312 - - Episode 310: Nello's Nightmare and the Fear of Shield

"Boss, boss, we have a problem!"

"Huh?　You're making too much noise. Stop your rattling.

I'm sorry. Actually, I heard that Blasto's poison has been cured. ......

How is that possible? The bandit said that only the finest antidote or panacea could cure that poison. It's impossible for a guy like Blast to get his hands on it.

In fact, Blasto's place is desperately searching for an antidote, but the best they can get is an intermediate level. Blast will die. We could attack him right now and crush him, but he's a popular guy. If we attack him now, he may resist to the death, saying he's protecting his boss.

It would be better to destroy those who are discouraged by the death of Blast, and save us a lot of trouble. It cost me a lot of money, but I guess I was right to hire that adventurous guy. Now the slums are mine.

"But it seems that a very skilled priest has appeared, and most of the residents who had Blast's breath have been healed of their injuries and illnesses. Blast is reported to be doing well and even running a soup kitchen. ......"

"......An, what a ridiculous story. That can't be true. Don't be fooled by stupid rumors.

These corrupt people who have a monopoly on restorative magic and even we would back down, are curing slum dwellers with good intentions?　It's too improbable to be used as a children's picture book nowadays.

"But then I got a call from the guy who put me undercover at Blast, and he said I'm really cured. He's just recovered and needs to rest, but his color is back and he's eating."

"This can't be a joke. Are you serious?

"I've seen it myself, and it's true that they are having a huge soup kitchen. And I couldn't see Blast, but his boys were all cheery and excited after having been down for a while.

"Call the adventurers."

What the hell?　A trap?　Blast is dead, and you're just trying to cover it up?　But the family of the one who infiltrated us is being held hostage. You can't betray me and cross me.

*****

"What do you want, mister Nello? I was in a good mood having a drink and you force me to call you out! We may be paid to do your bidding, but we're not your boys to do your bidding.

Talis, the former adventurer shield leader, complains in frustration.

"Yes, you're not my men, but I'm paying you a lot of money. You're not my men, but I'm paying you a lot of money and I expect you to do your job well. ...... So, it seems that some good priest cured Blast of his poison. What does that mean?　Can a priest cure you?"

"Hyah-hyah, you think a priest can cure my poison?　Well, maybe they can, if they're high priest class. They used restorative magic for slum dwellers?　Come on, if such a miracle exists, I'll be a devout follower of God from now on!　You're not very good at jokes, are you, Mister Nello?"

The bandit laughing his ass off. You're joking. If you asked me, I'd say it was a bad joke.

"I just got a call from the guy I've got lurking in the blast. He's resting now, but he's been eating. Is your poison weak enough to eat food?　By the way, the family of the guy we're infiltrating is being held hostage. Betrayal is unlikely."

"...... It's true that the poison isn't untreatable. But even if it could be cured, it's not a poison sweet enough to make you eat right away.

"Then what do you mean?　You mean you weren't poisoned?"

"No, Jarno was sure to hit the blast with the poisoned arrow I prepared. How could he not have been poisoned? In fact, they were looking around for the antidote, weren't they?"

"Yeah, they were calling out to every store they could find, even the ones they didn't know anything about."

I'm pretty sure that bastard Blast was poisoned.

"...... not a clue. A priest with access to restorative magic I can't imagine would have cured him so perfectly. Maybe that Blasto guy is a monster.　Unless that lurker is fooling around."

d*mn, there's no denying that son of a b*tc* is a monster. He's got some crazy logic and crazy power that I don't understand. I can't tell you how many times I've failed to kill him because of it. .......

"Hey, get back in touch with whoever's got him in there. Make sure he knows what's going on with the blasting. You got it?

Yes, sir.

Depending on how things go, I may need you guys to do some more work. Be ready.

"Hey, hey, we don't work for Nello's husband. We don't take orders from him.

"The deal is to kill Blast. If what you just said is true, then your job is not done yet, is it?　I put poison in him, but he didn't die, so does that mean the job is done?"

"...... tsk. Okay. I'll be ready."

**

"Seriously. He's really alive. And he's still alive. f*ck!"

"Hey! How dare you let him go after you had him so close! Why didn't you just put an end to him?"

Nello's yelling.

"Shut up!　You should have seen the last time my Danone got blown to pieces. I don't care if he's torn to pieces, he's not a guy you can mess with! It's more likely that your men were slowed down by the surprise attack from behind, which created an opening!"

That blast, is he really a human being?　How can he swing such a big gold bar when he's cut and stabbed and spewing blood all over the place? I don't get it.

"d*mn it, man, after all that cutting... They won't be able to move for a while. We're gonna take a break. All right, Mister Nello."

"...... Well, okay. But after you rest, you'll have to fight again. And this time, make sure you kill the blast."

You don't fight yourself, but you say you like it. Well, just put a careful stop to it, and we'll get the job done. First you need to get some rest.

**

"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, Nello's husband. We weren't hired to kill monsters, were we?　Or are they twins ...... or, considering the poison, triplets?　It's a violation of the contract to cheat on the number of people, man."

"I don't know, I've never heard of Blast having triplets. He can only have one."

"Why the hell is that blasted bastard I just chopped up coming out of the booth waving his gold bar around?"

I don't care. I don't care. Just go kill him this time. You hear me?

d*mn, you make it sound so easy. We're one man down. But we're getting paid. Unless you can prove he ain't Blast, you're in breach of contract if you run. It wouldn't be funny if I lost my title as an adventurer and got a bad name in the underworld too! We'll kill him this time. That's the only way.

I'll hold that monster back. Kill him while I have the chance. Korun, our priority now is to kill the monster, and use all the poisons and tools we can get our hands on. I'll take care of the costs.

"Leader, I appreciate you covering my expenses, but I'm marked before that. I'll have to deal with them before I can move freely.

"I don't know if I can take care of that much while dealing with a monster. Use Nello's men and do something about it!　Oh, shit, they're here already.

I go out in front of the monster who is hitting me with a ridiculously large gold bar. d*mn it!　You're a human, but you're definitely more powerful than a troll, you monster.

............ Hey, hey, what the hell, what's going on?　This monster, ignoring his surroundings, is madly slamming the metal bar against my shield. I feel a shiver running down my spine in this hot country. You don't think ...... he's aiming at me?　d*mn, my arm is going numb.

****

"Mister Nello, I can't do this anymore. Let's get out of here."

"Retreat? Don't play with me!　You guys just kill Blast and get the hell out of here. Don't think you can break my contract and live in King's Landing!　If you run away, you're a bounty hunter, and if you don't like it, kill Blast properly!"

The bandit, Korn, did you say?　You've got to be kidding me.　It's all-out war, and if I lose, my influence will be shattered. I can't lose. I'm the man who's going to rule the slums, and I'm the man who's going to rule this country from behind the scenes.

Then get me a full supply of the finest restoratives. Our leader is dead in both arms. I'd rather be a bounty hunter than deal with that monster without a leader! Besides, it's not only Blast over there, but the guy who hit him is back with blood all over his clothes! How are they going to win? We had twice as many men as they did, and now we have less!

"Ggh ......."

It's true that these guys come back injured and in good shape. Is the rumored priest healing them?　But before we attacked, we were informed that there were no priests at Blast. ...... What the hell is going on here?

"We can't just pull out. I'm paying you guys a lot of money. You're going to have to work for it!"

"That's not good enough. We're down a leader and one of our own, the key to our defense. I'd rather be a bounty hunter than die in here. We're pulling out. If you want to take the bounty, do what you want. Well, if you're alive after this war!"

"I'll never forgive you for mocking me. Hey, kill them!

"Boss!　Blast is out again!"

What!

"Ha ha, you really are a monster. What are you going to do, Mister Nello? While you're trying to kill us, that monster is going to attack us!　This time there's no leader, and soon!"

"f*ck you!　I don't care what you guys do, just make sure you kill that monster!　You kill him, you get the money, you get the girl, you get what you want. I'll make you a top executive!"

"Well, good luck with that!　Then we're gone!"

We'll deal with them after we kill the blast. I swear to God, I'm gonna kill them with a vengeance. Gogan!

"Hey, Nello. Long time no see. I missed you.

"Blast!　Why are you here ......?"

I look around and see my men rolling around and groaning. You mean you just blew these guys away in an instant?

"What the hell, you're the one who started the fight, I came all the way down here to see you and you won't take me!"

"You're a f*cking joke, you're a stubborn survivor, how come you're not dead, you f*cking monster!"

"Oh, maybe I'm immortal. So goodbye. Goodbye Nello.

Blast smiles like a beast and raises his club. d*mn, I'm sure I would have won, but how the hell did this happen? I don't get it.