3. Dragon’s Eye, Human Mind (19)
Before climbing the stairs, I looked back one last time.
A few who had recovered from their injuries were staggering to their feet. At least, the Imperial Intelligence Service seemed to have a resolution.
But with a broken shoulder or a broken spine, there was no jaw that could stand against me. Even when they were fine, they were not my opponents.
It only took a few minutes to subdue the newspaper members who tried to make a last stand.
Ahead of the stairs, the bodies scattered side by side were stacked on top of each other. About eight people, the number of permanent residents seemed to be only this much.
The total number of people was probably in the tens. If I had dealt with them all, my odds were slim.
That’s why I chose surprise.
In the end, it wasn’t a bad choice. I massaged my forearm, which was still bleeding.
It was a wound stabbed by a dagger. The anesthetic must have been applied, and even though he was suppressing it with magical power, his arm was already numb. His stamina was exhausted, and his breathing was a bit rough.
It had to be done as quickly as possible.
There were still remnants of emotion. Inadvertently, my body stumbled several times.
As I climbed the stairs, I had a strange dream with my mind clouded by the effects of anesthesia.
It was a luxurious bedroom. An old man coughing came into view.
The sickness was obvious, but the look in his eyes was clear. Blazing blue eyes were looking at me.
The moment he opens his mouth.
I suddenly came to my senses.
It was on the second floor after all. The building occupied by the newspaper department had a high ceiling, but the stairs were stairs anyway.
It didn’t take much time to reach this place.
And there was only one room on the second floor.
As soon as I saw the nameplate, ‘Chief’s Office’, I threw open the door.
In the spacious room, there were bookshelves placed on either side of the corner. There were numerous papers stuck in it, and cozy furnishings penetrated the view here and there.
A woman who was reading documents in a relaxed manner was sitting across from me.
Brown hair, neatly trimmed, fell down the nape of her neck. The hairpin in her bangs was a particularly impressive woman.
On the outside, she was just a pretty girl. On the contrary, I was even given the impression that it was cute.
Her emerald eyes glanced at me. She had a bright, charming smile.
“Welcome, Confucius Hatchet… It was noisy downstairs, did something happen?”
“… … The hospitality of the newspaper department was amazing.”
Giggling, the woman covered my mouth and burst into laughter. That mischievous attitude was like dealing with a familiar friend.
It was a strange landscape. Of course, she was friendly enough to be called the ‘Queen of the Prom’. It wasn’t strange that everyone was friendly.
However, this was only a story when dealing with normal opponents.
At least it wasn’t the attitude he would show when dealing with a man with bloodstains all over his uniform and cloak, and blood dripping from the ax blade in his hand.
Even so, the woman seemed unwilling to withdraw her relaxed attitude. The corner of the woman’s eyes drew a light arc.
It was an eye smile. The papers were hurled on the desk with a thud.
“You are a difficult reporter… Isn’t that too reckless?”
“Because I owe you a lot.”
To my bony words, she obediently nodded her head as if agreeing.
“Yeah, it was a good time. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to find a bunch of interesting articles.”
Then, the woman yawned, haaam, and stood up. With her hands behind her back, her body walked to the front of the desk.
With her back to the sun, her pale green eyes shone with a gleam.
It was the eyes of a snake that found its prey. Her mood changed instantly.
A thick mana rose like poisonous smoke. It was getting dark all around even without the curtains drawn.
Ordinary magic could not have such a strong color. It was said that this was also one of her Auror traits.
‘Neris’, the queen of the ball.
He was a 4th year student at the academy’s swordsmanship department and was a commoner.
He was a student who rose to the ranks of celebrities thanks to his intelligence and personal connections rather than his skills. At least I had heard rumors that he wasn’t talented enough to reach an expert level.
But what is this aura that dyes the room like a hazy fog?
Instinctively, strength went into the hand holding the hatchet. The feeling was ominous.
Can it be finished in a short fight?
Whether or not I fall into trouble, senior Neris asked me with a slight upper body tilt.
“… … So, what do you want me to do?”
“From now on, don’t touch the people around me.”
It was a plain answer.
“Hmm,” said the woman with a meaningful smile. So I dared to add.
“If you don’t want to get hit.”
It was a sincere warning.
Senior Neris shook his head as if he knew that. Then, he stroked his chin and showed a look of concern for a moment.
It was after that that the sound of laughter broke out.
At first it was just a small sound, but that clear laugh grew louder as time passed. So the woman burst into laughter for a long time.
As if she had heard a very funny joke, the woman brushed off the water from my eyes with her slender fingers.
She said in a voice that still had a hint of laughter.
“… … Nope?”
That moment when a face with a blue mockery floated up.
Pak, I felt the presence of something falling from the ceiling. I jumped straight away.
A dagger with a black aura was stuck where I was. My eyes widened.
Didn’t notice the slightest bit. However, to have such a vivid aura, I had never heard of such a bizarre aura characteristic.
But that wasn’t the end.
Pababag, and a rain of daggers poured down from the air as if it were raining. I immediately rolled over and dodged the dagger.
And when I got under the reception table, I heard the sound of a dagger being thrust into the desk.
Even if I can’t do it, it’s over ten sacks. Twenty sacks, or more.
How could he possess so many daggers?
It was Neris-senpai’s calm voice that awakened my consciousness that was immersed in such doubts.
“It’s no use hiding, it’s already too late anyway.”
Still with her hands behind her back, she was walking leisurely. I could feel the presence slowly approaching me.
Should I avoid the seat?
But I soon dismissed that possibility. Even now, the anesthetic poison was rising, and the mind was gradually blurring.
Running away was not the answer. Rather, it was time to take a chance.
Holding my breath, I held the hatchet in my arms.
The steps he walked along were calm. And the moment she came close to me.
Pak, I lowered my head and stood up, and the table in the parlor turned over at once. It was enough to block Neris-senpai’s vision even for a moment.
I immediately kicked the table.
I hoped for a little bit of time delay, but the table had already been drawn with pitch-black slashes. It was an unimaginable high-speed chain attack.
If you get hit by that blow, you won’t even be able to find a bone.
I had to fight before that. My hatchet, which was swung with my teeth clenched, cut Neris-senpai down the entire table.
Kang, and a crash resounded in the air.
The noise of blades colliding with blades meant only one thing.
It meant that even though he covered his eyesight, he accurately grasped my sword path and blocked it. It was an impossible response in common sense.
While I was panicking, a jet-black stab pierced my arms.
I twisted my body and narrowly avoided the sword. The outstretched arms were flimsy. I had only one option.
The hand holding the hatchet relaxed. Two hands attempted to grasp the arm that appeared in front of me.
She might be pushed back with a sword, but Seongguk’s arcane jujutsu would be able to subdue her.
My arms entangled like snakes. However, Neris senior’s response was also not easy.
Her arm dug into mine in reverse. Before I knew it, a hand approached my chest and tried to push me away.
Of course, I wasn’t going to leave like this.
I shook off one of my arms and shook off Neris-senpai’s arm. One of the remaining arms dug deeper into Neris-senpai’s arms. Senior Neris also tried to shake off my arm.
How many times did they get entangled, entangled, and shake off each other’s arms like that.
In the end, the one who gave up was senior Neris. She dropped the dagger she had been holding until the end.
Then, the dagger disappeared like smoke, an ability that could not be identified.
It was a chance though. While Neris-senpai hesitated, I pulled her arm.
and the next moment.
With a breath, the dagger fell onto my shoulder.
Again, there was not even a hint. When I glanced at Neris-senpai, she was smiling.
“I told you, it’s already over.”
That’s right, I couldn’t help but understand.
I don’t know what the principle is, but Neris-senpai had this space under his management.
It might be her aura trait. It distorted reality with images called auras, and sometimes manifested special abilities.
I had never heard of such a unique ability.
It was more like magic than aura. It seems that there must be some kind of trick, but for now, such worries are meaningless.
Read at noblemtl
Just in the stopped time, I nodded my head.
“… … Yes.”
Then, I pulled Neris-senpai’s arm all the way, and Neris-senpai, who didn’t know how to move even after being struck by the dagger, opened his eyes wide.
It was because it was normal for the pain to cause stiffness even for a moment.
But unfortunately, the arm where senior Neris’ dagger had been pierced was stabbed by the dagger coated with anesthetic, and the pain was vague.
My body dug into Neris-senpai’s arms. Soon, her arm was placed on top of my shoulder.
There was only one technique to go into next.
Seongkuk Secret Jujutsu, Moon Reversal.
The blow with all its might, stabbed Neris-senpai like a ray of light.
Wood fragments flew into the air with a thump and shockwave. A small amount of blood spattered from Neris-senpai’s mouth.
First of all, it was a hit.
Idk why these people keep forgetting that Ian is a madman