Chapter 54

It was night.

It was dark.

Apparently, there's a saying in the world, "Be careful on a night without the moon." It means that on a new moon night, when there is no moonlight, it is even darker, and it's harder to be caught doing something bad.

And, fortunately or unfortunately, tonight is a new moon.

It's the perfect night for a sneak attack!!

◆

So, there are suspicious figures lurking around the cheap inn where we're staying.

They're surrounding us.

I focus my attention on the two suspicious figures and sharpen my hearing to pick up their voices.

"Prince, you didn't have to come yourself. Wouldn't it have been better to wait for good news in your room?"

"You were the one who said we should share the same fate. My fate is tied to the success of this plan. I can't just sit back and watch!"

"Alright, but don't shout."

Hmm, the eavesdropping is going well.

The voice trembling is Prince Zemnant.

It's surprising that he has the nerve to come here for such dirty work. Maybe this is the first time he's shown any kingly qualities.

"I've explained the plan. First, I will enter the room and kill the target, who has no skills. After confirming that they are dead, I will set the place on fire and burn the inn and the body together."

"Is it really necessary to go that far?"

"Burning the body is the best way to make an investigation difficult. It's impossible to determine the cause of death from a charred corpse, so whether it was suicide or murder will be a guess. Plus, to avoid any witnesses, it's best if all the guests and staff in the inn where he's staying burn to death as well."

This is said by the current A-rank adventurer, Soeides.

...

"Then there's one more person. There's a female adventurer named Noem with him. To keep the truth hidden, she must die as well. It would be best if she dies in a double suicide."

"About that, Sir Soeides..."

Zemnant's voice has a sticky, insistent quality.

"Can't we somehow take her alive? She has valuable high-level skills, and with her beauty, if we can't bring her out as a corpse, we could keep her as a slave..."

"That prince.

I take back my previous words. Coming here to risk his life was for Noem. He doesn't have a shred of kingly qualities after all.

"I told you to give up on that. Her skills are indeed valuable, but we can't leave any dangerous elements for our safety."

"Then at least let me... just once...!?"

"Speed is the rule in this business."

He's too much of a scumbag.

Another person approaches them silently.

"The positions are set."

"Good, remind everyone. Only I will take action. Everyone else should secure their positions and, if anyone tries to escape, kill them quickly."

"Understood."

It seems their preparations are complete.

Then let's start ours.

No more hiding and observing...

It's time to crush them.

I mean, it's time to counterattack.

◆

"...Huh? What's happening...!?"

"My body, my body won't move...!?"

They seem to have noticed something strange.

"Why suddenly...? Hey, help me! My body won't move for some reason!?"

"Same here. I can't even twitch a finger...!?"

Soeides, Zemnant, and their dozen or so subordinates.

All of them were unable to move, frozen like statues.

"What's going on!? What is this!? What, what, what!?"

"Shut up, brat! Have you forgotten we're on a stealth mission!?"

Zemnant, who has fallen into a panic, is scolded and shouted at by Soeides.

The situation is getting more chaotic.

'What a ugly falling out. The sight of these lowlifes panicking is truly delightful.'

"What!?"

The ghost, Abinion, appears, revealing her form after dispelling her transparency.

Her ethereal and seductive appearance shocks those who see her for the first time.

"A ghost! Why is there a monster in the city!? Get it, get it out!!"

"I told you we're on a stealth mission, you moron!! ...Is this your doing? Making our bodies unable to move?"

As expected of a veteran adventurer given an A-rank. He shows no sign of panic even in the face of an unknown anomaly.

'Indeed, you were about to do something harmful to my master. I had to tie you up before you could act.'

"Master...!?"

It's me.

I step out from the shadows and reveal myself.

"!? <Skill-less> you...!?"

"She has become a familiar-like being, bound to my strength. She takes care of various things and immediately informs me of any troublemakers like you."

"It's all clear...! You scoundrel!!"

I'm glad you understand quickly.

Noem is instructed to stay in the room for safety, to avoid any danger and to prevent her from seeing any gruesome scenes.

'My <Mind Bind> is something humans can never escape from. How about leaving you like this until morning? When people wake up, they'll be suspicious of why you're standing there motionless.'

"AAAAH!? Help! Someone, anyone, help me!! I'm the man who will become the king of Centaurian!!"

The prince, driven to madness by fear.

As for him, I'll deal with the A-rank adventurer next.

"Don't underestimate meee!!"

With a burst of his ki, the invisible bindings shatter and disappear in a flash.

'Hmm, you've broken free from my <Mind Bind>. For a mere human to be so bold.'

"Don't underestimate an A-rank adventurer...! With my skills, I can easily counter a ghost's telekinetic powers."

'"Easily"...!?'

Calm down, Abinion...!?

I understand your pride is hurt, but this is my fight.

I'll take care of it, so I need you to support me.

"Breaking the bindings was due to your skills, right?"

Here, I use Abinion's ability to peek at his parameters.

When it comes to enemies we're going to kill, there's no need to respect privacy.

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【Name】Soeides

【Type】Human

【Gender】Male

【Age】35

【Level】49

【Skills】Vector Reflector

*Skill Description: Adjusts the direction of force and reverses it. Activation condition is physical contact with the user. Can also be applied to items the user is wearing.

【Alignment】Kill, Kill

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"Adjust the direction of force... reverse it...?"

'A skill that affects the laws of physics. So, even my intangible telekinetic powers can be repelled.'

I can see others' parameters through Abinion's omniscience, so what I can see, she can see too.

'Master, this skill is quite rare. It's worthy of being ranked first even by human standards.'

"You're peeking at human stats...? Tch, filthy ghost!"

'What?'

Calm down, Abinion, calm down...!

"Then let me explain my skill, <Vector Reflector>. In simple terms, it's a 'reflection skill'!"

A reflection skill?

"It reflects all attacks aimed at me back in the opposite direction with the same strength. In other words, it sends them back to the attacker! Since I received this skill, I have never been injured in battle!"

I picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at him.

I put some force into it, so if it hit him, his body should have turned into a bloody mist.

However, the moment it hit, the stone shattered into powder.

"I see, that's how it works..."

'The stronger the force of the attack, the stronger the force that is reflected. The stone turned into fine powder because the force you threw it with was that strong.'

Since it affects the laws of physics, there's no limit to the skill's effectiveness.

It can't handle 'powers too great to withstand' or anything like that.

"If that's the case, you probably think this is a purely defensive skill that can't attack. That's a big mistake!"

Soeides kicks off the ground and comes at me.

His jump is so fast and high that it doesn't seem human.

"The activation condition of my skill is 'anything that touches me'! This means I can reflect the force of impact I give to others as well! I can even reflect the recoil from kicking the ground, allowing me to fly with twice the force!"

If the recoil is eliminated, wouldn't he not be able to jump at all?

But let's not get into the details.

"And this principle applies to attacks as well. I can reflect the recoil from my attacks, cutting through the enemy with twice the force! My skill also affects the weapons I wield!"

His machete, already drawn, is swung down at me.

If the explanation is correct, even if I try to block it with a shield, it would easily shatter the shield.

"I've got you! Dieee!!"