Episode 90: Enemy at the Gate
“Guh!”
“Aaaah!”
“Ah!”
In a narrow, damp alley, the screams of three men rang out.
Thud. The three figures, soaked in blood and filth, collapsed simultaneously. The writhing bundle of black tentacles hovering above them shrank instantly and returned to its original form as a cloak.
“Enough. I understand your level well.”
Of course, the one wearing the cloak was none other than me.
The ones struck by my Fatal Swords were the top-tier assassins of the Kern Trade Union.
I had expected it. They ignored the password and tried to contact Hik immediately, leading to this outcome.
“So boring it makes me want to die.”
I immediately drew my sword. Fzzzzt! Fourteen magical swords began to hover around me, emitting a cold, menacing glow.
The assassins, already having lost half their strength to my Fatal Swords, were clearly at a disadvantage. Hik, who had been observing me silently, nodded in agreement.
“That beautiful blue sword aura… I’ve seen it somewhere before… Isn’t it the secret technique of Halsenberg, the Marquis of the Northern Territory?”
And he repeated the same line as in my past life.
I couldn’t help but smirk at his words, though the assassins, mistaking it for mockery, glared furiously.
Before things escalated, Hik stepped forward, stopping them.
“Let’s see your true worth.”
I swung Vestark in a threatening gesture.
Ping! The magical swords spiraled and shot toward Hik like meteors.
“A cascade of magical swords akin to a meteor shower. The scale is a bit smaller, but still convincing.”
Clang!
Just like in the past life, the magical swords dissipated harmlessly in mid-air. I glared lazily at Hik.
No emotional stir for this second act. Though I had expected some variation due to my earlier interference, the situation and dialogue surprisingly mirrored the original.
“It’s truly an honor to encounter you. The Eldritch Slayer.”
Hik bowed his head to me just as he did in the past.
His introduction befit a true master of information. Perhaps I should adopt a similar greeting to make a good impression elsewhere.
“I am Hik Toshiro. The information broker who rules the back alleys and the leader of the Kern Trade Union.”
Hik performed his formal introduction. At last, the time for dialogue had arrived. I scratched the back of my head and spoke.
However, this time, what I had to say differed slightly from the past life.
“I have a piece of information to disclose. I request the Kern Trade Union’s cooperation.”
“Visitors of your caliber are always welcome.”
Hik replied with a brief courtesy greeting accompanied by a meaningful smile.
—
“Today, a tragedy will occur in Kern.”
Inside a dim shack, Hik sat with his assistant while I sat opposite. The faint glow of a lantern illuminated both of us.
The setup was the same, but the atmosphere and dialogue were distinctly different from the past life.
Hik stared wide-eyed at my abrupt declaration.
“Tragedy? What kind of tragedy are you referring to?”
“Surely, you are aware that the resurrectionists have invaded Kern, correct?”
“… Yes. While I don’t know all the details, I’ve got a general idea.”
Of course. He had at least some knowledge of the resurrectionists’ movements.
I nodded, lowering my voice slightly.
“They move tonight. More precisely, at the crack of dawn tomorrow.”
I continued to divulge precise details of when and how the resurrectionists would attack the city.
The detailed description, as if I had personally experienced it, caught not only Hik’s attention but also his assistant’s, who sat attentively listening.
“Hmm… fascinating.”
A brief silence ensued between Hik and me. He glanced briefly at his assistant and began scribbling something on a paper.
He did that in the past life as well. Likely due to my identification as the infamous Eldritch Slayer, he must feel compelled to note these words down, just in case.
Let him write. Regardless, I made my intent clear.
“My request is simple. Let’s stop the resurrectionists together. If not, whether it’s me or you, every citizen in Kern will be slaughtered by them.”
Perhaps the scope of the issue startled him. Hik’s eyes widened slightly as he scrutinized my face, attempting to gauge if I was telling the truth.
His expression quickly shifted, realizing that I was unlikely lying.
“Is this truly credible, or is it the baseless belief of a madman…?”
I could tell he took me as some sort of lunatic. Let’s see where this leads.
Then Hik, conceding slightly, reluctantly nodded.
“Very well. If there’s any chance this could be true, what is your basis?”
“My basis is something you might know better than I, to be honest.”
“Do not waste my time with wordplay. Let’s end it here.”
Hik instantly hardened his cold gaze and dismissed my attempt. Of course, the leader of the information broker’s guild. His defenses against amateur manipulation like mine were solid.
I exhaled and eventually decided to lay it out frankly.
“I cannot disclose my basis.”
At my straightforward statement, Hik’s eyes betrayed a hint of astonishment.
He stopped scribbling and tapped the end of the pen on the paper, speaking.
“… Are you asking for the help of the Kern Trade Union without any basis? Are we that underestimated? Surely, you don’t think the assassins from before represent our full strength?”
“And are you guys actually thinking what just happened was my full strength?”
“…”
Spot-on.
I wasn’t bluffing. In a fight, I always rely on my deadliest techniques first.
There’s not much left I haven’t shown them, aside from a set of recently gained job skills, but those aren’t attack-oriented anyway.
‘But you’ll find it bothersome, won’t you?’
Because in this life, I haven’t shared my information with you yet.
Your impression of me is solely “Eldritch Slayer,” someone who, in merely a few months after his summoning, eliminated Eldritch, the major headache in Mittelrand’s northern region.
It’s hard to believe such a person would have been completely clueless about classes until just now. You probably assume I have some incredible hidden tricks up my sleeve.
Certainly, I’m just a regular nobody.
“Hmm… you’re the worst partner I’ve encountered, but I commend your stance of prioritizing secrecy.”
After a long pause, Hik finally spoke. He handed the semi-completed note to his assistant, crossed his arms, and leaned slightly toward me.
I raised an eyebrow and asked.
“So, are you going to cooperate with me?”
“Whoever said I would? I don’t recall proposing such nonsense.”
“…”
I pinched my forehead in frustration. The situation spiraled further into complexity when Hik extended his finger and began theorizing.
“What if… I’ve already figured out the most plausible reasoning.”
“…”
“You’re a member of the resurrectionists, and for some reason, you’re enticing us to get involved.”
“What?!”
“The most rational and consistent deduction. Otherwise… how could you have such detailed knowledge of the resurrectionists’ plan? That’s the resurrectionists we’re talking about, not some regular organization.”
“…”
Right. Reflecting back, in the previous life, they had also questioned my ties with the resurrectionists. There was clearly some degree of suspicion there.
Moreover, the detailed disclosure of the resurrectionists’ plans backfired. My extensive knowledge of an organization shrouded in mystery only fueled the suspicions.
It was an oversight on my part. I bit down on my lips.
“… Then, the negotiation breaks, huh?”
“Indeed.”
Hik curtly agreed. I glared bitterly at him and finally asked,
“When we meet again, can you at least give me an access code or password to reach Hik?”
“The question code is ‘The Pure Demon King.’ The response for affirmation is ‘The Hero’s Prelude,’ and for negation, it’s ‘The Decline of the Deities.'”
“Wow. That’s pretty stylish, isn’t it?”
I murmured, soothing my bitter stomach, and stood up without hesitation.
And at that moment.
“Kieeeeng!” A sharp sound echoed, and a blade entered my neck.
It was Hik’s assistant who had remained silent until now.
“Who said we would let someone related to the resurrectionists go?”
… Ah.
I was already annoyed and exasperated, and this just rubbed me the wrong way. What a stubborn old man.
“If you can stop me.”
As I muttered those words, the cloak split into numerous strands and flew toward the assistant in the blink of an eye.
“Pftt!” A chilling ripping sound followed as countless thorns pierced the assistant mercilessly. The thorns flew through his limbs and pinned him against the shack wall.
The whole incident happened in an instant, taking about a second.
“Try stopping me, will you? Let’s see how it goes.”
I briefly glanced at the assistant and Hik. Hik recoiled as if burned, avoiding my gaze.
“Sliiing!” The thorns withdrew from the assistant and converged back into the cloak.
The assistant quickly began stemming the flow of blood, trembling as he did so. I clicked my tongue and roughly opened the shack door and walked out.
“Sorry about that. I avoided the vital spots, so treat yourself.”
“Wait! There’s more to discuss!”
“I have nothing left to say.”
As I was sulking and about to leave, I suddenly realized the undeniable fact—deep down, I was still the one who would feel regret.
Therefore, just before closing the door, I added with a sigh,
“… If you truly suspect me, send someone to track me. And… mobilize all your forces immediately. Don’t forget—when an explosion happens in the Plains of Promise, it’ll signal the start of the tragedy.”
By doing this, you’ll likely have no choice but to tail me, whether to trust or investigate what I said.
And once the events begin… you’ll have no choice but to believe the undeniable reality before your eyes. By then, realizing “that guy was right!” will already be too late.
‘That’s all I need. Just until then…’
There’s no way I can handle the over 300 resurrectionists by myself. The law against overwhelming odds applies here.
Not ideal. With so little time to prepare for the ambush and already distrusting each other despite sharing the same enemy, victory feels unlikely. My heart feels heavy.
‘… For now, I’ll do my best. That’s all.’
For the next life—I should think of a better approach to persuade Hik… I contemplated.
But the moment I realized I was accepting defeat, I fiercely shook my head.
‘Why am I doing this, Park Jeong-yong…?’
A sense of irritation crept up within me.
The more I thought about it.
In this life, I didn’t hesitate in shooting thorns at an assistant or injuring assassins.
Didn’t it feel strangely easier than it should have been?
