Chapter 278 - A Clash of Pure Resolve
Paula and the Fifth Combat Unit were left to deal with the enemies descending from the first-floor lobby and the elevators, while Valeria, Liliane, and I, along with the members of the Ninth Combat Unit, quietly ascended the stairs.
The chaotic destruction we spread with our every step lured the enemies closer. The combat unit girls marching ahead splattered blood as they tore off limbs and felled their foes.
There’s no point in hiding. With our magic sensing abilities, not a single one will escape. Whenever we reach a floor, the members quickly check it, ready to sever an arm or a leg.
Anyone foolish enough to try to run is met with Liliane’s magic, which blasts their legs off.
Valeria and I haven’t had a chance to join in yet.
We ascended the long, winding staircase of the grand hotel without breaking a sweat, and when we reached the top floor, the guards were effortlessly swept aside.
We didn’t just face the guards in the hallway; some of our members broke through walls to attack those hiding inside, turning the luxurious hotel interior into a mess.
“Which one looks like the boss?”
“Shall I capture one and ask, Onee-sama?”
“It doesn’t matter who we attack, does it? We’re not here to talk. Alright, Liliane and the Ninth Combat Unit, you handle the rest of this floor.”
“The back floor will be handled by Yukarinowe?”
“I’ll take care of that. I need to let off some steam. Valeria, you cover my back.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
We parted ways with Liliane’s group, and I focused on the path ahead, entrusting my rear to Valeria.
A horde of enemies awaited us, their murderous intent palpable. Their eagerness was commendable.
“What the hell are you guys!?”
“Who the hell do you think you are!?”
“You’re underestimating the Halmstad Family!”
I ignored the low-ranking foes, knowing that the terror of an unknown, overwhelmingly powerful enemy would be etched into their memories.
As I advanced, ignoring the various shouted questions, an impatient one launched a magic attack.
“Let’s finish this!”
“Die, brat!”
“Hey!”
It was a low-level fire spell. I didn’t expect anyone to use fire indoors. What an idiot.
I planned to torch the hotel eventually, but it was too early for that. To avoid the fire spreading, I caught the fireball in my special gloves and crushed it.
If the guy had fired off several more, I might have struggled. I quickly closed the distance and firmly grabbed his outstretched arm.
The vice-like grip left him blue-faced before he could even protest, and his attempts to break free were futile. Once caught, there was no escape.
“Gah, gaaaaah!”
I ignored his piercing scream, twisted his arm, and kicked him in the gut, tearing the limb from his body.
I tossed the severed arm aside and prepared to move on.
As I approached my next target, a more perceptive one charged ahead. Their initiative was commendable.
He wielded a spear and charged at me with a fierce thrust, aiming for my chest.
I deflected the spear tip with a casual hand movement, stepping forward with all my might. The difference in strength was glaring.
My front kick targeted his supporting leg, the knee of which he had braced for the thrust. My heavy boot struck with the force of a cannonball.
The result was clear.
His leg snapped at the knee, the broken bone flying out and hitting another man in the gut, knocking him down.
The man who lost his leg, still struggling to understand what happened, collapsed and stared at me in shock through his sunglasses.
What a pitiful sight.
If any of our combat unit members were in his position, they would continue fighting despite losing a limb or sustaining a mortal wound. They wouldn’t go down without a fight.
Just one severe blow and he was done. This level of weakness and lack of resolve means he doesn’t deserve to stand before me.
The enemies witnessed this display of overwhelming power and their bold shouts turned to silence. They realized they were in over their heads, even if they didn’t know who we were.
Their unease and hesitation were palpable, but it didn’t matter. We were here to exact our revenge.
I moved before they could beg for mercy.
I moved swiftly, without any unnecessary flourish.
I approached an enemy, grabbed his arm, and crushed it, tearing it off. I used the severed limb to knock him down.
Feel the pain and fear in your bones!
I didn’t finish them off, though. I was being merciful to those who were trying to kill me. They should be grateful.
Since I hadn’t killed anyone, I should have kept an eye on my back, but Valeria had my back, so I could focus on the task ahead. It’s a good feeling to have a reliable ally.
I continued down the hallway, severing arms and legs, then moved on to the rooms. I didn’t bother with doors; I crashed through walls and did the same inside, indulging in my violent urges.
I eventually reached a particularly large room. Just as I was about to repeat the process, a voice caught my attention.
“Hold it!”
The commanding voice made me pause.
It belonged to a middle-aged man with a scarred, tough face, typical of someone in the underworld. He was the Underboss, Bratocel Halmstad. A high-ranking target, indeed.
“I’m the Underboss of the Halmstad Family, Bratocel Halmstad. Who are you, woman?”
Sitting casually on a sofa, he exuded a commanding presence. The Underboss is just below the top, a position of great responsibility. This was a significant catch.
Since he had introduced himself, I should do the same. I turned to him, showing off the gleaming Kikyo Society badge on its gold pedestal, and removed my sunglasses to glare at him.
“I am Shinogami Nijō-Ōhashi of the Kikyo Society.”
“The Kikyo Society…? What business do you have here?”
He seemed to have heard of us, at least in passing.
I would ignore lesser foes, but this one was in a position of authority and deserved an answer.
“What business? The Ljungberg Family was our target. We came here to settle the score for stealing our prey. I won’t take your lives, but I will make you suffer.”
As I spoke, I grabbed the nearest man’s arm and twisted it with a sickening crack.
“You, you heretic!”
Sure enough, the Underboss’s guards, who were close to the heir, charged at me without hesitation.
Valeria moved first, taking down the enemies on her side. I kicked the others back, a brutal and highly effective move.
Valeria’s lightning-fast kicks and knife thrusts incapacitated five or six men before they could even take a step. My casual kicks shattered the legs and ribs of several others. The skill gap was evident.
A rational person would realize their fate was sealed by this exchange.
“To make up for your interference, I’m taking an arm or a leg from each of you. You can heal with magic, so try to endure.”
I said it easily, though I knew it wouldn’t be that simple.
They understood they couldn’t win, even in numbers, and that we wouldn’t show mercy. Facing just two young women, they were humiliated and their pride shattered.
Donditch, unlike Exembra, had no group of fierce female warriors. Being on the receiving end of such treatment must have been especially galling. Their pride and the very survival of their organization were at stake.
Many of them were seething with rage, and a few were determined to fight to the death. Yet, the overwhelming display of magic from Valeria and me dominated the room. Even the most foolish understood the power we wielded.
Violence is the language of those who stand, and it’s straightforward enough.
Feel the gap in strength. Imprint the existence of the Kikyo Society in your minds.
As I prepared to carry out my threat, I noticed the Underboss reaching for a short dagger. I thought he might be desperate, but he slammed the dagger into the floor.
“Take me! Take my life as payment. Then you’ll have no complaints!”
“Bratocel!”
“What are you saying? Stop!”
His subordinates tried to stop him, but the Underboss seemed sincere.
I was secretly impressed by his unexpected offer.
He must have been boiling with rage, but he made a rational decision for the survival of the organization. He judged that sacrificing himself was the best course of action.
If he were to bear the blame for this disaster, he might as well die today. But it takes courage to make such a decision, a trait I respected.
A self-centered person would have been helpless. I said I wouldn’t kill, so they should just let him do it and survive. But that’s not enough to lead an organization. If they showed any weakness, they would be immediately ousted. This man had the courage to make a difficult decision.
He didn’t flinch at my display of power and returned my glare with a fierce one of his own.
He was a man of resolve, willing to sacrifice himself to avoid further conflict.
I respected a man with such determination. Had we met under different circumstances, we might have had a better relationship.
A single action can change the course of things.
I walked through the tense room and picked up the dagger.
The blade, housed in a leather sheath, was about the length from my elbow to my wrist—too long to be a knife, too short to be a sword. I tested it and found it to be a well-used tool.
The movement of drawing the blade made the others uneasy.
I kicked a man who tried to move, and Valeria immediately barked an order.
“Stay put, sit down!”
He commanded his subordinates to obey, and they reluctantly complied.
“Valeria, tell Liliane and Paula to return to the rendezvous point. Call off the attack. I’ll be there soon.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll wait downstairs.”
It was too late to stop now, but it was a gesture of goodwill to those risking their lives to protect the Underboss.
“Do it quickly!”
I stood in front of the Underboss, who remained seated on the sofa, arms crossed, glaring at me.
What should I do?
Killing him could cause the Halmstad Family to fall apart, but they might recover and become our enemies. A direct confrontation would be futile, but they would know the risks and continue to harass us.
Crushing an organization in another country is a massive undertaking. The effort and unpredictable factors make it a daunting task. Bringing such a situation back would be disastrous.
It’s best to resolve this here. Creating a debt might be the best approach.
“Don’t move a muscle…”
I stood in front of the Underboss, dagger in hand.
Despite my blade pressing against his open mouth, he didn’t flinch. He was a man of incredible resolve. If I pushed it further, it would pierce his throat and damage his medulla oblongata, killing him even with healing magic.
His gaze remained strong, free of fear. I admired his courage. Could I be as composed in his situation?
A man prepared to die is strong, with a clear sense of purpose. But it seemed only he had such resolve. If the entire Halmstad Family were like this, our response might have been different.
His resolve was genuine, and I had my own considerations.
Let’s end this on a good note.
I pressed the blade into his mouth, but instead of thrusting it in, I dragged it horizontally, cutting his cheek and causing heavy bleeding.
Throughout, the Underboss’s gaze never wavered. He didn’t scream, only let out a slight groan.
His courage was truly admirable. Even I might have been intimidated.
I discarded the dagger, put on my sunglasses, and left the room without a word.
“Bratocel!”
Priority was given to treating the injured. No one dared to attack me as I left. They knew I was letting them go, and any interference would undermine the Underboss’s sacrifice.
I was impressed by his resolve and felt a bit better.
I walked through the blood-soaked hallway, took the elevator down, and returned to the parking lot.
In the story, the protagonist considers the extent of the damage inflicted by the Halmstad Family and decides to settle the matter this way.
The attack was aimed at restoring balance, not causing irreparable damage. The protagonist believes this is a fair form of retribution.
This is the end of the Donditch arc, but the story may provide additional context.
And I’ll take a slight detour on my way back. It shouldn’t take long.