1257 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The air was cold and settled. He had to close his mouth at the Iron Dragon Deputy Leader’s words. ‘...You can’t eat monsters unless you’re an apostle?’ For a moment, his mind froze. Was there such a thing? ‘That can’t be right, can it?’ As far as he knew, that wasn't the case. In his past life, he distinctly remembered consuming even monsters. While it might have been impossible in reality, it was feasible in this world. But here? ‘Here they say it’s not possible?’ He had regarded this realm as the same world, yet the claim that it was impossible here was momentarily baffling. Could it be? A gap between what he knew and the current reality. While he pondered how to bridge this gap. “That was a lie.” “What?” “The atmosphere was tense, so I threw out a lie, and your reaction was refreshingly honest.” The Iron Dragon Deputy Leader said this as he turned and proceeded forward. “Well then.” He watched him, a smirk tugging at his lips. ‘How absurd.’ To test him in such a way? As a result, his response was delayed. A year’s hiatus, and the suspicion that this world might be unknown to him had created a problem. ‘I’m in a bind.’ He was advancing as if nothing had happened, but suspicion must have filled that man’s mind. And today’s reaction had likely only added fuel to the fire. ‘How bothersome.’ There was a possibility that he might try something. What should he do? He pondered. A way to not get caught? That wasn’t the concern. ‘Should I kill him?’ Whether to kill or not—that became the dilemma. * * * He delved a little deeper below the surface. Even though he had entered, visually nothing had changed. ‘It’s the same.’ The barren trees and dried ground showed no significant difference. For a place described as dangerous, it looked exactly the same. ‘So.’ The implication was that somewhere here, all those monsters were hiding. ‘That’s even stranger.’ In such wide-open terrain, where could they possibly be hiding? He wondered. “How far do you intend to go?” I asked the Iron Dragon Deputy Leader about his objective. “Just a little further.” “That’s the umpteenth time already.” “...Just a little further, I said.” What would be different even if we went just a bit further? It clearly looked like just plains to him. “Last time, monsters appeared. With just the two of us, isn’t it dangerous?” “If it seems things are about to go south, we can simply escape.” “Ah, your words are so reassuring.” How would they escape after things went south? Oh. ‘Perhaps, it might be possible for him.’ Yesterday, other personnel were the issue, but at the Deputy Leader’s level, escaping was feasible. ‘It’s an issue because that’s not the objective.’ He already understood that the Iron Dragon Deputy Leader’s goal wasn’t exploration and search of the west. It was certainly him. ‘What exactly is he trying to pull?’ While questioning what his purpose was. “Just one question.” The Iron Dragon Deputy Leader addressed him. “What is it?” “You supposedly thwarted an apostle’s attack.” “Yes, that’s what happened.” “How did you manage that?” “...How do you think? I beat them up when they came at me.” “...Is that even possible?” “Yes. Why? Couldn’t you do that?” “An apostle is unaffected by a martial artist’s energy, you see.” “Hmm...” He recalled the saying he’d heard from the Poison Phoenix. Apostles were difficult to deal with because a martial artist’s energy didn’t work on them. ‘They seem like those red demons.’ Those red monsters clothed in a unique air. Their characteristics were strikingly similar to those of the apostles. That’s why people were busy fleeing from these so-called apostles. “But well, when engaged in combat, it seemed possible.” “...Really?” “Yes.” “I see.” “...” “...” The conversation hit another lull. Reaching this point, he had to let out a deep sigh. “...What’s your real motive?” “...” “Why do you keep testing me? What do you want to know?” He was growing tired of the Iron Dragon Deputy Leader’s antics. He wished to humor him, but not when the man acted so persistently ambiguous. “Do you think I’m an apostle?” He asked outright. “Yes.” The Iron Dragon Deputy Leader answered honestly this time. “I think you’re an apostle.” “Oh, really? Even after I said I’m not?” “Yes.” “Why?” “All evidence suggests as much.” “...Hmm.” Evidence, he said. Arguing against it was difficult. But. “Even so, why intentionally come with me?” He couldn’t understand the Iron Dragon Deputy Leader’s reasoning. “If we’re out here alone and I am truly an apostle, I might kill you.” There was no need to keep a suspicious person alive. If they were together, killing him should have been the end of it, so why make such a risky choice? To his words, the Iron Dragon Deputy Leader calmly replied. “If you were going to kill me, you would have done so ages ago. You must have had plenty of chances, even yesterday.” “...So now you think I won’t kill you? But I’m still an apostle?” “I don’t know what your objective might be. So.” Clank. The Iron Dragon Deputy Leader gripped the handle at his waist. “Now I figure I have to find out.” “...Hmm.” He scratched his cheek. “...It’s not a wise choice.” If he intended to fight, it was a poor decision. ‘I don’t want to kill him.’ Though the suspicion and constant probing were infuriating, and truthfully, he thought he might end up killing him. ‘...Mi Hyoran is an issue.’ Mi Hyoran was a subtle yet discerning obstacle. After all, she was a person to whom he was unwaveringly loyal. Moreover. ‘If I kill him here.’ Just like in his previous life, there was no guarantee he could return to Central Plains. Until this was certain, avoiding unnecessary killing was wise. He genuinely wanted to believe that. “Why keep doing this, making things bothersome?” His hand moved first. Snap. “...!” He advanced and pushed his sword back in. “Don’t draw it.” “...What...” “I’m asking as a favor. If you draw it, I won’t have a choice. Can’t we just go amicably?” If he drew the sword, he would kill. So this was the final chance. “...” The grip around his hand tightened as if trying to draw the sword at any cost. "Tsk." He frowned. In this situation... ‘Should I just knock him out?’ Before things got any more complicated, it seemed best to render him unconscious. It was disappointing not to delve deeper into the surroundings, but engaging with this man was a waste of time. As he reached to jab at the man’s chin, something hummed. ‘Hm?’ He felt it—a presence from the Iron Dragon Deputy Leader’s upper body. His hand shot out instinctively. Swoop! "...What!" He extracted something from the officer’s possession. It turned out to be a bead. "What... is this?" "How did you...!" Visibly flustered, the Iron Dragon Deputy Leader’s expression changed. What was this? ‘It’s clearly not just any bead—’ If it wasn’t an ordinary object... ‘Could it be a demonic artifact?’ He squinted in scrutiny. Regardless of its exact nature, it appeared to be the tool the officer had prepared. "What’s this? Trying to discern if I’m an apostle with this?" "…Give it back." “Why would I hand this over? It looks suspicious at a glance. What is this?” He put some distance between them. Clutching the bead, he took a few steps back, prompting the Iron Dragon Deputy Leader to charge at him. Swish—!! With a drawn sword, he came rushing forward. Witnessing this, a scowl formed on his brow. Whoosh—!! As the blade swung his way, he moved to counter. Smack—! "Ugh!?" The blow to his wrist made the Iron Dragon Deputy Leader stumble, though he didn’t release his sword. The man had a remarkable willpower. But... “I told you not to draw it.” A half-step forward. His torso wavered from impact. He reached that point, right in front of him. "I said, don’t draw it." He lodged a clenched fist into the officer’s side. Wham—!! "…Guh!" A strangled gasp of agony escaped him as he crumpled. Thud. “Huff… Huff…” The officer clutched his side, falling to his knees, too overwhelmed to speak through his pained gasps. "Why don’t you listen? I told you that if you drew it, I wouldn’t let it slide. Yet you fail to grasp that." "…Ugh… Guh…" "What is this bead, anyway? It doesn’t seem like the usual restraint devices..." It seemed different from the handcuffs which purportedly detected apostles. What kind of item was this? “…Give it back…” The Iron Dragon Deputy Leader reached a trembling hand towards him. Was he trying to retrieve it? "…You’re quite stubborn, aren’t you?" It was irritating. "Ah, for crying out loud." He struggled to suppress his emotions, but it wasn’t easy this time. How many times had he restrained himself by now? Twice? Thrice? He wasn’t sure anymore. Should he just finish this? Whoosh—! Killing intent radiated outwards. "…Gah!!" The Iron Dragon Deputy Leader coughed up blood. Caught in the malice, he seemed ready to collapse internally, while the coldness in his own eyes intensified. "…Mister." Amidst the raging malice, he reached out to him. Then, with a swift movement… Yank—! He hauled him by the collar, pulling him closer. "It seems we have company." He turned his head. The source of this killing intent wasn’t his own. The overwhelming menace spilled out, prompting him to look into the sky. "…Huh?" He widened his eyes. "…That is." Something writhed on the now crimson-tinted sky. That something was… "…A flame?" A grayish flame. It seemed to flicker calmly, yet emanated an immense killing intent. At the sight of it, his heart... Thump… ...quietly pounded, heating the blood coursing through his veins. It resonated. His body began to resonate with that flame. Gradually, and with increasing ferocity.