Ossan Crossed Swords with S-Ranked Guildmaster
Translator: OssanTL
Proofreader: Enkiros
Zeros stops his magic-powered motorcycle on a hill just before reaching the city of Steeler.
As it turned out, they had to walk from there to the city, but before they could enter, there was one problem.
“Ugh! *gibberish*……..”.
“I think I’m gonna throw up. …… U ~e ~!”.
Rena and Jane got motion sickness spectacularly.
They had never gotten sick on the ship, but they couldn’t stand the rough road at 120 kilometers per hour.
Well, they slowed down at the curve, but it still seemed to be too much for the two of them to bear.
“I didn’t think the two of you would have any problem with vehicles. You never got sick on the boat……”.
“That’s right. We just rode in a straight line on the road, you know?”
“Where is the…… ugh! It shook like hell……”
“It was scary…… I was being shaken over and over again and driving through the twists and turns at a high speed…… Ugh…”
Indeed, the road is not straight, and occasionally the curves and bumps may shake the vehicle.
Even though the road was paved, it was still very rough, with cobblestones and ruts on the slopes, and they were passing merchants’ wagons on the road at high speed.
The two of them, who had grown up in a world with a low level of civilization, could not stand the speed. It caused them motion sickness.
To put it bluntly, it was faster than a horse. For two people who have no tolerance for such speed, it was truly a hellish time.
“You two are strange…… On the ship… you were throwing up like that… O~e!”
“This …… isn’t something people should be riding… Ugh!”
“I was thinking that it would take less than 20 minutes to get to the city, though I was anticipating some trouble. Like a wheel falling off…”.
“Well, it’s a motorcycle. It was running over a hundred kilometers, so I guess that’s to be expected, right? More importantly…… let’s do some test runs. If we crash, we’d probably die, right?”
A distance that would take three hours to traverse by carriage doesn’t take much time with a bike. It’s not surprising, since the speeds are so different, though, how the passengers perceive the passage of time is a different matter. For the two of them, the little time they had on the bike at high velocities felt like an eternity, and they were shaking in the sidecar of the bike with no time to enjoy the scenery. It was hard to feel alive.
The sidecar would float as they rounded a corner, occasionally drifting as they glided around it. When the road became a straight line, the speed increased dramatically, which was an experience that Rena and Jane felt terrified of.
It’s the same situation as riding a rollercoaster for the first time, which is a screaming machine that makes many people faint.
The difference between a boat and a motorcycle is obvious, even though they are both vehicles.
“I can see the city, so I guess we should walk there. If we go into the city, there will be a commotion. This is not a horse-drawn carriage, you know”.
“I don’t think either of us can take much more of this. We’ll have plenty of time to get there in time for the reception, and it’s more than three times the size of a horse-drawn carriage, I guess that’s probably what happens when you’re not used to it～…..”
Rena and Jane didn’t have the strength to say much more.
It was all they could do to hold on to their blue faces and follow the old man and Iris.
Zeros, who had been through hell with seasickness, had accidentally given them motion sickness instead.
Twenty minutes later, after walking at a slow pace, the ossan and his companions finally passed through the gates of the city of Stila.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The city of Stila is an academy city.
Surrounding the city are three elementary science academies, three intermediate science academies, and three advanced science academies, and if you include the dormitories where the academy students live, the city boasts a vast area.
The reason why there are three different locations is that they are divided from the poorest class of students to the wealthiest merchants and aristocrats, but that was only a few decades ago.
It’s a good thing that there are mercenary guilds in the city, and ordinary students often use them to earn money for their tuition.
Their activities as mercenaries also have some impact on the academy’s assessments, but since most of them end up going into research positions, there aren’t many students taking advantage of them nowadays. This is another effect of the factional conflicts that have been going on since the beginning.
Instead, there are times when requests to collect medicinal herbs come directly to them. This is why mercenaries gather in this city.
This is mainly to fulfill the escort and collection requests of the students of the academy, but there are also rare requests for test subjects to verify the performance of magic tools. Well, you could call it human experimentation.
In particular, many of them are experiments on the performance of magic potions, but it is also an unpleasant experiment to be forced to drink a magic potion that has been created for the first time. However, since mercenaries have to put their bodies on the line for their work, the magic potions they receive as rewards are very valuable.
For this reason, mercenaries who are in need of money often accept requests from the academy.
For dangerous experiments, criminals are used as test subjects, but after they are confirmed to be safe, mercenaries are allowed to use them for demonstration purposes. If they are successful, they are sold to merchants, and the income from these experiments helps to fund the Academy’s important activities.
Rather than a magic academy, it might be more accurate to say that it is a vocational school that aims to train craftsmen.
This is because most of the graduates become alchemists. There are only a handful of students who serve in the military, Or rather, unable to be. All the government employment opportunities were very competitive.
After walking through the city with a map and enclosed letter in hand, they found the mercenary guild, a building that was somewhat different from the rest of the city.
“So this is the Mercenary Guild~. It’s a pretty impressive building, isn’t it?”
“The Mercenary Guild of Santor is a tavern, no matter how you look at it. …… In the evening the number of drunks increases.”
“Zeros-san, have you ever been to the Mercenary Guild?”
“I visit it often as a tavern, you know? I went there to drink with the dwarves of Hanba Constructions. The food was good, but I don’t know how they can operate as a guild. It’s too rowdy.”
“Well, it’s a place where mercenaries gather. We get into trouble a lot too.”
The building of the Mercenary Guild in the city of Stila had the appearance of a typical family restaurant.
It looked nothing like a mercenary guild, with waitresses carrying trays of food and wives chatting at the tables, probably frequented by the town’s residents.
Although there was a reception desk and a board for posting requests in the back of the building, it was a strange environment for a group of rough-and-tumble mercenaries to enter.
“Speaking of which, Ossan. Do you have your mercenary ID, your guild card?”
“There are several circumstances this time, so I’ve been told that DelSasis-san will prepare them for me. However, I was told that if I don’t give this letter to the Guild Master, I won’t be able to get the guild card.”
“As expected, the duke’s connections are amazing. We’ve been earning money little by little to sign up for the guild…..”
“All that hard work back then seems stupid to me….. Ossan is sneaky”.
“I don’t know how much it costs to sign up, but I’m confident I can make a certain amount of money. I’m not going to do it, though. I don’t want the fame.”
The eyes of the three of them stared at him.
It was not his intention to be obnoxious, but to the three mercenary girls, the ossan was a sarcastic man himself.
However, the online game “Swords and Sorcery” has a ridiculously realistic production system, from items to weapons, and the process is almost the same as in real life.
For example, when forging a sword, if you are careless in the process, you will end up with a crappy sword. The process of forging a sword, for example, is no different from that of a craftsman.
The successes or failures in the production process are judged with such severity that they are comparable to reality.
Sure, Zeros is a cheat at this point, but he has done a lot to deserve it, even in-game. And the results of these efforts are showing up in his current abilities. The result of his research was Magic Alchemy, Iris, who didn’t have a production job, and Jane and the other two, who had spent a lot of time as mercenaries, would not understand.
That’s why the old man has his own skeptical thoughts about the game, but it doesn’t matter to the three of them. It doesn’t change the fact that they think it is sneaky.
Aside from the three who seemed to be resenting him, the ossan walked over to the reception desk.
The person in charge of the reception was a young male employee.
“Excuse me. I’d like to receive a request for a student escort.”
“Yes, no problem. We were scheduled to close this reception a few minutes later, but I’m glad you could make it in time”.
“Oh? I’ve heard that you need a guild card or introduction letter to accept a request, who should I go to for the introduction letter?
“Is that a letter of introduction? May I see it, please?”
“Here’s the letter of introduction. I was told to hand it over to the Guild Master.”
“Please wait a moment…… Th, This is…..”.
The letter that Zeros handed to him is sealed with the family crest of the Dukes of Solisthea.
The man suppresses the shocking realization in his mind and immediately disappears to the door behind him.
“……He seems to have been in such a hurry, right? He had his hands and feet out at the same time, Is it really that amazing?”
“Ossan…. If you received a letter from a duke’s family, you’d usually react like that, right?”
“It seems that Zeros-san doesn’t have any common sense whatsoever, which is a problem.”
“If Rena is telling me that, I think I’m done for……”
It is a little disheartening to have one’s common sense questioned by someone who likes to ‘eat’ young boys.
However, the Ducal House of Solisthea is part of the royal family. It is not unreasonable to think that they would act in a panic even if they pretended to be calm.
Most of the powerful people he knows are businessmen or people related to the royal family, so he cannot certainly recognize the extent of the power of the nobility.
Still, he didn’t even pay attention to it because it didn’t affect his daily life in any way.
The ossan’s mindset seemed to be different from the people in this world. There seems to be a huge difference in the way of thinking between reincarnated people and the inhabitants of this world.
Shortly after, the male employee of the mercenary guild returned with a man in his thirties, who appeared to be very suspicious.
He is a beautiful man, and the way he moves, the floral scent of his perfume, and the makeup he wears make him look physiologically fragile. In other words, he was an “O-ney”.
(*O-ney(オネエ), is a gay, transgender, or bisexual male who talks in a very feminine way. Most of these o-neys’ cross-dress or look very feminine, but some dress masculine. Many people in Japan believe that o-ney and gay are synonyms. However not all gay men talk in a feminine way, and some even prefer to be more masculine. Therefore only parts of the gay population identify themselves as an o-ney).
“You’re the one the Duke recommended to me, Zeros-san~. I’m the one in charge of this guild branch, my name is Seiphon. Nice to meet you~♡!”
“Th, Thank you for the hospitality, Yes, I’m Zeros…. What did DelSasis-dono write? I’m sensing that something’s not right”
“N ~….To put it bluntly, he wants Zeros-san to be granted S-rank mercenary status. That guy is always so outrageously absurd, don’t you think….”
“That guy……? Aside from the S-rank, what is your relationship with DelSasis-dono?”
“Ufufu, Are you curious? The thing is, SE • CR • ET ♡.”
Annoying. And creepy were the only two words to describe it.
He looks like a handsome young man with a clean-cut face, whose behavior is flawless in every move he makes.
While there was no doubt about his ability, it instilled a sense of long-lasting fear.
“I’d like to see how good you are, Zeros-san. From what I’ve seen, you are quite …… strong.”
For a brief moment, he could sense a hint of a sharp blade coming from the “O-ney-san”. He was probably the strongest in the guild.
However. By the ossan standards, he seems to be much more skilled than the mercenaries around him, and yet he doesn’t seem to be much of a threat.
But even so, it is threatening in another way…….
“You mean …… that I should fight you? To speak with the sword?”
“That’s right. It’s been a long time since I had a chance to be in the presence of someone who was better than me. I’m going to get very wet ♡.”
“”What the hell!?””
Seiphon’s gesture of emphasizing his hips was a reminder of something he had forgotten deep inside.
For some reason, the ossan thought he heard the sound effect of a camera angle focused on Seiphon’s private area. ‘Zukyuu~u~u~u~u~u~u~un’.
His instincts told him, ‘Oh shit! Run as faaaaast as you can!’.
From everyone’s point of view, it was a very dangerous situation in many ways.
“I’m a peaceful person.”
“How can someone who survived the Far-Flung forest call himself a peaceful person? That doesn’t sound right, does it?”
“I don’t like it~….. I feel like running away.”
“If you want, we can do it in bed. You can have me from front to back, top to bottom. Then I’ll give you both the guild card and all of my•se•lf ♡.”
“I’ll take the fight challenge…… I’d rather fight than stay in bed.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.”
The ossan made his escape with no second thoughts.
And Seiphon looked deeply disappointed.
‘I’m being targeted!’ That’s what the ossan thought.
“Hold on! Seiphon is …… [Seiphon the Flash]! That’s an S-rank mercenary!”
“Oh? How do you know that, little girl with the huge tits? A lot of people don’t know that these days.”
“I don’t have huge tits! How can anyone not know that you’re the best swordsman in the world, the one who defeated Wyvern and Hell Chimera with your rapier!”
“I remember that time~ ………… It brings back memories.”
Seiphon looks up at the empty space with distant eyes.
‘Seiphon the Flash’.
He was an unknown swordsman until he reached rank S. As soon as he became a mercenary, he emerged as one of the strongest swordsmen in the world, accomplishing difficult requests one after another. His weapon of choice is a slender sword, the rapier, which he uses to accurately pierce vital points.
However, there are rumors that he was given the name “Flash” because of the speed with which he brought many men to his bed in the blink of an eye. Before you know it, you are in bed with him, and he has been known to leave an everlasting scar on your heart. Another nickname for him is “Seiphon the Hundred Slayer”.
It is said that this nickname was given to him because he shared his bed with a hundred people, but no one has ever confirmed the truth.
His identity was shrouded in a veil of mystery, but no one pursued him deeply. It’s because they are afraid. ……
“Ossan, don’t do it! You’re up against the wrong guy.”
“I wish I could, but…… I need that guild card…..”
“It’s a whole other level of bad. If you’re not careful, you might get dragged into the world of roses.”
“Ojisan…… do you know how to concoct a hemorrhoid potion? If you lose, he’ll take you into his bed.”
“If I could, I would refrain from doing so…… I hate you, DelSasis-dono……”
He was a greater threat than the white monkeys from before.
However, a guild card is required to receive escort requests, and now he regrets that he registered as a mercenary. It was a painful mistake, ossan.
Well, no one would expect to meet an o-ney.
“So let’s have some fun. I’ll show you the way, okay? The back of the building is a training ground, so I can see what you’re capable of.”
“Now…… isn’t there something wrong with the way you said that? What are you aiming for?”
“・・・・・・ It’s all in your head. That’s not possible.”
“There was a long pause before you answered.”
“It’s all in your head. Just your imagination ♡.”
The ossan followed him to the training grounds in the back of the building as he led them. However, even while doing so, a chill ran down his spine and he could not get rid of it.
The scene at the training ground was really deserted, and there were not many people using it. At best, there were only new mercenaries learning the basics.
“What about weapons? Do we use the training swords? As long as they don’t break, you can use them.”
“They’re supposed to be replaceable, but if they break, don’t we have to pay for them?”
“Even though we are a mercenary guild, we still have to use our operational funds to cover our expenses. It doesn’t matter how many of these items are used, they won’t be easy to break.”
“It’s a harsh world…… Is there an economic downturn everywhere? Replenishing supplies is a necessary expense.”
“It can’t be helped because the earnings are too low. If the mercenaries were good enough to hunt in Far-Flung forest, the guild wouldn’t have to open a restaurant~.”
Apparently, they were operating the restaurant in order to earn money.
As the quality of the monsters dropped, it was only natural that the guild’s profits would be comparatively low. In addition, the mercenaries’ skills are not that great.
The monsters in this area rarely even possess magic stones.
“It can’t be helped. Let’s use our own weapons. ……”
“Ufufu, let me have some fun. If you can beat me, you can have me till mor•ni•ng ♡.”
“Can I lose on purpose?”
“Then, you’ll have to entertain me, right? Also, it’s a good idea to stay up until morning…..”
“Win or lose, it’s still hell, isn’t it?”
He really hoped it was a joke if possible.
But unfortunately, Seiphon seemed to be completely serious in every sense of the word.
“I don’t need anything but my guild card. It’s a one-time thing anyway.”
“Oh my ~, did you hate me? I’m not sure what to make of it, but I’m sure it’s worth it. It is unheard of for a card to be issued in such an uncommon situation like this.”
“Well, that’s fine. As for me, I don’t need anything but the card.”
“Ufufu…… I’ll let you witness. The power of the most powerful Mage….”
At first, the young mercenaries in training and the staff member playing the role of instructor wanted to watch, thinking that it would be a rare opportunity to see the Guild Master’s fight, but as soon as the two-faced each other, the atmosphere of the place changed.
As soon as the two faced each other, the air in the training hall changed into cold and heavy.
Iris and the other onlookers, as well as the other mercenaries who were training around them, felt so heavy that they couldn’t breathe. It was as if a vicious beast was confronting them.
The ossan was holding a combat knife in both hands, and Seiphon was simply holding his favorite rapier drawn and ready, but he didn’t move a muscle, as if time had stopped.
“What …… is this?”
“The air is…… heavy. And they don’t make a move…..”
“It’s not that they’re not movin’……. You can’t move….. I didn’t think the old man was such a monster…..”
“Ojisan is not weak……? Because they don’t call him ‘the annihilator’ for nothing.”
“That’s one hell of a nickname…… I have no idea how good he actually is at all…… I can’t wait for this to end.”
This is the first time Jane and the others have seen a glimpse of the ‘Annihilator”s strength.
He holds a knife in his hand in a casual manner, and even though he’s just standing there, they can’t take their eyes off him.
This is similar to a situation where you are dealing with a strong monster, which is an experience accumulated from being a mercenary. If you let go of your eyes, the next move will be your death.
“Ufufu….. Really, who knew it would be like this…. The world is a big place. I’m starting to feel a little tingly”.
“That sounds like fun. So? In this case, should I be the one to make the first move?”
“I’d love to, but unfortunately I don’t think I can afford it. It’s been years since I felt challenged.”
“How about I toss the coin and we make our move when it hits the ground?”
“That’s a great idea, handsome. I’m getting tingly…..”.
The ossan put his knife back in its sheath and took out a copper coin from his pocket and flicked it with his thumb.
The coin fell between the two of them, but from the perspective of the two people who were facing each other, it looked like it was falling very slowly. As soon as the copper coin fell to the ground, the two of them moved.
The silence of the previous moment was replaced by a violent, high-speed movement. The metallic sound that echoed at the same time was caused by them slashing at each other with their weapons.
The rapier, a weapon with a long reach, specializes in thrusting, but the swordsman can defend with a dagger called a Main-gauche*, turning it into an offensive and defensive sword technique.
(*Main-gauche, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrying_dagger)
In contrast, Zeros, who fights with a combat knife, uses it not only as a knife but also in combination with the knuckle guard attached to the grip to counter and add fighting skills to adapt to the situation.
Even though his thrusts were blocked, he was able to intercept the ossan’s attempts to gain an advantage and keep him inside.
The two sides continued to exchange blows, with neither side having any decisive moves.
“Wow…… Who the hell is that ossan?….”
“He’s on equal footing with The Guild Master…… He’s got some serious skills.”
The people watching gasped.
The match between the two skilled fighters was such an intense sight that it rendered them speechless.
It wasn’t long before the situation changed as they were slashing at each other.
When Seiphon, who was engaged in close combat, suddenly jumped backward, a deep crack appeared in the ground where he had been. It’s a skill that Zeros used to use, ‘Aerial-Kick’.
He had no choice but to jump back as he was hit with a sudden, no-motion attack aimed at his feet. But then Seiphon instantly accelerated, closing the gap and hitting Zeros with a sharp thrust.
“！？”
But as he was about to attack, Seiphon suddenly sidestepped away from Zeros and smiled wryly, his forehead sweating.
“You’re horrible, ……. I can’t believe you went for ‘Weapon Break’ in that situation. ……”
“You’re also amazing for noticing that. I was aiming for a counter, but you saw right through me….”
“It was a close call, to be honest. I’m not sure if the ‘Aerial-Kick’ aimed at my feet was a ploy to destroy my weapon?”
“I wonder. What’s the point if you notice?”
Just as Seiphon was about to unleash his thrust, Zeros stuck his fist in front of his knuckle guard. If he hadn’t noticed, there was a good chance that his rapier would have been destroyed.
It was one of those situations where a little carelessness could be fatal.
“I never thought I’d use [Fang Slayer] in this way….. Honestly, it’s terrifying.”
“If you’re exposed, it won’t matter. Well, let’s see how it goes.”
“I hate to break it to you, but that’s not how a mage fights.”
“I’m not a proper mage. I’ll use any means available to me, no matter how despicable.”
“It’s getting better and better…… It’s gonna get really hOooooot!!”
As soon as Seiphon’s body moves, multiple figures of him appear.
He then unleashes a series of thrusting attacks, all of which are deflected by the combat knife.
However, this left him on the defensive.
“Huh, ‘Phantom Thrush’! But …….”
“No way…… Ossan, you’re parrying everything with a knife, right?”
The thrusts were delivered in rapid succession, and should he avoid them, he would be vulnerable to attack.
However, the ossan responded to this differently.
Seiphon was astonished at the way he responded.
“What the!?”
Zeros attacked the rapier using the same technique and began to prevent the attack by hitting the tip of the rapier with the tip of his knife.
This is the ‘Pointed Strike’ that combines martial arts, swordsmanship, and precision. However, this is not where it ends for the ‘Annihilator’.
The rapier is classified as a one-handed sword, and it is used to protect oneself with the main-gauche, in other words, it is a rigid sword technique. The rapier is the main means of attack, and the Main-gauche’s role is no different from that of a shield.
It looks like two different styles of swordsmanship, but in reality, it is a combination of one style and two styles of swordsmanship.
If you want to attack with a Main-gauche, your attack will be a step lower because it is not your dominant arm. It was easy to see through.
The moment Seiphon realized the knife suddenly approaching in front of him, and hastily turned his head away, he grabbed the knife thrown by Zeros, who had moved with ‘Swift Movement’ and thrust the second knife at his neck.
No one would expect a knife to come flying at them without a preliminary movement, but their physical ability to catch up with the knife was also extraordinary. The next thing he knew, he had two knives pointed at his neck.
“The swordsmanship and assassination techniques used here are ‘Instantaneous Soaring Fangs’……. You’re looking less and less like a mage, aren’t you?”
“I’m a mage. In a sense, I guess.”
Zeros, who once had single-handedly intercepted and instantly killed PKers.
Even when up against world-famous people in this world, he was still victorious.
“It’s my fault for being so hot and careless. …… You are no doubt an S-rank. Maybe even more than that.”
“Rank doesn’t mean anything, though~. I’m a mage, remember?”
“I don’t know how to say this…… I’m also an S ranked, but I was treated so lightly…..”
“No, no, no. Honestly, it was really tough. I am too old for this.”
“I don’t know. From what I’ve seen, you look as if you have plenty of room to spare.”
The old man was taking him seriously, but halfway through he realized that he had more than enough to spare.
He understood that Seiphon was also wielding his sword seriously, but he was astonished to find that his own abilities were much higher than that. From the old man’s point of view, there was not much difference between an S rank and an ordinary person.
The fact that his level was over 1,800 was not a fluke, but even so, he was overwhelmed and confused. He didn’t know how much of a difference there was in their abilities.
He was overwhelmed by his own power.
“I don’t really know what my standards are…… I’m pretty sure I took you seriously, but…”
“The world really is wide! You are the fifth person who is stronger than me now? You’re also much stronger than the rest of them.”
“There aren’t many people in this country who are stronger than me, okay? Zeros-san is the strongest of them all ♡.”
“Can you please stop looking at me like a lovesick maiden……”
“I can’t. Because….. I just had a huge boner.”
— Zugya~aaaaaaaaaaaan!!
This time, sure enough, the sound effects burst from the center point of his lower body as he posed distressingly in the camera angle.
And the ossan runs away. That’s it, at full speed …….
“Mou, You’re such a shy person. That’s nice, Lovely.”
“…… No, I hated that guy wholeheartedly, you know?”
“Zeros-san …… You’ll have to watch your butt. If you give him an opening, he’ll ‘eat you’…..”
“I don’t think we want to hear that from you, Rena, okay? Ojisan… you won’t be coming back here…..”
Just as Iris had said, the ossan never came back.
He fled to the inn that DelSasis had provided. It was also to escape from the guild’s o-ney……
Eventually, Zeros’s guild card was issued, but it was at the inn that he got it. Naturally, it was Iris and the others who came to take the card.
Fortunately, the inn where they were to stay had been decided, and the three mercenaries were able to meet up with Zeros without any problems. However, the ossan said he was unusually frightened when he got the card.
He remembered the nightmare from a few months ago and cursed the absurdity of this world.
Zeros was in trouble again but in a different way.
In any case, the ossan was able to register as a mercenary.
His rank was S, but that was probably reasonable. In this way, he was able to receive the escort mission for the academy’s annual practical field training.
Later, the ossan would become famous for a time as the mage who defeated the S-ranked mercenaries, but that’s another story.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Meanwhile, while Zeros was confronting the S-rank o-ney, The cuckoos and the others were waiting in front of the reception desk.
“U wa~a～♡, handsome, beautiful body hair …… and fluffy, too!”
“I’ve heard that cuckoos are fierce, but they’re so cute when you look at them closely.”
“What can I say about this cute guy? Yes, he exudes dignity, and he looks stronger than all the men around us ♡.”
They were surrounded by the female staff and were popular with them.
“Koke~……. (What’s with all the …… embarrassment?).”
“Koko… koke~ (I’m not very good at this kind of thing……).”
“Koke, kokoke~ (We are sinners, aren’t we? I didn’t think that we would be able to captivate females beyond our species…).”
No matter how vicious they evolve, they are still just chickens as long as they keep quiet.
Moreover, thanks to Zeros’ care, their feathers were glossy and looked graceful.
Their feathers are different from the wild cuckoos found in farmhouses.
“Why can’t we take the commission! I told you there was an accident!”
“That’s not what I’m saying. It’s the …… rules.”
“You gotta be fucking kidding me! Who do you think you’re talking to.”
It seems that the receptionist has closed the request for escorting students from the Academy because the number of participants has reached a certain level, and the mercenaries who came behind are complaining about it.
They looked like mercenaries, probably from outside the city of Stila, and they grabbed the male staff member by the chest and started to have a go at him.
――― Kyupi ――――――――― n! !
As soon as they saw it, the eyes of the cocos turned into those of a bird in search of prey.
“”Koke~e! ! (Defeat!!)””
It was over in an instant.
In the blink of an eye, the grown men were lifted into the air and beaten almost to the point of death by the powerful blows and slashes. It was an instant kill.
“Koke…… (I cut up something insignificant……).”
“Koke, kokoke, kokkoke? (Zan Kei, did you slash him? For that matter, when did you learn how to fight, Sen Kei? The last time I saw you, you were poorly trained……).”
“Kokekokko, koke! (I can’t fight with just a bow. I was trained by Master for self-defense as well).”
“Koke, kokokokokke~e (I didn’t slash the guy, okay? Though I did cut up the clothes he was wearing……).”
Those mercenaries, some had their equipment slashed into tiny pieces and were completely naked, while others were so swollen all over that they could be mistaken for an obese person.
The strength of these chickens has increased dramatically from before.
A heavy silence filled the air, except for the three birds.
The eyes of all the guild employees were focused on the three birds.
And ……
“””Ki ~yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~ ♡”””
The crowd explodes in a loud yellow cheer.
“The Cuckoos, they’re so strong!”
“They were able to finish off the bad mercenaries in the blink of an eye. So cute and strong!”
“I’d cuddle them if they were human ♡.”
The cuckoos have become very popular.
After that, the three birds are surrounded by female employees until the ossan runs away at full speed.
A month later, there would be more mercenaries with Wild Cuckoo, but it didn’t matter.
Whatever the case, the three birds, Wu Kei, Zan Kei, and Sen Kei, had created a legend.
As the ‘Three Warrior Chickens’ that defeated the mercenaries in the blink of an eye…….
This is where the legend of the martial artist Cuckoos begins, but it doesn’t really matter.
Ossan Crossed Swords with S-Ranked Guildmaster
Translator: OssanTL
Proofreader: Enkiros
Zeros stops his magic-powered motorcycle on a hill just before reaching the city of Steeler.
As it turned out, they had to walk from there to the city, but before they could enter, there was one problem.
“Ugh! *gibberish*……..”.
“I think I’m gonna throw up. …… U ~e ~!”.
Rena and Jane got motion sickness spectacularly.
They had never gotten sick on the ship, but they couldn’t stand the rough road at 120 kilometers per hour.
Well, they slowed down at the curve, but it still seemed to be too much for the two of them to bear.
“I didn’t think the two of you would have any problem with vehicles. You never got sick on the boat……”.
“That’s right. We just rode in a straight line on the road, you know?”
“Where is the…… ugh! It shook like hell……”
“It was scary…… I was being shaken over and over again and driving through the twists and turns at a high speed…… Ugh…”
Indeed, the road is not straight, and occasionally the curves and bumps may shake the vehicle.
Even though the road was paved, it was still very rough, with cobblestones and ruts on the slopes, and they were passing merchants’ wagons on the road at high speed.
The two of them, who had grown up in a world with a low level of civilization, could not stand the speed. It caused them motion sickness.
To put it bluntly, it was faster than a horse. For two people who have no tolerance for such speed, it was truly a hellish time.
“You two are strange…… On the ship… you were throwing up like that… O~e!”
“This …… isn’t something people should be riding… Ugh!”
“I was thinking that it would take less than 20 minutes to get to the city, though I was anticipating some trouble. Like a wheel falling off…”.
“Well, it’s a motorcycle. It was running over a hundred kilometers, so I guess that’s to be expected, right? More importantly…… let’s do some test runs. If we crash, we’d probably die, right?”
A distance that would take three hours to traverse by carriage doesn’t take much time with a bike. It’s not surprising, since the speeds are so different, though, how the passengers perceive the passage of time is a different matter. For the two of them, the little time they had on the bike at high velocities felt like an eternity, and they were shaking in the sidecar of the bike with no time to enjoy the scenery. It was hard to feel alive.
The sidecar would float as they rounded a corner, occasionally drifting as they glided around it. When the road became a straight line, the speed increased dramatically, which was an experience that Rena and Jane felt terrified of.
It’s the same situation as riding a rollercoaster for the first time, which is a screaming machine that makes many people faint.
The difference between a boat and a motorcycle is obvious, even though they are both vehicles.
“I can see the city, so I guess we should walk there. If we go into the city, there will be a commotion. This is not a horse-drawn carriage, you know”.
“I don’t think either of us can take much more of this. We’ll have plenty of time to get there in time for the reception, and it’s more than three times the size of a horse-drawn carriage, I guess that’s probably what happens when you’re not used to it～…..”
Rena and Jane didn’t have the strength to say much more.
It was all they could do to hold on to their blue faces and follow the old man and Iris.
Zeros, who had been through hell with seasickness, had accidentally given them motion sickness instead.
Twenty minutes later, after walking at a slow pace, the ossan and his companions finally passed through the gates of the city of Stila.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The city of Stila is an academy city.
Surrounding the city are three elementary science academies, three intermediate science academies, and three advanced science academies, and if you include the dormitories where the academy students live, the city boasts a vast area.
The reason why there are three different locations is that they are divided from the poorest class of students to the wealthiest merchants and aristocrats, but that was only a few decades ago.
It’s a good thing that there are mercenary guilds in the city, and ordinary students often use them to earn money for their tuition.
Their activities as mercenaries also have some impact on the academy’s assessments, but since most of them end up going into research positions, there aren’t many students taking advantage of them nowadays. This is another effect of the factional conflicts that have been going on since the beginning.
Instead, there are times when requests to collect medicinal herbs come directly to them. This is why mercenaries gather in this city.
This is mainly to fulfill the escort and collection requests of the students of the academy, but there are also rare requests for test subjects to verify the performance of magic tools. Well, you could call it human experimentation.
In particular, many of them are experiments on the performance of magic potions, but it is also an unpleasant experiment to be forced to drink a magic potion that has been created for the first time. However, since mercenaries have to put their bodies on the line for their work, the magic potions they receive as rewards are very valuable.
For this reason, mercenaries who are in need of money often accept requests from the academy.
For dangerous experiments, criminals are used as test subjects, but after they are confirmed to be safe, mercenaries are allowed to use them for demonstration purposes. If they are successful, they are sold to merchants, and the income from these experiments helps to fund the Academy’s important activities.
Rather than a magic academy, it might be more accurate to say that it is a vocational school that aims to train craftsmen.
This is because most of the graduates become alchemists. There are only a handful of students who serve in the military, Or rather, unable to be. All the government employment opportunities were very competitive.
After walking through the city with a map and enclosed letter in hand, they found the mercenary guild, a building that was somewhat different from the rest of the city.
“So this is the Mercenary Guild~. It’s a pretty impressive building, isn’t it?”
“The Mercenary Guild of Santor is a tavern, no matter how you look at it. …… In the evening the number of drunks increases.”
“Zeros-san, have you ever been to the Mercenary Guild?”
“I visit it often as a tavern, you know? I went there to drink with the dwarves of Hanba Constructions. The food was good, but I don’t know how they can operate as a guild. It’s too rowdy.”
“Well, it’s a place where mercenaries gather. We get into trouble a lot too.”
The building of the Mercenary Guild in the city of Stila had the appearance of a typical family restaurant.
It looked nothing like a mercenary guild, with waitresses carrying trays of food and wives chatting at the tables, probably frequented by the town’s residents.
Although there was a reception desk and a board for posting requests in the back of the building, it was a strange environment for a group of rough-and-tumble mercenaries to enter.
“Speaking of which, Ossan. Do you have your mercenary ID, your guild card?”
“There are several circumstances this time, so I’ve been told that DelSasis-san will prepare them for me. However, I was told that if I don’t give this letter to the Guild Master, I won’t be able to get the guild card.”
“As expected, the duke’s connections are amazing. We’ve been earning money little by little to sign up for the guild…..”
“All that hard work back then seems stupid to me….. Ossan is sneaky”.
“I don’t know how much it costs to sign up, but I’m confident I can make a certain amount of money. I’m not going to do it, though. I don’t want the fame.”
The eyes of the three of them stared at him.
It was not his intention to be obnoxious, but to the three mercenary girls, the ossan was a sarcastic man himself.
However, the online game “Swords and Sorcery” has a ridiculously realistic production system, from items to weapons, and the process is almost the same as in real life.
For example, when forging a sword, if you are careless in the process, you will end up with a crappy sword. The process of forging a sword, for example, is no different from that of a craftsman.
The successes or failures in the production process are judged with such severity that they are comparable to reality.
Sure, Zeros is a cheat at this point, but he has done a lot to deserve it, even in-game. And the results of these efforts are showing up in his current abilities. The result of his research was Magic Alchemy, Iris, who didn’t have a production job, and Jane and the other two, who had spent a lot of time as mercenaries, would not understand.
That’s why the old man has his own skeptical thoughts about the game, but it doesn’t matter to the three of them. It doesn’t change the fact that they think it is sneaky.
Aside from the three who seemed to be resenting him, the ossan walked over to the reception desk.
The person in charge of the reception was a young male employee.
“Excuse me. I’d like to receive a request for a student escort.”
“Yes, no problem. We were scheduled to close this reception a few minutes later, but I’m glad you could make it in time”.
“Oh? I’ve heard that you need a guild card or introduction letter to accept a request, who should I go to for the introduction letter?
“Is that a letter of introduction? May I see it, please?”
“Here’s the letter of introduction. I was told to hand it over to the Guild Master.”
“Please wait a moment…… Th, This is…..”.
The letter that Zeros handed to him is sealed with the family crest of the Dukes of Solisthea.
The man suppresses the shocking realization in his mind and immediately disappears to the door behind him.
“……He seems to have been in such a hurry, right? He had his hands and feet out at the same time, Is it really that amazing?”
“Ossan…. If you received a letter from a duke’s family, you’d usually react like that, right?”
“It seems that Zeros-san doesn’t have any common sense whatsoever, which is a problem.”
“If Rena is telling me that, I think I’m done for……”
It is a little disheartening to have one’s common sense questioned by someone who likes to ‘eat’ young boys.
However, the Ducal House of Solisthea is part of the royal family. It is not unreasonable to think that they would act in a panic even if they pretended to be calm.
Most of the powerful people he knows are businessmen or people related to the royal family, so he cannot certainly recognize the extent of the power of the nobility.
Still, he didn’t even pay attention to it because it didn’t affect his daily life in any way.
The ossan’s mindset seemed to be different from the people in this world. There seems to be a huge difference in the way of thinking between reincarnated people and the inhabitants of this world.
Shortly after, the male employee of the mercenary guild returned with a man in his thirties, who appeared to be very suspicious.
He is a beautiful man, and the way he moves, the floral scent of his perfume, and the makeup he wears make him look physiologically fragile. In other words, he was an “O-ney”.
(*O-ney(オネエ), is a gay, transgender, or bisexual male who talks in a very feminine way. Most of these o-neys’ cross-dress or look very feminine, but some dress masculine. Many people in Japan believe that o-ney and gay are synonyms. However not all gay men talk in a feminine way, and some even prefer to be more masculine. Therefore only parts of the gay population identify themselves as an o-ney).
“You’re the one the Duke recommended to me, Zeros-san~. I’m the one in charge of this guild branch, my name is Seiphon. Nice to meet you~♡!”
“Th, Thank you for the hospitality, Yes, I’m Zeros…. What did DelSasis-dono write? I’m sensing that something’s not right”
“N ~….To put it bluntly, he wants Zeros-san to be granted S-rank mercenary status. That guy is always so outrageously absurd, don’t you think….”
“That guy……? Aside from the S-rank, what is your relationship with DelSasis-dono?”
“Ufufu, Are you curious? The thing is, SE • CR • ET ♡.”
Annoying. And creepy were the only two words to describe it.
He looks like a handsome young man with a clean-cut face, whose behavior is flawless in every move he makes.
While there was no doubt about his ability, it instilled a sense of long-lasting fear.
“I’d like to see how good you are, Zeros-san. From what I’ve seen, you are quite …… strong.”
For a brief moment, he could sense a hint of a sharp blade coming from the “O-ney-san”. He was probably the strongest in the guild.
However. By the ossan standards, he seems to be much more skilled than the mercenaries around him, and yet he doesn’t seem to be much of a threat.
But even so, it is threatening in another way…….
“You mean …… that I should fight you? To speak with the sword?”
“That’s right. It’s been a long time since I had a chance to be in the presence of someone who was better than me. I’m going to get very wet ♡.”
“”What the hell!?””
Seiphon’s gesture of emphasizing his hips was a reminder of something he had forgotten deep inside.
For some reason, the ossan thought he heard the sound effect of a camera angle focused on Seiphon’s private area. ‘Zukyuu~u~u~u~u~u~u~un’.
His instincts told him, ‘Oh shit! Run as faaaaast as you can!’.
From everyone’s point of view, it was a very dangerous situation in many ways.
“I’m a peaceful person.”
“How can someone who survived the Far-Flung forest call himself a peaceful person? That doesn’t sound right, does it?”
“I don’t like it~….. I feel like running away.”
“If you want, we can do it in bed. You can have me from front to back, top to bottom. Then I’ll give you both the guild card and all of my•se•lf ♡.”
“I’ll take the fight challenge…… I’d rather fight than stay in bed.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.”
The ossan made his escape with no second thoughts.
And Seiphon looked deeply disappointed.
‘I’m being targeted!’ That’s what the ossan thought.
“Hold on! Seiphon is …… [Seiphon the Flash]! That’s an S-rank mercenary!”
“Oh? How do you know that, little girl with the huge tits? A lot of people don’t know that these days.”
“I don’t have huge tits! How can anyone not know that you’re the best swordsman in the world, the one who defeated Wyvern and Hell Chimera with your rapier!”
“I remember that time~ ………… It brings back memories.”
Seiphon looks up at the empty space with distant eyes.
‘Seiphon the Flash’.
He was an unknown swordsman until he reached rank S. As soon as he became a mercenary, he emerged as one of the strongest swordsmen in the world, accomplishing difficult requests one after another. His weapon of choice is a slender sword, the rapier, which he uses to accurately pierce vital points.
However, there are rumors that he was given the name “Flash” because of the speed with which he brought many men to his bed in the blink of an eye. Before you know it, you are in bed with him, and he has been known to leave an everlasting scar on your heart. Another nickname for him is “Seiphon the Hundred Slayer”.
It is said that this nickname was given to him because he shared his bed with a hundred people, but no one has ever confirmed the truth.
His identity was shrouded in a veil of mystery, but no one pursued him deeply. It’s because they are afraid. ……
“Ossan, don’t do it! You’re up against the wrong guy.”
“I wish I could, but…… I need that guild card…..”
“It’s a whole other level of bad. If you’re not careful, you might get dragged into the world of roses.”
“Ojisan…… do you know how to concoct a hemorrhoid potion? If you lose, he’ll take you into his bed.”
“If I could, I would refrain from doing so…… I hate you, DelSasis-dono……”
He was a greater threat than the white monkeys from before.
However, a guild card is required to receive escort requests, and now he regrets that he registered as a mercenary. It was a painful mistake, ossan.
Well, no one would expect to meet an o-ney.
“So let’s have some fun. I’ll show you the way, okay? The back of the building is a training ground, so I can see what you’re capable of.”
“Now…… isn’t there something wrong with the way you said that? What are you aiming for?”
“・・・・・・ It’s all in your head. That’s not possible.”
“There was a long pause before you answered.”
“It’s all in your head. Just your imagination ♡.”
The ossan followed him to the training grounds in the back of the building as he led them. However, even while doing so, a chill ran down his spine and he could not get rid of it.
The scene at the training ground was really deserted, and there were not many people using it. At best, there were only new mercenaries learning the basics.
“What about weapons? Do we use the training swords? As long as they don’t break, you can use them.”
“They’re supposed to be replaceable, but if they break, don’t we have to pay for them?”
“Even though we are a mercenary guild, we still have to use our operational funds to cover our expenses. It doesn’t matter how many of these items are used, they won’t be easy to break.”
“It’s a harsh world…… Is there an economic downturn everywhere? Replenishing supplies is a necessary expense.”
“It can’t be helped because the earnings are too low. If the mercenaries were good enough to hunt in Far-Flung forest, the guild wouldn’t have to open a restaurant~.”
Apparently, they were operating the restaurant in order to earn money.
As the quality of the monsters dropped, it was only natural that the guild’s profits would be comparatively low. In addition, the mercenaries’ skills are not that great.
The monsters in this area rarely even possess magic stones.
“It can’t be helped. Let’s use our own weapons. ……”
“Ufufu, let me have some fun. If you can beat me, you can have me till mor•ni•ng ♡.”
“Can I lose on purpose?”
“Then, you’ll have to entertain me, right? Also, it’s a good idea to stay up until morning…..”
“Win or lose, it’s still hell, isn’t it?”
He really hoped it was a joke if possible.
But unfortunately, Seiphon seemed to be completely serious in every sense of the word.
“I don’t need anything but my guild card. It’s a one-time thing anyway.”
“Oh my ~, did you hate me? I’m not sure what to make of it, but I’m sure it’s worth it. It is unheard of for a card to be issued in such an uncommon situation like this.”
“Well, that’s fine. As for me, I don’t need anything but the card.”
“Ufufu…… I’ll let you witness. The power of the most powerful Mage….”
At first, the young mercenaries in training and the staff member playing the role of instructor wanted to watch, thinking that it would be a rare opportunity to see the Guild Master’s fight, but as soon as the two-faced each other, the atmosphere of the place changed.
As soon as the two faced each other, the air in the training hall changed into cold and heavy.
Iris and the other onlookers, as well as the other mercenaries who were training around them, felt so heavy that they couldn’t breathe. It was as if a vicious beast was confronting them.
The ossan was holding a combat knife in both hands, and Seiphon was simply holding his favorite rapier drawn and ready, but he didn’t move a muscle, as if time had stopped.
“What …… is this?”
“The air is…… heavy. And they don’t make a move…..”
“It’s not that they’re not movin’……. You can’t move….. I didn’t think the old man was such a monster…..”
“Ojisan is not weak……? Because they don’t call him ‘the annihilator’ for nothing.”
“That’s one hell of a nickname…… I have no idea how good he actually is at all…… I can’t wait for this to end.”
This is the first time Jane and the others have seen a glimpse of the ‘Annihilator”s strength.
He holds a knife in his hand in a casual manner, and even though he’s just standing there, they can’t take their eyes off him.
This is similar to a situation where you are dealing with a strong monster, which is an experience accumulated from being a mercenary. If you let go of your eyes, the next move will be your death.
“Ufufu….. Really, who knew it would be like this…. The world is a big place. I’m starting to feel a little tingly”.
“That sounds like fun. So? In this case, should I be the one to make the first move?”
“I’d love to, but unfortunately I don’t think I can afford it. It’s been years since I felt challenged.”
“How about I toss the coin and we make our move when it hits the ground?”
“That’s a great idea, handsome. I’m getting tingly…..”.
The ossan put his knife back in its sheath and took out a copper coin from his pocket and flicked it with his thumb.
The coin fell between the two of them, but from the perspective of the two people who were facing each other, it looked like it was falling very slowly. As soon as the copper coin fell to the ground, the two of them moved.
The silence of the previous moment was replaced by a violent, high-speed movement. The metallic sound that echoed at the same time was caused by them slashing at each other with their weapons.
The rapier, a weapon with a long reach, specializes in thrusting, but the swordsman can defend with a dagger called a Main-gauche*, turning it into an offensive and defensive sword technique.
(*Main-gauche, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrying_dagger)
In contrast, Zeros, who fights with a combat knife, uses it not only as a knife but also in combination with the knuckle guard attached to the grip to counter and add fighting skills to adapt to the situation.
Even though his thrusts were blocked, he was able to intercept the ossan’s attempts to gain an advantage and keep him inside.
The two sides continued to exchange blows, with neither side having any decisive moves.
“Wow…… Who the hell is that ossan?….”
“He’s on equal footing with The Guild Master…… He’s got some serious skills.”
The people watching gasped.
The match between the two skilled fighters was such an intense sight that it rendered them speechless.
It wasn’t long before the situation changed as they were slashing at each other.
When Seiphon, who was engaged in close combat, suddenly jumped backward, a deep crack appeared in the ground where he had been. It’s a skill that Zeros used to use, ‘Aerial-Kick’.
He had no choice but to jump back as he was hit with a sudden, no-motion attack aimed at his feet. But then Seiphon instantly accelerated, closing the gap and hitting Zeros with a sharp thrust.
“！？”
But as he was about to attack, Seiphon suddenly sidestepped away from Zeros and smiled wryly, his forehead sweating.
“You’re horrible, ……. I can’t believe you went for ‘Weapon Break’ in that situation. ……”
“You’re also amazing for noticing that. I was aiming for a counter, but you saw right through me….”
“It was a close call, to be honest. I’m not sure if the ‘Aerial-Kick’ aimed at my feet was a ploy to destroy my weapon?”
“I wonder. What’s the point if you notice?”
Just as Seiphon was about to unleash his thrust, Zeros stuck his fist in front of his knuckle guard. If he hadn’t noticed, there was a good chance that his rapier would have been destroyed.
It was one of those situations where a little carelessness could be fatal.
“I never thought I’d use [Fang Slayer] in this way….. Honestly, it’s terrifying.”
“If you’re exposed, it won’t matter. Well, let’s see how it goes.”
“I hate to break it to you, but that’s not how a mage fights.”
“I’m not a proper mage. I’ll use any means available to me, no matter how despicable.”
“It’s getting better and better…… It’s gonna get really hOooooot!!”
As soon as Seiphon’s body moves, multiple figures of him appear.
He then unleashes a series of thrusting attacks, all of which are deflected by the combat knife.
However, this left him on the defensive.
“Huh, ‘Phantom Thrush’! But …….”
“No way…… Ossan, you’re parrying everything with a knife, right?”
The thrusts were delivered in rapid succession, and should he avoid them, he would be vulnerable to attack.
However, the ossan responded to this differently.
Seiphon was astonished at the way he responded.
“What the!?”
Zeros attacked the rapier using the same technique and began to prevent the attack by hitting the tip of the rapier with the tip of his knife.
This is the ‘Pointed Strike’ that combines martial arts, swordsmanship, and precision. However, this is not where it ends for the ‘Annihilator’.
The rapier is classified as a one-handed sword, and it is used to protect oneself with the main-gauche, in other words, it is a rigid sword technique. The rapier is the main means of attack, and the Main-gauche’s role is no different from that of a shield.
It looks like two different styles of swordsmanship, but in reality, it is a combination of one style and two styles of swordsmanship.
If you want to attack with a Main-gauche, your attack will be a step lower because it is not your dominant arm. It was easy to see through.
The moment Seiphon realized the knife suddenly approaching in front of him, and hastily turned his head away, he grabbed the knife thrown by Zeros, who had moved with ‘Swift Movement’ and thrust the second knife at his neck.
No one would expect a knife to come flying at them without a preliminary movement, but their physical ability to catch up with the knife was also extraordinary. The next thing he knew, he had two knives pointed at his neck.
“The swordsmanship and assassination techniques used here are ‘Instantaneous Soaring Fangs’……. You’re looking less and less like a mage, aren’t you?”
“I’m a mage. In a sense, I guess.”
Zeros, who once had single-handedly intercepted and instantly killed PKers.
Even when up against world-famous people in this world, he was still victorious.
“It’s my fault for being so hot and careless. …… You are no doubt an S-rank. Maybe even more than that.”
“Rank doesn’t mean anything, though~. I’m a mage, remember?”
“I don’t know how to say this…… I’m also an S ranked, but I was treated so lightly…..”
“No, no, no. Honestly, it was really tough. I am too old for this.”
“I don’t know. From what I’ve seen, you look as if you have plenty of room to spare.”
The old man was taking him seriously, but halfway through he realized that he had more than enough to spare.
He understood that Seiphon was also wielding his sword seriously, but he was astonished to find that his own abilities were much higher than that. From the old man’s point of view, there was not much difference between an S rank and an ordinary person.
The fact that his level was over 1,800 was not a fluke, but even so, he was overwhelmed and confused. He didn’t know how much of a difference there was in their abilities.
He was overwhelmed by his own power.
“I don’t really know what my standards are…… I’m pretty sure I took you seriously, but…”
“The world really is wide! You are the fifth person who is stronger than me now? You’re also much stronger than the rest of them.”
“There aren’t many people in this country who are stronger than me, okay? Zeros-san is the strongest of them all ♡.”
“Can you please stop looking at me like a lovesick maiden……”
“I can’t. Because….. I just had a huge boner.”
— Zugya~aaaaaaaaaaaan!!
This time, sure enough, the sound effects burst from the center point of his lower body as he posed distressingly in the camera angle.
And the ossan runs away. That’s it, at full speed …….
“Mou, You’re such a shy person. That’s nice, Lovely.”
“…… No, I hated that guy wholeheartedly, you know?”
“Zeros-san …… You’ll have to watch your butt. If you give him an opening, he’ll ‘eat you’…..”
“I don’t think we want to hear that from you, Rena, okay? Ojisan… you won’t be coming back here…..”
Just as Iris had said, the ossan never came back.
He fled to the inn that DelSasis had provided. It was also to escape from the guild’s o-ney……
Eventually, Zeros’s guild card was issued, but it was at the inn that he got it. Naturally, it was Iris and the others who came to take the card.
Fortunately, the inn where they were to stay had been decided, and the three mercenaries were able to meet up with Zeros without any problems. However, the ossan said he was unusually frightened when he got the card.
He remembered the nightmare from a few months ago and cursed the absurdity of this world.
Zeros was in trouble again but in a different way.
In any case, the ossan was able to register as a mercenary.
His rank was S, but that was probably reasonable. In this way, he was able to receive the escort mission for the academy’s annual practical field training.
Later, the ossan would become famous for a time as the mage who defeated the S-ranked mercenaries, but that’s another story.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Meanwhile, while Zeros was confronting the S-rank o-ney, The cuckoos and the others were waiting in front of the reception desk.
“U wa~a～♡, handsome, beautiful body hair …… and fluffy, too!”
“I’ve heard that cuckoos are fierce, but they’re so cute when you look at them closely.”
“What can I say about this cute guy? Yes, he exudes dignity, and he looks stronger than all the men around us ♡.”
They were surrounded by the female staff and were popular with them.
“Koke~……. (What’s with all the …… embarrassment?).”
“Koko… koke~ (I’m not very good at this kind of thing……).”
“Koke, kokoke~ (We are sinners, aren’t we? I didn’t think that we would be able to captivate females beyond our species…).”
No matter how vicious they evolve, they are still just chickens as long as they keep quiet.
Moreover, thanks to Zeros’ care, their feathers were glossy and looked graceful.
Their feathers are different from the wild cuckoos found in farmhouses.
“Why can’t we take the commission! I told you there was an accident!”
“That’s not what I’m saying. It’s the …… rules.”
“You gotta be fucking kidding me! Who do you think you’re talking to.”
It seems that the receptionist has closed the request for escorting students from the Academy because the number of participants has reached a certain level, and the mercenaries who came behind are complaining about it.
They looked like mercenaries, probably from outside the city of Stila, and they grabbed the male staff member by the chest and started to have a go at him.
――― Kyupi ――――――――― n! !
As soon as they saw it, the eyes of the cocos turned into those of a bird in search of prey.
“”Koke~e! ! (Defeat!!)””
It was over in an instant.
In the blink of an eye, the grown men were lifted into the air and beaten almost to the point of death by the powerful blows and slashes. It was an instant kill.
“Koke…… (I cut up something insignificant……).”
“Koke, kokoke, kokkoke? (Zan Kei, did you slash him? For that matter, when did you learn how to fight, Sen Kei? The last time I saw you, you were poorly trained……).”
“Kokekokko, koke! (I can’t fight with just a bow. I was trained by Master for self-defense as well).”
“Koke, kokokokokke~e (I didn’t slash the guy, okay? Though I did cut up the clothes he was wearing……).”
Those mercenaries, some had their equipment slashed into tiny pieces and were completely naked, while others were so swollen all over that they could be mistaken for an obese person.
The strength of these chickens has increased dramatically from before.
A heavy silence filled the air, except for the three birds.
The eyes of all the guild employees were focused on the three birds.
And ……
“””Ki ~yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~ ♡”””
The crowd explodes in a loud yellow cheer.
“The Cuckoos, they’re so strong!”
“They were able to finish off the bad mercenaries in the blink of an eye. So cute and strong!”
“I’d cuddle them if they were human ♡.”
The cuckoos have become very popular.
After that, the three birds are surrounded by female employees until the ossan runs away at full speed.
A month later, there would be more mercenaries with Wild Cuckoo, but it didn’t matter.
Whatever the case, the three birds, Wu Kei, Zan Kei, and Sen Kei, had created a legend.
As the ‘Three Warrior Chickens’ that defeated the mercenaries in the blink of an eye…….
This is where the legend of the martial artist Cuckoos begins, but it doesn’t really matter.
