Chapter 13

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 13

Chapter Title: Berserk Aura

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"Block them from getting in!"

"Aim for the eyes!"

Krrr-

The temple entrance was locked down tight with a mix of firebombs and the soldiers' spear thrusts, forming an ironclad defense. That left the monsters relentlessly probing other routes for a way in.

I spotted a soldier spraying pain extract on one that was squeezing through a crumbled wall.

Cakek-

A direwolf shook its head and retreated.

Elsewhere, one that had leaped through a window was latched onto a soldier, tearing at him.

"Ngh! Don't worry about me—just stab it! It's less painful than the priest's heals!"

Stab—stab—kreung-

I kept watch from beside the Sacred Brazier, observing the unfolding chaos.

First impressions aside, the soldiers were holding their own just fine.

Aside from the Defense Captain groaning off to one side, that is.

"Ngh, forgive us for showing such an unsightly display."

The main goal on this floor seemed to be healing the Defense Captain to clear the objective.

But even after treatment, he could barely move due to the healing aftereffects.

This was all my karma.

From now on, I'd carry some healing potions made by other healers.

"Urgh!"

"Damn it, my arm's broken. Hurry to the priest!"

"Argh! It hurts, but it feels like I'm getting stronger!"

We held off the monster assault like that for quite a while.

Gooaaang-

A bell tolled from the Sacred Brazier, and its flames flickered out.

Followed by the system alert.

At the same moment, the temple interior darkened, and the direwolf pack began rampaging with savage fury.

"Douse them in firebombs!"

"Argh! Front line's breaking! Requesting backup!"

'Holy energy? What the hell is this now?'

I had to make a snap judgment amid the rapidly deteriorating situation.

It looked like I needed to use a healing skill on the brazier.

But which one?

It didn't take long to decide.

Aura of Healing seemed closest to "holy energy."

Screw it—I'd just go for it.

I cast the skill toward the brazier.

The faintly glowing flames shifted to an inky black hue and roared to life fiercely.

It felt utterly alien for anything called holy power.

Ding-

A sudden system alert popped up.

So the brazier was the gimmick, huh.

Berserk Aura? What did that even mean?

Shring-

The Defense Captain suddenly bolted upright and drew his sword.

His eyes gleamed with feral madness, completely unlike before.

"Pain that can't kill me only makes me stronger..."

Tadak!

Like he'd awakened, the captain charged the battlefield at blinding speed.

At the same time, the soldiers' conditions began shifting too.

"Charge! The priest has our backs!"

"A limb or two is fine! The priest will stick it back on!"

Waaaaah!

Suddenly, the soldiers roared cheers and bolted out of the temple.

Leading the pack was, of course, the Defense Captain.

"How long will we cower in defense? Attack is the best defense! Follow me!"

Hey, wait—this was supposed to be a defense mission. Where was everyone going?

The now-deserted temple only saw occasional soldiers dropping in for treatment.

"Priest! Hurry and stitch up my gut!"

I healed a soldier clutching his spilling entrails with one hand, and he let out a guttural scream before charging back outside.

"Arrrgh! It hurts! The pain turns me into a berserker!"

I was utterly baffled by the situation.

Then another system alert appeared.

What the hell? Where were they all off to, and doing what?

Not a single monster lingered in the temple.

Yet the counter ticked up anyway.

Was... was this even working right?

I cast Aura of Healing once more.

How long did I stand guard alone like that?

A clear alert finally appeared.

"......"

"Cha Yeonwoo, I've been seeing you in the Tower a lot lately?"

The moment I stepped out of the Tower, a mocking voice called from somewhere. It was the Celestial Radiance Guild Leader.

Why was this guy picking a fight here again?

"Do one raid with me. I'll get you through the 5th floor."

That's when it clicked what he was after.

I nearly burst out laughing.

"Fuck off. You think I'm some pushover?"

"......?"

My response must've caught him off guard.

His face filled with confusion.

Red-faced and furious, he looked ready to explode with curses.

'With intel this slow... you'll never beat Ryu Seolhwa.'

Making offers that were going nowhere.

"Who the hell does this bastard think he is?!"

Someone standing with the Celestial Radiance Guild Leader suddenly raised his voice.

I recognized him—the Main Tanker who'd suffered under my heals before.

"Butt out, third wheel."

"Stand down! Don't interfere!"

The guild leader shot the Main Tanker a menacing glare, and he backed off hesitantly.

"Cha Yeonwoo, let's not do this. You know I've looked out for you, right?"

What was with the sudden soft tone ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and gaslighting attempt?

I'd almost fallen for it and signed the contract... but he'd eventually shown his true colors.

Still, plastering the media with press releases and waging a full-on smear campaign crossed the line.

I'd been powerless back then and taken it.

But things were different now.

"Cut to the chase and get lost."

"This little shit... Fine, I'll let it slide once. Anyway, I don't know how you climbed the Tower, but I've heard some interesting rumors lately. You can make potions?"

"Stop, right there."

A low, calm voice cut in.

James, who'd apparently been watching for a while.

"And who the hell are you?"

"Mr. Hwang, that's far enough. Unless you want to make an enemy of Arcadia."

"Arcadia...?"

"Allow me to introduce myself properly. James Parker, Asia Branch Chief of the Arcadia ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Alliance."

The guild leader's eyes shook in stunned disbelief.

'James is at it again.'

He'd drunkenly name-dropped his organization several times last night, and it seemed he secretly enjoyed moments like this.

Whatever the case, it was highly effective.

The Celestial Radiance Guild Leader bowed deeply to James Parker.

A first for him.

Needless to say, it was quite satisfying.

Once the Celestial Radiance crew left, James scratched his head.

"Mr. Cha, you still haven't given me that Regeneration Potion..."

James personally drove me home.

The stuff I'd bought at the mart yesterday was in the car too. Good thing I hadn't forgotten.

I whipped up a bottle of Regeneration Potion, sent him off, and took a quick shower.

Home really was the best.

I hurriedly set up the air fryer and popped in some buffalo wings.

Munching on chicken, I reflected on the 6th floor incident.

A brazier that emitted beneficial effects when infused with holy power.

An insane sacred object that could twist even the negativity of pain into a blessing.

I desperately wanted to pry it loose right then, but the moment clear popped, I was booted straight out of the 6th floor.

"Should've tested other skills' effects too."

If I'd known I'd get ejected immediately, I would've tried Heal or Regeneration during the third wave. Regret gnawed at me.

Still, snagging what seemed like a class-related item from the achievement reward had me excited.

I carefully pulled it from my inventory.

"Gasp!"

I was genuinely shocked this time.

True to the inscription, it was a batshit insane item.

Berserk effect probably meant the berserker buffs the soldiers and captain had shown.

"This is nuts..."

With this, could I finally use heals without worry?

Magic stones were precious, but with the toll ones piling up, there was no reason not to.

"Should I test it once?"

I was dying to know the effect, but I held back.

I might lose my mind like the captain and charge out of my studio apartment, showering heals on passersby.

For now, I'd only use it in the Tower.

Just to be safe, I searched Hunter Net, but nothing on censers—or even similar effects—turned up.

"At least B-rank, right?"

No explicit grade, but hunters preferred grading items for distinction.

It was intuitive for gauging value.

I considered an appraisal but quickly scrapped the idea.

"Nah, it'd just draw unwanted attention."

Appraisals happened at appraisal centers, so it'd expose the censer's info.

No need to risk it for mere curiosity.

Next, I checked the spoils reward item.

"Oh?"

My instincts were spot on now.

If the description sounded impressive, it was a rare item.

Hunter Net searches turned up zilch.

So, Tower-theme exclusive, most likely.

"Can't not brag about this one."

To dig up item info and all, I posted anonymously.

Comments flooded in instantly. But their content was far from ordinary.

Looked like I'd scored something extraordinary.