The Guild Master Whose Hobby Was Helping People Found Himself Surrounded by the Strongest, Overly Attached Members - 20

Chapter 20: Body of Steel

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“―Scatter!”

At that single command, Lisette charged fearlessly toward the monster. She moved with the grace of gliding across ice. The beast’s red eyes clashed against her icy blue gaze.

Ragnar did not miss that moment, breaking into a bounding run around the plaza’s perimeter. His full sprint shook the ground like an earthquake. Vibrations hammered the earth and dust rose up.

Sera dashed toward the siblings, who were now safe with the monster’s retreat. And I stayed rooted in place, glaring straight at the man.

“…Hmm. That plan might have failed, don’t you think?”

I could tell he let out a low chuckle.

“Is that so? My maid is strong. Even if that’s your prized monster, this is where it ends.”

Well, I hadn’t actually seen Lisette fight before.

“That overbearing hothead of ours is just as strong. If he shows up, you’ll be minced in two seconds flat.”

Only after I said it did I realize it sounded exactly like the line of a doomed underling.

“And what about that young lady?”

The man deliberately shifted his gaze. He meant Sera. She had crouched beside the siblings, checking Iris’s consciousness with one hand.

“Sera is… Uuh, well… If she felt like it, she could carve you into pieces.”

Forgive me, Sera. I honestly had no idea how strong you really were. I had never even bothered to watch my own team fight. I only knew they were strong as a fact.

I really should have gone along on at least a single subjugation quest before this one. I should have watched their true strength…

The past me, who chose to slack off, was strangling me now. Regret was pointless—it was too late.

But more than that, something bothered me. This man was far too calm. The situation should have been turning against him. My comrades were skilled. That monster was powerful, yes, but alone.

Even so, this man was smiling. Beneath his hood, his eyes looked like they saw through everything.

What is he thinking?

A chill crept quietly up inside me.

“Oh? Not going to move? Then maybe I’ll go help my friend instead.”

The man slowly stepped forward. His voice carried no emotion whatsoever.

“…Tch! Like I’d let you!”

My body moved before my voice did. Yes. The worst outcome would be if he ignored me.

Maybe I should have left him to Ragnar after all? No—don’t second guess it now.

I kicked off the ground, cutting through the air. The man’s gaze flicked toward me. From beneath the hood, I thought I saw his eyes narrowing, seemingly amused.

I leveled my dagger. The strike was aimed from his left shoulder down to his right flank. He was a mage. Closing the distance was the standard tactic. Even a shallow cut would be enough if it stopped his movement.

“Hah!”

I swung the blade forward with a snapping motion of my arm.

“…Oh dear.”

With a low, muffled tone, the man twisted his body lightly. The blade did cut something. Cloth. There was resistance. The tip had sliced the edge of his robe diagonally. That was all.

But I kept my eyes fixed, hoping even that much would reveal a piece of his true identity. And from the torn cloth emerged—

Muscle?

Far more rugged than I had imagined, a thick, heavily trained chest. Skin that gleamed with a bluish-black sheen. Skin? No—more like armor made of flesh. On the surface pulsed faintly glowing markings, like charms or inscriptions, rejecting the light.

This man isn’t a mage.

The thought came just as—

“Too slow.”

The world blurred. By the time I saw his right arm swing up, it was already too late. His fist smashed into my stomach from the side.

“…Guh—kahh!”

The air was knocked out of me. My consciousness flickered. The impact rattled my insides as though my bones had shattered, hurling me across the ground.

“―Master!”

Sera’s voice screamed. The world spun as I rolled across the dirt. The moonlight and the church’s roof slid across my vision. Something spilled from my lips. The taste of iron—blood.

Damn it!

My lungs refused to draw air. My hands trembled from the pain.

“You see a robe and assume it must be a mage, so you rush in close. Foolish, isn’t it?”

Flat on the ground, I desperately tried to force air into my lungs. It wouldn’t work. My insides felt crushed. My instincts screamed.

You failed. You can’t win against him.

Even so, I had to move. Time couldn’t be rewound. The man was walking slowly toward me.

“Assumptions are scary things, aren’t they? Especially for people who believe themselves clever… They’re laughable, really.”

Footsteps drew nearer. One by one, in my direction.

“Ma-Master!”

Sera called again. When I glanced over, she looked ready to rush to me. But if she did, the siblings would be exposed to danger.

“…I’m… Fine…”

My voice was hoarse, but I managed it.

“Oh? Getting back up, are you?”

His voice carried a note of enjoyment. He delighted in tormenting others.

Fine, then. 

Just as he wanted, I clenched my arm with strength, forcing myself up on one knee. Blood trickled from my lips, running down my chin. My vision still swam, but I could see him clearly.

“Oh, you’ve got some guts after all. I don’t hate that.”

He muttered cheerfully as he stepped closer, one light footfall after another, like on a casual stroll. I pushed off the ground. Wounds tore open. My breath faltered. But I swung the blade regardless.

“Hah!”

A low strike, lunging with my weight behind it. Again, he slipped it by turning half his body. His robe tore, exposing his shoulder. I froze for a second.

Just as I expected, his body was impossibly hardened, like forged steel.

“Heh, no need to be so shocked.”

His fist cut the air. I jerked back, but even the graze to my shoulder blurred my vision. The weight of the blow made my bones creak. I staggered several steps back.

“So? Will you keep this up?”

I raised my dagger again in silence. The blade almost seemed to burn faintly in my hand… Or maybe it was my body awakening with exhilaration. Breath by breath, air returned. Against my will, I felt alive.

“…Your face looks different.”

At his words, I realized my lips had twisted upward.

I was smiling. Even now. Just like in the arena.

Even though I understood death was before me—somehow, I was smiling.

What is different now?

Suddenly, the last two months flashed through my mind like a revolving lantern.

Comrades.

This time, I had comrades here. I didn’t want to die, but Lisette, Ragnar… It was naïve, but I believed the strongest adventurers would pull me back from the brink. Against an A-rank opponent, I could fight with everything I had. I had taken heavy damage, but I knew I wouldn’t die instantly.

“Really… I’m the worst kind of human.”

Beyond him, I saw Sera holding the siblings. The villagers still hid somewhere. I had no excuse to feel excited. And yet… I was beginning to enjoy this.

They’d call me insane, and they’d be right. But I couldn’t kill that part of myself. Instead, I swore—I’d protect them. There was a path to victory, one that only existed in this kind of situation.

“Let’s see how long you can hold out before you break.”

The man vanished.

“–!!”

My instincts screamed. 

Up.

I rolled just in time. A massive fist smashed into the spot I’d just been. The paving stones shattered, fragments scattering.

“Your reaction time’s improving.”

He grinned wider, clearly entertained.

“Then next… How about this?”

He raised his right hand slowly and I charged.

Close the distance while I can! Keep pressing, pressing, pressing!

My strike aimed for his flank. A precise thrust, threading through a needle’s eye—hit cleanly. But the shock rebounded up my arm.

So hard!? My strength is still not enough!?

The blade wouldn’t sink into his muscle. It was like armor was hiding beneath the skin. I tried to force it deeper, but he didn’t even twitch.

“…Close. That tingled a little.”

A lie. It hadn’t worked at all. His elbow swung. I barely diverted it, but pain burst through my side. A groan rose in my throat.

At this rate, I’ll—

Then it happened.

“–Eh!? N-no!”

Sera’s voice rang out. Behind him—Leon had risen, sword in hand, charging at his back. But the moment he raised his arm, his body convulsed.

“Ghh—aaaaahhh!!”

His scream tore the air. The weapon slipped from his hand, and he crumpled to his knees.

“Big Brother!”

Iris awoke to his pained cries, calling desperately, but he writhed as though her voice couldn’t reach him.

“Ah… So you didn’t notice. Even though you already experienced it earlier…”

The man turned, fixing his gaze on Leon.

“That was foolish. Then I’ll start with you.”

He drew the dagger at his waist, its arc aimed straight for Leon’s heart.

“Stop!”

My body leapt before my voice. I shoved Leon aside to shield him.

“Wha—! Mas—”

A sound burst from deep in my gut. Heat seared through me from the inside out. My vision bled red in an instant.

“Gahh—!”

A bitter taste filled my mouth. Warm liquid surged up my throat. Dark red blood gushed out, spilling down my jaw.

Something was wrenched out from my belly. A sticky sound, and then a hollow space left behind inside me. Yet still, my consciousness clung on.

There’s…There’s still a chance… The instant when prey is captured, that’s when living things are most careless.

The moment he believed I was just a victim… I forced my body, my arm, every ounce of remaining strength to move.

“Hahhh!”

I swung the dagger sideways. The blade, driven by all my willpower, traced a line grazing across his flank.

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