Paradigm Parasite

Chapter 105: "Weapons"

"Well, let's start with this one."

From a pile of weapons, Headman pulled out a pair of huge pliers.

They were reddish-black in color and had a strange luster that could be described either as metal or the shell of a living creature.

"This is a pair of pincers...in short, pliers. I made it in the shape of a pair of pliers. I call them 'magic-driven scissors, Club Monster'!"

...Just like that.

He opened and closed the pliers with a clank.

The surface of the shears was flat, but there were unnatural indentations and grooves.

"The material used is part of a crab monster called Brachyura. And here's the fun part."

When he opened the pliers, a spike-like object popped out of the surface of the scissors.

"There's more."

When the spike is retracted, the surface changes from a groove to a blade, and the groove rises up and becomes uneven.

"Well, you can use it for different purposes. The only drawback is that it eats up a lot of magic power..."

"It doesn't look that way to me."

"Ah. If you just change the gimmick, there's no problem, but you can't take advantage of its best feature."

Then he opens the club monster as hard as he can so the shears slide open and... is that a roller?

A black wheel-like object with vicious-looking spikes spaced at equal intervals emerges.

"Originally, they were called twin headers, and they were meant to be attached to the end of an excavator..."

The disk spins with a vicious roar.

Wow, is this for real? You're going to pinch it with that thing?

If it were to get caught in that thing, it would be minced to pieces in a few seconds.

"The difference is that it's not hydraulically driven, it's magically driven...but it's fuel-efficient to keep this thing spinning."

He stopped the rotation and retracted the gimmick.

I took the scissors from him and held them in my hands.

Hmmm, it's a good weight. It's fine to wield.

There are some protrusions on the handles.

Ah, these are magic stones.

I'm starting to understand how to use this weapon.

When I tried it out, I put magic power into the topmost magic stone, and the gimmick was activated. The spike pops out.

This is interesting. When the magic power was applied again, the spike retracted.

I activated the gimmicks one after another. Finally, the twin headers are activated.

When additional magic power is applied, the twin headers begin to rotate.

Ah. The amount of magic power that is poured into it determines its rotational power.

If you pour in as much as you can, it will roar and begin to rotate.

...oh. This is really interesting.

It's got weight, too, so I can just smack it around like a normal whacker.

"Oh, nice spinning! Brother. How's your body?"

"No problem. It's a good weapon."

"Oh, yeah! You know what you're talking about! Then take a look at my special one!"

He happily brought out a toolbox-like object that he kept near a pile of weapons, and showed what was inside.

"I've been working on it for years, but I can't find anyone who can use it. I think you might be able to use it."

I looked at the contents of the box and looked back at the people hanging around me.

I see...I see.

I began to understand, albeit dimly, what kind of thing the headman was trying to achieve.

"Now that we're all settled, I have a question I'd like to ask you, if you don't mind. Don't worry. Verbo's in the other room, and this room is soundproofed and wiretap-proof. I'm the only one who listens."

After showing me all of the oddly shaped equipment that might be described as weapons, I decided to buy it and had finished calculating the price, when the head man interrupted me.

"What is it?"

"Your body. How did you make it?"

I was at a loss for an answer because I did not understand the intent of the question.

"What are you talking about?"

"Can we cut the small talk? Almost without exception, we "fallen ones" are hybrids with other creatures like me. You, on the other hand, look like a human. Is it a peculiar ability or something? Or is there some other way?"

What do you mean?

If I take him at his word, does that mean that all the reincarnated people look like monsters?

Not because of the different creatures that have taken over, but because these guys can't change their appearance?

"I'm sorry. Before I answer your question, let me ask you this. Can't you guys change?"

"What are you talking about? We can't. That's why I'm asking you."

"I'll tell you one thing at a time. First of all, this is my original appearance, albeit slightly altered."

"What?"

He looked at me from top to bottom.

"So you've been eaten by a human, huh? That's lucky for you."

"Eaten? What are you talking about?"

"Yes? No, you got eaten by a human and mutated, didn't you?"

"Mutated?"

There's that new word again.

"Sorry. Tell me more about your mutation."

"Wait a minute. What do you mean by that, brother?"

The conversation is kind of off.

"Let's start with our perceptions. First of all, we are from Japan and fell here after we died. So far, so good."

"Oh. I fell to my death in an accident at work. Next thing I know, I'm lying in the grass with my head like a worm."

So far, so good.

"And then?"

"Oh. I was trying to get around when I was attacked by centipedes. It ate me up."

Oh?

"After that, everything turned red in front of my eyes, and the only thing I can vaguely remember is that I was starving. When I came to, I was like this."

I see. This is the difference.

I was a little lost, but it wouldn't be fair not to talk about it.

"I'm not like you there. I ate the other way."

"What?"

"There happened to be a human corpse nearby. I ate it and assimilated."

I'm sorry, but I'm not going to tell you my weakness.

The head man let out a breath, "Oh," he said.

"You mean you used the corpse as a base and reassembled it?"

"Ah."

Saying that, I change the shape of my hand. I start with a goblin's hand, then change it into a monster's foot, plant ivy, and so on, and then change it back.

The head is staring at my hand, frozen in place.

"I envy you...you are so dexterous."

He mutters in a tone filled with envy.

"So...so? Can you tell me more about your mutation?"

I heard that mutation is a form of fusion with the creatures that prey on you, and that you can take on a humanoid form.

Once in humanoid form, the mutant has a high level of physical ability and regenerative capacity.

It is said that they can obtain abilities unique to the creature with which they have fused.

On the other hand, their appearance seems to be completely fixed.

Thanks to this, I understood why the spider guy was screaming in Japanese.

That's because they don't understand the language.

The monsters probably have better physical abilities than I do, but in terms of versatility, I have the advantage.

And they don't seem to have the ability to extract memories or influence the mind.

The head man talked at length about the difficulties he had in learning the language, so it seems he learned the language on his own.

The process was rather bloody.

"Even so, I didn't realize the difference between eating and being eaten was so great.... I really envy you, brother."

I can see why he envies me so much, though I don't know what to say about it.

If it were the other way around, I would have said the same thing.

"If I could do what you do, I wouldn't have to sneak around the city like this."

Of course.

You can't walk around town looking like a monster.

The moment they see us, they'll take us down immediately.

"Well, I'm glad to have heard something interesting, even if it wasn't what I was expecting."

"For both of us. Now, let's get back to the story. Is this enough to pay the bill?"

I handed him the whole bag of money I had in my possession.

"Oh, you're so generous, brother."

He checked the contents of the bag, pulled out half of it, and gave me back the rest.

Oh? It's cheaper than I thought it would be.

"I've heard good things. That's all I need."

"I appreciate that. Now..."

"Don't tell anyone. I won't tell anyone about what you just said, not even Verbo."

If you understand me that well, it's easy for me to talk about it.

I'm going to trust you here.

Well, if you tell anyone, I'll give the information about him to the guild, to Darzain, and to Gnosis, and then I'll order a quest to take him down.

"Wait for me to prepare the scabbard."

With that, I received the scabbard for the crab monstrosity that had been prepared for me and put it inside.

Now I have all the equipment I need.

First of all, my boots are made from the material of the monsters.

According to the headman, they were made with a tip inside like "safety shoes," but they were not bad and were easy to walk in.

The pants are also made of the same material as the coat, sturdy, lightweight, blade-proof, and resistant to magic and fire.

The top was purchased in a similar material, but...what? Where have I seen something similar?

The rest of the long coat and hand armor were omitted.

He showed me some of his weapons, but I liked the first one, the Crab Monster, and his pride and joy.

"Oh, brother! You're looking good! There's a mirror right there, take a look."

I did as I was told and stood in front of the mirror.

"What...?"

I was astonished.

It's almost the same outfit as Vertex's!

I had been looking at the performance so much that I had completely lost track of the visual.

"I knew it. ......"

"I was so shocked. Verbo was dressed well, but he looks good too."

He nodded his head repeatedly, in a good mood.

I can't do it. I swallow the words I was about to say.

I can't tell him to stop now.

No, but I look at it more closely, and I wonder if this is a good thing.

I think it's starting to look better and better as I look at it.

No, it's starting to look....

No, it definitely looks good...it should.

"Hey, bro."

While I was repeating the self-suggestion, the headman called out to me in a new tone of voice.

What is it this time?

"It's about Verboo. I'd like you to make friends with him if you can."

"......"

I said nothing, but urged him on.

"I've known the boy for quite a long time, and I've done things like imitate his father, but I'm a little worried about him because he doesn't make friends at all..."

I can't speak for others either, but with his personality, it's impossible for him to make friends.

It is doubtful if he has any intention of making friends.

"Sure, he's got a crooked streak in his guts, and he's got a bad mouth, but I really ...... think he's got some good ...... uh... good qualities too, so what can I say..."

...You should at least follow up with him.

"I can't promise, but I'll keep that in mind."

I knew exactly what he meant, so I responded whether I would do it or not.

The word "father" made me feel uncomfortable in my chest, but I would at least pay attention.

I thought to myself as I heard the door kicking behind me.