A Sudden Disturbance
2111 Words
Thirty minutes have passed since the start of the play, Ernest got bored and told the two that he’ll be taking a bathroom break. Maybe, just maybe the genre doesn’t work for him. But clearly, when he was watching the two beautiful ladies enjoying the show heartily, he couldn't help but keep his opinion to himself. After all, he doesn’t want to ruin their joyous mood,
In the washroom, Ernest stared blankly at the window, though he appeared to. But in the first-person perspective, he was actually manipulating his status.
“Okay, I have leveled up two times so that means I have 10 unspent status points. Hmm, it looks like I’m going to invest them all in agility.”
Ernest knew the importance of agility, even if he’s strong, if he’s not agile enough, then his attack would’ve been easily dodged. Also, it doesn’t mean he’s not prioritizing other attributes, every time he levels up, he invests five percent of his points, except today.
Setting that aside, Ernest now focused his attention on the floating tab in front of him. It was highlighted, indicating that it’s important.
That is the integration. He remembered that when he reached level 30, he would be able to undergo a process called Integration.
Ernest tapped the floating icon to get more information.
[Integration. This evolves the system that will significantly increase the power of the user. All skills learned before reaching level 30 will become an innate skills. New powers can be obtained after the integration. Would you like to proceed?]
Ernest now understands the purpose of Integration. Simply put, it was just a power-up of the system. If this will really increase his strength, then there’s no need to hesitate right? After all, this system had greatly helped him in many ways. Without this, he wouldn’t be able to get from where he is now.
With a determined look, Ernest tapped the “Yes” icon. Suddenly, his vision turns white.
[Integration process commencing...Loading user’s profile. Success!]
[Updating the system….Success.]
[All skills learned before level 30 will become the user’s innate abilities...Processing...Success!]
[Adding 50 points in all attributes to user’s status...Success]
[New skill: Eye of Faker, Weapon’s Tracing, h****k (Awakened), Limit Break...Processing...Success!]
[System Update and Integration are now complete...Rewards for completing the integration process are now transferred to the inventory.]
As soon as the never-ending inner voice ended, Ernest gasped heavily.
“What just happened…”
He had lost his vision for almost thirty seconds...he was worried that something bad might happen to him.
“Shit...I shouldn't have updated my status if I knew the side effects.” Ernest muttered to himself.
“Well, my body feels light. I have received additional status points after all.”
He opened his status to check if there’s a chance.
[User: Ernest Teucher. (Integrated)
Level: 30
Title: Goblin Slayer (When facing goblins, attack power will increase 10%)
Strength - 190
Agility - 105
Intellect - 95
Vitality - 80
Dexterity - 80
Unique Skill: h****k (Awakened), Eye of Faker, Limit Break, Weapon’s Tracing.
Hijack: Select a target within 50 meters to h****k all the target’s skills.
Eye of Faker: When activated, the user will see through any techniques of any target and will be able to learn it instantly.
Limit Break: When activating, the user’s power will tremendously increase for one minute.
Weapon’s Tracing: The user will be able to project any weapon he thinks and sees, no matter the rarity. The user may also learn the true power of the weapon's touch.]
Looking at his new status, Ernest noticed the change. He smiled at the mirror knowing that this integration had really increased his powers. With Galatine, he’ll surely be powerful.
Closing his status, Ernest's facial expression hardened, his tensed eyes filled with concern. He started to scan his surroundings.
Just when he scanned his surroundings, he heard an explosion, glass breaking...and a series of gunshots accompanied by screams.
Two men wearing a robe enough to conceal their identity and a mask entered the bathroom where Ernest was hiding.
“Good, all that’s left is the men’s room. I’ll go search the stalls. You wait here.”
“Why do we gotta check them one by one?”
“H-Hey!”
The man with a frivolous tone ignored his partner, aimed the muzzle of his assault rifle towards the stall, and swept the room with full-auto fire. By the time the gunshots stopped all the store doors had been blasted to ruin.
Nobody there could come out unharmed, but the blood didn’t flow from any of the half-destroyed stalls.
“You see? Nobody’s in.”
“Don’t do stuff the lazy way! We’re supposed to take the customers hostage, dammit!”
“I just wanted to fire this gun we’ve received from a dwarven nation. Ain‘t okay, since there’s no blood anyway? So they’re empty. Hahaha.”
“If the boss kills you, it won’t be my problem.”
The sound of the disturbing laughter followed the two men’s exit, leaving only debris and burnt smell in the restroom. Ernest lifted the wood board to confirm that his enemy had left, Ernest raised himself.
“What the...those weapons...called guns are from the dwarven nation. How the hell did they get those?”
The Dwarven nation resides beyond the gate of the obelisk, although he doesn’t know the exact details, he had heard that the Dwarven Nation boasts a superior technology that even a sword cherished by humanity is considered ancient and primitive.
But the bullets it spewed and hailed were no match to Ernest's reaction time. He merely deflected them with the back of his hand so swiftly that a normal person wouldn’t even see his hand moving. So that’s how he got away.
However, it wasn’t important right now. What’s important are those guys sweeping through the floors and looking for hostages...Ernest’s face hardened again.
“Sophia...Christine.”
He rushed out stealthily and walked covertly while crouching. The magic stones, serving as the lighting of the mall were all destroyed, shrouding the mall in darkness.
Knowing that he’s in a safe spot, Ernest picked up his gem communication rune and dialed whoever he can reach.
“Hello…”
“Hoh...Ernest Teucher, how lucky is it to tap in your communication rune.”
“This voice...Tarone?”
“Hoh? You recognized me...very well. I must explain the situation to you right now. Currently, the knights of the kingdom have already set up a perimeter around the mall. Though there’s no indication that they will move at any moment’s notice...They’re preventing the adventurers from going inside so no one can help you at this moment…”
“Yeah...and even if I want to help, I would be arrested for a capital offense. But I’m ready to break that law for the sake of my friend and my sister.”
“I’m aware of your position. Fortunately, they were able to give the Guild Association permission to use any means necessary to capture the Rebellion.”
“Rebellion?” Ernest had heard those terms before, it was the world’s most infamous crime syndicate. They gather powerful adventurers while deeming all others inferior, and they wanted to destroy society so they could build their own paradise where the chosen few ruled over the common people.
“I see...they are from the Rebellion huh. That explains that they have a dwarven weapon.”
“The dwarven weapon?”
“Yes, they are equipped with assault rifles. They had used it on me but I was able to get away unscathed. Anyways, do you have any idea about the situation?”
“The culprits are the Rebellions, about twenty or thirty units, all equipped with weapons. Their objectives are ransom money and the goods and cash in the mall. Long story short, this is their periodic fundraising.”
“Have there been any casualties?”
“A few people were banged up while escaping the uproar as it first occurred, so just some light injuries. Still no dead or heavily injured. According to the kingdom’s gem of clairvoyance, Rebellion has gathered about fifty hostages in the food court.”
"Food court… where we had our crepes?"
“What?”
“Nothing, never mind...thank you for the information Tarone.”
“No problem, just think of it as a friend’s help.”
Ernest hung up his communication rune and headed to the place.
“This is it…”
Overlooking at the railings from the third floor, it gave him a bird’ view of the whole area. Ernest confirmed Tarone’s info. Hostages were gathered below, encircled by about ten people wearing the same black robe he saw before.
Sweeping the area with his eyes, Ernest saw Sophia’s figure among the hostages. But he didn’t see Christine...No, never mind, she was there, the one with a large hat. As expected of a knight, she’s concealing herself.
However, the situation was not good. The hostages were placed too close to the criminals. If he breaks through recklessly, the hostages will definitely get hurt. And besides, the number of Rebellion’s troops doesn’t add up.
Are they acting as a squad? Ernest had no choice but to wait for a perfect opportunity.
Even if Rebellion was acting in squads, the ratio of hostages to Rebellion
troops was a little too high, which would be a problem for the troops if the
hostages tried to escape. There might be opportunities using that oversight, so they decided to stay put and keep watching for the time being―but the situation changed in a way they couldn't have imagined.
“Don't hurt my mother!!”
Suddenly, a boy around the age of a kindergartner rushed toward a gun-toting Rebellion soldier.
Oh no! This was bad, but they were in no position to stop the boy, who screamed and threw the ice cream he held at the man, splattering the man with a white. That couldn't possibly bring a man down, but it was more than enough to provoke.
“You braaat!!”
The soldier screamed in rage and kicked the boy―who wasn't even tall
enough to reach his waist―in the face without hesitation.
“Ahh, Alex!”
A woman in her twenties, probably the boy's mother, dashed out from the
ring of hostages. Her abdomen was large, but she moved so quickly that one
wouldn't think she was pregnant, and she desperately moved between the boy and the soldier.
“Out of the way, woman! Don't butt in.”
“I'm sorry, I'm sorry, he's still just a child! Please forgive us!”
Another Rebellion soldier looked toward all the noise.
“Hey, what the hell are you doing!?”
“This f*****g brat got ice cream on my clothes! I'm gonna kill him!”
“What's the matter with you!? How many times have I told you not to touch
the hostages, dammit!? You can go die by yourself, but if you piss off
Boss, he ain't stopping till he kills a dozen people. Don't get us
involved in your mess!”
“Shut up! There's a lot of 'em so it won't matter if we shoot one or two!
After that, the soldier turned around and pointed the muzzle of his rifle
towards the boy and woman.”
“No, please! Spare us!”
“You people might as well be pigs in our utopia, but you dare dirty an
honorary citizen like me? You'll pay for that with your life!”
He put his finger on the trigger without any hesitation, and a lead bullet burst out from the barrel. To block it, the pregnant mother covered her child with her back. How futile. The bullet would penetrate the woman's body and hit the child behind her too.
But the bullet never reached the mother―because Christine's flames burned away even the specks of dust that flew from the muzzle.
- Writer
