As Long as You Have the [Shop] Skill, the Dungeonized World Is a Breeze ~The Bullied Youth’s Payback Lifestyle~ - Chapter 173 – Emergence of Disaster

“…Damn it. I can’t let ‘em kill me so easily.” (Ze’ev)

“…If you try to run away, you’ll really be treated as traitors, you know?” (Ouza)

“Oi, oi, Ouza. Take a good look at me. I’m already being treated as a traitor.” (Ze’ev)

“I’m sure the king has no intention of killing you.” (Ouza)

“Are you joking? The person who was torturing me was Grievea, didn’t you hear?” (Ze’ev)

“….?! No way…” (Ouza)

“Believe it or not, the king… he really was planning to kill me.” (Ze’ev)

“…How could something like that…?” (Ouza)

Ouza, who had been coming across as dignified and imposing, now looked shaken. He didn’t seem to believe in the slightest that Dragia was trying to kill Ze’ev.

“Tch, who cares about that!? Ze’ev, you’re my enemy now then, right? Then… you won’t complain if I kill you?” (Tanbu)

“Could you do that even if you tried? You better not talk too big, crybaby monkey.” (Ze’ev)

“…?! …Bring it on then.” (Tanbu)

Tanbu was already raring to go. His expression was filled with murderous intent.

“Wait, Tanbu. There’s no need to kill him.” (Ouza)

“Hah? He’s already our enemy! No, he’s a scumbag who betrayed us!” (Tanbu)

“Still, as long as there’s a possibility that he still has some information, our priority is to capture him. The final decision rests with the king.” (Ouza)

“Geh, I don’t care one bit about that! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! I’m going to prove that I’m better than this sex-crazed wolf!” (Tanbu)

Just as Tanbu was about to attack Ze’ev… Everyone’s complexions changed dramatically.

“W-What in the world is this presence?!” (Tanbu)

Tanbu also restrained his killing intent and looked confused.

“This presence… No, no way… But…” (Ouza)

Ouza seemed to have an inkling, but everyone was looking around nervously as if they were searching for something.

“…What’s going on?” (Bouchi)

I was observing through the monitor, so I didn’t know what they were feeling.

“Master! Can you hear me, Master?!” (Sol)

“Sol? What is it? Did something happen?” (Bouchi)

There was an underground passageway extending underneath the city. I had been there and confirmed the existence of the underground ruins. But when I visited, I hadn’t sensed any dreadful presences.

“Master! There’s something near the main gate of the palace…!” (Sol)

I switched monitors accordinly. I had originally asked Sol to place [Camera Markers] all over the palace in advance. In other words, I pretty much had a surveillance camera system set up now.

“…This is…?!” (Bouchi)

The picture shown on the monitor was the scene by the main gate. Above the main gate, a black vortex-like object had appeared.

Others who had noticed the vortex began to gather by it. Ze’ev, Ouza, and the others were there too.

Even Dragia had appeared from within the palace. He had a grim look on his face when he saw that Ze’ev had escaped from the prison, but he quickly turned his focus towards the whirlpool and spoke.

“This sinister aura…! I didn’t think it was possible, but…” (Dragia)

One of them was a person whose face was unrecognizable under the hooded robe that covered their entire body. It was even unclear whether they were a man or a woman. In front of that figure was a man with eyes sharp like a bird of prey, wearing a cloak as red as blood.

Laying eyes upon the two figures, everyone swallowed their saliva.

“I knew it… It was you after all… Vodara—!” Dragia cried out.

The man let out a low chuckle, looking around at the palace below with nostalgic eyes before opening his mouth.

“It’s changed quite a bit, hasn’t it? What’s with the plants? Was this your preference, Dragia?” (Vodara)

“Vodara… How dare you show your face here.” (Dragia)

Apparently, the man who appeared was undeniably Vodara, the Chancellor who had ruled the Empire behind the scenes. Did that mean that the person next to him was the Curseweaver?

“…He’s got a nasty look in his eyes.” (Bouchi)

I could tell just by inspecting his gaze. The look in his eyes was the same as Ohsaka and Ryudou.

The eyes of a man who thought himself to be the ruler at the center of the world, looking down upon everyone else. Those were the eyes I hated most in this world.

Then, as if to take advantage of the momentary opening, Tanbu flew up behind Vodara.

“―Die!” (Tanbu)

Tanbu must have thought that he could catch Vodara off guard.

But then—

Boom!

Suddenly, Tanbu suddenly plummeted straight down and crashed into the ground as if something had pressed down on him from above with great force.

“Ugaaaah!!” (Tanbu)

Everyone stared, wide-eyed. Neither Vodara nor the Curseweaver had moved an inch, and yet Tanbu had clearly received an attack.

And Tanbu, who hadn’t lost consciousness yet, didn’t seem like he was able to get back up. It looked like he was desperately trying to raise his body, but it was almost as if his body wasn’t listening to him.

“Hmph, how foolish. You’re nothing more than a monkey.” (Vodara)

That was when I saw it. Only the black ring on the middle finger of Vodara’s right hand was glowing with a dull light.

At that moment, Tanbu’s body was pressed further into the ground, producing a crater around him.