Kays Translations

Chapter 176: Tremor of Killing Intent

It wasn’t a small change—no, it was an unmistakable abnormality.

Lendia’s climate had been growing warmer, and Yasha Island, lying near its border, was even more temperate.
Those who lived there had long since put away their winter clothes, living comfortably in light attire.

And yet—all at once, every inhabitant began to tremble.

The air had not cooled. The temperature was exactly the same.
But as they instinctively tried to warm themselves, they began to realize—
This trembling wasn’t from the cold.

No—the reason was simple.
A single person had begun walking through the city streets, and that alone was enough
to make every living thing in his vicinity quake in fear.

He had been suppressing his emotions and willpower.
He had been holding them down so that “she,” his family, would not sense his heart, would not be frightened by him.

But now, as he left the hotel, he made no attempt to hide, to restrain his emotions—his killing intent.

Letting his raw hostility spill out like poison, Same began walking toward the royal guest mansion—

At the midday banquet, the supposed purpose was to foster relations between the Empire’s and Lendia’s nobility, but in truth, it was mostly a networking session between local merchants and those in the Imperial envoy.

As for the nobles?
They were busy holding “strategy meetings” in preparation for the real event—the evening banquet.
That applied not only to the Imperial nobles, but also to those of Lendia, who would be the hosts.

I, together with Shuris, was meeting the Lendia nobles gathered at the guest hall.

“What is the meaning of this!? Was not Lady Shuris, one of the Thirteen Knights, invited primarily to strengthen the bond between the Empire and the Holy Kingdom?”

“If she’s brought a partner, that changes things rather drastically. You there—whose house are you from? During the banquet, we would prefer you not to accompany Lady Shuris—”

Judging by their tone, these nobles were clearly from the faction hoping to use Shuris for their own political ends.
And since I was introduced as her partner, they were looking down their noses at me.

“I refuse. Would it be acceptable if I killed you both right here?”

They might not have known this—but I already had the right to do so.
The ‘Royal License to Execute Nobles’ who offend me—granted directly by the Queen herself.

She had promised me this right, and I had accepted it.
So they’d better not get in my way today. I was in no mood for patience.

“Wh—!? Insolent cur! Someone arrest this—”
“Lord Veil! What is the meaning of this!? This man’s a criminal—”

But the guards who appeared instantly restrained the two nobles instead.

“…My apologies, but this young man truly has been granted the right of noble purging by Her Majesty. I’ve no wish to see more of our own people die. For now, you will wait in another room. It seems our nation’s ‘Dungeon Conqueror’ is not in the best of moods today.”

“Wha—!? Dungeon Conqueror…!? Then he must be the one who brought us that Core—”

“The vice-captain… of the Brigade…?”

“Shall I kill them, Lord Veil? Are these two important to the nation? They appear to have forged prior ties with the Empire. Would it be acceptable to eliminate them now?”

“…They are valuable personnel. I don’t know what provoked you, Same, but please—put down your weapon.”

“Understood. …I’m attending tonight’s banquet for my own reasons. And I intend to stay at Lady Shuris’s side, where trouble will surely arise. If anyone interferes with that, I’ll kill them all—whether or not I have the Queen’s permission. Do you understand? All of them. Equally.”

The unspoken message was clear: That includes you.

Shuris’s request, the country’s schemes, international diplomacy—all of it no longer mattered.
All I wanted was the opportunity to purge Angares under a legitimate pretext.

“Same… what’s going on? You’ve been strange since morning. I feel the same fear from you as when we first met… no, even stronger than that.”

“You’re right. That’s exactly what’s happening. …Yesterday, an Imperial adventurer hurt my family. She came back crying and injured. If the conditions were right, I’d have no issue leading the entire Brigade in an assault on the Empire.”

I could probably muster enough power alone without summoning everyone.
But if I did, there’d be no going back. So—for now—I discarded that idea.

Once the two nobles had been escorted away and no one remained to object to my presence,
I slumped onto the sofa and sighed.

“…So it was the man from yesterday. My guild also reported the disturbance last night. So Melt was harmed after all…”

Lord Veil murmured.

“It was a minor injury, really. But that’s not the point. The fact that she came back crying is unforgivable. The entire Brigade already knows. If Lendia goes to war with the Empire, we’ll all join in gladly.”

“Please don’t even joke about that. I know you’re angry, Same, but…”

“You’re right. I can’t drag the country into this. Still… my opinion of the Empire is already in the gutter. Sorry, Lord Veil. Looks like I can’t keep pretending to be a polite, well-mannered young man anymore.”

“…It seems the Empire has stepped on the tail of someone they never should have provoked. Every man has a line that must never be crossed. I understand that you wish to settle this in a way that honors your principles. For that, I thank you.”

Perhaps he looked at me with disappointment or fear. It didn’t matter.
I closed my eyes and began to meditate—hoping this raging fire of anger might cool, if only a little.

By the time the sunlight pouring into our waiting room turned crimson,
Shuris, who had fallen asleep beside me, stirred as I gently shook her awake.

“Lady Shuris, please wake up. It’s almost time for the banquet.”

“…Right. Same, have you calmed down a bit?”

“I was calm enough to forget there was a beautiful woman sleeping beside me—so yes, I think I’m composed.”

“…Honestly, I never thought I’d see you lose control like this. But as a woman, I can’t help feeling a little jealous. Melt must be precious to you.”

“…Sorry, that sounded bitter, didn’t it? I think… this anger isn’t just for Melt. It’s also for myself. I’ve made her part of my reason to live. I’ve been using that to avoid facing other things. So really, half of this anger is for me.”

“I see. Still, I envy her. The nobles you drove out earlier likely had some deal with the Empire. Both families are involved in foreign trade. I don’t blame them for making connections—but being used without consent never feels good. As for Angares… whether he’s personally interested in me or not, I’m certain Duke Asimo will make a move tonight—probably with Angares in tow.”

“Then I’ll be right there beside you. If it comes to a duel—or better yet, if this ‘withdrawal symptom’ of his pushes it into a fight to the death—that’s fine by me. …Tonight, I’ll go all out for the first time since coming to this country. I’ll show them the power I never even used against the Dungeon Master.”

Shuris swallowed hard at my declaration.

And I made it clear—my intention to kill Angares.

With that silent understanding, we began walking toward the banquet hall,
where the guests were just beginning to gather.

The banquet hall made full use of the island’s warm climate.
Part of the walls had been removed, allowing the space to open directly into the courtyard beyond.

The courtyard itself was brightly illuminated—there were elegant ladies sipping wine under the stars, groups of guests chatting indoors while watching the night sky outside, and even a large gazebo overlooking the sea, built slightly above the garden.
After all, this guest mansion faced the ocean.

If I were in a mood free of anger or worry—
If I were simply another guest here—I might have spent the night watching the ocean and the starlit reflection on its surface.
It would have been a tranquil, poetic moment.

“…He’s here. He showed up.”
“Yes. But… if possible, I’d prefer we don’t approach him first.”
“Understood.”

Every table was covered with buffet dishes, each one exquisitely arranged.
Dozens of maids and servers moved gracefully between the guests.
Just from that alone, it was clear how high-class this event was.

“Would you like something to drink, Same?”
“Sure, I’ll have something light.”

I looked around for a server handing out wine— and then,

“Are you looking for a drink, Same-sama? Here we have a superb white wine, aged eighteen years right here on Yasha Island. It carries a honey-like aroma, with subtle notes of nuts and figs.”

A nearby maid approached, gracefully carrying two glasses of wine—one for me and one for Shuris.

She knew my name…?
No, most likely she’d memorized the names of all the attendees tonight.

She looked young—her face was mostly hidden by her bangs, but she couldn’t have been older than twenty.
Her composed manner and clear explanation of the wine gave the impression of proper training—and piqued my interest.

“You have rather unusual hair, don’t you?”
“Now that you mention it, yes.”

Though she wore a maid’s cap, the long strands flowing from beneath it were a striking, glossy black.
Her eyes might have been black too, though I couldn’t see them clearly through her bangs.

“Yes, perhaps it’s a little rare. Well then, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll continue serving the other guests. Please, enjoy your evening.”

With that, the black-haired maid bowed and walked off, offering wine to others.

I wasn’t sure why—but something about her caught my attention.
Before I realized it, I was following her with my eyes, and Shuris spoke up beside me:

“That’s not very admirable, you know. Don’t stare at other women like that—right now, you’re my partner.”
“Sorry, it’s just… something about her seemed strange.”
“Hmm… yes. I felt it too. The hair… no, the voice, maybe.”

At her words, I understood.
That was it—the voice. Something about it tugged at my mind.

When I looked back, the maid had already vanished into the crowd.
…No, I needed to focus on Angares for now.

By the time the alcohol had begun to circulate and the atmosphere turned lively—
they appeared.

Duke Asimo entered the courtyard, accompanied by Angares, approaching Shuris and me as we gazed at the stars.

On the surface, his manner was flawlessly polite—showing no hint of arrogance as he greeted us.

“Good evening. My apologies for not introducing myself earlier. If I’m not mistaken, you must be Lady Shuris—daughter of Marquis Veil, and one of Lendia’s greatest warriors, a member of the Thirteen Knights?”

He smiled warmly, but behind that expression was a sharp, evaluating gaze— a look that instantly revealed he was no ordinary nobleman making small talk.

“This is an honor, Duke Asimo. I apologize for not greeting you first. I am Shuris, eldest daughter of the Veil family.”

“So it is you. Your beauty truly lives up to the rumors—I must admit, my heart is quite captivated, even at my age.”

Whether that was empty flattery or sincere admiration, I couldn’t tell.
But before Shuris could respond—

“Don’t get all flirty, old man. But seriously though, she’s gorgeous. Can’t believe someone that pretty’s also one of the country’s top fighters. That’s crazy impressive.”

Angares cut in with an irreverent tone completely unfit for speaking to a duke.

“…Duke Asimo… and this man would be…?”

I asked evenly.

“Haha, my apologies. Yes, if you are one of Lendia’s strongest warriors… then this man here is one of our nation’s finest. His name is Angares. He’s a formidable warrior who singlehandedly conquered two imperial dungeons.”

“That’s impressive. You must be quite powerful, then?”

“Indeed. How about it? As warriors representing our respective nations, perhaps the two of you should have a little chat.”

From the start, I’d sensed it faintly — this Duke Asimo didn’t so much as glance my way, let alone acknowledge my presence.
It wasn’t just arrogance… more like he considered it a waste of effort to even recognize those he deemed unnecessary to his purpose.

“I appreciate the offer, but I must decline. You see, I already have a partner, so I can’t be alone with another man. He’d get jealous.”

At that, the duke’s gaze finally turned to me. I returned it with a polite smile and a slight bow.

“Oh? I hadn’t noticed. Hmm, it seems you are someone who has caught Lady Shuris’s eye. I assume you’re a man of some standing yourself?”

“Indeed he is. This gentleman is the one who brought a dungeon core to our kingdom. In fact, he’s even stronger than I am — one of the very few men I acknowledge.”

“Oh… fascinating.”

At last, I could feel his interest turn toward me — not just his eyes, but his intent probing at me, assessing.
It was the seasoned sharpness of a noble who had survived every kind of intrigue.
But the one most intrigued wasn’t Asimo himself —

“Heh, so you’re the dungeon conqueror, huh? Sounds fun. Why don’t we have a little match? I’ve never fought a conqueror from another continent before. I’m curious.”

Angares bit immediately — I didn’t even have to provoke him.
Well then… may as well go along with it.

“Oh? You’re supposed to be the Empire’s top warrior? Hmm… no offense, but I honestly thought you were just a bodyguard. My apologies, Duke Asimo — it seems your man wants a fight, but I’m afraid I’m not very good at holding back. I’d hate to accidentally kill him, so perhaps it’s best I decline.”

A full-throated taunt.
That should suit your purposes too, shouldn’t it?
If things go well, you’ll rid yourself of a nuisance and strengthen your connection with Shuris.

“My, my… quite the confident fellow, aren’t you? But take care — the world is far wider than you imagine—”

“Lord Asimo? Did you hear that? He just totally mocked me, right? So, can I? You’ll let me, yeah? You wanted him out of the way anyway, didn’t you? Then it’s fine, right?”

“Now, now, calm yourself. Hmm… what was your name again?”

“Same. Though this is quite troublesome… he seems eager for a fight, but I can’t just go around killing one of your people. What to do, what to do…? Perhaps, if you could promise that no grudges will be held — even if I happen to kill him by accident — I’d accept. I wouldn’t want to cause diplomatic trouble, after all.”

Every word I spoke was calculated — deliberately needling him, drawing out the exact response I wanted.

“Come on, Asimo, give me the go-ahead! It’s fine, right? I didn’t get to cut loose on the ship — and this was the deal anyway, wasn’t it? You’d let me rampage a little on this continent?”

“My, my… Same, was it? I’d say you share some of the blame as well. Could I persuade you to accept the duel?”

“In that case, please declare before everyone — as part of tonight’s entertainment — that neither side will be held responsible, even if one dies. Honestly, this banquet’s been rather dull so far. How about we liven it up with a duel between two dungeon conquerors — a deadly one, at that?”

Come now, Duke Asimo, take the bait.
After all, this is the perfect chance to publicly demonstrate the difference in national power, isn’t it?

“Hahaha! Now that sounds entertaining! Very well, let’s move to the nearby beach. Angares, you’ll fight better surrounded by an audience, won’t you?”

“Hell yeah. You’ve got taste, old man — turning a suicide attempt into a show? That’s classy.”

“Oh? Sorry, you were talking to me? My bad — I just wasn’t that interested in you. But since I’m a guest, I’ll play along. If you die, though, please only blame yourself.”

How fun. There’s nothing quite like baiting someone exactly how you want.

With Duke Asimo’s encouragement, word spread quickly among the banquet guests.
The nobles, hungry for spectacle and stimulation, began gathering at the beach one by one.
Shuris and I followed the flow, heading toward the shore.

The night beach was brighter than expected — illuminated by the moonlight and the glow from the mansion above.
Amid the crash of waves and the excited chatter of the crowd, I could hear Asimov’s cheerful voice explaining the situation.
And in his explanation, he made sure to include this crucial line: “Even if one dies, it is entirely their own responsibility.”

“You really came prepared, huh? Always cautious, aren’t you?”

“Don’t you need a weapon? I can wait while you go grab one, you know? Just don’t run away in the meantime.”

“Oh? No need. Bare hands are fine. …Or wait — did you actually think this would be a real fight?”

I provoked him—again and again.

It seemed that this man called Angares, even when emotions were boiling inside him, almost never showed them outwardly.
From conversation alone, one couldn’t sense a hint of anger.
Though anyone could see that his entire body was brimming with power.

“Well then, shall we get started?”
“Yeah, let’s just get this over wi—”

Just as Angares raised both gauntleted arms into a ready stance, a figure suddenly stepped between us on the beach.

It was the black-haired maid I’d found strangely intriguing earlier.

“How about a drink before battle—like a ‘pre-war aperitif’? It is said that ancient warriors would raise their spirits with liquor before marching into battle. This here is a dwarven Sakaram, long-aged in the port cellars. It’s a rather strong brew, but said to quicken one’s pulse and sharpen the senses.”

Without warning, she approached us and offered two mugs on a tray.
Her boldness and suddenness made both Angares and me laugh despite ourselves.

“Heh… not bad, maid-san. I’ll take one.”
“Then I’ll have one too.”

But as I reached for a mug, she mischievously drew the tray back, first handing the drink to Angares.
I see… perhaps she’d been instructed to serve guests in a particular order.

After that, she gave me my mug as well. As she’d warned, it was a strong spirit—something I downed in a single gulp.

“Tastes like rum, maybe.”

Heat flushed across my face.
And then, I remembered my anger.
Joy welled up—this was the outcome I’d been waiting for.
Strength gathered in my eyes; blood surged through my body.

“Then, allow me to give the signal for the duel. Duke Asimo, do you approve?”

“Of course. This is an official duel sanctioned by both nations. Let everyone here witness that even if one perishes, relations between our countries will remain unchanged. Please, begin.”

“Very well. I hereby commence the duel between Same and Angares! — Begin battle!”

Once again, a formless chill swept across Yasha Island, like the trembling breath of death itself.

Almost the instant the signal rang out, Same unleashed an enormous roar—a sound vast enough to shake the heavens.

A roar that clawed at the primal fear in every listener’s soul, hideous and hellish, as though it had risen straight from the abyss.

The name of that roar—

“Diabolic Howl”

Final Secret Art of the Swordsman/Thief class

A killing roar that freezes the target in place and links into a finishing strike that annihilates the enemy.
The attack’s power increases with the user’s level and number of uses, and its final damage multiplier varies randomly— from 6× up to 666×.

It was Same’s strongest technique—an unavoidable strike.
Like the Crimson Howl, it began with a terrifying roar in the preparation stage.
But this one… this one was not human.
It was a voice that shook the soul—violent, vile, oppressive beyond reason.

『谿矩?縺ｫ豁ｻ縺ｭ豌ｸ驕?縺ｫ闍ｦ縺励ａ譚･荳悶∪縺ｧ辷帙ｌ閻舌ｌ邯壹￠繧！！！！！！』

A scream beyond human comprehension, a sound no mortal ear could decipher.

Angares froze for a split second.
And in that instant—Same was upon him, so close that their fists nearly brushed each other’s faces.

“Die.”

The sand exploded skyward.
It was the sand beneath Same’s feet, blasted upward by the sheer force of his step.
Even the damp, heavy grains, soaked by seawater, were launched high into the night sky.

And higher still—beyond the sand, beyond the stars themselves—
a figure was hurled, straight and unbending, with no chance to resist or even understand what had happened.

That figure was Angares.

The moment passed too fast for the crowd to grasp.
Their murmurs vanished, leaving only the crash of the waves.

And when the silence settled— only a massive crater remained in the sand,
and at its center stood Same, unmoving.

After several waves crashed in, water began to flow into the crater.

Finally, Same moved. With a light leap, he escaped from the crater that was slowly filling with seawater.

“See? It wasn’t even a match to begin with. He’s far too weak.”

“Wh—What nonsense…! Where is Angares?! Where did he go?! Angares!!”

Duke Asimo, unable to accept the reality before him, raised his voice for the first time, shouting the name of the man who had just been utterly defeated.

Then, whether by coincidence or cruel timing, Angares—who had vanished high into the sky—came crashing back down into the crater, splashing up a massive column of seawater.

“Oh, impressive! His body’s still in one piece. As expected of the Empire’s strongest warrior, no?”

“Angares! Answer me! Angares! You’re not just some ordinary man, are you?! You can’t possibly lose this easily! Angares!!!”

Desperately, the Duke kept calling out to him.

And then, miraculously—or perhaps disastrously—there came a sound from Angares, who was floating in the seawater filling the crater.

However, it wasn’t a voice. It was… something else.
If one were to describe it—it was the kind of sound you might hear from a person who’s just eaten a rotten mix of raw eggs and spoiled milk and barely made it to the toilet in time.

And in the next moment—an awful stench filled the air, as the seawater turned a filthy, shameful color.

Yes. It was… a massive, humiliating accident. A disgraceful loss of dignity.

Before the eyes of nobles and dignitaries from both nations, Angares suffered something worse than death—a social death from which there was no return.

“The Empire’s greatest warrior can use such a technique too, it seems. Even after losing, his fighting spirit remains.”

Same said dryly.

At those words, Duke Asimo crumbled to his knees.

Meanwhile, a short distance away from the beach, a mysterious black-haired maid who had been watching the duel quietly left the guest manor.

“Phew… my back’s killing me! And my head’s throbbing!”

Suddenly, her waist swelled slightly—and from the gap in her maid uniform, a fluffy tail uncoiled.
Her maid cap slipped off, revealing folded black fox ears that perked up and twitched.

“Ahh… much better. I wonder if, when I get stronger, I’ll be able to change my fur color without using potions…”

Yes—the mysterious black-haired maid was none other than Melt, who had infiltrated the guesthouse in disguise.

She had hidden her ears and tail, dyed her fur using a potion, and changed her hairstyle to obscure her face.
Thanks to her sharp learning ability, she had perfectly imitated the speech and movements of the maids working there—completely blending in.

The reason Shuris and Same had felt something “off” was because of the one thing she couldn’t change—her voice.

“Phew… ahh, that felt amazing! Same’s attack was incredible. If he survived that, that guy must not be human. But thank goodness the potion worked.”

And the cause of that final tragedy?

It was because Melt had slipped the strongest laxative she knew into Angares’ drink right before the duel.

She hadn’t planned to poison him to death. No—she wanted him to live, but suffer humiliation worse than death.
It was her way of carrying out her vow: to never forgive him—to destroy him socially and emotionally instead.

And thus, just as she had sworn, Melt achieved her revenge by her own hand.

“…Ah! I accidentally took the maid outfit with me!”

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