Chapter 4 - Brother Eww
Ah, yes. He had screamed like a certain classic cat-and-mouse cartoon character. The sound almost made me laugh.
The glowing spear caught fire, flames spreading across the spear-thrower's body until he was engulfed. His shrieks echoed through the meadow before he was reduced to a charred husk.
While a trace of fire remained on my fingertips, my concern was directed elsewhere.
The thrown object had been nothing more than a normal bamboo spear. It had not even belonged to me.
How did I even…?
"MUSOU KNIGHT!"
One of the yellow-cloth men collapsed onto his backside, wetting his pants. The other turned to flee but tripped over a rock, tumbling to the ground.
"Musou?" I tilted my head.
My brain fizzled, and my forehead got warmer. Their exclamation triggered something in my memory, but I couldn't recall it on the spot.
'Status window? Cheat skills? Game HUD?'
I attempted to prompt for any helpful clues to help me identify the keyword, but nothing happened. However, my brain's frontal lobe felt like it was on fire due to my excessive thinking.
I wanted time to think, but the shouts of the bandits reminded me that I did not have the luxury. With an iron spear in my grip, I threw it in the same manner towards the man who was escaping.
Somehow, the iron short spear felt light as a feather. As I released it, the weapon traced a smooth horizontal arc before piercing the man's skull, shattering it like an exploding watermelon.
I didn't expect myself to be good at javelin throwing. If had discovered my talent during my time on Earth, I would have won gold medals in the Olympics.
The last yellow-cloth man turned to witness his companion's fate. His jaw clattered, and his demeanor shifted instantly. He dropped to the ground, prostrating himself.
"Please let me live! I didn't know! I didn't know!"
I crossed my arms, though I was sweating profusely. I didn't know I was this good. He also didn't realize that I had already thrown my last weapon.
I forced calm into my voice. "Didn't know what?"
"Sir! We didn't realize you were an esteemed knight. Please forgive me!"
Knight?
The keyword finally clicked, and my past life memories were less foggy. However, the hints weren't enough to clarify the current situation.
Demanding more details, I shouted at him, "What part of Avaritia are you from?"
"D-diripio Commandery, sir! W-we're just farmers who accidentally followed Lord Zoli. He tricked us! Please spare me!"
Zoli? Zoli Diripio?
Musou knights, my sudden abilities, the strange glow, and that game character's name—those hints gave me enough clues where I was, although I still had no idea how I acquired the 'knight' power, aka the Musou force.
"Ah, is that fatty Zoli still alive?"
I posed another vital question to him to confirm the timeline of this world, as it related to events that either happened or were going to happen.
"H-he's still healthy, sir!"
This indicated that a certain major historical event of this world had not yet concluded. My guess was that I arrived in this world before or during the first few months after the Avaritia-Invidia War had been triggered.
"How old is he this year?"
"…I don't know, sir. About fifty?"
"I see."
With those answers, I had gathered the necessary information—the time period, the people, the culture, the nations, the world's background, and even the magical abilities.
This world was a game world.
A musou game.
Regrettably, I was unable to open any of the game's menus, the dashboard, the skirmish map, the world map, or the heads-up display. I could not see my HP bar or the musou gauge.
Previously, I must have accidentally triggered bullet time, a special attack, or a musou ultimate attack. Normally, such special attacks consume the Musou energy bar. By now, the gauge might have been empty. I would not be able to use that ability again unless I consumed game items, which replenished my energy bar, aka liquor.
Bluffing the last survivor, I crossed the stream toward him.
The man caught my intention. He scrambled to his feet and bellowed, "I already begged! Spare me! Don't kill me!"
"Answer me one last question. If you answer truthfully, I'll let you live."
"Yes! Yes! Ask away!"
I reached the other side and picked up the knife near the burned spear-thrower. The hilt was still warm, but manageable.
"Has your king, Choi Fraus, fallen sick and died yet? If he's alive, how long has it been since he declared war on Invidia and the rest of the country?"
"W-what?"
"Answer my question."
I held the knife in a reverse grip, glaring at him.
The bandit shrieked and caved in, "W-we have just clashed with Louis Zen Army a week ago, sir! I did not participate in it! I… I intentionally strayed from the forced march! I didn't fight in that battle! I… I'm innocent!"
What a hypocritical coward. He was the type I despised. But I could not risk exposing myself as a fake knight.
Rolling my eyes, I ordered, "Get lost."
"THANK YOU, SIR!"
This mofo spoke in caps. How could you?
He smiled and turned to flee.
As soon as his back was exposed, I flipped the knife and tested my throwing skill. The blade spun through the air before embedding itself in his left thigh.
Task failed.
I had missed.
Shame burned in me. Back on Earth, I had been a dart master. Now I had failed at a simple throw.
This also confirmed that my musou energy had been depleted, as nothing magical happened. Without musou energy, my skills degraded a lot.
The bandit shrieked again, collapsing. He spotted the knife and realized I had broken my promise.
"You filthy Invidia bastard! You said you'd let me go!"
I dashed forward, stomping on his back before he could get back on his feet. Pressing my weight against him, I seized his wrist and knocked his knife out of his hand. Grabbing the dropped blade in my left hand, I stabbed the back of his neck ten times in a row.
The bandit's eyes widened in shock and fury. His coughs rasped, wind whistling through the gash. He struggled for half a minute before falling still. I stared into his eyes while he choked to death.
The sight was nightmare-inducing. Sleep would not come easily after this.
Still, remorse did not touch me. I had slain three lowlife bandits from a villainous clan. They deserved it.
Had I spared them, they would have robbed villagers, ravaged housewives, or enslaved children. The game developers had designed them to be demolished without guilt.
"CAAA!"
I had forgotten Cow-Cow. He had remained perched on my head throughout the ordeal. Now he leapt down onto the corpse beneath me.
He pecked at the man's eyeball and plucked it free.
Brother, eww.
Cow-Cow turned toward me, raising the eyeball proudly.
No, birb. I did not partake in cannibalism. I would never eat human eyeballs… unless you would pay me a hundred bucks.