Limit Breaking Genius Mage Chapter 367

Episode 367: Land Without Owners (1)

A person who is on the verge of freezing to death in the bitter cold would be willing to give up his life if only he could be covered with a thin cloth.

But once you can get away from that biting wind for even a little bit, you start to yearn for a thicker blanket… a tiny home that can hold you through the day.

And then you start to want to lie down in a soft bed, dream of warming yourself by the fireplace, and crave a delicious meal.

A flow of consciousness that is extremely natural to everyone.

As such, there is no end to desire.

However, there are several restraining forces that can stop this at an appropriate level.

A representative example is a law created by the state.

The world needs some symmetry.

When oppression is strong, desires are suppressed and explode, but when oppression is weak, desires run wild.

The cause and effect are different, but both cause confusion.

In other words, stability is like a balance where discipline and desire collide and clash, but do not collapse.

While someone is enjoying happiness and peace, someone else is living an unhappy and unstable life… … .

'No Man's Land' is an area that falls into the latter category.

A place where the land is so barren that countries try hard not to embrace it.

Therefore, it is a place where humans, other races, and local people with nowhere to go live day to day.

A land without an owner because there are so many people who claim to be its lords.

That was the land that Verden and Adrian were heading to.

* * *

Tap tap, tap tap… … .

We found an old carriage in a nearby village and slowly entered the city.

The carriage that used <telekinesis>, which was usually used, was stored in a subspace because it attracted attention.

The role of the groom was played by Adrian.

Verden, who had wrapped a shabby robe around his body and was hiding the brilliance of [Einver], cast his gaze outside the carriage.

“……This is my first time in a city like this.”

Buildings made of brick, wood, stone, etc. They all look like they are at least tens or hundreds of years old.

The unmaintained road was literally covered in mud.

Judging by the mud and puddles here and there, it looks like it rained yesterday.

The stickiness can be felt even inside the carriage.

Not only that, but a faint unpleasant stench along with the smell of water tickled my nose.

Add to this the gloomy weather and the gangsters loitering in the alleys, and the city's atmosphere is extremely gloomy.

'It's like looking at a time before magic was commercialized.'

A world about 150 years ago that we only knew through knowledge.

They say that the Central Continent is a land where the past and present coexist… … Is this a place that belongs to that past?

It wasn't a very pleasant sight.

But there was something that caught Verden's eye.

Just then someone carrying a shopping basket passed by the carriage.

It wasn't human.

A bipedal animal.

A face that has most of the elements of a wolf, and a body covered in fur and even a tail that is revealed outside of the one-piece dress.

That person was a number one.

'Even though different races live together in the central continent… I didn't know it would be this easy to see.'

It wasn't my first time seeing a different race, but their physical characteristics were clearly different from those of elves, which was quite surprising.

At that moment, the wolf-man pricked up his ears and looked around.

She turned her head back slightly and met Verden's eyes.

“……!”

The wolf-man with his eyes wide open ran away in a panic.

As if terrified.

“……Why are you suddenly doing that?”

Adrian spoke softly in response to Verden's question.

“There are many different races within the Suin tribe, but they all have a unique instinct that they all have in common. Among them, their reflexive instincts, such as sensing danger, far surpass those of humans.”

“I had no intention of causing any harm.”

“After all, my lord is different from ordinary people. Even if that was not his intention, it could still be a threat to the other party.”

So, does that mean I should try not to even look at the Suin tribe?

'Of course, it would be okay if you intentionally hide your presence or something… … .'

A keen instinct and physical intuition that are not revealed on the outside are among the characteristics of the Suin tribe.

Suddenly, I wondered what kind of strong person the Suin tribe was.

Meanwhile, Adrian pulled the reins and stopped the carriage in front of a shabby tavern.

I arrived at the place where my old acquaintance was.

Squeak.

Two people, each with their robes pulled down low to hide their appearances, entered.

“You went to a brothel and got robbed and beaten up? You pathetic little punk, I knew it.”

“Hahahahahahahaha! For our fucking shitty life!”

“I killed ten of them in the last battle!”

“Shut up before you become the eleventh. That’s the sixth time I’ve said that!”

“Hey! Hey, Fatty! Get out of here and stop the animal smell! Go away to the pigsty!”

“You insignificant human. Should I crush your mouth so that you can never open it again for the rest of your life?”

“Come on, you idiot! I’ll crush that thick nose of yours today.”

People who haven't even washed properly are emptying their glasses and talking noisily.

On one hand, a wild boar man and an awakened man were fighting, blood splattering.

Every time the bloody sound of flesh being cut was heard, the guests cheered.

“What a nostalgic sight.”

Adrian muttered with a smile.

What kind of life have I lived to feel homesick here?

I heard that he lived a pretty rough life before earning the title of one of the four powers of the Central Continent, but I didn't know because I didn't ask about his detailed footsteps.

Thud, thud.

The sound of unfamiliar footsteps naturally mixes with the commotion.

Without any significant friction, Verden and Adrian took their seats in the corner of the bar.

The owner of the tavern across from us was wiping his cup and urging us to order.

“Has the owner changed in the meantime?”

Adrian placed two ten-thousand-dollar bills, three one-thousand-dollar bills, and five coins on the stand.

“Two glasses of twelve-year-old brandy. And cats don’t cry over pools of blood.”

“…….”

The bar owner, his eyebrows furrowed, quietly took the money and handed me the glass I had ordered.

Next, he sent one of the guests out secretly, his thick belly and beard shaking.

It looks like some kind of call signal.

“Hmm.”

Verden took a sip of his drink and focused his attention on the entrance.

Adrian's old acquaintance… …I was quite curious about who the skilled waterman was.

But a little while later, contrary to expectations, a vicious group of humans and demons stormed into the tavern.

They each held weapons and did not hide their hostility.

A man holding a club full of nails looked around the inside of the tavern.

He asked the owner, nodding directly towards Verden.

“Them? The guys who suddenly made strange demands?”

“That’s right. You’re paying a lot of money for two drinks and then you’re talking about a cat crying in a pool of blood or something. I called you guys just in case.”

“Good job. By the looks of it, it seems clear that you came to this city for some impure purpose.”

The man glared.

“Hey, you two! Get on your knees here before I get beaten up.”

It's a sincere threat.

The crowd behind the man snickered, teeth bared.

The sound of iron being swung around lingered in my ears.

The guests had no intention of running away, their eyes sparkling at the new sight.

Berden, who had been quietly blinking, turned his gaze to the seat next to him.

“Is that your acquaintance?”

“……I think the password changed while I was away.”

Adrian scratched his metal mask as if he was ashamed.

Then it's the second best option.

* * *

“Phew…….”

Cat Suin, Kayrel, let out a deep sigh as she lay slumped in her chair.

Gray smoke spreads in all directions along with the breath.

My head, which had been pounding, has calmed down a little.

She lit the cigarette all at once, gaining momentum, and tossed the remaining stub into the ashtray.

As the calming effect wore off, my head started throbbing again.

"shit……."

It wasn't a disease or anything like that.

It was simply due to stress caused by the situation.

Danger lurks everywhere.

It wasn't like that before, but recently it's been different.

Hunting of the mercenary race due to racial discrimination, wars between powers seeking all sorts of vested interests… … The new lords who became lords a few years ago do not hesitate to massacre the citizens in order to squeeze them.

They are heading to the city where she lives.

'Originally, the old lord who was cooperating with me should have stopped it, but… … .'

Unfortunately, he passed away last year.

The one who took over that empty spot was the youngest son, 'Liam', who was only about twenty years old.

He inherited his father's kind nature and had a strong will to protect the city by upholding his father's will.

But most of those who went abandoned him.

'Of course.'

If you keep your loyalty for no reason and the city falls to another lord, you will all be executed together.

'In that case, it would be better to sell inside information to the enemy and save your life and money.'

So Liam became prey.

In fact, it wouldn't be long before they were hunted.

Negotiation or whatever, the moment you get caught, you'll be impaled on a spear from your shin to your crown and hung on the wall as if you were there for show.

There will probably be no mercy.

The lords who are targeting this city are those kinds of people.

If you are weak, you will be eaten, and if you are strong, you will be eaten.

That was the rule of this fucking, ownerless land.

"ha……."

Kayrel sighed again and took out the cigarette.

Just as I was about to light the fire, the sound of urgent footsteps tickled my ears.

Boom!

“Oh, that’s a surprise! Open it gently! Don’t you know that my ears are sensitive?!”

“Sorry, sorry… No, more than that! Mr. Keirel, there’s a huge fight going on at the ‘Burg’s Rest’!”

“In a tavern? What’s that? Is this the first or second time a fight has broken out?”

“I told you this time it’s very different! So… two guys I’ve never seen before showed up and started arguing or something, but they’re no match for me!”

“Then send Delgon. Numbers don’t do anything.”

“The Delgon guys were knocked out in the grass. The water people were all destroyed. And by just one person.”

Kayrel hesitated.

Delgon, a former high-ranking mercenary, was defeated so easily?

With the gang too?

If you handled that by yourself, you are quite capable.

How could such a guy show up at a time like this and act so violently…?

'Could it be that the lords sent this?'

It was very likely. No, it was almost certain.

“Call all the kids together.”

Keirel, who had just left his post, led his men straight to the center of the commotion.

Human bodies and water strewn about outside.

No one died, but judging by the traces, they were all knocked out by a single blow.

Sling.

Keirel, with his sharp claws and teeth exposed, took the lead and entered the tavern.

The room was a complete mess, and there were two people there.

One sits in the corner of the bar, the other stands amidst the smashed furniture and the city's residents lying around quietly.

It's creepy.

Instinct echoes.

'I don't know about the guy behind me… … but the guy in front is dangerous. Seriously.'

At best, it can kill time.

One Kayrel didn't back down. That was her.

“I’ve never heard of a duo like you around here before. Who are you? Who hired you to wreak havoc here?”

“You guys started the fight first. By the way, even though the password has changed, you are still the same, Keirel.”

"what?"

“Well, do I even have to tell you this? Even the time I cried and threw a tantrum to my teacher because I wanted to eat meat?”

“So what the hell are you talking about───”

At that moment, Kayrel stopped breathing.

At the same time, both ears and tail shot up, and the vertical pupils in his yellow eyes trembled as if there was an earthquake.

The subordinate, sensing the strange atmosphere, asked.

“Excuse me, Mr. Kayrel?”

"get out."

"yes?"

“Get out of here now! Take all the unconscious guys with you! And don’t let anyone near the tavern!”

Her subordinates moved quickly at her urgent passion.

Soon the interior became empty.

Also, as ordered, no one approached within a few dozen meters.

There were only three living, breathing things in this neighborhood.

Only then did Adrian take off his metal mask and open his robe.

Long, dark blue hair tied up in a ponytail.

With fierce eyes and a small scar under his left eye.

“Ah, Adrian……!”

“It’s been a while, Keirel. It’s been eleven years, I think?”

Adrian smiled happily.

Taking a deep breath, Keirel slowly stepped forward, his lips and fingertips trembling.

and.

Thump. He flicked one of the swords lying on the floor upward with his foot.

In an instant, Keirel's eyes lit up as he grabbed the blade.

“Adrian Chen Bus, this crazy manger is a guy for eight years suddenly came to come suddenly!

“Okay, let’s talk about it.”

“Then let me hit you!”

Phew.

Keirel, full of life, launched a mad attack.

Quick sword strikes aimed precisely at vital points, and martial arts linked in between. Even at a glance, it wasn't something you would see on the streets.

Of course, none of them hit Adrian. He dodged several blows by a single sheet of paper and calmly calmed Caerel down.

It may have had the opposite effect, but each time it happened, the movements became faster.

'Is that how Suin reunites?'

Verden tried not to interrupt and stepped aside for a moment.

Before he knew it, tears were welling up in Keirel's eyes as he swung his sword.