Chapter 176: Hunt. (1)
I tied the tiger rifle around my back and holstered the revolver at my side. The bullets I made were loaded into each’s magazine.
Clack—!
Two shots for the rifle and three for the revolver imbued with mana. During an actual battle, the time needed to reload was a rare luxury.
I looked at the clock. It wasn’t yet past 4 am, and darkness still consumed the snowy world outside. Suddenly, I frowned, noticing an unnatural shadow around the curtains. I pulled them up using Psychokinesis.
*creak*—!
I remained motionless with a smirk upon my lips as I gazed through the window.
—*snore*…*snore*.
Jack Frost was there. A sleeping child, completely buried in snow, leaned against the window. I drew closer to her.
“…”
I examined the snowman, noting her small face and frozen hair, eyes, nose, and lips. This child whose name I didn’t remember.
“…They look alike.”
However, I could roughly understand the background behind this child’s birth. I was sure she was some sort of an Easter egg. Adding similar NPCs was quite common in this area.
—…
The child tossed and turned, her frozen eyelids creaking open. Her lips drew a thin line as cold tears welled up in her eyes.
—…My gun.
I closed the curtains.
Clang clang clang— clang clang clang—
The kid started knocking on the window again.
Clang clang clang— clang clang clang—
Give me back my gun, you bad man—
*****
Outside the barrier of Reccordak, in the forest.
“…Wow.”
Lia illuminated a small piece of paper with mana. There was evidence here and there that this was authentic and couldn’t be a counterfeit. The number that seemed to never end was also definitely not a lie.
How many chocolates could this buy? How many macarons? She felt so happy that she spun around like a ballerina.
[Yukline Family Cheque]
[10,000,000∃]
“Hahaha…”
Of course, the tiger rifle was taken away, no, it was sold through coercion, but it was not a loss. Rather, it was fortunate that it was taken away by Deculein. Even if it were a treasure, if there were no demand, its price would plummet. And even the treasure that was the tiger rifle wouldn’t normally be sold at prices like this…
“Huhuhu.”
Lia sealed the cheque with mana and put it inside her pocket. Then, she ran after Deculein. The tiger rifle was strapped around his back as he moved with his long stride. The Great Tiger hunt this time needed to be cleared as a player. A huge reward would be waiting.
That was also why she came to look after Deculein.
“…”
Lia glanced at Deculein as they walked. At first glance, he was cold as ice and sharp as a blade, a cold-hearted fellow that could cut down a person with just his words. He looked like Kim Woo-jin, but he was a completely different person… not a Named.
She wanted to look closer at his face.
“Hush.”
Then, Deculein stretched out his hand. Lia quickly stopped.
Grrrrrrrrrr—!
The Great Tiger’s growl resounded from nearby. Almost at the same time, the wood steel flooded in that direction.
“Uhm, is it okay if you don’t say anything to the headquarters…?”
Now, Deculein was on pursuit by himself. Without telling anyone or asking for help. Lia was anxious about that. It was true that Deculein was stronger compared to the original scenario, but he was no hero to jump in the tiger’s jaws by himself.
“…”
Suddenly, Deculein looked at her, his gaze sharp enough to maim.
“…Yes?”
Lia quickly answered and closed her mouth.
“The distance of the shot exceeds 10km.”
“…What?”
“One feature of Psychokinesis is specialized in the shooting. It keeps the trajectory constant and amplifies its power.”
At the moment of the discharge, Psychokinesis was applied to the bullet. The expected velocity of the synergy lightly transcended the speed of sound. Therefore, the bullet should hit the tiger.
“If only we can pick up its location, we can launch an attack that it cannot evade.”
“…”
Lia nodded. It was a good plan if the Great Tiger could be killed with one blow.
“…Can one bullet kill the Great Tiger?”
“I will shoot five shots in a row.”
“Aha…”
Lia was convinced. Deculein belatedly trudged up the mountain, looking for a highland where he could fire easier. Then.
“Professor~.”
A voice came from above them in the branches of a darkend tree. Lia and Deculein looked up at the same time to find Ganesha.
“Nice to see you~; how long has it been?”
She swept her hair back as she looked at Deculein.
“Where did you hide the half-blood?”
“I hid him. Hiyaaa~.”
Ganesha jumped to the ground, and Lia shuffled over to stand beside her.
“The Great Tiger hunt. We’ll help you, too.”
“There’s no need.”
“…Are you saying I can’t guarantee your victory even if I use all my power? Professor, you shouldn’t do this alone~.”
Deculein didn’t say anything, glaring at Ganesha.
“Professor, you cover. I will attack. Don’t you think that’s perfect~?”
Deculein was still silent. The wind blew between them, and Lia swallowed her nerves.
“…”
Then suddenly, Deculein looked at her. Lia smiled as soon as she met his eyes.
“Is this kid any good?”
“Of course. Lia is such a remarkable talent~. Soon, she will be stronger than me~.”
*****
…On the other hand, Julie received a shocking report after doing her morning exercises at Reccordak. It was news that Allen, Deculein’s Assistant Professor, was attacked by the Great Tiger.
“Is this true?!”
“Yes, it is!”
Reylie urgently spoke. Her face was filled with shock and restlessness.
“I heard that the tiger got Assistant Professor Allen! They also found a piece of his bloodstained robe!”
Julie picked up her sword as soon as she heard it, tying back her hair. She adjusted her leather armor. The moment she came outside and approached the barrier, she found Syrio and Ihelm discussing with the scouts.
Julie looked at Ihelm’s hands more than anything else as he held a torn piece of robe stained with blood.
“…We think it is his.”
Ihelm spoke as he brushed his hair back. Julie quickly ran up to them.
“Lord Ihelm, Lord Syrio, what happened?”
“Oh, you’re here.”
Ihelm clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“It would seem that Deculein’s assistant was attacked by the tiger.”
Ihelm stored the robe in a bag of mana. If it was true, then it was difficult to expect him to come back alive. Therefore, it would be right to preserve his things for Deculein.
“Then, where did Professor Deculein go?”
“…”
“…Oh, that’s.”
Ihelm shut his mouth with a grim face, and Syrio scratched the back of his neck.
“I guess he’s really mad. He rushed out at dawn without saying a word.”
Ihelm paused a moment before adding:
“I didn’t know that his personality would be like this. He looks to have gone away without much preparation. He also left his horse.”
Julie began to shout.
“Please open the barrier!”
“…Yes? Ah-“
“Right now!”
The prison guard nodded his head in a moment of confusion and opened the door of the barrier.
Screeeeech—
“Helmet, I leave the friends of the assistant professor to you. Wizards will only be targeted if they come out anyway, so….”
“Don’t call me Helmet. Don’t worry about those guys and just go.”
Ihelm scrunched his nose, and Syrio laughed a bit.
“Yeah, I will be back.”
Syrio readied his armor. Julie stamped her feet while waiting for the door to open.
—Hey! What’s going on!
—Professor Deculein has left!
The other knights also arrived one by one behind them. Julie and Syrio ran at full speed as soon as the door cracked open. Naturally, all the knights flocked towards Ihelm for answers.
“Lord Ihelm, what is going on?”
“They say that Professor Deculein flew into a rage? Because of what?”
“…Why are the knights so interested in such rumors?”
Ihelm frowned and hid the piece of Allen’s robe.
“You’ll only get in the way even if you go out, so just sit still here.”
“What?”
“Hey, Ihelm, don’t you remember our times at the Imperial Palace?”
The Imperial Knights rushed in with their eyes glaring, but Ihelm simply ignored them. But as he recalled the assistant professor that he saw last night, he let out a deep sigh. He was a guy who was always smiling brightly.
“…Oho.”
When Ihelm found the traces of the assistant professor, he thought of Deculein rushing out. He understood what he must have felt.
“I thought he was just a cold-hearted bastard.”
That Deculein lost his composure and was so enraged, he moved without concern for himself. It was only natural since he was an assistant he had been with for several years.
“…So you are just a normal person, too.”
Ihelm looked over the barrier and mumbled. The sadness of losing a disciple was something that he had experienced as well.
“Tsk.”
Ihelm put away the robe fragment that would soon become a precious piece of memorabilia, although it was too soon to refer to it as such, and he walked back to the prison.
“Hey! Is it true that Professor Deculein went out by himself?!”
Several knights asked for the truth as he went back inside the main building, but he didn’t dare answer. Secrecy was the most basic courtesy of a wizard.
*****
In an undeveloped land covered by darkness, Deculein stood atop a large rock with his jacket fluttering around him. His wood steel roamed about in search of the Great Tiger, but he maintained a safe distance. Even if for the Great Tiger, it would need at least 3 seconds to cross 10km, and his bullet would prove much faster.
Clack—
Lia opened the lid of her lunch box. Ganesha and Leo were on the tracking team, and Deculein and her were on the patrol team.
“Do you want to eat, Professor?”
Deculein looked back at Lia. She was startled and flinched every time she received that gaze. It was very chilly but also resembled Kim Woo-jin.
“I’m sorry. I’m the type to not be able to use my strength if I don’t eat….”
It was a characteristic of Healthy Eating Habits. In the case of an empty stomach, all body specifications such as physical strength, stamina, and the likes, except mana, were reduced. But, they would increase up to 1.5 times if she were full. She learned that if she ate three meals right on time, there was no penalty.
Clack—!
She heard the sound of a firing pin being pulled. Lia, who was eating her lunch, jumped up.
“…”
She looked at Deculein, remaining silent. The horizon was covered with dark clouds pouring down a blizzard, but his gun was aimed somewhere far beyond that. Deculein had his finger on the trigger. A quiet wind blew past them, and Lia swallowed.
“Tell this to Ganesha: I am going to attack first.”
“Can you see the Great Tiger?”
“I can. It’s crouching down in the bushes and is remaining vigilant of Ganesha.”
“Yes, I will tell her.”
Lia took out a crystal ball. Immediately after, Ganesha’s answer returned.
—We heard it. We are watching it now.
“Okay, did you hear that, Professor?”
Deculein nodded. The moment when he was about to pull the trigger-
“…!”
Deculein’s eyes widened a fraction at the tearing tension and murderous intent filling the air. He squeezed the trigger.
Bang——! Bang——!
The shockwave of the two bullets shook heaven and the earth.
“Ah!”
At the same time, the bullets careened right toward the Great Tiger. The beast surged up suddenly, overtaking the distance of 10km in an instant. Deculein threw aside the rifle and drew his revolver, firing off three bullets in rapid succession.
Bang—!
The rifle bullets cut through the tiger’s shoulders, and the revolver’s bullets swept over the tiger’s eyes and forehead. But, the tiger was already before his eyes. The speed of his dash imbued with mana was akin to a flash of lightning. His jaw gaped open, fangs bared, while Lia moved toward Deculein.
When she was about shove aside Deculein and faithfully carry out her mission-
“…”
A smile appeared on Deculein’s face. Lia stared at him vacantly. It seemed as if time had slowed down, and he spoke to the tiger through his expression.
“You thought I didn’t know?”
The Great Tiger’s face twisted as they felt this new danger. It contorted in the air to change its direction toward Lia instead as she stepped toward Deculein.
But, it was Deculein who moved this time.
“Hmm.”
He was relaxed even at this moment. With a low rumble, he put his arm in the tiger’s mouth.
Munch—!
The Great Tiger bit down Deculein’s arm. Then, she heard the sound of a pin falling.
“…”
——Probably about 1 second until here.
Lia looked at Deculein, who was protecting her. No, he wasn’t necessarily trying to protect her.
“I dropped a grenade inside your mouth. Prepare yourself.”
This was what he planned on doing from the start.