I Got Reincarnated Into a Game I Was a Top-Ranker in and I Became the Leader of a Villain Group That Will Destroy This Shitty Country - 16

Chapter 16:First Battle

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I didn’t expect I’d meet Chloe here. After all, the hero party was supposed to arrive a bit later. According to the original story, they would get involved in some trouble in the capital before they get to reach the slums. But for some reason, Chloe and the hero were already here now. 

Well, it’s fine. Meeting Chloe early is something I’ve been hoping for. 

“If you’d like, how about if we fight together? It seems like we’ll become good friends, don’t you think?”

I was so caught up in the moment that I accidentally blurted out such embarrassing lines. However, the first to reach to my words wasn’t Chloe, but Nia. 

“Hmm…If I defeat that, Kai won’t cheat on me…”

“Nia, stop! No, seriously, stop! We HAVE to take the magic stones dropped by that boss!”

“….Humph.”

“And so, Chloe, let’s join forces here.”

To be honest, that boss was just a small fry for me and Nia. However, the reason why I asked Chloe to fight alongside us was because… I needed to bring her into our grap. She was an assassin, a rare profession in this world. She had many useful skills under her arms. I could use ‘One Who Stands at the Boundary’ to absorb her skills. She was a valuable party member for sure. However, that wasn’t the only reason why I wanted her to join our group.

….I definitely don’t want her to die. Absolutely not. 

Chloe was a character that I was pretty… No, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that she was the character I loved the most. And yet, Chloe was destined to die at the hand of the hero. No matter how much I tried to prevent her death, I couldn’t change the game’s storyline. I still remembered the impact of her death on me. It was so tough. Hence why, I wanted to keep Chloe alive no matter what. If I could bring her into our group, well, that would be even better. 

“….I understand. It seems I don’t have any other choice here.”

Whether the sincerity of my request got through her or not, Chloe nodded to my suggestion as she gripped both of her knives tightly. 

Alright. Let’s test out Britta’s ability and gain some real combat experience while I’m at it!

“Nia, I’m sorry, but can you please protect those people over there? Please.”

“….Hmm…”

“…Hehehe….”

Even though Nia was the final boss of the game, she was still just a kid. Before we started the battle for real, I gently stroked her head. 

“Please, just this once.”

“…Okay. If Kai says so, then I will do it.”

“Yeah. Thank you. Alright. Chloe, let’s go.”

“…Got it.”

Chloe watched us with a bewildered expression on her face, but she soon returned her attention back to the Ancient Ghoul. Despite being somewhat unsteady because one of its wings were gone, the ghoul was still flying in the air. 

“Guru… Grrroahhhh!!”

“The spit attack is coming! Chloe, dodge to the right!”

“Arghhh!!”

Ancient Ghoul had 3 skills. Long-range claw attacks, poisonous spit and physical attack with its staff. The long-range attack was a bit troublesome since it could freely attack us from the air. Hence why Ancient Ghoul was considered as a hard monster to beat in the game. However, for us, this monster served as the perfect punching bag. 

“Hide yourself using Dark Sight! You’ll be able to get behind it easier with it!”

“Huh? How did you know about Dark Sight…? Anyway, okay!”

“I will taunt the monster! Use that opportunity to get behind it!”

I stood directly in front of the ghoul while giving Chloe the appropriate instructions as needed. This should be enough to draw its attention to me. The next attack should be a combination of claw attack and poisonous spit. Even though I already knew its pattern, but I deliberately didn’t dodge its attack because there was something I wanted to test. 

Just as I expected, the ghoul attacked me with its long-range claw attack in midair. 

“GURUAAAAAAAAAHH!!”

I readied Britta. If my assumption was correct, the attack wouldn’t… Work.

Instantly, I could feel the magic attack coursing through the sword. I expected a sharp pain to hit me for a moment, but it turned out, my calculations were correct.

“Guru?!”

“Hahaha… Wow… This skill is amazing.”

It turned out ‘One Who Stands at the Boundary’ could absorb long-range magic attacks as well. No matter how powerful the monster’s skill was, as long as it was magic-based, I could absorb it. I could render its attack useless. 

“GROAAAAAA!!”

Enraged upon knowing its attack had failed, the ghoul prepared to spit its poisonous venom at me, but..

“You’ve forgotten about me, huh?! Piercing Thrust!”

In an instant, Chloe appeared behind the ghoul and thrusted her two knives into its back. 

“GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!”

Unable to stay mid-air from excruciating pain, the ghoul crashed to the ground with a loud thud. Seizing the opportunity, I shouted at Chloe. 

“Chloe! Get back!!”

“Okay!!”

I gathered dark attribute magic power at the tip of my sword and…

“Dark Pierce.”

A spear made from dark magic power pierced through the ghoul’s head.

“Phew~ It’s finally over. Everyone, good job~”

After Ancient Ghoul turned to dust, I picked up the dropped magic stone and items then beamed at my friends with a satisfied smile. However, for some reason, Chloe had a dissatisfied look on her face. 

“What’s wrong, Chloe? You look upset.”

“…No. I was just wondering why you’re giving me the items. I barely did anything.”

“Huh? You followed my instructions perfectly and your surprise attack was a success. Come on, you don’t need to humble yourself so much.”

“No, I was supposed to be the one getting he-… Never mind. I don’t think you will back down on this.”

Chloe let out a resigned chuckle before staring at me again. Nia, who had come to stand by my side by the time I realized it, was glaring blatantly at Chloe. 

Hm… Why do things turn out this way…?

“However, I couldn’t let things stand by like this. Not only did you save me, but you also saved my party members over there.”

“Oh, you mean the ones still sprawled out unconscious over there-“

“Ahem. So, even if it’s just me, I’d like to repay you somehow. Your name is Kai, right? Just tell me if you want me to do something. I will do anything for you.”

“A-A girl shouldn’t say things like that so easily, you know?”

“Huh? Why…? Oh-! Ahh-!”

Hmm~ She finally realized how dangerous the implication behind her words. 

“That’s right, Chloe. I’m a guy and you’re wel.. A girl. ‘Anything’ could lead to many… Many things. It’s best if you’re more careful in your wording in the future. Of course, it’s not like I have any plan to do anything inappropriate with you, but-“

“…….”

“Ni-Nia-san? Your eyes… They’re a bit scary, you know? No, wait-! Why are they glowing?!”

“Even if Kai is a cheater… I will forgive you.”

“Your eyes are not forgiving!!! I get it, I get it! Calm down, calm down! I was wrong!!”

But still… I was in a pinch. There was something I wanted to ask from Chloe, but I couldn’t say it when Nia was here, listening to us. Hm? Wait a minute. I could just talk to Chloe in a way that Nia couldn’t hear. Alright. I knew how to do it.

“Chloe, come over here for a bit.”

“….What do you want, you pervert?”

“I’m not going to ask anything like that! Never! And Nia!! Stop hissing! You’re not helping my case here!!”

Chloe glared at me with her arms crossed. However, she eventually stepped closer to me, albeit gingerly. 

Then, I covered Nia’s ears with both of my hands and leaned in to whisper to Chloe.

“Do you have some time tomorrow evening? There’s something I want to talk with you about.”

“-?! Yo-You pervert!”

“No! No! It’s not like that!! Wait-! Ni-Nia?! UWAHHHH!!!”

The next day, the imperial newspaper reported that an earthquake could be felt in the slums.

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T/N: Since MC is still a young boy here.. Is this… Shota?! ( ˶°ㅁ°) !!