Only I Am A Reader
Chapter 31: For Survival

'He really hid it well…'

Despite being intimidated by the confidence of the scar-faced man, Leo didn't immediately believe in the guy's words.

However, as he increased the gap further and tried to confuse the scar-faced man just like he did to his recent victim, Leo completely confirmed that his guess was indeed true.

Unlike the pair who had traced his path through direct observation, the scar-faced man already made his own map from watching his men dance around the deadly field.

Rather than bluffing, Leo felt like the man underplayed his words instead…

'I'm really out of cards now.'

Despite the worsening situation, Leo found himself getting increasingly calmer, trying to make use of that, he quickly came up with an analysis of his current situation.

With the map of traps already memorized in the mind of the scar-faced man, Leo understood that he had more or less lost his main advantage that came in the form of his 'field'. Having lost the base of his tactics, the things he could do were getting less and less…

In fact, Leo fully knew that just testing the scar-faced man was only possible because he was familiarizing himself with the field, intentionally moving slowly. It was obvious to Leo that he had specifically done that to instill despair into him. He could particularly tell as someone who had relied on such methods earlier.

'Only one blank card.'

However, it wasn't like he lost all advantages. Although it appeared to be useless, after the 'vanishing' of the 'field', his current main advantage was none other than the scar-faced man's will to capture him alive.

Originally, Leo expected the Fanged Wolves' team to aim for his head on account of what he did as well as what was exposed in the novel, but it seemed like the scar-faced man had no such intention. The reason behind that was still a mystery, regardless, Leo intended to use it to its full potential.

"Done playing around yet? Shall we get started?"

As if to express his boredom, the scar-faced man dashed towards Leo at a moderate speed, almost closing the gap that had barely formed.

'Running isn't an option.'

Having summed up his thoughts of the situation, Leo stopped in place and drew out both 'colorful' swords from the sheaths attached to the back of his makeshift 'armor'.

"Oh? You want to use those brushes again?"

However, in response to Leo's actions, the scar-faced man who was already standing in front of him drew his sword.

'Ugh…'

Despite knowing that he was unharmed, Leo couldn't help but frown as he perceived the feeling of being cut. The reason behind his frown wasn't the fake pain, but the cause of it…

'Third-grade.'

Although he had yet to nurture sword breath, thus being incapable of measuring the grade of sword breath, Leo knew that the scar-faced man was a grade higher than the pair he had just killed, and considering third-grade was the peak strength the Fanged Wolves had used according to the novel. He quickly came to the conclusion of the man's strength.

In Leo's case, where he didn't possess a drop of sword breath, the grade of his opponent seemed irrelevant, but Leo knew that his chances of survival were even further lowered...

Even so, Leo slashed his left sword towards the scar-faced man in an attempt to use the only power he currently had, the power of poison!

"Tsk, I thought you had more to show."

Showing no hint of fear, the scar-faced man's sword moved quickly, a dozen strikes landed on the 'colorful' sword before it gained enough kinetic energy to spray its poison!

Swissh!

'As expected…'

Taking two steps back, Leo stared at the fragments of the sword that were laid down on the ground. He knew that the same trick wouldn't work on a sword breath user of a higher grade, but he didn't regret trying it.

"So, will you come with me obediently now or?"

Looking at the eyes of the scar-faced man that didn't implore that he was in a hurry, Leo sheathed the other sword, showing a hint of surrender in his eyes.

"Put away your sword breath first."

"Oh! He finally speaks!"

Speaking for the first time since the start of his encounter with the Fanged Wolves' team, Leo spoke words that indicated his will to surrender as he stepped forward.

"Sure, sure, if you are afraid of this, then I will put it away."

The scar-faced man's face was full of smiles as if he was already sure of his victory, not even a hint of worry appeared on his face.

Letting out a breath as if relieved, Leo took a few more steps, only the space of two steps separated him from the scar-faced man.

With resignation visible from all of his body gestures, Leo lightly lowered his head and held his hands to the front to declare the lack of resistance.

"Alright, now you can…"

However, as the scar-faced man put his hand forward, Leo didn't finish his words as he suddenly jumped up!

"You…"

As the scar-faced man moved his sword up in response, the sword went through Leo's abdomen before the man pulled back his sword in surprise, showing his clear unwillingness to kill.

Mmm!

As the scar-faced man tried to react to the situation, using his empty hand to grab hold of Leo's back, he found that Leo had already clamped his arms and legs around his body, unwilling to let go.

"Crazy!"

Unable to produce enough force with his left hand, the scar-faced man quickly tried to put the sword back to its sheath so he could use both hands. However, just then, he felt the pressure that was applied to his body had lessened.

"...Die!"

Barely processing what happened, the scar-faced man's eyes showed true fear at last, the 'colorful' body a throwing knife being reflected on them!

Ssplicht!

The sound of a knife penetrating flesh sounded out, the scar-faced man's eyes that were already enlarged almost jumped out of their sockets.

"Kgyaaaaaah!"

Klang...

The scar-faced man's mouth opened, letting out the loudest scream that had sounded out that night, his sword dropping to the ground.

Unlike him, despite feeling the aching pain coursing from his abdomen, Leo's mind felt crystal clear, one particular feeling overpowered his mind as he pulled the small knife out of the man's scar.

'Die…'

"Die. Die. Die…"

It was pure killing intent!

Shlpicht! Plicht! Splicht! Sp…

Not sparing any thought to the man's intensified pain from reopening his wound, Leo continued stabbing and pulling the knife in and out of the man's face. The only eye that was left on the man's face was already deathly white, but the stabbing didn't stop.

'It's over…'

Finally coming to his senses a few minutes later, Leo finally let go of the body that was already on the ground, half of his face being an unrecognizable mess.

"Ugh…"

Not even being given the chance to consider what just happened, the pain that he had finally perceived caught Leo off guard as soon as he stood up, almost causing him to sprawl on the ground like his victim.

'Not yet.'

Not daring to collapse just yet, Leo staggeringly walked to the shack, grabbing a feel of the grass, until he pulled out a dozen of threads.

Click. Click. Click. Click…

The sound of a screw popping out sounded out before Leo went into the house, grabbing a sack of dirt and moving to a certain spot before dumping it into the concealed pit.

'Now…'

After finishing the mandatory tasks that he had set for himself, Leo barely managed to leave the boundary of his 'field' before he let go of his consciousness...

Thud.

[....Plot change confirmed. ]