CH 56

[If You Want to Make Money]

I want a lot of money to repay my debt. And if possible, I want to settle it at once.

Now then, what is the way to make a lot of money in one go?

The answer is simple and clear, ‘you just have to get it from a place that have money’.

However, if you were to act on such a simple answer without thinking deeply, you would arrive at ‘bank robbery’; if you were to do such a thing, you would be chased by the knight order all around the clock, and you wouldn’t be able to raise your level satisfactorily.

If you were to commit a crime, you would definitely get a retribution one day.

The timid me wouldn’t be able to stand something like continuing to be in fear while striving to raise my level.

“The problem is in the justifiability.” (Sakurai)

In society, the people who rob banks are said to be ‘evil’ because the money in there is ‘the clean and pure one that the virtuous citizens have obtained with their sweats and hard work in a just way’. There’s no denying that.

‘Steal’ it.

There is no justification for making money through illegal means, such a thing is, of course, a stupid act of picking a fight with people from many sides and inviting a flood of criticism.

Then, what if the act is justifiable?

What if it is humane, ethical, and for protecting order?

Although I only happened to hear it, it was said that the rewards of medieval knights used to be ‘looting’.

I heard that the rewards they obtained from their lords were insignificant, and that the knights who knew the value of their lives on the battlefield used the property of the enemy country as their source of income to make success in life.

From the enemy’s point of view, they were probably nothing but a bunch of looters and fiends.

However, they were treated as prestigious ‘knights’ in their own country.

Because in the country to which the knights belong, their looting had ‘justifiability’.

Going to the battlefield to protect order (country), wielding their swords in accordance to ethics, and managing the ‘stolen’ things humanely.

I think it’s rather forced theory, but by putting on a veil called ‘justifiable’, fiendish and brutish acts can be approved by society.

Justifiability, in turn, ‘for justice’, such a just cause is one of the most vicious and terrifying weapons produced by humankind.

But I end up wielding such a weapon. Because I want money.

Fortunately, the antisocial force, that is the ‘Black Sword’, are full of bad guys.

So, when I remembered about the ‘Black Sword’ from the poster of the opera house, I decided to triumphantly secure ‘support funds’ by borrowing the name of ‘justice’ in order to eradicate the antisocial force.

“I see. Certainly, if you know the location of our base and everything goes well, you’ll be able get a lot of money.” (Luisina)

“Both running the organization and researching the demonization technology require money after all. And if we’re talking about a place where money gather, then there’s no better place than there.” (Sakurai)

As we’re acting out a fight, Luisina and I secretly continue our conversation.

When we trade blows, we are able to have a secret talk without being heard by outsiders thanks to the sound of the play-fight.

“So? I get that you’re leading the drawing of this plan, but you’re by no means carrying it out alone, aren’t you?” (Luisina)

“Well, in terms of number and quality of the personnel, I’ve got them all covered. But I can’t tell you who they are.” (Sakurai)

“When it comes to people that you can contact and move in short notice, then there’s nothing but the people from the Adventurers or the Thieves Guild. If you had contacted the other organizations, I’d have got the wind of it, as I’ve already had them under my control.” (Luisina)

“Now that you mention it, you’ve already had the dignitaries under your control, huh.” (Sakurai)

As Luisina says, there’s no way I can carry out this plan alone. Since I’m going to attack the enemy’s base, I won’t be able to succeed unless I have an appropriate number of skilled people.

So, I recruited cooperators as I did in the Netherworld.

Then, I gave information to the Thieves Guild who put a bounty on Yang; in order to get their help, I asserted the danger posed by the ‘Black Sword’ and that ‘Yang will definitely appear’.

As the Thieves Guild had their comrades killed by Yang and lost face many times until now, they made me promised them to capture him by all means as the payment.

Moreover, when I talked about the ‘Black Sword’ that was helping him, they gladly promised to help out with the assault plan.

Well, in the process, there was a fuss about me having to show my ability and the accuracy of the information, but… I’m the disciple of the ‘Sword Saint’, remember? I was able to have my way with that established reputation and ‘Fake・Sword Saint’s Slash’.

Viva authoritarianism! As long as I’m benefitted from it, it is the best ideological system.

“There are various detailed arrangements on that side, but well, you’re not related to it, so no worries.” (Sakurai)

“Indeed. So, what’s in it for me for acting out this play?” (Luisina)

“After you hide until things cool down, you’ll be free. I’ll give you temporary living expense, and if you like, I’ll also teach you ‘Disguise’ and ‘Stealth’ skills. Above all, after that, you will basically receive no interference.” (Sakurai)

“Who in the world could guarantee that, I wonder? Don’t tell me a mere student like you could?” (Luisina)

“I can promise it, but as for whether you could keep hold of it, it is up to you, though.” (Sakurai)

Except for the parts that had changed due to the game turning into a reality, I’m confident that I’m unrivaled in terms of ‘information’ of this world.

Especially geography, terrains, dungeon maps and the hidden rooms in them. Items and skills in the stages following after the ‘Netherworld’.

Excluding the parts that involve people such as the storyline, most knowledge and information will most likely continue to be usable even from here on out.

“I mean, I’m able to prepare the option for you to head towards your second life. I can give you an advantage at the starting point toward the future. However, from there, it is up to your own effort to reach your goal.” (Sakurai)

The moment I tell her so, Luisina’s attack becomes more intense.

Her arms, which elongate and contract along with her whipping, split up from the middle, and a huge ‘fan’ formed by the combination of 20 enlarged arms sweeps the stage.

“Whoops——!” (Sakurai)

When I avoid it with a big jump by making use of threads, the ‘fan’ lay on the stage, before fists grow out of it, shooting at me floating in the air like homing missiles.

“Shishū’ – ‘Shimatsu: Bullet Strand-Shot!” (Sakurai)

Although the thread bullets intercept the incoming fists, they only manage to slightly deviate them from their trajectory due to the difference in power and mass.

However, the slight deviation of the fists created a big gap; having connected to one of the thread bullets I shot, I thrust my body into that gap while accelerating at the speed of a warhead and land on top of the ‘fan’.

“Flame Sword, ‘Firefall’!” (Sakurai)

The fists that lost their target bend perpendicularly many times, and then come at me from overhead.

On the other hand, I swing my flame-cladded sword underfoot, before the diffused flames bursting upwards. The flame pillar that gushes upwards swallows the incoming fists and burns them.

“Whoah!?” (Sakurai)

The flesh under my feet transforms into a number of babies’ arms, reaching for my feet.

In response to that, I jump to the side while swinging my sword, but there appears Luisina who have cut off the part of her arm that connected to the ‘fan’, dashing my way.

Although her momentum is broken due to the slash of ‘Shishū’ I released, and her limbs are cut off by the slashes of ‘Shimatsu: Fraying Cut’, they are regenerated at the next moment, allowing her to maintain her dash.

“I can take that as your answer, right!?” (Sakurai)

While being impressed at the far too inhuman, demon-kin-like attack tactics, I cry so.

In response, Luisina makes an aggressive smile, molds her regenerated right arm as hard and sharp as a spear, and swings it heavily, shooting it, along with her body, at me.

Her speed exceeds the speed of sound.

Luisina, having turned into a huge spear, breaks through the sound barrier, and the impact of when she takes off blasts the stage and the lump of meat that had become a ‘fan’ lying on it.

However, at the end of the day, Luisina is an opera singer.

In battle, no matter how high your status is, if you have no foundation to make use of it, you could easily be dealt with. I have already learned that from personal experience.

Having saw through her trajectory when she took throwing posture, I move my body ahead of time, avoiding in advance the normal attack that ‘only fly straight ahead’.

After that, while leaning a little and avoiding Luisina, not missing the split moment when she and I intersect, I——

“‘Fake ・ Sword Saint’s Slash’!” (Sakurai)

——Cut her torso in half.

Luisina, split into two, rolls on the stage while spraying out blood.

Her upper body disappears into the wing of the stage, and her lower body dissolves into ashes.

The remains of the ‘fan’ lying on the stage also disappears, and the people who had turned into mobs begin to lose consciousness and collapse one after another. Those facts point to the ‘death’ of the demon-kin Luisina.

“Phew, it’s over. Now then, let’s go to the next target.” (Sakurai)

I use the pamphlet of the opera that had fallen nearby to wipe the blood on my sword and throw it away.

Then I think about the opponents who would likely run away with the defeat of Luisina and go to the wing of the stage in order to leave the opera house.