第４６８堀：ランクスの後始末 (Part2)
They’re spouting nonsense without even considering the disparity in our combat strength. Unless you’re directly involved, I’m sure it looks like a complete farce.
……Damn it. Why do I have to deal with that man?
"Well, that depends on him. So, how is he? He’s woken up, right?"
"His consciousness is perfectly clear. There don't seem to be any aftereffects from being split in two or used as fuel."
"That’s a relief. Though, honestly, it’s a mystery of the human body that someone can be sliced in half and turned into fuel and still be fine."
"I suppose that’s because his base is divine? He was almost entirely under the control of Shuten-doji; it’s not something a normal human could recover from."
"Well, you never know. I’m a Lich, after all."
"Comet, you’re in a special category."
They were chatting away so pleasantly, but I had to cut in—I needed to hear the details about Nogosh.
"Excuse me. Nogosh’s consciousness is clear, and since we—or rather, since I—was called here, that means..."
"Yes. He doesn't seem to accept the current situation. He’s demanding a rematch; he’s completely unreasonable. He keeps saying that if you lay a hand on him, Nonoa won't stay silent."
That piece of trash.
Trying to ruin my reputation like that!!
I really need to put my foot down, or this is going to become a massive headache.
"So, are you telling me to laugh this off?"
"Just bear with it. If things get complicated with Nogosh, it’ll be a nightmare. On the surface, at least, I was only there to witness Rei’s execution."
"Oh, right. What happened to Rei? I don't like that bastard who treated that woman like a commodity either."
"As for Rei, he tried to escape on the way back here, but he was intercepted by Steve’s unit and... *bang*."
"Oh? You didn't capture him?"
"Executing him publicly would only incite the old royalist faction. Keeping him alive doesn't change anything, either. It’s much more convenient if he’s 'dead' while officially being a fugitive. Because he 'escaped,' we can now investigate the old royalist faction for aiding him or for their past suspicious activities."
I see.
So they’re claiming he escaped while actually having him killed.
It feels ruthless, but being able to draw out the hostile factions that way is a clever move. Usually, the fact that a prisoner escaped would be a failure to be covered up, but I suppose this is another way of doing things.
"I see. So the fact that he might still be alive is an advantage for Taiki, then."
"Exactly."
"And speaking of which, what happened to the other half of the enemy? That one would be even better at inciting the old royalists than Rei, wouldn't he?"
"Bicks is a bit tricky."
"Tricky?"
"Well, Uesugi Terutora is using his body, so right now, it’s like Bicks and Terutora are living together."
"But isn't Terutora’s true form the sword?"
"He doesn't want to lose his vessel, so he’s actually persuading Bicks to avoid execution. He’s been surprisingly cooperative."
"Ah, I see. He’s showing signs of submission."
"Yes. If he had resisted, I would have just demoted him to a slave and put him to work doing menial labor—the ultimate torture for someone like Bicks—but..."
"You got greedy, thinking that if he listens to you, you might be able to use Bicks to consolidate the old royalist faction."
"Exactly. And since it was Terutora who proposed that, it’s even more troublesome."
"Heh. He’s quite the strategist, isn't he?"
Hmm.
I don't know much about the person who took over Bicks, but based on what I’ve heard, he seems much more reasonable than Nogosh.
"Well, that’s why we’re still in the negotiation phase with Bicks. As for Nogosh, he hasn't even reached that stage yet. Bicks—or rather, Terutora—is trying to persuade him, though."
"That sounds like a pain. Good luck, Nonoa."
……Damn it.
So you’re the one dragging this out the longest?
"For now, let’s go meet Nogosh."
"Alright, please follow me. This way."
First things first.
Guided by Taiki, I finally caught sight of the bound Nogosh.
"Oh!! You’re safe!! Nono—"
*THUD!!*
My body moved before he could finish his sentence.
I twisted my torso, put all my weight into my right leg, and slammed a kick into his head.
Even when my magic is depleted, I keep my body trained so I can still fight.
Consider this the first installment of payback for making me dance to your tune.
For some reason, applause broke out behind me.
Nonoa was a martial artist, after all.