Death Leveling Chapter 34

[ … words ]

“You guys are from the Im City?”

“Yeah, what about it?”

“Bullshit!” the woman shouted, with a comical amount of confidence.

She wore silver armor and had long black hair—equipment evidently much better than most people here had.

I stepped in. “What’s so bullshit about it?”

I’d be lying if I said this doesn’t arouse curiosity—why would she say that?—is there something unbelievable about that?

“Does that mean you guys are System users, then?” her tone was still just as radiant and adamant; her sharpness was oddly refreshing.

Words were omitted—Ku walked up holding his hand, eyes shut and then a shadowy stick materialized out of thin air with black flames surrounding his hand.

“What— there’s no way!! How are you allowed to wander around like this?!”

Her confusion seemed genuine—didn’t seem like there are any hidden layers beneath what she’s saying.

Seeing this, both Ku and I tittered—she was odd, and we were in cahoots feeling this way about her.

“Why are you acting like Im City is some oppressive dictatorship?” I asked, overtly unaware of the meaning behind these remarks.

She replied quickly and elegantly, with a gleam in her eyes, “because it is?—why else would I even talk like this?—did you think about that before asking?”

Leaned my head closer.

“Well, would we be out here minding our business were that the case?—did you think about that before running your little mouth?”

Immediately, with bratty anger, she retorted, “little?! Watch your mouth!!”

Her shallow answer made me chuckle—does she have daddy issues to be so upset about that specific word?—but maybe I’m getting a bit ahead of myself here.

“But yes, I am little!!”

I sighed—she definitely does have them. She wouldn’t make a good match with Nemo.

Hearing her, I was provoked to glance at Soyeon—would she get jealous were I to flirt with this woman?—I smirked at the thought.

Soyeon did seem annoyed—she’s so simple.

“In any case, aren’t you a bit ahead of yourself?—you didn’t even introduce yourself before barking at us like that,” Ku voiced crestfallen with her attitude.

“I’m Shao!! Leader of the Nightmare Guild!!”

Nightmare Guild?—is that the name of this guild or is that more of some small group?

Ku proceeded to dramatically tip his head, as if she’s some Queen we happened to be bestowed an audience with.

“Our pleasure, I’m Ku—and this is Dante and Soyeon; our Leader, Nemo, is currently delivering a package, he will shortly join us!”

Instantly, she chuckled.

“Dante? Ku? Soyeon? Nemo?!—what are these names?!”

I had a slightly open mouth as her words flowed—dramatically, out of her overblown behavior.

“What’s wrong with our names?” I inquired.

“Nothing—they make sense given you’re from that place!!”

Her tone didn’t tick off just me—everyone—it had this perpetual weight in them; I’d best summarize it as her simply being unashamedly loud and obnoxious.

“Heeeeeyyy… I’m not disturbing y’all… or…” Nemo awkwardly entered the equation…

“You’re their Leader?—explain yourself for being here!!” yet again, she yelled, mirroring Xter when he lost his leg.

“And you are…?” murmured Nemo, with his hand behind his head.

“I’m—”

“She’s no one—you’re done with the delivery?” Ku unapologetically cut her off—was he done bantering with our Queen?—you won’t be getting her heart like this, Ku.

“HEY!! How dare you interrupt me!!”

For the first time, her tone faltered—into irritation, no better than before in that case.

“Let’s go,” Soyeon stated—her first words in the presence of this force-of-nature.

“S— sure,” Nemo stiffly replied, appearing lost in the situation.

“Hey!! Don’t ignore me, you System users!!”

Ku then proceeded to hold up his hand—mimicking a talking mouth—and whispered, “yap, yap,” whilst opening and closing his fingers.

“Shao, the shit’s you yelling for?!” the line reverberated in the background…

I grinned as we stepped out of the building—I knew this wasn’t the last time I’d see her—her MANA wouldn’t allow it to end like that, after all.

My raven was already stalking someone, though—do I drop them?—that person appears to be stronger than her, but I can’t ignore the amusement I derived from this girl.

Then I peeped from the side, and… “Nightmare Guild.”

“Heh,” quietly mumbled.

Never mind, I’ll know where to find her—this is fine.

“Sooo… what was that about?” Nemo noisily queried.

“No one—just some pick-me idiot,” Soyeon replied with irritation.

Ku immediately snickered, “that’s one way to say it,” with laughs transporting his voice.

“You think so, guys? I found her somewhat charming,” my eyes promptly went to Soyeon—no reaction?—sigh.

“I mean, she was kinda fun… I admit,” Ku added.

“See?”

Soyeon shook her head in disapproval, “are you insane?—she was a total pick-me!” this time raising her voice.

Smiled at her. “Maybe, but does that automatically make her dislikeable?”

She sighed in an instant… “Dante, you have poor taste in girls, don’t you?”

I giggled and then moved my attention elsewhere.

“By the way, Nemo, she said some odd things about Im City—she acted like we shouldn’t have any freedom, as if it’s some authoritarian regime.”

Nemo didn’t pause, but right away a mild flicker of his MANA went over my senses—it was barely noticeable, but I did feel it—he had an undeniable reaction because of my words.

“Really? That’s so strange… I wonder what’s that about.”

What I was more focused on was Ku—he wasn’t buying it either, he was glaring at Nemo with suspicion; he wasn’t saying anything, but he clearly found his remark dubious.

Sensing the awkward atmosphere—or plainly because she was hungry, again—Soyeon leaned in and asked, “can we get something nice before we leave?—pretty please!”

Nemo stopped, turned around, and pointed his finger—it was the potato man and his stand.

“I’ve frankly been thinking about those potatoes for a while now, ” he stated with seriousness.

Then Ku, without shame, jumped in. “M— me too.”

“You two… there’s no way. They’re just potatoes!! I meant something actually nice!!”

Instead of accommodating Soyeon, without energy in his tone, Ku denied her, “yeah?—you want to get something ’nice’ in a rural town that doesn’t even have a single restaurant?”

Suddenly, the conversation deafened in my ears…

What concerned me was… the unnamed powerful… mhmmhmm…

…I’m coming for you.

Just a little longer, darling.

Once the sun sinks beneath the horizon and darkness swallows your surroundings…

The ravens will creep in on you, gouge out your eyes, and carry what remains of you wherever I command them.