Chapter 636 - 623: The traitor is overly cautious

[Realm: Álfheimr]

[Location: Dominion of Oz]

[Winkie Country]

Shuten-dōji’s kick connected with the arm Goiim had raised in defense.

The impact came with almost no warning beyond the brief movement that preceded it. One instant, Shuten-dōji’s leg was already extending toward her; the next, the oni’s foot struck against Goiim’s raised arm with enough force to make the surrounding air buckle outward. The sound of the collision was heavy, followed immediately by a burst of force that swept across the grass in every direction. Loose blades and pieces of earth were torn from the ground and scattered outward, while the soil beneath them gave way under the sudden pressure, leaving a shallow crater where Goiim had been standing.

Yet Goiim’s expression did not change.

Her body was driven backward by the force of the blow, her heels carving two long trails through the grassy ground as she was pushed several meters away. Her heels finally dug into the earth hard enough to arrest her movement, the grass bunching beneath her feet as her body settled back into place. She remained upright throughout it all.

There was no grimace or visible strain, but those pale, unreadable eyes remained fixed upon Shuten-dōji.

Goiim slowly flexed the arm she had used to block the kick, testing it with a small movement of her wrist and elbow.

"That was rude," Goiim merely said, her voice retaining the same flat tone it had possessed throughout their conversation. She continued flexing the arm before letting it fall naturally at her side, her gaze never leaving the oni. "Have I perhaps offended you enough to warrant such a sudden reaction?"

"In a way." Shuten-dōji gave an easy smile as she placed a hand upon her hip, the relaxed posture at odds with the violence of the attack that had just taken place. There was no hostility in her expression, at least not the sort that came from anger. If anything, she looked mildly amused by the situation. "You see, I am a warrior, and I have very little patience for deception. I find it tedious. Dull, even. There is nothing interesting about pretending to be something you are not when one could simply be honest about what they intend to do. I gather you think so yourself."

"Perhaps. But what, exactly, gave me away?" Goiim questioned; she seemed interested in the answer, as though she were more curious about the process by which Shuten-dōji had uncovered her deception than concerned about the fact that it had been uncovered at all.

"I had Robert discreetly follow you, and he took notice of some interesting things." Shuten-dōji revealed.

"And I had not even noticed." Goiim murmured thoughtfully. Her eyes shifted for the briefest moment, the first indication that the information had actually made her reconsider something. "I may have to reevaluate the threat he poses."

"Only a fool would underestimate that which seems unassuming." Shuten-dōji mused.

Her smile remained easy, but it was clear she had been watching Goiim just as carefully as Goiim had been watching everyone else.

"As such, I chose not to underestimate you, Goiim. But I rather doubt that is actually your true name."

"Hm. I suppose not," Goiim murmured.

There was no attempt to deny it.

"Deception was never quite my strong suit." She gave a small sigh, raising a hand to fix her bangs after the disturbance caused by the impact. The gesture was strangely ordinary. "Ordinarily, I would be tasked with hunting strong prey the traditional way. That is what I am accustomed to. Find the target, pursue it, and eliminate it. Nothing complicated. But they saw reason to assign me this task instead. I even dressed up like this simply to sell myself as something I was not."

"So you fancy yourself a hunter, hm?" Shuten-dōji questioned; the oni’s expression suggested that the answer had given her a better understanding of the woman standing before her. "Then tell me, what exactly was your objective?"

"The eradication of the Angel and his companions," Goiim revealed. "The Ereš was not particularly concerned with him, but we Mortifers are allowed some leeway. Unfortunately, everyone else deemed me the best candidate for the task. It seems they confused my abilities as a hunter with genuine skill at covert operations."

"Hoh? So you are a Mortifer, huh?"

Shuten-dōji’s smirk widened.

The revelation appeared to amuse her far more than it concerned her. She had already suspected that Goiim was something more than she appeared to be, but placing a name to the role gave her far more important insight.

"I gathered that you were quite the exceptional individual, but to think a Mortifer from the Retorta Guild would be right under our noses."

Her eyes remained on Goiim as she spoke, taking in the woman’s demeanor with renewed interest. The revelation explained certain things, even if it did not explain everything.

"You should know what it means if a Mortifer is after you," Goiim stated.

Her voice remained the same.

"We did not bother sending a Legatus or a Lieutenant. That should tell you enough. It paints you lot as quite dangerous prey."

"And now, I suppose you wish to put me down?" Shuten-dōji mused.

There was no fear in the question. If anything, she sounded almost entertained by the prospect.

"I am quite cautious, and I am far more accustomed to fighting from a distance, so I shall not be the one to finish you," Goiim revealed.

The answer came plainly, without embellishment.

For a moment, nothing moved.

Shuten-dōji remained where she stood; her attention had sharpened. The meaning behind Goiim’s words was obvious enough, yet the oni had not expected the woman to admit it so openly.

Before Shuten-dōji could even question or ponder the supposed Mortifer’s words, she was gone.

There was no dramatic burst of energy or violent displacement of the earth.

The oni had simply been standing there, and then she suddenly was not.

"Where did you send her?" Goiim questioned, staring at the empty spot where the oni had been standing only moments prior.

There was still evidence of Shuten-dōji’s presence in the disturbed grass, the ground marked by the violence of their brief confrontation, but the oni herself was nowhere to be seen. Goiim’s pale eyes remained fixed upon the empty space for another moment, her expression unreadable.

"Space," came the voice behind the Mortifer.

Goiim did not immediately turn.

Footsteps sounded softly against the grass behind her until someone stepped up beside her.

The blue-streaked hair and pale blue eyes were difficult to miss.

"A bit excessive, no?" Goiim questioned, finally turning her head to look at Elena.

"Blame the threat ranking that spirit had," Elena waved off, her tone carrying little sympathy for the oni who had just been displaced. "It would’ve been a pain in the ass to deal with through a traditional fight. Don’t tell me you’re one of those honorable types who thinks every hunt has to be settled face-to-face."

"No, not quite." Goiim murmured, her eyes briefly returning toward the empty space where Shuten-dōji had disappeared. "There is some honor in the hunts I have done, but that was a long time ago. I have no particular attachment to fighting that way anymore. Though, if that kills the spirit, all the better."

"Tch. I ain’t careless enough to believe I can’t kill one damn spirit." Elena scoffed, folding her arms across her chest. "I can deal with something like that if I have to. So what now? We go after the Angel, or what?"

"Hm. Surprising. You seem rather invested in this." Goiim noted, turning her attention back toward Elena. "Don’t you have new duties as Morgan’s Legatus? I would have assumed that would occupy most of your time."

"That woman’s busy with our new guest, the alchemist girl and that tin head," Elena said with some annoyance, her black-painted lips shifting as irritation crept visibly into her expression. "And besides, this’ll give me some good credit. If I handle this properly, I can eventually overtake one of you, Mortifers."

"Hm. Well, good luck." Goiim dully stated.

There was no mockery in the words, but the complete lack of enthusiasm made the response sound dismissive.

"But not yet. Though the Angel is ranked as a Seraphim, we are still unsure of his real rank. Additional information also showed that he bested a Royal Guard."

"Shit? For real?" Elena’s expression shifted, the casualness leaving her face as she took the information more seriously.

She unfolded her arms only to fold them again beneath her chest, her posture becoming more attentive.

"So what? We can’t exactly call for help. All the other Mortifers are busy with their own shit. Number one is handling that Progenitor that wiped our people out in the north, and our Second and Third are busy collecting those remains with the rest."

Her annoyance returned.

"Or do you think you’re strong enough?"

"Maybe," Goiim replied.

The answer was noncommittal.

"But I always think it wise to soften up your prey before going for the sure kill. There is little reason to take an unnecessary risk when patience can make the eventual outcome more certain."

She paused, her pale eyes remaining distant as she considered what came next.

"For now, I shall play my part."

"A part you suck at playing," Elena dryly stated. "Pretty sure most already made you."

"Unfortunately true," Goiim sighed.

The admission came with a resignation that made it clear just how little she had enjoyed the role she had been forced to play.

She really hated her task.

"Let’s us move on," Goiim decided to move the subject away from her incompetence. "The Progenitor of these lands, we can use it."