Just Dance

Whats the tool that has the highest historical count of killing beasts? The sword? The spear? Or the stone axe?

Theyre all wrong. Throughout the ages, the tool responsible for the most animal deaths, with cruel simplicity, is none other than the rope. This is a weapon unique to humans who possess blunt nails, nimble hands, high intelligence, and, consequently, innate cruelty.

Gheuuff! Gah! Kff!

Welcome~, to never~ land~.

The colonels boiling groans merged with my humming into harmony. With my foot, I applied pressure on his back and tightened the rope even further.

Its natural for someone to panic when theyre suddenly being strangled. The colonel attempted in vain to remove the rope constricting his throat, driven by instinct.

Whats going?! My throat, is, strangled. Just who?!

Survival instinct awakened the colonels entire being. He had exactly conformed to the lieutenant generals commands, leaving his own thoughts immobilized. Yet now, for the first time since arriving here, he started thinking for himself.

He employed Qi Art, using inner force combined with Qi Deflection to protect his neck and ensure some blood circulation, allowing him to think clearly with his eyes wide open.

The laborer! How dare, the likes, of a convict. Assault an officer!

The colonels thoughts connected in fragments as he briefly stopped breathing to assess the situation. Fury surged within him.

You presume, to beat an officer! With mere choking?!

He smoldered with animosity even though he was being choked from behind.

Well, looks like anger isnt a combustion reaction, seeing how it burns despite the blocked oxygen.

Ill show you the difference in power!

The good news? Its generally hard to reach behind yourself.

The colonel needed a plan to attack backward, and if he came up with one, Id read it.

Now, lets dance.

The colonels elbow shot toward my shoulder as he attempted a powerful backspin attack. I took a half-step back with my right leg and bent slightly at the waist. His elbow stopped before reaching me due to the limited range of his arm. It came so close that it was like a pre-coordinated maneuver.

I curved my lips softly, momentarily loosened the rope around his neck, and twisted it around his right arm. His arm was tied to his neck now.

My right arm! Bastard! Then how about this!

Next, he aimed to shake me off with a back kick, taking advantage of the close proximity that obscured my vision. I wouldve been hit if I couldnt read minds. Yes, if only I couldnt.

I stepped back as far as his leg could reach, moving with him one step at a time in a close dance, almost like a couple.

A couples dance? It just occurred to me, but thats not a bad analogy. If only my partner wasnt this bear of a man.

Deciding to go with this concept for the day, I whispered in the colonels ear.

Where do you think youre going? I aint letting you go, partner.

What, bullshit!

By reading his mind, I could react and keep up with his movements. As someone capable of naturally synchronizing even with strangers, Id surely be the best dance partner in the State.

N-no. My breath

His attempts to escape continued to fail. When he tried to turn around, I spun and pulled the rope hard. When he flailed his arms and legs, I evaded his forced movements with minimal effort.

The colonel tried to push me away using Qi Deflection, but pushing and pulling was my field of expertise. I just had to gently let go and catch him again. However vigorously he thrashed about, the distance between us always remained at a quarter of a step.

His pulses dimly traveled through the rope to me. The climax had already passed, and all that remained was a subsiding finale.

But this dance wouldnt end till the song of life was complete.

Im, going to die?

It was slightly overdueactually, it was quite latebut the realization of death flickered past the colonels mind, leaving him gripped with fear and desperation.

At last, he would grow honest.

Grant McKinsey. You must believe that you survived due to excellence. After overcoming a multitude of trials to become the lieutenant generals trusted aide, you must have become filled with confidence that youre doing something world-changing

Cant leave small chat out of a couples dance.

I pulled the rope in close and continued whispering in his ear.

When in reality, you were just another Lieutenant Colonel Callis who is just a little dumber, and slightly luckier.

Me? A litmus like her?

Its not as if having control over somebodys life equals you having two lives, but people get confused sometimes.

I huffed a sigh, as if to flaunt the air he could no longer breathe.

Its your turn to be tested now. Are you ready to mark the dot in your life, Grant McKinsey?

No you cant.

Initially, I had no intention to kill him whatsoever. Or rather, I never minded him much in the first place. He was only here under the lieutenant generals orders.

The little emotion he had of his own was a despicable sense of superiority that arose from casting Callis aside. As he put the chain around her neck, though it was meant for him to wear, he felt relieved and superior even though the lieutenant general spared him not because he was better, but because he was stupid.

The living tool extended a hand in vain, his desperate gaze falling on Nabi.

Nabi! Help me! You pathetic, drug-addicted animal! Ill give you the drugs, so help me!

Had Nabi been just a little less intoxicated, she might have reacted differently to his plight. Alas, she didnt even look our way, purring atop the magic herbs.

Resignation filled the colonelbut then he caught sight of Callis.

Callis! Save me! Dont just stand there!

Callis might have briefly considered helping. If he hadnt chained her, that is. But at that moment, she just gazed blankly at us, having lost the will to even resist.

The colonel had already sown his karma, and none could change the past except for one.

This cant

At the very last moment, the colonel tried to pry me off even if he had to roll miserably on the ground. But the moment he squeezed out all his strength to bend forward, before he could exert any force, I tripped his leg with a thump.

The colonels heavy body tumbled awkwardly, taking me down with him while I maintained the chokehold. Despite the fall, I didnt let go of the rope. I lay with my back against the collapsed colonel and pulled it to my chest. He stretched out his left arm, but one arm wasnt enough to break free from this state.

Gradually, the thoughts of the man beneath me darkened.

Goodbye, Grant McKinsey. You were once the protagonist of a brilliant world yet, you survived by forsaking your own thoughts and becoming a mere tool. Its always a pity to see a book thats become a clone of something else, but I suppose even a summary of a different perspective has its worth.

And with that, the fading song reached its finale, the music score came to a stop, andit was gone.

That was it. A definitive ending marked on a single book.

I released the rope, and red marks from gripping it so hard appeared on my hands.

I sighed from exhaustion, took out the skewer I was hiding under my foot, and pushed myself up.

The first thing that I noticed was Tyr. She had been watching over me, summoning her sanguine steed as well. If I had stumbled during the dance, the steed would have charged over to make a pancake of the colonel. I was glad that didnt happen, as I wanted to avoid spilling blood if possible.

I raised a hand at Tyr.

I missed you a fair bit, Tyr.

She approached with teary eyes at my greeting.

Are you all right? Were you hurt anywhere?

My feelings, a little?

What did those wicked cretins do?! How did they hurt your feelings?

It happened when the dark knights I trusted to protect me were destroyed. My heart was torn apart along with them

Tyr had anticipated a touching reunion, but my sudden blame caught her off guard. She froze with a flinch, her red eyes shaking for a different reason this time.

That, I, I am sorry.

No, these things happen. I was well aware how the dark knights are pretty useless so But isnt that power of yours something that once destroyed a whole city? Sorry, but were cities made of sand back then?

W-well They were more powerful than this in the past And

Tyr tailed off, averting her gaze as if she had sinned.

After a long moment of anguishing, she continued quietly while fiddling with her fingers.

There is something I did not tell you. My bloodcraft is not whole.

Mm? Whats this about?

I went wide-eyed at the abrupt confession and raised my voice.

Excuuse me? What do you mean?

If darkness is a vessel, blood is strength. Originally, I would have infused my knights with Blood Aura and moved them using portions of my power However, for unknown reasons, I am currently unable to freely wield Blood Aura.

That reminded me. I recalled how the lieutenant colonels blood hadnt moved when she was stabbed by the suicide packet. No wonder. I shouldve suspected, but it was such a commonsensical sight that I overlooked it.

But more importantly! What the heck is going on?! Why do you think I got your heart back at the risk of my life?! Your bloodcraft weakened?

As a victim of the largest investment fraud to ever exist, I cried out in grievance.

What? Youre weaker because youre on my side? When does this ever happen?

I, ahh.. I am sorry.

Nope, this is all my fault! Azzys on my side but shes completely unhelpful, you also join my side and now youre suddenly weak out of nowhere! At this point, Im the problem, arent I now!

I deliberately ignored Tyrs embarrassment and smacked my chest in lament.

Look at me world! Heres a walking suppressor! If you wanna be weak, come over and be my ally! Youll find out what weakness is!

Th-that is not it. You have done nothing wrong. It is all my oversight I should have guarded your side

Oh, woe is me! You might as well give back your heart! Return what I gave you!

Tyr gasped, eyes widening. She looked vexed and sorrowful as she stared at the ground, then shut her eyes tightly, as if making up her mind. She raised her fingers to her chest.

I understand. It is yours, so I shall return it

Come on, how can you seriously try to give it back? Lets keep jokes as jokes, okay?

Who knew what shed do to me after taking her heart out and reverting to being that cold vampire. Weaker or not, I preferred her being on my side. She wasnt a minus to me, at the least.

I managed to protect Tyrs heart with my desperate dissuasion, but the blow to her confidence was immense. She mumbled gloomily.

I did not expect mere soldiers to be so strong. He is a lieutenant general, ranked even lower than a general, yet he is so strong The world appears to have changed dramatically. It is too difficult to catch up.

I mean, of course hes strong. Its not like a general is some run-of-the-mill nobody.

And the one who was ranked still lower Colonel, was it? I hardly expected even a soldier like him to easily overpower a knight.

No, he wasnt a soldier though. He was an officer.

Tyr went quiet with confusion.

Are they not one and the same?

It seemed this lady thought general was a synonym for those trivial fellows called mercenary captains or chief bodyguards, while the colonel ranked below that was just Average Soldier No. 1.

Considering how the man had worked like a dog for the lieutenant general to barely get promoted, he wouldve died of frustration to hear what Tyr said.

A shame, this is. I realized a pipsqueak like me shouldnt have gone blabbering at him. Instead, I shouldve let the colonel get a taste of real insults from Tyr. Its really the laymen that take the mickey out of soldiers after all.

Anyway. I figured itd be a bit much to explain military composition to a 12th-century girl, so I just nodded casually and changed the subject.

Well then. Until Mr. Shei takes his sweet time dealing with a petty lieutenant general whos not even a full general, why dont we do something about that junkie cat?

Tyr replied with far less confidence than before at my suggestion.

Must we attack? Hu, you also likely know this, but a Beast King will unleash its savage nature on the threshold of death. A berserk Beast King is a very troublesome opponent. Even Shei only dragged out the fight against the Cat King.

Huh. When did I ever mention fighting?

I scolded her gently.

Why are you needlessly trying to fight? Youre not even that strong.

Agh

I chuckled at the sight of her visibly shrinking, finding the reaction possibly rather interesting, then shrugged before continuing.

We gotta coax her right. Coincidentally, we have those mana herbs. Ill try calming her a little with the stuff.

But just then, blood trickled out from the dead colonels mouth, releasing the biting scent of blood. Tyr couldnt control that blood, so the smell gradually spread.

Here I paused to wonder: why was there blood when I choked him to death? I had tried to spill as little blood as possible, as its smell could excite a beast.

Still, I figured a little would be fine or so I complacently thought.