Chereads / Irium [dropped] / Chapter 111 - Heretic

Chapter 111 - Heretic

Staring out the window, I can see the mass panic that has taken over the citizens of this place. However, the thing I see more than the panic is the fire. Seriously, that fire is huge and it's spreading. I don't think this kind of cold climate would let the flames stay for long but, for whatever reason, I have an uneasy feeling about this.

Backing away from the window, from the corner of my eyes, I spot the guy who was staring at my door earlier. I quickly get back to the window and try to find him but am not able to.

Well, what should I do now? Should I just get of here with all my stuff – ready to leave? Or should I jump out of the window, land on the pavement and try to help everyone down there like a hero?

Well, it's obviously the second choice. Heroes don't exist within me, only cunning cowards do. So, I will do what any cunning coward would do in a situation like this.

Knock! Knock!

To those sounds of someone suddenly knocking at my doors, I ask in a loud enough voice, "Who is it?"

A childish voice comes in return, saying something not so childish, "Your death!"

The door breaks apart and a Frost of about half my size comes in. I'm surprised that a guy as small as him was able to break my door but well, there's something more important to do here.

"What do you want?"

"Your life, you numbskull!"

The boy charges at me and I just plainly dodge, making him hit the wall. However, it seems like that impact that just happened hurts the walls more than it did the boy.

"Don't run away! It's no use."

"We'll see about that." I say and dash out of the room as I ask, "Why do you want my life anyway?"

"Because you are a sinner." The boy's voice is as plain and emotionless as a homunculus from Fate franchise would be. In other words, he feels like a robot with a human's voice.

"And what sin have I committed?" I ask running to the stairs as the boy comes out of the room and chases me.

"You have set foot on this holy land. That is the gravest sin of all."

I was half-expecting he would say that I have made a sick, old man freeze to death and I would end up feeling so guilty I would surrender. But well, it's some nonsense that I don't care about.

"You do realize who you are talking to, don't you?" I say, "Do you know that I have been-"

"Sent by Dues ex machina, that bitch who claims to have ascended to godhood?" He looks at me angrily and continues, with a little emotion showing in his voice for the first time, "That is the reason you coming here is a sin."

Oh boy!

"There is only one true god in this universe and anyone who runs errands for some other self-proclaimed god would just be a heretic."

I see. So this guy is a disciple of the real god? Well, then he certainly has no real reason to hurt me, only he does not know that.

"Listen, could we just-"

"Die!"

Yeah, this isn't going to work. I am already running out of the inn and he continues to chase me. Once outside, the flames look scarier and seem to have gotten bigger. They might become an issue soon enough. I'll have to duel with my own issue first though.

"Stop running, heretic!"

"How about this, you stop chasing me and I will stop running and we can ta-"

"Die!"

I barely dodge as he dashes at me. This kid is fast, really fast. I need to think of something that would help me pin him down so I can explain my situation to him. Maybe he'd be willing to help me out as a fellow who resents Dues and especially her 'godhood'.

"You-"

"Watch out!" I yell at him, warning him of the imminent danger. He reflexively looks back to see what he has to watch out for and … hey, I never said the danger was coming from behind.

"You b-bastard!" He curses me as he rubs his nose that just got kicked hard by yours truly. It did less damage than I was hoping for though.

"So, anyway kid, who are you?"

"I am the-"

"If it's some cringy title, spare me. I just want to know your name." I interrupt as I feel like something like 'Executioner of the Seventh Heaven' was going to come out of his mouth.

"Jock!"

Uh, damn!

"Remember it well, for it is the name of the – AAAAAA!"

Sorry kid, didn't mean to kick your knee like that. There just isn't any other way to get the situation in control. Still, him having the same name as that old man is making me guilt well up a bit. I don't want to start holding back because of it and end up being defeated by him for that reason.

"It seems you have run into some trouble, Jock."

That's a generic intro, done in a female-horse-post-mating-voice. As I glance back, I see that the guy who said this is none other than the one who was staring at my door earlier.

"Who are you?" I ask.

"Your death!"

Yeah, yeah, sure!

The guy attacks me right as he says that, just like Jock did, and I easily dodge, just like before too. I don't run away this time though. I instead pick up a rock and charge at him yelling like a stupid anime character.

He smirks and tries to block and retaliate, only to realize that the hand he tried to block (the one I have a stone in) is a fake-out and the other hand chops him real hard at his neck. It's still my left hand and I am right-handed person so I can't bring out a lot of force, but I brought about enough to make him back away a few steps, allowing me to kick him in the stomach to throw him down.

"Well, this has been fun but I really think we should stop." I say. "We might actually be on the same team here."

And finally, as I am able to find a time where they both listen, I say that. And as I do, their eyebrows twitch and surprise takes over, halting their attacks.

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