Chapter 129
The outsiders were slowly approaching us with a severity that made my skin tingle.
Most of the outsiders near Rondan were genuinely serious about killing people.
I wasn’t sure if it was for fun or hatred, but looking at their vicious expressions, it seemed like the latter.
Maybe it was because they were often encroached upon by others.
…Could it also be because the ‘Killer Outsider Woman’ was nearby?
Anyway, the chances of getting close to those outsiders were rapidly approaching zero.
Then there was no choice but to subdue them.
“Just nice, there are exactly three. Let’s each take one down.”
The God of War grinned as he looked at them.
It was a face that perfectly reflected his personality of finding joy in fighting.
It was hard to believe he could be entertained after fighting so fiercely against outsiders until yesterday.
Could he really be a descendant of the Vikings?
“Finally, I can have a nice, peaceful fight!”
After spouting the contradictory phrase of ‘peaceful’ and ‘fight’, the God of War rushed forward with heavy footsteps.
Despite being filled with muscles, it was incredible how quickly he could move with such a hefty body.
“We’re going too!”
“Yeah.”
Muyun said that to me after seeing the God of War charge ahead, and I instinctively took off after him.
As soon as the outsiders saw our movements, they took battle stances and started throwing shurikens at us.
Were they ninjas this time?
I suddenly thought that the outsiders seemed much trendier than the Knights of Rondan.
The shurikens didn’t reach us.
That was because the God of War swung his formidable axe around, deflecting them all.
“How cowardly to act like this! Let’s fight fair, you punks!”
When the shurikens stopped flying, the God of War ‘took off.’
Literally, he leaped gracefully, staying airborne for an unusually long time.
In an instant, the distance between the God of War and the outsiders closed, before they even had a chance to react.
“Hahaha! Come at me, outsider punks!”
The God of War flung his dull axe over his head and brought it crashing down.
With that grand motion, the outsiders immediately scrambled to get out of the way.
Kabam!
With a distinctive sound effect, a sizable crater formed where the God of War had struck down.
“What, what the heck?!”
“Aside from that blackened guy, where did such a strong human come from?!”
“This is seriously strange! Is this a joke?!”
Voices filled with worldly sorrow rang out, but in the end, they were just a bunch of wimps massacring weaker opponents.
Seems like I picked out some nasty outsiders again.
“Don’t run away! Fight back!”
“Eek!”
The outsiders felt terror at the sight of the God of War twisting his body and charging straight at them after such a powerful strike.
But it wasn’t just the God of War among humans.
“Hyah!”
Now, having shaken off most of her fear, Muyun charged at the terrified outsiders, swinging a huge toy axe.
The latecomer outsider dodged Muyun’s attack.
But.
“Ahhh!”
The outsider screamed as he clutched his severed arm.
I clearly saw that he had dodged Muyun’s attack.
“Muyun, you used Meditatio…!”
“Yeah…!”
When I looked at Muyun in shock, she smiled proudly and brought her fists together.
Muyun had really gotten much stronger in my absence.
As expected of the God of War’s daughter, her learning speed was remarkable.
Muyun looked at the God of War with sparkling eyes, but.
“Hahaha!”
…For some reason, the God of War was completely engrossed in fighting the outsiders, without even glancing at Muyun.
I could see her feeling awkward from my position.
Strange.
I thought the God of War would never refuse any fight for the sake of Rondan and his daughter.
Yet his attitude now seemed fixated solely on the fight.
A powerhouse like the God of War couldn’t possibly miss her Meditatio.
“Hah! This is the last one!”
Ultimately, having cornered the outsider, the God of War spun an axe in the air and struck down.
To the side.
“Cough.”
I heard the outsider’s breath stop.
It hadn’t even been five minutes since the fight started.
As expected of his reputation, the God of War was incredibly strong.
“Ah, yeah! This is the kick!”
For now, we should finish what we were doing.
It seemed that Muyun also realized this, swallowing her disappointment and focusing on hunting outsiders.
“God of War-senpai.”
“Hmm?”
“Muyun just used Meditatio.”
“What?!”
After all the fighting was over and we were on our way back to the entrance of Rondan, I spoke to the God of War in a slightly sulky tone.
Only then did he look over at Muyun with a shocked expression.
“Are you serious?!”
“Yeah, she took down the outsider right next to you, God of War-senpai.”
“Ugh, how did I miss that?!”
The God of War smacked his forehead with his palm and walked over to Muyun, placing a hand on each of her shoulders.
“Our daughter has already reached that level?! At this rate, she might surpass the White Mask!”
“F-father… it’s not that much.”
“Really, I feel like crying! I’m really good at raising kids….”
Saying that, the God of War burst into tears as tears streamed from his eyes.
Seeing that, Muyun awkwardly smiled and tried to comfort him.
Hmm.
However, there was something inherently unnatural about this sight.
Like, it felt as though he was doing it out of obligation.
We arrived at the Knights Headquarters and, after reporting to the Deputy Director, disbanded.
But after confirming that the God of War and Muyun had left, I subtly slipped back and approached the Deputy Director.
“Huh? Tanton, what’s the matter?”
The Deputy Director tilted his head and looked at me curiously.
“Well, it’s just that seeing God of War-senpai fight was incredible.”
“That guy fights with such flair; it must look spectacular for the spectators.”
I tossed out a question that seemed a little probing, and the Deputy Director responded with a satisfied smile.
“Considering your fighting style, you’ll grow up to have that kind of flair too. There’s no need to envy him.”
“Haha, you’re too kind.”
Suddenly feeling bashful at the praise, I could feel my face get hot.
Even so, it seemed nearly impossible to genuinely become as strong as them.
“Well, come to think of it, you have a lot in common with the God of War. Unlike us, who casually kill outsiders, the God of War has a philosophy of showing mercy by swiftly ending the suffering of those poor outsiders he deems worthy.”
Huh?
Hearing the Deputy Director’s last comment, I couldn’t help but raise a question mark.
He kills neatly to put them out of their misery?
“This time, he struck down with an axe to the side.”
“What? That can’t be true. He wouldn’t drag out the operational time when he couldn’t strike at their neck.”
The Deputy Director said this with a surprised expression, but what I saw was the God of War looking satisfied while striking the outsider’s side.
The Deputy Director, listening to me, propped his chin with his finger and then suddenly nodded as if realizing something.
“Well, he’s been fighting alone against outsiders for so long. In a life-threatening situation, he had to have picked the utmost efficiency.”
Maybe it was because he was a friend, but the Deputy Director looked at the closed door where the God of War had gone with a hint of sympathy.
To choose extreme efficiency to protect one’s life.
If the God of War had the same mindset as me.
I certainly wouldn’t have made such a choice.
“Ah, Tanton!”
“Muyun?”
The God of War went off somewhere, and Muyun remained alone in front of the Hearth.
“Did you not return with your father?”
“Well, I have something to say.”
Muyun fidgeted with her fingers, looking a bit shy as her lips moved here and there.
Has she finally made up her mind?
With a nervous gaze, she looked at me.
“Um! Thank you for earlier.”
“For what?”
“…It seems I was happy to go on a mission with my father, whom I had wanted to see for so long, and I wanted to keep receiving praise from him. I wanted to thank you for saying that to help fulfill my feelings.”
Ah.
That.
“I thought my father didn’t see my attack, but saying it out loud felt too boastful… so hearing it from you made it easier!”
…That’s not it.
For sure, the God of War must’ve seen Muyun’s attack.
There’s no way he wouldn’t have seen Meditatio from that angle.
Not knowing that, Muyun was merely conveying her thanks to me.
“…No. It was nothing.”
“…If you keep being so kind, I’ll feel embarrassed….”
“Yeah?”
“Ah, never mind! I’m going now!”
Muyun muttered something alone and suddenly looked startled, starting to run off somewhere.
As I watched her back, I thought to myself.
I’ll definitely have to investigate a bit more.
For Muyun’s safety, at the very least.