Chapter 149
Chapter 149
Trust and Deception (2)
This time, I succeeded in defending a critical spot. Of course, there was only one reason I could manage it.
‘He wasn’t going all out.’
Roderick hadn’t swung his sword at me with the intent to kill. He just meant to warn me not to get cocky and to back off.
“You had enough skill to run your mouth, at least.”
“That’s a relief to hear.”
We only exchanged a few blows, but I could tell for sure.
‘We might not even need all three.’
Two would be more than enough to win. I had improved quickly, and Irena was growing fast too—Nora had always been strong.
In fact, it didn’t even have to be me among the two. Just a joint assault from Nora and Irena alone seemed like it had a solid chance of victory.
Once I got to that point in my thinking, a rather interesting and effective plan crossed my mind.
“I’ll try a little harder this time.”
My objective shifted slightly. I had a good read on his skills now, so the next important step was to identify the unique effect of that absurdly long-named battle gear.
If, even factoring that in, the two of us were still enough to win, then the idea that flashed through my mind would turn into a full-fledged strategy.
“Come at me.”
I was going to force him to use the power of that battle gear no matter what. With that thought fixed in my head, I opened my eyes wide and charged in.
Now that my goal had changed, I took the offensive, and Roderick switched to defense.
‘He’s dodging everything, seriously.’
Just like Irena said, Roderick had no intention of blocking any of my attacks.
Because even one hit would kill him. So he wasn’t going to let even one connect.
That was how he moved.
“What, are you fighting with your toes?”
I shouted, swinging my sword in a wide arc.
“You noticed. Impressive.”
Most wouldn’t catch on. Roderick’s fast, agile movements all started from his toes.
It wasn’t the kind of movement a human couldn’t pull off, like a Lunaseeker. But the fluid changes in direction and bursts of speed were enough to inspire awe.
‘Son of a bitch.’
I could pin down those nimble moves with Swift Blade. Likewise, the rapid, light attacks Roderick launched could also be suppressed with Swift Blade.
But I couldn’t use it now. I wasn’t allowed to.
‘Ah, fuck it. I don’t need it.’
If I was useless without Swift Blade, then I’d start doubting my own ability.
I tossed off the equipment that had been protecting my body. All the pieces of metal armor that had been covering my vital areas fell to the ground with a heavy clatter.
“Is he out of his mind?”
I answered not with words, but by swinging my sword. I couldn’t keep up with his speed as I was, so I had to reduce the weight.
Once I threw off all my protective gear, Roderick and I were in a similar state.
One outfit and a single weapon.
That was all I had on me. But thanks to that, my movements became faster. Some might think it’s just a matter of a few kilograms, but—
If you think about the number of reps you can do when adding or removing just a single 10kg plate during strength training, it’s definitely not a small difference.
“…!”
The tip of my blade narrowly grazed his cheek. He managed to dodge, but it was far closer than when I was still weighed down with gear.
‘The things I can use right now…’
I couldn’t use what I was most confident in, so I had to bring out things I hadn’t used before.
Things I hadn’t properly learned, things I’d picked up by watching others, barely enough to mimic.
For example—
Amidst dozens of slashes exchanged in a short span of time, I accepted a bit of damage and managed to close the distance, grabbing Roderick’s wrist.
“Jujitsu?!”
His center of gravity shifted, and his body spun hard.
In Roderick’s field of vision, the blue sky suddenly came into view. A body launched into the air would naturally crash down.
“This is the end!”
Normally, jujitsu required both hands to be free, but there were schools that trained to use it even while holding a sword in one hand.
The moment Roderick’s back hit the ground, my sword would stab into his chest.
“He’s gone?”
But Roderick’s body never hit the ground. In fact, it vanished.
“Amazing. You surprised me.”
Roderick’s voice came from behind me.
“You’re being quite harsh to someone using an ordinary battle gear.”
At my words, Roderick let out a hollow chuckle.
“I didn’t think I’d end up using this.”
The unique ability of that ridiculously long-named kitchen knife was simple yet powerful.
‘Teleportation.’
It was the kind of ability that would suit a Security Bureau officer. It helped in combat, sure, but was even more powerful in situations where one had to move stealthily without being seen.
There had to be a limit—maybe a range limit, or a usage count. If it were a battle gear that let you teleport anywhere, anytime, then it wouldn’t be in the hands of a regular officer—it’d be in the hands of the Director of the Security Bureau.
“I didn’t expect it. I heard you didn’t use it when you were in the Azure Order of Knights.”
“…You know about me?”
I nodded at Roderick’s question.
“I’ve heard a lot of stories. You were one of the people I personally admired. The retreat from the Natunga Basin, for instance… it left a deep impression on me.”
One of the Second-Class Medals that decorated Roderick’s uniform was awarded for the merit he earned during that retreat at the Natunga Basin.
“Hearing stories from the old days… it brings a strange feeling.”
Kairus remained silent for a moment before letting out a sigh.
“Can you really not tell me? Just one branch is enough.”
At his words, Roderick stroked his beard and replied.
“Since I’ve used this power, you could say I’ve lost. I’ll grant your request.”
Hearing his answer, I jumped to my feet and looked at Roderick with wide, astonished eyes.
“Are you serious?”
“What reason would I have to lie?”
“Thank you. Thank you so much!”
He might come off as a bit cocky, but his skills back it up.
And on top of that, when someone brings up your past, says they admire you, says they were moved—it’s bound to make you feel good.
“However. It’ll have to be after your identity has been confirmed.”
That didn’t mean Roderick was stupid enough to just grin and tell me the Security Bureau branch location. He’d first have to contact the Bureau and verify my identity.
“Of course. I’ll be waiting.”
I had no complaints about that. They wouldn’t be able to find anything strange anyway. After saying goodbye, I stepped out of Roderick’s house and thought to myself.
‘Teleportation, huh. And with that level of skill…’
Even as I kept thanking him, my brain was spinning.
‘If it’s Irena and Nora, even if they can’t kill the bastard, they can definitely push him to the brink.’
That was the conclusion I came to. As for the power of Roderick’s battle gear, I could be the one to fill them in.
At the very least, they’d be able to seriously injure him. Now, I needed to deliver the updated plan to Nora and Irena.
“I’ve already prepared the method.”
I went to the village chief, gave him a modest token of appreciation, and got permission to stay at the village hall.
“Well now.”
It was a small room with bedding.
It wasn’t the lavish treatment I’d received when I captured that Republic prosecutor, but at least it was a place to sleep.
“And now I should let Nora know.”
What I needed to do next was simple. I wrapped a piece of lokum I’d received from Nora in a sheet of paper and placed it outside the window.
On the paper wrapped around the lokum, I wrote out the details of the upcoming plan. After leaving the lokum outside, I went around the village, gave out some money, and got a meal. Then I returned to the room.
Where the lokum had been placed, there was now a chocolate wrapper. It was the wrapper from the praline chocolates Irena had once given me.
Proof that my message had reached Nora.
“Good. After all, a debt for saving your life isn’t something easily forgotten.”
Following my signal, Nora and Irena were going to ambush Roderick, and he—fighting with the resolve to suffer a mortal wound—would narrowly escape danger with my help.
If Irena and Nora could get that far, they would have done their part.
“Now I just need a good excuse.”
Of course, I already had a plan for that too.
I whistled as I headed back to the village chief’s place.
“What now?”
“Nothing much. I was wondering, do you happen to have any alcohol at your place, Chief?”
The chief gave me a look of disbelief at my question. It wasn’t uncommon for travelers to ask to rent a room, but asking for alcohol? That was a first.
“What do you need booze for?”
To the puzzled chief, I handed over a thick wad of bills.
“Do you still need a reason?”
“…My wife brewed some wild grape wine last year. There’s a whole crock of it.”
“That’ll do just fine.”
I had achieved my goal. I’d already laid the bait for Roderick.
“I said I admired him, after all.”
Showing up with a drink and saying I wanted to hear some old stories wouldn’t seem strange. I’d met someone I respected, we’d even crossed swords—sharing a drink together wasn’t out of the question.
‘The moment my identity is confirmed, I’ll act.’
There was no reason to delay. I still had plenty to do after I finished with Roderick, and I’d already gotten everything I needed from him.
But for now, with nothing else to do, I simply sat on the bed, waiting until Roderick summoned me.
“Damn, even being able to train a bit would be nice.”
I couldn’t practice Cloud Seizing Art right now. I had no idea who might be watching or from where—training in it would be far too risky.
All I could do was mentally review the contents of the Cloud Seizing Art manual, training through visualization alone.
Two days passed like that.
“Are you in there?”
A knock came at the door. I stood up immediately.
“Ah, you’ve come.”
Roderick had arrived. I straightened my posture and looked him in the eye.
“The investigation is complete.”
I recalled where I’d hidden Flicker and kept my gaze fixed on him. If anything went wrong now, I’d have to fight.
At least I thought I’d be able to grab my weapon before he struck.
“According to the confirmation, it all seems to be true.”
“I told you, all I want is to work for the Security Bureau.”
At my words, Roderick gave a nod and held out a piece of paper.
“I’ll tell you the location of one of the nearby branches. Anything that happens after that falls under their jurisdiction.”
“Thank you.”
I accepted the paper and bowed my head in thanks. With that, the meeting was over.
We’d be seeing each other again soon anyway. Once Roderick left, I made the bed and straightened the blankets.
It was a pre-arranged signal. Tonight at 9 PM, Irena and Nora would visit Roderick’s house with hostile intent.
And I would show up at that same time, carrying the wild grape wine I got from the chief.
‘I'll rescue Roderick from Irena and Nora.’
I sat quietly, occasionally glancing at the clock as I waited for the right moment.
When the time came, I picked up the wild grape wine and stepped out of the village hall.