1.
“We’ve arrived, Captain. It’s time for the mask.”
“…Very well.”
Click.
As I put on the mask Luna handed me and looked up, a literal tower came into view.
The Blue Magic Tower’s Gate.
The transportation method completed with the full support of the Former Emperor and the lethal research of the Blue Magic Tower.
After countless rounds of research and development, it was commercialized and is now operated across the empire. But even then, it remains so expensive that even the nobles hesitate to use it.
Ruby was different, though.
“Two tickets to the District Gate. One way.”
“Eh…? L, Lord Red!? What brings you here at this time?!”
“Hurry, we don’t have time for pleasantries.”
“Ah…! I apologize! Two one-way tickets to the district. Right away!”
The moment we arrived at the Duke Gafelt’s territory Gate, I took out the bill and paid casually before stepping onto the Gate without hesitation.
‘A-Class and above mercenaries receive full support for Gate fees. The Union certainly has its perks.’
I too was about to naturally follow Ruby and step onto the Gate when…
“You, wait a moment.”
The calm voice that called out stopped my steps, and I turned my head.
“You can’t just go without registering. Please fill out these forms.”
The receptionist pulled back the blue robe to reveal a bag from which they retrieved a stack of papers.
“Here, there are parts marked in blue. Just fill those out.”
“…?”
“A first-time user? Allow me to assist you then. Just tell me…”
Just as the receptionist, who had been activating the Gate, turned to approach me…
Clack.
Ruby, taking a single step back, added seriously.
“We’re in a hurry.”
“Honestly, Lord Red. You know the rules about recording all users’ details.”
“Hmph. Won’t it be better for the Union if you’re a bit more flexible?”
“I-I understand that, but these rules were established by His Majesty and the Tower Master…”
Even as they wrung their hands, the receptionist refused to back down. At that moment, Ruby sighed briefly.
[Attention.]
[<Black Wolf> – <Tal(S)> remaining health is below <10%.>
[If the remaining health reaches <0%>, the Bad Ending – <5. The Omen of the Tyrant(A)> will occur.]
The situation became more urgent.
‘If the bad ending occurs, it’s the end.’
It’s the same as erasing the opportunity to return to the original world.
In other words,
-‘Fulfill my dream in my place.’
It’s the same as being unable to fulfill the wish of my only friend.
‘I should think.’
As quickly as possible, I need to return to the district, save Hanlyang, and prevent the bad ending.
Moments later…
“….I’ve been caught, haven’t I?”
“Yes?”
“You only get one chance, so listen carefully.”
After finishing my thoughts, I adjusted my mask once again and bowed to the receptionist.
“I’ve taken her hostage. If you want her to live, open the Gate.”
“….What?”
The receptionist’s brow furrowed, and then smirked, countering.
“Very amusing. I don’t sense any power from you, so how do you plan to deal with Lord Red?”
The receptionist was right.
I can’t properly handle or sense aura or mana in my current state.
But…
‘-Please take them, Captain. These flesh puppet miniatures are precious to me.
-Get rid of them.
-Ah… Since I’ve already connected them to you, you can use them just as I did whenever you want. Are you just going to discard them?
-Put them in my pocket.’
Taking out the 10 flesh puppets gifted by Ruby, I restored them to their original size and created a menacing atmosphere by grabbing Ruby by the neck.
“Kyaaaaah!”
“Lord Red!!”
“Ghak, please, don’t open it!! <Black Wolf> who crossed over into the district is a monstrous existence!!”
Just as Red understood my intent and started acting accordingly…
[Stage 2 – <Immersion> is complete.]
[It perfectly recreates the appearance of <Black Wolf> with no deviation.]
By perfectly replicating the atmosphere of the final boss from the original work, <Black Wolf>, for intimidation…
“Next is you.”
What else can you do besides opening the Gate?
Sure enough,
“Now, just a moment. I’ll open it immediately, so please, spare my life!!”
In an instant, the receptionist’s face went pale, trembling as they approached the Gate activation device.
…
[Detected fear from the target.]
[<Black Curtain(Ex)> is activated.]
◆ Effect
: If the opponent feels even a moment of fear towards <you>, from that moment on, the opponent will perceive <you> as death itself. The status ailment <fear> of <you> will haunt them until the moment they die.
…
With the Gate opening, I remained silent as I stood and headed towards it.
‘First, save Hanlyang and prevent the bad ending.’
After checking that Ruby, who was pretending to be a hostage, was taken care of, I stepped inside.
This was the first incident where Black Wolf appeared.
2.
The night market remained dazzling, as always.
“Kuk-!”
“The sturdiness is satisfying. This is a fine piece.”
Crack!
“──!!”
“With your arm bone broken and still no scream. I’m even more pleased.”
The towering man rolled on the ground, staining the surroundings red.
Yet the night market remained as bright as ever, just like the towering man who wouldn’t fall.
The blood-stained man thought.
-Hanlyang! Go get some meat will you?
-Lady Luna. I am incapable─
-Zebal!! You’re going to drill the captain, right?! He didn’t come back yesterday, did he? The shops nearby are open late because of the early morning market!!
-… For the captain’s sake─
Though their meeting was coincidental,
-His Majesty. My grudge is clear─
-Except for the captain, we’re all the same aren’t we?! Who among us loves the emperor?!
-If we meet. It’ll be hard to hold back─
-… That’s true for me too, but since the captain is beside us, you’ll stop us, right?
The anger wasn’t a coincidence.
He will kill.
By whatever means.
However, Hanlyang, who was consumed by anger, and <Black Wolf>‘s No.3 member <Tal>, remained unaware.
“I die──!!”
“Hmm…”
The woman standing before him now was not someone who simply held imperial blood to become emperor.
“This is getting tiresome.”
Clenching her fist, the golden-haired woman snapped her fingers at the charging Hanlyang.
-How dare you smash my carriage?
The fruit skewer she had picked up just before the battle pierced through Hanlyang’s thigh.
Was that all?
Keyiiing!
Kuuuwaang!!
The deeply embedded part swelled with golden aura, then exploded.
“──!!?”
At the same time, losing his balance, the bulky body rolled on the ground, and the emperor who was slowly getting tired didn’t miss the opportunity.
Grrrr…
Her thick neck was forcefully pressed down, and while pinning Hanlyang, the emperor asked.
“Who sent you?”
“You, die──!!”
“Why do you seek to kill me?”
“That, do you even─!!”
…
“──!!”
Despite the overwhelming pressure that made it feel as if he would die, Hanlyang managed to grab the emperor’s leg, but her foot didn’t flinch, only allowing him a brief breath of air.
It was the same back then too.
When the beautiful lady he had devoted his entire life to was killed by that accursed emperor.
“You, your knight looked down on me with such a filthy glare─!”
“Your knight?”
“Excuse. It’s vile─!! Because of your order─!! Why… our lady…!!”
Ududduduck!
…
When Hanlyang, consumed with anger from the resurfacing memories, prepared to rise despite the inevitability of death…
Ssuuuk.
The emperor’s foot pressing his neck slowly moved back to its original position.
“Explain in detail.”
She whispered quietly to Hanlyang, careful to not be overheard by the knights who followed her.
“Before my knights intervene, quickly.”
But the next moment…
“Too late. I kill you─!!”
Kuuuwaang!!
Hanlyang’s glare that had been aimed at the emperor was suddenly redirected and plunged deep into the ground.
-I told you not to use it, Hanlyang. Your body surely couldn’t handle it.
Finally, it was time to consume the life he couldn’t let go of.
On one hand, he felt remorse.
-I’ll call you <Tal> from now on.
-Yes, Captain.
It was undoubtedly a sin to commit against the <Captain> who he had now become all to.
“….Sorry─!! Captain.”
Just as Hanlyang muttered this deep underground, preparing to pay with his life to release Black Wolves’ restrictions…
Kong, kong, kong.
Kuuuung!!
The nearby ground began to tremble, and a familiar presence started to waft through.
“….Is it Ruby?”
Mistaking the presence as reinforcements, Hanlyang’s head cautiously re-emerged from the ground, when at that exact moment…
“You’ve disappointed me in the end.”
“Aa…, Da, Captain─”
“Thus, this is your punishment.”
At the end of which,
The abyssal eyes…
Krrrrd.
Hanlyang’s vision turned pitch black.
Kuung!!
The sound of the thick-necked giant falling to the ground echoed, and with that sound, silence fell over the surrounding area.
This silence, and the fear that filled the silence, was precisely what the strange man truly intended.
Whoosh!
The empress and the knights’ expressions turned pale instantly under the thick murderous intent that surged forth.
After confirming this, the strange man took out a green ring and slipped it onto the thick-necked man’s finger.
“However, there should be an opportunity for redemption.”
Click.
The silence returned.
The bright night market, the knights guarding the empress, the fleshy puppets surrounding those knights.
The knights who once swept the battlefield before guarding the empress now instinctively realized one thing.
‘Moving means death.’
Their A-class rankings they were proud of, the legendary swords and artifacts they considered special, even the additional guards following secretly, were all useless in front of the strange figures clad in black wearing masks.
Even the empress felt the ominous presence drawing near.
‘They seemed to be near S-class, yet how did he just kill with a gesture? Could these be the top ten powers betraying the empire? No. That’s not it. These men are far beyond the top ten…’
As the empress’s mind became increasingly complex, she appeared calm while observing them.
Grindgrindgrind!
When the twisted neck returned to its original position, the seated man gestured with his hand behind him.
“Persona. Take him back.”
“Understood, Captain.”
Without any hesitation, the shortest figure among the strange troupe hoisted the giant man and disappeared into the night.
Now, only two strangemen remained.
“Captain, what are your plans?”
One of the strangemen, who appeared to be a woman, wielding a long sword.
Tuck, tucktuck.
Duck.
The man tapping his thigh with his right hand.
Gulp.
The empress and the knights swallowed hard at the man’s slow rising movement.
With his decision, the last breath was going to be determined.
Click, clickclick.
In the now familiar silence, after pondering, the man gave a brief answer.
“That’s right.”
…
—’Sub-Quest Activated!’—
◆ For the Worst.
: Please scratch the itch of Babylonian Empress <Reina Babylonia(S+)>!
◆ Completion Conditions.
1. Mention <Black Wolf>.
2. Receive the Ultra-Wanted Order as a gift.
3. Kill the Royal Guard. (0/3)
◆ Reward.
: The <Love> of <Lactea Babylonia(S+)>.
◆ Failure & Refusal.
: The <Death> of <Lactea Babylonia(S+)>.
…
What am I supposed to do with this?
