Chapter 46: Step Out For a Bit

Horror spreads.

"!"

The orange-haired one's eyes went wide.

They probably didn't expect their companion to die in one hit. This is why people shouldn't let their guard down.

You never know when you might catch a blade.

The sudden killing seemed to startle Chae-rin on our side too.

"Waah!"

I inwardly gave a bitter smile.

Come to think of it, this was my first time killing someone in front of others.

Of course, they were trying to kill me first.

In this barbaric world, that's reason enough to die.

But just because the reason was justified doesn't mean I could understand her psychology.

After all, Chae-rin was a modern person. She might be repulsed by such a direct scene of murder.

"Wow... as expected. Yor's skills are really amazing."

...Or not?

Well, from her perspective this is just a game. Maybe it's fine.

Predicting Otherworlders' psychology is always difficult.

They feel just like normal people one moment, but ultimately they view this world from one step removed.

There's always that subtle sense of distance.

'...Whatever, forget it.'

But those thoughts were brief as I focused on the situation at hand.

Now wasn't the time for contemplation. The opponent was recovering from their shock and taking a combat stance.

"You bastard...!"

With a small curse, the orange-haired woman rushed at me.

I raised my spear to block her short sword.

Clang-!

Her attack was heavier than expected. Considering how easily I one-shot the redhead, it was surprisingly powerful.

'So she's actually skilled.'

Well, that explains why she was so relaxed in this Middle Layer.

"How dare you! That subordinate was hard to obtain...!"

In fact, she seemed even more skilled than the dead one.

There wasn't a trace of fear in her expression. Even after witnessing me kill with a single thrown dagger, she wasn't intimidated.

Soon she took a step back and launched a series of attacks.

That's when I couldn't help but be slightly surprised.

A blue aura enveloped her short sword.

In other words, Sword Energy.

I couldn't help but wonder.

'Just what kind of organization is Lemegeton?'

That Ryan person from before was the same.

For a mere criminal organization, they had an unusually high number of strong people.

Using Sword Energy means you're at least an A-Class Adventurer, so why do these types keep appearing?

Maybe the requirements for A-Class are lower than I thought?

I don't know. Not like I've ever been an adventurer. Either way, it wasn't good news.

'Sword Energy is... pretty tough.'

Of course, I can use Sword Energy too.

But as I mentioned before, I'm a bit clumsy with it.

I mean, when you have Demon's Blood that's more efficient and lethal, why bother with the hassle of Sword Energy?

But now I might have to use that troublesome thing.

After all, there's a spectator beside me right now. A no-hit clear using only Sword Energy.

While I used to enjoy self-imposed challenges in games, forcing myself into one now was quite frustrating.

'...No, wait.'

But that thought was brief as a good idea occurred to me.

If the spectator is bothersome, why not just remove the spectator?

I tentatively asked her:

"Chae-rin, could you die right now?"

"Eh, ehh?"

She stared at me with a dumbfounded look that seemed to say 'what nonsense'.

Damn, guess that won't work. Failed to eliminate the witness.

Then suddenly I remembered another method.

Come to think of it, Otherworlders have options besides dying, don't they?

I'd been so focused on murder that my brain had temporarily frozen.

Clang-!

Blocking the opponent's sword again, I called out to Chae-rin.

Damn, a sword infused with Sword Energy really did feel heavier.

"Then log out! Just log out for a bit!"

"Eh, ehh? But logging out and back in takes at least 20 minutes..."

"That's enough. No, that's perfect!"

20 minutes is enough time to clean up the opponent and make rice cakes too.

At my words, she showed a worried expression.

But only briefly, soon nodding and preparing to log out.

She trusted in my abilities.

After all, she knew I could go toe-to-toe with Seere.

"...Don't get too hurt."

With that, she vanished from the scene. One presence disappeared.

After creating some distance, I looked around.

"......"

It was dead quiet. Except for the one in front of me, the only sound was leaves rustling. Not a single presence could be felt.

In other words, the only one observing me here was the person in front of me.

And since they're about to die, it's essentially no one.

I felt a strange sense of liberation. How long had it been since I felt this freedom?

"You're distracted!"

The opponent charged at me. A thrust with the short sword.

I could see fierce mana concentrated at their sword tip.

Now that I've confirmed it, I could dodge.

But instead, I extended my right hand toward their sword tip.

Squelch-!

Along with the sound of fabric tearing, searing pain greeted me.

I couldn't help but grimace at the momentary pain.

Still, as someone who cuts their own flesh monthly, I could handle this much.

Seeing their attack succeed, they let out a vulgar laugh.

"Hehehe, you fool. Think I'd go easy on you just because you're good-looking? You're dead."

"......"

I didn't bother responding. I don't particularly enjoy conversing with the dead.

I moved my blood for the first time in quite a while.

Slither slither... Blood that was about to fall to the ground defied logic and rose back into the air.

As far as my will, and ability, allows.

Blood can be transformed however I want, and exert just as much force.

The blood flowing from my hand coated the entire sword like a sheath.

Best to get rid of cumbersome weapons quickly.

I applied pressure to crush the sword itself.

Crack-! Crackle-!

Along with sounds a sword shouldn't make, their short sword crumpled like paper.

I let out a short hum watching this.

"Hmm..."

Crushing steel still takes quite a bit of force. This was only possible because it was a thin, small short sword.

Not a method I could use often. This ability had its drawbacks too.

Anyway, that took care of the nuisance.

"Wh-what?"

Seeing this, they backed away making dumbfounded noises.

Confusion and terror spread across their face.

"No, what the fu... What was that? Black magic? What are you? How can you do something like that?"

"Why is someone about to die so curious?"

I tossed aside the metal scrap and approached them. I reclaimed the blood that had coated the sword.

Bright red droplets gathered and floated in the air.

Such a convenient ability if Rage Mode doesn't trigger.

"Eek, stay back...!"

They cried out in a terror-stricken voice.

Their earlier aggressive attitude completely gone.

Fortunately for them, I had no hobby of tormenting those about to die.

So I planned to end it in one shot.

Shape the Blood.

A simple thrust is all I desire.

The blood droplets dancing in the air gradually moved and formed into a spike that flew at them.

The terrified opponent hastily raised their round shield.

But it would be useless. If it could crush steel, how could a mere round shield stop it?

That was the end anyway.

"Gurk!"

With a short death cry, a hole opened in their throat. Through the hole in their neck, I could see the peaceful forest scenery.

I sent them off the same way as their subordinate since they seemed to care about them.

Thud!

Watching them collapse to the ground, I fell into brief contemplation.

"Hmm..."

Now how should I dispose of these bodies?

*

Flash!

After logging out, Chae-rin emerged from the capsule.

And while waiting to reconnect, she trembled with anxiety.

"What should I do...!"

Of course, she knew Yor was strong. He'd shown it plenty of times, and he was someone who could duel a demon and survive after all.

But looking at the situation, a single 'man' was left alone with a criminal. If something went wrong, there'd be no one to help.

True, he was the one who demanded the 'log out'.

Why did he suddenly request that anyway?

She followed along reflexively since he seemed urgent, but because of that the waiting time became quite nerve-wracking.

[Demons Saga] requires about 20 minutes of waiting to reconnect after logging out.

This was to prevent exploitative play where people log out during combat.

Of course, logging back in doesn't grant any invincibility time, but it can at least confuse monsters.

Anyway, because of this Chae-rin had to wait helplessly for 20 minutes.

After those 20 minutes passed, she immediately logged into the game.

"Yor!"

As soon as the strange floating sensation disappeared, she looked around.

And she could see.

A piece of scrap metal rolling around in the corner, and Yor diligently digging ground to bury two corpses.

"Ah, you're back?"

He said, looking at Chae-rin.

"Sorry, but night's approaching. I need to dig right now, but can you walk out of here alone?"

Watching her NPC friend concealing corpses, Chae-rin felt her earlier worries become meaningless.

And she seriously contemplated internally.

Even if this was a game, and the opponents were criminals.

Should she just stand by and watch this major crime scene... she wondered.