3 bar menu

Chapter 74

「……Well.」

In the room, there’s me, Lillith, Cordelia, and the Trading Company president lying on the floor, foaming at the mouth.

Not only that, there is also Cordelia’s uncle who has a face of shock, his mouth wide open.
By the way, the powerful kick that Lute delivered to the Trading Company president was actually held back.

「So, Lute? Why are you here?」

「I’ve been involved in various things. Sorry, but I have to make your uncle suffer a bit.」

「I don’t mind that really… In fact, it’s refreshing.」

Saying that you don’t really mind it to your own uncle is a pretty harsh remark.

Well, he was notorious for being a scoundrel even in the village…
Even if he’s her blood relative, it seems like he went beyond what Cordelia can forgive.

At this point, Cordelia’s uncle began to laugh.

「Haha! Hahahaha! Is this like the proverb, a summer bug flying into the fire? This guy is truly blessed!」

「Why are you laughing?」

Puzzled, I asked.
In response to my words, Cordelia’s uncle laughed even louder.

「The reason I called Cordelia is to deal with the young lady standing behind you. Well, you guys took such foolish actions… I did take the child, but well.」

「…I don’t intend to talk to you. Return Liz as soon as possible!」

「Well, wait. Let’s talk properly first. First, let’s confirm the facts. Cordelia and that girl there, both of you are A-rank, right?」

No, Cordelia is now comfortably S-rank now.
She should have improved a bit with the incident involving the demon and the Holy Knight Order.

And, for Lillith, if she goes all out, is easily top-tier S-rank or even higher.

Well, there are reasons why she can’t go all out.
There’s no point in telling this old man such facts though, so I’ll keep quiet.

「What’s that got to do with anything?」

「Cordelia is a close combat fighter, but the girl with the light blue hair there is a mage.」

「Yeah, that’s right.」

「Hey, Lute? Are you an idiot? The advantage of the mage girl, who is your greatest fighting force, is being nullified in the current situation. I’m telling you, in this cramped room, Cordelia has an overwhelming advantage.」

「…」

「Oh? Have you finally noticed? Seems like you’re so surprised that you’re speechless. So, Cordelia… These guys are the criminals who were talking about kidnapping people. Cut them down right away!」

I am truly speechless now.
Ignorance is terrible, or rather, how should I put it…

At that point, Cordelia glared sharply at her uncle.

「I came to exterminate the thieves who kidnapped a VIP’s child. From the conversation just now, it seems like Uncle Joseph here is accused of kidnapping a child by Lute and the others, isn’t it?」

「Shut up, Cordelia! The facts don’t matter! If I and the Trading Company say it’s black… even white snow will turn black! Got it? It will cause trouble for your parents, you know!?」

I sighed and shrugged my shoulders.

「So, Cordelia, what are you going to do? Are you planning to fight us?」

Cordelia shook her head vigorously.

「No, I won’t. Hey, can I ask you one thing?」

「What is it, Cordelia?」

「If I leave it to you again, will things settle down nicely?」

「…I’m doing my best to make that happen. I plan to show them hell, just so you know.」

「I see. Even though you generally act all nice, you don’t hold back against scum. So, these guys are truly… merciless villains, right?」

With a sly smile, Cordelia delivered a powerful right straight to the Trading Company president’s face.
His nose crumpled, making a strange noise, and he flew towards the wall.

Cordelia then turned to her bewildered uncle and threw some words at him.

「So, I’ll be joining this side without any worries.」

「C-C-C-C-C… Cordelia… wha… what are you…?」

「I just gave a good punch to an incorrigible villain. Anything wrong with that?」

Cordelia’s uncle, looking bewildered again, soon glared at me.

「To have enticed Cordelia this far… you’re an outrageous gigolo. So… what’s your plan, Lute?」

「What do you mean?」

「…Cordelia as well, do you guys understand what you’re doing right now?」

Ah, and I nodded.

「Same as Cordelia. I came to knock down these scumbags who rely on the power of money. That’s all.」

Cordelia’s uncle then opened his mouth wide and began to laugh.

「Haha! You’re wrong, you know? What you guys are doing is just a crime! You knocked down the Trading Company president… even if she’s a hero, it won’t end well, you know?」

「You guys started the fight in the first place. Kidnapping a child under someone’s protection… Not to mention, our pet was killed. You think there won’t be consequences?」

「Haha! Hahaha! You don’t understand, huh? This Trading Company donates large sums of money to countries worldwide! Even if it’s an obvious crime, if we say something is white, it becomes white!」

Yeah, it’s a pain.
I just shrugged my shoulders.

「…So?」

「Huh? Well, that’s it for you. Not only in this country, but you’ll be targeted as a wanted criminal worldwide. Making enemies with the world as criminals!」

「No, I’m asking, do you guys have the force to eliminate me right now? If I sever your head, your lives will end there, you know?」

「…Huh? B-but you… against a national power… huh?」

Seemingly realizing that intimidation wasn’t working at all, Cordelia’s uncle turned pale, and his mouth started opening and closing rapidly.

「National power? Enemies of the world? Such things have already been factored in, and we’ve arrived here.」

Cordelia’s uncle, still in disbelief, shook his head.

「Wh-what? Try killing us, okay? A-rank and S-rank adventurers will swarm at you for revenge…」

Without missing a beat, I retorted,

「So, what’s the problem with that?」

「…Huh?」

Blinking his eyes rapidly, Cordelia’s uncle, in a bewildered manner, started shouting,

「Hey, Lute, are you… suicidal? Wait! Wait! Wait, wait, wait! Are you insane? If I am dealing with a crazy person, it’s a different story! Wait a moment!」

「I’m not waiting. Sorry, but I have to rescue Liz, and time is running out.」

Drawing my sword, I made a swift motion.

「Agh!」

Cordelia’s uncle’s ear flew off.
In the midst of blood gushing out at an unbelievable speed, he hastily picked up his severed ear.

「Hey, why are you picking up your ear?」

To my question, Cordelia’s uncle, his voice trembling, replied,

「If-if I cast a recovery spell right away, it might reattach!」

「Do you seriously think there’s even a tiny chance of survival in this situation?」

「Damn it… you really seem out of your mind! Are you seriously planning to pick a fight with the nation? If you kill me… you’ll either be executed immediately or live your life on the run in some remote place!」

「That’s why you need to brace yourself. I’ve come prepared for this. I won’t leave empty-handed.」

With a threatening gaze filled with killing intent, I glared at him.
According to Lillith, my eyes were almost like a magical eye, and it had such an intimidating effect that even wild beasts or low-level magical beasts might faint.

Naturally, Cordelia’s uncle also collapsed to the ground, his legs giving out in fear.

「Ah… agh, agh…!」

Cordelia’s uncle crawled on the floor.

His destination was Lillis, adopting a crawling pose as he approached.

「What about… what about the young lady? Are you planning to commit double suicide with a man whose sanity has snapped? I-if, if you do it now… I-I’ll forgive you. S-so, s-stop this man!」

「That sister over there is a hundred times scarier than me, you know?」

But alas, it was too late.
Before I finished speaking, a light snapping sound echoed.

Lilith kicked Cordelia’s uncle’s face, shattering his nose into tiny fragments.

「…Shut up, scoundrel.」

「Agh… agh… aghhhhh!」

Cordelia’s uncle writhed on the floor.

「Really, both Lute and Lilith are merciless…」

「No, your right straight was quite something too.」

At that moment, Lilith asked me,

「…Lute? Are you really okay with this?」

「It’s fine; that’s why we’re here.」

「…But Lute, your goal is to guard Cordelia Allston from the shadows. Now, with this, you’ll become a wanted criminal, and guarding a hero from the shadows… seems impossible.」

Then, at a distance… sensing their presence, I smirked.

「Don’t worry. The groundwork is successful. I’ve sent letters to various places… It seems like they are about to take action.」

「…They?」

A few seconds later—first, the room was dyed with violent light.
Then, a deafening sound, and an earthquake followed.
Quite a shake; in Japan, it would be around a seismic intensity of four.

Looking out the window, Lilith, shocked, muttered,

「…What is this?」

Far in the distance, a mushroom cloud rose over the town.
Direction-wise, it’s in the direction of the tallest mountain in the country.

「Nuclear explosion… an extremely powerful magic. I guess it’s about ten times the power of your Gold Roar (Dragons Genocide) at full skill release? Even I wouldn’t get away unscathed if I took a direct hit.」

「…Even you Lute, seriously?」

「Well, I wouldn’t pull a ridiculous stunt like taking a direct hit from such a lengthy magic.」

Then, the blood drained from Lilith’s face.

「Wait, Lute… did you… you called those guys over… just for a brawl with a trading company? Even you alone are overwhelmingly powerful, but…」

「Oh yeah, I sent a letter to my buddy. Asked them to give it their all and help me. It was clear that things would get complicated with Cordelia’s situation.」

「…Lute? Are you planning to start the final war (Armageddon)? If those guys exert their strength in the surface world, that alone will cause a seismic shift in the world’s power balance!」

「If someone genuinely manages to anger me… well, yeah, it might come to that. When I do something, I go all out.」

「Wait, wait, what do you mean!? Who are those guys!?」

Ignoring Cordelia’s question, Lilith crossed herself and looked up at the ceiling.

「…Tenaciously survive, Vestaha Kingdom! Even I don’t wish for the entire country to be annihilated…」