I Became a Prisoner in the Game After Defeating the Final Boss Chapter 49

Reaching the South Gate, I faced the Guard Team Leader as always.

"Seeing you often these days. What's the matter?"

"I have some business outside for a moment."

"Is that so? Have a safe trip."

The Guard Team Leader let me pass quickly without any particular words.

Leaving Winter Castle, I walked endlessly towards the east.

I didn't have a particular destination.

If I had to name one, I'd say it was a place as far away from Winter Castle as possible.

A place where, even if a gunshot rang out, it wouldn't be heard at all from Winter Castle.

Thanks to the massive demonic beast subjugation order implemented by Winter Castle, I didn't even see the shadow of a demonic beast while heading east.

This was because even the packs of demonic beasts that occasionally appeared near Winter Castle had been wiped out.

1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours.......

Thanks to moving at a fairly high speed, the sight of Winter Castle, which had been over the horizon, completely disappeared at some point.

Arriving at the forest to the east, I stopped my steps there and began to prepare for camping.

'This should be far enough.'

I had left no small number of traces while coming this far.

So, if I waited here, some sign would soon appear.

And how much time had passed?

The sunset had already settled, Eoduksini spread all around, and night arrived.

When all around was dyed in darkness, the only light was the single bonfire lit with the Fang of Blazing Fire.

It was then.

Rustle─

A presence felt through the bushes.

And it was distinctly different from the presence of a demonic beast or animal.

"Just come out."

The visitor had no intention of hiding, as a human presence was soon felt from within the bushes.

"...My, my. I wondered where you were going all of a sudden, but it was a lure. For someone of my stature to make such a rudimentary mistake."

The one who subsequently revealed himself from between the bushes was, naturally, someone I knew.

Dennis.

No, Anonymous999.

"What is your business here? I don't recall inviting a night guest."

"Haha, seeing as your speech has become shorter, you've finally become a bit more like a mage."

"I have no intention of showing respect to an uninvited guest."

"Uninvited guest... Haha, I'm an official guest invited to Winter Castle, you're being too harsh."

"Does this place look like Winter Castle?"

"That's true as well. A wise answer to a foolish question."

As soon as Dennis gestured, human presences that hadn't been revealed until now were revealed from all around.

I already knew that Dennis hadn't come alone.

'As expected.'

After the subjugation of the Mage of Blazing Fire, my reputation had spread considerably within Winter Castle.

In other words, there was no way Dennis, who knew about those rumors, would have come here alone.

"It would be best not to resist uselessly. I already know the stories that you wield thunder."

"And what about it?"

Dennis smiled lightly and revealed his armor.

"Do you see this? Its armor is made by weaving the leather of the Thunder Beast Vakumbara and the tendons of Svaikun. They are all materials with extremely excellent electrical insulation. Of course, my subordinates are also wearing the same thing."

Look at this.......

It seemed he hadn't revealed himself confidently for nothing, as Dennis appeared to have prepared a solid countermeasure against the Mage of Thunder.

Certainly, with materials of that level, he would be able to gain a clear advantage against a mage who wields lightning magic.

'Assuming I really am a Mage of Thunder, that is.'

Ignorant of that fact, Dennis, believing he had the upper hand, smiled brightly and stood before me.

"Vell Blackwood, there is something I want to ask you."

"Wasn't the boring riddle-like conversation all over?"

"No, this time, you could say it's because of the real reason I came here. The Orb of Winter... you have it, don't you?"

So that was his purpose.

"What is that?"

"Haha. Didn't you say the time for riddles was over? I'd prefer it if we could just go about this easily."

"What if I say I don't know?"

"If you insist on drinking the punishment, then I can't help it. I'll find the Orb of Winter myself. From your corpse, that is."

With that, men wearing the same armor as Dennis began to reveal themselves from all around, one by one.

One, two, three, four.......

'At least over ten.'

It wouldn't have been easy to equip over ten people with gear made from Vakumbara and Svaikun, and as expected, the financial power of the Pegasus Merchant Guild seemed to be no small thing.

"I also have something I want to ask."

"Go ahead."

"I see you know about the dangers of the Demonic energy dwelling in the fragment. In that case, are you not taking the fragments?"

"...I see, so you were a player after all. I knew it."

"The answer?"

"Of course we don't. We, Bellerophon, are a gathering of those who wish to collect the fragments in order to prevent the misuse and side effects that arise from them."

Bellerophon.......

I seem to recall seeing that name briefly on the Guild Bulletin Board.

In other words, the Bellerophon Dennis was talking about must be a guild of users related to the Pegasus Merchant Guild.

"In the end, isn't it just that you want to monopolize the fragments under a plausible pretext?"

"It doesn't matter what you call it, as the just cause lies with us anyway. We have no intention of clarifying every little misunderstanding."

"Ridiculous."

Dennis spoke.

"Vell Blackwood, I also have one last thing I want to ask personally."

"What is it?"

"That can't be your real name... what was your in-game nickname? A mage of your caliber, I'm sure I would have heard of you at least once."

"Are you curious?"

"Yes, very."

Then I have no choice but to answer.

"Cain."

"...Sorry?"

"My nickname is Cain."

It's a little much to say it myself, but the nickname Cain holds a great many meanings in the World of Justice.

Enough to make the one hearing that nickname doubt their own hearing.

"Wait, Cain, don't tell me...!"

Startle the opponent, and catch them off guard.

It was the most basic tactic of a surprise attack.

Not missing that gap, I took out the Colt garrison B-09 that I had summoned in advance in my breast pocket and aimed it straight at Dennis.

"A, a gun?! What─"

Dennis's bafflement couldn't even continue.

Because the trigger was pulled much faster than that.

Bang!──

With the gunshot that rang out, red fresh blood scattered in the air.

"Kkuaaaak!"

With Dennis's scream, blood spurted from his right shoulder.

It seems he reacted in his own way the moment he saw the muzzle.

Unfortunately, I had failed to kill Dennis instantly, but it was nevertheless clearly a fatal wound.

"K, kill him!"

With Dennis's cry, his subordinates rushed in from all sides.

'Where do you think you're going.'

The armor made from Vakumbara and Svaikun materials has excellent electrical insulation, but conversely, it is quite weak against physical force above a certain level.

Like, for example, a gun.

It means that although Dennis had prepared thoroughly in his own way, it was a complete misjudgment.

Click-

There was no need for precise aiming.

Because the living target boards were rushing towards me like moths to a flame on their own.

Bang!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Each time the trigger was pulled in succession, Dennis's subordinates who were rushing towards me collapsed like falling leaves in the autumn wind.

"Keoheok...!"

"Aaargh! My hand! My hand!"

"Kkeureuk......."

A gun was that kind of object.

Although the size of the bullet was nothing special, it was a weapon that poured out an enormous amount of impact from the explosive force of the gunpowder's enormous kinetic energy, an astonishingly efficient weapon for murder.

"No way. No way... How, in this world, a gun...!"

Dennis watched his subordinates collapse, screaming his head off.

"Block it! Block it, I said!"

However, I had no intention of letting Dennis off either.

Click-

As soon as I pointed the muzzle at Dennis, other subordinates rushed towards me.

I could have shot Dennis if I wanted to, but the problem was that if I did, I would be attacked by the subordinates.

'Tsk, too many hindrances after all.'

But there was nothing to be reluctant about.

If there was something getting in the way, wouldn't it be fine to just get rid of it?

Bang!

Ba-bang!!

With the trigger being pulled continuously, the forest that had been dyed in darkness flickered with the light of the bonfire and the flames from the muzzle.

Just as I was pulling the trigger at Dennis's subordinates like that.

"Got him!"

Two of Dennis's subordinates, who had stealthily appeared from behind me, grabbed my body.

It wasn't that I hadn't noticed their presence at all, but as I was dealing with enemies swarming from all sides, I had unavoidably allowed them to approach.

"Well done! Hold him tighter!"

Dennis shouted in exultation and tried to approach me, but I had no intention of meekly letting myself be held by them.

"Where do you think you're grabbing?"

[‘Haima’s Curse’ is activating.]

[Due to ‘Haima’s Curse’, the wearer’s blood rampages.]

[Physical abilities are enhanced by 20% due to the ‘Haima’s Curse’ effect.]

[Resistance to the ‘Bleeding’ status effect is reduced due to the ‘Haima’s Curse’ effect.]

Kkudeuk, kkudeudeuk.......

Blood vessels stood out all over my body, and my muscles swelled and surged fiercely.

As soon as I swung my arm, the subordinate of Dennis who was holding my arm was sent flying.

"Uwaaak!"

"You stupid bastard! Don't let him go!"

Seeing Dennis's subordinate sent flying much more lightly than I expected, I couldn't hide my bewilderment for a moment.

'Hm?'

Originally, even with the power of Haima's Pendant, it would have been impossible to shake them off lightly.

But for some reason, with a single gesture of my hand, Dennis's subordinates were thrown off.

For me, who knew my own lowly physical abilities better than anyone, it was a situation I couldn't help but be puzzled by.

'Is it because of the Demonic energy?'

Demonic energy is a dangerous aura, but if one can fully control it, it becomes an extremely powerful weapon.

The enhancement of physical abilities beyond common sense must also be because of that.

'Well, whatever it is, I have to see it as a good thing for now.'

After all, the dangers possessed by Demonic energy were meaningless to me.

Click─

Grasping the Colt garrison again, I aimed the muzzle at Dennis's subordinates.

"S, save me...! I don't want to die! I don't want to diiie!!"

One person per shot.

After changing the fate of six people with just six bullets, there were now less than five of Dennis's subordinates remaining.

As fear was spreading among those remaining like an epidemic, there was no one who dared to rush at me.

Click, clack.......

Regardless of that, I leisurely took out the bullets I had put in my pocket and filled the revolver's cylinder.

The revolver was loaded with six bullets, and now it was time to reload.

"N, now! He's reloading! Attack now!"

Dennis, who knew about guns, screamed his head off and shouted, but naturally, there were no subordinates who would follow that order.

No matter if he shouted a hundred or a thousand times that now was the chance, that shout wouldn't reach the subordinates infected with fear.

"These worthless bastards...!"

I aimed the muzzle straight at Dennis.

"Then let's end this."

Just as I was about to pull the trigger without hesitation.

An unknown power wrapped around me.

[‘Magic of Plunder’ activates.]

[You are being stripped of the ownership of the weapon, ‘Colt garrison B-09’!]

With the sudden anomaly, the Colt garrison B-09 that was in my hand disappeared.

'This is.......'

I knew what this magic was.

'Magic of Plunder.'

It was obvious who the caster of that magic was.

The Magic of Plunder was a magic that could only be used by making a contract with the Demon of Greed, and the Demon of Greed was a demon that was often in a very close relationship with merchants.

"Your fooling around... ends here, you dog-like bastard."

His composure from just before was nowhere to be seen, as Dennis panted, even mixing in vile curses.

While aiming the Colt garrison B-09, which was originally mine, at me.

"Hoo... yeah, I admit it. Making me use magic... you were pretty good, Vell Blackwood."

All magic has a price.

Especially the Magic of Plunder that Dennis just used, as it was magic that directly stole the opponent's wealth, its price was also immensely large.

Just as I thought, Dennis, who had used the Magic of Plunder, did not look fine.

He had begun to limp on his left leg.

'He paid a muscle or toe on his left side as the price.'

He hadn't suffered an injury to his leg, but the fact that he suddenly couldn't maintain his balance meant just that.

"I don't know how on earth you got a gun... but this must be why you were called the Mage of Thunder. It's the end now."

Dennis aimed the Colt garrison B-09 he had plundered from me.

A touch-and-go situation.

But Dennis had made a mistake yet again.

"You should have pulled it right away."

"Cut the bluff! There's nothing you can do now. Where is the Orb of Winter? Ah, it doesn't matter if you don't tell me. I can just find it on your corpse."

"You seem to be mistaken about one thing."

If Dennis had plundered the Fang of Blazing Fire at my waist with the Magic of Plunder, this fight probably would have ended with my defeat.

Because the biggest constraint I made when I signed the contract with the Demon of Blazing Fire was the contract to offer my life if I lost ownership of the Fang of Blazing Fire.

In that sense, the Magic of Plunder was practically a major weakness for me, a very dangerous magic.

'Of course, there's no way Dennis would know the details of such a contract.'

That's why Dennis made a mistake like the one just now.

"Only I can use that."

Dennis doesn't know.

What happens to a weapon summoned through Weapon Summon when it is resummoned.

That the complete ownership of a weapon summoned through Weapon Summon belongs only to me.

[‘Weapon Summon(??)’ activates.]

[‘Lv.1’ weapon is summoned.]

[Summoning weapon, ‘Colt garrison B-09’.]

As if to prove that fact, as soon as I used the Weapon Summon trait again, the previously summoned Colt garrison B-09 disappeared, and a new Colt garrison B-09 appeared in my hand.

"Wh, what!"

Dennis, who instantly became empty-handed, looked at me with a face full of astonishment, his triumphant expression from just before gone.

"Let's end this."

I have no intention of creating variables by hesitating to pull the trigger like Dennis.

Everything must be certain.

Because that was the most important way for me to survive in this world.

Click-

Bang!─

With the pulled trigger, a gunshot rang out.

"This, dog-like─"

With a black hole appearing in the middle of Dennis's forehead, Dennis's body crumpled powerlessly.