Chapter 64: Viper

Chapter 64: Viper

Excuse me. Ms. Sharon, right?

Oh, here you are.

After being introduced by Elias, Shiryu and Shizuku came to the Garrisoned Corps guard station and were soon able to spot the person they were looking for. Even in this world, Sharons blue hair was rare.

Its been a while, Ms. Sharon.

About a year, I guess. It truly has been a long time. Shiryu, have you grown a little taller?

Have I?

Yes. You used to have a boyish look, but now you are wearing a little bit more of an adult look.

Thats a complicated emotion

Despite curving up her lips, a tinge of exhaustion was noticeable on her face.

Um, Ms. Sharon are you busy with your work?

Ngh You are still as sharp as ever, Shizuku.

Sharon chuckled inconsolably as she strained her eyes to see her coworkers who were hustling around her.

You both are aware of the tragedy that befell this city last month, arent you? More than ten people from the Garrisoned Corps perished in that incident, over thirty were wounded, and the organization was in shambles due to the loss of its leader, Shiva Ramerick, who was killed in the line of duty. Since the majority of the deceased were veterans of the corps, we are now struggling even to carry out our routine work. Even I, a young member, have been appointed Deputy Head.

Eh, Ms. Sharon, you are the Deputy Head!?

Similarly caught off guard by Shiryu, Shizuku also lacked knowledge of this development. Nevertheless, given her ability, it seemed like a sensible decision.

Yes. Furthermore, now there is a bit, or rather, fairly unsavory information that came in the evening, and I was already panicking until a moment ago.

Eh Whats going on?

For a moment, Sharon showed signs of hesitancy, but then looked at Shizuku and company before speaking up again.

Do either of you have heard of a city called Valiahar in the east of the kingdom?

Yes. If my memory serves me right, it is a commercial city, correct? I have never visited there as it is awfully far from here though

Right. I received information that there are people who came to this city from that distant place. And they are another tricky bunch

What do you mean?

The wanted list for this month was ultimately presented by Sharon, but following closer examination, it was not from this city.

Its the wanted posters for Valiahar. The Cannibal Merchant and Viper featured in it are the uninvited guests this time.

Being told this, Shizuku peered into Shiryus hand as he flipped through the wanted list, and immediately found Cannibal Merchant since it was on the very first page of the wanted list, which contained the most notable names of the moment.

Sasha Croizet, Cannibal Merchant, Rate A-.

Remarks: The nickname is derived from the fact that this individual kills only merchants in the underworld. The merchants of the underworld are threatened and compelled to sell her goods, and if they do not sell them by the deadline, they will be killed. Despite lacking any fighting skills, this figure always employs powerful bodyguards.

Its exactly like cannibalism, right?

Sharon nodded in response to Shiryus murmurs.

Further turning of the pages led to the discovery of Viper as well.

Viper Felt? Rate S+.

S+!?

A deep wrinkle creased Shiryus brow when Shizuku unwittingly let out a shout.

Shizuku, besides her rate, it seems to be more complicated than that.

Eh!

Shiryus finger was positioned on the Remarks column. On it was written something unbelievable.

Remarks: No magical power.

An ominous stillness reigned in the store.

I nearly called out Hansas name, only to swallow it.

There is something there. A snake staring at me, holding its breath.

I should turn back now. The door was not yet closed, and by taking a step backward, I could slip out right away.

It was then that I realized that the Mist Veil I was clad in was not stable. Even the control of my magical power was inconsistent. After pondering the cause of this, my recollection arose at once. Right, it was the influence of the stone that was placed in this store to obstruct magical power.

After all, the odds were against me here. The safest course of action for me was to leave, even though I felt awful for Hansa.

Right when I was about to retreat with that introspection, the door behind me abruptly slammed shut.

!?

Sensing a presence approaching me soundlessly at that moment, I immediately deployed Chakrameth. Its deployment as a hybrid-type was complicated by the effects of magical power blockage, and its degree of accuracy would earn me a failing mark with my pupils.

Ugh!

Relying only on my experience and intuition, I swung the blade and felt a definite tingling sensation. Chakrameth was soon shattered, though, and with an impact as if struck by a blunt instrument, my body was sent flying and crashing against the wall.

What!

That was when it registered to me that the mist that had shrouded my figure had dissipated.

Had the effect been broken by the stone when I was regenerating?

It cant be helped.

? !

Killing this woman here was a solid choice.

I was within striking distance of the woman in a flash thanks to Sprint Move.

The magic crystal stone I had taken out was crushed. The surge of seething magical power instantly deformed the womans attractiveness.

Destruction.

The decomposition magic was about to initiate, eroding the womans beauty right down to its atomic level

What!?

The vast magical power of the magic crystal stone, which can usually be controlled, went out of hand.

The outcome was that the outpouring of magical power destroyed the tip of my right arm, where the magical power was converging, and it imploded, entwining me and the woman.

Ugh!

!

Both of us were knocked off and I hit my back hard against the wall. The right side of my body was sizzling hot. In fact, it must have been scorched by the explosion.

Never did I imagine that I would fail to control the magic crystal stone It seemed that I had underestimated the effect of the magical power obstruction stone.

Kafka had already suffered enough damage to the point that it could no longer maintain its original shape by the time the magical power amassed by Soul Eater regenerated my wounds and I got up. Hansa would have gone into a coma if he had caught sight of it.

In the midst of all this, I searched for the figure of the woman from earlier but failed to find her. I then noticed that the door at the backthe door leading to the room where the guns were placedwas ajar. It was inconceivable that she would make a blunder of this magnitude, and she was probably inviting me to join her.

Either way, I had no choice but to stand my ground now that she had seen my face.

After opening the door and stepping inside, I found myself in the presence of a petite girl standing in front of the woman from earlier and the collapsed Hansa.

Mr. Hansa!

Ugh

A faint groan passed in reply when I called out his name. He was apparently still alive.

Felt, what the heck. I have given you an order not to let anyone in until I finish my business with this old man!

Oh, pardon me. Hes even more of a monster than I realized

I dont want to hear that excuse anymore!

Her appearance in such a setting seemed out of place owing to the girls distinctive high-pitched voice, which oddly reminded me of a childs voice in a cartoon.

That girl, however, must be the merchant Hansa was referring to based on the present circumstances.

Mhm, it cant be helped today, and I have no choice but to go home! If you screw up the same way again, Ill have to cut your pay!

Yes, Ill be careful. Also, my serpentine spear was broken earlier, so the repair

Youll have to pay for it.

Eh.

And that person there who interfered with us, you can have this back, too!

The girl said so as she flung a small bottle at me.

I accepted it normally as if it was not a trap.

In it were the little finger of a left hand and five toes of a foot.

Ill turn you into that old guy over there if you meddle with me again! Bye!

Bye-bye. See you again

The two of them then departed through the rear door.

Mr. Hansa!

I rushed to Hansas side first and assessed his condition. I performed a simple first aid treatment once it became clear that he wasnt in a life-threatening situation.

A knock came at the stores entryway at that same moment. There had been an explosion of that scale. Even though it was a brick wall, the blast must have been audible to the outside crowd.

Carrying Hansa, I hurried to the back door where the two had just left. As I did so, my eyes fell on a long, neatly wrapped gun, the only one propped up against the wall.

This was most likely the sniper rifle I had come to pick up today.

After some hesitation, I took it and headed for the rear entrance.

There was a chance that I might be pursued. After concealing my face, the first place to go would be the remains of Mathias mansion. At the very minimum, the roof and walls should still be in place.

Knowing that I had gotten myself into yet another predicament, I sighed lightly and hastened my steps.