Chapter 781

Chapter 781: A Ruckus (2)

A Galactic Sheriff.

A kind of troubleshooter tasked with managing regions beyond the government’s reach, or deployed to incidents where the government was reluctant to intervene directly.

Due to the nature of their duties, they were exposed to all manner of dangers and required an extraordinary amount of flexibility, as such, it was customary for a sheriff to be elected by the vote of the galactic residents.

Which meant that, unlike regular civil servants whose tendencies could be predicted to some degree, in the case of a sheriff, not only their inclinations but also their background were difficult to foresee.

"A sheriff, huh… Their jurisdiction even includes a battlefield, no less. So they've got to be an incredible thug, right?"

At that, Obstruction of Justice aimed its index finger toward the ship in the sky and spoke.

× At the very least, they’re probably someone who knows a thing or two about war. The ones they’ve had to deal with all this time must have been war veterans, after all.

It was a valid deduction.

With rumors circulating that the legacy of the Yugui Moga was buried here, outsiders would have visited steadily, and every single time, wouldn't there have been friction with the war veterans stationed in this place?

And the sheriff must have come here every time to bring an end to such situations in one way or another.

"They're probably an excellent fighter, and resourceful in many ways."

While Yeongwoo was murmuring this, a white orb one meter in diameter was launched from the underside of the vessel in question, which had lowered its altitude considerably compared to earlier.

Thunk!

While scattering a chaotic trail of white smoke in its wake, no less.

They had fired a smoke grenade ahead of landing.

"Looks like they've been intercepted quite often."

The fact that its engine sound was uncharacteristically gentle compared to normal ships must have been for that very reason.

Gooooo……!

Soon after, the sheriff's ship descended toward the ground, cutting through the snow-white skies, and promptly made an unrefined metallic sound.

Screeech, kwoooom!

"Wait, do they fly around in a piece of scrap metal? What is up with the sound of that door opening?"

In truth, for someone at Yeongwoo’s level, there was no problem detecting an opponent's presence even if his field of vision was completely obscured, so the smoke grenade blanketing the front was not a major hindrance.

Instead.

Clonk.

Accompanied by the sound of stepping on an iron plate, a somewhat bizarre silhouette entering his vision caught Yeongwoo's attention.

"……?"

It was because the silhouette of the sheriff vaguely visible inside the smoke was awfully suspicious.

"Those ears… look like a shape I’ve seen a lot before?"

At Yeongwoo's words, the Anti-Government Handgun aimed its index finger at the silhouette inside the smoke.

× Ears?

"Yeah. They're long."

Just as Yeongwoo said, the sheriff of the Hezara Galaxy possessed two ears that stretched long toward the sky, and such ears were generally…….

Rustle.

Before long, when the sheriff pushed his body out beyond the smoke, Yeongwoo and Parina almost simultaneously dropped their jaws.

『Huh?』

"A rabbit, it's really a rabbit."

The true identity of the Galactic Sheriff was a bipedal rabbit, armed in iron armor.

Of course, as befitting someone elected as a sheriff, he must have been through all kinds of hardships through thick and thin; had it not been for those elongated ears, he carried an impression so rough one would have mistaken him for a beast of prey.

Even one of the front teeth slightly protruding beneath his lip was chipped.

"He certainly looks like the strongest rabbit I've seen so far."

As Yeongwoo murmured this, the rabbit sheriff in question slightly furrowed his brow.

—Just looking at you, it's clear you're today's troublemaker.

As expected of someone who wasn't an ordinary civil servant, picking a fight before even exchanging names.

What's more, his face was full of fatigue.

He was exhausted from dealing every day with villains crossing over from all sorts of galaxies.

To this, the Anti-Government Handgun threateningly raised its index finger and spoke.

× Hey, you'd better choose the tone of your lines carefully. I've already set my sights on your forehead.

At that, the sheriff looked at the small metal finger attached to Yeongwoo's shoulder with his characteristic tired gaze.

—Now all sorts of bizarre bastards really are showing up.

Then, he nonchalantly moved his hand toward his waist.

Fwip.

And seeing this, the Anti-Government Handgun fired toward that direction without hesitation.

Baaaaang!

Having judged that the opponent was trying to draw a weapon, it fired a suppressive shot toward the back of his hand.

And right after, an astonishing thing occurred.

Fwip!

In that fleeting instant, the sheriff drew a handgun from his waist and precisely struck back against the bullet fired by Obstruction of Justice.

And by firing a gun in the exact same manner, no less.

Piiiiing!

The bullets collided midair, producing a roaring sound, and Yeongwoo, seeing this, stared at the opponent with wide eyes.

Even so, he did not draw his sword.

It was because he sensed that the opponent had no intention of making a follow-up attack.

After that single counter-shot just now, there hadn't been any notable movement, after all.

—Ho-oh. So you truly are the Planet-Ship Master. You're quite relaxed.

Confirming that Yeongwoo's sword was still fastened at his waist, the sheriff grinned as if taken by surprise.

"You know that I'm the Planet-Ship Master."

—Naturally. By now, the greater part of Hezara probably knows.

"So why did you come here? This could end up being your last mission, you know."

At that, the sheriff laughed loudly, displaying his chipped front tooth in plain sight.

—A sheriff is originally that kind of post.

Then, after holstering the handgun back onto his waist, he took out a cigarette from behind the holster.

In truth, the action he took earlier had not been to pick up a gun, but to take out a cigarette.

"You seem to be quite skilled, so why use a handgun?"

—Well… a long time ago, I happened to see a sheriff I met by chance using a handgun. It looked pretty cool.

Then, like the Anti-Government Handgun, he spread his fingers to imitate the shape of a gun.

—He said he wanted to fight in the same manner as the bastards he saw every day. In any case, he was a peculiar fellow.

The sheriff's chipped front tooth was clearly visible once more.

—Of course, bastards wielding handguns don't often show up around here.

It was an account meaning that, unlike the jurisdiction of the sheriff he had seen long ago, the ones who mainly visited here were on a higher level than petty criminals.

—So when I fight you, I'll use something other than a gun.

At this, Yeongwoo rolled his eyes to search for the opponent's weapon, but there was no other weapon drawn outside.

He might be intending to pull out his main weapon from an inventory, or the statement itself that he wouldn't use a gun might be a lie.

"There's no absolute need to fight. It's not like I came here determined to fight unconditionally either."

When Yeongwoo spoke like this, the Anti-Government Handgun turned its index finger toward Yeongwoo, making a wordless protest.

Regardless, in order to tell a 'splendid story' to the black holes someday, didn't they have to beat up a civil servant?

At that, the sheriff glanced at the smashed Colossus Mountains, and then looked around at the Commandments and the two dragons that had surrounded the area before he knew it.

—Leave here immediately. Then, I will stay the execution of punishment. This is the maximum amount of flexibility I can exercise.

"Leave here? I still have business left to do."

—…What?

The sheriff made an incredulous expression.

Even after coming here and smashing down all the Colossus Mountains, what other business could possibly remain?

"With quite a high probability, Paresik will be destroyed. So you had better evacuate the residents living here. Including those bandits over there, that is."

When Yeongwoo pointed at the gang of bandits watching the situation from far away, the sheriff twisted his expression.

—Paresik will be destroyed……?

Then this time, Parina stepped forward, returning to her human form once more.

Fwaaaat!

『Paresik is in immense pain due to the war waged by the residents. As a free celestial body, it is something that cannot be overlooked.』

—Don't tell me this one is… a star?

The sheriff, having miraculously sensed Parina's bizarre aura, dropped his jaw.

『I shall open Paresik's seal, and directly ask for his will.』

—…A will regarding what, exactly?

Because the sheriff, who had already guessed much, asked in a voice filled with concern, Yeongwoo answered this time.

"What else would it be, whether to euthanize or not. If that fellow wants to die, I'll grant him death. My ship is mounted with a main naval gun powerful enough to kill something like a planet, after all."

—What?

As his fears became a certainty, the sheriff took a step back from Yeongwoo.

—You're going to destroy a planet as you please? Not only is that something the galactic government cannot accept, it also goes against celestial law.

"That's why we, as a free celestial body and a band of robbers, have come. In any case, Paresik's will is important. If he wishes to continue suffering, I intend to leave him as is. Even so, I'm telling you to evacuate the residents just in case."

—It seems you haven't understood in the slightest what kind of warning I gave. I cannot let an outsider approach the planetary seal.

Planetary destruction.

Not only would this alter the galaxy, it was a massive incident that would bring about the intervention of celestial society, so for a sheriff whose foremost duty was the well-being of the galaxy, compromise was impossible.

—Planet-Ship Master. What you are trying to do is a grave crime. You are completely ignoring the homeostasis of the galaxy and the public authority of the Hezara government right now.

"Aren't you guys the ones completely ignoring the will of Paresik, the party concerned? Let's just pop open the lid first and talk with the guy."

—If Paresik truly wished to die, he would have come out to greet you bastards by now.

At that, Parina clenched her massive fist and bared her teeth.

『Right now, he probably doesn't even have the strength left to manifest within the interior of the planet. Can you not feel this agony being inflicted upon Paresik?』

—Regrettably, destroying this planet will cause an even bigger problem. If you have no intention of turning back, I have no choice but to enforce the law.

Because the sheriff was fidgeting with his hands while speaking like this, Yeongwoo looked back at the barren battlefield and said.

"Then leave behind the coordinates of the residents who need to be evacuated from this place. After you die, won't it become impossible to know where to retrieve whom?"

—…….

At this, the sheriff made quite a surprised expression, and pulled out a device that looked like a hexagonal iron plate from within his clothes.

—All the information on Paresik is contained in this. If you open this, you'll be able to know the locations of the residential districts.

"Good. Sheriff, what is your name?"

—It's Ganek Sezora.

Having finally heard the sheriff's name, Yeongwoo nodded his head.

"All right, Ganek. I'll give you one last chance to walk out of here alive. Take that ship and get out of here right this instant."

When Yeongwoo pointed with his index finger at the ship the sheriff had arrived in, Ganek let out a smirk.

—Planet-Ship Master. Let me teach you something. That not everything in this universe goes according to your will, that is.

"There haven't particularly been many times when things worked out according to my will anyway."

—Planet-Ship Master! Kneel before the law of Hezara!

With these words as the finale, Ganek summoned a massive hammer into his right hand, whereupon Yeongwoo gave an order to Commandment Master Archiga.

"Commandment Master."

=Give your command.

"Retire the sheriff."