Chapter 64
Ah, so blinding.
The flashlight beams shot by the Luddite gang Members wrapped around me like gorgeous stage lighting. I felt like I had become a superstar in an instant.
I could understand why they were staring so intently. I had made my entrance at such perfect timing... and my appearance must have been incredibly ridiculous.
I looked quite swollen, even to my own eyes.
My limbs were thickly puffed up while wearing Silicone Gloves, and my upper body bulged out as if I had stuffed padding into my chest and stomach.
Wearing the bar's uniform in that state made me waddle around heavily like a penguin.
On top of that, there was the oversized motorcycle Helmet stuck on my head.
There is no vital spot on the human body as important as the head. I have to protect it well.
This was an item that the Mantis Ronin who died earlier had checked in at the bar, and since it had good Head Display support, it seemed there would be no issue at all with securing my vision.
Being an expensive product from a good company, it was also equipped with EMP Resistance.
Wouldn't using this to deal properly with the Luddite gang be exactly what that Ronin would have desperately wished for?
With those thoughts in mind, I opened my mouth.
"You customers over there, yes. You guys. Please stop that now."
Where my gaze was directed, those Luddite bastards were thrusting buzzing, vibrating hammers toward the Raver customers.
The bastards who had been swinging their tools like baseball bats, claiming that smashing machines with a hammer was best, twisted their heads fiercely to look at me at the sound of my voice.
The Customer who had fallen in front of the bastard's hammer and couldn't move was a face I also knew well.
The Ladam Mercenary Agent, Ravin Haywood.
He was someone with the skill to protect his own body, but it seemed even he couldn't hold out in the face of an Electromagnetic Pulse Explosion.
Ravers, who are inherently vulnerable to EMPs, tend to unconditionally undergo related Resistance Modification up to a certain level or higher, but,
even so, it couldn't be helped that their bodies would momentarily freeze, creating an opening.
Moreover, since their bodies are composed of such precise circuits, if even a single microscopic defect occurs, that Alone causes a massive hindrance in fighting enemies.
On top of that, those Luddite bastards were even holding weapons, so he was being done in helplessly.
It looked like his head was going to be mashed into a pulp by the hammer at any moment, so I hurriedly stepped forward to stop it.
He was a Regular Customer I had grown somewhat fond of, and an incredibly rare normal Customer at that, so I couldn't just let him die like this.
Naturally, the Luddite gang Members seemed to find my appearance extremely displeasing.
"What are you? Looking like a busted dumpling. Why did you bring an umbrella? Did you come in to avoid the rain?"
"A busted dumpling... Heheheh, it suits him. What a fucked-up looking bastard."
Whew, their words are quite spicy. A busted dumpling?
They seemed to be saying that after seeing my swollen body inside the uniform.
There was no way they were saying that after seeing my face. They wouldn't even be able to see my face because of the helmet.
If they had seen my face in the first place, they wouldn't have even been able to spout such nonsense, because I'm too handsome. Does calling a peak handsome man a dumpling even Make Sense?
And as for the umbrella... I can somewhat understand that reaction.
An umbrella indoors is a bit out of nowhere, after all.
At the gang's reaction, I lightly shook the black umbrella held in one hand. It was heavier than it looked, providing a perfectly good grip.
This was also something I had brought from the Warehouse.
Surprisingly, it wasn't Electronic Equipment but a mechanical item, so I figured it would perfectly suit the current situation, since it wouldn't be under the EMP Effect, that is.
I raised it just like that and aimed at the Luddite gang Members who were fiercely approaching this way.
Click.
Even though I was Aiming precisely with the tip of the umbrella, the bastards just stared this way stupidly without any particular Sense of Crisis.
Are these guys people who haven't even seen Kingsman? If they had, they would have thought to dodge first.
Clicking my tongue, I pulled the trigger on the handle hard. I savored the intense recoil of the umbrella gun, which I was using for the first time in my life.
BANG—!
The Compressed Air was triggered mechanically, firing a bullet. The Non-lethal Lead Slug exploded accurately against the gang member's face.
An exclamation naturally popped out at the sight of him flying far away with blood and teeth scattering.
Ooh, that's going to hurt quite a bit.
Smiling with satisfaction, I gave the umbrella a cool twirl. This umbrella gun is a weapon I really like.
Later, I should ask that self-proclaimed Holmes Yangban where I can get one.
It was the weapon he had checked in at the bar, which I had confiscated and placed in the Warehouse.
The umbrella gun that had proven its effectiveness on my way to work today was now playing an active role once again.
Come to think of it, I don't know where the original Host, Mr. Holmes, is or what he's doing.
He's not visible here, at least. Did he hurriedly run away the moment he saw the Luddite gang arrive?
Maybe he exercised his sharp observational skills like a Detective and spotted the Hammer Tattoo.
Well, that wasn't the important issue right now.
The problem was that the Luddite gang Members, startled by the power of the umbrella gun, all pulled out the firearms they had brought in from the Outside simultaneously.
They're going to Counter a gun with guns, is that it?
As expected of a terrorist gang, they aimed this way and fired their bullets without a single shred of hesitation.
TATATATATATANG—!
In my momentarily focused and Slowed Vision, the rain Outside the window stopped in midair, and the shapes of the bullets fired in various forms and their incoming trajectories were drawn out.
Standing in front of that, I raised the umbrella.
Since I had already pressed the Handle Button, the Compressed Spring inside the frame expanded, and the steel ribs and canopy surface stretched out like a Shield to block the front.
And it wasn't just a Shield in feeling; it was an actual Shield.
It was so wide and large that when I lowered my body just a little, the umbrella's Polymer Nanocomposite Fabric covering my entire body took dozens of bullets in succession.
THUDUDUDUDUDUDUDUDU—.
Honestly, it was quite a terrifying experience.
In my head, I knew the specs of this weapon, so I knew that just unfolding it could produce a Bulletproof Effect.
Nevertheless, when you're taking a shower of bullets pouring down like rain with just a single umbrella,
when your whole body shakes wildly from the impact and your ears feel like they're going deaf, your brain can't help but be momentarily engulfed in fear.
I understand why soldiers who have experienced war suffer from PTSD. Keeping your wits about you in the face of a pouring Hail of Bullets is by no means an easy task.
But everything has an end. There was no way they'd have bullets left when firing so Recklessly.
When the roaring sound ringing through the bar stopped and the pressure that felt like it would break my arm subsided, I immediately peeked my helmet-wearing head out and fired at the visible faces.
"customers, Unauthorized Firearm Carry-in at our bar is a Reason for Expulsion. Goodbye."
BOOM! BANG!
The Lead slugs fired in succession, sending two gang members flying one after another.
It was a sight you'd only see in a movie, as they flew back vomiting blood and crashed into the Reinforced Glass and walls.
The other gang members gritted their teeth and charged in to avenge their colleagues.
Glancing to the side, Ned Ludd was quietly watching his subordinates foaming at the mouth and charging in a frenzy.
His face, drenched in blood and sweat, was twitching at the mouth as if he found it Interesting.
I'm thankful he isn't attacking first, but what is his reason for doing that?
Since he's the Final Boss, he won't Step up first, and he'll Watch to see if I can first withstand his subordinates—is it something like that?
I don't know. How could I possibly understand the psychology of a psychopath?
Since he could Attack suddenly at any moment, I paid maximum Attention and prepared to Welcome the Luddite bastards rushing in with hammers.
I pressed the Folding Button to fold the umbrella.
While the unfolded Shield Mode could block bullets, it was unsuitable for blocking things like an Electric Hammer or a katana.
Since the material was excellent, it might be able to block them a few times, but due to structural issues, it would tear quickly. I couldn't let that happen.
And above all, even in this folded state, it was a sufficiently excellent weapon.
CRACK.
Gripping the tip of the umbrella, I swung the Steel Handle and smashed the leg of a rushing Luddite.
With an intense sense of impact like hitting a home run, the Tough-looking gang member fell with a thud and rolled backward.
It felt like his bone had shattered, so he probably wouldn't be able to stand up for a while.
Good. That's one down.
I had Taken out three with the air gun and one with the Umbrella Handle, so the remaining number was five, excluding Ned Ludd.
The problem was that all the remaining five, perhaps culled down to only the elite, had an unusual momentum and were even cautious.
Even as I look at them now, instead of rushing in blindly, they surrounded me with nowhere to go; three closed the distance, and two from behind aimed firearms.
If I showed even the slightest opening, they would smash my head with a hammer or shoot me.
They were enemies who knew well how to use the advantage of numbers.
Just from the bastards closing in and swinging their tools, I was quickly driven into a corner of the bar.
As the attacker took advantage of a moment when I looked away, a cluster of nails fired from a Modified nail gun flew at me, forcing me to unfold the umbrella to block them,
and when the attacker swung a katana in that opening, the umbrella let out a precarious shriek as if it would tear at any moment.
And as if they had realized from this short skirmish Alone that I wasn't used to Close Combat, especially Close Combat against multiple opponents, the enemies became much bolder and more aggressive.
This is a crisis. I need to execute a countermeasure quickly to Break Through.
Fortunately, I had one thing prepared. I didn't know how effective it would be, though...
CRASH!!!
Barely dodging a hammer swung with a Full Swing that smashed and crushed the wall, I kicked a box behind me and sent it sliding.
Because it was so heavy, it didn't go very far, but even so, this was enough.
Because I confirmed that it had reached its Destination.
It was a good thing I intentionally revealed myself on this side. It was the closest Position to where I needed to send the box.
That box was the large Metal Box I had painstakingly dragged all the way from the Warehouse, and someone who had received it, transmitted via Express Kick Delivery, was now reaching in and pulling out a long, large object wrapped in foil inside the box.
And the Luddite gang, perhaps thinking my Kick was nothing more than a Desperate Struggle, paid no Attention to that direction and remained entirely focused on their offensive against me.
They're going to regret that.
Under the blade combat, with blades stabbing wildly like a butchery, a hole was pierced in the umbrella and a blade hooked in, and at the same time, a Blunt weapon struck the frame, making my body tremble from the shock that rang through my entire body.
While I was being cornered and beaten excitedly, an intense noise rang out.
Now it's done. A Sigh of Relief escaped without me realizing it.
VVRRRRRRRMM—!
Startled by that loud noise, everyone turned around to see the muscular man, who had been crouching in the corner just a moment ago, standing up abruptly.
Standing there, gripping the 1.67-meter-long Super-Vibrating jet engine saw, he let out a Roar.
He had arrived.
"As expected! I believed you would protect my Ferdinand and return it to me, hand Butcher! How should I Ever repay this?"
He was a Ronin called the Chainsaw Man in this city.
, a human with exceptional Combat Ability who handled the heavy engine saw as lightly as his own limbs.
Honestly, we weren't well acquainted, so if I were asked whether he was someone I could trust, I would tilt my head. I didn't really know how good his skills were either.
For now, receiving the help of that Chainsaw Man would be unconditionally better than continuing to get beaten up Alone like this.
I had expected that in the first place, which was why I had carefully wrapped the chainsaw in a Faraday Cage made of a Metal Box and Aluminum Foil that blocked electric fields, and brought it as a Trump Card.
He was a 22nd century version of a Medieval Knight who cherished his chainsaw terribly, so I figured if I protected the chainsaw from the EMP and returned it, he would help me out somehow.
And that expectation of mine was not wrong.
"Help me out first! I'm going to die at this rate!"
"But of course! Let's go, Ferdinand! It is time for Sawing the flesh and blood of these filthy terrorists!"
When I answered his question about repayment casually, he nodded readily and charged in at an astonishing speed, swinging his saw.
The formation of the Luddite bastards, who had their mouths hanging open wondering what kind of Crazy person that was, instantly scattered with a single Sawing.
The encirclement made up of five people dispersed, and I escaped my predicament, regaining my composure and giving a thumbs up.
As expected, this is what a chainsaw is all about.
It is truly fitting for an excellent Means of Dialogue. It works well even against terrorist bastards.