Published: September 9, 2025
Satou here. When it comes to assassins, I used to think poison was their main tool. But at some point, strangulation with wires and quick strikes to vital points with long needles became more common—variety has definitely increased. I wonder what weapons are currently trending in the assassination world. It’s a little intriguing.
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“So, it’s Sorkel, huh?”
“W-who are you guys?”
“Just some errand runners.”
There were two intruders in the Prefect’s Mansion where Lord Sorkel was being held captive. Both were cloaked in dark brown mantles that completely concealed their faces. In their hands, they gripped unsheathed swords that gleamed suspiciously.
“Whose?”
“His Highness’s, obviously.”
At that question, one of the bandits finally noticed my presence and hastily pointed his sword at me. While one distracted me, I figured the other planned to eliminate Lord Sorkel. I said “figured” because that was after I kicked the front bandit into the one behind him, stopping them. Maybe I kicked a little too hard, because the men were half-embedded into the stone wall. Another push and they might have crashed through to the next room.
“Ugh, what a heavy kick!”
“So you’re the Mithril-level explorers I’d heard rumors about?”
“Wrong.”
You guys actually have some leeway, don’t you?
Even after receiving attacks that should have knocked them out cold, the men seemed okay. I thought their spit tasted a little red, but they stood up with the intention to fight.
Both were level 30, of the human tribe, and under a “demonic body empowerment” state. I’m guessing they had taken demonic enhancement potions.
Evidence for that: without chanting any spell, their bodies leaked purple electricity and flames flickered around them.
“Who you are, I don’t know, but you and that man will die here.”
“I’ll give you a gift for your death. We are demonic beings. We are the guardians of the new world being built by His Highness.”
Their speech had a strange accent. Under their hoods, I glimpsed abnormal creatures. One’s face was half like a turtle shell; the other had compound eyes like an insect. Even after seeing many demi-humans, they looked grotesque.
Still, since their race was listed as human tribe, I’ll go non-lethal. I have to keep some boundaries, or else I might end up becoming a Demon King myself.
Since they were tough enough not to faint from my strikes, I chose normal short stuns instead of remote stun bullets. I started light—20 shots each. The last time I hit a beetle-like one with 20 shots, it lasted that long, so this felt about right.
The first took the magic full-on, crashing through the back wall and flying into the next room. The second dodged a few shots by instinct but then got caught and awkwardly embedded himself in the outer wall. This outer wall was impressively sturdy.
Neither lost consciousness. The enhancement potions must be excellent. If it was a one-time thing, I could see soldiers drinking them on the battlefield.
What to do now… Ah, that’s right. I forgot something.
I tried an experiment on the first one.
Success. He fainted from the strike and didn’t get up.
“W-what did you do?”
“I’m not about to reveal my secrets to the enemy.”
While dodging their attacks, I used “magic disruption” to break their enhancement state, then “mana drain” to completely steal their magic power. I even took the magic flowing through their weapons by placing my hand on them. I don’t know how excellent the demonic enhancement potion is for the user’s magic circuits, but once the fuel—magic power—is gone, it won’t work.
Finally, I knocked out the now magically naked opponent with a strike. Their toughness matched their level, but the absurd durability from before was gone.
I restrained the men with demon-sealing vines. These were made from the thorn vine feet I had crafted earlier in the workshop, and had the same effect as Demon-Sealing Chains. Unlike usual, I credited Kuro instead of Nameless as the maker this time.