CH 154

[Madman]

When the wall where Vigo was at split to left and right, a passage appears, as if telling us to proceed ahead.

“Frick-san, Al. Sorry, we only became a burden.” (Meila)

“Al-oniichan, Frick-san. Maribel and Meila-neechan are okay, so go ahead.” (Maribel)

“I’ll definitely protect them, so you go first, Al.” (Sophie)

“You all…” (Al)

Al is worriedly staring at the three trapped in the glowing grid.

“I hate moving according to Vigo’s wish, but looks like we have no choice but to go ahead to save Noelia and the three.” (Frick)

“I agree. Staying around won’t improve the situation. Since the opponent told us to come, we can do nothing but go.” (Gawain)

“Indeed. We have no choice but to go ahead. I’ll definitely save all three of you, so please wait.” (Al)

The three captives silently nod.

“Cinzia-sama too; going any further will be dangerous for you, so please wait here. I’ll definitely save Noelia.” (Frick)

“Well, with me being unable to move, I’ll only be a burden to you guys. My bad, Frick. I’ll leave saving Noelia to you. Make sure you save her.” (Cinzia)

I reply with a nod towards Cinzia’s armor, which are scattered apart on the ground.

“Let’s move on.” (Frick)

“Un.” (Gawain)

“Right behind you.” (Al)

Leading Gawain and Al, I start running to the back of the newly opened passage.

As we proceeded through the metal-floored passage, lights begin to illuminate our path ahead, and after proceeding for a while, the walls change into glass ones.

The other side of the glass walls are filled with green liquid, and monsters that look like a mixture of a human and an Abyss Walker are staring our way with resentful looking expressions.

Are they corpses of Abyss Walkers?

Creepy… It look as if humans have turned into Abyss Walkers.

To arrange such a thing to be visible from the passage, I can only say what a bad hobby.

Al and Gawain seem to think the same, as they go down the passage with a frown on their faces.

Eventually, the passage comes to a dead end.

At the next moment, lights that’s been illuminating our path all the way here turn red, and no sooner than they begin blinking violently, a noisy sound rings out in the passage.

“What!? What’s going on?” (Gawain)

Along with the loud sound, consecutive sounds of glass breaking come from the direction we came.

“Those are the sounds of glass breaking. Perhaps, the guys from before weren’t dead.” (Frick)

While the red lights inside the passage are dancing wildly, I see mix of a human and an Abyss Walker monsters running on all fours like hunting dogs from the way we came.

“They’re coming!” (Frick)

Avoiding the claws of a monster running up to me, I pierce its human-like head with my blade.

Pierced in the head, the monster twitches, before collapsing to the ground.

So weak! Is it not a new Abyss Walker!?

It’s the weakest one so far.

Although many, the attacking Abyss Walker-like monsters are so weak that they can’t be compared to those that have appeared so far; I can take them down without even using Spell Sword.

“Kill me, kill me… I want to be in peace.”

They talked!? For Abyss Walkers to speak, I’ve never heard something like that!?

Are they not Abyss Walkers?

The monsters that are running up to us all scream, “Kill me,” as they attack us with their long claws, trying to cut through our necks.

“Frick-san, these monsters…” (Al)

“Yeah, they are weird for Abyss Walkers.” (Frick)

Al seems confused by the lack of resistance too as I can see her swords’ movement becoming dull.

“Friiiiiiiick! The door has opened! I alone am enough to handle these guys. Hurry up!” (Gawain)

I regain calmness at Gawain’s voice.

The wall that was a dead end is now split up, and a passage to further inside appears.

“Gawain-shishou, just don’t do something reckless, okay? Gawain-shishou is the only one I can rely on to repair Dayle, after all.” (Frick)

“I know. I have no intention of dying and leaving my magnum opus alone. Go and get Noelia back already, so I can give her a hug!” (Gawain)

“That will be decided by Noelia!” (Frick)

“Kuh, disciples who don’t follow their master’s words will be excommunicated! Ahh, dammit. Al, too, go quickly!” (Gawain)

“Y-yes. Stay safe!” (Al)

Al and I jump into the opened up passage as if to change place with Gawain who rams into the swarming monsters and sends them flying.

The opened wall immediately closes at the same as we jump in.

“Now, we are finally able to talk. Whoops, please be aware that if you move, you’ll be preyed on by bullets. Now that you can’t create a barrier with magic, even you two can’t possibly dodge a rain of bullets, right?” (Vigo)

Inside the room, in addition to Vigo and Noelia, there are about 40 white-robed people with metal ball-shooting cylinders in each of their hands aimed at us.

If I can’t put up a barrier, even if I were to use body enhancing magic at maximum, I still wouldn’t be able to avoid everything as Vigo said.

But if I can somehow catch them off guard…

Perhaps they read my thought as a metal ball is shot from the tip of a white-robed man’s cylinder, grazing my cheek.

“I would appreciate it if you could throw away strange thoughts and concentrate on the negotiation with me. When the negotiation is concluded, Noelia-dono and the three who were caught earlier will be released safely.” (Vigo)

“I have no intention of negotiating with you. But I’ll have you return Noelia safely, and also stop your ambition.” (Frick)

“That’s exactly the answer one would expect from someone that is the hero of a heroic tale. As I thought, my decision to switch to Frick-dono is correct.” (Vigo)

The eyes of the smiling Vigo hold a sparkle so bizarre that I can no longer consider him a normal person.