Chapter 355
Chapter 355
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 355
Chapter Title: Side Story 39. Beasts (11)
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Yellow mist hung thick in the air.
The gas spilling inside and out of the fortress was a chemical weapon designed to subdue beastmen.
Two Northwind Squad members wearing gas masks burst through the toxic fog.
"Kyaap! Die!"
"You beast, this is your grave... Gahk."
Jaipa swung his sword without a hint of hesitation.
Both men's heads flew off simultaneously.
Three more appeared from the rear right away, but they too were chopped to pieces the moment they emerged from the fog.
"No end to them..."
Jaipa twisted his lips.
It felt like no matter how many he killed, more cockroaches kept crawling out from somewhere.
The Northwind Squad had gathered from across the vast grounds in numbers far greater than expected.
And compared to the squad armed with all sorts of cutting-edge gear, he was practically naked.
His body was draped in a ragged cloak, his face covered by a single mask torn from it.
'I've gotten old, too.'
But being half-naked wasn't the issue.
What truly wore Jaipa down was the weight of years he felt since becoming human.
His sword felt noticeably heavier now than when the battle began.
Pfuk!
An arrow finally slipped through a blind spot and embedded in his side.
"H-Hit! I hit him!"
Cheers rang out from beyond the mist.
Jaipa leaped toward the direction the arrow came from and thrust his sword.
The rejoicing squad member became a headless ghost on the spot.
He had just taken out three more nearby.
"Hm."
Suddenly, his legs gave way.
The toxic fog had finally seeped into his lungs.
Pfuk!
Pfuk!
Two crossbow bolts flew at him during his stagger, one slamming into his back, the other his thigh.
It hurt like salt rubbed into the wounds.
Then a net spread like grasping hands enveloped him.
"Foolish."
Jaipa's sword traced an X.
The net, which should have sliced easily, was stiff as if coated in glue.
Jaipa barely shook it off and frowned.
The skin on his right arm had peeled away unnoticed.
Glistening crimson muscle was clearly visible.
"The human body..."
Pain barely registered now.
The fog was affecting his vision too; everything blurred white before him.
Still, what needed doing hadn't changed.
Jaipa diligently swung his sword.
Slicing men, deflecting incoming weapons.
Those he missed wounded him in turn.
"Everyone, push him! He's almost out of strength!"
"Your legend ends here!"
The Northwind Squad's morale, meanwhile, soared endlessly.
Human-form Jaipa still carried some dignity and ferocity, but nothing compared to his original self.
As the fight dragged on, his accumulating wounds made it clear to the squad: he was no monster, just a man.
'Is this it, then.'
Jaipa remained calm.
Death loomed, but it stirred no emotion.
He had never doubted his end would come in battle.
"...Pity."
Just a touch of bitterness.
Even death in battle had its honors.
If dying in combat, he'd hoped to fall to a first-rate swordsman like Naviroje, Ronan, or Schlieffen.
Not to end so pathetically.
As Jaipa fought with his back to the wall...
-Shiiieek!
Suddenly, a massive hole tore open in the fog overhead.
A long spear shot through it.
A bit fast, but still within range to parry.
Jaipa shook off nearby foes and struck the spear aside.
It came so quick his hands buzzed.
The thrower needed a lesson.
As he regripped his sword to leap...
Kwang!
The wall behind him shattered, another spear bursting forth.
"......Guhk."
Jaipa spat dark red blood.
Looking down, a metal lump protruded from his gut.
The spearhead, honed sharp, gleamed slick with his blood.
His body, long past its limits, finally collapsed.
Jaipa dropped to one knee.
"He's down! Surround him!"
"Don't let your guard down!"
The Northwind Squad swarmed like bees, encircling him.
Squad members who met his eyes gasped.
Even now, Jaipa's red eyes blazed with menace.
As the clamor peaked...
"What a sight, Jaipa."
A deep voice echoed down the hall.
The noise died instantly.
The squad parted, revealing a middle-aged man in a red coat.
"...You."
"Yes. How do you like the human body?"
Lethe's lips split to his ears, wish fulfilled.
The scene he'd craved his whole life unfolded before him.
Arrows studded everywhere, skin discolored by poison.
Jaipa's bloodied state defied words like "battered."
Lethe stopped before him and spat.
"As if. Frail compared to your sturdy beast form. Like those you tore apart at Border White Spirit."
"B-Boss. Too close, it's dangerous!"
"Relax. The spear's coated in paralyzing toxin for a hundred beasts."
Lethe calmed his worried subordinate.
The spear piercing Jaipa's gut was his own aimed shot.
A weapon for hunting valley behemoths, beyond human endurance.
Jaipa finally spoke.
"You were at Barsa."
"Right. Imagine how long I've awaited this. Everything I loved vanished that night."
Kwak!
Lethe stomped the spear shaft.
The wound tore open, blood gushing.
It pooled instantly.
"Kuhk..."
"Won't kill you easy. Your body, head included, will be stuffed for the museum."
"Do as you like. But end it with me... Don't take it out on innocent kin."
"Save it. Your death's just the start. Beast scum leeching off the north—your corpses will line up beside you."
Lethe sneered.
Squad members laughed in agreement.
They had no intention of stopping at Jaipa's head.
"The north is human land. Coexistence with beasts is impossible, your sins unforgiven. We are the executioners."
"...Is that so."
Jaipa gave a wry smile.
He'd heard such words before.
First time cornered, but grudge-holders from the Night of Fangs were countless.
"In the end... nothing changes."
Something boiled in his chest.
Despite efforts, hatred's chain endured.
Decades-old grudge still stirred, awaiting revenge.
If nothing mattered, then...
"You'll be executed before northerners. Your corpse to Barsa first... Gahk!"
As Lethe poured out his words...
Jaipa surged up, seizing his throat.
Immense grip paled Lethe's face.
"B-Boss!"
"Damn it! Shoot!"
Screams erupted everywhere.
Crossbowmen fired reflexively.
Bolts riddled Jaipa from all sides.
"......"
It ended quickly.
The old man's porcupine body toppled forward.
Lethe, barely saved, clutched his throat in horror.
"Kheuk! Huuuk! Crazy bastard!"
Unbelievable vigor from a dying geezer.
His neck bore dark bruises.
Checking Jaipa, Lethe recoiled.
The cold body breathed no more.
"This is why beasts...!"
Lethe's face twisted in rage.
Unspeakable fury boiled.
Jaipa hadn't screamed once till the end.
'Couldn't even sever a finger.'
A hollow end for his lifelong hated foe.
Lethe snarled, clutching his hair like a beast.
Blanta would have made it easier—where was that guy?
How long he raged...
An oblivious subordinate called.
"......B-Boss?"
"Huuu... What."
"Something's off."
"Huh?"
Lethe turned.
The man pointed at Jaipa's corpse.
Pale body sprawled as before.
"What's off?"
"His hair... it's growing."
"What...?"
Lethe's brows furrowed.
Indeed, as said.
Short hair now reached his nape.
Growing visibly fast.
"What the hell...?"
Lethe stepped back.
Anger-narrowed vision cleared.
Subordinates' panicked faces registered.
"W-What do we do?"
"Hm, hold position. First time I've seen this..."
"L-Look!"
As Lethe issued orders...
A shrill scream pierced from the ranks.
Turning, Lethe froze.
Dead Jaipa was slowly rising.
"...Feels strange."
A low, thick voice resounded.
Black hair now reached his waist.
His body showed no scars.
"Wh-What the!"
Lethe gaped.
The gut spear lay snapped in two.
Arrows and blades ejected similarly.
Wounds weren't just gone.
Swollen muscles bore no age traces.
Face amid hair reverted to youth.
"Odd... Thought it was over."
Jaipa muttered.
He flexed and clenched his hand curiously.
Lethe and squad stood rigid, unmoving.
"...Boss. Run."
"What?"
"Now."
The speaking subordinate spoke first.
Eyes on Jaipa trembled like a rabbit facing a tiger.
His innate mana sense revealed it.
Jaipa's aura, incomparable to before.
Killing intent blooming from broad shoulders surpassed even his beastman form.
As Lethe opened his mouth...
"Fuck, run already!"
"Wait, you...!"
The subordinate shoved him as Jaipa vanished.
Black lines slashed across walls, ceiling, all hearts.
As Lethe's rear hit the floor...
The lines split open simultaneously.
Kwaaaaaang!!!
Kwaaaaaang!!!
Bisected bodies exploded.
Blood and guts sprayed amid collapsing surroundings.
Soon after the roar, snowy sky loomed overhead.
Jaipa's faint form reappeared.
"So that's it. Naviroje."
The open vista pleased him.
He licked blood from his lips, a chilling smile forming.
Kajangchang!
The longsword in his hand shattered like glass.
"Huaaaak!! Kr, kuaaaak!"
Soon, agonized screams echoed nearby.
Collapsed ceiling pinned Lethe's legs.
Sticky blood oozed from under the boulder.
No other survivors.
Jaipa glanced at Lethe and spoke.
"Apologies. My fault."
"Hic... Wh-What?!"
"Failed to end it properly, caused much suffering. Forgot blood debts demand blood. I'll tie it all here."
He picked up a fallen longsword.
Fortune: intact in scabbard.
Jaipa's gaze turned to the village below the cliff.
"You're right—one side must vanish. That's the answer."
"St-Stop, Jaipa! No!"
Jaipa drew the blade.
Aura-wrapped edge gleamed pitch-black.
Space-cleaving power pulsed overwhelmingly stronger.
"No!!"
"Choices always hurt."
One village would shred like paper.
As Jaipa gripped with both hands for a horizontal slash...
A massive shadow blocked him.
"Huuuup!"
The mid-swing sword halted.
Blade rebounded with ear-shattering clang.
Looking up, Jaipa saw a burly were-lion.
Golden aura cloaked the lion, face familiar.
Thwarted first strike, Jaipa glared.
"Who are you."
"Baren Phanasir. Former Sword Saint."