Chapter 259
Chapter 259
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 259
Chapter Title: Chapter 6-2. Labyrinth
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The forest path leading to the labyrinth felt just like a park. The trees were spaced out generously, making visibility favorable, and the soft soil eased the fatigue in our feet. Fresh air filled my lungs pleasantly, invigorating my body. Thanks to that, I walked with light steps.
It was truly comfortable.
It felt like we were out on a picnic. But we didn't let ourselves get swept up in the atmosphere and chat away. Lately, I'd heard endlessly that the labyrinth had been surging wildly for unknown reasons, opening small gates to the demon realm and overflowing with demonic beasts. While I wasn't too worried, Arhil and Lime seemed fully aware and concerned, so they followed silently behind unless spoken to first. But it wasn't as overrun with beasts as one might think.
'If things go well, we might reach the labyrinth without any incidents.'
A good start. But it didn't take long to realize that was wishful thinking. We didn't notice until sunset. As darkness settled in the forest, we dug a pit in the ground and lit a fire. Staring at the crackling, blazing flames, Lime showcased the cooking he'd learned over the past week. His culinary skills had improved dramatically—no, tremendously. I could feel it clearly. The food was so delicious that I had two helpings, and I didn't skimp on praise for his progress. As he beamed with pride, we chatted while clearing the dishes and prepared to sleep.
The crackling of the campfire sounded pleasant in my ears. While we exchanged quiet conversations, I spotted red dots swarming toward us on the I'd left open alongside [Shadow Deployment] just in case. It wasn't just one or two. Quite a few, and moving at an alarming speed.
I slipped out of my sleeping bag right away.
"Enemies incoming."
Before I could finish speaking, Iris burst out of her sleeping bag almost simultaneously. Unlike Iris, who was already checking her weapon, Lime and Arhil rose a beat later. Arhil, who had just been drifting off, struggled awkwardly out of his bag before gathering with Lime near the campfire. The enemies were still quite far, so there was no rush, but I didn't bother mentioning it.
'Hmm.'
The red dots on the oddly vanished midway, only to reappear. Each time, the distance closed in an instant. Even though this forest had few obstacles like trees or bushes, they couldn't be moving at the speed of crossing an open plain. It was an unnatural pace, like flying through the sky.
'What the hell? Harpies?'
No way. If they were flying, the wouldn't detect them in the first place. Roughly twenty of them. They weren't visible yet, and their presence was faint and stealthy—hard to sense easily. It grew stronger as they approached, but still weak enough that only spirit sword owners like Iris or me could pick it up. I drew Altemia in my left hand and the bastard sword in my right, getting ready.
"......"
The twenty unknown enemies, upon spotting our group near the campfire, spread out widely and swiftly encircled us. In the darkness, I made out their glowing green eyes. Not harpies. Something far more horrific.
"Um... Juda. Am I seeing things?"
Lime must have glimpsed their faint forms too, asking cautiously.
"No, looks like you're seeing it right."
I summoned four wraith knights to stand guard like stone statues near Lime, Arhil, and Iris. Thanks to the skill from the [Longcoat Made from Requiem's Leather] I wore, I could see them clearly, and I frowned at the grotesque sight.
Kya-kya-kk!
Spotting that we were already prepared, they let out eerie laughs. They weren't quite beasts scampering on four legs, nor could they be called human.
It was like a mix of human and monster mashed together.
Not undead like zombies or ghouls. They moved on two legs and two arms, their heads split into four prongs with tentacles wriggling inside. No clothes, so their skin was exposed, covered in fish-like scales. Their hands and feet seemed to have suction cups, letting them cling to tree trunks or hang upside down like bats from thick branches, staring at us.
I didn't know their name, but I knew what they were.
Looks like the labyrinth had indeed opened. Demon realm denizens from hellish lands—Predators, Hyenas... something like that. But more important than the name—no, the most irritating thing—was that these naked bastards were eyeing Arhil and Iris with lust, their members stiff and jutting out like missiles. It was disgusting to look at. Arhil didn't have the leisure to notice that yet; she closed her eyes and clasped her hands.
"I'll bestow blessings."
"Just in case, I'll cast cold resistance magic too."
Arhil and Lime applied buffs to Iris and me in turn. Arhil even blessed the wraith knights. It was probably unconscious, but watching her, I wondered if that was okay. Contrary to my worry, her holy blessing applied flawlessly even to the arguably evil-aligned wraith knights. Still, whether wraith knights without a spirit sword owner's soul could properly protect Lime or Arhil was questionable. They were fine now, but later? Doubtful.
'We do need a tank like Jeanne.'
Iris and I were assassins who dove into enemy lines. We were far from frontline defenders shielding allies in the rear. But finding such comrades wasn't easy. Ideally, trustworthy ones to spend a lifetime with.
Kya-kk!
With their signature grotesque cry, they charged. Knowing ambushes were pointless, they attacked from all sides simultaneously, tentacles extending from their four-pronged heads.
Whip—My left hand's Altemia danced brilliantly, severing the tentacles lunging for my neck and arms. The blood was dark and murky, not quite red. Right after slicing the tentacles, I stepped forward with my left foot, spinning my body right. The enemy's clawed arm stabbed empty air, and I smashed the pommel of my bastard sword into its neck. With a crunch of shattering bone, it crumpled to the ground.
B-rank strength was no low figure. With A-rank agility, and these not strong enough to trouble spirit sword owners, dispatching them was quick.
"Hup!"
I raised the sword I'd used to strike the neck and slashed down powerfully. The mana-infused blade sliced effortlessly through the scaled body, then I hurled Altemia. The dagger shot like an arrow from my left hand, embedding in the side of one charging toward Arhil and Lime, protected by the wraith knights. Just the dagger's impact sent it flying like it'd hit a boulder, tumbling across the ground.
Nearby ones, enraged, attacked with long tails from their hips, claws, and head tentacles. But a single slash sorted them all.
Crack-crack!
While I fought, Lime wasn't idle. True to a high mage wielding ice, his spell manifested. Ice surged from the ground at his gesture, instantly encasing three. Sharp icicles thrust out from the prison's surface with a crack, thick blood oozing within.
The wraith knights excellently guarded Lime and Arhil. Clad in armor like deadly weapons, they repelled close assailants with swords and shields alongside Iris.
The battle didn't last long. They were wiped out as swiftly as they'd appeared. Midway, realizing they weren't easy prey, a few tried fleeing, but Iris and I handled them cleanly. After it ended, a fishy, repulsive stench filled the air.
I wrinkled my nose, the smell piercing even through pinched nostrils, and turned to check on the group.
"Anyone hurt?"
No one raised a hand or answered. Just startled, not enough to leave us gasping. Merely a light warm-up. I used the blood-and-flesh-covered wraith knights to haul the corpses far away, then sprayed alchemical cleaner from my <Bag> to wipe the blood off myself and the surroundings. Only then did we crawl back into our sleeping bags.
"Ugh... No good sleep tonight."
Arhil grumbled, and we all nodded in agreement. The blood scent on the ground lingered despite time passing. Plus, after nearly dozing off only to be attacked, sleep evaded us. Staring blankly at the star-filled night sky for a while, I eventually drifted off.
As expected, when morning came and I opened my eyes, I couldn't lift my eyelids fully at once. Sitting up, yawning widely, stretching—my body still ached with fatigue.
Haa—
Letting out a long sigh, I looked around. Lime, on final watch, was dousing the campfire.
"Sleep well?"
"Not sure I'd call it a good morning."
I scratched my head, glancing at him. Overnight, oily hair tangled between my fingers.
"Haha, but the corpse stench is gone, right? Be satisfied with that."
I gave a wry smile. True, better than starting the day with that stench. Conversation with Lime was sparse. Mostly morning laziness. After warming by the fire a bit, we woke Arhil and Iris for breakfast.
We boiled simple soup, drank it, buried the fire with dirt, and set off for the labyrinth again. After last night's encounter, I kept the on constant alert while walking, but surprisingly, nothing showed up.
Instead, something else appeared.
Gray dots.
Moving slowly through the forest in a fixed formation.
Recalling that red dots meant enemies, blue allies, green friendly NPCs, and gray neutrals, I stared at the .
========== 작품 후기 ==========
1) 잭팟 이게 뭔 의미가 있는지 모르겠지만, 그래도 축하해주신 분들 감사해요. 다른 곳에서 후원 쿠폰을 받아오셔서 저한테 주실줄이야....ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ흐하하하하! 감사합니다.
2) 젠야타로 읽으시던 분이 많던 젠티아와 아르힐을 커미션 넣었습니다. 짧으면 몇 주, 길면 한 달 뒤에 보실 수 있겠네요. 저도 많이 기대 됩니다!