Chapter 62: Norius Will Never Admit Defeat

“Xi…”

“Ugh!!”

Before Norius could say Siloque’s name, Siloque quickly pressed a handkerchief soaked in precisely blended Magic Potion over Kersey’s mouth and nose.

“Sleep peacefully. This is all just a nightmare. When you wake up, you’ll forget everything.”

A gentle voice echoed in her ear.

The other party’s lowered hair brushed against Kersey’s nose, tickling her.

Who… are you?

With that thought, Kersey closed her eyes and lost consciousness.

“????”

This inexplicable action left Norius and the others bewildered.

Even Cas, watching all of this unfold from behind them, could only give a helpless, wry smile as he held his forehead.

In truth, Siloque was also nervous.

The potion was mixed according to a formula from his game memories, using various Magic Potions, and he had tested it on himself at home—the effect would, at most, knock someone out for about five minutes.

To put it bluntly, Siloque knew he’d brewed something illegal…

But at least it worked and made Kersey faint.

Originally, Siloque hadn’t intended to knock Kersey out.

This was supposed to be Cas’s heroic debut, after all.

But Norius was just too sensitive to him—even with a Voice Changer, he could tell who he was.

He couldn’t let Kersey know he was her savior.

Stealing the protagonist’s spotlight wasn’t good.

“Hey, Siloque… What the hell are you doing, you bottom-feeder? Always ruining my plans, huh?”

From Norius’s perspective, Siloque had appeared between the Wire Mesh Door and the Cremator, then knocked out Kersey.

“Siloque? Who’s that? My name’s John Smith.”

“Don’t play dumb with me!”

Norius kicked a trash can, the loud clang echoing in the deserted night alley.

“Maah… Whatever…”

Norius bared a sadistic grin, raising his Katana and pointing the tip at Siloque.

“You walked right into my hands—makes things easier. This time, there’s no little sister for you to hide behind.”

Seeing that his identity had been discovered, Siloque adjusted the Touchscreen Button on the right side of his mask, disabling the voice modulation.

“Oh, I just saw someone about to commit a crime and, being a just person, happened to be passing by.”

Tsk.

A vein throbbed on Norius’s forehead.

It was this attitude that made him feel insulted.

Their Lv difference was so great, and yet Siloque acted so arrogantly.

If he had any sense, he’d be kneeling and begging for mercy.

Let me tear off that disguise of yours.

“Hmph. I won’t fall for the same trick twice. Do you know why I let her run out? There are no cameras nearby. Even if you wanted to tattle to the Tuners, I’d finish you off first!”

Norius unleashed at Siloque with all his might.

“Ugh…!”

“Hey, Norius, ease up—you’re hitting us, too!”

His companions’ complaints fell on deaf ears; at this moment, Norius only had eyes for Siloque.

No one would protect you this time.

That guy behind you—Cas, right?

He’s just Lv7. What could he possibly protect?

“Hey, Cas—I’ll deal with you later.”

He said he wanted to become the strongest?

Don’t make me laugh.

During those few weeks in the station, did they really think he wouldn’t notice how many levels they’d gained?

These three companions of mine are all Lv8 or higher.

We’re 4 vs 2.

We’ll win.

If you want to stop us, go ahead and try!

“Using magic in the city will get you noticed by the Tuners.”

“I don’t need a bottom-feeder like you to remind me—I’m controlling my magic.”

What’s going on?

didn’t seem to work.

In front of him, Siloque just adjusted his hat brim and shifted Kersey into a Princess Carry.

Norius had expected him to collapse to the ground, writhing in agony.

But this time, Siloque was completely unfazed?

And when did he get near the Cremator? Passing by? No.

He’d been hiding there from the start.

Speaking of which—

Norius shot a quick glance back at Cas.

That man, too.

After saying a single line, he just stood there like a stunned idiot, not even reaching for the weapon on his back.

Suspicious.

“None of you interfere.”

Norius warned his companions, eyes darting over Siloque.

Years of experience in The Dungeon of Cass had honed Norius’s instincts.

No matter how he looked at it, Siloque didn’t seem to be hiding anything, just wearing a ring and watch.

“I’m in a hurry. Come at me together.”

Siloque uttered one of the three lines every man wants to say in his life.

The other two being, “You guys go ahead, I’ll hold them off,” and, “Leave this to me.”

Ahhh—ah!

That line set Norius’s nerves ablaze.

He knew it was a provocation.

“Stop pretending, you disgusting bottom-feeder.”

His hatred for Siloque almost overpowered his reason.

He gripped his sword with both hands, turning the blade’s flat side toward Siloque—so he wouldn’t accidentally kill him.

I’m going to smash that face of yours!

“Norius, do you really want us to step in? That’s bullying.”

“We could help deal with the cool guy in the back.”

“That blue-haired guy thinks he’s some righteous hero? Hilarious.”

“No! Just keep an eye on Cas. Don’t let him get in my way.”

Norius covered five steps in a stride, closing the distance with Siloque—who held Kersey in his arms—within striking range.

He drew his blade from lower left to upper right, aiming for Siloque’s leg—to disable his movement in a single blow.

Just as Norius thought this—

The blade missed.

As if he had calculated the distance from the start, Siloque shifted just enough to avoid the first attack.

“Damned luck!”

Norius kept swinging, but each time—

Miss, miss, miss, miss, miss, miss…

Without realizing it, Norius was attacking with full effort, the blade’s flat switched to the edge.

Siloque, meanwhile, dodged each attack with minimal, precise movements—dancing like a butterfly.

The three watching companions also sensed something was off.

Norius kept chasing Siloque, who was carrying a girl, and yet he hadn’t landed a single blow?

“………?”

“Isn’t this taking a bit long?”

“Is Norius turning red?”

Well, he had hit a little—just the edges of Siloque’s clothes.

Not even a scratch on the skin, let alone the blade drawing blood.

In the midst of his attacks, Norius squeezed out a fleeting thought.

This guy dodges perfectly every time—almost as if he can predict my attack trajectory?

And all while holding someone in his arms?!

Just as Norius gathered magic for another skill—

…Roller coaster…?

Although Kersey had never ridden one.

Half-awake, she struggled to open her eyes.

Her body felt warm, and she realized someone was holding her—swaying slightly.

In her vision, Norius was only about a meter away, swinging silver flashes.

Norius released his left hand and activated the skill—.

The target: Siloque’s foot.

“Oh?”

Siloque’s right foot stopped moving, and cracks spread across the concrete beneath.

How about that?

This is a skill you can only get on the third floor—and it cost a fortune!

At the same time, Norius finally saw a hint of surprise flash in Siloque’s eyes beneath his long, flowing hair.

Got him.

“Huaa!”

Norius roared, gripping his sword with both hands—the blade’s path aimed for Kersey’s pink-haired head.

In the next instant, Norius couldn’t believe his eyes.

Siloque’s slender, white fingers caught the blade between his index and middle fingers.

Norius’s strike came to a dead halt.

“Ha…?”

“Why…?”

“That guy!—”

His companions behind him let out incoherent screams.

Norius also sensed it.

His instincts blared a warning.

This guy is definitely not a Lv2 bottom-feeder!!

For a moment, Norius’s mind went blank.

He didn’t know what to do next.

Then Siloque’s body shifted sharply.

“—Eh?”

Pivoting on his right foot, Siloque spun, ignoring Norius’s startled cry.

His left leg arced upward.

And as the jeans-clad thigh filled Norius’s vision—Norius was sent flying.

A high-speed spinning kick.

With terrifying force, it struck Norius’s Katana, then slammed into his chest, sending him hurtling toward his companions.

Norius didn’t have time to defend.

He couldn’t even scream.

He slid across the concrete, bowling over his three companions and a motorbike like a set of pins, before finally sprawling on the ground in a star shape.