The Strongest in the World Doesn’t Want To Do Anything

16 – Captain of the Royal Guard

“I almost died there.”

Just before being engulfed in the explosion, Wolfgang unfolded the maximum-sized shield he could muster to ward off the damage.

Shattered fragments of the inn scattered everywhere along with dense dust.

In anticipation of any potential additional explosions, Wolfgang surveyed the condition of the others inside the inn while maintaining the shield.

“Is everyone okay? That was quite a shock, wasn’t it?”

The events unfolded so quickly that people sat there as if frozen, only blinking their eyes.

“…I was surprised.”

Turning his head to check the kitchen, Wolfgang sighed in disappointment.

Perhaps due to severe hunger, his abilities hadn’t reached the kitchen.

The kitchen was as destroyed as the rest of the inn, and beside the pitiful innkeeper, there was also a body that was beyond recognition.

Next to the unfortunate innkeeper, dumpling-shaped coals still glowed, refusing to be extinguished.

“…Ha.”

Wolfgang glared at the spot where the flash had occurred.

As the dust from the explosion gradually settled, Wolfgang saw a figure in the direction his gaze was fixed upon.

“A brat relying on trash-like magic… and there’s only one…”

Having guessed roughly who was responsible, Wolfgang deactivated the shield and walked towards the figure.

He had not taken a few steps when, once again, a bright flash enveloped Wolfgang.

“This is ridiculous.”

Another explosion occurred with a loud noise, just like before.

However, this time, the explosion happened far from the inn and Wolfgang.

From Wolfgang’s outstretched arm, white smoke was rising.

Even in this spectacle, the inn guests remained seated, blinking their eyes.

“Just now? Did you dispel magic with your fist?”

Wolfgang, as if having perfectly understood the attack, continued to walk casually, turning his shoulders with a relaxed demeanor.

“If you dispel it, that’s the end.”

The dense dust cleared, revealing the attacker’s identity.

From head to toe, the man was clad in pure white armor, a giant in stature.

He stood facing the inn, extending his right arm with his palm open.

Although wearing a helmet that covered his entire face, Wolfgang could easily discern his presence.

“As expected.”

When the man recognized Wolfgang approaching, he swiftly extended his arm.

With a clicking sound, something fell from his arm.

After a moment, the man pulled out a long cylinder from his waist and inserted it into a brace on his right arm.

Then, he opened his palm again and aimed it at Wolfgang.

A white light began to emanate from the man’s palm.

“A bombardment scroll… How did he manage to get that far with such a low-level toy?”

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Wolfgang quickly rushed forward, grabbing the man’s arm and lifting it.

Like a signal flare, a white beam of light shot into the sky from the man’s palm, exploding with a loud noise.

Wolfgang’s hand, gripping the man’s arm, tensed with strength.

“Wolfgang…”

“Nice to see you. I was already planning to find and kill you.”

In response to Wolfgang’s greeting, the man answered by throwing his left fist at him.

Wolfgang deftly let the rapidly approaching fist slide and wedged it under his right armpit.

With both arms sealed like that, Wolfgang forcefully thrust his head into the man’s face.

With a crude sound, the man’s helmet shattered, and bloody fragments scattered into the air.

Having barely withstood Wolfgang’s attack, the man knelt in place, spitting blood through the broken helmet.

“Damn it!”

Wolfgang regretted the incoming pain, clenching his head.

Not missing the opportunity, the man quickly loaded the cylinder from his waist onto his right arm and aimed it at Wolfgang.

…?

Strangely, there was no reaction from the outstretched palm.

A foreign sensation was felt on his left arm.

The man turned his gaze and confirmed the chain wrapped around his left wrist.

“What’s this?”

The relic detector he had strapped to his waist belatedly sounded the alarm.

“How did it…?”

While the man was perplexed by the relic attached to his arm, Wolfgang’s fist struck his face.

This blow completely shattered his helmet.

Stiffened from the tremendous impact, Wolfgang delivered a powerful high kick, putting his entire weight into it.

The heavy body floated in the air for about ten steps before crashing to the ground.

“When I experienced it, God’s chain of iron is quite efficient. Only during wars, though. You think you’ve woken up? Shithead commander.”

Wolfgang spoke, looking down at the fallen commander of the guards, sprawled on the ground in complete disarray.

“I’m going to kill you in a very painful way. Do you know why? Because in all that blood you’ve had on your hands, our soldiers’ blood is mixed in. Do you understand?”

Wolfgang took a healing scroll from his pocket and tossed it over the blood-stained face of the fallen commander.

The scroll emitted light, gradually restoring the consciousness of the battered commander.

As the commander, now conscious, tried to rise quickly, Wolfgang’s boot immediately pressed down on his face.

“Oh. I stepped too hard.”

Lifting his foot off Wolfgang peered at the commander’s face.

His nose was completely bent in a grotesque manner.

“But, are you tough too? Did you come here alone to catch me?”

A group of soldiers, as if answering Wolfgang’s question, were rushing towards them.

“Commander!!! If you run so far ahead without our support…”

A soldier rushing from the vanguard froze in place upon spotting Wolfgang.

The soldiers chasing from behind also stopped in their tracks.

Wolfgang grabbed the unconscious commander by the collar, lifted him up, and shook his arm toward the approaching soldiers.

“Hello~”

The soldiers, crushed by an unprecedented terror, couldn’t react at all.

Observing them, Wolfgang whispered into the commander’s ear with curiosity.

“Hey. Your soldiers are quite brave. Even after seeing this scene, they don’t run away?”

The commander, silent, only let the blood drip.

Wolfgang chuckled and shouted loudly at the soldiers.

“Ghost!!!”

‘At this point, if Ghost appears cool and spews a bit of fire, they’ll probably run away on their own.’

Breaking free from Wolfgang’s voice, Ghost appeared.

However, he did appear.

Contrary to his expectations, he appeared very slowly, with a graceful and leisurely walk, as if preparing for a horse dance competition.

“What are you doing?”

At that ridiculous sight, the soldiers seemed to relax, gradually approaching Wolfgang.

“What the hell are you doing!”

An irritated Wolfgang shouted, and Ghost, unfazed, emitted small flames through his nostrils.

“…I beg you.”

Ghost responded to Wolfgang’s crawling voice.

He thrust his head forward as if demanding a louder plea.

“I’m begging you!”

Wolfgang decided to swallow his pointless pride.

Ghost approached the soldiers with a satisfied gesture.

Finally, he stopped in front of them, staring at them with blue flames flickering in his eye sockets.

“What… is that thing?”

“A ghost?”

“Necromancy!”

Once again, the soldiers fell into a panic at the sight of Ghost up close.

Ghost, with rough theatrics, spewed blue flames from his entire body.

Rolling on the ground with all fours, he acted as if he might leap forward any moment.

The overwhelmed soldiers, abandoning their weapons, fled without looking back.

Ghost chased after them, breathing fire.

Like dominoes, the soldiers retreated one by one from the front lines.

‘…Need to regain control.’

Watching Ghost happily running, Wolfgang thought.

“Ugh… ugh… cough…”

The captain regained consciousness with a strenuous cough.

“Are you awake?”

“…You… son… of a…”

It was the weakest curse Wolfgang had heard in a while.

“From now on, it begins. Pull yourself together.”

Wolfgang, with a sinister smile, grabbed the captain’s arm, corrected it, and twisted it backward.

“Screaaaaam!”

“I thought you were exhausted, but hearing that scream, you seem quite lively!”

With all his might, Wolfgang whispered again into the agonized captain’s ear.

“Just now, that was Bas’s doing. He had mentioned proposing to his lover once the war ended.”

Wolfgang recited the name of the fallen comrade in sacrifice and, this time, snapped the fourth finger of the guard captain, all while chanting, “Krrraaaahhh!!!!”

“This time, it’s Bas’s lover’s turn. You killed the young man who would have put a ring on this finger.”

“Please!!!! Just kill me!!! You madman!!!”

The guard captain pleaded like a beast, howling.

Of course, it had no effect.

“Now, what are you blabbering about, you dung heap? We have a very long night ahead.”

People remaining in the inn continued to sit there, blinking their eyes, watching the gruesome scene unfold.