novelCould this golem be…?
| ← Ch.083 | Ch.085 → |
Whatever the vile alien woman might say, I was innocent, but still it was possible there might be a foolish Earthling incited into doing something.
The natural disaster that had shaken the entire Pacific Ocean this time was secondary damage caused by the aliens' marital quarrel.
It was in no way connected to me.
"... I really can't tell what you're thinking, Mr. Kang Han Soo."
"Can't tell what? I'm a 100% pure incarnation of justice."
It had nothing to do with me, but I could smell the stench of a conspiracy.
How could I overlook it as an A-rank hero with a strong sense of justice?
I decided to solve this problem for them.
"Hmm~ Suspicious..."
"Now! Let's go already!"
I moved to the captain's cabin together with Victoria, who gazed at me with suspicion.
*
The alien woman, whom I had expected to have been stripped naked while being frisked and put on a torture chair with all four of her limbs restrained, was...
Lying comfortably on top of a clean bed under a blanket.
My brows involuntarily furrowed at that indolent and shoddy way of dealing with the woman, but I quietly passed over it as the general mood seemed approving.
First, I checked her face.
... It was Miss D.
No, looking closely, she did look like Miss C, too.
Since I had stabbed them off the bat instead of carefully checking their faces, I couldn't remember exactly who she was.
In any case, she wasn't Miss G. That was certain.
Well, shall I have a look at her Status?
?Race: Mermaid
?Level: 857
?Job: Black Magician(Blessing=Dead Soul↑)
?Skills: Song(S) Dead Soul(S) Immortal(A) Blessing(A) Interpretation(A)...
?Condition: Resurrected, Anxious, Heroic Soul, Exhausted, Golem
I had thought I had thoroughly gotten rid of the old prince's harem, but this young miss had the right conditions for coming back to life.
For starters her race was mermaid.
She had no worries of drowning to death even if she fell into the Pacific Ocean in a powerless state.
Her Job was Black Magician, which was specialized in manipulating corpses and the dead. On top of this was A-rank Immortal. It was a setup that was outright planned to defy death.
Had I seen her Status at the start, I would have killed her twice for certainty, but...
"This person's condition is complicated..."
Victoria so muttered upon seeing the alien woman's Status like I did.
The man who had arrived here before her replied.
"We're speculating that she died once during a big fight near this area, then barely resurrected through a Skill. As you can see, we're taking good care of her, but she's not speaking due to being wary of us."
The speaker wasn't the captain of this cruise ship.
He was a Hero tasked with guarding the ship.
As of the present, he was more like a "mercenary with supernatural powers" than a Hero. This was similar with the Heroes on Fantasia's continents.
Heroes are unnecessary in a world without a Demon King, after all.
No matter how great a power you had, if there was nowhere to use it, then you could only be a criminal or a security guard that stopped crimes.
"I see. Good work."
"It's nothing. I am being paid to do this."
The Hero responded idly.
He was on the rather better side of things, though.
He was a full-time worker employed by the wealthy Victoria, and not a temporary mercenary who used a day's earnings within that day.
There was quite the order around here.
There were groups who rejected this proper social life, however.
Guilds.
Heroes with nothing to do gathered to found armed groups called "guilds".
Their purpose for banding together?
To protect their rights as those socially ostracized.
This was because the politicians and individuals originally in power were wary of their unregulated powers.
The Heroes that had returned after defeating Demon King Pedonar on Fantasia's continents were more dangerous than armed robbers.
If these Heroes became bent on displaying their power, they could kill every last person alive, whether it be a conglomerate or the president.
If the Heroes had decided to take a cold and harsh stance, Earth would long have become the second Fantasia.
Or perhaps it might have become something even worse?
"Come to think of it, I wonder if that classmate of mine's doing fine...?"
While I did gather some information myself after coming to Earth, the most of what I knew was taught to me by Classmate A, whom I coincidentally met in Fantasia's continents.
I found it hard to believe his words back then, but upon actually seeing Heroes ordering Heroes about, I truly felt that Earth had changed a great deal.
Victoria was issuing orders.
"Everyone please step aside and leave it to me from here on."
"Chief Director. This person is...?"
The Hero questioned my identity as I stood beside her.
Just when I was about to give a reply, Victoria began to fabricate a story without blinking a single eye.
"A trustworthy comrade. I'll vouch for his identity, so don't worry too much."
"I'm the one to worry..."
A comrade by whose will? Where's your conscience?
I had no mind to have a weak comrade like Victoria.
But if I were to deny it here, it was possible I would have to start from the beginning by checking for my identity. Since that would be very much wearisome, I decided to pass over it for the time being.
Victoria smiled again, appearing to be in a good mood.
In contrast, I grew extremely uncomfortable.
"Well if you say so, Chief Director..."
All the crew members including the Hero exited the captain's cabin, following which only me, Victoria and the alien woman were left.
Victoria spoke as she cautiously approached the bed.
"Hello? I'm Victoria, the one in charge here. I understand that you're uneasy, but can we talk for a moment? I promise that I will never harm you."
The alien woman cautiously opened her eyes.
And discovered me.
"... Hi? Miss mermaid."
"Kyaaagh-!"
The young mermaid responded to my greeting with a scream.
Crack- Shatter!
As the mermaid, whose race was famed for their strong vocal cords, screamed, all the glass windows in the captain's cabin shattered.
Shiing.
I summoned forth Holy Sword 2 without hesitation.
I had been continuously pondering upon how to kill this living witness in a natural manner without drawing suspicion, yet to think she would cause a commotion like this. I could only be thankful.
This time, I'll definitely deal with you so that you can't resurrect.
"It's okay! Calm down!"
Pause.
I stopped my arm that was about to swing Holy Sword 2 due to Victoria stepping in and shielding the young mermaid.
Bang-!
The door to the captain's cabin opened and the Hero from before entered. He seemed surprised upon hearing the noise made by the mermaid as he was waiting outside.
"Director! Are you—Gasp! You bastard!"
The Hero charged towards me like an angry bull.
It was because I had been pointing Holy Sword 2 at Victoria, which made for just the right picture for a third party to misunderstand me as trying to attack her.
Although the reason for this was Victoria interfering in the middle of her own accord, there was no time to be kindly explaining that.
Killing him was a bit too much...
So I decided to give him a slight pat.
"Stay out of it, extra."
"Whose an extr—Guegh?!"
My side kick landed on the Hero's lower back.
Exactly between his 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae!
It was a blow that had perfectly calculated the Hero's body structure and accelerated motion.
He must have gotten a herniated lumbar disc without any aftereffects.
"Crew Member A. Clear him away instead of just watching."
"Yes? Yes!"
Crew Member A, who had entered a step late, attempted to help up the Hero who was lying limp on the ground, but the Hero stubbornly shook off the crew member's hand.
"Let go! I can stand on my ow—Kuarrgh~?!"
The Hero clutched at his lower back as he was standing up gallantly and fell down again.
While I didn't openly show my delight, I was greatly satisfied at having confirmed that he had properly gotten a herniated disc.
I had been slightly worried as I had failed last time against a certain young lady, but my skills hadn't rusted yet.
The Hero was carried out on a stretcher, unable to move in the slightest.
Thus only three were left in the captain's cabin, again.
"Uugh..."
The young mermaid was trembling violently, covered with the bed blanket up to her head.
She didn't scream again.
It was thanks to Victoria comforting her by the side like a big sister.
"Yes, calmly take a deep breath. You're doing well. And you, Mr. Kang Han Soo, please put away your weapon already! Haah! Really... But how did you summon a Holy Sword when there's no Holy Sword in your Condition?"
I clicked my tongue at Victoria's inquiry.
And activated Black-Box.
Although I didn't want to go this far, I had no choice in order to quietly settle the situation.
"Victoria. Look into my eyes."
"Yes, Look me in the eyes and tell me. Just where did you get that unusual-looking Holy Sword?"
Snap. (Eyes snapping open. )
I erased Victoria's memory instead of answering, got rid of everything that happened after she met me.
The plane was destroyed in the air due to the old prince's surprise attack, and the only survivors were her and me.
The plan was to erase Victoria's memories and pass it off as amnesia, and claim that the culprit behind it is the young mermaid lady.
By doing so, I would be able to deal with the young mermaid in a legal way.
Furthermore, the truth behind the incident in the Pacific Ocean would forever be buried in the dark.
"Victoria. Do you know who I am?"
I should check if Victoria's memory is cleanly erased.
"Mr. Kang Han Soo. What are you saying all of a sudden?"
"... Mm?"
"Uh, your face is too close! Too close I'm telling you?! I'll turn a blind eye to the matter of the Holy Sword, so please give me space! Quickly!"
Victoria thus pleaded with a bright-red face as she backed up.
... Just what was going on here?
Victoria, whose memory should have been wiped, was just fine. I made a second attempt, but she didn't forget me.
In exchange...
An incomprehensible phenomenon occurred.
?Race: Arch-Human
?Level: 1
?Job: Sorcerer(Willpower=Sorcery↑)
?Skills: Willpower(SS) Sorcery(SS) Swordsmanship(S) Immunity(S) Survivability(A)...
?Condition: Agitated, Demon Sword, Confused, Oblivion
Victoria's Level had dropped as low as it could go.
It wasn't just her either.
?Race: Chaos Human
?Level: 1
?Job: Playboy(Woman→Allure↑)
?Skills: Divinity(Z) Dark Energy(Z) Blessing(Z) Fabrication(SSS) Battle Spirit(SS)...
?Condition: Holy Sword, Saintess, Golem, Oblivion
My Level had also fallen.
Although my Skills weren't sealed along with my Level like when the old prince used that purple eye-beam some time ago, my Level was fixed at 1 like that time.
And my Job had changed to Playboy.
"Never have I seen such a crazy Status...!"
Treating me like a playboy when I lived 17 years decently and with great integrity on Earth!
As if it wasn't outrageously unfair enough that I was held captive for 17 years in a barbaric fantasy world, I thought it was too much.
How had this happened?
"Status? Uh... Huh?! My Level?!"
Victoria tilted her head at overhearing me muttering to myself, following which she was shocked out of her wits herself after confirming her own Status.
I was still better off than her, however. While it was somewhat shocking that my Job had changed to "Playboy", I was able to take it calmly as I knew it would be restored to normal with the passage of time.
... Really, how come I'm classified as a playboy when I haven't even dated someone once properly?!
Something was up with this.
"Power of a Hero..."
The young mermaid lady, who had peeked her nose out from underneath the bed blanket, murmured to herself.
She seemed to know something.
It wasn't that this young mermaid lady was special. It was highly likely that she had information which was universally known by the aliens I had killed in the Pacific Ocean.
Common knowledge to them.
But unknown information to us.
That being the case, I decided to put killing her on hold for the time being.
"Miss mermaid. Shut your gills and listen carefully. If you answer what I'm going to ask quick and smart, I'll kill you swiftly without pain."
Of course, I had no mind to spare her life.
It had to be made known that the natural disaster that occurred in Earth's Pacific Ocean was caused by the marital quarrel of aliens.
Victoria complained from the side.
"Mr. Kang Han Soo! Who would answer if you threaten them like that!"
"Okay."
"You're okay with that?! Look here! Don't be giving up on your precious life so easily! I'll look strange if you agree so readily!"
"If I'm going to die anyway, I want to die comfortably..."
The young mermaid lady made a sensible judgement as she trembled. She's quite good for an idiotic fish head, huh?
"I won't kill you so don't worry."
Victoria began to sell nonsense.
As a righteous Hero, I didn't tell lies even if I were to suffer losses, but it seemed that Victoria was intending to reassure the young mermaid by saying she would be spared, then deal with her after extracting all the information she had.
What a truly frightening woman.
"R-really? That scary male as well?"
"Of course. So long as you completely disarm yourself and cooperate. First, please summon your golem and move it to that corner."
She even requested for disarmament for an easy kill.
"Okay."
The foolish young mermaid believed in the cunning Victoria's words and obediently summoned her golem.
She had willingly given up the best weapon and shield she could use in her exhausted state.
Pop.
A beautiful female-type golem that wasn't wearing a stitch of clothing was summoned.
It was a Valkyrie, which was the main force of the aliens, but as much as it was for personal use, its performance was superior to that of mass-production models.
Its Status was a bit strange, however.
?Race: Old Golem
?Level: 1
?Job: Prince(National Power=Willpower↑)
?Skills: Willpower(Z) Infiltration(Z) Charm(S) Laundry(A) Massage(A)...
?Condition: Possessed, Exhausted, Oblivion, Despair, Resignment
Anyone could see that it was an attractive-looking female type, yet its Job was "Prince", and its set of Skills was extremely suspicious as well.
I plainly stared at the golem that was moving to the corner.
The golem surreptitiously avoided my gaze.
"You, could you be...?"
"... I am a household golem. I do not know anything."
It wasn't a repechage, but in any case, we had met again.
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