Kays Translations

Chapter 68: The Villainous Aristocrat, Scratch and Snatch

It's a sudden thing, but water technology is not very developed in this world.

Even though there is magic, or rather, because there is magic, technological development is difficult.

In that regard, this sacred city is amazing.

It's an ancient city that has existed since before the concept of countries was born in this world, and its technological prowess would have been outstanding even in ancient times.

The underground waterway of the sacred city is also one of its relics.

"It's dark, dirty, and stinks - the three Ks."

"There are even monsters like giant rats living here. I'm not a fan, to be honest."

The underground waterway of the sacred city is terrifyingly vast.

Every few years, someone who enters for cleaning purposes gets lost and can't return.

Judge and I were in that underground waterway.

"So, is it true that there's a weapon here that could potentially destroy the world?"

"Yeah, I saw it to some extent. And it seems they've been testing it experimentally. It still seemed incomplete, but it's something that could potentially destroy the world. I don't know more than that."

"Why did you invite me?"

"You'll understand when you see it for yourself. Anyway, I need you. That's what I saw in my vision of the future."

"Saw, huh? Precognition magic is convenient, huh? I'll give you a bit of transcription enhancement, so show me."

"No way. If someone copied my only magic that I can be proud of, I wouldn't be able to stand it."

Judge, like Lynette, can use unique magic.

That unique magic is called precognition magic, and well, the name says it all.

It's a cheat-level unique magic that allows one to predict events that will happen in the future.

"Even so, I can't handle it completely. Honestly, it's a magic beyond my capacity."

"Why?"

"Precognition magic narrows down one future from countless possibilities. In other words, the future I see is absolutely going to happen. There's no avoiding it."

Hmm, I see.

"So, if you see a future where you die tomorrow, you're definitely going to die?"

"Yes, no matter what I do. For example, if I were to see a future where a meteorite falls all over the world one second from now..."

"It's actually going to fall?"

"Yes."

"That's too much of a nuisance."

"That's why I don't use it too often."

Without hesitation, they marked a landmark at a turning point while progressing through the underground sewer.

It happened yesterday.

Judge, a colleague of Linette who had cut off my limbs, approached me seeking cooperation.

Naturally, Judge is on the side of the magical beings.

Even though we're both reincarnated individuals, I don't intend to let my guard down or become friends with them.

However, if it's said that the world, both humans and magical beings together, will perish if things continue like this, temporary cooperation becomes unavoidable.

"By the way, do you know who the culprit is?"

"I haven't seen that far."

"Hmm."

It's a magic that confirms a specific future from countless possibilities.

Just hearing about it makes it sound like the ultimate cheat, but it's incredibly difficult to handle.

I'd like to somehow enhance just the part of seeing the future.

"Hmm, be careful. I hear footsteps."

"There are people in this underground sewer?"

"...Hmm, let me check for a moment."

Judge falls silent.

"Oh, uh, it's like..."

"What? What did you see?"

"Well, it's that. Are you okay with Biohazards?"

"Huh, why the sudden question?"

"No, sorry. Parasitic creatures or something like that, anything around there. Are you okay?"

"I'm not exactly fond of them. Well, it's not that I dislike them, but I wouldn't want to see them alone."

"...Hmm. In that case, let's go back the way we came with all our might. It's better not to see. I'm not too keen on it either."

Saying that, Judge turned back.

No, what did he see? If he phrases it like that, it's bound to make me curious.

While Judge had his back to me, I glanced briefly behind.

"Vaah!"

"Huh!"

Air leaked from my lungs.

What stood ahead, where I turned to look, was something in the shape of a person.

I described it as "something" because the figure was too grotesque to be called a person.

Its face was split in a cross.

In the center of the face, which opened like a flower, countless spines resembling an octopus's beak grew.

"Uwaaaahhh!! What's that, it's disgusting!"

"I told you not to look, didn't I?! Why are you looking!?"

“I got curious!! Wait a minute! There are more ahead!!”

New grotesque monsters appeared in our direction.

Judge stopped in his tracks.

"We're surrounded..."

"Uooohh!! Don't come this way!! Take some holy water!!"

I threw holy water that I had bought in the sacred city at the monsters.

However, for some reason, the monsters didn't flinch at all and continued to approach us.

"Holy water isn't working...? They're not undead?"

"What do we do, Judge?! Do you think it's okay to shoot and kill them!?"

"No, let's not. I want to capture them. Can you aim for their limbs?"

"Got it!"

I took a revolver-style pistol from the magic bag and shot at the limbs of the grotesque monsters.

Although it was a non-lethal slime bullet, I successfully shattered the limbs of the monsters in front and behind.

They shouldn't be able to move now...

"Oh no, they're crawling towards us!! Are these real zombie monsters!?"

"No, this is... not undead."

With the grotesque monsters immobilized, Judge approached.

I also observed the monsters from a little distance away.

"This... is a seam, right?"

"Yes. It looks like undead, but it's more like a chimera. It seems to be a mix of humanoid monsters like goblins and orcs as a base, with several other monsters thrown in."

"Who the heck would do something like this...? This is the underground of the sacred city, you know?"

"Most likely someone who created the weapon, intending to destroy both humans and magical beings. I don't know if they were placed here as a security measure or if they escaped. But that's unclear."

I see. Since it's not undead, that's probably why holy water didn't work.

I approached a little and observed the grotesque monsters.

"Chimera technology, huh?"

"Hey...your face looks incredibly evil."

"Excuse me. I haven't even thought about stealing chimera technology from enemies to create biological weapons."

"I might have asked the wrong person for help."

"That's because I really haven't thought about it."

What a really rude guy.

Just to clarify, I really haven't thought about creating biological weapons.

I was only considering whether I could use chimera technology to create servants for a more comfortable life.

And while at it, I thought about half-mechanizing them, giving them a maid robot vibe.

I think it would look absolutely cool.

We continued through the underground sewer and finally found a suspicious place that seemed to be the enemy's base.

"Look, there's a room that looks like a sci-fi research lab. I'm surprised."

"All right!! Let's grab everything in here!!"

"Wait!? Destroy the weapons first—idiot..."

"What's wrong?"

"It's gone!? The things I saw with my precognition magic are gone!?"

Huh, what's that? What's going on?

"So, um, the future I saw, it shouldn't be changeable... I saw a future where the weapons here would destroy everything—humans, magical beings, civilization. But now, they're gone."

"Could you have been mistaken?"

"No, that's not possible. The shape was very distinctive."

"...Hmm. Well, if they're not here, they're not. Oh, look, I found something like research materials. Hmmm, interesting. It's about how to create a homunculus."

"Ugh, I don't know why, but I feel like some threat just increased..."

"Excuse me. If you decipher this, you might understand the culprit's purpose or the weaknesses of the weapons. Well, if anything happens, call me again. If humanity is in trouble, I'll help out."

I left the underground sewer and immediately began deciphering the spoils of war.

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