NOVEL WEB Chapter 49
49. Just Killing
The red light orb deflected by my defensive barrier scattered like a small firework and disappeared.
“Can’t kill… you…!?”
Gregorio looked at me in surprise.
“If your skill is to ‘kill,’ mine is to ‘protect’—your power won’t work on me.”
“I see, my skill doesn’t reach you. Tch.”
Gregorio clicked his tongue at my words.
“The light orb can’t kill unless it hits the target, huh?”
“…You seriously tried to kill me just now, didn’t you?”
I glared at the man in front of me—no, the murderer.
“Did you think I was joking?”
Gregorio grinned without showing any remorse.
It was a vile smile, as if killing people meant nothing to him.
“You’re the first one I couldn’t kill after getting this skill from Melgias.”
Gregorio licked his lips, sticking out his tongue.
Drool dripped from the corner of his mouth.
“Why… even those adventurers, you didn’t have to kill them.”
“Need? What’s that?”
Gregorio shrugged.
“I just like killing. I love it irresistibly. I love it beyond help. I love it, love it, love it.”
This guy—
I shuddered at Gregorio, who was laughing with bloodshot eyes.
“Besides, they were acting all high and mighty, weren’t they? No harm in killing them, right?”
“Killing people for such a reason…”
“But they were just appetizers. The main dish is you, Hart. The same kind is the best prey.”
Gregorio licked his lips again.
This guy is insane.
Too insane.
Does he truly enjoy killing?
“Entertain me! Killing Intent Reload—”
The red pattern floated again in Gregorio’s right eye.
“[Bullet].”
“Block it.”
I deployed my barrier again to deflect the red light orb he fired.
The deflected light orb disappeared in less than a second, just like before.
“I see, an absolute defense skill. Seems like my skill can’t get through.”
Gregorio stared at me.
The red pattern in his right eye had already disappeared.
—So, it only appears when he uses his skill.
And even when he killed the adventurers and now, he didn’t shoot multiple light orbs.
Maybe he can only shoot one at a time.
In a corner of my mind, I coldly analyzed his ability.
“Shooting a straight red light orb at the opponent you see—my skill’s flaw is that the attack becomes monotonous. It’s not good against someone with an absolute defense like you.”
Gregorio slowly backed away.
“But I have other skills too.”
Does he have a hidden trick?
I instinctively braced myself.
Just as my defensive skill has variations, Gregorio might have different attack patterns.
Invisible sparks flew between us as we glared at each other.
Here it comes—
I gulped.
I kept my defensive skill active in case he shot something.
If the one-minute duration ended, I’d need to redeploy it immediately.
Then—
“I won’t waste the finest prey by killing you quickly.”
Laughing, Gregorio suddenly turned and ran.
“What…!?”
I had expected his next attack, so I was momentarily slow to react.
“W-Wait!”
I hurriedly chased his receding back.
There was a main street ahead.
Because of the earlier commotion, there were more people than usual.
In no time, Gregorio vanished into the crowd.
Damn it—
I pushed through the throng, but I couldn’t find Gregorio.
“Remember this. I’ll always be after you… hehehe.”
I heard Gregorio’s triumphant voice from within the crowd.
He intends to keep targeting me!
In a head-on fight, I have the upper hand, but if he sticks to assassination with that skill, it’s a different story.
I can’t maintain my defensive skill indefinitely.
If I get hit by that light orb when I’m not using my skill—it’s over.
I’ll die.
I’ll definitely be killed.
“Hart, there you are.”
“We’ve been looking for you, Hart~”
“Did something happen?”
Lilith, Alice, and Meriel ran up to me.
“Sorry, just a bit…”
I mumbled.
It’s hard to explain since it involves divine skills.
“Um, how’s the guild?”
“Unknown cause of cardiac arrest. All four of them.”
Lilith spoke sorrowfully.
It seems all the adventurers had died.
“The culprit is unknown.”
No, I know who it is.
The question is what to do about Gregorio who vanished into the crowd.
He kills for fun, without reason.
Using divine skill.
Easily, multiple times.
I must stop him.
But how—?
My first thought was to inform the guild or the vigilantes.
But Gregorio’s deadly light orb couldn’t be stopped by swords or magic.
For now, my skill is the only one that can block it.
Telling people might only increase the number of unnecessary victims.
He said I was his prey, but there’s no guarantee he won’t target others.
Especially Gregorio, who enjoys killing.
If he gets cornered, he might even cause a massacre—
After thinking it through, I reached one conclusion.
Alright, I’ll go with this plan.
“I have some business to attend to today. I’m leaving.”
“Hart…?”
“Lilith, you guys should go home and rest. It’s better not to go out today.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Well, it’s dangerous for girls to walk around at night.”
That’s all I could say.
“Hart, are you hiding something from us?”
Lilith stared at me intently.
What should I do? Should I tell them about him?
But it’s dangerous to get them involved.
I can’t even talk about the divine skills.
If they get targeted without knowing anything—
No, he’ll probably target me first.
Whether I talk or not, the danger doesn’t disappear.
I chose to avoid involving them.
“I’m not hiding anything, Lilith.”
I smiled.
Honestly, I’m not good at lying.
I tried to act normal, but my face might have stiffened.
“Alright. If you say so, I believe you.”
Lilith nodded seriously.
Did she not notice my lie?
Or did she notice and still trust me?
“But if you need our help, let us know. We may not be much help, but still—”
“Thank you, Lilith.”
I interrupted her with words of gratitude.
I don’t know how much I can do without offensive abilities.
But I will definitely stop him—.