The Great Sword is not the Main Body!-Chapter 60: Karahan (6)

"Unni... then you shouldn't go, right...?"

Rubia's contorted expression slowly settled down, and the atmosphere became calm again.

What was that look she just gave me...? And now she's trying to get involved with Rubia...

Hmm... what is going on...

"No. That's why we have to go."

Hephaestus tilted his head.

My head tilted as well.

"Hephaestus. Who do you think knew about Eliximona's existence? I, a priestess, didn't even know about it."

"Uh... My master and I... only..."

"You mean, it was probably the people closest to your master, right?"

Hephaestus' head nodded slowly.

"But the fact that some criminal organization knows about this—"

"Did Master get betrayed...?"

Rubia fell silent.

However, even that silence seemed enough of an answer, as Hephaestus' expression contorted with sudden realization.

"Who the hell... Ah, that's why we had to go... But the knights and adventurers all failed..."

Hephaestus' words were true.

Many knights and adventurers had taken on the mission to eliminate them but had all failed.

They must have been fully prepared, gathering the necessary tools before trying.

But here we are, only three of us...

Honestly, I'm not completely sure about our chances. There could be unknown factors...

"That's the case with ordinary people."

Rubia slowly stood up. She placed one hand on her chest and said, almost casually.

"Who do you think I am?"

"Priestess..."

Rubia's lips curled into a sly smile.

"That's right. You can count on me, Hephaestus."

"Wow..."

Even I, who had been silent and struggling to keep up with the conversation, couldn't help but be impressed by Rubia's aura.

"Anyway, today we'll just locate the position and leave it at that. We'll start tomorrow."

"So, what about that Mariel?"

"For now, don't act suspicious. Just keep doing what we've been doing. I'll take care of that woman."

"Ah, okay. Got it."

Rubia, after receiving Hephaestus' response, grinned and reached her hand toward me.

"Come on, let's go eat, Noah. You must be starving. Hephaestus, you're hungry too, right?"

"Ah, yes..."

"...Hmm. But I don't have much of an appetite."

I nodded and grabbed Rubia's hand.

The sensation in her hand was more intense than usual.

"Noah, don't make it obvious... Hmm. I think it'll be fine if you just stay as you are now."

"Yeah. Noah Unni should stay as she is now."

Rubia and Hephaestus laughed quietly as they looked at me.

"Wh-what do you mean by 'stay as I am'?"

Are they teasing me!?

"You're cute."

"Just like the usual Unni."

It definitely seems like they're teasing me...

"Ughh..."

"Heheh- Heh... Anyway, Hephaestus. Don't worry too much. Even if we take a little detour, it'll be a sure way."

"That's true... but I'm worried about you two getting hurt..."

"There's no way they can contact each other, so even if things go wrong, they won't die. I don't think they'll get seriously hurt either."

Rubia squeezed my hand so tightly it felt like the blood was cut off, gritted her teeth, and continued.

"But, if something happens..."

Her gaze.

Once again.

It was on me.

"I'll make sure to carve into your skull how painful it is not to die as you wish. Every stitch, every effort."

Rubia and Hephaestus' acting was... phenomenal.

Especially Rubia.

Hephaestus was one thing, but Rubia... wow...

How did she manage to hide that terrifying killing intent so well...?

"Did you all eat well?"

"Ah, yes. Thanks to you... I really enjoyed the meal. Thank you."

But Mariel's acting was also top-notch.

If Rubia's words were true, it seemed like she was preparing to backstab us.

Looking at her expression, it really did look like a person who was genuinely grateful...

"Yeah. I ate all of it."

"I-I did too..."

"Then... shall we slowly head out?"

Rubia stood up and smiled sweetly.

The same smile she used when talking to Jura... the business smile...!

"Yeah. Let's go."

Hephaestus, with a look of resolve, stood up and took his position.

"Yes, understood... Hoo..."

Mariel was clearly nervous.

I just nodded, maintaining the usual expression Rubia and Hephaestus had suggested.

"First, today we'll just identify the location and head count. The real sweep will be done later."

Hephaestus clenched his jaw tightly.

"I'm sorry, Hephaestus. Still... we have no choice in this—"

"Yeah. I know... It's fine."

Hephaestus interrupted Rubia's words with a rough voice, then clenched his fist.

...I can't tell if this is acting or real.

"Noah, you heard that, right? Even if we are few in numbers, we need to hold back today. We can't just rush in like last time. Got it?"

I rushed in...?

"Yeah, yeah...?"

"Why? You did that last time. When we were taking care of the new criminal organization in Alrva. I told you to hold back, but you couldn't... Ugh."

Alrva...? Huh...?

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"The boss there was torn apart and couldn't even move, and his jaw was ripped off, so he was crawling away with his upper teeth scraping... Even though he was a bad guy, that was too much."

Rubia said this with a shuddering motion, slowly rubbing her arms.

Hephaestus was looking at me strangely...

Mariel, who was following behind, had stopped trembling, her whole body shaking.

Her teeth were chattering...

"I-I'm... uh..."

Is this acting...?

I have to play along with this...?

Hmm...

I wonder what the adventurers I passed by earlier would say.

After thinking hard, I came up with a fitting response.

I slowly cleared my throat and thought to myself.

"It was so funny when I peeled the skin off my subordinates with my own hands and covered them with a blanket while they were shaking... right?"

Is this okay? Was that fine?

Why is there no reaction...

Did I miss the mark...?

Then... Rubia would say something like...

"Ah, and... the person who lured us into the trap, thanks to Rubia, is still not dead... and can't move, like a punching bag... We can punch him whenever we're mad... It would be nice if we could get one more... Hehe."

Rubia would definitely say this! She talked about tearing off limbs and not letting him die!

"Noah...?"

"Yeah?"

Rubia stopped and turned to look at me. Her expression was filled with horror. Hephaestus was the same.

And Mariel...

Thud—

"Huuh... Huh..."

She collapsed to the ground, crying.

"Ah, um... Ah, hahaha... Right. That time was really... funny. It would be nice if we could get another one... Hehe."

Rubia awkwardly laughed and yanked my hand.

She then whispered quietly in my ear.

"Noah. Really... there was no such thing, right...?"

"Of course not... What do you think of me..."

"Really...?"

"Yup... really."

Only after hearing my clear answer did Rubia show a relieved expression.

What is this? Rubia says something like this first. Then why... just to me...?

"Mariel, don't worry too much. We'll take care of it for sure, so there won't be any retaliation."

"Ugh, huh... Yeah, yes... Thank you."

"Now, let's go. Just let us know the location, and please rest. I'll take you to the temple."

"Huh... Yes... Understood..."

Rubia helped Mariel up, who was still shaking with her legs.

"Careful now."

Mariel, now too tired to speak, just nodded slightly and walked along.

We walked for a while. The streets grew emptier. And the world grew quieter.

Finally, Mariel's steps stopped. Her expression hardened.

She opened her senses. Mariel chewed the pill lodged in her gums and shouted.

"Shit! Come out already!"

"When did...!"

Rubia's startled voice rang out as the building appeared in the distance.

Magical power stirred from Mariel's body.

The structure of the building formed. The magical energy, which had been wriggling, soon burst out.

The interior of the building appeared. It stretched toward Hephaestus and Rubia.

Behind the door, 32 people were drawn.

Hephaestus' expression turned to one of fear.

They were opening the door.

Rubia's divine power blocked Mariel's attack.

I reached out. And struck the monster's head.

Crash—

The monster's body crumbled with no strength.

Fortunately, it was still breathing.

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The door opened. I drew my greatsword.

"Kill the pink-haired one first!"

An axe flew toward Hephaestus. I deflected it with the shaft of my greatsword.

The monsters' faces twisted in confusion. I charged and swung my greatsword.

The monster at the front had its abdomen torn ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) open. The one beside it had its lower body ripped off.

Rubia's divine power swirled around Hephaestus. A wave of magical energy shot toward me from the side.

Ignoring it, I swung my greatsword. The wave of energy was blocked by Rubia's divine power.

My greatsword tore through another monster's limbs. The guts stained the walls.

Another wave of magical energy shot toward Rubia. Her divine power twisted.

It's too late. I grabbed a piece of meat from the ground and threw it behind me.

The wave of magical energy exploded the meat and disappeared. I stomped down, punching the monster who had shot the energy in its abdomen.

Crunch— I could feel its ribs breaking as I pierced through the magical wall.

My hand bones cracked.

"Ah, it's done."

The pain from my hand started to spread to my brain. My heart pounded fiercely. The blood in my body surged wildly.

Emotions escalated. That emotion lifted the corners of my mouth. I moved my hands recklessly. I inflicted wounds on myself.

Crunch- crunch- crack- snap- I scratched my body with my nails, drawing blood. Snap- snap- creak- squeak- I sliced my hand with the blade of my greatsword, drawing blood. Snap- crack- crunch- I bit my tongue, drawing blood.

Blood, madly surging, splattered everywhere. My body heated up.

My throat was unbearably dry. It craved blood.

My body, drained of blood to its limit, yearned for more.

From my broken hand. From my scratched skin. From my wounded hand. From my torn tongue.

Pain disappeared. I felt a 'thirst.'

My throat. It was dry.