Chapter 45

Episode 45. You, Just Take One Hit (5)

That’s how it looked to Luke.

The man named Hans disappeared along with an afterimage. He was nowhere to be seen—front, left, or right. It was faster than the arrow Keter had shot.

The moment he lost sight of him, the outcome was already decided. That was Luke’s thought.

“Keter!”

It was obvious Hans was targeting Keter. So, Luke threw himself forward to protect Keter.

But Luke ended up lunging into empty air. Keter had also disappeared.

“Huh?”

Luke searched for Keter’s whereabouts.

Soon, a fierce wind blew around him. His hair and clothes fluttered wildly. Hans had passed by him, missing by a hair’s breadth.

Hans turned around and looked up.

Luke followed his gaze and saw Keter, who had leaped to the opposite side, now floating in mid-air. In that state, Keter was drawing his bowstring, aiming at Hans.

“Is that… the Cancer Bow!?”

The fourth technique of the Zodiac Twelve Forms, the Cancer Bow.

A technique to shoot an arrow while floating in mid-air.

Luke had learned it too—only in theory.

Even the strongest members of the Lunar Knight Order, Sephira’s elite, could only perform it on a good day. In fact, this was the first time Luke had seen an archer actually use the Cancer Bow.

But Keter was using it not in training, but in actual combat.

*Ting!*

The sound of Keter releasing the bowstring was crisp. It rang sharply in his ears.

Hans twisted his body to the left. It was the most reliable way to dodge an arrow that only moved forward.

*Thud!*

The sound of an arrow piercing flesh echoed. The arrowhead sank deep into Hans’ shoulder.

“The arrow curved!?”

Luke shouted.

That was what Hans wanted to say too.

The arrow had curved. The arrow, which had been flying straight, bent at an impossible angle and lodged itself in his shoulder.

It’s said that arrows curve in strong winds, but there wasn’t even a breeze here. There was no wind at all.

How did he make the arrow curve?

The secret was soon revealed.

Keter leaped over Hans.

From Hans’ perspective, it looked like Keter was about to pounce on him, so he was on high alert. But when Keter simply leaped over him, he was left bewildered.

At that moment—

“Guh!”

Hans grabbed his own neck. Blood was flowing from his throat.

An almost invisible thin wire was tightening around his neck. The wire was tied to the end of the arrow, and only after it was pulled taut did the wire’s presence become apparent.

Where did he even get that wire, and when did he tie it to the arrow?

Hans didn’t have time to think.

Keter was already nocking another arrow.

*Ting!*

At the sound of the bowstring being released, Hans jumped high into the air. He intended to use the barn’s beam as a shield.

But this was his first mistake.

Keter didn’t shoot the arrow. He simply drew and released the bowstring. However, the next sound was real.

*Whoosh!*

An arrow left Keter’s hand and flew.

Hans, floating in mid-air, had no way to dodge the arrow. His only option was to protect his vitals by covering his heart and head with his arms.

But—

*Thud!*

The arrow struck not his vitals, but his thick thigh.

“……?!”

Wincing from the searing pain spreading through his thigh, Hans frowned.

Because of this, instead of using the beam as a shield, he could only barely hang on by stretching out his left arm.

Hans looked down and thought.

At first, Keter only held three arrows. And he had already shot all three. So now, he had some breathing room.

That was his second mistake.

*Thwip!*

An arrow pierced his left arm, which was gripping the beam. Whether it hit a tendon or not, his left arm went limp. As Hans fell to the ground, he thought.

Where did the fourth arrow come from?

The answer was right before his eyes. Arrows embedded here and there in the barn walls.

They weren’t just stuck there meaninglessly. Keter had been running around, retrieving arrows.

Moreover, the wire tightening around his neck continued to dig deeper. It was so deeply embedded that there was no room to slip a finger between his neck and the wire.

The wire was connected to the arrow in his shoulder and the bracelet Keter was wearing. The bracelet, which Luke had thought was just an accessory, was actually a bundle of wires thinner than hair, shaped into a bracelet.

*Thud!*

Hans crashed to the ground, and a cloud of dust rose. Keter climbed onto the beam Hans had tried to reach.

Right next to it was an embedded arrow.

Keter pulled out the arrow and shot it into the dense dust cloud. As if on cue, Hans burst out from within the dust.

Hans blocked the arrow aimed at his forehead with his thick forearm and pulled out the arrow embedded in his shoulder. It was the arrow connected to Keter by the wire.

*Whoosh!*

Hans roughly yanked the arrow he had pulled out.

But Keter was faster. He lunged at Hans.

Hans’ action only served to increase Keter’s speed as he charged.

*Crack!*

Keter’s kick landed squarely.

On the arrow embedded in Hans’ forearm.

“……!”

Hans’ eyes widened like a beast’s.

The arrow in his forearm hadn’t been deeply embedded at first.

But when Keter forcefully struck the embedded arrow, the wound tore open, becoming a deep gash.

At that moment, Hans’ body swelled slightly, and his nails grew longer.

*Roar!*

Hans attacked Keter for the first time. It was just a simple swing of his arm, but it was incredibly fast and heavy.

Keter flattened himself on the ground. It was an exaggerated motion just to dodge the attack, but in his hand as he rose was an arrow.

*Thud! Thud!*

As he got up, Keter stabbed Hans’ side twice with the arrow in his hand.

“Enough!”

Hans roared and swung both fists wildly.

There was no technique in his punches. But as the saying goes, with enough strength and speed, technique is unnecessary.

*Whoosh!*

Luke, who was watching from about ten meters away, felt his hair flutter from the wind pressure of Hans’ punches.

By now, Luke’s face was drenched in sweat.

‘Even a graze would kill.’

He didn’t need to get hit to know. Hans’ punches had destructive power on par with an ogre’s.

No, they might even be stronger than an ogre’s. While an ogre’s fists are enormous, Hans’ fists were within the range of a human’s.

But the real monster was Keter. He was barely dodging those punches. No, Keter was already within the range of the attack.

Keter’s face was covered in blood. Blood was streaming down his face, split by the fierce wind. It was hard to tell if he could even see.

Of course, Hans was in worse shape. His whole body was covered in blood.

But strangely, he showed no signs of falling. If anything, Keter’s attacks seemed to only fuel his rage.

“Tough guys are the best! Don’t fall!”

Keter’s attacks became even more ferocious and faster. He swung his bow like a staff and used the arrows like daggers.

*Crack!*

That’s when it happened.

Hans’ fist landed squarely on Keter’s chest.

It was a fist that could create a gale. A direct hit would turn even a boulder to dust. There was no way a human could withstand it.

“Keter!”

Luke, who had been watching, was about to step in in panic.

*Thud!*

Keter’s kick landed.

Right between Hans’ legs.

Hans, who hadn’t flinched at any attack until now, dropped to his knees.

Keter looked down at the kneeling Hans and said,

“You’re shorter than me.”

*Crunch!*

Keter’s fist slammed into Hans’ jaw with full force.

—

It’s fun.

Going all out with the sole intent to kill your opponent.

It’s a shame my opponent isn’t trying to kill me, but since he’s tough, I can let it slide.

The outcome is decided.

Not that I killed Hans.

But he must have realized that it’s impossible for him to subdue me. At least, not in his ‘human form.’

Hans, who had been sent flying by the punch to his jaw, sprang back up.

“That hurt.”

*Snap!*

Hans used his strength to break the wire around his neck.

I nocked an arrow and aimed it at Hans’ face, saying,

“I told you, didn’t I? You’d want to talk to me.”

“I admit it. First, I want to ask. Why didn’t you go all out?”

He’s asking why I didn’t use my Aura.

Isn’t that obvious?

“Because, like you, killing isn’t my goal.”

“Hmph. What kind of conversation do you want to have with me? I’m just here to take you with me.”

“I know, it’s Elder Leganon’s orders, right?”

“……”

*Thwip!*

I shot the nocked arrow into the ceiling. The arrow pierced through and flew off somewhere far away.

“Relax. I was just testing you.”

“Testing me?”

“Luke, handkerchief.”

I gestured to Luke. I don’t carry handkerchiefs, but Luke probably does. Sure enough, Luke, who had been watching in a daze, came over and handed me one.

I handed it to Hans.

Hans silently took the handkerchief and wiped the blood off his face.

His face had quite a few wounds, but after wiping away the blood, it looked clean.

I thought he was just strong, but his regeneration is troll-level. The countless wounds on his body must have already healed.

Beastmen are naturally known for their regeneration, but Hans seems even more special.

“What were you testing?”

“A lot of things. The result is a pass. Very impressive.”

“I don’t understand.”

Of course, you don’t. I’m just rambling.

In situations like this, it’s best to create a common enemy.

“No time to explain. The guys looking for you have come to the village.”

“I know.”

He must have heard through the village chief I saved. The knights of House Baydant are searching for beastmen.

But the fact that he came looking for me means he has at least some loyalty or sense of duty to Leganon.

If he trusts Leganon, then I just need to be on Leganon’s side. I’ll figure out how to use it later.

I was also curious why the Baydant guys were searching for beastmen. If I could find out the reason, I might be able to manipulate House Baydant.

It’s not like House Baydant is an enemy of Sephira or anything. It’s just fun to hold someone’s weakness.

“If you know, then get ready to leave. We’re going to a new hideout. They haven’t noticed yet.”

“No, I’ll go back to the village and check the situation myself.”

Despite his appearance, he’s quite cautious. Well, the ones who aren’t cautious are either captured or dead.

But just because he’s smart doesn’t mean he can’t be fooled.

In fact, sometimes it’s easier to fool the smart ones. You just need to create a plausible situation.

“Wait. I haven’t heard your name yet.”

I stop Hans as he tries to leave. I can’t let him go yet. The main character hasn’t arrived.

Hans, though suspicious of me, must have judged that I wasn’t an enemy given the circumstances, and he opened his mouth.

“Karn.”

Is it too early for a full name?

“Karn. I understand that you don’t trust me. But how about this?”

There’s nothing you can’t find in Ruquer.

Other races are the same. Elves, dwarves—they’re all common.

Beastmen are no exception.

I should sell the name of the weakest beastman I know.

“I’m already protecting a beastman named Aliori. Have you heard of him?”

“…What?”

Suddenly, Hans’ attitude changed completely.

Oh? Do they know each other?

That’s great. If they’re enemies, I can offer to catch him, and if they’re friends, I can introduce them.

“How do you know him!?”

The way he says “him” makes it seem like they have a grudge. Typical of the guys in Ruquer.

“Hey, hey. You don’t trust me, right? Let go.”

His grip is too strong. My bones are going to break, you jerk.

At that moment, Luke, who had been keeping watch outside, shouted.

“Keter, someone’s coming! I don’t know if they’re heading this way, but shouldn’t we hide or leave?”

Finally, the supporting character has arrived.

The stage is set—where would I go?

“Probably a farmer. It’s annoying to run into them. Let’s just stay here.”

“Uh, wait. They’re coming this way… Spear, I see a spear! Ah! Jordic, it’s Jordic!”

Luke urgently says.

This guy, why is he so late? I’ve been waiting for you.

I openly look at Karn, and his expression twists.

Yeah, you know him too, right?

Baydant’s hunting dog, the villain searching for beastmen. How did he find out you’re here and come looking?

There’s no time to consult with anyone. The only person you can trust right now is me, right here.