Chapter 1011
“User Ha Leeha from Fibiel and his partner dragon, Blaugrunn have been confirmed to interfere with the selection meeting for the elder of Minis’ chromatic dragons. We shall proceed with the exclusion operation to serve the interests of our homeland.”
This took place not far from the emergency meeting hall of the dragons.
The only reason why the chromatic dragons didn’t notice his presence there was due to an insider — a chromatic dragon itself — who had not only informed him of the meeting but also disclosed a location undetectable by dragon mana.
『Are you certain his actions contradict the interests of our homeland, Cheka?』
“At least, I cannot say that everything he does aligns with the interests of Minis. Until clear evidence is found, we must proceed with the exclusion operation to suspend his actions.”
Cheka, part of Minis’s secret police, had been observing the entire situation from here as soon as they were contacted by the chromatic dragon.
Although he didn’t fully understand why Leeha was involved in such actions, he held strong objections to what Leeha was doing.
『Hmm… But he is a hero of the ‘Sacred Alliance’. I do not doubt your abilities, but should you fail, the fragile relations between the two countries might deteriorate rapidly. Not just the relationship between Fibiel and our homeland, but we may even distance ourselves from the Ezwen Theocracy. If that happens, no matter how close an ally Kraven is, they can’t provide any help.』
“Two Black Dragons have already died. We do not know what Ha Leeha will say here, but it must be part of his machinations. He is a user capable of killing two Ancient-class Black Dragons in a single day, within minutes of each other. Already, Minis’s interests have been compromised by him.”
The fact that the Black Dragons were dead remained unchanged.
『Harveti was—』
“We managed to control it. What it wanted was something our homeland already possessed. Should it become an elder, we could have improved our relations with the chromatic dragons through negotiations.”
For Cheka, who had been striving to establish and manage relations with the chromatic dragons, the current situation was not desirable at all.
The NPC communicating with Cheka through a crystal ball sighed.
『I will report this to His Majesty… but decide wisely. I will not treat this as an official mission.』
“That suffices. After gaining clarity on Ha Leeha’s doings, I will work to ensure our homeland’s interests are served in the election of the chromatic dragon elders. Please try to get in touch with Lark.”
『Understood.』
“Then I will begin.”
Cheka ended the communication. He quickly stored the small crystal ball in his bag.
For an ordinary user, the operation to infiltrate the emergency meeting, where dozens of chromatic dragons were gathered, and extract Leeha would have been unimaginable.
“Hmm.”
However, for Cheka, it was not.
Armed with his unique weapon, the tonfa, he prepared to run. Or rather, he assumed a stance to do so.
Bam—!
If it weren’t for the shadow that appeared suddenly in front of him, Cheka would have dashed straight towards Leeha.
“… What’s going on?”
Cheka frowned.
Could he have been tailed? And not only that, but he hadn’t noticed the stalker until they chose to reveal themselves?
There were not many users throughout Middle Earth capable of such a feat.
And it was precisely why Cheka could recognize him instantly.
“Petyr.”
“Oh ho ho! Surprise!”
The leader of the Midnight Circus, Petyr, was blocking Cheka’s path, dancing excitedly.
* * *
“… What’s the matter? I never asked for your help.”
“Oh ho ho! Does there always need to be a reason? I just came to watch since it seemed like something amusing might happen.”
Watching the continuously bizarre dancing of Petyr, Cheka frowned. He quietly moved a step aside to bypass him.
Petyr matched his step, blocking Cheka’s path once more.
When Cheka took two steps to the opposite side, Petyr mirrored him with two steps, blocking him again.
“… Leeha couldn’t possibly have hired the Midnight Circus to him… what’s your purpose?”
It was an obvious act of interference.
When Cheka asked, Petyr’s movements gradually began to slow down.
With sluggish motion, miyaw spun in the air, and it was almost beautiful to watch.
What did it mean, above all, to perform an aerial cartwheel that required rotational power so slowly?
It meant that Petyr’s physical abilities, which utilized Miyaw’s racial traits within Middle Earth, were beyond imagination.
“Should I say I’m here to watch what the secret police do~ or not~ anakana~? Bwhahahah!”
“Fine. I didn’t expect to have a conversation from the start. Step aside. Or I’ll kill you.”
When the absurd answer was heard again, Cheka nodded.
It meant there was no need for three questions.
He promptly rolled up his sleeves and showed his tonfa to Petyr. Petyr still sneaked around with a playful expression.
Miyaw’s lips were stretched wide into a grin.
“You~? Kill~? Me~? How dare~?”
Now that he had become the leader of the Midnight Circus, and after completing his secondary transformation, how much more powerful had he become?
Cheka did not dwell on such matters. He charged forward immediately.
Though it was a sudden rush, Petyr performed a backflip, then used that rebound to spin forward and extend his hind leg.
As Cheka watched the sharp claws of Miyaw, he raised the tonfa horizontally.
*Thud…*
“Hmm?”
Cheka was momentarily perplexed by the awkward sound and the light sensation touching his arm.
Given the material, when two weapons clashed, there should have been a definite metallic clang.
But what was this sound?
Cheka’s expression grew slightly more distorted as he checked his tonfa. Petyr’s descending foot had inflated like a balloon.
The even more absurd part was that the inflated foot stuck to Cheka’s tonfa like bubblegum!
“Bwhahahah! Surprised? Fun, right!? Ya!”
When Petyr spun his body, Cheka, too, was caught in the rotational momentum and moved with him.
Cheka followed with a hand on the ground, rolling along with Petyr.
“You little—
Petyr specialized in acrobatics utilizing his entire body, and it wasn’t just the application of muscle stats; his movements, powered by the elasticity of his entire body, couldn’t be easily stopped.
Cheka swiveled the tonfa in his right hand, directly aiming it at Petyr’s foot. However, Petyr rolled backward on his hands, pulling the leg attached to the tonfa back, forcing Cheka’s left arm further forward.
Then, as Cheka attempted to thrust with his right hand, his body was flung forward as if pushed by someone.
And if the adhesion of the foot attached to the tonfa was weakened in that state?
*Crack—!*
“Ugh.”
Cheka was tossed away and collided with a tree as if being played with.
Of course, he crossed his tonfa in an X-form to defend, and since it wasn’t a specialized attack in the first place, there was almost no reduction in HP.
But the important thing wasn’t the reduction in HP.
“Is it right to assume that protecting Fibiel’s agent is an official mission of the Midnight Circus leader? You can’t claim ignorance of what it means to do something against the national interest right ‘in front of me’.”
The secret police had a unique skill.
It even applied to foreigners, but his power was maximized when a ‘Minis-affiliated user’ committed an act ‘against Minis’ national interest’!
The cat, which had moved like an acrobat, glared at Cheka with fierce eyes.
It meant that Petyr also understood what it meant for Cheka to seriously use his skill.
“Bwhahahah! And then?”
“Fine. From now on, you’re under arrest based on a confession. 〈Che―”
“I owe you.”
“―ka〉 Huh? What did you say?”
Cheka’s movements, as he was casting a skill, suddenly halted. Petyr’s lips did not move, prompting Cheka to tilt his head in curiosity.
“Did this person say something just now? Or did I hear it wrong?”
The stalemate was broken by Petyr.
Miyahu spoke again, “It’s like the proverb, ‘The cat’s grace’, buhihihihit!”
“Grace… Did Ha Leeha help you in some way?”
Upon hearing about returning a favor, Cheka tilted his head again. Petyr, still without a smile, spoke, “I haven’t fully repaid the debt from when he caught Pyrot-Cocri’s clone.”
“… Your personal issues shouldn’t have any relevance to the national interest. Besides, were there any debts owed by the Midnight Circus then?”
The incident involving Lark had allowed Cheka to understand the situation. However, it was an event from quite some time ago, and Cheka couldn’t grasp the details of Petyr’s circumstances.
Was there an incident from back then that Petyr considered as a debt of gratitude?
While Cheka was lost in thought, a smile began to creep back onto Petyr’s face.
“Buhihihit! Well, yes. More than that… I’d rather not get on the bad side of someone who can slay an Ancient Dragon in one blow! I’m the one who saved you, Cheka. You should start by thanking your life-saver.”
“What, what do you mean? An Ancient Dragon… in one blow?”
Cheka knew all the events had concluded within a day. He was also aware of the series of dragons confronted in close succession.
But in one blow? Could an Ancient Dragon be taken down with a single strike?
Petyr’s voice echoed in Cheka’s mind.
“Then here’s a problem! If I have a debt of gratitude and don’t accept an assassination request for Ha Leeha in the future, does that go against Minis’ national interest or not? Buhihihit! Think carefully!”
“Wait, where are you going―”
Shooo…
Petyr disappeared into the ground as if being sucked into a swamp. Cheka tried to grab him, but Petyr’s figure had already vanished.
Determining it wouldn’t be easy to find him, and seeing as he refused further conversation, Cheka couldn’t extract more information. So, he pondered over the words Petyr left behind.
‘Chasing Pyrot-Cocri caused the Midnight Circus’ leader NPC to turn into a monster. By slaying it, Petyr completed his second job change and ascended to the leader position. Ultimately, Ha Leeha awakened Pyrot-Cocri, revealed its presence, and even handled Pyrot-Cocri’s clone neatly…’
Does he consider that as a debt owed?
And what about the significance of slaying an Ancient Dragon in one blow? Cheka shook his head.
‘That can’t possibly happen. Even the strength of Igor turned vampire wasn’t to that degree.’
He once again aimed to stop Leeha.
Cheka judged that Leeha’s intentions should not be involved in the Elder Dragon’s election.
“Ugh…”
Yet, his feet refused to move freely. What if Petyr’s words were indeed true?
If Ha Leeha had become so strong to slay an Ancient Dragon in a single blow?
Cheka realized his breathing quickening.
It was a natural physiological response. A change in the human body when confronted with a specific emotion. That emotion, of course, was fear.
Fear?
Had he felt fear thinking about Ha Leeha?
Cheka shook his head, his cheeks trembling slightly. Only after did he manage to regulate his breathing.
“Well, if Petyr eventually refuses a request regarding Ha Leeha… or declines an assassination attempt on Fibiel’s key personnel whom Ha Leeha wishes to protect in the Midnight Circus…”
He said this while taking out a teleportation crystal ball.
“It would significantly harm Minis’ national interest. This time, there’s no choice.”
Shoo―!
Cheka promptly retreated.
Believing it wasn’t fear he felt. Believing he wasn’t rationalizing his actions.
Meanwhile, while the two intelligence agents of Minis quarreled, chaos had already erupted in the emergency meeting place of the Chromatic Dragons.