Published: September 2, 2025
Warning! A creepy-talking enemy appears in this chapter. If you’re not good with it, please skip.
Revised version as of 4/23.
Typo corrections made on 8/16.
This is Satou speaking. I’m not good with horror movies.
Ghosts and spirits don’t scare me, but the terrified expressions on the characters’ faces are truly frightening.
â—‡
The enemy suddenly appeared—it came from the direction where the Owl was just now.
From the shadows behind the Owl arose a figure in a black robe. The hood and the long sleeves concealed the face.
“I have come to fetch you, Mia.”
Mia, standing beside me, shuddered.
“…No.”
This hunched man must be a magician. The Owl perched on his shoulder—was it a pet or a familiar?
I stepped to shield Mia behind me and checked his status. His name was Zen, a high level 41. Skill—“Unknown.”
I had a bad feeling. Was he an ally of Arisa or the hero?
As I anxiously read further—what?! There was information that seemed equivalent in importance to the “Unknown” skill.
Mia trembled behind me.
I grasped the details. If he goes all out, everyone but me is in danger. I must handle this carefully. It seems impossible, but if possible, I want to resolve this through negotiation.
“Nice to meet you, Magician. I am Satou, a merchant.”
“I have no business with a mere merchant.”
The magician seemed uninterested in introductions.
Looking down on merchants, or just lacking social skills? Probably both.
“Even if you don’t need her, I am protecting this girl. I can’t hand her over to a suspicious person.”
“Hmph, you seem emboldened by your skilled mercenaries, but if you defy me, I won’t hesitate to spill blood.”
The magician, still hunched, thrust his staff toward me.
“No! Master, he’s too strong!”
Arisa warned from behind.
“I am the great King of the Night. It’s fine to know your place, but there is no reason for trash like you to call me that.”
Uh-oh, the magician’s attention shifted to Arisa.
“■■■■■――”
He muttered something and began chanting a spell toward Arisa.
I didn’t want to leave Mia’s side, but I had no choice. I dashed forward and struck him in the solar plexus.
Yet, my strike did not stop his chant. My fist went through his robe but met no resistance. Was this his unique skill?
“—Shadow Whip”
His spell completed, the shadow at his feet stretched upward like a whip, lunging spear-like at Arisa. So this was the shadow whip.
I backstepped to put distance between us and inserted myself between Arisa and the whip.
I blocked its path with my whole body. The whip coiled around me, causing a faint tingling pain.
] “Shadow Magic Skill acquired.”
] “Shadow Resistance Skill acquired.”
Shadow resistance? What’s that?
Ah, my scientific instincts are once again denying the fantasy.
But practicality outweighs such doubts.
It feels like resistance skills only make a minor difference, but now I must do whatever I can to protect Mia.
I allocated points to Shadow Resistance and activated it.
â—‡
“Hmph, incredible physical technique. Are you really a merchant?”
“My friends call me the nimble merchant.”
From behind us, I heard Arisa’s quiet mutter.
“It’s no use, as I thought… (….) It doesn’t work.”
During the magician’s chant, Arisa counterattacked without a spell, but her magic power dropped. Maybe it was resisted—the magician showed no sign of change.
“To risk your body to protect a woman from my attack is admirable.”
“If you’re so impressed, why don’t you back off?”
“That’s unrelated. Mia is necessary for my purpose.”
I finally broke free from the shadow whip’s binding. Though it only tingled and caused little damage, the whip felt intangible, making it hard to remove. Yet it had the strange power to bind.
“What is your purpose?”
“No reason to tell you. If you want to save Mia, bring the hero.”
“Do you bear a grudge against the hero?”
The magician didn’t answer, only laughed while looking up.
In response, countless shadow whips rose from the shadows beneath his feet. Was the previous spell’s effect still active?