I Alone Regress in a Hero Party That Was Annihilated - Chapter 97

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#97. Bait (2)

Featherback headed to the secret reception room prepared underground.

Creak…

Opening the thick iron gate and entering, he saw an interior that was no different from an underground prison.

Black stone walls and candles flickering ominously.

The sofa and table were expensive, but tainted by the room’s sinister atmosphere, they looked somehow grotesque.

The man sitting on the reception room sofa suddenly sprang up from his seat.

A goat beard hanging from his chin, a face drained of all oil, and dark spots flowing down under his eyes like ink made shadows fall wherever he looked.

His clothes seemed to be sewn together from rags and tatters, and his shoes were so worn that his toes poked out through the front.

“Young Master!”

Goat-bearded Sancho shouted with tears in his voice.

He approached Featherback with both arms spread wide.

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen you! Have you been well all this time! This unworthy Sancho! Following Young Master’s orders, I’ve been traveling through the Northern Region collecting information on each family… Ack!”

But Sancho’s words couldn’t continue to the end.

Because Featherback had kicked him away.

“Ugh! That’s too harsh, Young Master!”

“You came too late. I already caught and wiped out both Purosange and Levarb.”

“Y-yes, so I heard. Actually, I was returning with information that those bastards were plotting a rebellion… but I happened to encounter a terrifying monster.”

“Monster?”

“Yes yes. A Giant Centipede called Frozen Horror, and some madman must have messed with its young because it was going absolutely berserk. So on my way to deliver information to Young Master, I nearly died several times. But I had experience from escaping Ice Dragon Adara, so I somehow barely managed to survive!”

“…”

At Sancho’s words, Featherback quietly nodded his head.

The Frozen Horror that lost its offspring was a monster from the Mythical Age that Featherback had lured out using Provocation.

It seems Sancho happened to be nearby when he made that thing go on a rampage.

“Good.”

“No, but why did a monster that lives under ice sheets frozen hundreds of meters thick suddenly pop out at that moment? I have no idea. What kind of bastard woke up such a thing…”

“Just give me your report.”

“Yes, yes. As for what the other Family Houses except Purosange and Levarb are doing right now…”

Sancho had been traveling around the Northern Region investigating the other Family Houses according to Featherback’s orders.

Sancho, who was skilled at flattery and spreading bribes, had fully utilized his talents to successfully seduce Officials from each Family House and steal quite a lot of quality information.

Featherback nodded.

Most of the information Sancho brought was already known to Featherback, and some of it matched exactly with his memories from before Regression.

And very rarely, there was information that even Featherback was hearing for the first time.

Featherback nodded.

“Well done. You’ve worked hard.”

“Sob sob sob— There really was no hardship like this damn hardship. But this unworthy Sancho feels like his body is melting upon hearing Young Master’s warm praise.”

“Now I’ll give you your next order.”

“My body feels like it’s melting and then crumbling apart.”

“Rest and recuperate for about a week, then go to the Imperial Capital.”

“!”

At Featherback’s words, Sancho’s eyes widened.

The Imperial Capital is the capital of the Rikeion Empire and the center where all power, wealth, and culture converge.

Truly the largest, wealthiest, and most sophisticated city in this world.

Of course, there was no guarantee that such places didn’t exist beyond the Empire’s borders, but the Empire officially treated all peoples and cultures outside its borders as Barbarians.

So the Imperial Capital is truly a place where everything is the world’s finest.

Featherback said.

“The Northern Region and the Imperial Capital are too far apart. So we need to plant an intelligence network there locally.”

“What should I do when I get there?”

“Nothing special. Set up a suitable business and make money. Then establish connections with the Marquis Berserkir Family.”

“…You make it sound incredibly easy, but the Marquis Berserkir Family is the most influential place right now.”

“Making connections with the Marquis family will be easier than hunting an Ice Dragon. You survived the Frozen Horror, didn’t you?”

“That’s true. Do I have to go alone?”

“Meet with a Merchant named Portia and draft a business plan. With your abilities, you should be able to assist her.”

“What? Assist? I thought I was going to be the head?”

“Do as you please. But if things go wrong with the Marquis family, what gets cut off won’t be your wrist but your neck.”

“Come to think of it, I’ve always liked being someone’s right-hand man. I’m your Right Hand too, aren’t I? Hehe—”

“Get your operating funds from Rorschach. Be careful not to have the flow of funds traced when setting up the business.”

“I’ll need to buy some decent antiques to take with me. Don’t worry about anything. You know very well how many Gold Coins I laundered through convoluted methods when I worked as Mörsolt’s Administrator.”

Sancho boasted with pride that wasn’t quite pride, thumping his chest.

Featherback clicked his tongue lightly.

“Among the Wealthy Merchants of the Imperial Capital, there are some who hate nobles. Be careful of them.”

“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Also, never set foot in District 9. Don’t make contact with anything that exists there, but if you absolutely must make contact, respond in a friendly manner even if it means taking a loss. And report immediately.”

“That’s scary, Young Master. Wh-what’s the reason for that?”

“If you hear the explanation, you’ll have to get even more deeply involved. Can you handle that?”

“…I just won’t listen then. Be careful of noble-haters and absolutely never set foot in District 9. I’ll keep that in mind!”

Sancho saluted.

Featherback nodded his head.

“Depart immediately.”

“What? Earlier you said to rest for about a week…”

“I’ll provide you with the finest carriage. The journey takes a week, so recuperate inside it. So you can start work immediately upon arrival.”

“…”

Sancho closed his mouth.

Because he had learned thoroughly during the climb up Meursault Mountain to Beauvoir Abandoned Mine.

That objecting to Featherback’s words would only make the situation worse.

* * *

Late at night, after Rorschach’s final report, Featherback lay down on his bed.

He hadn’t slept a wink for nearly four days while reviewing documents.

As he lay on the bed, he felt thorns piercing his back.

Featherback always sleeps lying on a bed made of thorns.

It was an end to the day he had never broken even once since his regression.

His body, hardened like iron after reaching the 4-Star Realm, doesn’t bleed a single drop even when pierced by thorns.

Featherback closed his eyes and lay there for a while.

And soon, his lips moved briefly.

“I can only sleep for three hours. If you’re coming, come quickly.”

Instantly, the darkness from the ceiling descended thickly.

…Thud!

A black trajectory fell from above to below.

Featherback kicked out the Dragon Scale Shield ‘Reverse Scale’ that he had placed under his bed and blocked the dagger falling from above.

Clang―!

The Dragon Tendon hooked on his foot grew taut.

Featherback spun his foot in a circle, rotating the Shield.

The Shield’s Handle strap twisted and sent the dagger’s owner flying far away.

Thud!

The moment the Assassin wearing a Black Mask rolled on the Floor and got up.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh- Crash!

Featherback spun the Handle made from Dragon Tendon like a Sling and hurled the Shield.

As the Assassin leaped away, the Shield smashed into the Stone Wall and embedded itself.

Shing―

Featherback drew the Dragon Fang Blade ‘Adara’ from under his pillow.

Slash!

As the Assassin ducked his head, Featherback’s Sword Tip sliced through the Stone Wall like clay.

…Whoosh!

A liquid-form dark red Aura Blade extended from the Assassin’s Sword Tip.

A Slash Attack that stretched like Honey mixed with blood.

The Assassin’s Swordsmanship had reached the limits of 4-Star.

“For a rat, you handle a Sword quite well.”

Featherback, who retrieved his Shield by pulling the cord, immediately deployed Mörsolt Style as well.

Mörsolt First Form ‘Blood Drawing’.

The basic form of short, finely segmented thrusts.

Featherback gripped the sword handle in reverse grip and repeatedly stabbed down at the Assassin’s body from above.

Thunk― Thunk― Thunk― Thunk―

Since it was a straight awl sword without a guard, it encountered almost no wind resistance when thrusting.

Featherback stabbed his sword at tremendous speed, creating four holes in the Assassin’s left arm.

Crackle crackle crackle…

The Assassin’s punctured left arm froze solid.

It wasn’t just the skin surface that froze, but everything inside – the muscles, and even the blood flowing through the vessels between the muscle fibers – all frozen rock solid.

Slice―crack!

The Assassin made the best decision he could – cutting off his own left arm.

Instead, the Assassin threw his now slightly lighter body forward and thrust his sword toward Featherback’s lower abdomen.

However.

Mörsolt Second Form ‘Skin Peeling’.

Featherback immediately twisted his sword tip.

Spin―

The reverse-gripped sword rotated once in Featherback’s grasp, turning to face forward.

White lightning fell horizontally, splitting the Assassin’s entire right arm in half.

Crackle crackle crack!

The Assassin’s right arm became a hideous sight, like a two-headed snake that had been forcibly torn apart.

However, the Assassin twisted his waist as if he felt no pain at all.

Pop!

A purple spike shot out from the tip of his left foot, aiming for Featherback’s neck.

A spike that was clearly coated with deadly poison at first glance.

Featherback tilted his head back to avoid it.

Mörsolt Third Form ‘Bone Extraction ‘.

It is a Sword Form that splits the opponent’s outer surface to extract what lies within.

Slash—!

Featherback’s Sword cut halfway through the Assassin’s right ankle as it passed.

…Thud!

Unable to support his body, the Assassin rolled across the Floor.

His mask, torn during the fierce battle, fluttered in Midair.

Featherback nodded his head.

“You’re the one leading the Descendants of the New Moon. Mountain Elder… was it?”

Despite going through the trouble of recalling memories from before his Regression to tell him, the opponent gave no response.

He simply stared at Featherback with eyes filled only with Darkness.

“I see. You were abandoned by Berserker.”

If so, he likely suffered a fate similar to Baron Thoroughbred, the former Family Head of Purosange.

[Grrrrrrrr…]

As if agreeing with Featherback’s speculation.

[Kyaaaaaaah!]

The Mountain Elder of the New Moon rose to his feet.

His entire body had already regenerated completely.

…Flash!

Liquid Aura that had reached 4-Star Mastery came flying.

It was so endlessly dense and thick that it appeared almost solid.

Meanwhile, the White Aura gathered at the tip of Featherback’s Sword is still thin.

It hasn’t been long since he crossed the threshold of 4-Star.

“Tsk.”

Featherback furrowed his brow.

Then he pressed his Shield close to his left side and swung his Sword with his right hand.

Mörsolt 4th Form ‘Flesh Carving’.

After drawing blood, skinning, and deboning, what remains is the work of cutting the Flesh into neat pieces.

To cut Chunks of Meat without waste, one must slide the Blade along the grain.

Featherback recalled the Secret Techniques of the Mörsolt Sword Style recorded in the Secret Sword Manual.

―Grasp with the hand, support with the shoulder, step with the foot, press with the knee.

―Debone the bones, drop the Flesh.

―The hand must be one span ahead in the realm of technique.

―Do not look at the enemy’s appearance, but see their spirit.

―Do not trust what comes through eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and skin.

―Thrust the Sword according to natural principles.

―Pry open the gaps between muscles, wedge into the Caverns of bones and joints, and tear away tendons and nerves.

―A novice sharpens their Sword every month, a master sharpens theirs every year, but a grandmaster doesn’t mind never sharpening their Sword in their lifetime.

―Just as light disappears when you close your eyes, and heat disappears when you peel away skin, there is nothing that cannot be destroyed when you close your heart.

―Once you transcend the self and forget everything, there will be nothing in the world that cannot be severed.

In an instant, the pale Sphere gathered at Featherback’s Sword Tip grew to twice its size.

Swoosh—!

The moment it scattered in Midair, it transformed into hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of small white droplets that flew in all directions.

Puh-puh-puh-puh-puh-puh-puh-puh-puh-puk!

Liquid Sword Energy scattered like the Milky Way penetrated deep into the Mountain Elder’s entire body.

The Mountain Elder’s body became nothing but rags from the countless particles that burrowed along his muscle fibers.

As if gunpowder had exploded right in front of him, scattering countless iron pellets.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!

The Mountain Elder tumbled across the Floor.

[Grrrrrrrrrr…]

Just as That Thing was about to rise to its feet.

“Young Master!”

The door burst open roughly as Knights including Hounded and Skullsage revealed themselves.

Instantly, Featherback shouted.

“Stand back!”

But it was already too late.

The Mountain Elder opened his eyes wide as if they would tear, eyes that were nothing but black pupils.

Instantly, pitch-black lightning burst forth in streams from his body that had become Rags.

At the Mountain Elder’s attitude that clearly showed intent for Self-Destruction, Featherback moved.

Shiirik—

Dragon Fang Sword Adara extended in an arc, creating a Shield of frost by releasing Cold Aura together with the Shield Reverse Scale.

‘This won’t be enough.’

How much the hastily created Ice Wall could block the Mountain Elder’s Self-Destruction was uncertain.

The moment Featherback furrowed his brow.

Pah—aat!

A hot wind blew from somewhere.

Flames that started from the candle on the table soon formed a large whirlwind, blocking the path in front of Hounded and Skullsage.

“!”

Featherback saw it.

The crimson orb that had been stored in the crates in the corner of the bedroom.

The dragon egg he had taken after killing Ice Dragon Adara was controlling the nearby fire to block the Mountain Elder’s path.

“Well done.”

Featherback released a strong cold aura through his sword and shield.

On one side rose a thick ice wall, on the other side a wall of hot flames and heat haze.

At the same time, the Mountain Elder’s body caused a massive explosion.

BOOM!

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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