Side Stories: Chapter 24
Even Zich acknowledged the Pope’s venomous words, and they inflamed Piros’ rage.
“Do you not see the current situation in front of you? Your tongue flaps so well even in such a dire state! Sounds like Karuna is the god of tongues above everything else!”
“I can see the situation well. I’m sure it’s your god that can’t even flap its tongue anymore. I mean, can a fish head even speak in the first place? I suppose it would just puff up its gills and get its mouth pierced by a fish hook. It will be tricked by a small bait and foolishly swallow up its own organs.” The Pope’s vicious tongue beat down Piros. “Honestly, I was surprised by your scheme in turning a dragon’s corpse into an undead, but do you think that secures your victory? Everyone who defeated the dragon last time is gathered here, including Sir Zich!”
The Pope pointed at Zich who was sitting on his chair relaxedly like he was in a completely different space from the chaos.
The moment Piros saw Zich, his eyes cooled. “Yes, Zich.”
“Hm? You have something to say?” Zich jerked his jaw like he would be gracious enough to hear Piros out. Piros instantly felt his pride hurt by Zich’s arrogant attitude, but that didn’t last long, and he made a sly smile.
“Yes, the representative of the dragon slayers and the bastard with the damn title called the ‘Bellid Annihilator’ too.”
“It’s a strange feeling, getting insulted by someone on the level of a fish head’s poop,” Zich said. As reported, Zich had a potty mouth. Regardless, Piros’ confidence in his victory didn’t shrink back down.
“I have moved warily after hearing about your outstanding senses and mind, but it seems like I had no reason to worry. You didn’t notice our movements at all,” Piros said.
“Is that so? Congratulations. You have accomplished a feat you can boast about even after dying multiple times. Continue to brag about it until your dying breath. I will allow it.” Zich clapped lightly. Piros felt irked by Zich’s continuous carefree attitude.
As if he was competing with Zich to see who could sound more at ease, Piros said in an even more carefree tone, “Your bluffing is pitiful. I know you enjoy bringing out your hidden card when your opponent thinks they have an advantage, but I know you haven’t prepared anything of that sort,” Piros said.
“It’s as you say. This time, I don’t have anything prepared,” Zich said and shook his hands to show that they were empty.
“Hahaha! It must be true that you lost your keen senses from living in peace for too long. To think that the representative of the dragon slayers, Zich, would be so ruined in just a year! This is how scary peace is!” Piros said in a loud voice like he wanted others to hear him. It didn’t matter to Piros whether he was telling the truth or not. He couldn’t let his chance of ruining the reputation of a top Bellid Annihilator goes to waste. If possible, he wanted to thoroughly ruin it. People’s attention gathered on Zich. They seemed to look at him with slight distrust, and it seemed like Piros’ intention shined through.
Yet, Zich showed no change in attitude. Some were filled with faint hope again seeing Zich’s response. It appeared like Zich still had something to believe in.
“Are you pretending to be at ease even in this situation? How amazing. But all that’s useless. The way guys like you think is so simple. You act like you have something else up your sleeves and hope that your opponent will show an opening in the meantime. Of course, that doesn’t mean I intend to dismiss your fighting abilities,” Piros said. Tap! He flicked his finger and the undead monsters rushing toward the masses stopped attacking. Accordingly, the soldiers battling the monsters also recovered from the front lines. Thanks to their outstanding skills and many priests, there were no casualties or injuries. Anyone could see that the Karuwimans had the advantage, but Piros’ confidence didn’t disappear.
“There is only one reason why you guys can’t attack us. It’s that dense crowd,” Piros said, pointing at the masses of people in front. People flinched. Then, Piros continued, “Don’t you think it’s strange? Even if I am the manager of the Bellids’ western branch, do you all really think I came to invade Yuras by myself?”
“…No way!” Lubella gasped and looked toward the crowd. Tap! Piros flicked his hand again and there were movements inside the crowd.
Ziiing! There were chilling sounds of swords being drawn from here and there. The sunlight shining from the sky reflected off the swords’ sharp, chilling blades.
“Kyaaah!
“W-What’s going on?!”
“Ah!”
People screamed as the swords aimed for their necks, and people in their surroundings tried to distance themselves from the scene.
“Shut up, you fools!” Piros shouted and the Bellids who had revealed themselves just now extended out their hands above. Baam! Fierce and impure energy shot up into the sky and burst. Anyone could see that a terrible thing would happen if one was struck by the energy. This scene stopped the people from trying to run away and planted them in place.
“I will crush all your bodies into pieces if you move even a tiny bit!”
Everyone froze into place at Piros’ declaration, and everything became quiet. There were little sounds here and there, but people couldn’t even breathe in peace. Piros watched this scene with satisfaction and turned his attention back to the Pope. The Pope’s face hardened incomparably from before.
“As you can see now, I mixed some of my knights with the public. Though they are too precious and noble to shred powerless weaklings like them, there was no other choice. There was nothing more we could use, so we had to seek the collaboration of our precious brothers.”
“What do you want?”
“You finally have the expression I was seeking, Karuwiman Pope.” Piros smiled brightly. The one he detested and loathed the most as a Bellid follower was waiting patiently for him to continue while the man was helpless. Piros was sure that today would be the most joyful day of his life.
“It’s nothing much. I just need the Karuwimans, including you, to kill themselves.”
“Do you think we’ll allow that?!” Lubella shouted, but Piros clicked his tongue while shaking one finger.
“Of course, you can’t accept it. You all want to protect the Pope’s life even if you have to sacrifice yours. I don’t doubt your courage or determination, but it’s not only your life that you have to put on the line.” Piros looked directly at the crowd behind him. It was a sight to see so many pale-stricken people shivering in fear. All the dragon slayers, including Hans, the knights following the nobles, and the Karuwiman holy knights and priests were all unable to move properly.
“You just and righteous Karuna’s dogs, you guys might have superior power than us right now, but you can’t make a move as long as we have these worms in our hands.” Piros thought the Karuwimans were incredibly foolish. The masses were just slaves that the great Bellu created for the Bellids to use. However, those stupid Karuna dogs viewed them as something to protect. Of course, the Karuwimans would also have to make a choice when worst came to worst. No matter how important it was to protect the powerless, it was not more important than protecting the Pope and Yuras.
‘It doesn’t matter.’ If that happened, then just slaughtering these worms was enough. He would then be able to take off the Karuwimans’ hypocritical mask, and their reputation will plummet to the ground. If they stuck to their hypocritical attitude to the very end, then that would be even better since he could just destroy the Karuwimans, including the Pope.
“If anyone resists, think of them as good as dead.”
Thud! The dragon took a step forward, but no one moved hastily.
Thud! The dragon took another step forward. Due to the dragon’s large stride, it reached the Pope with a few steps. The cardinals exchanged glances. They couldn’t give up the Pope and Yuras by surrendering to Piros’ threats like this; someone had to make a decision. When the cardinals were about to firmly resolve their hearts—
Someone stepped forward.
“…Sir Zich?” Lubella looked at Zich’s back as he slowly walked toward the dragon. He looked completely at ease like before. Until now, he had stayed in his seat and hadn’t moved an inch so far. Did he really have no plans? Although Lubella continued to believe in Zich, even she had become slightly doubtful. However, Zich had moved just now; this alone was enough to give Lubella hope.
Since Zich moved in a situation where only the dragon was moving, he naturally attracted everyone’s attention. It was even more eye-catching since Zich was the only person moving.
“…I’m sure he has some kind of plan in mind, right?”
“Of course, since it’s Sir Zich.”
Snoc and Hans already felt relaxed. The people around them looked at them with dumbfounded expressions, but they didn’t feel the need to explain. They had to experience and see Zich in action to understand.
Of course, Piros also noticed Zich. “Did you not hear what I said?”
“Is there any reason why I should follow your words?”
“You don’t care what happens to the hostages?”
“Try it if you can.”
People let out shrill screams, and some people even cursed at him. However, Zich’s gaze was only focused on Piros.
Piros said, “Did you already give up on the lives of the hostages? Those who praise you will cry their hearts out.”
“You should stop distorting other people’s intentions. When did I ever say I would give up the lives of the hostages?”
“Are you bluffing again? I told you already, but I know that you didn’t prepare any special countermeasures. Wesker Grashane has an informant in Yuras.”
Piros stared at Chelsea, a Karuwiman, and she flinched. Then Piros’ eyes shifted to Pina, the mage. Pina received his gaze with an indifferent expression.
“Aren’t you somewhat close to Chelsea Windne? Pina Acous as well. I’ll give you a word of advice—don’t easily trust opportunists like them. Think of it as advice from someone who lived longer in this world than you.”
Many fierce and angry eyes all focused on Chelsea and Pina, but no one moved against them because they didn’t know how Piros would react if they made a hasty move. However, the people around Chelsea and Pina tried to distance themselves.
“I told you not to move.” Piros coldly said. People instantly stopped trying to distance themselves from Chelsea and Pina.
“Hahaha, what a great sight to see annoying fools move according to my every word.” Piros laughed creepily, but his face was soon replaced with displeasure. “Why are you still moving?”
Zich replied, “I told you before. Is there a reason why I should follow your words?”
“…In the end, you need to taste pain to stop your bluff.” Piros looked at one of his subordinates and said, “Kill ten of them.”
People around the subordinate screamed. Tension rose instantly, and many people looked at Zich with scorn. Soon, horrifying screams would break out, and innocent humans would be sacrificed. However, the sharp blade of the subordinate’s knife did not reach its target.
Halt! The subordinate was about to swing his sword with cold eyes, but he stopped. His vision became blurry, and he fell on the floor like a broken doll. The fallen sword clanged loudly. As expected, screams broke out. However, the screams didn’t come from innocent citizens as they met their end, but screams of bewilderment from an unexpected situation. Piros had been eagerly waiting to watch pathetic worms die, but he widened his eyes.
He clearly heard Zich slowly say, “Any Bellid who moves forward from now on will die.”