Episode 174. Confiscated Justice (1)
It was the longest 30 minutes of my life.
It was burdensome to wrestle with the thought of death so as not to lose my senses, but what worried me the most was the situation above.
The thoughts that came from the hand of hell were eating away at my reason like a devil.
If I had even once let my mind wander, I would have been completely consumed by that hand and dragged to the afterlife.
That thought brings out the weak parts of people and leads them to the afterlife.
Rather than dragging me by force, it was closer to taming me into the other world by encouraging me to do bad things.
That’s why even if you get caught in my hand, you won’t fall straight into the afterlife. I could truly feel the feelings of the deceased who is troubled at the crossroads of life and death.
What that hand showed me was simple.
Because they were trying to entice me by showing me the dark side of my life so far.
At first, it seemed surprisingly easy. Since I came into this world, I haven’t had any trauma that would cause me to have a mental breakdown.
`It was actually quite smooth. When I first opened my eyes to this world, I almost went crazy, but now that I think about it, it wasn’t a big deal.`
Since it was a world I had already cleared several times, there were less parts that I was afraid of. Because it was so smooth, the dark side felt colorless.
I was able to become friends with Jenny and Ruska, who I had conflicts with at first, and I had nothing to be afraid of because I knew an easy way to reduce the erosion rate of this damn curse.
He even used the curse in reverse to become stronger.
`There are some people around me who have been hit and run, but compared to my past life, it was a fairy-like daily life.`
A crazy and wild life with good friends made in the blink of an eye.
It was a life I had imagined at least once before, so when I actually experienced it, there were no bad aspects.
It was the best life ever, except for the trouble caused by the Liar’s Curse.
‘Yes, as of now.’
In a country like this, I thought that holding out for 30 minutes would be like eating cold porridge.
I thought there would be no dark side… but I had forgotten.
I’m talking about ‘past lives’.
‘It may be good now, but… back then, there were one or two things that were darker than now.’
10 years of playing Devil Ark.
That was a time when joy and sorrow were more distinct than now.
There have been more than a few times when I’ve felt sad because things didn’t go my way, at least not like they did now.
I played the same game for 10 years just to console myself with it.
I don’t know if I came to this world in return for that, but the sadness of those times was a noticeable element in the touch of hell.
`People tend to unconsciously become absorbed in bad memories. I am no exception.`
The touch maximized the immersion, so much so that in less than 30 minutes I almost lost my senses and was dragged to the afterlife.
`Losing your mind meant death.`
It seemed to whisper to me.
Wouldn’t life then have been more humane than now?
Isn’t what you’re doing now just an escape from reality?
Even if this is not fake but reality, wouldn’t there be hardships appropriate for that time?
‘Well, if that weren’t the case, it wouldn’t be ‘reality’.’
If things were really no different than they were back then, would you be confident that you could survive in this world?
That’s what the hell touch wanted to tell me.
I had received a similar request before.
-If anything happens to me, please take care of those kids.
I wonder if I can really take responsibility for them in place of the guy who is the main character.
I had to answer that question, but my mouth hesitated in fear.
Eventually, I opened my eyes for a moment because of the creepy feeling that was about to creep up on me.
It was the same energy that Mary had when she revealed her horns and wings. It seemed like a fierce battle was going on, as it spread enough to wake me up from my sleep at the bottom of the cliff.
`Mary is fighting and risking her life for me, so can I get out?`
At that moment, my mind suddenly snapped.
I started to struggle mentally with all my might.
Unlike back then, there are many people who believe in me, so I can’t be dragged around like this.
[30 minutes have passed.]
[All conditions for changing from ‘Outlaw’ to ‘Commander’ have been met.]
[Would you like to carry out your previous duties?]
YES / NO
The system window opened on its own, but that damned hand wouldn’t let go of me.
Just before I was dragged away, I stretched out my arm with all my might and pressed ‘YES’.
[I am carrying out my previous duties.]
“Ugh!”
As before, I felt a headache from the aftereffects of my previous job.
Because of that, all the strength left my body and I was about to be dragged to the afterlife.
[Transfer completed!]
[You’ve gone from being a ‘con artist’ to an ‘outlaw.’]
As soon as the transformation was complete, a giant crow grabbed my body with its feet and flew up.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
“It’s time to change players, Mary.”
“Hey friend…”
I saw Mary amazed at seeing me come back from the dead.
I got off Aisha’s back and landed down to face her.
It was a moment when a vibration was transmitted from the bottom of my feet to my thighs.
“Ouch, oh, oh, oh, oh!!”
“Hey friend!
Damn, I completely forgot I hurt my thigh.
Because it was a penetrating wound from an arrow, it took time for it to heal even with Manyeong’s raindrops.
As I groaned loudly, Mary quickly cast a healing spell.
I told her.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“huh…”
Fortunately, I had deactivated Demon King Mode, so there was no problem using magic.
But maybe because I was so scared… the healing magic was minimal.
“It’s okay. It’s okay now.”
“But in this state…”
Just then, Rutis happened to spot me and confidently lifted Rosaria up.
“You’re alive, Shaman Boy! The cursed aura is stronger than before. I will punish evil with the power of this holy sword!”
As soon as the guy shouts, a swarm of spirits rushes towards me.
Even the spirits that Heidern was fighting against joined in capturing me, further increasing the number.
The moment Mary desperately tried to defend herself by firing off elemental magic…
-Kyaaaaaaaah!!
Everything froze at the roar of Aisha floating in the sky.
Mary’s magic also failed because she was surprised by it, and even Heidern and Tariel were shocked.
And the spirits that were rushing at us stopped just like that, like a Rose of Sharon blooming.
The guys who had been standing sharply lost their fighting spirit, and soon they all fainted and fell down.
“With just one roar… Radon, what on earth is this spirit?”
Heidern, who saw that, was surprised and asked me.
“It’s a new one I recently acquired. Her name is Aisha. Her power was so strong that I couldn’t properly manifest it, but now I can use about 65% of it.”
“Aisha?”
“But it’s still too early to relax. The higher-level spirits haven’t fallen yet.”
The onslaught of water could be stopped with a single roar, but the stronger ones were still intact.
So I asked Heidern.
“Excuse me, but please stop those guys. I’ll deal with that crazy guy.”
“But the author is the captain of the knights! He is by no means an easy opponent!”
Is it true that you say that?
The flow and dialogue that you usually see in comics actually happen.
On the one hand, it was so absurd that I couldn’t help but laugh.
But what if you get stabbed while talking like this in front of the enemy?
The enemy will not wait for that kindly.
“You found a loophole!”
Look at that.
With his gaze and posture as if he were hunting prey, Ruthie had already approached Mary and me.
The speed was reminiscent of a bullet, as if the title of Knight Commander was not given for nothing.
In that state, I swing Rosaria to strike both Mary’s neck and mine at the same time.
Push-
But before he could swing it, he stopped.
Because a large feather flew in like an arrow and pierced Rosaria’s wrist, knocking her down.
“Ugh! It reacted to my speed?”
Aisha’s visual acuity was also not ordinary, as she was on a different track from the upper class.
Thanks to its toughness, it is enough to take on the mid-boss of Chapter 5.
I took advantage of that gap and punched the guy in the face.
“Ugh!”
Ruthie was hit and rolled on the ground for a moment, but soon got back up and regained her bearings.
It would have been nice to be able to momentarily hide that face that infuriates me the more I look at it, but I haven’t even started yet.
Before we begin, I threw a few raindrops at Mary.
“Huh? This is…”
“It’s a kind of healing potion. Spray a drop on each of Uncle Tariel’s wounds.”
“But you hurt your thigh too.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
-Kyaaaaak
Aisha, who recognized my will, flew over on her own and carried me on her back.
For me, who has difficulty moving my legs, ‘flying’ was just the thing.
“ah….”
Mary, seeing that, made a blank expression as if she had worried for nothing.
“Fighting in the sky like a coward. But I will not yield to evil!”
Even seeing me flying, Ruthie wasn’t at all discouraged.
Instead of dropping Rosaria on the floor, the guy picked up the greatsword on his back and aimed it at me.
“Huh? You’ve really been making people feel dumb since earlier.”
I lowered my altitude to be in front of the guy’s nose, touching the back of his neck.
Ruthie watched me come down on my own and was wary.
“Why did you suddenly come down to my level? Do you have any mercy left in you even though you are a villain?”
“hey.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
Ruthie is flustered by my presumptuous words.
It’s just funny how he looks dumbfounded as if he’s been hit with powder from just one informal remark.
“That damn evil, that damn justice, can you stop talking about those things? My ears start ringing every time I hear them.”
No kidding, if I listen to it one more time I think I’ll go crazy enough to become neurotic.
It’s normal for him to be ogling, but his double-crossing attitude is making me sick.
But that guy is just like that… He’s getting on my nerves again.
“Hahahaha! As expected, common sense doesn’t work on you, who doesn’t know justice. You blindly trust the group of evil, so what’s wrong with your brain?”
What’s wrong with your head, you idiot?
When you say something like that with such confidence, my mind gets even hotter.
But this is the last of that nonsense.
Didn’t I just say that? I haven’t even started yet.
“You crazy kid.”
“Ha! Even so… Ugh!!”
Ruthie, who was about to make that expression again, suddenly covered her left eye with her hand.
It looked like he was in excruciating pain, as if his eye had been stabbed.
When I saw that, I laughed calmly.
“What is it all of a sudden…? My left eye feels like it’s going to tear…!”
The face of the guy who was trying to make that composed expression is distorted in pain.
Ruthie, who intuitively knew that it was my doing, shoots sharply.
“Is this your doing?”
“Heh heh heh heh heh!”
“I asked you! Is it your doing?”
“well?”
“As expected, she is not righteous… Kkwaak!
This time, Ruthie is in pain, covering her right eye.
He didn’t really show that angry expression, but the reason he did that was because he chose his words poorly.
“Hey. Say it again.”
“A righteous person like you… Kyaaaaak!!”
Ruthie stopped talking and covered both her eyes, complaining of pain.
The guy said, screaming.
“What on earth have you done!!”
“Hahaha. Now I finally like it.”
“Answer me!!”
“It’s nothing. I just cast a curse.”
“curse?”
It’s a curse I put on him when I punched him in the face a little while ago.
You can inflict a curse by touching it with your hand. That’s why I threw a punch instead of a fishing rod.
“You can’t have that righteous-looking expression from now on. And you can’t say any nonsense like that about justice being evil. You already know what happens if you don’t, right?”
“omg…!”
Ruthie’s eyes trembled as she understood at once.
When you make an expression you don’t like, your left eye will feel a prickling pain, and the moment you blurt out that word, your right eye will feel a prickling pain.
But the guy said it as if he hadn’t lost hope.
“No matter how much of a curse it is, you’re still a student. You can’t overcome this curse on your own… Huh?”
“It’s no use. You were just wasting your energy dealing with Rosaria a little while ago.”
“What? That can’t be…”
“You didn’t know?”
You can tell just by holding Rosaria that she’ll suck a lot of strength out of anyone who isn’t a good fit, right?
Could it be because of the effects of magic treatment?
Anyway, I didn’t miss the guy trembling.
“What happens if you break it twice in a row? Aren’t you curious?”
“What is that…?”
“Your two eyes will forever say ‘goodbye’ to your body.”
“…!”
The guy’s emotions were at their peak.
It was as if he had lost his own hands and feet and was reduced to a state where he could do nothing.
[Erosion rate reduction: -70%]
[+7000 Credits]
Of course it’s a lie.
I just wanted to see the despairing look on the face of the guy who was shouting for justice that couldn’t be done.
“Then I’ll…”
“Hey hey hey! Be careful.”
“omg!”
“I just told you what happens if you open your mouth wrong? You should behave yourself.”
“No! That’s the driving force of my life! Give it back now!”
The guy who was so confident is now in a situation where he has to beg.
I said to that guy.
“Justice according to your taste! Justice! You’re going around making a fuss, what? Give it back to me?”
Let’s sell this shit.
That guy is definitely that type.
A human being who, while trying to look cool by catching mosquitoes, accidentally slaps his friend and knocks out a tooth, but then justifies it by saying, “I can’t help it! Understand!”
This is medicine for those kids.
“Seize the expression! Seize the justice! Seize the evil!”
“omg!”
“And your life is confiscated too!”
As soon as I finished speaking, a giant snake bared its teeth and lunged at the guy.
Surviving as an Academy Fraudster
