Chapter 51 : Chapter 51

Chapter 51 - The Battle for Dominance is a truly great system.

A man with stiff, white hair tied back in a long ponytail with a string.

He wore an equally stiff, dark green coat and clothes so clean they looked like they had just been bought.

With a cheap cigar in his mouth, he pulled down the long brim of his hat.

The sharp eyes under that hat took in the world he hadn't seen for 15 years inside the whale's stomach.

‘It doesn't seem to have changed much, but something is definitely different.’

The smell of the city hadn't changed, but its atmosphere felt different somehow.

And as I walked, a certain name was constantly drilled into my ears.

This was especially true in D-District, which I was passing through to get to my destination.

“Have you seen the Maxman Merchant Troupe medical clinic that Associate Councilor Edwin set up? They say we can go there if we get sick from now on, right?”

“I heard Associate Councilor Edwin installed something like crossbow turrets on the district border. The number of petty thieves has dropped a lot since then.”

“Is that all? The number of Supervising Soldiers has increased immensely since the Associate Councilor came. It’s become easier to breathe now that the thugs are gone.”

Edwin. Edwin. Associate Councilor Edwin.

D-District was filled with that name, but it was a name I had truly never heard before.

‘What is an Associate Councilor, anyway? Not a Councilor, not a Stationmaster. It’s all things I don't know.’

Halsin quietly pulled out a spoon even as he smoked his cigar.

A jar of peanut butter he had in his inner pocket.

He put his hand into his coat as if drawing a gun and scooped out the sticky brown jam once.

Then he quietly put it in his mouth.

Hiding that slightly daft appearance under the brim of his hat.

He held the cigar in his hand for a moment and smacked his lips.

“Still, this taste hasn't changed. Kuhuhut.”

Thank goodness. That one thing was a real relief.

Then he stared at the hand holding the spoon for a moment.

“I can taste it properly. My body is fine too. Really, could it be that there was no curse?”

That day, 15 years ago, when I fought a Baron-class noble of blood.

I felt like my stomach, split by its claws, was still throbbing.

I was sure a curse had seeped in back then.

“Or maybe that bastard died from the wound I left on it. No, that can't be.”

I couldn't ignore the possibility, but everything would be explained the moment I met a direct descendant of the Queen.

I put away the licked-clean spoon and took out the locket hanging around my neck.

Click.

The locket opened.

Inside, as with all hunters, was a family photo.

This, which I couldn't throw away even while going into a whale's stomach, was my reason for living.

And it was the reason I had torn off the bat’s wings.

“Son of the Queen…. I will take your head, break this curse, and annihilate your species.”

Putting a spoonful of angry peanut butter into his mouth.

The hunter, with eyes blazing, was about to head to G-District, a district that primarily dealt with firearms… but.

He stopped his steps just before leaving D-District.

Even though it wasn't G-District, there was a firearms shop of a considerable size over there.

That place also smelled new, like these clothes, as if it had been built quite recently.

“Levering… Firearms.”

He read the store name haltingly.

Stopping in front of it for a moment, he slowly nodded his head.

“Is there a need to go so far?”

He stepped inside.

A bell jingled above the door.

The shop owner, who had been sweeping the floor, responded by putting down the broomstick and rubbing his palms together.

“Welcome. This is Levering Firearms.”

***

A red straight line.

A blue straight line.

Two colors of straight lines mixed together in one space.

Under the sunless sky of Eclipse.

With the shadowed ground as a backdrop, the two straight lines were endlessly drawn with the brush that was a sword.

The two colors were painted over the Guardians with the faces of black goats.

The rock-like armor didn't last long.

If it couldn't be colored with one stroke, then twice.

If twice wasn't enough, it was painted over three, four, dozens of times.

Thus, the rock was finally cut, making the black goats spew black blood.

Even though the Limitless Sword was the sharpest sword a sorcerer could wield, it was difficult to cut their bare skin.

“These bastards. Their curse resistance is incredible.”

“They are not human in the first place, but monsters of Eclipse, where the land itself is a curse. It wouldn't do to view them within the bounds of common sense.”

“That makes them even more desirable.”

“Their curse resistance would certainly make for a high defense.”

“I have the best curse resistance, so I don't need it. I was looking at their cohesiveness.”

The Youngest Son’s eyes turned to the Guardians' sword-spears.

Even as they thrust their sword-spears, they never acted alone.

They fully utilized their numerical superiority to eliminate blind spots.

Of course, we had plenty of power to create blind spots.

The Chairman of the Physicians’ Council. The Griffin. Five Death Knights.

We could also create variables, and I exploited those gaps to unleash the Limitless Sword.

But enemies who could do such a thing were rare anywhere.

“I won't have to worry about my house being robbed.”

The Youngest Son was relieved, and the Gatekeeper, a moment ago, doubted his own ears.

‘Saying he has the best curse resistance. He's talking nonsense again.’

To wish for better resistance than a being born from a curse was very strange.

It was also very strange to say it as if it were a matter of course.

Still, I didn't pay it any mind.

Because that Youngest Son's pointless nonsense came out at all times.

‘But did that bastard ever talk nonsense during a battle?’

I wasn't sure.

It felt like he had. It also felt like it was just because my perception of him was trash.

It didn't matter.

There were still many enemies before my eyes.

Still, if there was good news, it was at my feet here.

My legs were still moving forward and hadn't stopped.

I was constantly getting closer to the center.

That became faster as time went on.

It even felt as if the beings called Guardians were clearing the way.

The Youngest Son interpreted it for me.

“The demonic energy of Eclipse is limited, and in the current situation, it is difficult to build it up again.”

“Which means they're trying to conserve their strength.”

“It means he intends to face us himself, rather than the Guardians.”

“He's an interesting one.”

“I agree. And if it's come to this, it's better to see it as a good thing. From now on, shall we try going this way?”

“……”

A word that instilled anxiety was on the Youngest Son's lips.

“What do you mean by ‘this way’? Is there another way to the center besides this one?”

“To be precise, there is another way to make Eclipse into a home site.”

“Whatever it is, that’s fine. If it's a faster way, let's go that way.”

“I respect your wishes. But I have something to ask.”

“Do you really have to ask now?”

The Gatekeeper threw his body to the side as he spoke.

A sword-spear thrown by a Guardian flew into the spot where he had just been.

A chill gently rose around it.

If I had dodged a moment later, my leg would have frozen in the chill first, and I would have been helplessly impaled.

The question followed that narrow escape.

“The Scripture of the Dark Wheel. Was there any harvest?”

“…I had a feeling in Chapter 4. But it was literally just a feeling.”

“Good. Keep that passage where you had the feeling in mind.”

He sheathed the Magic Sword.

He put away all the Undead Private Soldiers and walked nonchalantly with his bare hands, arms spread wide.

The altar in the center came into huge view.

And the Guardians were not docile enough to stand by and watch a target walk toward them.

“Youngest Son…!”

Dozens of sword-spears finished aiming and stretched their arms at once.

The sword tips pointed at all sorts of fatal vitals, but instead of dodging, his body.

He shouted at the master of the land, who was crouching.

“I request a Battle for Dominance—!!”

The Youngest Son's voice echoed throughout the area.

It was a meaningless phrase to the Gatekeeper.

But to the Guardians, and of course to the demons here, its meaning was clear.

The sword-spears, bodies, attacks, and encirclement that hardened in mid-air.

The goat heads that had surrounded all sides turned to one place.

At the end of their red eyes was the altar.

And the altar, in response to their gazes which were like a call, began to vibrate, faintly at first and then strongly.

That, too, was brief.

Krrrrrrk—

The Guardians' entire bodies twisted into bizarre shapes.

Bending and warping, one ear came into close contact with one shoulder.

[Un… qualified….]

A reply came out sluggishly, with its tongue lolling out.

It was the reply of the being in the center over there.

At the same time, it was a disappointing reply.

“Unqualified? Can't you even recognize a fellow demon?”

Hwaarrrrrrr—!!

Bloodflame poured over his entire body, the body turning red as if being tempered.

Within it, he revealed the demon.

Three pairs of wings stretched back like straight horns.

The Blood Demon, who seemed to have made a sharp, sheer cliff its armor, spread its arms wide just as before.

His body flew up, free from the pull of gravity, and faced the twisted goat.

[A Battle for Dominance. cannot be refused.]

[…….]

[One proxy. And you. Show yourself.]

[You will… regret… it….]

Kjjjjjjjeok—

A Guardian split in half.

Another pool of blood formed on the floor, and the Blood Demon also set foot on the floor again.

He pulled the Bloodflame inside and gestured leisurely.

“Let's go, Gatekeeper. The tenant is waiting for us.”

“What in the world just happened?”

The Gatekeeper looked up.

The Guardians had all retreated and lined up on the left and right of the path to the center.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

Continuously beating their own chests with their fists.

A dullness, as if a giant drum was beating, vibrated the ground.

“Among demonic beings, there is a culture called the Battle for Dominance. It's a concept where the weak challenges the strong.”

“Then what do you mean by one proxy? Are you, Youngest Son, going to face two of them?”

“Where would such an unfair thing exist? Of course, it's one person. Just like you are one person, Gatekeeper.”

“……”

“Don't look at me with those eyes. You said anything would be fine if it was a fast way. More importantly, recite that passage where you felt something.”

Because it will be desperately needed from now on.

***

Edwin D. Hacid.

He had the technician girl, recommended by the ‘flip side’, sit in his office.

The location of the office hadn't changed, but the nameplate had.

From Stationmaster to Associate Councilor.

It was made of solid silver, very clean and shiny.

Furthermore, the one who brought about that change had sent the girl before him.

‘I heard she's a technician in something called Magitech. I can trust her if she was sent by the Youngest Son, but does he know people like this too?’

People like this.

In other words, she was a girl whose entire body was wrapped in a large robe.

Her eyes, nose, and mouth, as well as her limbs, were hidden by long sleeves and a hem, so nothing was visible.

The area below her clothes was stained, as if it had swept all the floors outside.

He served her tea and sat across from her.

“You designed the security system for the magnate Jubel's vaccine warehouse. Is that what you're saying.”

“Yes, yes. That's right.”

“I'll believe you since you were sent by him. You don't seem like the type to tell a lie that will be quickly found out. And you are also affiliated with Levering Firearms.”

“Thank you.”

Levering Firearms was larger in scale and better in quality than most shops in G-District.

So, residents of D-District or people from adjacent areas came here to buy goods.

G-District was not only far, but also expensive because the merchants colluded on prices.

But Levering had nothing of the sort.

Thanks to that firearms shop, D-District had been earning a tidy sum recently.

“Our Levering has established itself here in D-District, and we want to contribute to the development of D-District.”

“I've heard much about the technological prowess of the Jubel Merchant Troupe's warehouse and the rumors about it. They say it can handle any kind of terror attack.”

“Terror attacks are a daily occurrence in the Citadel, but our security system can defend against them firmly. We can also upgrade the armament of the Guards.”

“I like it.”

She was sent by the Youngest Son anyway.

Whether it was hard to believe or not, I had to make a contract and offer my trust.

“Let's make a contract.”

“Thank you.”

She let out a sigh of relief from within her hood.

Edwin D. Hacid.

The man who reached the sky faster than a waterspout.

The overwhelming presence befitting that moniker was clearly felt from his flat eyes.

Just because he was at a high position at a young age didn't mean his depth as a person was shallow.

As expected of a person who serves the 500 gold coin master as a subordinate.

As Edwin went to the drawer to get the contract.

Taaaaang─!!

Kjjjjjjjjjjeong─

A sound that rang out with a loud discharge of a gun struck the eardrums in the room.

As a technician from Levering, it was extremely familiar.

It was the moan of My Ex-Girlfriend.

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