Chapter 6
“Hahaha~ Why are you acting like this? I’m merely trying to send you off comfortably!”
*I've come to save you. I'll protect you in a safe place.*
I spoke gently.
“Rest assured. It won’t hurt.”
*It really won't hurt.*
I was smiling softly and gesturing.
But despite my kindness, the *Fox* girls showed no inclination to approach.
Were they scared?
Clatter...!
Finally, Irene even dropped the rusty sword she was holding.
She seemed to be struggling with all her might, but eventually, her legs gave out, and she collapsed.
“O-Older Sister...!”
“Sniff, Sister Irene...!”
The small *Fox* girls panicked, tears welling in their eyes.
They looked like elementary school-aged children at most.
Perhaps simply terrified by the situation, they trembled, hiding behind Irene’s back.
“Oh, did I put too much pressure on them?”
Alone, I tilted my head.
It was as if I couldn’t understand their reaction at all.
Well... I actually know.
As I said before, everything happening in this space is entirely within my grasp.
A game I designed from beginning to end.
The current situation was also included in this meticulous design.
In short, it was all a performance.
I appeared like a *Mastermind*.
Just before the *Fox* girls could escape, I blocked their path and deliberately revealed my *Killing Intent*, creating tension.
I even delivered ominous lines to heighten their anxiety.
It's only natural for them to tremble in fear.
Right now, the *Fox* girls must see me as a *Hunter*.
The worst kind of *Hunter*, one who could annihilate everyone here with a single gesture.
“Hehe.”
I chuckled with delight.
Perhaps because it had been a while since I last acted as a *Disruptor*, the fun felt doubled.
My lips twisted unnaturally.
My already sly smile became even more vicious.
The perfect image of a *Slit-Eyed Mastermind*.
“……”
Irene was kneeling, staring at me.
Her clear eyes trembled wildly.
Was it because my performance was too perfect? The girl seemed completely taken in.
*I really feel like I've become a Mastermind.*
That thought crossed my mind for a moment, but I quickly shook it off.
How kind and considerate I am.
There was a hidden reason behind putting on this performance.
-Ding!
[Current remaining Output: 21.5%]
I had overused my *Lies*.
The *Output of Lies* wasn't sufficient for a safe return.
If I were alone, it would have been possible, but unfortunately, I had taken on the *Fox* group, making it difficult.
In short, it was a point where *Lie Recovery* was needed.
I merely decided to use them for that purpose.
“Mercy is a luxury for *Slaves* who have already caused a disturbance, wouldn’t you agree?”
Yuda’s *Unique Ability*, *Liar*.
The more perfect the lie, the greater the emotional change it evokes in the listener, the more effectively it charges.
I exploit the hearts of others.
The fear of death.
It is one of the most intense emotions that bind living beings.
The *Fox* girls had been rejoicing in the hope of escape just moments ago.
Now, with death staring them in the face, the emotional changes that would follow were...
-Ding!
[The target's emotions are fluctuating rapidly.]
(Hope -> Despair)
[Due to the rapid emotional change, a large amount of Lies has been recovered.]
[Current remaining Output: 47.4%]
The *Output of Lies* rapidly surged.
Just a few words charged it instantly.
Normally, to fill such a gap, I would have to mumble to myself all day long.
*...This method really is good.*
Making young children cry bothered me a little, but I silently begged for forgiveness.
After all, this was a process to save them.
I believed everyone would understand.
“How pathetic.”
I murmured in a cold voice.
The smile had vanished from my lips.
Clap-!
I clapped my hands lightly once.
Following that, the numerous lanterns illuminating the passage extinguished simultaneously.
A world where only thick *Darkness* remained.
Gathering the shimmering *Mist*, I spoke.
“These worthless scraps who don’t know their place... I shall dispose of them right here.”
I released a little more of my suppressed *Killing Intent*.
The bone-chilling tension solidified into frost, and the sticky *Darkness* pressed down on the surroundings.
The children finally burst into tears one by one.
-Ding!
[The target's emotions are fluctuating rapidly.]
(Hope -> Despair)
[Due to the rapid emotional change, a large number of Lies have been recovered.]
[Current remaining Output: 54.9%]
The *Output of Lies* was recovering smoothly.
At this rate, it would take about 5 minutes.
As I was estimating the remaining time, the girl with *Vermilion Hair* caught my eye.
“……”
Irene was sitting there, lost in thought.
Had she lost her mind due to extreme fear?
Despite the commotion of the other children, the girl remained seated with her head bowed low.
*Has she given up?*
If so, it was a bit disappointing.
The ‘*Fox*’ I remembered from the original story wouldn’t collapse so easily.
Perhaps it was because her awakening hadn’t happened yet.
The tenacious *Sword Saint* I had been looking forward to meeting was nowhere to be seen.
I felt my interest wane slightly.
I had hoped to have some fun, but her state was so pathetic.
“Hmm.”
Well, should I just move on for now?
Still, since I’ve come this far, I should help her.
As long as the world follows the original story, her awakening will happen eventually.
“It’s not the sight I expected, but I’ll be satisfied with this for today...”
“Kids.”
Just as I was feeling a bitter taste in my mouth, a short phrase brushed my ears.
“Listen carefully to what Older Sister is about to say.”
A voice that was trembling and broken.
However, the words that followed that sentence were by no means weak.
“Don’t look back, just run.”
Shing-.
She picked up the rusty sword that had fallen to the floor again.
Her shoulders quivered as if they would break at any moment.
But even in such despair, the girl used the sword to prop herself up from the floor.
“I’ll hold them off here.”
Her *Black Eyes* sparkled intensely.
The girl’s pupils, filled with a venomous light, glared at me.
“Ohh.”
A gasp of admiration escaped me involuntarily.
Feeling the dying embers of my interest ignite, I grinned.
*Yes, this is it.*
I almost ended up disappointed.
A thrill tingled at my fingertips.
I spread the *Lies* I had gathered in all directions and let out a refreshing laugh.
“Hahaha! What an arrogant delusion!”
“Everyone, run!”
Immediately after her sharp cry, the children began to flee.
I glanced at the young *Fox* kits for a moment, but then I had no choice but to face forward.
The future *Sword Saint*, Irene.
She was charging at me, her *Vermilion Hair* flowing.
I wiped away my playful demeanor and snapped my fingers in the hazy *Darkness*.
“Alright~ Shall we play for a bit?”
Snap-!
The world turned upside down.
***
A long, tunnel-like passage.
Only thick *Darkness* hung heavy.
The lanterns that should have been illuminating the surroundings were all extinguished, and only primordial *Pitch-Black* flowed.
A desolate atmosphere permeated the air.
Swish-!
A sharp sound cut through the silence.
In the pitch-black space, only two intensely moving figures existed.
“Haa, haa...!”
Rough breaths echoed.
Irene, catching her breath, fiercely swung her sword.
Clang-!
The sword was blocked with a powerful impact.
There, a *Golden-haired boy* stood, blocking her attack with his bare hands.
“Is this all you’ve got?”
A cheerfully smiling expression.
In contrast to the girl, who looked wretched, he exuded an air of composure.
It was as if he saw this entire situation as a game.
*Damn it...!*
Was he really human?
To block a *Sword Strike* launched with full power with just two fingers.
*Are his fingers made of steel or something...!*
Irene clicked her tongue and took her stance again.
Immediately after, she kicked off the ground.
Clang! Clang!! Crackle...! Thud!!
The fierce clashing of steel continued.
Flame sparked every time the sword and fingers clashed.
Each momentary *Flash* briefly pushed back the surrounding *Darkness*.
“Ugh...!”
“Please try a little harder. You seem to be losing ground.”
“Sh-shut up...!”
A desperate cry stretched out.
Irene’s eyes widened.
She pushed back the sword she was struggling with.
She delivered a *strike* immediately after.
Whoosh-!
A *Sword Path* is moving horizontally. A surprise attack is aimed at an opening.
Irene instinctively knew it would succeed.
The angle, distance, timing—everything was perfect. It was impossible to block.
*Got you...!*
But.
“Oh dear.”
Clang-!
He blocked it as if it were obvious.
Again, with his index and middle fingers.
The boy parried Irene’s sword with just two fingers.
“……Ha.”
What kind of monster was this?
A hollow laugh escaped her involuntarily.
However, there was no time to dwell on such thoughts.
This time, the boy’s fist was flying towards her.
Irene quickly defended with the flat of her sword.
The next moment.
Thud-!
The fist struck the sword’s flat, and a heavy impact slammed into the girl.
“Kuh...!”
Even after taking a *Defensive Stance*, she was pushed back considerably.
Her fingertips tingled and trembled.
She barely managed to keep her legs from giving out.
As she steadied her swaying body, the boy approached her.
Click-clack.
His shoe heels were unusually loud.
Facing the terrifying footsteps, Irene bit her lip.
“Are you already tired? I’m just getting warmed up.”
Tap-.
A light step on the ground.
It was just one step, but the boy was already standing before Irene.
As if he had used *Teleportation*.
“Ta-da.”
“You son of a...!”
Even reacting quickly was too late.
The fist had already connected with Irene’s abdomen.
Thwack-!
A heavy *Strike* landed. Her body flew back once more.
The body that had been airborne soon tumbled to the ground.
Irene lay prone, groaning in pain.
“Ugh... H-huh, h-huh...”
Her consciousness faded.
The girl struggled to regain her senses.
As if to mock Irene, the boy murmured in surprise.
“Oh? Did that hurt so much? I thought I was holding back...”
“……”
Irene quietly bowed her head.
Her body could no longer move.
She had only taken one hit, but it felt as if her insides had been twisted.
*Am I going to die here?*
The *Fox* sensed death.
If she had known this would happen, she would have just quietly sold herself as a *Slave*.
A fleeting regret flickered.
The boy was toying with her.
If he used his full strength, he could probably kill her with a single gesture.
*How futile.*
A feeling that her life's efforts were being denied.
The sword she had honed couldn’t reach him. She couldn’t even follow his movements.
The exhaustion born of lament weighed heavily on her shoulders.
It hurt. It was scary. It was sad. It was lonely.
However, what came to mind before those emotions was...
I wonder if everyone escaped safely.
It was the thought of others.
She had bought them a lot of time. That was at least some comfort.
The *Fox* let out a wry laugh.
She didn’t want to die.
Death was a frightening thing.
But what she feared more than death was being humiliated.
The girl quietly raised her head.
“I suppose this is enough for now. We wouldn’t want our protagonists to get hurt.”
“……”
The *Golden Snake*, no, the monster with golden hair.
He looked at her with a brazenly concerned expression.
She wanted to land a blow on him.
If the children needed more time to escape this *Hell*-like slave market, the girl had to hold her sword.
It was a path she walked purely out of conviction.
She would hold on for a little longer.
Even if it meant burning her last breath.
“Hey... you snake bastard.”
Irene forced her broken body to rise.
Her balance swayed, but the girl murmured, pointing her sword tip.
“We have to see this through.”
The next moment.
Light sparkled from the rusty sword’s surface.
A faint glow spread into the *darkness*.
It was so meager that Irene herself didn’t even notice it, but the *Golden Snake* didn’t miss that ray of light.
The boy unconsciously murmured.
“……Is that, perhaps?”
A momentary lapse of doubt. It soon turned into an exclamation.
“How interesting.”
His eyes narrowed into thin slits.
The *Golden Snake*, feeling a thrilling interest, broke into a wide smile.
It was a clear glimpse of shining talent.
“I didn’t originally intend to go this far... but shall we enjoy ourselves a little longer?”
Putting aside his throbbing anticipation, the boy gathered his *Lies*.