episode_0007

“Don’t talk to my companion like that.”

“You shut up, Mirnan. Hey. Didn’t you hear? Take off your mask right now.”

The highly charged atmosphere was heating up to the brink of collision.

If things continue like this, I’ll definitely end up fighting Croc… but it doesn’t matter.

“Is there perhaps a reason why I should take off my mask?”

“Say one more word and I’ll tear your mouth.”

“One word. Alright, what are you going to do now?”

Croc’s face, looking at me, had turned so red it could no longer be seen as human.

Since his personality was so hot-blooded, he probably couldn’t tolerate such provocation and mockery.

-Grip

Croc picked up the huge double-edged axe placed beside him.

An axe about the size of his own body.

There’s definitely a reason he holds the position of chief.

In Jackal, where might makes right, the fact that he firmly holds the top position says it all.

His speech and behavior are close to those of a third-rate thug, but his might is real.

But there’s no need to be intimidated by that.

-Hum

“Are you a mage?”

“It seems you still know this is magic?”

“Little punk’s bluffing.”

Croc sneered, looking at the mana surging in my hand.

“Do you think a mage can take on a warrior at close range? Still, since you’re Mirnan’s companion, I’ll just take one arm and one leg.”

“Challenging the impossible is what’s beautiful, isn’t it? I’ll cheer you on.”

“You son of a…!”

Croc, unable to bear the provocation, lunged at me.

At this distance, Mirnan could get caught up, so I moved Mirnan chair and all.

“Excuse me for a moment-”

“Kya! What is it-!”

After I used mana to move Mirnan far away like that, Croc closed in.

-Swoosh

I slightly twisted my body to dodge the axe flying towards my shoulder blade.

The wind generated as the axe blade grazed past narrowly.

A gentle breeze brushed past my cheek.

-Whoosh!

As the first attack failed, he immediately twisted his stance and attempted an upward swing, but-

“Oh my, dodged it again?”

“Shut that mouth!!”

I lightly dodged it again.

The power is strong, but it’s honest, without skill or deception.

His method of attack was the complete opposite of his base and cunning personality.

-Clench!

The muscles in his forearm contract and relax momentarily.

What would happen if that was clearly visible to the naked eye?

The answer is. The path and purpose of the attack are clearly revealed.

I looked at Croc, who had finished preparing to swing his attack honestly towards me, and asked as if curious.

“Are you shadow boxing? Your attacks aren’t landing.”

“What sudden nonsense is this?”

“I’m saying the way you’re dancing is beautiful.”

“You son of a-”

-Whoosh!

The axe splits the air once again.

I’m not particularly confident in close combat, nor have I trained my body, but if I know the attack path, dodging is easier than expected.

To put it in a metaphor, it’s like playing rock-paper-scissors with someone who can only throw rock.

‘Ah… so this is the general standard, I guess.’

He’s definitely pathetic, to the point of not even being comparable to the Holy Knights of the Holy Kingdom I met before.

It’s natural since each and every one of them reached the peak through grinding away long hours of hardship, but even considering that, the difference is severe.

As I dodged the attack, an opening appeared in his abdomen.

I quickly adjusted my stance and extended my hand towards Croc.

Mana quickly and concisely gathering in my palm.

“Condense. Accelerate. Disperse.”

The blue light that took shape in an instant charged with tremendous speed, and then-

-Bang!

It exploded in Croc’s abdomen before he had time to react.

The cluster of light pulled Croc just before touching him, breaking his balance, and then delivered an even greater impact while his strength was briefly released.

I thought it would be fine since I hadn’t increased the lethality, but…

“Cough!!”

“Oh?”

I didn’t expect him to spit up blood.

-Thump!

Croc clutched the abdomen revealed through his torn clothes and knelt down.

It seems he trained hard, as his clearly defined abdominal muscles were stained bluish-purple.

The internal injuries are more severe than I thought.

Croc dry-heaved a few times, then threw up another handful of blood.

-Drip -Drop

Blood drops stained the meeting room carpet dark red.

The dripping blood drops clearly showed the density of the pain.

The axe that fell from Croc’s hand with the impact.

Picking it up, it felt considerably heavy.

Holding the axe, I stared down at Croc.

“……!”

Croc’s eyes trembled as if he thought I was about to chop down on him.

Do I look like such a barbaric person?

I placed the axe down in front of Croc just like that, then squatted down and looked at him.

“It’s still too early to give up. If a man draws his sword, he should at least try to cut a radish. Come on! Opportunity has arrived.”

“Fuck… you bastard…!”

Just as Croc was about to reach for the axe again-

“That’s enough.”

Oliver, who had been watching the situation, opened his mouth.

His escort, who had appeared from the shadows, was protecting Croc’s companion, Mirnan, and Oliver.

Indeed, taking care of others besides his boss felt characteristic of Oliver’s escort.

Oliver surveyed the situation for a moment, then looked at me, who was squatting, and said coldly.

“You said you were Mirnan’s companion? Such rudeness beyond this is hard to see.”

“Oh dear. I got excited in a way that’s unlike me.

I stood up with a small laugh.

Only then did Croc’s companion run towards Croc.

Was that action born of worry?

Seeing that there was fear in her eyes, it didn’t seem like worry.

It was a look that instinctively knew what kind of treatment she would receive from Croc later if she did nothing.

“Keuk….”

As she helped the kneeling Croc up, Croc let out a painful groan.

“Are, are you alright…?”

“You idiotic bitch. Does this look alright to your eyes?!”

Croc raised his hand for a moment, but soon lowered his arm due to the pain felt in his abdomen.

At the utterly unsightly appearance, I almost applauded without realizing it.

Once Croc had been helped up and stood, Oliver was silent for a moment, then spoke in a low voice.

“Croc. You should go back for now.”

“Don’t bullshit me.”

Croc glared at Oliver, openly expressing his unquenchable rage.

Having been toyed with throughout the fight and even taken a proper hit, his pride would be quite wounded to just back down like that.

But-

“Can you even properly proceed with the meeting in that state? We can meet again later, so take care of yourself for now.”

“…….”

Every word of it was correct.

However, it was also a slightly biased statement.

I, who attended as a companion, was the one who made the chief look like that.

Oliver only warned me and took no other action.

-Grind

Croc gnashed his teeth in anger.

But what could he do by doing that?

Although Jackal possesses the largest number of members, only a very small portion came here.

If he unnecessarily caused a commotion, there would be a clash with Bank’s members…

Although their numbers are few, in terms of member quality, Bank is overwhelmingly superior to Jackal.

In fact, there was no choice but to follow Oliver’s words.

-Stomp -Stomp

In the end, Croc went back in an unsightly state, being supported by the companion he had been harassing.

But before leaving, he turned back and glared at me.

“You… you, see you next time. I won’t let you off then.”

“It’s good to see you looking forward to the next time. Though it’s problematic because you look so unsightly.”

“You son of a-”

Croc tried to lunge again, but seeing Oliver’s hardened expression, he clicked his tongue and turned back.

With Croc gone.

“There was a small commotion just now.”

Peace returned to the meeting room.

-Tap -Tap -Tap

Just then, Mirnan, who was behind Oliver’s companion, ran towards me.

And then she aggressively hit my chest with her small fists.

“What the hell is this suddenly!”

“Wow, why are you so excited? You’ll get wrinkles if you frown.”

“You… you son of a…!”

Leaving Mirnan, who was trembling for a moment, behind, I stared intently at Oliver.

His expression was gentle, unlike the stern face he had when he spoke sharply just now.

“Haha.”

As expected of someone who has stayed in this area for a long time, he is quick-witted.

Although I was wearing a mask, it seems he knew from the beginning.

I said with genuine admiration.

“You’re a good actor, aren’t you?”

At those words, Oliver burst into hearty laughter and stood up.

And then he quietly extended his hand towards me.

The hand extended as if asking for a handshake was imbued with politeness.

He gently relaxed his expression and smiled.

“It’s been a while, Mr. Owen.”

“That’s a slightly embarrassing title. Just call me Owen.”

I had expected it when he mentioned there would be a meeting, but sure enough.

He pointed at the mask I was wearing and said.

“Since you were wearing a mask, I pretended not to know for a while.”

“As expected of Oliver. Hehe.”

Mirnan, who had been dumbfounded for a moment watching me and Oliver converse amicably, came to her senses and pointed at me and Oliver, saying.

“Wha, what is it. How is this situation unfolding?”

“It became like that.”

“It’s exactly as he says.”

Despite the unfriendly explanation, Mirnan didn’t get annoyed and asked again.

“So… you two knew each other from the start?”

“Yes, to put it simply, you can see it as WWE, right?”

“What is that?”

“It means it was all fixed.”

“Ah.”

Only then did Mirnan, who understood everything, blush.

Lowering her head and trembling, she shrieked and lunged at me.

“You should tell me such things in advance, you crazy bastard!!!”