“Is this the church by any chance? Which reminds me, I haven’t heard about something like the religion of this world. I will try to ask Origa next time, huh?” (Hifumi)
As usual, Hifumi relied on Origa for the knowledge concerning this world, but since Origa will likely be delighted about the question, I guess it is fine, he thought.
Approaching the building appearing to be the church, a group of ten-odd men came out surrounding Hifumi.
All of them frivolously held rusted weapons glaring at him with rough looks.
“Thank you for the trouble of receiving me. Who of you is called something like ‘Torkemada’?” (Hifumi)
He asked without even putting his hand on the katana.
“What’s your business with Torkemada-san? You are wearing strange clothes. Who are you bastard?” (Mob Character A)
“Are those the church ruins?” (Hifumi)
Ignoring the man who asked the questions with saliva flying all over, Hifumi pointed at the building in front of him.
“What about it!” (Mob character A)
“I just wanted to know.” (Hifumi)
He turned into the direction of the previous man twisting and turning around a round small sharp blade.
“Ha?” (Mob character A)
Faster than he could react, the iron wedge was driven into his chin. Besides ripping off the jaw joint, it broke the lower jaw into two pieces.
Without even time for fainting in agony, Hifumi seized his face and crushed the skull, killing him the process.
“Th-This guy!” (Mob Character B)
“Kill him! This fellow is dangerous!” (Mob Character C)
“Something like being dangerous… excuse me for that.” (Hifumi)
Saying this while pouting and complaining, he threw the small blades at their bosom. Drawing the katana and attacking in the same stroke, he sliced the throats of two people in one go.
Pulling it back in the time the two created a fountain of blood, he pierced the neck from behind of yet another person.
“St-Stop …” (Mob Character D)
Kicking the feet of a man throwing down his weapon and trying to flee, he tread on the face around the part of the eyes and broke the skull of the man having fallen down on the spot.
He dodged the sword of the man approaching from his rear causing him to involuntarily thrust the point of his sword into his companion who had his back turned towards him causing his companion to die.
Likewise another person was slain as he put his back into pulling out the sword.
Watching their companions getting killed one-sidedly, the remaining people unconsciously took a step back into the rear.
“Look! There are still another 9 people left, isn’t that right?” (Hifumi)
Breaking into a refreshing smile, he decapitated one more person.
Catching the wrist of a man brandishing his sword, he twisted it and used the man’s own blade to slice his neck.
The person, who was made stumbling by kicking the dead body at him, had his brain stabbed through the eyeballs on the spot when he raised his face.
“It’s enough already, please stop!” (Mob Characer E)
“Not happening. Die.” (Hifumi)
“Ple…” (Mob Character E)
His pleading for his own life was denied with a single word.
The pitiful man passed away having his skull cut apart down to the nose.
At the time that man collapsed with his eyeballs spilling out on both sides due to the impact of the slashing attack, someone came out of the church.
“That’s enough!”
A man of approximately 40 years having a thoroughly tempered stature appeared.
Carrying a large, well-maintained sword on his shoulders, he advanced to the front of the church which was scattered with dead bodies.
Hifumi, feeling that presence, wrapped it up by cutting the femur of a person and throwing him down.
At the moment the man raised his voice in order to restrain him, Hifumi aimed at the carelessness of that other man ceasing his movement and now that man was helpless.
Hifumi waited for him to die from blood loss as he sank in his own pool of blood.
“This! What are you!”
As Hifumi continued to kill even more without even listening to the restraint, the disturbing man drew his sword and went around in front of Hifumi, parrying Hifumi’s downward swung katana.
“Hou …” (Hifumi)
In the case of the other guys tattered swords those were cut apart disregarding the slashing attacks. But, while the katana penetrated halfway into the thick sword blade of this sword, it was also stopped.
“In spite of being this thin, what a strength!”
Desperately enduring the unusual pressure, the man gritting his teeth was sent flying with a kick into his abdomen making him tumbling on the ground.
Hifumi’s curiosity was slightly piqued by the man who quickly stood up and fixed his sword stance.
“You are different from the other trash. This bunch has a slightly capable fellow mixed in, huh?” (Hifumi)
“You aren’t someone from the slum? What the hell is your business here?”
“I came here to meet the manager. Then, since these belligerent guys came and surrounded me, I killed them.” (Hifumi)
‘It’s simple.’ Although he was laughing, Hifumi didn’t relax his force to pin him down with the katana even a tiny bit.
Even the surviving men had no other choice but to observe from the distance.
“That Bifron-san (T/N: >> Bifuron <<) is …” (Mob Character F)
From their mutterings Hifumi learned the name of the man in front of him.
“Wa-Wait! If you have conditions, I will listen to them. I am sorry for our underlings causing you trouble!” (Bifron)
Upon Bifron’s words, Hifumi all of a sudden withdrew his katana.
In contrast to Bifron, who was breathing heavily, Hifumi didn’t have a single pearl of sweat.
In addition to his ability, even his mentality is that of a monster, Bifron thought.
The fallen corpses of his companions in the vicinity had no needless injuries, there were merely the attacks necessary to kill them visible.
No hesitation could be seen.
“Let me meet the manager of this place.” (Hifumi)
“… I understand. Follow me.” (Bifron)
Bifron had no choice to waver on whether to take the man in front of his eyes to Torkemada’s place or not.
He judged it to be better to take him there rather than having everyone here getting killed.
Telling the surviving bunch to clean up the corpses, Bifron stepped into the church ruins leading Hifumi.
◆◇◆◇◆
Other than in regards to Imeraria’s life, the Third Knight Unit played a leading part in the advancing plans for the troops organisation at the royal castle.
Those were reinforcements readied under the pretext of supporting Hifumi’s territory as well as the new territories against Vichy who was thought to start an offensive.
In anticipation a number of around 5000 soldiers was prepared and they began their march after having been assigned in units to each, Pajou and Midas.
Although Imeraria had to handle the governmental affairs, she also actively interfered with the army.
As the troops were usually led by a soldier, the Second Knight Unit didn’t find this very amusing.
Even if she was the princess, a woman meddling with the military and naval affairs, the top brass of the Second Knight Unit wasn’t able to stomach that.
“By all rights, we of the Second Knight Unit should be expected to become the bellwethers of the battle.” (Captain)
An elderly man, having his own personal office with the King’s castle, calmly said this. It is Stifels (T/N: >> Sutiferusu <<) who is the head of a earl household and employed as captain of the Second Knight Unit.
The ones standing at attention and listening to that speech are the two ex
isting vice-captains.
“It is as the captain says. Originally, if it was by the king’s order, it would be a logical move for us to lead the soldiers as they head into battle!” (Vice-Captain A)
“Be that as it may, as the king has passed away and the prince still hasn’t finished the coronation yet, isn’t she abusing her authority with this?” (Vice-Captain B)
Same as Stifels, both vice-captains also seemed to obviously bad-mouth the Princess’ judgement.
Having said that she was abusing her authority, in reality there were no clearly stated regulations in regards to the chain of command within royalty or the roles of the Knight Units.
With the queen wasting away and the prince also being too young, there was likewise a valid reason for Imeraria taking a leading role in carrying out the governmental affairs. Especially for that reason the royal castle also kept functioning without problems.
Due to the civil officials and their-likes understanding this, they followed the Princess’ instructions obediently.
But, military and naval officers seemed to have a tendency to be obstinate where customs were concerned. While the Third Knight Unit, who originally belonged to the Princess faction, was fine with the pliable support, the First and Second Knight Unit, whose treatment became worse by each day passing, bore resentment in opposition.
“You-know-what, I think the lass only gathered the soldiers for the sake of looking cool in front of the guy she fell in love with. It is even fine for her to get along with the cowards from the Third Knight Unit in that game of fake campaign.” (Vice-Captain A)
“However, as things are going, since the Third Knight Unit will increase their achievements once again…” (Vice-Captain B)
The Second Knight Unit was impatient. The Third Knight Unit’s achievements rose with such things like the smuggling affair of the Marquis solidifying their high estimation and connection with the Princess. In comparison to that, the Second Knight Unit wouldn’t be able to obtain any achievements this time either.
As the Second Knight Unit’s reputation took a huge blow with not being able to protect the king and as there was also the matter of disposing the problem child called Gothras who was affiliated with the Second Knight Unit, they were disgruntled as they weren’t given any place to participate actively in the first place.
“The reinforcements together with the military forces of the territories amounts to about 5000 troops. Vichy will come to recapture the territories using all its strength. Although it might be possible to stop a defeat, something like an overwhelming victory will be impossible. This isn’t anything to be anxious about. Also, apart from that, we should be able to appear on the stage to earn the victory.” (Stifels)
“The stage aiming for victory, is it?” (Vice Captain A)
Passing the two vice-captains a signed decree close at hand, Stifels stood up.
“Right now it has become a standoff with Horant at the national border. Let’s show them that we can handle enlarging the realm as well, shall we not? It isn’t something that can only be done by that greenhorn, I will show the proof of that.” (Stifels)
“That’s right!” (Vice-Captain A)
“As one would expect of Your Excellency! You have a totally different point of view than us!” (Vice-Captain B)
While the two vice-captains were severally praising him, Stifels nodded in response and declared with a bold attitude,
“Gather the soldiers! The true strength of the Second Knight Unit shall resound within Orsongrande, no, in the whole world!” (Stifels)
Watching the figures of his subordinates hurrying to organize the troops with exalted facial expressions, Stifels nodded in absolute satisfaction.
Chapter 37: Candy
Entering the ruins of the church, inside a spacious hall, where the altar originally stood, there was a middle-aged man sitting in a huge wooden chair, surrounded by several standing men. Probably his subordinates.
Bifron jogged forward, whispering something in the ear of the middle-aged man.
Having listened to what Bifron was saying, the man rudely looked at Hifumi, and started talking in a deep, resounding voice.
“It seems some of our guys are indebted to you, but who are you?” (Torkemada)
“The new Lord. Are you Torkemada?” (Hifumi)
“Correct. So, what business does the Lord have, coming all the way to our garbage heap?” (Torkemada)
Torkemada glared with bloodshot eyes. He had probably been able to daunt many people with that gaze, but Hifumi didn’t really care.
“I came to ask you whether you want to die, or follow my orders.” (Hifumi)
“Hah.” (Torkemada)
Laughing scornfully, Torkemada put a nearby wooden flask towards his mouth. The content smelled like alcohol.
“I heard you were the manager here in the slums. I was thinking of gathering the inhabitants here and have them choose whether to submit or not.” (Hifumi)
“Hahaha, don’t be so hurried, youngster. So, what will you do if I don’t obey? Set the soldiers after us to kill us? There was an aristocrat making the same demands before, but we sent him home as a corpse.” (Torkemada)
Speaking in a joking manner, the surrounding subordinates started laughing.
Hifumi didn’t respond, or rather, he didn’t really listen to what Torkemada said.
“I don’t care about that. Just do it. Also, you smell. You should at least wash your body.” (Hifumi)
Hifumi frowned, waving his left hand around in an imitation of Torkemada. Torkemada himself stopped laughing, and put on a grim look.
“That’s the kind of serious look you should listen with. This is the moment where your life or death is decided.” (Hifumi)
“Don’t get carried away. Don’t think a youngster like you can act brave here in the slums, and then return in one piece.” (Torkemada)
He once again threatened in a deep voice, but Hifumi only responded with a sigh.
“I can’t get through to you, can I?” (Hifumi)
With a rattling sound, Hifumi retrieved the metal chigiriki he used in the battle in Rhone. Although, the retractable function for the chain had broken, so it was more like a flail with a long handle. As he couldn’t fix it on his own, he could only use it as it was for now.
“Oh, you want to fight?” (Torkemada)
Judging that it was a weapon, Torkemada grinned broadly and turned to Bifron standing beside him, about to tell Bifron to be Hifumi’s opponent.
The chigiriki made a dull sound as its weight was driven into his temple.
Hitting the weak part of the cranium and continuing straight ahead, it clearly reached his brain.
“Move before you ask someone whether to fight or not. Idiot.” (Hifumi)
Hifumi nimbly pulled back the chain and swung it around, as Torkemada fell down from from his chair with the whites in his eyes showing.
The underlings couldn’t understand what happened for a short moment, but came to their senses as they heard the sound of the dead body hitting the floor.
“You asshole! Kill him!” (Mob A)
“Wait!” (Bifron)
As the subordinates were about to draw their swords, Bifron hurriedly commanded them to stop.
“Why are you stopping us!?” (Mob A)
“Bifron, he killed Torkemada! We can’t let him go back alive!” (Mob B)
“Even if we attack in a group, we can’t win. Torkemada died because he didn’t understand that… Lord, could you please give us your name?” (Bifron)
Having somehow calmed down the subordinates voicing their dissatisfaction, Bifron showed that his hand had separated from the sword.
“It’s Hifumi. Your manager has died, so Bifron, can you substitute for him?” (Hifumi)
“Manager… well, he only managed the people here. As we don’t have a grasp on the huge number of people in the slums, we don’t know where people are.” (Bifron)
“Aahh… So it’s like that. What a bother.” (Hifumi)
Hifumi scratched his head, shaking the chains. The listless Bifron took that moment to quietly ask him a question.
“I’d chose to follow you over dying. If I weren’t going to follow you, will the soldiers come again?” (Bifron)
Torkemada was talking as if he was filled with composure, but during Viscount Hagenti’s rule, soldiers were dispatched to the slums. They had huge losses, and while they managed to drive back the soldiers with force in the end, a considerable amount of people in the slums died. Only after running around, confirming that all the influential people back then had died, did Torkemada start behaving like the boss of this gym. And since joining an appropriate group makes it easier, Bifron had joined Torkemada.
If soldiers were now dispatched like they were back then, the people in the slums would easily be disposed of.
“Why are you asking whether I’d send soldiers?” (Hifumi)
“Well, nobles and Lords are like that, so I figured…” (Bifron)
Bam. The sound of the chigiriki hitting the floor made Bifron take a step back in surprise.
“If someone obstructs me, I have the the privilege to kill them. I won’t let anyone else take that away from me.” (Hifumi)
Everyone in the church ruins felt as if asking what the hell Hifumi was talking about.
Although nobody, even Origa, comprehended it, it was the same reason why Hifumi stood on the main street in Rhone by himself.
He even gave such strange order saying that it was alright to only kill those guys who entered the side roads.
“I don’t understand the minds of guys who use their subordinates to kill people.” (Hifumi)
Hifumi angrily snorted with a “fun~” as no one kept up with him.
“The conversation has deviated. As it has become tiresome, I will leave it to you afterwards. Tomorrow morning, those who obey me will lose the status of trash, the others will have to get out. Those remaining in the city will be killed. I think that’s easy enough to understand.” (Hifumi)
“W-Whether they are going to believe this story or not …” (Bifron)
“It doesn’t matter. It will be their end if they aren’t able to sense the danger.” (Hifumi)
Biding his farewell, Hifumi gave them a light greeting of “see ya tomorrow!” as if he was a student while leaving. Bifron sank to the floor with a thump.
Summoned Slaughterer - Book 2 Page 16