Dark Fantasy: Super Coward Mode

Chapter 131

"The Outer God disappeared all of a sudden?"

"Yes. We were just as confused... and as it turns out..."

Marenne was utterly perplexed.

When reports came in of a powerful Outer God causing chaos in Vandré Village, she had quickly mobilized with a few knights, traveling as fast as the train's fuel would allow.

But upon arrival, the news she received was baffling.

"And it turns out?"

"The Outer God only seemed to destroy buildings that housed notorious criminals—like slave traders."

"Slave traders? What do you mean by that?"

"Ah, well..."

The village elder, who had been explaining the situation, grew visibly flustered. It was clear something more was going on.

Marenne’s expression darkened at the mention of slave traders.

She disliked interruptions when dealing with critical matters like Outer Gods, but this "slave trading" issue piqued her ire.

The elder, realizing what he had let slip, stammered nervously.

"Surely... the knights didn’t accept bribes from these traders?"

"...Yes, but they threatened me into keeping quiet about it..."

Marenne sighed deeply and called over her knights.

"Strip every knight in this village of their rank immediately. Handle the cleanup."

"Understood!"

The audacity of such actions in a world as harsh as this—it infuriated her.

Of all the corruption Marenne despised, this ranked among the worst.

"Hmm."

Having dealt with the immediate issue, she turned her focus back to the Outer God.

Despite resolving the corruption, Marenne found herself unable to make sense of the events that had unfolded.

"Could this truly be... the work of an Outer God?"

Since the Martial God’s return, nothing had been normal.

Even Tanton had been acting oddly of late.

Could it be...

"I’ll leave the rest to you."

"Yes, ma'am!"

Marenne boarded the train for a swift return.

Tanton, who had always been several steps ahead of her, now felt inscrutable.

Had her old friend’s return clouded her judgment to this extent?

"Wait for me, Tanton."

As the train departed, a figure stood on a snowy mountaintop, watching it vanish into the distance.

"Huff, huff..."

The figure howled like a wolf once the train disappeared.

"Vice Commander, I’m heading to the humans!"

The entity that had caused the chaos in Vandré Village—though selectively—vanished without a trace.

The "thing pretending to be the Martial God" stared at me with utter disbelief.

Send Vel to cause chaos in Vandré Village—but reduce the aura of a Greater Outer God to avoid mass casualties, using the help of the Record Keeper.Introduce the Slayer’s wyvern, disguised as me, to observe the Outer God’s actions while impersonating the Martial God.The moment it made a critical move, deliver swift and decisive retribution.

Despite my protests, it continued its relentless assault. I barely rolled out of the way, avoiding another devastating blow.

"You barbarian!"

Using the brief opening, I swung my sword toward its side.

But the Outer God twisted unnaturally, blocking my attack with the shaft of its axe.

This body—it truly was the peak of combat prowess once belonging to the Martial God.

Even the Vice Commander’s skills seemed a step below in comparison.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

It retaliated with frightening precision, each swing of its axe narrowly missing me.

I countered by pressing my blade against its armor and driving forward, pushing it into the wall.

Boom!

The impact left a dent in its armor, but the Outer God only smirked, as if amused by my failure to kill it outright.

Realizing I couldn’t win this alone, I leapt back to reassess my strategy.

This wasn’t a fight I could win. Killing the Martial God’s body wasn’t an option—it was too valuable for the coming battles against the Giant of the Snowfields.

But the Outer God had no such restraints.

Its next strike came with reckless abandon, its axe knocking my blade away and pressing against my throat.

"Ugh!"

"You’ve lasted longer than I expected, weakling," it sneered, though its labored breathing betrayed its own exhaustion.

Had I been able to hold out just a bit longer...

What a shame.

"Resigned to your fate, I see. Fine, I’ll end it now."

The axe rose high, poised to deliver a fatal blow.

Thunk.

The sound of flesh meeting flesh echoed through the room.

I felt no pain.

Instead, I saw the Outer God’s wrist firmly gripped by a hand.

I opened my eyes, and relief washed over me.

"Vice Commander!"

How perfectly timed.

The Slayer’s plan had unfolded like clockwork.

"V-Vice Commander..."

The Outer God, sensing its doom, tried to feign camaraderie.

But it was too late.

The scales on its cheek and its attempt on my life had already sealed its fate.

The Vice Commander’s eyes burned with certainty as he addressed me.

"My apologies, Tanton. I regret not catching your signal sooner."

He turned to the Outer God, gripping his greatsword tightly.

"You played my friend well. Now pay the price for it."

Hatred burned in his gaze as he took a step forward.

"Pathetic Outer God."