n

n

nOther Fight

nA long time had passed after the end of the training.

nLate at night, which was officially a break time, Hibiki spent her free time in the usual manner.

nThat meant that she was still focused on training.

nUsing Multiple Cognition that was almost always active from the moment she woke up until she went to bed, she assembled and disassembled Mana in various patterns in her body.

nIt was a training method that repeated the process until right before magic was invoked.

n“Meow!”

nAt her feet, sitting on a chair and concentrating, an animal resembling a tuxedo cat approached her and rubbed its soft fur against her legs. It then gently wrapped her ankle with its long tail.

n“Are you done eating?”

nAt the same time she drew the Mana signature of 3 kinds of spells, Hibiki extended her hand below and caressed the head of Iponia.

n“Cat, do you want me to play with you?”

nIponia jumped onto the desk as if it felt her reaction was rather passive. It laid down with its stomach exposed and stared at Hibiki’s face. It was a blatant demonstration.

nDespite Seo Jin-Wook’s effort to raise it ever since it was a baby, the first person it completely lowered its guard to was Hibiki.

nInstead of Seo Jin-Wook, who often left the house, Hibiki took full care of it lately.

nIt was also her job to feed the card to it and manage the crystals it spat out.

n“I don’t think you’re ever tired of it.”

nAs the Mana pattern for the S-Rank Fire Buster spell was shaped and dissipated when it was about to be invoked, Hibiki shook the green foxtail-shaped toy with one hand.

nIponia stretched its front paws into the air as if to scratch it. It soon began to concentrate on playing.

n‘He said we had to raise it since there was a job waiting for it and that he didn’t bring it here just to keep it as a pet.’

nThat time, while practicing the pattern of electric spells, she recalled what Seo Jin-Wook said.

n‘Can it be that he’ll feed a card of a great rank that it cannot digest yet… To get its crystal?’

nWhile Hibiki was curious in that manner…

n“…!”

nShe sensed something which caused her expression to stiffen.

nOther than training to form several spells in unison and playing with a dungeon creature named Cat even though it wasn’t a cat– at that time, Hibiki was also doing another job.

nThat was because Seo Jin-Wook had also handed over control installed around the house.

nWith her senses connected to them, she monitored her surroundings as if she were watching the security cameras, and there were signs of abnormality.

n“They’re here!”

nNate knocked on the door as if he had been waiting when she urgently contacted him through her terminal.

nWhen she opened the door, he had already changed into a combat uniform and was smiling with a calm face.

n“You ready?”

nHe noded.

n“Meooow.”

nIponia cried as if to protest when she suddenly stopped playing with it.

nHibiki floated it in the air with her psychokinesis.

nSeeing that, Nate stretched a shadow without saying a word.

nIponia must have felt ominous since it tried to run away with its four feet struggling in the air.

n“Meoooooow!”

n“I’m sorry, Cat. Stay inside for a while.”

nHibiki, who tucked Iponia into Nate’s shadow, turned her head again and made eye contact with him.

nShe was also waiting for that moment, having changed into the combat uniform.

n“Did you get the scroll?”

n“Of course!”

nHe took out the SSS-Rank Wide-Rage Teleport scroll given by Seo Jin-Wook and showed it to her. It was an item that had never been distributed to the Earthlings of that era.

nWith only a little Mana injected, it ripped away and teleported the two to their designated location.

nFor the Matap Guild, there was no way to de-spell SSS-Class magic, so it was like a lifeline in case of emergency.

n‘Can we do it properly?’

nThe two knew who they were going to face that day.

nHowever, that was their first time to fight against the Awakened.

nSeo Jin-Wook gave them advice while informing them of the plan.

n‘You can just use the scroll and run away in any case, but I think they’re at a level that’s low enough for you two to deal with.’

nIt didn’t make sense, the fact that two S-Class hunters could handle four SS-Class hunters.

nHowever, Seo Jin-Wook pointed out that Nate and Hibiki weren’t any ordinary S-Class Awakened and that their equipped items were also of a different level.

n‘I’ll finish my part as soon as I can and catch up, so don’t worry too much.’

nRecalling Seo Jin-Wook’s reassuring words, Hibiki once again strengthened her will.

n‘I can’t let him down.’

nThe two quickly moved out of their home.

nIt was a scheduled escape that began in due course so that the opponent could chase them with tracking magic.

n*

nSometime after the two of them left, a series of intruders hid inside the house.

nArthur Clifford planned to kidnap even a close aide who might know his secrets if Seo Jin-Wook didn’t talk or resistance was unbreakable.

nIt was natural that Nate and Hibiki were chosen as targets.

nThey were skilled people who blocked the A-Class break together, and they were close enough to live in the house altogether.

n“Tsk, they’ve already noticed and ran.”

nLooking at the empty room, the Matap’s hunter clicked his tongue.

nThe men in charge of the house were two swordsmen and two wizards.

nThe target they were aiming for had already disappeared.

n“Is it possible to track them?”

n“Wait for a moment.”

nA wizard recited a spell.

nTrail Seeker!

nHe looked around with blue light lingering in his eyes.

n“That’s a relief. It hasn’t been long since they left. They’re traceable.”

nThe wizard moved, staring at the traces of movement that were only visible to his eyes.

n“This way.”

n*

nThe two quickly got out of their home on the back of a zombie with a Haste spell.

nThey sprinted with the wind on the ridge where the darkness took place.

nIt was also due to Seo Jin-Wook’s instructions, who considered that civilians would be caught in the firefight if they started the battle in the residential area, but Nate would’ve done that even if he didn’t ask him to.

n‘If we break Jin-Wook’s house one more time, we might be kicked out of his house for real this time!’

nIt was a serious concern for him.

n“… I think we’re far enough from the city now. They followed right behind us!”

nHibiki, who was calculating the distance from the opponent with observation-type magic, gave a signal.

nThe Orcs, which were running while carrying them behind, stopped.

nAs they waited for a moment, the pursuers appeared.

n“Haha! You must’ve given up now. That’s a wise choice.”

nThe Awakened of the Matap Guild quickly formed a siege.

nAt the same time, two swordsmen pulled out their swords and blocked the front.

nWeing!

nThe two wizards that rose into the air with the Levitation spell flew slightly apart and blocked their escape routes.

nThey left an adequate distance that also served as a vantage point. Even if Nate and Hibiki escaped, they could track them right away, and they could bombard them with various spells as well.

n‘The frontline on the ground are the close-ranged fighters, and the rear is composed of wizards in the air.’

nHibiki simulated a plan in her head.

nIn the meantime, the swordsman urged their surrender in a calm voice.

n“Seo Jin-Wook is not in Seoul right now.”

n“…”

n“Do you understand? It means no one would be able to help. You two can’t beat us.”

nHe giggled and revealed his teeth.

n“For the sake of both of us, don’t be troublesome and waste energy. Just follow me. If you don’t bother us, we’ll take you both with your arms and legs still attached.”

n“…”

nNate and Hibiki simply stared quietly at them and didn’t reply.

nThe swordsman assumed that the attitude was because they were tensed up from nervousness and fear.

n‘It’s rumored that those two received an S-Rank because they were lucky. In the end, they are still rookies. It’s been less than a year since they Awakened, after all. If I scare them moderately, it will be enough to convince them.’

nBut that prediction was wrong.

nSwoosh!

nAs if to cover the two, numerous monster-type zombies were summoned.

n“Rarrgh…!”

n“Grrrrr…!”

nThe disgusting smell pierced the noses of the Awakened mixed in the night breeze.

nThe swordsman frowned because of displeasure and irritation.

nThe Rune Stone began to glow as the wizards in the air quietly prepared for captivity spells.

n“You’re bothering me.”

nHe ground his teeth and threatened them.

n“They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. You both wouldn’t die of shock even if I cut one of your arms off. Consider the hope of being dragged away in one piece as gone!”

nNate and Hibiki stood their ground as they waited for the right time while their enemies approached.

nThey didn’t need to wait long either.

nWeing!

nAt that moment, the swords held by the two swordsmen were coated with sword energy.

n– Threats to the security target found!

nTelepathy rang in his head.

nSimultaneously, the expression of the being that only Nate could see on that spot quickly changed.

nIt was a being shaped like a woman, composed of blue Mana.

nThe Spirit, who had only observed the situation expressionlessly despite the very urgent situations, now glared at the Matap swordsmen with a hostile look.

nShhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

nLight flashed above the heads of the two.

nAs the flash disappeared, what was summoned was a magnificent metal structure floating in the air.

n“Huh?”

nWhat came to mind of the Matap guild members after seeing it was the large-calibered multi-round cannon.

nIt was an item that they saw for the first time, but it was not difficult to imagine how it would work.

nInstead of panicking, they shifted to defense formation immediately.

nConditional Barrier (Rank: S)

nAerial Shield (Rank: A)

nThe two wizards each performed their own defensive magic.

nA golden cloud cover enveloped one person’s body.

nIn front of the other, the atmosphere swirled, and a cohesive shield was formed.

nWhooooooo!

nThe two swordsmen on the ground also prepared for an attack by concentrating Mana throughout their bodies.

nThat was because hundreds of caliber openings aimed at them were likely to shoot fire and pour bullets at any moment.

nBut then…

n“… ?!”

n– Warning! Warning! No further access is allowed. It will respond with immediate firing in case of non-response…

nThey clicked their tongue inside.

n‘What a fool!’

nInstead of attacking right away after summoning an item like that, he’s only threatening them.

n‘That’s why they’re called rookies!’

nThanks to that, they were already perfectly in defense positions themselves.

nIt would be bearable even if it poured out attacks like that since it’s a shield formed by the Mana output of an SS-Rank hunter.

n‘We must take him down first!’

nTat!

nHe kicked the ground, swallowing a laugh of ridicule inside.

nWhen the sword’s trajectory was heading beyond the undead to Nate–

n“… ?!”

nHibiki activated a spell targeting the air.

nThe target was not the swordsman who rushed immediately.

nIt was the wizards in the air, hidden behind defensive magic.

nDe-spell!

nRight after that, the two wizards became baffled by the sudden change of scenery.

n“… Huh?”

nIt didn’t take long for them to notice that they were falling.

nBeyond the overturned vision, they wondered.

n‘How?’

nThey couldn’t understand.

nDe-spell wasn’t a ranged attack. Once triggered, there was only one spell that could be voided.

nWhat they noticed while they were crashing, amid the scenery that was flowing like water, was the fact that the two wizards were falling at the same time, and the shield that protected them also disappeared.

nThat was two floating magic and two protective magic spells.

nFour kinds of spells were nulled instantly.

nThat phenomenon was impossible unless someone recited and activated four de-spell spells at the same time.

nAt that moment, a strange concept passed through the minds of wizards.

n‘Multiple… recitation?’

nThey tried to recite the spell as a reflex, but their attempt was stopped as soon as telepathy penetrated their heads sharply.

n– Fire!

nAs they were placed in a state where they were helplessly exposed to a beast, the two magicians fell.

nRight about the moment when the swordsmen that wrapped their entire bodies with Mana Barrier rushed in–

nShhhh!

nThe zombies surrounding Nate and Hibiki disappeared instantly.

nAt the same time, when nothing but the air occupied the space, light exploded.

nPa-pa-pat!

nBoo-boo-boo-boom!

nThe large-calibered multi-round cannon was aimed in both directions and started to fire.

nThe number of light bullets it shot in a second reached thousands of rounds.

nThe energy shells that struck their naked bodies literally ripped through and stirred up the wizards. The two crash-landers quickly disappeared amid a blizzard of light that poured in a straight line.

nBoo-boo-boo-boom!

nThe swordsmen who were fully armed with the Mana armor, unaffected by the De-spell, were better off.

nHowever, it never meant that it was easy for them.

n“Keeeup!”

nThe magic bullets that crashed on the thick shield shook his bones and crushed his muscles.

nThe trajectory of the attack towards Nate stopped. They simply couldn’t move any further in the face of the bullet barrier.

nThey, who experienced the might of an item beyond common sense with their bodies, were horrified that their souls would escape their bodies.

n‘What… kind of ridiculous thing is that?! From where did they find that kind of weapon?!’

nThe freedom to hold such thoughts in their heads soon disappeared as well.

n“K-Aaargh!”

nIn the middle of the storm of unforgiving bullets, each bullet struck them down with heavy shock.

nThe shooting continued until the item used up the fully charged Mana.

nAnd finally…

n“…”

nLight bullets stopped firing.

nAt that moment, the telepathy rang in Nate’s head.

n– Warning! Warning! The Mana charged in this security system has been exhausted.

n– Confirming the survival of the threat target. Emergency! Emergency!

n– Asking for aid from other nearby beings through the collective intelligence network… No connection. Access denied!

n– Continuous protection by this security system is not available at this time. The protected subject must immediately escape to a safe place and request protection from the Imperial Government!

nThe face of the Spirit, which was mostly expressionless and hostile, had become pale.

nIts expression was as if the fire had fallen on its foot.

nIt was always like that when the charged Mana was depleted.

nNate calmly replied because he didn’t experience it only once or twice.

n“… It’s okay. I’ll take care of the rest.”

n– It’s dangerous! Retreat!

nThe Spirit formed by blue light gradually turned blurry. It disappeared as if it was sucked into Nate’s neck. It required sufficient time to recharge once activated.

nThe Spirit continued to send anxious telepathy to Nate even as it disappeared.

n– … Danger!

n– I must… protect… you…!

nPaht!

nAfter the Spirit completely disappeared into the neck tattoo, Nate looked at the tragedy that unfolded in front of him.

nHibiki, who was reeling from Mana exhaustion, managed to get herself together by chugging a potion down.

n“… Indeed, it’s incredible.”

nThe direction of the wizard, in which bullets were poured into the sky, was rather decent. The two, who received the attack with their bare bodies, were evaporated to blood fog before their bodies fell to the ground, leaving no trace.

nA devastated landscape unfolded along the poured bullets’ trajectory in the direction that aimed for the targets on the ground.

nNate, who partially created a barren hill, noded, saying that it was a good thing he was as far away from home as possible.

n“… Keee-!”

nThe two swordsmen, who were all battered up, were staring at them amid the smoke.

nIt was clear that they had spent a considerable amount of Mana to stop the bullet storm.

n“You bastards!”

nInstead of continuing to stare at them, Nate looked up.

nAt the same time–

nSwoosh!

nA strong wind, incomparable to that which took place while summoning the Orc zombies a while ago, blew.

n“···?!”

nThe two swordsmen moved their eyes after Nate’s gaze while filled with overwhelming anxiety.

nIn the direction they stared, there it was.

nDeeper darkness covered the night sky in a pointed form.

nIt was a humongous floating body.

nKrrrrrrrrr!

nIn the strange sense of twisted law of perspective, two survivors recalled their memories.

nThe reason why four SS-Class members had to be mobilized to catch two S-Class members in the first place was because of the contingency they wanted to be prepared for.

n“… Dragon!”

nSeo Jin-Wook was not the one who could control the dragon.

nThe two people belatedly realized that it was not a living dragon but an undead dragon.

nBut as mentioned, they were too late.

nCrrrrrrrrr!

nIts yellow eyes looked down on them.

nThe giant creature’s mouth opened, reflecting a red flame blazing inside its sharp teeth on the swordsmen’s retina.

nKwhaaaaaa!

nA river of flame connected the sky and the ground.

nThat was the last scene that the two swordsmen saw before they died.

n*

n“Oh, really? That’s great. I don’t have to go that far, then. Well done.”

nI felt relieved as I ended the call with Hibiki.

nThe two seemed to have dealt with the invaders without any problems.

n‘Yes, considering their abilities and items, the odds were good.’

nIt was an expected result.

nI turned my eyes to the body of an S-Class hunter rolling on the floor.

n‘Both of them are only called S-Rank, but they’re different from this guy.’

nHe was sprawled next to the bluely lit Gate, a hole visible on his chest.

nBoosh!

nAfter burning him completely without a trace, I headed to the next destination.

n‘They must anxiously be waiting for the results right now, aren’t they?’

nThat day’s second destination was the Destructional Blade guild.

n