Pick Me Up!

Chapter 262: Like Killing Insects (2) (1)

The smell of blood filled the room.

I frowned and looked down. The bed, blanket, and sheets were soaked in red.

There was no need to explain what had happened to the person inside.

“How many is this now?”

“Eight.”

Katiio scratched his head with a grimace.

Eight people in three days. Including those killed in the initial attack, nearly fifteen heroes had died.

Moreover, the body before us wasn’t even a combatant.

It was a newcomer who worked as a kitchen assistant and handled ingredients in the dining hall.

They were killed simply because they were part of the same waiting room as me, even though it had nothing to do with them.

‘So they want me to cough it up, huh.’

The message was clear.

If I didn’t want more people to die, I had to hand over the Book of Reversal.

Even though Anytng had detected the assassin’s infiltration, tightening security was useless. We increased the number of guards threefold, deployed patrol units, and Katiio cast detection magic all over the place, but the deaths continued.

If they had launched a full-scale attack, we could have at least had a proper battle.

But after the initial attack, the killers had vanished, picking off members of the waiting room one by one.

‘I’ve heard rumors about their reputation…’

Anytng must be losing her mind.

We couldn’t even identify the intruders, and all attempts at increasing security were ineffective. We had no idea when or how it would end.

“Who the hell is it? No surveillance, no detection magic, not even traps work on them!”

Katiio burst out in frustration.

It was natural for him to be angry. High-ranked assassins could perfectly hide their presence. None of Townia’s barriers, traps, or magic were effective against them.

They only showed themselves once: when they were about to kill me.

If our waiting room level were higher, it might be different, but as things stood, Townia’s facilities weren’t enough to stop them.

“What are they after…?”

“They’re after me.”

I fiddled with my sword sheath.

They were making a statement, for my eyes.

“Tell everyone to lock their doors before going to bed. Report anything suspicious immediately, and don’t wander around at night. Post guards near the support crew quarters for patrol.”

I left the room.

None of this would really be effective.

‘Can I just hold out?’

Until Yurnet notices what’s happening?

No. The fact that they took the ring meant they knew reinforcements were a possibility. If another faction got involved, it wouldn’t be surprising if they staged a massive attack on the waiting room.

Dozens, maybe hundreds, could be killed at once.

‘This isn’t good.’

It was certain that they had an airship waiting outside. But I had no way of finding it.

This was how hunters worked. Like a spider trapping its prey, they waited for their victim to weaken and die.

I never thought I’d end up as the target.

If they had focused on me directly, I would have had a chance to counterattack.

But they were thoroughly going after those around me. Soon enough, they’d switch targets to combatants, as I continued to refuse to hand over the Book of Reversal. The first targets would likely be Velkist, Jenna, or Kishasha. If any member of Party 1 was assassinated, it would cause huge problems for our strategy.

There wasn’t much time left.

And there was no way to catch them.

That meant…

‘I’ll have to draw them out myself.’

I looked up.

The sky was shrouded in gray fog. Anytng wasn’t logged in.

Even if she were here, she would just panic and run around.

This was my problem to solve.

Handing over the Book of Reversal might end this, but there was a 100% chance I’d be stabbed in the back.

Once they had what they wanted, there’d be no reason to let me live. Total destruction was the essence of PVP.

I passed through the midday square.

Gone was the bustling crowd of passersby.

Only grim-faced, armed heroes were moving around.

‘Let’s see.’

The only thing I had was… that they wanted the Book of Reversal.

Was that enough?

I opened the door to the airship hangar.

The hangar, usually bustling with activity, was now completely empty.

I headed for the ship on the far left: the Lucette.

I checked the airship’s status from the control panel.

Repairs had been completed long ago, fuel was full, and the autopilot system was ready.

I could take off at any moment by entering the coordinates.

Leaping a few meters, I grabbed the steel railing and jumped onto the deck.

Heading for the cockpit, I set the navigation system.

[Master, dispatch starting!]

[Dispatch Heroes – ‘Han(★★★★★),’ ‘Jenna(★★★★★),’ ‘Velkist(★★★★★)’]

[Region – Dimensional City Beta (144.**.*.**)]

[Type – Unknown]

[Duration – Undefined]

[※ Caution!]

[This dispatch is initiated as ‘Automatic Dispatch’ by the heroes themselves! If you do not wish for this, turn off the Autonomous Action feature in the settings!]

Sorry, but I’m making a detour.

Boom! I pressed the Lucette’s accelerator.

Woooooooong!

The Lucette rose into the air and shot into a dimensional vortex.

The change was instant.

[1535th Dimension – Townia]

A tower of endless height spread out behind me.

The suffocating, acrid air stung my lungs.

I stepped out onto the deck and called out.

“Stop messing around and come out.”

Rustle.

Beyond the mast, a barrel shook.

At the same time, someone rolled onto the deck.

She stood up in one swift motion.

“As expected, I’ve been caught?”

Jenna grinned.

Caught? Your name shows up in the dispatch window.

I asked bluntly.

“Why did you come? I didn’t tell you to.”

“You were trying to have all the fun for yourself. Your right-hand woman can’t just sit back and watch.”

“All the fun?”

Jenna cleared her throat.

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!