The difference between humans and animals is the ability to use tools.
From stone tools to bronze and iron tools…
Even a quick glance at a history textbook shows that human evolution has been closely tied to the development of tools.
If humans are the lords of creation, then guns are the kings of all weapons, and gun-fu is the ultimate martial art.
That’s how it should have been.
Unfortunately for the robots, this pseudo-physics-infested game world didn’t follow those rules.
“Bang!”
The rifle in the robot’s hand spat fire, and bullets surged toward Rumi.
But the speed was slow enough for my eyes to track, and Rumi’s fist shot out, colliding precisely with the bullet’s trajectory.
Fist vs. Bullet.
The result was a victory for the former.
Crack!
Rumi’s elbow cleanly slammed into the robot’s solar plexus, the one that dared to shoot at her.
Then, with a fluid motion, she seamlessly transitioned into a joint lock.
Pop!
“Ouch…”
To the point where even I, watching, got goosebumps, the robot’s head was cleanly ripped off.
《Error detected, error detected…》
Oil gushed from its neck, and the increasingly faint mechanical sounds spilled from the now-headless Durahan-robot.
Rumi tore apart the Terminator. Bare-handed…
Of course, the other heroes’ combat styles weren’t much different.
Crash───!
It’s a well-known fact that machines can be repaired with a hammer.
Sahar, the level 0 blacksmith, personally smashed the insolent hunks of scrap metal that dared to deny the Three Laws of Robotics, hammering them down one by one.
“Kyahaha, too slow!”
Ari’s arrows, faster than bullets, not only shot down the robots but also deliberately targeted their crude rifles, as if to show off her accuracy.
“Repent, repent.”
Johanna, who seemed to have abandoned her saintly duties to become an exorcist (physical), ran around smashing heads with her +7 enhanced Exorcism Bible (which had been strangely easy to enhance).
They were all proper combat specialists.
Wherever you looked, they had grown into splendid killing machines.
I can’t lose!
Of course, I’m no slouch when it comes to gun-fu either.
A former marksman, that’s me.
The ultimate gun-fu technique I’ve been practicing in secret, away from the heroes’ eyes, was hunger.
Though it’s a bittersweet memory I’d rather not recall now, the gun-fu I first encountered in the passionate days of middle school was nothing short of revolutionary—cool, stylish, and explosive!
My gun gleams.
The trigger delivers judgment. I gladly take revenge on my enemies. Hatred is repaid with hatred…!
“Cry, cry to prove your purity!”
Thanks to the financial stability secured through the hair growth business, my Black Flame Dragon-Equilibrium-Revolver, now faintly restored, spat fire.
Bang──!
The cheerful sound of hitting scrap metal echoed.
While the heroes wasted money on decorating the guild house, buying snacks, playing with Tina and Neb, and other luxuries, my firepower was still a bit lacking.
Even though I deliberately aimed for weakened targets, I couldn’t land the finishing blow…
《Priority elimination target confir──》
Crack──!
“Myaaang!”
Rumi, who had been on high alert for my safety like a dedicated bodyguard, swiftly flew in and finished off the weakened robot with a Rumi-Jet Kick.
It left a bitter taste.
I wondered if there was a way to spend less money and upgrade my firepower further.
The treasure chests Lucia had stolen flashed before my eyes…
But still, I had to do what I had to do.
“We should be able to get out soon. Let’s gather all the remains and set off again. This time, let’s hurry so we don’t get chased.”
I meticulously collected the robots’ wreckage and stored it in my inventory.
As I had boldly promised the heroes, the end of this underground passage was likely near.
If it’s Ellis, she probably has the escort preparations perfectly ready.
Though she usually just spouts sexual harassment, she’s quite clever when she puts her mind to it.
* * *
Although I didn’t know the exact details, Ark’s reasoning had hit the nail on the head.
Ellis is smart. She could confidently declare, “I’m smart,” and no one would argue.
In the tower, divided into five-floor sections, only nine chosen high-ranking demons could be appointed as administrators, aside from the Demon King who directly managed the 50th floor.
In other words, the Tower of Desires had summoned all ten of the demon world’s greatest masters, excluding the Demon King.
Of course, the abilities they could exhibit were limited by the tower’s floors, which is why they eventually knelt before the Revelator’s advance.
But true masters kneel to gain momentum.
With the Revelator, who usually bound their magical manifestations through “conversion contracts,” absent, and the magical suppression necklaces they always had to wear in the city unnecessary inside the tower, the true face of Ellis, the Deceptive Demon, began to emerge.
“Hmm, a handsome man? Are you talking about my master?”
She subtly infused her voice with the power of deception, enchanting the listener’s emotions.
[-_-?]
《Affirmative. …Master? Are you seriously in a master-servant relationship?》
“That’s right. Not just me, but all of them are loyal slaves to our master. Hehe.”
Ellis, who had made a close-to-correct inference that the changing light patterns on the surface of Locker 38 might represent the object’s emotional state.
[oOo!]
《This Locker 38 cannot comprehend. If so, why did the master abandon the slaves and disappear? And why don’t the slaves run away?》
“Hoho. Why are you curious about that?”
With added confidence in her reasoning, Ellis, who had steered the conversation, gently lifted the floating Locker 38 and cradled it to her chest.
While subtly channeling magic to analyze its internal structure, she changed the subject.
“Hmm, that dress over there is really pretty. I want to try it on. Don’t you think so?”
[?_?]
《Suddenly? However, negative. This Locker 38 cannot see it. Please face forward.》
“Ah, like this?”
[>0<]
《Affirmative. It is a very trendy and glamorous outfit.》
What seemed like meaningless girl talk.
Only a mechanical voice came from the small sphere, but Ellis could sense clear emotional fragments within it.
Her mind raced.
The sphere’s field of vision is limited to the front. Its internal structure consists of a small tube with overlapping glass pieces, presumably providing vision, one magic core, and several small magic cores likely responsible for movement.
It lacks senses other than vision, being purely mechanical.
The one controlling this small sphere is a human, specifically a woman.
This is not a voluntary surveillance act but rather a contract-bound one, with terms unfavorable to the human.
Deception—to deceive others, one must meticulously understand their thoughts, consciousness, and current emotional state.
And now, Ellis had almost perfectly analyzed Locker 38.-
About 20 minutes later.
[V_V]
《This Locker 38 evaluates that Neb is approximately 18% cuter than Tina. This is based on strict aesthetic standards, and this Locker does not accept rebuttals.》
“Profit…!”
“Hahang, silly Tina. What are you rubbing against?”
Before they knew it, Locker 38 had forgotten its duty of surveilling the “temporary refugees” and joined the three women’s destructive gossip spree as they roamed the streets.
And following behind them with short steps was Arachne.
And Arakrene, who followed behind them at a brisk pace.
She was naturally a woman of few words, so there was little desire to join in on the chatter.
Furthermore, Ellis had secretly given Rene a mission while avoiding the gaze of the wooden barrel, No. 38.
Her ability to consume.
Though she was currently disguising her demonic form using magical power, she could still utilize her abilities without issue.
Fine spider threads, almost imperceptible, spread from her ankles, swaying along her skirt.
And the chosen victims.
Only male passersby were selected, their shoes and clothes subtly ensnared.
It was a clear anomaly, but no one voiced any discomfort.
Instead.
“Wow…”
“What a beautiful lady…”
“I’ve truly had an epiphany today…! As they say, the best among breadstick farmers is indeed the farmer!”
Mostly about Tina. Or Neb.
Those with strong resistance looked at Ellis.
Men spouting beastly expressions in archaic tones.
Ellis’s venom, which brought pleasure to the victims, and the existence of Tina, the Seductive Demon, who ensnared onlookers, resonated deeply with the men.
No one noticed the thin spider threads stealthily rolling up money from pockets and stealing it away.
“Ha, if I weren’t on patrol duty, I’d be wielding this six-sided club right now… Uhehe…”
“Hey, you. Don’t you see that locker attached over there? Do you want to be locked up too?”
Even the peacekeepers— locally known as patrolmen— were entranced by the charm exuded by the three women.
If there had been a few more women on the streets, the sight of men half-crazed and spinning around might have raised some alarms.
Unfortunately, the Great Hwan Empire was a place where women of high status avoided going out due to unstable public safety, so even that was in vain.
Thus, the perfect crime.
After purchasing train tickets and circulating enough local currency to satisfy Rene’s perpetually hungry stomach, Ellis, who had also successfully transformed her guardian, the “friend” in the form of a wooden barrel (No. 38), smiled brightly, having worked her talents once more.
“Hehe. Climbing the tower turned out to be more enjoyable than I thought. This Great Hwan Empire is quite interesting too.”
Having finally exercised her talents, she let out a refreshing smile.
The rear of the group.
Behind Rene.
The last conscience of the Ark Thieves. Renatel.
On one side, scenes of violence and destruction.
On the other, scenes of deceit and theft. Her pupils, having witnessed it all, still couldn’t find their place today, spinning round and round.
It seemed.
The “hero” outside the Great Forest was a little different from the “hero” in the fairy tales she had read as a child.