Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Chapter 2-1. Calypso's Nightmare
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A single attack wiped out dozens of wraiths without a trace. It was clean. The blood-red thorns glistened vibrantly before melting away again, leaving nothing but empty ground in their place. Jeanne stared with wide eyes, waiting for Yuda's response. But he said nothing.
I wish he'd say something. Jeanne pondered why he was staying silent, gripping her shield and lance tighter as more wraiths closed in. But it didn't seem like she needed to step in.
Before she knew it, Yuda's daggers were already embedded in several spots where the wraiths were reaching out.
Pa-pa-pat!
As the wraiths passed over them, thorns erupted, piercing through them repeatedly. Some broke off from the pack, not being fools, and approached from other directions—but there was still no need for Jeanne to intervene.
Daggers were already stuck there too.
Nothing remained where a thorn had sprouted once. They vanished like dust wiped clean from a rag.
In an instant.
Hundreds of wraiths vanished from Jeanne's sight. A few lucky survivors among the dead reached out toward her. Finally, it was time for her to act.
"I'll clean up the stragglers."
"Got it—? Yuda?"
As she stepped forward, a rough breathing sound cut through the rain from behind. Turning around, she saw Yuda kneeling with hands on his knees, panting heavily. He extended a hand and forced a smile to show he was fine.
His face looked a bit pale. Well, of course—no one could wield that kind of power without a cost.
"I'll handle the remaining enemies. Rest up."
Jeanne advanced a few steps, raising her shield and stomping the ground hard. With a boom, mana burst from her body, splashing outward like exploding mud. A pillar of blue light shot up from her, drawing the wraiths' gazes and malice toward her. It was a small number—more than enough for her alone.
--!
She slammed her lance down at a wraith like a blunt weapon. There was no satisfying thud, but wrapped in mana, the lance smashed one into the ground, crushing its form. Jeanne stomped on its body, bursting it apart.
The wraiths had no chance against the lance swinging like a club and followed the path to oblivion. Slower than Yuda, but still at a rapid pace, she cleared them out.
Only a few remnant wraiths clung to the green barrier protecting the building. Unaware that their kin had been annihilated, they poured all their focus into it.
"Are you okay, Yuda?"
Jeanne turned to look at him. His face seemed much better than before, and he nodded at her question.
"Yeah. It was just harder to handle than I thought."
Altemia's <Dominion> skill demanded more stamina than expected. Whether the wraiths' life force was weak or he hadn't absorbed much, it ran out after just two uses.
With hordes of wraiths swarming and the barrier liable to break at any moment, Yuda had no choice but to sacrifice his own stamina to activate Dominion. The power was undeniably effective, but using it recklessly like before could backfire and kill him instead.
"That was... really a fragment? No, forget I said that."
"...Yeah. Let's finish up the rest."
About twenty wraiths clung to the barrier, their backs exposed vulnerably. Dealing with them was far easier.
"All clear?"
As he spoke, either one had lingered or something—it caused the barrier to crumble with a rumble. A bizarre, gleeful laugh echoed as one wraith slipped through the roof into the building. Too late to go around to the door. Yuda grabbed Jeanne as she moved to run and pointed at the wall.
"Jeanne. Smash it!"
"Got it!"
She didn't know how many people were inside the hall, but given the wraith's ability to pass through walls, they were likely clustered in the center. Smashing through wouldn't hurt anyone.
Boom!
Jeanne's mana-wrapped lance struck the wall, punching through it with an explosion. Strange screams like "Kyaaah!" and "Uwaaak!" rang out, but for just one wraith inside, the building's interior was surprisingly intact. As she moved to enter, a sharp "Haat!" shout came with someone swinging a sword down.
"Back."
Jeanne stepped forward with her shield raised. Her water-soaked plate armor crushed splintered wood as it solidly braced her. With a clang, the man who swung the sword was repelled instead.
"A wraith... with a shield? Wh-who are you! If you're alive, come in—if you're dead, get out!"
"...What nonsense."
Can they break through walls too? It's not impossible.
Yuda muttered as he followed Jeanne inside.
'It's quiet in here, though?'
They had definitely missed one wraith outside and seen it enter the building. Yet the people inside only showed fear toward Yuda and Jeanne, who had smashed through the wall. No other unusual activity. Adventurers who had been staying at the hall aimed swords at them warily—that was all.
'Is the priest among the people? Can't see her...'
Hm. Or maybe they already dealt with it? Possible.
While Yuda removed his robe, Jeanne lowered her shield and lance and asked those aiming swords at them.
"We missed one wraith outside—has anyone seen it?"
"Missed one? We haven't seen it. More importantly, who are you?"
"Adventurers who had business in the village. We ran into a hunter on the way who asked for help, so we hurried here alone. All the wraiths outside are dealt with except that one, so no need to worry."
One adventurer looked puzzled at Jeanne's polite words.
"Sorry, but we don't know. Could you tell us which way it came in? We were definitely keeping a proper watch on all four sides."
"We saw it go through the roof."
"The roof? Then..."
The adventurer glanced up at the ceiling in confusion at Jeanne's words. Naturally, the gazes of those eavesdropping on the conversation followed. A brightly glowing magic lantern hung from the ceiling, and upon closer look, it was a two-story structure.
"No one on the second floor?"
As Jeanne asked at their bewildered reactions, one adventurer stammered with trembling lips.
"Th-the priest!"
"You idiots."
Yuda spat the words and quickly scanned the surroundings. He spotted the stairs to the second floor and headed straight there. Taking two steps at a time, he rushed up—then heard a thud, like something heavy being slammed down roughly. The door to the room where the sound came from was firmly shut, of course locked. Without thinking, he raised his foot to kick it down, but Jeanne, who had followed, signaled him to step aside. No words needed. Just like when she first smashed the house wall, she swung her lance at this one.
Kwa-ja-jak!
They burst into a room where the door shattered into flying fragments. Unexpectedly, an unforeseen sight greeted them. Inside, a nun-clad priest was grabbing a little girl's head by the hair and smashing it into the floor.
"Oh my. New faces have arrived... You don't look possessed by a wraith."
She pressed down on the girl's head, which didn't even groan, like extinguishing a cigarette butt, then staggered to her feet. Unpriest-like, she exuded a seductive aura. In a modified nun's habit with a short skirt revealing her figure, white garter belt, and veil, she tilted her head.
"Ah— I hope you're not here with ill intent."
She collapsed with a faint, and Yuda caught her as he approached. The late-arriving adventurers and people shouted "Priest!"
「Save Cheriu Village 2.」
[Though you nearly endangered the priest by missing the last wraith, the fact that you saved this village remains unchanged.]
[People are too frantic now to realize, but in time, they will recognize you as their benefactor and express their gratitude.]
[Level increases by 1, and magic resistance increases by an additional 1 (includes party members).]
[Opportunity to recruit the priest as a companion has arisen.]
Yuda let out a sigh of relief at the quest completion message. That missed wraith must have truly been the last one. He handed the priest to an adventurer who seemed to be her companion. The adventurer took her but floundered around, unsure what to do. At the suggestion from bystanders to move her first, he finally stirred. Yuda frowned at the pathetic sight. They looked like raw recruits, all bewildered.
'Why is she traveling with those guys?'
She had maintained a barrier protecting them from wraiths for ten days straight and could defend against possession—definitely a mid-level priest or higher.
'Companion, huh.'
The quest reward seemed to offer a chance to recruit her. Maybe he should try now. Considering her healing and buffs, she'd undoubtedly be helpful. Once she woke up, he'd probe gently.
"You've worked hard, Yuda. The village seems safe now."
"You too, Jeanne. Let's head down."
"Yeah."
She reverse-summoned her armor and lance, smiling softly in the rain. As they descended the stairs together, Yuda checked his status window.
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「Status Window」
[Name: Yuda Arsher]
[Title: Little Hero of Serenia Castle (2)]
[Level: 25]
[Job: Black Claw _ Shadow Magic Swordsman (Hidden A)]
[Revives: 2]
[Strength: 42 (C) / Potential A]
[Stamina: 42 (C) / Potential S]
[Agility: 44 (C) / Potential SS]
[Mana: 44 (C) / Potential B]
[Magic Resistance: 54 (C) / Potential S]
[Charisma: 5 (F) / Potential A]
[Knowledge: 17 (F) / Potential B] ◀ Special
[Luck: 84 (A) / Potential S] ◀ Special
[Remaining Points: 10]
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He gained one level from the wraiths and another from the quest reward.
'Level 25, huh.'
Is this enough to clear [Calypso's Nightmare]? With two fragments, it seems possible, but he wasn't confident. Though the quest succeeded, unease lingered as they reached the first floor, drawing stares from the remaining people.