the puzzle, Kale’s voice rang out.

“L-look here! There are footprints!”

“Bastards. Not even thinking of hiding.”

Only then finishing his thoughts Bran turned his head.

Red footprints were connected to the underground stairs of the logistics warehouse.

Sniffing Ilark nodded.

“Right. Leodorn was dragged inside there.”

The destination was decided.

The three immediately went down the stairs.

A long corridor appeared. The sound of water was heard from somewhere.

Smell of blood and mold, sticky humidity.

The gloomy smell unique to the underground was floating in the air.

“It’s connected to the Red Mountains.”

Bran muttered.

It seemed a structure designed so that resources produced in the mountains can be moved directly.

The deeper they went the corridor was turning into a natural cave. In the place the concrete finish disappeared stone pillars and stalactites were growing.

How long did they walk.

The moment the three turned some corner, the view opened wide and a giant underground cavity appeared.

“This is···!”

The three stopped at the same time.

It was a wide space as if the logistics warehouse was stuck underground as is.

Saaaaaaa-!

A waterfall was pouring from a hole pierced in the inner wall far away.

Moss that emits light by itself similar to what was seen in the Bottom Farm was covering the walls and ceiling.

It seemed too flashy a space just for interrogation.

It was the moment Ilark raised her head again to track Leodorn’s smell.

“M-Miss Ilark! There!”

“What?”

Suddenly Kale made a fuss and extended his index finger.

Turning her head Ilark froze.

Far away, an old man with a haggard appearance was bound to a stone pillar that grew next to the waterfall.

“My god, Leodorn?!”

Ilark shouted but no answer returned.

Bran’s eyes widened.

It was unmistakably Leodorn.

The body bound with chains was miserably destroyed.

One arm was completely twisted, the face was swollen beyond recognition.

The clothes he had been wearing since the wagon trip had turned into rags no different from tatters.

His heart sank.

Just as he thought surely it was late, Leodorn let out a short groan.

“······Ugh.”

“Ha, fuck.”

Bran swept his chest.

At least the breath seemed attached.

However because the condition did not look very good it seemed they had to rescue quickly.

“Wait! I’ll save you right now!”

Ilark shouted.

The firm thighs swelled greatly.

The distance was quite far but a distance that could be easily narrowed with one or two leaps.

Just as her body that had been contracted was about to be shot forward, Bran’s eyes widened.

“Ah···!”

The puzzle in his head was matched.

The memory of the corpses in the logistics warehouse flitted through Bran’s mind like lightning and passed.

Where he saw that, and who made it.

Everything about why they make corpses in that way.

And come to think of it no personnel watching Leodorn were visible at all.

Goosebumps ran through Bran’s entire body.

“Wait, Ilark!”

Dangerous.

By the time Bran said that Ilark’s body was already being shot out.

The face was fully contorted due to urgency and guilt, anger.

Bang! She who flew like a shell landed exactly at the middle point of the underground cavity.

Now a distance where jumping once more is enough.

Just as Ilark was about to leap to fulfill the unfinished mission.

Slice.

A red line was drawn over Ilark’s left thigh.

“Uh···.”

Ilark’s eyes widened.

Slaaaash!

Blood burst from the opened line.

Not a very deep wound but a burning pain followed.

Ilark hurriedly lowered her gaze.

Two glows were sparkling at her feet.

A woman covering her mouth with a black mask was looking up at her while lowering her body.

“Ah. Got caught.”

The woman muttered.

Because the build was so small noticing was even later.

No change in expression existed at all on the small face.

In the fern-like both hands one curved dagger like a snake was gripped each.

Ilark’s blood was shimmering on the blades.

“This, fuck!”

Ilark kicked.

The woman succeeded in evasion by lightly twisting her shoulder, but almost at the same time the tail flew in.

“Ik.”

The woman lay flat on the ground.

The tail like a steel whip drew a wide semicircle.

Pusak!

Some of the hair that could not follow in time was swept by the tail and exploded.

If it had been a little late it was a situation where not the hair but the head would have burst, but there was not a shred of wavering in her eyes.

Immediately after the tail passed the woman who raised her body retreated.

Instantly opening an interval of about thirty steps she muttered while placing her gaze on Ilark.

“Extremely tough. Couldn’t cut deeply.”

“Khahahaha! It doesn’t matter! That much is sufficient!”

A thunderous laughter rang out from somewhere.

A tone that caused chills like Ilark’s roar.

Boooom-!

At the same time, one giant shadow landed in front of Ilark.

“Nice to meet! Daughter of Zarheim!”

“Fuck, who are you again?!”

It was a large wolf beastman.

Long body hair red as if burning was covering the entire body.

On the nails longer than an average dagger pieces of flesh presumed to be human were stuck.

What catches the gaze next is the armor wrapping the upper body.

In the center of the metal armor one sphere the size of a fist was deeply embedded and blinking.

“My name is Zerban. It was good I accepted that woman’s proposal. To think a day to compete with you would come!”

“Zerban?”

Ilark’s eyes widened. It was a name she had heard.

Suddenly, the wolf beastman who introduced himself as Zerban sharply extended his arm.

Boooom!

The hand that flew like lightning grabbed Ilark’s face and slammed it on the ground.

“Kuek···!”

“As expected sturdy! Is this because even half a penny is a dragon!”

The corner of Zerban’s mouth tore all the way to under the ears.

Different from the enemies so far.

Even while confronting that Ilark there was not a shred of sign of fearing.

“Looking looking so···!”

However Ilark also did not just take it.

Grabbing Zerban’s right arm she smashed the ground with her tail.

Bang!

Along with a roar the body that surged escaped the restraint.

In the process of Ilark somersaulting backward the tail that surged smashed Zerban’s face.

“Keuk!”

Zerban staggered.

A few broken teeth burst as if saliva splashed.

Lightly landing Ilark asked in a chewing-like voice.

“Why are the Iron Blood Twin Shadows here?”

A name that anyone eating sword rice in Valkeros and its vicinity would have heard.

Iron Blood Twin Shadows.

A 2-person mercenary group and criminal organization composed of the red wolf beastman Zerban and the human woman Belan.

Although the personnel was only two the mighty stronghold was transmitted even to the capital.

He had heard they left Valkeros after the exile order fell.

Zerban said.

“Haha, because the woman of White Silver Pine called an extremely large sum. Being stuck in the Red Mountains was also getting boring. Anyway once the criminal label attaches the people who come decrease sharply.”

“Was the rumor that they left the city a lie··· the corpses in the warehouse are your doing too right?”

“Oh, you saw. Did you like it?”

It was the moment the culprits who made the logistics warehouse into that state were revealed.

Zerban smiled.

“Since killing anyway I tried exerting artistry. Cleaning up those guys as soon as they brought the target was also a request given to us.”

“Ah. Half I did.”

Belan quietly raised her hand.

Ilark frowned.

The managing director who openly boils hunting dogs was a crazy woman, but the Iron Blood Twin Shadows who immediately accept that were also not sane.

“Seeing the snout next time you guys will be eliminated.”

“Khaha! Maybe so. That’s also a fun of its own!”

“Crazy guy.”

“Then let’s continue enjoying! You’re not already tired and doing that right?”

Zerban charged while kicking the ground.

“Huh?! Ilark!”

The sphere embedded in the middle of the armor was emitting light.

Five nails like blades flew toward Ilark’s face.

“Acting arrogant···!”

Ilark clenched her teeth.

Her pupils that entered full combat stance narrowed vertically.

Although she allowed a few attacks because she was flustered, it was absolutely not an opponent she couldn’t win.

Strength against strength.

The moment she who resolved to crush that furry’s head like a watermelon drove her fist.

“Ugh?!”

Suddenly strength left the left leg.

It was a feeling that about two of the ten lines that govern movement were cut.

“Damn, of all times···!”

Noticing that the cause was the wound received from Belan a moment ago was not difficult.

Ilark immediately adjusted her posture, but the interval with Zerban had already folded within three steps.

An excited shout burst from the wolf’s maw.

“Die!”

“Kuk.”

Ilark gasped.

It seems she took one hit.

If unlucky somewhere might break.

Just as she was preparing for the coming impact, one small shadow popped out from Zerban’s side.

“You···!”

Ilark’s eyes widened.

Even before she could say something Zerban and the shadow overlapped.

Twaaaang-!

A boom that shook the cave burst out.

The two forms that had been entangled and flying separated and fell.

Kagagak! Sliding and landing on the ground Zerban narrowed his brow.

“What is this again.”

Puhak. Blood gushed from above his right forearm.

One sharp sword scar was engraved while cutting the muscle.

If he had not twisted his body instantaneously it would not have been strange even if it reached the bone.

The sound of tongue clicking was heard from not far away.

“Tch, didn’t cut.”

Turning his head Zerban’s eyes saw the boy holding the longsword.

An existence he had sensed, but a human boy he had not given even as much interest as a bug that entered the room.

Bran raised the corner of his mouth.

“Contrary to appearance you’re a soft fist.”

“What?”

Zerban’s eyes contorted.

Of course a lie. Extremely a hard fist.

The impact of being hit once in the belly in the air was still shaking the organs.

It was a sincere surprise attack, to think he would react here.

The messages rising one after another were also jeering not to bluff.

『You endured an impact surpassing the body’s limit. Weed’s Tenacity activates!』

『The growth speed of Strength, Mental Power increases slightly.』

『Due to high Mental Power the status abnormality “Confusion” is nullified!』

Nevertheless he could not retreat.

At first the thought that he was fucked came first but it might rather be a good opportunity.

Because the “big thing” mentioned in “let’s solve one big thing before going to the Steel Tower” said to Kale on the day he contacted the Abyss was exactly this Iron Blood Twin Shadows.

‘I didn’t know I would face them here. Whether this is good luck or bad luck.’

As expected the future cannot be predicted even an inch ahead.

He didn’t know that the guy called Chloe or clover would even hire those guys.

Originally Bran’s plan was to surprise the hideout of the Iron Blood Twin Shadows existing inside the Red Mountains.

The point of the strategy was to inflict damage using bombs or poison before starting the full battle, but now he had no choice but to take them down with a frontal breakthrough.

‘Fuck. As expected it seems correct that it’s bad.’

Even with Ilark it was not easy.

The Iron Blood Twin Shadows were among the bosses that appear around this time one of the hardest.

First-time challengers 85%.

A nightmare of Valkeros that makes multi-playthrough players see the game over screen with about 50% probability!

Nevertheless the reason challengers do not cease is still because of the hidden piece.

Zerban asked back.

“Hey, the soft fist is it words directed at me by any chance?”

“Then who would it be?”

Anyway he must not be pushed in momentum.

Even if the opponent is a steroid furry exceeding 2m.

A fight between males ends the moment the tail is lowered.

Gripping the sword hilt with both hands Bran aimed at Zerban and growled.

“Come at me. Mut.”