Chapter 1238

<Chapter 1238> 1238. Dark Moon

With a mask on and dressed in a suit, I stepped out of the mansion. Since I was officially set up as a special mercenary hired by the viscount, I didn’t wear a military uniform.

I glanced around the perimeter of the mansion with a piercing gaze.

“If the enemy were to attack… would they come through the back door instead of the main gate? Or maybe they’d go for the main gate to catch us off guard?”

The most straightforward method would be climbing over the wall—but that’s also the hardest. The wall is electrified, and automatic combat machines are installed. From the moment someone tries to scale it, the machine guns will detect them and turn them into swiss cheese.

As I patrolled around the mansion, I noticed unusual commotion at the front gate. Heading there, I saw a man arguing with the guards.

The man wore a shabby hat and work clothes. His coppery skin was gaunt, and the beard on his jaw looked like it had been neglected for days. It was the face I saw during the briefing: Bill Clarkson, the representative of the workers opposing Viscount Ptelgar.

“As the representative of the workers, I want to speak with Viscount Ptelgar!”

“…I’m afraid that’s impossible, Mr. Clarkson. Currently, Lord Ptelgar is resting in his room due to poor health.”

Bill Clarkson contorted his face and roared furiously.

“Don’t mess with me! This morning, I clearly saw a prostitute walk into the mansion through the main gate! A sick guy bringing prostitutes into his house?! HA!”

“That woman wasn’t a prostitute; she’s a nurse, Mr. Clarkson. You must’ve mistaken her.”

“Cut the crap! Call Viscount Ptelgar! I just want to talk to him!”

Shaking his head, the guard replied,

“Haaah… Mr. Clarkson, you know this is useless, don’t you?”

Right then,

A black car approached from behind. Stopping in front of the main gate, the car doors opened, and women poured out one after another. They were all above-average beauties—short skirts, tattoos on their thighs, waists, and shoulders, and hair dyed in vibrant colors.

Prostitutes. Expensive ones.

Without realizing it, I swallowed hard and scanned the group of prostitutes.

“Uncle, open the gate for us. We’ve met before, haven’t we?”

“…I’ll open it now.”

The guard opened the gate. Watching from the side, Bill Clarkson lunged forward but was immediately grabbed by another guard and thrown out.

“Guhhhh! T-this is assault!”

“This is self-defense. If you wish, you can report it to the police. No, I should be the one reporting you, Mr. Clarkson. Before I do, please leave.”

“Damn… damn… damn… PTELGAR!!!”

Bill Clarkson jumped up again and charged toward the main gate. The guards effortlessly blocked him once more.

“That’s enough. There’s a limit to how much we can tolerate. There are only three days left until the final negotiation day. You should approach it in good health.”

“You’re… threatening me right now?!”

“This isn’t a threat—it’s a warning. Leave within ten seconds, or I’ll call the police.”

Bill Clarkson…


The bodyguard glared intensely before turning around and disappearing.

The prostitutes who had entered through the main gate and were watching the situation burst into giggles.

“Tch, boring. If you’re a man, you should try it once.”

“How disgraceful for a man.”

“He looks like he doesn’t even have money. He’s probably just living miserably. Why is he acting this way?”

As they laughed among themselves, the prostitutes noticed me standing a little ways away. Their expressions immediately darkened.

“Hey mister over there, what are you staring at?”

“Do we look tempting to you? Do you have money?”

“Get on your knees and beg. Then I might show you some cleavage.”

“But your body’s not bad. Come by the shop later. I’ll give you a service.”

“Hey girls, did you know? Surprisingly, men with good bodies often have small dicks. That’s from my experience.”

I raised my right hand.

Zzzt.

Electricity sparked from my palm.

The prostitutes, who had been laughing, froze instantly.

The bodyguard who had been observing approached. Unlike his firm attitude when dealing with Bill Clarkson, he acted timid in front of me.

“U-Um, Mask-sama. This is problematic. They are the viscount’s guests.”

I trembled slightly. The electricity crackling from my right hand grew more intense. Both the bodyguard and the prostitutes shivered.

They seemed to think I was angry, but I wasn’t. Quite the opposite. I felt exhilaration knowing they feared me. It wasn’t sexual pleasure.

‘This is power…’

I quickly calmed myself down and dispelled the lightning crackling from my hand.

“Did you check those women?”

My voice deepened. It was the mask’s voice modulation function.

“They are the viscount’s guests. They’ve already visited the mansion several times.”

“That’s old news. Now is a critical time. There are only three days left until the final negotiation. And I don’t know these women. What if they were bought off yesterday? If these women cause trouble, will you take responsibility?”

Responsibility.

At that word, the bodyguard flinched. Responsibility was always the most feared thing by underlings in any era.

“…What should I do?”

“Thoroughly inspect those women.”

I walked towards the prostitutes. Just releasing a bit of mana overwhelmed them, making their bodies tremble.

[Wind Barrier]

Using a level 2 wind magic, I erected a wall of wind around the prostitutes to prevent them from escaping. Seeing the magic, the prostitutes lowered their eyes. I had successfully intimidated them.

With my arms crossed, I addressed the prostitutes in a mechanical, emotionless tone.

“I will check if you’ve hidden weapons in your clothes. Take them off.”

“W-What…!”

I looked at the protesting prostitute.

“Kyaaah!”

Terrified, she stepped back, only to be stopped by the wind barrier. The wind barrier pushed her back.

“Take off your clothes. This is an inspection.”

“Mask-sama, even this is excessive.”

The bodyguard interjected, sweating profusely while looking straight at me. His audacity annoyed me.

‘What makes him so bold despite being weaker than me?’

[Gravity]

Amplify gravity.

Kerfuffle! The bodyguard’s knees hit the ground. His upper body was pressed down by the gravity, forcing his head to lower as well.

“Guh… Guh…”

The bodyguard struggled desperately. Veins bulged out on his skin. I silently observed him.

“S-Sorry… I… overstepped… Please… stop this! If you keep this up…”

Blood burst from his ears and nose. His body gradually sank until his head touched the ground.

“Please… spare me…”

I released the Gravity magic.

The bodyguard collapsed.

“So far, you’ve protected the viscount in your own way. However, as long as I’m here, you must follow my methods. Any complaints?”

“….No.”

The bodyguard coughed dryly in response.

I turned back to the prostitutes.


I looked over the group. The prostitutes noticed my gaze and trembled in fear. One of them even collapsed to the floor, her legs giving out.

“Strip.”

“Yes, yes!”

The prostitutes began to undress. With little clothing to begin with, it didn’t take long for them to stand naked.

I quietly swallowed and scanned their bodies.

“We’re about to begin the search. Stay still.”

I moved closer, checking their belongings and running my hands over their bodies.

“A fake breast, huh. You can’t fool me. Did you hide a weapon inside?”

“A-ah, no. It’s just an artificial one.”

“Hmm. I’ll have to give this a thorough inspection then.”

I kneaded the artificial breast. Thanks to advanced technology, its texture was similar to the real thing, though it felt about 20% off. What was missing? I quickly realized: emotion.

“I need to check your mouth. Open wide.”

“Yes….”

“Your teeth seem a bit odd. What did you do to them?”

“Old, old injury… had surgery…”

“I sense faint mana from your teeth.”

“Oh. I splurged and got magical teeth. No cavities or bad breath ever again—it’s convenient.”

“…An application of cleansing magic, huh. Impressive. Next, I need to check below. Lie down and present your backside.”

Her face turned pale.

“Below… there too?”

“The female organ and anus are the best places to hide weapons. Are you telling me you, a prostitute, feel shame?”

“Prostitutes are humans too!”

“I don’t have time to argue with you. Do as I say.”

Crackle.

Electricity sparked menacingly in my palm. She squeezed her eyes shut, bowed her upper body, and presented her rear.

It appeared well-maintained; her vagina and anus were clean. However, her labia seemed overly elongated, which was a flaw.

I spread her vagina and anus with my fingers to continue the inspection.

“Pass. No issues. Next.”

The prostitutes endured the humiliating examination, trembling with shame.

The last one appeared to be a rookie, visibly shaking more than the others. Of course, that doesn’t mean she gets skipped.

‘Each woman’s snatch and ass is different. Naturally, but… looking at them like this makes me restless.’

I desperately fought off my erection.

“No problems here. You pass.”

I paused mid-sentence, raising her up and carefully examining her body—more specifically, the tattoos inked onto her skin.

“W-what is it?”

Black rose tattoos on her waist, shoulders, thighs, and neck. At first glance, they seemed ordinary.

“…A magic circle.”

The tattoos concealed a magical pattern. A skilled mage’s work.

I stared hard at her. I couldn’t sense any mana. She looked like a regular hooker. She probably didn’t draw those herself…

“Where did you get the tattoos done?”

“Me?”

“Answer me.”

“W-well, a friend recommended a tattoo artist…”

Then it happened.

Smoke rose from the tattoo on her back—the magic circle was activating.

‘…Dark mana?’

This is black magic.

Having made my judgment, I immediately entered a momentary timespace. As the world slowed, I prepared my magical incantations. When reality returned to normal speed, I unleashed my spells.

[Gravity]

[Wind Barrier]

[Barrier]

Three spells activated almost simultaneously. The woman in front of me collapsed forward under amplified gravity, her body exploding into pieces.

Splat!

Chunks of her innards slid down the barrier.

“AAAAAAHHHHH!”

Amidst the women’s screams, I remained calm.

‘This is a third-tier black magic: the Living Bomb.’