Volume 3 - CH 16

Act 3-16: The Big Three’s Encirclement

―Wasteland in the south of the Akinashi territory.

「This is really the delivery place of the special-grade grimoire, right?」

The question was asked with a doubtful voice. A brown-skinned girl with a bob hair-cut, Rinrin Raafan, asked that question with a frown on her face. In response, the man clad in black, who knelt beside her, replied,

「The grimoire we found in the black market is a genuine special-grade grimoire. Moreover, we’ve heard that the Amelia kingdom’s first princess, Rosemary Loto Amelia, is staying in that city. There are also rumors that the world’s largest sorcery society, 【Lost Forest】, and the most fearsome assassination society, 【Crimson Raven】, have also surrounded that city.」

It was an on-the-spot precise answer.

「So you’re telling me that every one of us, the underworld’s big three, went all-out, eh? I guess the rumor is true after all.」

The underworld’s big three had gone all out to trace the origins of the said grimoire. This wasn’t a competition for a mere grimoire anymore. One might say that this was a battle to decide the true king of the underworld.

「What shall we do?」

「What shall we do? You already know the answer, right? KILL! We, the Tao family, will kill anyone who dares oppose us!」

Rinrin’s yell resounded in the wasteland, south of the Akinashi territory. Then, the group of people clad in black clothes started to move.

―A mountain range, north of the Akinashi territory.

This area had become lively with nonstop yells. A man with a tattoo of a snake was fastened in the chair. Every other person was carrying a metal pole with them.

「Although we’re only doing an errand for a Count of this kingdom, we’ve unknowingly entered the competition ground of the big three.」

The one saying that was a blonde man with a tattoo of a crow and the sun on his right cheek, wearing a baggy attire developed by an otherworlder. Oboro was looking down on the members of 【Serpent Blood】, who he had already subdued.

「K-Kill… us…」

One of the 【Serpent Blood】 members asked Oboro.

「What are you talking about? The answer is “No,” of course.」

Oboro replied with a voice full of malice.

「Boss, everything has been prepared.」

Oboro’s aide, a man with thick glasses and wearing the same, red baggy attire as Oboro, reported that they were ready.

「Well then, this will be the battle to decide the true king of the underworld. There can be only one winner. Do you know who’ll be the winner!!?」

When Oboro placed his hands on his ears,

「「「「「IT’S US, THE 【CRIMSON RAVEN】!!」」」」」」

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A reply came along with the sound of numerous people stomping on the ground.

After repeating the same things a few times, Oboro continued with his speech.

「We are the king! And the king has to be merciful! That place can provide only a meager resistance, after all!!」

「「「「「Ou!」」」」」

「Then, what about those who have the same smell as us?」

Oboro placed his hands on his ears again.

「「「「「AGONIZING DEATH!!」」」」」

The people wearing those baggy attires replied with extremely loud voices as if they were trying to tear their throats.

「Yes, no need to hold back against the same underworld citizens. WE’LL KILL ALL OF THEM!!」

The group wearing baggy attires then started moving toward the Akinashi territory’s city.

―Near the base of the mountain, east of the Akinashi territory.

A group of people wearing pointy hats and green robes overlooked the city from inside the forest.

Among them was a girl around the age of 12-13. She was the leader of the world’s largest sorcery society, the 【Lost Forest】: Alice Renren Lorelei. Alice was a former royalty of Lorelei, but she had ended up pursuing the taboo arts of eternal youth and longevity and was eventually banished from her motherland.

「The highest-ranked darkness-type grimoire. It might be the legendary, ancient dark magic.」

Despite her attempts, she failed to suppress her joy. Darkness magic and light magic were sorcery’s two highest ranks of magic; otherwise known as divine magic. Not to mention it was the highest grade of dark magic. One might say that obtaining such magic was the dream of all sorcerers.

「【Crimson Raven】 and the 【Tao Family】 are also participating in this competition.」

「We absolutely can’t lose this war. Use every means available to get the grimoire!」

「HA!」

The people in green robes saluted her, then charged toward the Akinashi territory.

This was nothing more than the opening act of the nightmarish story woven by a monster.