Chapter 148
Chapter 148
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Burning the Body
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- Boom!
With a thunderous crash, Yoon Na-rin goes flying off into the distance.
I steady my trembling hands as best I can and watch her recede, committing the sight to memory.
She's not dead. I'm sure of it.
My control over my strength was perfect... right?
"Hoo..."
Even my exhale trembles, thanks to how overly excited I got.
This is probably the first time I've ever gotten this angry at Yoon Na-rin.
I feel a little sorry, but from my perspective, the situation fully justified my anger.
Treating me like some uncontrollable lunatic.
Turning Betty into an irredeemable villainess.
I'm definitely not a lunatic... am I?
No, forget about me—Betty isn't as wicked-hearted as Yoon Na-rin thinks... hmm.
Come to think of it, Betty isn't exactly pure-hearted either.
To me, she's endlessly gentle, but as the right-hand demon, she has her own brand of malice.
Like a child who's strayed down the wrong path—pure, yet twisted with cruelty somewhere deep down.
"...Hm."
Is Yoon Na-rin... right?
No, no. She's wrong.
Her problem is exaggeration and embellishment.
Yoon Na-rin exaggerated my condition and blew Betty's malice way out of proportion, even fabricating things that never happened. She'd already pegged me as a fool duped by Betty.
I'm not a fool... am I?
Anyway.
It's fine to worry about me.
But when that worry crosses the line into arbitrarily judging my state and trying to force my actions, that's when I can't help but get irritated.
We've spent three years together. I know better than anyone that Betty has no intention of deceiving me.
It's true my hallucinations make judgment tricky sometimes, but not to the point where I can't tell right from wrong.
Hmm, so what I'm trying to say is...
"You started it!!!!!!"
- Boom!
"Gah!?"
The hero, who was staring at me with a dumb look on his face, goes flying off into the distance.
I had every right to be angry. I did nothing wrong.
Sometimes, even hearing the truth can put you in a bad mood.
And when it's not even fully true—laced with fabrications and manipulations—only a saint wouldn't get mad.
Think about it. You're out drinking with a friend, and you haven't even gotten that drunk, but they start overreacting: "You're wasted. Stop drinking and go home." Forcing you along like that—would that feel good?
You're not drunk yet. You could walk home fine on your own two feet, no blackout tomorrow or anything.
But they overreact, declare you're hammered,
try to control your actions, dictate what you do.
"I can drink more!!!!!"
- Boom!
One more goes flying.
My head spins with short, ragged breaths.
Shaky vision, stumbling balance, nausea creeping up.
Ah, maybe I am a little drunk. Dizzy as hell.
What did I drink to get this messed up?
Did I inhale the battlefield's metallic blood stench and get seasick? Or the demonic energy floating around? Or maybe these surging negative emotions are just shaking me to the core?
"Urk."
Staggering into things left and right—I look exactly like a wasted drunk.
I mock myself for how pathetic it is, but only for a moment.
"Blergh."
I hurl all over the ground. Might be my imagination, but the heroes around me flinch back a step. What? Why's everyone backing off?
"Ugh... urk."
I writhe, panting raggedly for a while.
No matter how much I puke, my vision still swims and the night stays dark.
I look up and see the heroes holding the front line. I approach them slowly.
"...Anis!"
Han U-sol comes rushing from the rear, shouting my name.
He must have seen me and Yoon Na-rin heading to the front together, but when he arrives panting, she's gone—his voice is full of panic.
The frontline heroes finally notice the shift and turn around.
"You bastard...!"
"...Don't glare at me."
I lightly point my sword at Aserika, who's scowling now that she's spotted me.
"If you don't wanna die, you'd better humor me."
Their front is swarming with magic beasts.
They're locked in fierce combat to hold back the horde—leaving the rear wide open.
If they're eaten from behind, the line collapses completely, no question.
And right now, conveniently, I'm behind them.
I could slip through their ranks, sow chaos—or shatter the formation entirely.
If they piss me off, at least they'd survive with their lives intact. Ignoring my mood would be the smart play for them.
Screw up and get stranded alone amid the beasts? That's just a doggy death.
"What the...!"
Aserika's face twists even more.
"Anis, you...!"
"Same goes for you, Han U-sol."
I aim my sword at Han U-sol too, as he steps forward.
"Don't piss me off. My stomach's already churning like crazy."
"........."
Han U-sol shuts up.
..........Hm.
Quiet now—the buzz is fading.
Buzz fading, and I start feeling bad deep down for snapping at Na-rin.
The first person to ever befriend me—didn't I go too far, even swinging at her?
I mean, she was just worried about me in the end.
...Whatever.
I'll apologize later.
It's just a petty spat.
Life happens—friends fight when they're drunk sometimes.
We were just both too tense, got heated.
When morning comes and the haze clears,
we can laugh it off and make up...
"........."
...Will morning even come?
What do you know.
- Clang!
What is this, full plate armor? Some flashy weirdo—I kick him aside effortlessly.
I press forward.
- Boom!
Little by little.
- Boom!
One by one, knocking them down.
A path will open.
"Kuh...! I'll hold her! You lot handle the beasts!"
Aserika leaps from the front line, shouting. Then she charges straight at me, sword at the ready.
Let's break down the situation.
The beasts are clashing with the front line. It's precarious, but they can't fall back. If they do, beasts flood everywhere behind them.
The rear supports the front with spells and ranged attacks. The front bears the brunt, sure, but the rear's just as vital.
They thin the herd with AoE, sustain the line with heals and buffs.
And squeezed in between: me, Han U-sol, and now Aserika who's jumped out.
- Whoosh!
I twist aside, deflecting Aserika's strike. The holy power grazing my cheek makes me shudder involuntarily.
Hey.
Is that right?
Every fighter counts on the front holding beasts—and you're the premium asset bailing?
Sure, teaming with Han U-sol might limit me some.
But is that really best? You sure?
What if I do this?
- Tat!
And dive into the heroes' rear? You still chasing? Ditching that desperate front?
"You bitch!"
Surprisingly, Aserika follows. She figures I'm the bigger threat than holding the line.
Fair. Let me keep kicking them one by one, that'd feel more urgent.
But still, okay with that?
You're drifting farther back—fine?
People dying up front one by one, and you're okay chasing me?
Wouldn't it have been better to just take the kick quietly?
At least fewer deaths than now. You'd have gotten launched before the beasts got you.
No, definitely. Look—the rear heroes can't support properly 'cause they're watching us. Chasing me just amps the front's casualties.
"Grrrrr!"
See? They're dying. Told you.
This okay? Huh? Everyone's gonna die?
You there. Yeah, you in the front line's center, barely holding beasts. You're next? No joke? For real?
Know where people go when they die?
Nobody does. Heaven? Hell? Or just endless nothing? Nobody knows.
Still staying put? Fine with that? Not scared? You know you're burning right now?
That's your future burning. Know that? Past and present too. What's left when it's ash? Nothing? Not even bones.
That's ripping it all apart. Emotions, memories, bonds. Look around. No one cares about you. No one knows you.
Die here, no one knows how or by whom. That tears your family, friends, lover apart. Really okay?
Who takes responsibility? Who remembers your end?
You sure? Better just take my kick, no?
- Whoosh! Boom!
Han U-sol's bullets whip past, Aserika's killing intent flows in relentlessly. Oof, tough. As expected of the boss—linked with Han U-sol, every hit's a threat.
"Captain! Leave her to me and head back! Front line's worse!"
"Quit bullshitting and go all out! You think no one notices you've been half-assing?!"
"I will—so go back!"
"Kill this one and the line stabilizes! I'll help—full power!"
"Wait, kill?!"
"You...!"
Ah, not linked? Whatever.
- Whoosh!
Whoa. Barely dodge. Be honest? Really barely.
Wouldn't be hard normally, but that bullet hole in my thigh... Holy power's a bitch. Hurts like hell on hit, aftermath's no joke.
Honestly, it's rough. Gonna keep going?
I might die? Told you? Okay with that? Huh? Everyone dies?
Agh. Ow, shit. Stop. Stop attacking. I said stop!! Hey!!
Splat.
I dodge the overhead slash and charge a nearby hero, launching him far away.
One rear hero down from the field. I saved him. What else was he gonna do but die?
I slip into a narrow spot on this vast battlefield—between the rear heroes.
How's that? Can't swing big now, right? Among allies, tough. Aserika's momentum dips.
Her momentum fades, I get breathing room. I kick every visible hero far away.
"Damn! Beasts!"
Effects are dramatic. Rear gap opens, front starts crumbling. Beasts leak through the hole.
"Pour mana in! Seal it!"
Ronel yells. I glance over—our eyes meet, her face stiffens. Sobered up?
"Ah... fa...!"
Splat. Fair's fair, I launch her too. Hope no piss on my leg. Gross.
Sending off the one who shot my thigh so politely? Yeah. Honestly, I'm shocked at my own mercy. Might've toppled over from surprise. Puhaha.
Silly joke in mind, I boot the other heroes too.
Splat. Splat. Rear clears, chaos ramps up. Beasts already overflowing through the gap. I dive right in, hiding among them.
"Kuh...!"
Aserika pursuing bites her lip. Still chasing? Into here? You'll really die? For real?
Luckily, she gives up. Instead of me, she fights to plug the front gap, struggling.
Splat. Splat.
I weave through the beast wave, kicking frontline heroes away. Rear's done—front's turn. Despite Aserika and Han U-sol's efforts, gaps widen.
"Anis...!?"
"Miss Anis!"
Then I spot Reisi and Fergus Dee. Daniel beside them hasn't noticed me yet, swinging wildly. A pang of fondness hits unbidden.
Splat.
No time for reunions, sadly. Other heroes are burning themselves out dying this instant.
I kick them gentler than most. Probably just a sore butt.
Most heroes vanish from the field...
- Kraaaaaaaa!
- KAaaaaaa!
...and the beast tsunami overflows.