The God of Jesters
Chapter 51 - 2.13.3 The Rat defense.

Chapter 51: 2.13.3 The Rat defense.

Lecarth Library, an old place with rarely any visitors even before it was turned into a safehouse by the Radiant society.

A fact that everyone knew in the city and hence chose to stay away from it, as there were no fools in the world that would want to have anything to do with someone as dangerous as the Radiant Society.

They might be curse hunters, a glorified Exorcist. But their ability to create formations and utilize curses were topnotch.

A set of defensive measures that were personally deployed by Maxim after coming here. So it was more than enough to take down a group of dozens of trained individuals on its own.

But that was the case for people that had no preparations.

"My traps are being set off, one by one." Maxim spoke. Looking below and finding a group of men in dark hood looking towards him from the ground.

"And they found us out." Feeling the disturbance in the air, he backed off before he could get shot, barely missing a bullet.

"Sir, it’s time to escape." Pierta spoke, taking out an Epee from her belt as well as a gun.

She held no special blood like Remira nor did she possessed any mystical ability like Maxim. But it doesn’t mean she was weak.

Binding her long hair into a knot, she led Maxim, who seemed defenseless toward the hidden exit below.

As for the ground floor. It was currently raided by a bunch of rats under the order of a young woman.

Activating the traps as well as curses that were meant to defend the place one by one. Becoming a fodder for the suicidal rats.

"It’s as he said." The woman smiled, giving one look toward the terrace. She entered the library along with twelve of her crew, composed of many trained individuals.

"Remember, don’t fear death. It’s just a change of flesh. If this flesh fails, we will find your new one in future." The woman assured her team with a bright smile, while leading the group along with the rats into the building.

"Our target is the old man, you can kill the woman." She ordered going out and then silently sitting on the ground floor. While her men with the rats at front started to climb the stairs in a team of two.

Each step the rats took, a few will die on their own.

Some would burn, some would rot and some would go crazy and attack each other.

But the men that followed them suffered from none of this fate. With most traps already dealt with, they were free to move.

So with the first step on the stairs, they were ready to ascend.

*Boom

But before they could, the one ahead in the group of men suddenly heard a loud sound, before losing all strength in his legs and falling down.

"Physical traps."

The mystical traps were easy to deal with. With the carefully cultivated rats with "his" mark on them. They were fodder for the mystical traps, using them up so that those behind them remain safe.

But one can fool the enchantment, but it’s harder to fool physical traps who depended on mechanics, instead of magic.

Dragging the body of their compatriot to the side, while treating his injuries, the two other individuals continued their ascension above.

While the rest were looking for more hidden places on the ground floor, but more carefully than last time, in fear of triggering any traps.

As for the woman who came here, seeing this scene, she smiled.

’As he said.’

She was not surprised over the trap on the stairs, she was well aware of it. Jester had long given her the whole map of the building. Where there were traps and where there were hidden spaces.

As for exposing this information to her team, hence decreasing any casualties?

No, she can’t do that.

For one, believing the words of a being that had already backstabbed them would be childish. There is no way to tell what is true and what is not.

On the second point, if she exposes her knowledge of the whole library and her target learns of this fact. They might make an unpredictable ove which might cause her to lose them.

Something, she can’t let happen.

Because the day of the full moon was too close and things were going in some unpredictable direction. Which is the reason why there was a sudden shift in their plans, bringing certain parts forward, incase of any more unpredictability.

"Magistar, I don’t know if you can hear me. But it would be better for you to come forward yourself. We don’t want any bloodshed." She spoke out loud to the library, but got no response in return.

But this was at least worth a try.

Guess, she can only use her team as sacrifices.

*****

Hearing those words, Maxim that was hiding in a safe room on the third floor became silent.

Next to him was Pierta, who can be considered a warrior in her own right. But she was no match for a group of people. Not to mention, their enemies potentially had a Wizard.

Which Maxim can see from his hollow eyes.

As well as the rats that were carrying a certain familiar stench with them.

A smell that was causing his magic traps to turn useless.

But nothing can be done with this much preparation.

"Staying here is suicide." Pierta spoke.

If there was Remira here, with the power of her blood, taking down all of these people might not have been so hard. But considering she was out doing her own tracking and won’t come back till morning.

There was only her and Maxim.

She, a normal person and Maxim a Mystic, who held no direct combat powers anymore.

"I know what you are thinking Pierta and I agree." Maxim knew the gravity of the situation.

He didn’t know why they were here or even aware of their identity. But he knew one thing for sure.

Being passive here would be a foolish thing to do. His only way out was through fighting.

"Sir, just stay here... even a mage would go down after getting shot in the head.’ She said, confidently. Her face carried solemnity as well as pride she gained through her work as a purple eye.

Suggesting against such a suicidal endeavor would be wrong here. But it didn’t mean he was going to follow her words.

"Young lady, don’t treat me like a flower. My hand still can strangle someone to death." Maxim smiled, while making a strangling motion with his remaining hand. Which carried countless scars, a proof of their glorious past.

"SIr, this is no time to play a hero. They are here for you and there must be a reason for that."

"I know better than you, I can even imagine what their reason might be." Maxim spoke with a smile, while pointing at his other hand. "They are here to silence me, I saw something I shouldn’t have and the word of it reached their ears somehow... well, I can imagine who it might have been."

"And besides, if you die. It won’t take long before they find me. It’s better to just go together and try to escape from here."

Maxim’s words were sound, so Pierta relented at the end, opening the door to the room where two of the raiders were standing, one injured in the arm while surrounded by a small swarm of rats that were covered with blood and guts of their companions.

"They are..."

Boom.

Before the man could speak, a bullet entered his mouth, throwing him to the back.

Though not killing him as his brain was unharmed. But he won’t be surviving for long with an injury like that.

The nerves that connected his brain to his body were severed. All he can do was flail around for a while, as his injured companion’s head was penetrated by an epee.

But there was no regret in the eyes of the man, he just smiled while closing his eyes.

"Next life." He wanted to say, but he had no energy or even control to do so. All he could do was smile, while life slowly drained from his body.

"A shot."

The revolver in Piera’s hand was an enchanted one, hence making the sound it produced more pronounced when she fired it. Causing the intruders to become aware of their position.

But it would still take a few seconds before they can come here. The current problem was the rats that were suddenly rushing toward Pierta’s direction.

Baring their fangs and aiming to eat Pierta alive.

Though, that didn’t happen.

Maim came from the front and threw a white powder toward the rats and spoke a few incomprehensible words.

Causing the rats that came in contact with the white power to suddenly mellow out. Spreading confusion as they slowly started to spread apart.

"They will be soon, 2nd stair from the right." Pierta said, while reloading the empty chamber of her pistol and then moving forward again.