Avangarde Royal Capital – Central Avenue
【Yuyu cast Saint Weapon! Ord’s weapon has been imbued with holy attributes!】
A light coiled around my weapon like a serpent before vanishing. It seemed that the same phenomenon was happening to everyone else’s weapons, but I was the only one who didn’t understand what was going on. Everyone else remained unfazed.
“I have imbued your weapons with holy attributes. Now you can touch that intangible evil spirit.”
“Seriously?! Alright!”
“Ah, Ord-san… please let people finish speaking.”
【Ord’s attack! Unable to deal damage to the Death Weapon Merchant!】
My full-force thrust pierced the Death Weapon Merchant. However, despite the sensation of impact, he remained unfazed, flickering as if nothing had happened. The spear embedded in the Death Weapon Merchant was pulled out effortlessly, as if it were nothing. Is he really a monster?
“Hoho! Impressive, but I won’t die! After all, I’m already dead!”
“That evil spirit is correct. While we can now deal physical damage thanks to the holy attributes, only the Exorcist’s higher holy magic, Exorcism, can truly banish it. Ord-san, it’s remarkable that you’ve survived this long.”
Yuyu laughed with a hint of disdain, laced with sarcasm directed at me. Given the situation, one would normally think attacks would be effective. Why does everyone seem to understand this so naturally?
“Moreover, this type of evil spirit is extremely troublesome. A half-hearted Exorcism won’t suffice; we must restrain that evil spirit and coordinate our efforts as Exorcists.”
“So, you mean we have to restrain it ourselves?”
“Exactly. Unfortunately, the higher-ranked Adventurers, including Mugen and the others, are too busy dealing with other Phantoms. So, we must manage this ourselves.”
“Surround it, everyone!”
Ritta and the soldiers surrounded the Death Weapon Merchant without hesitation. Their movements were so coordinated, it was as if they had anticipated the command. Each one moved in perfect synchronization, a testament to their daily training. Even the Death Weapon Merchant seemed unable to escape this time. The elusive creature was restricted within the Holy Road and didn’t vanish suddenly.
“Hohoho, this is quite the predicament, isn’t it?”
“Stop your futile resistance. The Exorcist team will complete the Exorcism on you shortly.”
“Why is it that none of you can appreciate the brilliance and aesthetics of my weapons? Isn’t that a form of mental abandonment? You pick up weapons with vulgar designs, satisfied with your ignorance. And once something becomes popular, you swarm to it like locusts. Especially when it comes to weapon usability, it can be mastered with training. Yet, you refuse to see the essence, you lowly, despicable fools… it’s truly astonishing!”
A chill ran down my spine, as if cold water had been splashed on me. What is this thing? I know it’s an evil spirit, but how many voices are there? A young man’s voice, an old man’s voice, a woman’s voice. They overlapped, each with a different tone. One shadow swayed and spoke, while another did the same.
“W-What the hell is this?!”
“As I explained earlier, this evil spirit has absorbed other evil spirits; it is, in essence, a collective. It is merely a manifestation of negative emotions.”
“Yuyu-san, it’s coming!”
【Death Weapon Merchant’s Shadow Bind!】
One of the shadows shot out, darting erratically around us. Even Ritta, who noticed it first, couldn’t fully evade the shadow’s strike, and Kirkton and the soldiers were caught as well.
【Ritta took 132 damage! HP 135/267】
【Kirkton took 71 damage! HP 519/590】
【Irene took 146 damage! HP 17/163】
【Shuri took 157 damage! HP 0/143】
【Ord took 139 damage! HP 77/216】
“Shuri!”
“Resurrection!”
Shuri, who had been mortally wounded and sent flying, crashed to the ground. Immediately, Yuyu’s light of Resurrection enveloped her. Though she coughed up blood, it seemed she had managed to survive. However, in that state, she could no longer fight.
I still didn’t quite understand why it had chosen not to target the soldiers, but seeing its dancing flicker confirmed my suspicion. It was to instill fear by tormenting the one leading the unit. That was all it took.
“I-I underestimated the analysis… cough!”
“Shuri, don’t speak.”
“Hoho! Weak! Too weak! How about it? In times like this, don’t you desire power? If you had power, you wouldn’t have to trouble your kind captain! Hohoho!”
“…Silence.”
It was clear that it was deliberately provoking Ritta, enjoying the battle itself. Ritta, calm yet struggling to contain her anger, was admirable. She gripped her spear so tightly that blood began to seep from her hand.
“By the way, I once granted you power, didn’t I? You’ve grown quite impressive, but to think you can’t even protect your precious subordinates… hoho!”
Don’t you dare laugh.
【Yuyu cast Angel Recovery! All HP fully restored!】
【Yuyu cast Rainbow Barrier! All attribute resistances increased!】
【Yuyu cast Guard Rain! All defense increased!】
【Yuyu cast Twinkle Shield! All physical resistances increased!】
“As long as I am here, no one shall die.”
“Hoho! Truly, the benevolent angel who has never let a single party member die! That name is not just for show!”
That woman, who could cast all those high-level support spells in an instant, was quite the monster. I felt grateful that she was on our side, albeit in a different sense than Rua. But that didn’t mean the danger of death had vanished. We needed to restrain it and allow the Exorcists to perform Exorcism. The question was, how would we accomplish that?
“Ritta-chan, Kirkton-san.”
I conveyed my thoughts to the two of them succinctly. The overconfident creature didn’t seem to notice that I had communicated anything to them. It continued to sway its shadows, taunting us.
“C-Can we really do that? But there’s no other way, is there…?”
“We have to… do it. That way, it will let its guard down.”
“…I’ll give the orders.”
To restrain it, which likely wouldn’t be affected by status ailments, this was our only option. Under Kirkton’s and Ritta’s commands, some of the soldiers surrounding it began to retreat. Yes, we were merely luring it. And now, the real game begins.
“W-What should we do…?”
“Hey! Gather the Exorcist team!”
At Kirkton’s brief command, two soldiers turned their backs to the specter and ran. Alright, here we go.
“Hoho! Are you planning to concentrate all your forces? I thought you were already overwhelmed with just the Phantoms?”
“Who knows? Most of the civilians have no combat experience. If they are A-Rank Adventurers, it won’t take long to subdue them. Especially with Verdant Mage Nokiri and Sealing Mage Baste, it should be easy.”
“…That would be troublesome.”
“But of course, I won’t let you pass!”
To prevent the two from escaping, the soldiers once again surrounded the specter. Yes, we absolutely cannot let it go.
“Hohoho! Are you fools? Do you really think the benevolent angel can stop me just because she’s here?”
Black spheres appeared around the shadows, darting in all directions like the previous shadow.
【Death Weapon Merchant’s Dark Flare!】
【Ritta took 102 damage! HP 165/267】
【Kirkton took 99 damage! HP 491/590】
【Irene took 107 damage! HP 56/163】
【Ord took 114 damage! HP 102/216】
The explosion, spewing black smoke, scattered us. The formation that had surrounded it collapsed in an instant, causing damage not only to us but also to the nearby houses. Walls were destroyed, roofs torn off. The cries of residents who hadn’t yet evacuated echoed in anger and despair, mingled with the wails of children. The specter seemed to revel in the chaos.
【Ritta was plunged into darkness!】
【Kirkton was plunged into darkness!】
【Irene was plunged into darkness!】
【Ord was plunged into darkness!】
“Damn it! This is bad…!”
“How does it feel to taste the darkness of a shadow attribute high-level spell? With no means to defend against this, what were you planning to do with me? Well then!”
My vision was shrouded in darkness, and I couldn’t see a thing. I couldn’t help but regret not preparing for Status Ailments, but the truth was that the prices for such equipment were absurdly high. I truly envied Lua for her resources.
【Yuyu cast Cure Recovery! All Status Ailments have been healed!】
【Yuyu cast Speed Rain! Everyone’s agility has increased!】
“We’re going after them!”
By the time my vision cleared, the Death Weapon Merchant was about to ambush the two who had fled. Would we make it in time? Even with Yuyu’s Speed Rain enhancing our speed, it would be a close call.
【Yuyu cast Sacred Cross! The Death Weapon Merchant takes no damage!】
“Ugh!”
Just in the nick of time, thanks to Yuyu’s holy magic, he was repelled by a cross of light. While it didn’t inflict damage, the physical impact was effective. The Death Weapon Merchant, knocked over in a ridiculous posture, glared back at us. In reality, he was a specter with shadowy features and glowing red eyes, so it wasn’t entirely accurate to say he was glaring, but there was no doubt he was fixated on us.
“How clever of you. If it weren’t for that angel of mercy, you would have been wiped out long ago…”
“Both of you, run!”
The two soldiers, having escaped the immediate danger, began to sprint again. With Yuyu’s Speed Rain in effect, those two were relatively faster than the other soldiers. It was clear that Kirkton hadn’t just given orders recklessly. Even though I had come up with the plan on the fly, he chose the right person to issue commands instantly. It was a display of leadership that set him apart from mere adventurers.
“Kirkton, the Exorcists are in this direction, right?”
“Absolutely.”
“In that case, let’s finish this… Hey! Wait up, Death Weapon Merchant!”
“Do you think a ghost would wait just because you told it to?!”
We ran, ran, and ran. Even I, who had trained regularly, was starting to feel winded. In contrast, those soldiers looked completely unfazed. I found myself feeling a bit down about how much training it would take to reach that level, but I had no time for such thoughts. A chance had presented itself. The merchant, who had underestimated us, had fallen right into our trap. He was so focused on his prey that he didn’t notice the danger looming ahead.
“Ha! We’ve finally caught up to you!”
“Take this! Feel my wrath!”
【Ord’s Spear Charge Tackle!】
From a diagonal rear position, I charged at him. The Spear Charge Tackle might just seem like a simple rush, but it was a skill that focused solely on attack power, sacrificing everything else.
【No damage dealt to the Death Weapon Merchant!】
“Ugh!”
I continued to charge forward, still impaling him. It was obvious that he had no concept of weight. While he was a specter, and one could argue that he had no mass, I could feel the sensation of piercing him, yet there was no weight to be felt—an utterly perplexing situation.
“Raaahhh!”
“Do you really think such a skill can affect me?”
He was oozing confidence; he had been like that from the start. But we decided to play defensively, intentionally showing how powerless we were, as if we were forced into a desperate strategy. This would create a new opening for him. That was why he was in this state now—underestimating me, unaware of what I was planning, and oblivious to the situation around him. And finally, the moment arrived.
“Ugh! It’s burning! What is happening?!”
I pressed him against the bars of the Holy Road while he was still impaled. If the Holy Road was the reason he couldn’t escape, then it was the only thing that could touch him besides holy weapons. I drove my holy spear through him, pinning him to the sacred bars. Now, like a skewered delicacy, he was completely immobilized.
“How could I, a ghost, be trapped by such childish tricks?! But I won’t die! I’m a specter!”
“Ah, that’s right. For you, it must feel like being pressed against a heated iron rod. But I’m not the one who will defeat you.”
“W-What?!”
“The Exorcist squad has completed their incantation!”
Without needing to hear Ritta’s report, I could see the Exorcists lined up outside the Holy Road. Unlike regular adventurers, Exorcists were highly specialized and rarely formed parties. This was my first time seeing them in action. Clad in black robes that concealed their heads, each held a thick tome. They opened their books, and the surroundings began to glow.
“Stop it… My weapons, my art, still… still unrecognized…”
“Before you go to the Underworld, let me tell you this: even if the majority doesn’t recognize it, having something precious is enough to bring happiness. To be acknowledged by that one special thing in the world is worth more than the wealth of a noble. Just leaving a strong impression in someone’s heart is valuable enough.”
“How dare you, a pathetic adventurer, speak to me like this…”
“…You probably won’t understand, even in death.”
Light gathered around the Death Weapon Merchant, and I instinctively closed my eyes. But this light was different; it didn’t hurt my eyes. When I cautiously opened them, I could see the Death Weapon Merchant enveloped in light.
“Even if I perish… there will surely be those who inherit my thoughts and will… the seeds have already been sown…”
With a final, anguished cry, the Death Weapon Merchant dissolved into the air from my spear. The sensation of piercing him faded, and the surrounding light began to dim.
“I don’t want to… I don’t want to disappear… Noooooo!”
【The Death Weapon Merchant has vanished!】
“…Is it over?”
As soon as the malevolent spirit before me disappeared, I felt all my strength drain away. Ritta and Kirkton rushed to my side.
“That was amazing! Thanks to Ord, we defeated the Death Weapon Merchant!”
“Indeed! I appreciate the cooperation of the Exorcists as well!”
When they saluted me in unison, it felt oddly ticklish. Honestly, I never thought I could accomplish something like this. I had acted on instinct, but now I couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy rising from within.
“Heh, did you see that, Kou and Bun? I did it… Oh, right, we’re being taken to the castle now. I wish I could show off.”
“Don’t worry, I made sure to engrave it in my memory.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely! Right, Captain Kirkton?”
“You truly did well. I never expected you to seal him in such a way. You should have no problem taking the A-Rank Promotion Exam. In fact, I want someone like you to rise to A-Rank.”
I felt like I was being praised excessively, as if they had some leverage over me, but there was also a part of me that couldn’t fully rejoice. First and foremost, it was because he had been too careless. That was likely due to him being a merchant with no combat experience in life. That allowed my shallow tactics to work. If he had been a seasoned warrior, like one of the Twelve Demon Generals of the Demon Lord Army, I wouldn’t have been able to seal him at all.
“There are still some ruffians causing trouble, right?”
“There’s no need to worry about that.”
Suddenly, I saw Mugen appear, carrying two unconscious individuals. With his physique and immense strength, it was clear that even the A-Rank adventurers were monsters in their own right.
“Mugen, what’s the situation over there? Who are those people?”
“Yes, they have already been freed from the curse of the weapons.”
“Oh? How did you manage that?”
“Two adventurers who called themselves travelers did it.”
“Oh, but where did that ghost go?”
Once again, there was a figure on the roof. He held a massive sword that captivated the eyes of anyone who looked at it, planted firmly on the roof. He wore a tattered jacket and jeans, with his hair in a messy slick-back.
“Could it be that he was purified? What a pathetic fellow…”
“W-Who are you…?”
“Oh? This is quite the pathetic band of Avangarde. You all work hard day and night, don’t you?”
As he leisurely jumped down, he looked even more bizarre up close. I recognized him; I had seen him once at the Adventurer’s Guild. He was a rare class in this area, and he had become somewhat of a topic of conversation among adventurers. He had two beautiful women in his party, which made some people envious.
“How rude to call us a pathetic band!”
“You’ve got potential, but you’re sweaty. If you had put a little more effort into your appearance, I might have considered making one of you my woman.”
“Huh?! What?!”
“By the way, have you seen Lua and Roel around here?”
From a distance, I hadn’t noticed, but what was that massive sword? It had incomprehensible patterns etched into the blade, and the silhouette was shaped by an oval-shaped indentation. The blade jutted out like a horn. It was anything but ordinary; just looking at it sent chills down my spine. What was that sword?
“Where have you been all this time? It seems you haven’t been active as an adventurer at all.”
“Eh? Why the hell do you know about my private life, you bald freak? It’s only polite to answer questions, you know? As a person, at least.”
His unkempt hair swayed wildly as his ferocious gaze scrutinized us.
“Well, whatever. You guys, I need you to be my test subjects for a bit. I want to try out the cutting edge of this Demon Sword, ‘Doomnate.'”
Mugen is here, and so is Yuyu. But I couldn’t shake off the unease that clung to me. What the heck is a Demon Sword? Where did it come from?
◆ Shin Report ◆
Still not equipped with the avant-garde.
While I’m stuck here, who knows what kind of chaos might be brewing in the dungeon.
Since I have some free time, I decided to conduct a little experiment on the strongest contenders outside of Rua.
First up, the Great Demon and the Dragon King.
These two are at the pinnacle.
Ah, it’s done.
Bored.