"How about it, can you show me something?"
"...."
"Ravi? Can't you hear me?"
"...."
"Oh, you're not even answering until the end."
Antonio furrowed his brow at the sight of the boss whining like a child. He spoke to Echidna, who was waving her hand in front of her subordinate, Ravi.
"You know, it's true that you can't actually hear it."
"Do you know? You could hear everything originally, but you could be joking. Or maybe the spell has improved in the meantime. Spells, after all, improve as you use them."
"I'm not very knowledgeable about spells, but it hasn't even been 24 hours since I last checked. Do you think there would be any significant change overnight?"
Echidna glanced at Antonio, who was refuting each point.
"Have you changed your attitude lately?"
"Is that so?"
"The expression 'climbing up' is a bit strange. There's been a lot more backtalk."
"Echidna has become more playful."
The gentle smile felt strangely awkward.
The relationship between the two dates back to their hometown. In a word, they are like family. Despite their deep relationship, Antonio treated Echidna as a superior in Timorta.
Because Echidna wanted a capable attendant rather than a friend or family member. Days when she was losing her hair while paying attention to the subtle relationships within the cartel. As the days passed, she became more and more prickly.
Right now, I've put down this and that.
"Okay. By the way, until when─"
At the moment when Echidna was sitting on the hood of a stopped car.
"...Whew!"
"It's just over."
Ravi, who had been leaning against Antonio unconsciously, opened his eyes with a start. He repeated rapid breathing while rubbing his arms and legs. Unlike before, Echidna did not urge him and waited silently.
This is Ravi's routine. It's a 'return' task.
"How are you, are you okay?"
"Oh, yes. I'm fine!"
"If you're reaching your limit, it's okay to say it's difficult. Lady Echidna won't push you too hard either."
"It's really okay. The area around my shoulder blades is a bit empty though."
Ravi is a kind of telepath. He can mentally connect with animals and share their sensations.
However, it is a loose spell in that it only allows for the sharing of sensations. It does not take away control of the body. It allows you to watch animals living true to their wildness as if in a movie.
I've seen a lot of disgusting things. Like wild eating, mating, and so on...
anyway.
"Can I ask you now? Did you see anything?"
Ravi observed Kavarati by communicating with the birds under Echidna's instructions. Even if they just briefly passed over the city, they could obtain some information.
In other words, it also meant that there was no other way to obtain information. Nuova Era was a mafia organization. There was no one who had learned how to act like a spy from some intelligence agency.
So, we are in a situation where we have to rely entirely on Ravi's spells... ... .
"That's right. There wasn't any noticeable change at first glance."
"…today."
"Yes, today too. I think you should consider other possibilities as well."
Echidna opened her right eye.
"what?"
"He's already been caught. Or, that."
"You hit the back of our heads and then got stuck with Ramaz?"
It is a hypothesis that cannot be completely ruled out.
I heard his real name. We've even overcome the harsh desert together. But he's still a man full of secrets. His goal was Naraka from the beginning, so it wouldn't be strange for him to change partners.
But it's a belated worry.
"What can I do? I left a valuable-looking knife as collateral, so I'll have to trust you. If things start to turn out strangely, just run away. We have nothing to lose."
All you have to do is let go of Kabarati and aim for another city. It's a shame that such a talented person as Kim I-hyeon is leaving the team, but he wasn't there to begin with.
Anyway, for now, we have no choice but to continue watching.
Echidna shook her head and stared straight ahead. After going over a few sand dunes that obscured her view, she would finally see Kavarati.
It's further than you think.
"Ugh, it's frustrating not knowing anything. What is this kid doing?"
* * *
Toodoodoodoo!
7.62mm bullets rained down, accompanied by a heavy gunshot sound.
Weapon 4-star special weapon [Browning]. This is the equipment that boasts the most outstanding penetration power among firearms up to 4 stars. Even though there is no accuracy correction, it is not a distance that can miss.
Bam, bam!
A barrage of gunfire pounded Mithril's entire body. There was no time to dodge or cover vital points with arms. Some bullets completely penetrated the body and exited, while others lodged deep in the flesh.
It is definitely a fatal wound.
'I was lucky.'
He didn't just wait for Mithril to come anywhere. Kim Yi-Hyeon had experience being taught the secret code of conduct by Ghost.
Among them, tailing.
Ghost taught not only the know-how to not be easily detected, but also the application method. Rather, it showed the presence and induce the target's behavior.
The roads around here are simple. The city is wide and spacious to begin with. It is difficult to avoid being caught while following someone, but it is an environment where it is very easy to get caught on purpose.
If Mithril were to try to subdue the rascal following her, where would she move? Even if she changed direction, the wide road continued and then a side road appeared. This place was convenient.
'I was caught here too.'
It was a fairly predictable category.
'I didn't know Assam would do this well.'
Assam's spell is [Doll Play].
It's a strange ability, although it's not a title that really suits the energetic boy. He can possess the body of an unconscious target. The condition is met not only when he's unconscious, but also when he's sleeping.
So, what this means is that you can control the body of a sleeping person through astral projection.
'Of course, there are many restrictions.'
First of all, distance restrictions.
Also, if the owner of the body is shocked enough to wake up, the spell will be released. For the same reason, it is not suitable for use in battle. It also has poor fuel efficiency, making it impossible to use repeatedly in a short period of time.
In the game, it is a form of possessing enemy units. It eats up SP like a hippopotamus when used once, and its combat power drops sharply, and it is systematically blocked from being used against bosses.
I can only say that it's copper... ... .
'It's a dog fight here.'
Mithril even showed off her spells to capture Assam. It was unexpected luck. Unlike games, there is no need to consider the cooldown time, and the moment when the spell is released is the most carefree moment.
I suddenly felt sorry for the man who got hit by Mithril.
But I hope you'll be lenient this time.
I will take revenge on your behalf.
Boom, boom!
The cartridges flew through the air and gunpowder smoke billowed from the exhaust port. I didn't even try to steady my aim. I fired continuously, unleashing all 30 rounds in the magazine.
The heat was transmitted to the palm covering the gun barrel. Kim Yi-hyeon returned to his lowered posture as if the spring had been bouncing up. Now, as he removed the tent that was only in the way, his view became clear.
At the same time, a bloody man charged at me like a bull.
'Damn, even after all this…!'
Kim Yi-Hyeon immediately threw away [Browning] and took out [Static Tower]. He was throwing away the advantage of not being detected by the spell.
But there was no other way.
At some point, minerals began to grow on Mithril's skin. Even Pecatum couldn't withstand that ignorant destructive power with his bare body. It was the moment when he gripped the sword tightly with both hands.
─Thump!
It was such a huge force that it seemed like all the judgments in my head would fly away. I couldn't even press the switch that discharged the current. My arms were shaking like crazy and my body was pushed back.
nevertheless.
'I endured it.'
I received a blow with 4-star equipment and the specs of a 4-star agent.
The results proved one thing.
"This spell, could it be you..."
Mithril's eyes glared at Kim Yi-hyeon and trembled in shock.
No, it won't just be shocking.
His entire body was drenched in blood. Skin was visible between the minerals that should have covered him completely. The flowing blood stained the minerals red.
The surprise attack worked. He's already a returned soldier.
"Long time no see?"
I took my right hand off the grip of the warped shield. Although my senses were dull, my movements were not hindered. Since it was time to persistently target the weak points that were revealed here and there, I created [Ivory].
"아윽!"
I shot the hand of the soldier who was belatedly coming towards me with a gun. I don't want to interfere unnecessarily. Why bother interfering when we're trying to decide the winner fairly and one-on-one?
"Hey, hey. That son of a bitch…!"
"Yeah, nice to meet you too."
Bang, bang!
He gave me a bullet as a greeting. It bounced off the forearm that covered the front. The spark-filled Mithril arm was densely covered with sharp crystals like stalactites.
He was a tough boss to begin with, but he can still maintain his spells even in this state. It's beyond amazing, it's mind-boggling.
But the victory was definitely secured.
Hit the button!
Kim Yi-hyeon started to climb the external stairs of the building behind him. There was no reason to drag them into a close combat. It was better to maintain an appropriate distance while taking advantage of the urban fighting.
"Where the hell!"
Mithril, having noticed the intention, pursued him fiercely. Grabbing the rusty iron railing, he jumped up the stairs. In contrast to his fierce momentum, he was caught hesitating here and there.
I pulled the trigger as I rounded the stairs.
"Ugh!"
Mithril, Raphael twisted his upper body as soon as the gun was pointed at him. The bullet grazed his cheek. It felt hot as if it had been burned. It was an unfamiliar sensation to him.
From the time he was young, Raphael was a man of ability.
Compared to now, he may have been a puppy, but even back then, he was capable of beating up mafia members. Of course, the power of the organization was too great for a mere kid to handle, so a crisis came quickly.
And then he was noticed by his godmother and taken in.
The spell became more powerful due to the Legion's technology. Although it was a body modification that was performed without his will, the enhanced power was satisfactory.
I got used to it and forgot about it.
'Were guns really this threatening?'
The stuffy feeling of being covered in armor that I always felt when using spells is nowhere to be found. The air that touches my skin is just bitter. The crystals gradually turn into grains of light and disappear.
Intuition struck my brain.
'If this continues, I'll die.'
It's absurd. It's such absurd and ridiculous ending.
Bam!
Raphael gritted his teeth. Dark sparks flew from his azure eyes. His determination to live. He didn't want to end up like Shadow, like Snowfield, a cripple.
I took the step with will and determination.
The stairs he was stepping on shook violently. Part of the torn railing bent. Raphael desperately endured the dizzying pain and reached the rooftop.
Because I was surrounded by evil, my vision was naturally limited.
'Wire?'
It wasn't until I stepped foot in that I discovered it.
─Kwaaang!
A booby trap that had been set up at some unknown time had been activated. The explosive fragmentation grenade scattered shrapnel in all directions. Some of the flying pieces of metal landed in the water tank on the roof.
"Ugh, ugh. Phew...!"
Raphael, half of his body in rags, staggered violently. He looked around through the smoke, but there was no one. He thought he didn't feel any signs of life, but 'Hyeon' had moved to the next building.
"This, this…! This is fucking shit…!"
Suddenly, Raphael was overcome with the illusion that he had become a wild beast. A bear or something, being hunted without being able to display his natural wildness and ferocity.
Why is that guy here?
The doubts that had been troubling me since I became aware of Hyun's existence gradually disappeared. It wasn't because they were resolved refreshingly. They were pushed aside by the torrent of emotions that were surging through me.
horror.
It was a different kind of fear than what a weakling would feel when faced with overwhelming power. It was as if an enemy weaker than him was swinging his blade unilaterally from the darkness.
Raphael ran to the railing of the roof.
To be exact, it was more like pretending to run. My legs just wouldn't listen to me. I barely made it there and threw myself down.
It wasn't a declaration of determination to kill himself. It wasn't a very tall building, and the spells that were still functioning were more reliable than the rag-like body.
Kuang!
"Gasp, gasp! Ugh...."
He had no feeling in his legs. If he couldn't walk, he had no choice but to crawl. He wriggled along the ground like a worm as he made his way down the road. As soon as he left the side road, a wide main street opened up.
The night streets are filled with voices.
- This way! Move quickly!
- Still no contact? Radio until you hear from me!
Soldiers are coming from all over. I heard the commotion.
Raphael thought to himself that the response was quick. Even in a world full of pigs and dogs, if you teach, there will always be someone who learns.
A very narrow path was visible.
'Chi, treatment. Just lay down your troops and get treatment.'
I can survive. A pure white hope spread through my head like paint. He didn't know what condition his body was in. He could only guess vaguely.
I can move slowly and have no problems thinking.
'I should have killed him then, then!'
The image of him shamelessly claiming to be a low-cost merchant flashes before my eyes. I was intrigued by his innocent eyes, even though he pretended to be mean. He was a talent that was even more attractive because Atlanta was full of junk.
It was greed.
'Instead of trying to persuade him, you should have just cut off his neck.'
He should have ordered them to be killed instead of being watched. It was Raphael's mistake to not do so even though he had numerous opportunities to do so.
For example, something like that.
I made the same mistake as the Legion idiots I used to laugh at.
Even in pain, my teeth were gritting.
A flash of realization struck my head, burning with rage.
"That's it. Even in Bastitera, you."
There was no evidence. It was nothing more than a suspicion, but Raphael was certain. That man was the one who had given the godmother water. He was the natural enemy of the Legion.
A dry laugh escaped my lips as the thought occurred to me.
'Would it have been wise not to get involved from the beginning?'
It was a regret that was very late at the time.
Kim I-Hyeon knew 'Mithril' more than Raphael knew 'Hyeon'.
What kind of person is he? What kind of attitude does he show when there seems to be no chance of victory?
Kim Yi-Hyeon had no shield or pistol in his hands. He aimed his semi-automatic rifle [Galland] at the rooftop of the building. The scope captured a man who looked like a corpse, bleeding and entrails.
As promised, there was no second chance.
grasp!
A bullet shot through the air and pierced Mithril's head.