Ch.196196. Who’s Going to Die?

“Aqua Wave!!”

I was truly bewildered.

Berik’s magic.

It was of a much higher grade than what ordinary mages cast, and its power was remarkable.

And on top of that.

Swoosh-!

“How about that, Jawill Wilson!! Still think we’re a burden!?”

Wortman’s swordsmanship was magnificent as well…

This was beyond anything I could have imagined.

Kweeek-!

Berik’s magic lacked the destructive power of Rebecca’s, but his casting speed was faster.

Wortman, though slower in movement compared to Rio, wielded his sword with comparable strength.

To think that such powerful individuals were hiding in the Abandoned Land, a place even the author didn’t know about.

No wonder they managed to capture a Cerberus during last year’s monster hunt…

I wanted to bring them to Lake Territory, even if it meant going through Jawill Wilson.

“…Impressive.”

Before I knew it, all the monsters around us had been annihilated.

Wortman spoke with tension still evident in his body.

“When you told us not to get in your way earlier, I really wanted to kill you.”

“By the way, if you two are this strong, how powerful is Brond supposed to be?”

At my question, Wortman and Berik exchanged glances hesitantly.

Then Wortman wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

“Brond, Berik, and Clara are the strongest in Pandera Territory.”

“…Huh?”

“You already know that Brond and Clara were strong from the beginning.”

“Y-yeah, that’s right.”

“And as you can see, Berik has risen to a high position as a mage in Pandera Territory.”

“…Then why are you suffering humiliation from Brond?”

Wortman glanced at Berik and cleared his throat.

“Because he’s Chief Loris’s son.”

“Just because he’s his son…?”

“Can you really say ‘just’? If you fall out of Chief Loris’s favor, you can’t do proper work in Pandera Territory, and people won’t even greet you.”

These guys…

They’re mistaken.

With Berik and Wortman’s skills, they would be coveted talents by any family.

Was this the ‘brainwashing’ of Pandera Territory that Jawill Wilson mentioned?

I crossed my arms heavily and tilted my head.

“You could leave Pandera Territory.”

“…Easy to say, but how can we abandon our homeland?”

Are they blind prisoners chained by the shackles of homeland?

I’ll need to pull these guys out of this hellish Pandera Territory later.

If I could bring them to Lake Territory, Jawill Wilson would be pleased too.

‘For now, the important thing is… the magic grass first.’

I dusted my palms decisively and spoke.

“Let’s continue the complicated talk after the monster hunt is over. How about that?”

“Sounds good.”

“Let’s do that.”

That’s when it happened.

I sensed a foul presence behind me, one I’d become somewhat accustomed to.

Reflexively turning my head.

“Hey, Jawill Wilson! So you managed to join the monster hunt?”

As expected, it was Brond’s voice.

Gradually, his companions emerged from the forest.

Of course, Clara was among them.

‘So what Clara said was true after all?’

Wortman and Berik assumed defensive postures.

They seemed to realize this atmosphere was different from Brond’s usual bullying.

Of course they would know.

Everyone except Clara was directing killing intent toward us.

“Are you planning to kill us?”

I asked casually with my sword resting on my shoulder, and Brond’s eyebrows twitched.

“…I really don’t like you.”

“What exactly is it that bothers you every time we meet?”

“Your arrogant expression and posture, everything.”

“I don’t like you either.”

“Someone like you?”

“You’re the ugliest person I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Simple attacks on appearance are often the most effective.

As expected, Brond looked at Clara with an expression that seemed about to explode.

“Clara, if Jawill Wilson dies today, will you finally get over him?”

“…Huh?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. I already know you rejected my confession because you can’t forget Jawill Wilson.”

What is he talking about now?

Clara liked Jawill Wilson?

Then why was she so terrified?

Could it be she was afraid Brond would harm Jawill Wilson?

I looked at Clara with a bewildered expression, and her face was as red as a tomato, unable to say anything.

I thought she had fallen for me after I easily defeated Swell, but that was just an embarrassing misunderstanding.

“What?! No way!! Clara liked Jawill Wilson first?!”

“Why!!! Why would Clara like someone like Jawill Wilson!!”

Berik and Wortman raised their voices with veins popping on their necks.

Whose side are these guys on?

Of course, I was just as confused as they were.

“Clara!! What’s the reason?!”

Oops, I momentarily lost my composure and raised my voice, causing Wortman and Berik to look at me with incredulous expressions.

As I barely regained my senses, Brond revealed his yellowed teeth in a sinister smile.

“Kuhaha!! That’s right, you should have just stayed quiet after returning to your hometown.”

“So Clara bullied me because she liked me since childhood?”

“Yeah, I couldn’t understand it. Why Clara would like a loser like you.”

I adjusted my posture with an indifferent expression.

“I agree with you on that.”

“…What?”

My mind slipped again.

I shook my head vigorously and cleared my throat.

“Ahem! Anyway, even if I die, you’re not good enough for her.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re ugly. Disgustingly so.”

Brond assumed a stance with blazing eyes.

I also did my best not to let my guard down, as I couldn’t gauge his abilities.

But then.

Grrrr-!

A massive monster appeared behind Brond.

Its breath echoed through the air as it approached, revealing enormous claws.

Three heads.

When the central head growled, the left and right heads roared together.

‘Cerberus…’

Blood dripped down its black fur.

It had a gloomy atmosphere as if it had just returned from hell.

Interestingly,

The Cerberus’s gaze was fixed solely on Wortman, Berik, and me, ignoring Brond and his companions who were closer.

“…Did you summon a monster?”

Brond straightened his shoulders proudly and spoke.

“Not summoning—this is my Cerberus. I invested quite a lot of money and time taming it.”

While intelligent monsters can be tamed, how did he manage to tame a Cerberus?

I examined the Cerberus again with a puzzled face.

The ominous necklace around its neck.

I looked at Brond with a skeptical expression.

“It’s an enchanted necklace.”

“…You’re more perceptive than you look. It’s not something someone like you should be able to recognize.”

Accessories with magic enchantments do exist, like the magical contract I received from the witch.

However, their prices are beyond imagination.

Especially a necklace that can tame monsters?

It would cost more than the entire fortune of an ordinary noble family.

But.

How could such an item exist in Pandera Territory, an abandoned land?

It was clear evidence that Chief Loris was secretly making money behind the territory’s residents’ backs.

I stepped forward a couple of paces to protect Berik and Wortman.

“Is it okay to use something Chief Loris bought for you so carelessly?”

“W-what?!”

“That necklace on the Cerberus… it’s something even ordinary noble families can’t afford. How could someone like you possess it?”

“T-this has been passed down for generations—”

“Right, that’s what your father told you to say if anyone asked.”

Brond flinched and then twisted the corner of his mouth.

“Why bother explaining to someone who’s about to die anyway?”

Just then, footsteps were heard from somewhere.

I turned my head slightly to see that among Brond’s companions, only one person—Clara—was walking toward me.

“…Huh?”

As I maintained a suspicious expression, Clara positioned herself between Berik and Wortman and spoke.

“…I’ll help too.”

At Clara’s words, Brond’s face burned like a volcanic eruption.

“Clara!! You dare betray me!?”

“I never betrayed you because I was never on your side to begin with.”

“…So you’re saying you’d rather die with Jawill Wilson? What a beautiful love story?”

“Dying now would be better than spending a lifetime with you.”

Jawill Wilson…

How did that stupid, dull guy manage to win over a woman like this…

Even though it should be a good thing, it strangely irritated me.

Brond rolled up his sleeve and spoke in a chilling voice.

“Fine, let’s see if you’ll still be stubborn after watching Jawill Wilson die before your eyes!?”

Then he looked at the Cerberus.

“Cerberus, go kill him!!”

At Brond’s command, the necklace around the Cerberus’s neck glowed brilliantly.

I also walked forward steadily.

“J-Jawill Wilson!! It’s dangerous!!”

Clara’s voice came from behind.

I turned my head, winked to signal that everything was fine, and then—

I channeled strength into my lower body and leaped like a spring toward the Cerberus’s heads.

Slash. Slash. Slash.

All three of the Cerberus’s heads were severed simultaneously.

Swoosh-!

The Cerberus’s heads rolled on the ground as Brond and his companions stared at me with shocked faces.

Of course, Wortman, Berik, and Clara wore the same expressions.

I slowly rested my sword on my shoulder and gave a warm smile to Brond, who still hadn’t grasped the situation.

“Who did you say was going to die?”