Volume 2 Chapter 33 The End of the Pastor and Merchant Guild Forces. Luck Resides in Money, Not People
"Damn it! Let go! Let gooo!"
The frontier of Jewel City Lapis.
Where Rangella and the Pastor fought, the Pastor──strapped in iron chains──was thrashing wildly.
"N-no! I can't stop moving!"
"The ingots are still inside him... which is why his strength's not normal anymore."
Guards are holding him down, but──thanks to the gem's power inside him──his strength is off the charts, far beyond what any human could muster.
"Still, losing an arm and it growing back? That's a pretty nasty body you've got."
"I won't just be a warning! Once I heal, I'll turn into a dragon again! I know that──I won't let anyone forget it! I'll make sure you regret keeping me alive!"
"Sure, I can't kill you outright... but if you turn into a dragon again, do you really think you can beat me this time?"
"Of course! I lost once, that's true──but I'll beat you next time. I know I will."
The Pastor glares at Rangella, rage flickering in his eyes.
But Rangella, unbothered, stares back with ice-cold composure.
"No matter how much you romanticize reality, you can't escape living in your delusions... I might as well call you 'human,' at least for now."
The Pastor has realized one harsh truth.
To truly control others──no, to wield the highest form of dominance──you need overwhelming violence.
Power can command others, but ultimately, it's backed by violence.
The Adventurers' Guild's strength comes from their control over powerful individuals──those "unique" fighters.
They weave a global web, interfering wherever they please──cloaked in privilege, but supported by sheer military might.
That's the brutal reality.
But having power doesn't mean you're the strongest.
Being no longer the top means──if you get cocky──you might end up stepping into territory owned by someone stronger than you.
The idea that surviving a counterattack──if fate even grants it──means "I can win next time"──that's just a delusion.
Still, as Rangella said──being "human" isn't some kind of noble virtue or pitiful flaw.
It's just a simple fact.
"What's the situation?"
"Master."
Horace lands gracefully beside Rangella, floating through the air.
In his left hand, he holds the Cube──its armor already removed──and his gaze is locked onto Pastor.
"Hero's master, huh? But even now, it changes nothing. You can't kill me. Not yet. But soon... I'll recover my strength. With that gem I got from Sid, I'll be unstoppable. The strongest──I'll be king of all."
While Pastor wears a grin of twisted joy, Horace remains entirely expressionless.
"...Has the discoloration of your skin stabilized? Or is this just how you stay now that you've returned to human form?"
"No, it's gotten a bit worse."
"I see..."
Horace steps close to Pastor, grabs his collar, and presses him face-down onto the ground.
"Guh! W-What are you doing!"
"I hated doing this in front of everyone, but speed's priority. Ugh... the gem's power is too strong. Even with disguise or concealment, it clears instantly──what a hassle."
Horace's right hand presses onto Pastor's back.
His left hand activates the Cube, faintly glowing.
Simultaneously, Horace's right hand on Pastor's back begins to glow too.
"Guh! W-What?! What's happening inside me?! W-What are you planning?!"
"You'll see soon enough."
In the next instant, Pastor's back sparks with static, erratic discharges.
Just before lightning strikes Horace's hand, the sparks vanish ── as if the membrane itself deflected the attack.
"N-No! Stop it! Stop──!"
Pastor screams, his body shifting as the discolored patches begin to revert──regain their original hue.
His skin's natural beauty is restored, but the moment he grasps what's happening, his face blanches.
"It's my power! Don't take it from me! Stop──stop──*please*!"
There's no pain.
No discomfort.
Only an overwhelming, bone-chilling cold that sinks deep into his bones.
"...Well, guess your luck ran out."
Horace yanks his hand out suddenly, leaving Pastor trembling on the ground.
In his right hand... he gripped the gemstone that Pastor had used to transform into the Hoardspirit Dragon, Zeth Halcon.
"...Ah, ahh..."
Pastor, with a deflated demeanor.
Ignoring him, the gemstone emitted particles, attempting to infiltrate Horace's body, but it struggled to penetrate.
"...You're outmatched. You'd better listen to what I say."
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!