Chapter 48: vs. Zank the Beheader!
"Teigu users are dangerous. Move in pairs of two."
Kobayashi muttered to himself, then scratched his head helplessly. "But why am I alone? Or is it that they think I have RyuZU, so that counts as two? They have a lot of confidence in me, in every sense of the word."
Just a short while ago, they were so afraid of him running off that the entire team was mobilized, and now they were letting him out on his own. He had never even said he wanted to join Night Raid. Had those people misunderstood something?
RyuZU, who was beside him, said with slight displeasure, "Does Master Kobayashi dislike being with me?"
"How could I? I like you the most, RyuZU."
Kobayashi patted her head and then took her small hand. "We haven't had a chance to spend quality time together since coming to the Capital. Although it's late at night, let's enjoy a short, sweet moment now."
"...If that is what you wish, Master Kobayashi."
RyuZU's cheeks flushed slightly.
Her small hand squeezed back, their fingers intertwining.
Honestly, Kobayashi still didn't understand how an automaton could make such a subtle, shy expression. But that wasn't important, because RyuZU was now his automaton.
The two of them strolled through the silent Imperial Capital, their leisurely appearance looking less like they were out to kill and more like they were on an outing.
Along the way, Kobayashi would use his [Probe] skill at regular intervals, but unfortunately, he still came up with nothing.
"As I thought, he's not coming out."
Kobayashi scratched his head in frustration and said to RyuZU, "It seems he won't show himself if we're together. But searching like this is too slow. Could I ask you to get to a high place and help me look, RyuZU?"
"But your safety, Master Kobayashi..."
"It's fine. I'm very strong, and don't forget, I can use magic."
"Very well. I understand."
RyuZU thought for a moment and agreed. She then turned, ran up the wall of a house, and after a slight bow, dashed towards a high tower in the distance. In the blink of an eye, her figure disappeared.
"Alright, alright, now it's just me. Will he show up now?"
The criminal psychology of a villain is naturally to pick on the weakest or those who are alone. Now that RyuZU was gone, and Kobayashi didn't look strong on the outside, if Zank the Beheader was going to make a move, his first target would surely be him.
Does this count as entrapment?
No, no, don't be ridiculous. This was an assassination.
He walked alone through another street.
Suddenly, a figure flashed past the corner of his eye. When he turned his head to look, he could only see the hem of their clothes as the figure had already turned into an alley and disappeared.
He's here?
Kobayashi focused his attention and quickly gave chase.
"He's followed me."
Walking ahead, Zank the Beheader revealed a wicked and twisted smile without turning around.
A Teigu user...
[Spectator: Five Sights Omnipotence] was the Teigu he possessed, granting him five abilities: Insight, Farsight, X-ray Vision, Precognition, and Illusion Sight.
In truth, Zank had discovered Kobayashi and RyuZU much earlier with his Farsight ability. After using his X-ray Vision and seeing that the inside of the silver-haired girl was not human flesh and blood, he had guessed that Kobayashi was a Teigu user.
To let his Teigu leave his side... how foolish.
He had never beheaded a Teigu user before. He wondered if it would be different from beheading other people.
—Illusion Sight
The effect was that, upon activation, it could make the target see the person they most wanted to see. He had used this move to behead many people, and it worked every time.
The boy behind him would soon have his head chopped off as well.
What will you call out? Mama? Papa? Or the name of the person closest to you? Anything is fine. Consider it my final act of mercy. But in return, you have to let me take your head properly.
His smile became even more twisted.
However—
"You've finally appeared, Zank the Beheader."
Hmm???
Zank's twisted, evil smile froze on his face.
Kobayashi had also thought of many people he might see: his parents, his sister, or even Aqua and the other problem children.
But all he saw was Zank the Beheader.
Because the effect of the necklace was too strong, it completely blocked the illusion effect!
Damn it! I was getting all emotional for nothing!
Actually, the best method would have been to pretend he was under the spell, then rush over and launch a sneak attack the moment Zank let his guard down. He could have easily taken him out. But he really couldn't bring himself to make a warm, nostalgic expression at a burly man, especially when his smile was so twisted.
"I didn't expect you to not fall for it."
Zank narrowed his eyes. It seemed he also hadn't expected his Teigu to fail.
Kobayashi shrugged and said helplessly, "To be honest, I wanted to fall for it more than you did. I was hoping for a different kind of reunion with my family. Unfortunately, a certain idiot goddess is too fond of me and has made me immune to almost all negative effects."
"Huh?! A goddess?! If there were a goddess, I would have been smitten by divine punishment long ago! And yet I'm still out here hunting! When I think of the wails and cries of those people, I just can't stop myself! What joy! What joy!"
As if hearing a joke, Zank's smile became even more uninhibited and twisted.
Ahh, he's a lost cause. Just like all those other people who have fallen into madness.
Kobayashi slowly drew the longsword from his waist and said, "If it were that unprincipled goddess, even if you were a villain guilty of the most heinous crimes, as long as you sincerely repented and prayed for forgiveness, she might very well forgive you. But... the wrongs you have committed still need to be paid for! Come, count up your sins!"
"I have been peeking into your heart. I find that you are not shaken in the slightest. Is it the ultimate form of self-hypnosis, or is there really a goddess? What joy! What joy!"
Zank became even more interested in Kobayashi, his smile wicked and rampant.
A great battle between the two was about to break out.
Kobayashi took a large step forward, thrusting his sword straight for Zank's throat. Zank just leaned back slightly, and the longsword passed by his face. The thrust having missed, he switched to a downward slash, but it was parried by two short swords.
Taking advantage of the opening below, Kobayashi kicked out. Zank also raised his leg to intercept.
All of his moves were seen through. Zank could even read his heart and predict his next attacks.
"First a horizontal slash, then a downward chop, followed by a kick, the longsword returns for an upward slash... a feint. It's actually a mid-level swing, followed by a lightning strike... a lightning strike?!"
"[Thunderstroke]!"
A bolt of lightning shot out from Kobayashi's palm, rushing towards Zank's chest with the speed of a sudden thunderclap. But Zank forcibly bent his legs back, dodging it at the last possible moment, and then took several consecutive backflips to quickly create distance.
"What joy! What joy! A lag between your skills and your basic attacks? Is magic really more useful after all? The thoughts in your heart are becoming more and more interesting."
Zank's smile was incomparably twisted and savage. He couldn't help but ask, "An ability I've never seen before. Is that really magic? Or is it the ability of some kind of weapon?"
"It's magic. I'm not lying to you about that."
"Mmm, there's no need to lie to me... is that what you're thinking in your heart? Then I shall consider it magic for now. What joy! What joy!"
Zank's interest grew higher and higher.
(End of chapter)
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Guys we cross the 500 power stone mark and as promise her's the bouns chapter.