Chapter 23.1 - Magic Swordsman and Black Organization [6] – part 1
Magic Swordsman and Black Organization [6] – part 1
The burning Daido Firm.
There was already a fierce battle ongoing inside.
「ZUEEEEE!」
「Gaha…」
The private soldiers who immediately rushed into the Daido Firm without hesitation – were quite skilled.
With their brilliant swordsmanship, they cut down the group of black cloaks one after another and runs up the building.
Judging from his movements, it seems that the Five Wealthy Merchants are on the seventh floor; the top floor.
「Ria, Rose, we’re going too!」
「Yeah!」
「Un!」
As we proceeded to the top floor together with the reliable private soldiers, they suddenly stopped on the sixth floor.
「Gaha…」
「Impossible…!?」
「I can’t… hit…!?」
The skilled private soldiers were felled one after another by a single swordsman clad in black.
「……No, No, No! It’s too crunchy! Entertain me more and more and more! Aha-ahaha-hahahahaha! 」
The black swordsman began to laugh like mad as he trampled on the fallen soldiers.
(……He’s dangerous.)
When I readied the sword in front my chest, increasing my guard,
「……!? Is it possible!? Maybe… Maybe… Maybe…!? You’re Allen!?」
「!?」
He called my name with a cheerful voice and distorted grin.
「That reaction! I was right! Un, Un, there’s no way I’d mistake you! Aha… I finally got to see you!」
While clapping both hands together, he shook his shoulder happily.
「…Who are you?」
I don’t remember such a strange person among my acquaintances.
「Ah, you’re so terrible…! Even though we loved each other so intensely, you had forgotten all about me…」
I had no idea what he’s talking about, but…
It was obvious that he was obsessed with me.
(I have no choice but to do it…)
And when I hardened my resolve,
「Allen, you go ahead to the Five Wealthy Merchants first!」
「Leave this to us…!」
Ria and Rose took a step forward with their sword ready.
「We can take care of this guy with the two of us!」
「No problem. Leave this to us.」
「…Understood.」
If they say so, I’m sure they’ll be all right.
I left the place assuredly and rushed to the seventh floor where the Five Wealthy Merchants were waiting.
「Aa!? Wait, Allen!」
「Your opponent…」
「Will be us!」
Then I ran up the stairs and swung opened the room labeled VIP room.
At that moment,
「Hi-hiiiiii!?」
「P-Please spare my life…!」
「I have a lot of m-m-m-money! I’ll give you whatever you want!」three of the Five Wealthy Merchant said, with trembling voices.
They most likely mistook me for one of the assailants.
Well, it’s no wonder.
(But… the other two are sitting without any hint of fear…)
When I glanced up – the two people sitting on a luxurious chair in the middle of the room, turned a sharp gaze at me.
One was a man with a large scar running across his left eye.
The other was a beautiful red hair woman…… I felt like I’ve seen this person somewhere, but now was not the time for that.
First of all, I have to remove the vigilance of the Five Wealthy Merchants towards me, and escape from this building at once.
「I am Magic Swordsman Allen-Rodore. I have come to rescue you all.」
At that moment, fear faded from their eyes.
But, of course, they do not completely trust me.
That’s why I uttered a strong『threat』that would rewrite their suspicion.
「As you already know, there was an explosive in this building. And that’s not necessarily the only one. There’s a possibility that something even bigger might still be hidden! And – it might be closer than you imagine!」
The mysterious group planted explosives in this building without being found by anyone.
(And surely if they wanted, they could have blown up this whole building. Nevertheless, they planted an explosion that was of mild power.)
It was clear from this, that the purpose of these men was not the elimination of the Five Wealthy Merchants – but『kidnapping』.
Five Wealthy Merchants far surpass the directors of the Five Academy in terms of simple financial power.
If the kidnapping was successful, they could demand a large amount of ransom.
(Even if their purpose was kidnapping, it does not guarantee the『life』of the Five Wealthy Merchants.)
If their primary objective of kidnapping was unsuccessful, it was quite possible that they would resort to assasination immediately.
In that case, it’s likely that this building had more explosives planted, especially in positions that would blow up the VIP room.
So we had to leave this place right away.
「U-U-U-Understood!」
「L-Let’s leave this place immediately!」
「Can we count on you to guard us!? Allen-kun!?」
As expected, of the Five Wealthy Merchants.
They immediately understood what I was about to say.
Even when they were panicking in an unfamiliar battlefield, they were still composed enough to think.
「Yes, of course. Please follow me!」
Then, I took the Five Wealthy Merchants and moved quickly to escape from the building.
We exited the high-risk VIP room and ran down the stairs.
When we safely reached down to the sixth floor – the figure of Ria, who was lying unconsciously on her back, entered my sight.
「Ri-Ria!?」
I ran up to her in a hurry and put my hand on her chest.
(…Thank god)
Her heart was beating strongly.
Apparently she just seems to have lost consciousness.
And the next thing that entered my vision,
「Sakura Blossom One-Sword Style Secret Technique – Mirrored Sakura Slash!」
「Ahaa…! Such child’s play… won’t work, you know!?」
「No way… Kyaa!?」
It was the figure of Rose, who avoided all the certain kill blows, and was hit by a strong front kick.
「Ro-Rose!?」
Blown back, she banged the back of her head against the concrete of the building and fell on the floor.
She doesn’t even twitch now and seem to have lost consciousness completely.
(Ria, Rose…)
There’s no way the two of them would lose from frontal attacks.
There must be something else.
Something that could catch these two off guard…
「Fuu…」
I calmed my head and heart which boiled in anger, with a deep breath.
After a short pause, I looked around the surroundings calmly – I saw the private soldiers holding their swords with trembling hands.
「Excuse me… I’ll take over from here. You all lead the Five Wealthy Merchants out of the building.」
「Are you sure about this!?」
「Understood…!」
「We’ll leave it to you…!」
At the same time as I nodded, the private soldiers took along the Five Wealthy Merchants and started running.
The swordsman in front of me didn’t even try to obstruct – he just intently stared at me.
「…I’m quite surprised. That you’ll just let them escape.」
「Aha! That’s because you are much more important to me than a boring order…!」
He wasn’t joking or anything, it seemed he was really only interested in『Me』.
「…Just who the hell are you?」
I can’t see his face from here because he was wearing a black hood.
「Nnー… You’re so terrible for forgetting about me… Even though I’m thinking about Allen, day after day after day after day after day… you know?」he said, laughing cheerfully with his arms wide open.
「Why don’t you take off the hood already? I don’t have time for this.」
It was likely that explosives were still planted in this building.
I don’t want to stay in such a dangerous place for too long.
「Don’t rush… We were finally reunited after all, you know? Oh right, will you remember if I said this… Dropout Swordsman-sama?」
「…!?」
Dropout Swordsman.
The only person who called me in that manner, in middle-school – the guy at Gran Swordsmanship Academy.
(Speaking of a guy who has a strong obsession with me at the Gran Swordsmanship School…)
There is only one guy who comes to mind.
「Are you… Dodriel!?」
「Ahaa! Correct, correct, super correct…?! Nice to meet you, Alleeeen?」1 Dodriel said, and took off the black hood.
Blue hair that was severely damaged, tied behind a well-featured face.
And above all – there was a large sword scar running across his well-featured face.
Maybe it’s the one he got from the duel with me.
「Dodriel-Barton…」
「Aha… You finally remembered me, Alleeen-Rodoreeee!」