The well-Balanced Yamamoto-san Gets Caught up in a Death Game

Chapter 88

To cut to the chase—the fight ended abruptly.

Well, “ended” might be generous.

When Tsuna-san joined, the attackers and Prince Sail’s forces were still evenly matched.

The real shift happened when *I* stepped in.

One of the adventurer-posing bandits lunged at me with his shield. I caught it mid-swing and *shoved* it back—hard. The shield crumpled his face like paper.

Then **[Area Attack]** triggered.

Suddenly, shields materialized in front of *every* attacker.

Yeah.

In seconds, most of them were face-down, their features rearranged.

A mass “I can’t see sh*t” incident.

Grim.

*”Wh—what just… happened?”*

Prince Sail spun in confusion.

Can’t blame him. The tide turned *instantly*.

But while the attackers were down (not dead), and the prince’s guards were battered, the chaos wasn’t over.

What now?

Just as I wondered—

*”Ghk!?”*

A fallen bandit at my feet shuddered. A bloodstain spread beneath him—then an arrow *phased* into existence, shimmering like heat haze.

**[Light Magic: Lv. 7 — Mirage]**.

Invisible arrows. A sniper.

*”Long-range attack! Stay sharp!”*

The warning left my lips just as *thud-thud-thuds* echoed. Arrows rained, skewering the downed bandits.

The prince and his guards ducked behind the carriage. We took cover behind **[Earth Wall]**.

(Not that I *needed* it, but why volunteer for pain?)

Each arrow brought a wet *”urk”* or *”gah”*—no time to dwell.

Frankly, they brought this on themselves. Rest in pieces.

*”Something’s off.”*

Tsuna-san’s voice cut through my internal eulogy.

*”Off how?”*

*”The arrows. They’re not aiming for us.”*

My eyes snapped to the carriage—untouched.

Meanwhile, arrows kept pinning the fallen bandits.

What the hell?

*”Bad feeling.”*

*”Weird. Me too.”*

Then—*WHOOSH*. A pillar of fire erupted behind us.

The bandits I’d spared were *burning*.

*”Wait—I kept them alive for questioning!”*

*”Cleanup crew. Those arrows were silencing them.”*

*”But—look! In the flames—!”*

Envy-chan’s warning made me squint.

Figures moved.

Then—*oh hell*—charred, hole-riddled bandits *lurched* toward us.

Since when were they *zombies*?!

*”Engaging.”*

Tsuna-san’s harpoon *caved* in one’s chest—yet it kept coming.

Her kick sent it flying.

*”Tsuna-san! Aim for the head! They’re zombified!”*

*”So that’s it.”*

*CRUNCH*.

The zombie dropped like a puppet with cut strings.

*”Necromancy…?”*

No time to ponder.

If the arrows weren’t for us, but to *activate* the corpses…

I peered into the dark. More bodies twitched upright.

*Oh no.*

I lunged from cover—

—and an invisible arrow *nearly* took my head off.

*”Tch!”*

Trapped.

*”Steeve! You’re ali—”*

*”Young master, *move*! —Guh!?”*

*”Grandfather! *You*—! Steeve, what’s wrong with you!?”*

Chaos at the carriage.

Dead guards were rising—attacking their own.

*”Your Highness! This is necromancy—dark arts! Do *not* hesitate! Shield wall—*now*! Keep them from the prince!”*

*”YES, SIR!”*

*”Someone—*anyone*—heal him! NOW!”*

The zombies were stronger, tougher—no skill, just brute force. The guards struggled.

I tried **[Fire Strike]**—

—only for an arrow to *intercept* it midair.

*This sniper’s no joke.*

Probably the mastermind’s insurance policy.

And they’re *herding* the zombies toward the prince, keeping them out of my **[Area Attack]** range.

Cheap.

But I’m no one-trick pony.

I wield **[Balance]**.

Didn’t want to resort to this, but…

*”**[Splintered to Atoms]**.”*

*BOOM*.

One zombie *pulverized*—then *every* zombie near the prince *exploded* into giblets.

Ugh.

I *hate* this move.

With Tsuna’s **[Butchery]** passive, the aftermath is… *visceral*.

My expression’s probably dead-eyed.

And my clothes… *splattered*.

This bloodstain better wash out.

*”Efficient as ever, God.”*

Tsuna-san approached, harpoon resting on her shoulder. A trail of headless zombies lay behind her.

*”Zombification helped. Brute force is my forte—technique’s not. Dumber they are, easier they fall.”*

Wait, so she *held back* during the prince’s rescue?

Scary thought if she ever *tries*.

*”The assassins are retreating,”* Envy-chan reported.

Finally.

As we emerged, a blood-soaked guard staggered over.

*Yikes*.

*”Our apologies for the trouble. Your aid was… unexpected.”*

*”We’d have been next. D-don’t mention it…”*

(I’m *not* looking directly at him.)

*”One more request. Do you have spare potions? We’ll pay above market.”*

*”S-sure, but… more injuries?”*

*”If only it were just that…”*

I sold him the potions. Easy profit.

As he hurried back, Envy-chan tugged my sleeve.

*”Yamato-sama. A moment? We may have a… complication.”*

Her voice carried a weight I didn’t like.