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 - 23

Chapter 23: Laying the Trap Out

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“Haaa… Just as I thought…”

Seeing Gebels’ figure coming into view at a distance, the corner of my lips curled up into a smirk. So that guy came up after all. Which meant, despite some changes, the story was still progressing like the original game. 

Seemingly sensing the ominous magic power from Gebels, Nia pursed her lips tightly. She then tugged at the hem of my clothes.

“Kai, that man’s magic power is almost identical to a demon.”

“Well, yeah. He’s a black magician after all.”

“….You knew him?”

“Ahaha~ Well, I never actually met him though.”

…Right. I hadn’t told Nia about my reincarnation. While considering whether I should tell her or not, I began observing the flow of the battlefield.

“Ge-Gebels-san! Perfect timing!”

“Fufu~ Indeed. I couldn’t ask for a better timing. I’m glad I came here after asking the guild’s branch manager about Kaltz-sama’s whereabouts.”

“-?! Kaltz! Behind you!”

“-?!”

Along with Chloe’s sharp voice, a poison needle from one of the tarantulas came flying at Kaltz. Looking at Kaltz’s current level, he shouldn’t be able to dodge that attack yet. However…

“Dusk Mirror.”

Gebels raised his hand and almost immediately, a crimson-black mirror appeared behind Kaltz, swallowing the poison needle. However, that wasn’t the end of it. In the next moment, the same poison needle was released back from the mirror, piercing through the tarantula’s body.

“Kie-?! Kieeeeeee!!!”

Having its vital spot pierced fatally, the tarantula crumbled into dust. Gradually, all of the remaining tarantulas focused their target on him.. On Gebels, whose slanted eyes exuded a very sinister aura. 

“Ah, it looks like Brien-sama is injured. Alywn-sama, please focus on healing her.”

“Ah… Ye-Yes!”

“Gebels, I will fight too! Together-“

“No, there’s no need for that, Kaltz-sama.”

Nonchalantly disregarded Kaltz’s suggestion, Gebels raised his hand and flicked his middle finger. Everyone present couldn’t believe their eyes at the scene that unfolded before us. After all…

“Kie-Kieeee!! Kihi-!! Ki-Kiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!”

“Kihi! Kiiiii!!”

All the surrounding tarantulas started devouring their own bodies. Seemingly in a frenzy, the tarantulas cried out, a sound typical of spider monsters as the tarantula consumed their own bodies. Some of them gnawed at their own legs, while the others raised their legs and stabbed their own bodies without any hesitation. 

“Wha-What is this…”

Even Brien, who had gotten injured by the tarantula, couldn’t stop her eyes from widening in shock by the grotesque sight before her. Meanwhile, I, who had been watching from afar, could only chuckle wryly and sighed. 

Mystic Touch. A B-rank black magic that allows the user to manipulate the opponent’s mind for a certain period of time, controlling the opponent as they please… Looks like he already mastered that skill this early in the story.

That skill was the main cause that drove Chloe insane and practically turned her into a mindless monster. The one that plotted the Hero into killing Chloe was Gebels. He knew that Chloe was about to expose the empire’s secret and he also realized the Hero had been getting annoyed at Chloe. And so, he orchestrated a scheme to drive Chloe mad and provided Kaltz with enough justification to kill her. Of course, in the latter part of the story, Kaltz would confront Gebels and the truth would be revealed, but… The Hero’s reaction at that time truly cemented my theory that he was a psychopath. 

“Even if everything was part of Gebels’ plan, I had no choice but to kill Chloe at that time. After all, she had become a monster.”

Kaltz calmly said so. He didn’t look guilty at all, even after killing his own comrades. I couldn’t even count how many users were outraged by how shameless he was. He didn’t have any ounce of remorse in him. I also hadn’t forgotten the chilling sensation I felt at that moment. 

Chloe… I won’t let you die…

After all the tarantulas had committed suicide and the situation had calmed down, I showed myself before Kaltz and the others again, with my hands still interlocked with Nia. 

“Kai! Nia! Phew… You two are safe…”

When she caught the sight of me, Chloe sighed in relief. This girl was truly a worrywart….

“Kaltz-sama, who are these two kids?”

“Oh, they’re the children that somehow got lost in the 14th floor rest area. When they woke up, they suddenly found themselves inside the dungeon. They didn’t remember anything and so, we’ve decided to let them stick with us for the time being.”

“I see.. Unable to remember anything, huh…”

“…?!”

Narrowing his eyes in suspicion, Gebels glared at me and Nia. Chloe immediately moved to stand in front of us the moment she sensed the hostility from Gebels.

Gebels was a magician who had B-rank skill in possession. With his magic vision, he would be able to see through many things, including the demon’s power lurking within me and Nia. I might be able to deceive him with Dark Sight skill, however Nia would surely get exposed by Gebels.

“….Wait, Gebels-san? You mustn’t glare at children like that, you know?”

“Fufu~ Me? Nonsense. I was merely admiring the boy’s face, Chloe-sama. Fufu~”

Though Gebels was behaving nonchalantly, I could already sense it. Within that split second, he had activated his magic vision. He must had already seen through the demon lurking within Nia.

“Fufufu~ Slurp~ Mmhm~”

As if to prove my suspicion, Gebels stared at Nia while licking his lips. His reaction was absolutely disgusting. However, I still had to continue acting scared. I couldn’t let my cover get blown yet. I needed to ruin Gebels’ plan first and make my plan a success. 

“You fool! Just how did you…! Haa…! Good grief!”

While the Hero was busy worrying about Brien, Chloe was still staring at me. She looked genuinely worried about me. She was truly too kind for an assassin. Well, this was one of the reasons why she became my favorite character. 

“Well then. Kaltz-sama, how about if we return to town first? Given our situations, it’s going to be a bit difficult to keep advancing forward.”

“….Tch. Can’t be helped. Everyone, let’s head back to town.”

Seemingly deciding that any further attempts in conquering the dungeon would end up in vain, Kaltz clicked his tongue before sheathing his word. Meanwhile, Gebels’ eyes remained fixated on me and Nia. 

“….Ni-Nia! My-My hand…!”

“…Kai, you idiot.”

Nia, who was somehow able to read my mind, gripped my hand so tight that I felt like my hand was going to get crushed by her. I couldn’t stop myself from leaning my body forward to mitigate the pain as much as possible and continue walking by dragging my feet along.

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T/N: Just how can the Hero not realize Gebels is sus when Gebels is going all Hisoka on MC…… (¬_¬”)