Chapter 417

The slums had become quite noisy compared to before.

The addicts were still lost in their dreams, but those who still had their wits about them were either hiding inside buildings or running in the opposite direction.

Like animals fleeing a wildfire.

Since I had already crushed Dermont and his lackeys, it was only natural. The infiltration was already a lost cause.

The news of a powerful knight invading would have spread throughout the back alleys by now.

Even those who hadn’t seen the hellish scene inside the tavern would have at least heard the screams of Dermont’s men.

[They’re running away like mice that met a cat. If this keeps up, even that so-called executive will probably hide, right?]

‘Well, I’ll find out when I get there.’

If he’s confident in his skills, he’ll come out to fight me. Otherwise, he’ll run.

Personally, I hope it’s the former.

I drew Durandal and headed toward the residence of the executive Dermont had told me about, cutting down every thug I encountered along the way.

Since the best option of infiltration had failed, it was time to go with the second-best plan.

A thorough cleaning should satisfy Gwinnel.

—-

“Run awaaaay! It’s the crazy knight!”

“Damn it! Call the paladins! Call the paladins! There’s a monster here!”

Every time I encountered the thugs of the slums, they screamed and ran, but to me, their running was no different from crawling.

“You’re looking for paladins? That’s ridiculous.”

It’s like drug dealers begging the police for their lives.

I charged at the man who was screaming about a crazy knight and split him vertically, then grabbed the head of the man looking for paladins and slammed it into the alley wall.

– Crunch!

His face shattered upon impact with the bricks, and the remains of his flattened head stained the wall like thick paint.

His body twisted like a balloon, pissing itself.

Around his neck, bleeding profusely, was the same necklace Dermont had worn.

A metal identification plate with a strange pattern.

It was a mark of the Dream Paradise Society.

I snatched the necklace, confirmed the mark, and pocketed it as evidence.

[You’re going wild like a fish in water. Are you planning to wipe out the entire slum?]

‘What does it matter? Everyone still walking around is already a member of the Dream Paradise Society, right?’

According to Dermont, there are only two kinds of people wandering the slums.

Members of the Dream Paradise Society, who have taken over and control the entire area, and the drug addicts who have fallen victim to them.

There used to be other gangs, but they either wiped them out or brought them into their fold.

Essentially, the entire slum was their territory.

Now that I knew that, there was no reason not to kill them.

—-

So, I slaughtered every enemy I encountered like bugs.

Distinguishing between victims and perpetrators wasn’t too difficult.

The addicts were emaciated, half-conscious, and barely able to move, while the dealers, having sucked the lifeblood of the poor, were in perfect health.

There were some women among them, but the difference between victims and perpetrators was clear.

The victims, who sold their bodies for drugs, wore rags that barely counted as clothes or were completely naked, while the female members of the organization, though dressed in cheap clothes, were at least decently covered.

The female members, who lured outsiders into drug addiction, were mostly prostitutes with pretty faces.

Though they wouldn’t be able to flaunt their looks anymore.

“Ahhhh!”

“Help! Someone help!”

With every swing of my right arm, dismembered corpses piled up, and everything my left hand touched exploded, whether it was a person or an object.

The alley turned into a sea of blood. The stench of blood filled the entire area.

They were dying at a rate of one every few steps. There were so many of them.

“You crazy bastard!”

Some of the higher-ups, who seemed to be on par with Dermont, charged at me without fear.

They must have thought they were some kind of special heroes or honorable martyrs….

– Squelch!

“Gyaaaaah!”

When I grabbed them and tore off their limbs, they all squealed like pigs.

I admired their courage enough to just crush their legs and leave them be.

If luck was on their side, they might survive for three minutes.

—-

Around the time I had killed about three hundred of them.

“You demonic butcher…! Your rampage ends here!”

A commanding voice rang out from above.

It was a resolute voice, filled with deep anger and a firm sense of duty.

I looked up toward the source of the voice and saw five warriors standing on the rooftops of the surrounding buildings, looking down at me.

What’s with these clowns?

They were dressed in plain black armor with hooded cloaks, wearing black masks instead of helmets.

Their armor seemed to have been made in the same forge, as the design was identical.

At first glance, it looked like black iron, but the dull finish suggested it was just steel armor painted black.

Three men and two women.

I couldn’t see their faces because of the masks, but their scent and build made their genders obvious.

“How dare you commit such atrocities in human form! Are you not afraid of divine judgment?”

One of the female warriors, with long hair, scolded me in a sharp voice.

Afraid of divine judgment? Shouldn’t that be my line?

“Vile and cruel slaughterer, this will be your grave!”

As if her words were a signal, the five warriors all aimed their weapons at me.

Two men with longswords.

The woman who had insulted me held a long, thin rapier, while the other woman gripped two daggers in reverse grip.

The last one, who seemed to be their leader, wore a mask with golden engravings, and his weapon was surprisingly a massive scythe.

The metal shaft was taller than him, and the blade was as long as a human torso.

It looked like a weapon that would be impractical in actual combat.

You’d be better off fighting with a halberd.

“Are you with the Dream Paradise Society too? I’m looking for someone named Kist Amon. Do you know him?”

Kist Amon.

The name of the executive in charge of combat that I’d heard from Dermont.

“…Where did you hear that name?”

The man with the scythe glared at me as he asked.

So, they do know him.

That means they’re connected to him too.

“My friend Dermont kindly told me.”

“Dermont… I didn’t think he’d be so loose-lipped. Disappointing.”

No need to be disappointed.

He was pretty tight-lipped, all things considered. He held up well under basic interrogation.

“That just shows how deep our friendship is. So, who’s Kist Amon? Will I find out if I befriend you?”

I spun Durandal around and smiled at him.

Though I couldn’t see the corners of his mouth under the mask, the curve of his eyes must have been visible to them.

“You’re too arrogant, brat. Do you think you’re something just because you took down some lowly members of the cult?”

“You’re the ones being arrogant.”

Country bumpkins who can’t even recognize Jin’s Sword.

I cracked my neck and asked one last question.

“Why don’t you just answer? Where’s that bastard Kist? His underlings are being turned into minced meat, and he’s nowhere to be seen. Did he run off to hide in his mommy’s arms?”

“How dare you…!”

One of the men with a longsword shouted, his voice filled with rage, ready to jump down and attack me.

Their leader raised his left hand to stop him.

“Calm down, Nabis. He’s going to die soon anyway.”

“Hah, you’ve got big dreams.”

Who do you think you’re killing, you idiots?

Do you really think you can beat me just because there are four knights and one master?

It’s surprising that a drug cartel has a master-level warrior, but I had a rough idea when the name Dream Paradise Society came up.

“You want to meet Kist? That’s going to be difficult. You’re going to die here. By the hands of our Five Blades.”

The man provocatively wagged his left hand while resting the scythe on his shoulder.

“Oh, is that so? Well, talk while you can. Before your mouths are gone.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

This must be what they mean by a frog in a well.

Five Blades? Never heard of them.

“I am Heinz of the Five Blades. Heinz the Executioner.”

“Executioner, huh? Fancy name. And you?”

I gestured toward the others, and they stepped forward proudly, introducing themselves.

“Radeli. The name of the knight who will deliver divine punishment to you!”

The long-haired woman with the rapier shouted.

Knight, my ass. Since when can drug dealers call themselves knights? Did they leave their consciences in their mothers’ wombs?

“Nabis Leo.”

“Kellogg Flake. You’ve heard of ‘Kellogg of Rest,’ right? That’s me.”

Next, the two men with longswords introduced themselves.

I don’t know what ‘Kellogg of Rest’ is, but it seems like they’re quite attached to their nicknames.

“…Hersh.”

The woman with the two daggers muttered in a low, cold voice.

I don’t know what she thinks she can do with just daggers, trying to act all cool.

If you’re not skilled, at least use a longer weapon. All style, no substance.

After they finished introducing themselves, Heinz spoke to me again.

“So, who are you? To cause such a ruckus, you must be some infamous murderer. State your name.”

“My name? What do you need it for? You’re going to die soon anyway.”

You’ll just run like a dog if you know my name, yet you’re still putting on airs.

“…You don’t want to talk, huh? Then I’ll cut off your limbs and ask again!”

“Try it!”

Heinz unleashed his suppressed fighting spirit.

I grinned fiercely and kicked off the ground, launching myself toward him.

“How dare you!”

“Die!”

As I leaped, the Five Blades members also charged at me.

Like moths to a flame.