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Chapter 125

「I’ll protect you too. Even if I’m the only one left, I won’t be able to hear the answer, so.」

「Yeah, that would help.」

With that, we extended our right hands to each other and firmly shook hands.

And at that moment—

I felt a presence behind me, and I swiftly grabbed Cordelia and leaped backward.

「Moses…?」

「Long time no see, Lute-san. And Cordelia-san, you are as beautiful as ever.」

Cordelia and I instantly drew our swords.

Glancing sideways, it seemed Cordelia shared the same sentiment as me.

In other words, why hadn’t someone as skilled as us noticed this guy’s presence here… That was the thought running through our minds.

「Haha, your thoughts are written all over your faces. Both of you.」

「Yeah, we’re dealing with a troublesome childhood friend here.」

「Since this might be our last encounter, shall I answer your questions? It’s a skill of the reincarnated. There’s someone here possessing the Teleportation skill. There are many restrictions, but being near our base, the Ark, it’s effortless.」

「But why are you alone here?」

「Is it strange for the general to lead from the front?」

「No, it’s not that. Do you… think you can win against both me and Cordelia?」

At that, Moses burst into laughter.

「Haha, I doubt it. My personal strength is at most on par with an S-rank adventurer.」

「Then why?」

「Lute-san? Your guard is really down. You thought you were invincible, didn’t you? Well, it’s true that you’re one of the strongest beings in this world.」

「My guard is down?」

「Let me tell you something good. The biggest weakness of the Villager class is that, by the system’s definition, it’s the weakest.」

「The weakest is it?」

「Whether you, as an individual, are strong or weak doesn’t matter. Well, if the targeted class had been Hero initially, there would have been a job correction, so we would have needed a more elaborate observation method…」

「What are you trying to say?」

「When I chose my reincarnation bonus, I chose a very picky and difficult-to-use skill. Moreover, it’s a special skill even for reincarnation bonuses that can only be used once in a lifetime… Therefore, the effect is tremendous. Well, if you were to serve under someone like me, it would be a good balance breaker. So, shall we activate it?」　

Moses’s eyes gleamed ominously, and goosebumps covered his entire body.

Uh-oh.

This is bad.

I felt it that day when he pushed me into the icy river… malice and a sense of danger.

I tried to take Cordelia and flee at full speed, but it was too late.

「So, that’s why I say your guard is down. Battle isn’t just about exchanging blows, you know? Skill: Brainjack.」

My vision blacked out.

My sight darkened and faded, and then something cold flooded my heart—

「Thank you for your hard work until now. I’ll make good use of the cheat status you acquired by enduring hell.」

And just before consciousness faded, I saw Moses’s grotesque grin.

「So, Cordelia-san? The Joker card is now with me. I recommend an unconditional surrender.」

Side: Cordelia

「Brainjack? What does that mean?」

「It means exactly what it sounds like.」

I turned my gaze to Lute.

His eyes were vacant, unfocused.

「I feel like my heart just stopped… Wait, wait a minute! Brainwashing, is that what’s happening here!?」

Just then, Lilith poked her head out of the night camp tent.

Our eyes met.

She seemed to grasp the situation in an instant, as Lilith swiftly poised her staff towards Moses.

「Nuclear Heat Roar (Drags Nuclear)!」

A nuclear heat laser shot straight towards Moses.

However, a figure intervened between Lilith and Moses.

「Hmph!」

Lute flashed Excalibur, Lilith’s magic vanished instantly, and Moses chuckled gleefully.

「Haha, excellent! Excellent, this bodyguard is marvelous! Haha! Hahahaha! Nullifying a nuclear attack! This is reliable!」

Hey, hey, hey, hold on a second!?

He… cut through a super magic spell that could blow away mountains!?

What kind of nonsense is this guy pulling off!? What kind of logic is behind this!? This idiot is casually causing phenomena that would make the Magic Association faint!

There’s no way I can do anything in close combat.

And since Lilith’s magic doesn’t work at all, long-range artillery is meaningless.

In that case—

「Lute! Snap out of it!」

My voice didn’t reach Lute, and he remained with vacant eyes.

Still—while saying that—I swung Hinokagutsuchi down from behind Moses.

Yes.

The moment Lilith moved, I moved as well.

In an instant, we coordinated with each other just through eye contact.

While Lilith and I have our differences, we’re surprisingly in sync when it comes to battle. Well, I should be grateful for that.

Lute inserted himself between Moses and Lilith, and I positioned myself behind Moses.

From this arrangement, it was impossible for Lute to protect Moses.

And, typically, once you defeat the practitioner of this kind of brainwashing technique, things usually sort themselves out.

So—

「I’ll kill you, Moses!」

As I swung down with Hinokagutsuchi aimed at Moses’s head—

—Kiiing.

With a sharp metallic sound, Hinokagutsuchi danced in the air.

「You’re kidding… right?」

Teleportation.

No, just super high-speed movement.

In an instant, Lute closed the distance between us, and with a swift upward motion, he deflected my sword strike with his own.

—Overwhelming power that overturns surprise attacks, coordinated strategies, and positional advantages.

It’s like blowing away a chessboard with brute force.

The overwhelming unfairness that Lute always showed when confronting formidable foes—

—it’s now descending upon us.

I couldn’t see his movements or the trajectory of his sword, and my palms were just tingling relentlessly.

Thud.

Hinokagutsuchi, which had been soaring high, plummeted to the ground.

I collapsed on my knees, my strength giving out, and sat down heavily.

Then, Moses glanced at Lilith, clicked his tongue with a dissatisfied expression, and said:

「But why is it always Lute-san who attracts the beautiful ones?」

Then, Moses spread his hands wide.

「Well, Cordelia-san. The outcome is decided. I won’t treat you badly, so I recommend—unconditional surrender.」

As I glared at him fiercely, Moses shrugged his shoulders in annoyance.

「I don’t have a taste for brides who’d willingly have their limbs chopped off, so please refrain from any rebellious behavior.」

Hearing those words, a chill ran down my spine.