3 bar menu

Chapter 182: Bloody Joseph

~Nelfie’s perspective~

「Michael, sorry, but please stay back. This guy doesn’t seem like the kind of opponent I can fight while protecting someone.」

「I-I understand. I’ll hide.」

Michael stepped back and Joseph looked at him vexedly. He probably thought that attacking Michael would create a decisive opening in our defense. He didn’t move and simply watched Michael moving to the back.

However, Joseph’s breathing was gradually becoming heavier and his eyes were becoming bloodshot.

「Hurry up! Let’s start!! I’m at my limit already!」

「You’re the crazy type, huh…」

There are broadly two types of scouts like us.

One type is like Michael, who has special skills and is excellent at gathering information. This type avoids combat as much as possible and prioritizes safety by ensuring that information is taken with them.

The other is the type that lurks in the shadows, always maintaining an advantageous position, and forcing information to be leaked through assassination or use of force.

I am included in the latter category, and so is this man named Joseph. This type is more likely to obtain information in depth than the former, but we are also easier to get caught up in fights, and there is also the danger that our minds might end up distorted.

This is because if we don’t constantly check and improve our own strength, we tend to get caught up in the anxiety that we might be the next one to be killed. As we continue to commit assassinations and murders, we become dominated by the obsession that “There is no other way”.

Also, there are a certain number of people who feel a sense of security and happiness when they confirm their own power by killing their target. That’s what the “crazy type” means.

In my case, I have a safe place called [Star Supremacy], and I feel mentally safe because I have friends who recognize my strength and need me, and I want to use my skills for the sake of my friends. My feelings have become stronger and my mind has stabilized, but I can’t deny the possibility that if I had made even a single mistake I could have become like Joseph as well.

When I glanced behind me, I saw that Michael had moved away to a safe area while I was in a position where I could clearly see him. As long as he’s this far away, it should be fine. Thinking so, I immediately returned my gaze to Joseph, but Joseph was nowhere to be seen.

A knife suddenly came flying from the side. When I evaded it and checked my surroundings with my detection skill, I saw Joseph, who was holding a knife with a backhand grip, slashing down at me from above.

I immediately took out the Paralyze Dagger from my magic bag and managed to catch his blow.

「Not bad. In the past, I could kill even an S-rank adventurer with that attack.」

「Even though I look like this, I have lived far longer than you in this world. Besides, I can’t be killed that easily.」

「Kufufu…I’m looking forward to that. I think I’ll be able to feel the ultimate pleasure if I kill you.」

I understood something from the series of attacks earlier. This guy is so strong that if you take your eyes off of him even for a moment, you’ll give him the advantage to attack one-sidedly.

Besides, it is difficult to use a bow in this kind of setting, which is my best skill. Which means, I will have to continue a melee battle with my dagger, but…my opponent is good at medium-range combat and close combat with throwing knives. He probably has dozens of knives hidden under his clothes.

In which case, rather than continuing to fight at a disadvantage at close range, I have to forcibly move away to a position where attacks with a bow can be effective. However, this will requires appropriate preparation.

If so…

「[Wood Spike].」

I attacked Joseph from all sides with tree attribute magic.

Although the attack caught him by surprise, Joseph not only easily evaded it, but also showed enough composure to throw a knife at me. He is pretty used to fighting after all… However, this arrogance creates an opportunity which I can take advantage of.

「[Branch Prison].」

A follow-up attack from wood spikes. Branches grew from the tree I produced at high speed and began to surround Joseph. Joseph looked taken aback by this momentarily and his body was completely covered by the branches. However, he cut off the branches with the knife he held in both hands and slowly escaped from the prison of thin wood.

「These are quite refined magic. You’re quite a masterpiece after all. That’s why it will be worth killing you!」

「Hmph, I could say the same about you. But I just don’t understand… Who could have defeated and captured a fierce guy like you 10 years ago…」

「Kufufufu. It’s not like I lost to anyone, you know? I went to prison myself because there were no more people in this country that I wanted to kill. However, back then, I killed too much and remember that my senses were getting a little strange.」

「Hmm? Why did you have to go to the trouble of getting caught?」

「I thought there might be some strong guys in the prison.…But that wasn’t the case. There weren’t that many who seemed strong enough.」

「I guess you’re not very smart.」

「…I’m aware of that too!」

Even in the middle of a conversation, a knife flew at me out of nowhere. However, at the moment of attack, an opening was created. And I am not someone who will let that chance slip awa–

「What!?」

Just as I was about to avoid the flying knife, I felt something grab my legs.

When I looked down at my feet, I saw a pair of brown, muddy hands grabbing both of my ankles. I was surprised that Joseph had even mastered magic without chanting. I managed to evade the knife as I instantly twisted my upper body and fell down.

However, as I tried to get up, a knife was already pointed at my neck.

「Kufufu… Checkmate.」

「For you, that is. Bloody Joseph…」

The next moment, an enchanted arrow came flying out of the darkness with a whooshing sound and pierced deeply into Joseph’s abdomen.