CH 160.1

Chapter 160.1. The Goddess Of New Year’s Eve

-Nagamasa’s POV-

“Y-Yes, you’re right. It’s easy to understand. I think the guide is probably around here somewhere.”

She said, turning towards Nagamasa and pretending to scan the surroundings nonchalantly.

Whether the guide was trapped in the shadow of the car or if there was a lifeless body lying there, her attitude gave no indication.

There was no sign of the timid and submissive girl from before, and her eyes were devoid of emotion. It was as if she was answering detachedly as if Nagamasa wasn’t even there.

Nagamasa speculated that this creepy behavior was part of the girl’s act, psychological warfare before the battle.

Those eyes that looked at me as if I was a mere insect to be crushed would not be her true nature.

I thrust out my fist and crouched down, preparing myself.

“Are they pursuers? Have they realized that I’m still alive?”

Nagamasa thought they exposed his faked death. And they pursued him.

A smug smile crept across my face as I sensed the atmosphere of the impending battle. I could see countless red lights shimmering in the darkness around me, emanating a palpable sense of murderous intent.

He would kill his pursuers and crush their traps, showing them the power of Nagamasa-sama. If they discovered my faked death, I should be running away. I wouldn’t be able to kill Takano-something. But if they came to capture or kill me. They were undoubtedly highly skilled magicians.

If I defeated them, the world would know my power and threat, and people would fear me. When the chaotic era of confusion arrived, I would overthrow the Royal Family, subjugate the nobility, and stand as the new Emperor.

Nagamasa believed that he could do it with his power and the power of Nidhogg.

“Haah… um, who might you be? A monkey? A gorilla?”

Unexpectedly, the girl showed no interest and responded as if she already knew something about him, which was not the reaction Nagamasa had anticipated.

“What?! Weren’t you waiting for me, Genshin Nagamasa, to show up? Didn’t you come to capture me, the future hero who will conquer Japan?”

Nagamasa shouted with humiliation and anger, but something seemed to have touched a nerve in the girl’s heart. She narrowed her eyes slightly and finally showed a hint of interest.

“A hero? I see. If you’re a hero, then that’s a different story. Let’s see if you’re worth my attention.”

The girl said, raising one hand, and the surrounding darkness stirred with a rustling sound. Then, something began to move.

“Now, show me the power of a hero.”

A quiet voice echoed, and waves of countless murderous intents assaulted Nagamasa.

“Tsk, just some unknown fools. They’re nothing special.”

Nagamasa thought, shaking off the slight fear that had crept into his heart. I dismissed it as my imagination and focused on the approaching enemies with renewed determination.

The enemies approached, crawling along the ground, standing about a meter tall, their red eyes gleaming. They wielded scythe-like weapons and closed the distance between them and Nagamasa instantly.

And then, the true form of those beings emerged from the darkness.

“Chichichichi…”

“Chichichichi…”

“Chichichichi…”

With a sound reminiscent of glass being scraped, a faint streetlight from outside casts its reflection. It reveals a figure with shining red compound eyes, a spiky jet-black exoskeleton, multiple legs moving rapidly with a clattering sound, sharp-bladed scythes on its front legs, and a clicking, pointed jaw.

It was a Shadow Mantis. It was a demonic mantis, an otherworldly creature that didn’t exist in the natural realm, approaching like a raging storm from the darkness.

“It’s shadow mantises! Be careful!”

One of my companions notices their true identity and shouts, preparing their short sword to confront it.

Shadow mantis is a monster that lurks in the darkness, concealing its presence. It strikes with its scythe before its target can react, killing and devouring its prey. They have magic and physical prowess, making them a formidable opponent even skilled adventurers cannot defeat head-on.

There were 12 of us, but there was likely a hundred Shadow Mantises. Engulfed by the swarm of mantises, we would get devoured without a trace.

That is what would have happened to an ordinary adventurer.

However, the companions of Nagamasa were not ordinary.

[Hailstones]

The man at the front generates countless hailstones and attacks Shadow Mantises. The ice projectiles pierce through the mantis’s exoskeleton, blowing them away.

[Flying Blades]

Other companions swing their short swords in a sweeping motion, creating wind blades several meters long that cut through multiple shadow mantises.

With no signs of panic, the companions calmly defeat the approaching shadow mantises using their magic and martial techniques.

“Disappointed? Was it different from what you expected? My comrades here aren’t just average fighters!”

Nagamasa boasts and crosses his arms, seemingly enjoying watching his companions battle.

Although Nagamasa refers to them as his comrades, they are the elite forces of Nidhogg. Nagamasa unilaterally calls them his companions and envisions them as his future subordinates.

They accompanied him to assist with his mission to kill Takano something, disabling surveillance cameras and destroying magical detection devices.

Promoted as the assassination squad of Nidhogg, their power surpasses that of lower-ranking nobles in terms of magic and skill.

Even when the Shadow Mantises shoot dark projectiles and approach with their scythes, they create defensive barriers to intercept the dark projectiles, easily deflect the swinging scythes with their short swords, and counterattack by tearing shadow mantises apart.

“I see. In that case, let me show you a bit of my power too”

Facing shadow mantises being defeated one after another, the girl remains composed, her expression calm, as she casually waves her hand again.

[Monster Command]

“Dance for me, my beloved children.”

Her eyes filled with a glass-like, emotionless light, the girl commands in a voice that conveys no emotion.