Chapter 30
Chapter 30
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Squinty-Eyed Bastard is the Traitor - 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[General] Title: Best NPC Ever? Upvote Plz LMAO Author: VirginFapLife
>My inner affection for the eternally pure Lord Lucius just skyrocketed. Upvote if you feel it too LMAO
💬 Comments — BSLowKick Upvote…. — MapleSyrup🔸 Upvote LMAOOOO — ChubbyPuffNyang Fuck yeah upvote LMAO — WallBloodInvincible Honestly kinda like him LMAO — popapo01 Upvote LMAOOOO never seen affection like this LMAO — LikeTheWind Fuck we're BFFs from now on fr — TearfulUpvoter Upvoted through tears fuck — VirginFapLife ↳ Self-Reply **** LMAO caught you virginfag list engraved gg **** — KALSONG You're a real bastard LMAO — BSLowKick This fucker fr — Gold Rush🔹 That nick and that bullshit? LMAO — MapleSyrup🔸 What the — MagicStick10inch But all you virgins feeling that inner bond, including that dumbfuck OP, it's just the usual gallery ghost lurkers ain't it LMAO — Mnol Facts no cap — QavgEavgRavg Hey hey;; — BladeOfDoom ㅠㅠ Thought he was virgin too shouldn't have flexed gonna get banned scared af fuck…. — KALSONG ? — NationalPowerTroll LMAO; prolly not that bad ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [General] Insane Honey Pot Farm Spot by the Fog Road Author: HandsUpItsRape
>Among the skull bastards, this dual-sword bitch drops mana stones and artifacts like crazy, infinite respawn farmed tf outta it LMAO 4 at a time til we left LMAO
💬 Comments — BlackPuddingUnicorn That spot LMAO insane honey pot but too lazy skipped LMAO — Weeed Fr LMAO flat ground dual-sword skulls keep running LMAO — NationalPowerTroll Really? — HandsUpItsRape From base camp straight ahead where gal lord drops rock by stacked broken tree triangle spot ya know — NationalPowerTroll Yeah — HandsUpItsRape A bit further in off the road see the crater they left? — NationalPowerTroll Yeah that it? — HandsUpItsRape Yeah idk if old dungeon or what but midboss tier dual-sword skulls 4 at a time regular spawn LMAO decent rewards but lil shits fast af gotta catch em good LMAO — NationalPowerTroll Got it ok ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [General] Title: Wtf is This?? Author: BigDickMan
>Cleared fog forest dungeon picked up mid-tier magic book wtf book this red??? Brainwash tune top beauty of the land??? Or titty growth spell??? Gay rune readers translate this
💬 Comments — MagicStick10inch Oh blood magic LMAO — BigDickMan What blood magic!? — MagicStick10inch Blood control magic — BigDickMan Blood? Pussy exclusive spell…. — MagicStick10inch Crazy bastard LMAO — ChubbyPuffNyang Rare magic but meh — BigDickMan Oh? — ChubbyPuffNyang Worse cost perf than 5 elements, shittier rank than most legendaries, worst conditions of special magics LMAO no special ability or inf mana can't even use proper — BigDickMan Trash? — ChubbyPuffNyang Yeah — BigDickMan Ugh…. — NationalPowerTroll Sell to lord? — BigDickMan But gal lord only wants advanced books…. — NationalPowerTroll Saw he wants rare books too last time A hearty shout echoed through the middle of the fog-shrouded road.
"Hahh—!"
Inside the barrier erected by the lord.
Sir Luciana gripped her massive axe—Steel Eater—with both hands and swung it. The axe, which had started at about 1.7 meters, had grown to 2 meters after devouring countless metals.
A heavy weapon far larger than herself. The sound it made was chilling. Just the whoosh of the air made the nearby climbers flinch.
Whooosh—!
The axe, swung as if to smash everything, obliterated the upper body of a helmeted skull. It then smashed the one right next to it.
To the side,
again to the side.
The chain of destruction didn't stop.
Not until all four skulls were pulverized.
Krunch
Krunch
Krunch!
Krunchh—!
Then came the eerie screams,
the characteristic exit cry of banshee-type monsters.
-Kyaaak—!
Above the foggy sky.
Pure white bone fragments sprayed up like a fountain before falling. Beneath them, a decent-sized mana stone and a low-grade artifact sparkled as rewards.
Plop
Plop
Plop
"Whew!"
Sir Luciana wore a proud smile.
She had defeated all four dual-sword skulls crawling out from the small crater inside the lord's barrier. Turning around with a satisfied expression,
"How was that, Instructor Aslan! Much better than before, right—!? Loyalty! That strike was infused with my heart for the lord! Don't I have what it takes to be a holy knight?"
"…."
The one receiving Sir Luciana's question was Aslan, clad in white armor. He gave a wry smile before answering.
"Sister Luciana's attack was quite vigorous."
"Yay!"
"But faith... needs a bit more room in your heart. That last strike was purely physical destruction, not a holy knight's blow."
"Ehhh…."
"Let me show you once more. Watch closely."
Aslan smiled faintly and gripped his massive hammer. It was about the size of an average person. He raised the grand heavy weapon toward the sky and looked down.
Duuung…!
At the end of his gaze, targets emerged. Four dual-sword skulls were crawling out from the crater bottom with eerie rattles.
-Kyakyakya—!
-Keeheehee—!
"Hmph!"
Aslan shouted.
"Strike of justice! For the Holy Knight Order—!"
And swung the hammer.
Not directly at the skulls.
Toward the ground in front of him—!
Kuuung—!
As the impact rippled through the ground, a sparkling energy condensed and spread around. The glittering light swept across the floor, engulfing the skulls.
Krakrak—!
The anti-demon energy purifying the banshees.
The dual-sword skulls crumbled without even a scream. Vanishing without physical traces, leaving only rewards behind.
Aslan spoke to Sir Luciana, whose mouth hung open.
"This is it—infusing a strike of divinity with heartfelt faith and conviction. That's the true realm of a holy knight. It's also an aura that protects party members... comrades and draws the monsters' aggro."
"…."
Luciana drooped her shoulders limply.
"Ugh... I guess I just don't have the talent for holy knight. Always leading with brute force, troubling the lord. Can't live like this forever."
"Not at all. Keep reflecting on your inner convictions and faith endlessly, and one day your own weapon will shine with light."
"Conviction and faith…."
Luciana murmured, clenching and unclenching her fist.
Aslan said,
"Our turn's done for now. Shall we head back to Windmill Village where the lord is?"
"Yes. Thank you for the guidance, Instructor Aslan!"
"Haha, fun quest for me too."
After picking up the ground rewards.
They parted from the group of climbers hunting the regular skull spawns. They boarded a carriage running straight along the extended path.
The coachman asked,
"Where to?"
"Windmill Village."
"Subjugation captain free ride, climbers 15 etels each."
"Here."
Clink!
Aslan put the gold coin in the coachman's pouch. The coachman nodded and started the carriage.
They sat in their seats and looked around. The road bustled with countless climbers, carriages, and merchants coming and going.
-Jerky! Anyone need jerky? Special spiced jerky for sale!
-Ugh tired. Rest in Waterwheel Village.
-Ain't that too entry-level?
Aslan murmured,
"Hard to believe this was that nightmare curse forest... Just days ago, now a fine paved road."
"The lord secured it and immediately turned it into a safe route."
The plains where fog had all but vanished.
After clearing the instant-death curse and swarming banshee monsters, they arrived at a lonely village with turning windmills. All residents gone there too.
Windmill Village.
The endpoint of the fog road, now nearly 50 kilometers advanced.
'If we keep extending the road until Sacred Place Gades Banea comes into view, we can link Baran straight through with troops. Plus expand territory size.'
In the village clearing, I used the blood magic from a climber.
Not my blood, of course,
but pig blood from the butcher.
The blood, tinged with sunset glow, looked eerie.
"Blood Blade."
With the activation word for my new shortcut spell, the bucket of pig blood churned. It flew toward my swung arm's direction as a sharp blade.
Target: scarecrow limbs.
Splat—!
Not just flying straight, the blood blade whipped like alive, wrapping and slicing the scarecrow.
Different feel from other elemental magics.
'DPS below fire above water. Feels like blood has built-in aim assist.'
"…."
Drip drip…!
As I thought that, the sharply severed scarecrow belatedly collapsed. Clean cuts gleaming on the sections. The blood blade lingered midair long before losing control.
Splatter!
Plop!
The red blade reverted to sticky blood, soaking the ground.
"…."
'Purely on DPS, duration, lethality... excellent...'
But I wasn't thrilled.
Subtle issues.
"Hmm…."
"What's up?"
Sunglasses-wearing Niva asked worriedly from beside me.
I organized my thoughts, pointed at the empty bucket, and said,
"First, shitty cost perf. Filled a bucket of pig blood, gone in one attack."
"Yeah. Fine in blood-splatter fields maybe, useless in dungeons or first contacts. Self-wounding leads to anemia insta-down."
"Even as mid-tier, better off with same-rank fire or water."
"Yup. 5 elements most stable."
I explained the next reason to nodding Niva.
"Last—."
"Yeah."
"Blood magic feels creepy."
"Huh? How so?"
"My blade, but wouldn't swing my way."
"Low precision?"
"No, more like…."
I murmured,
"Like the blade has its own will. Goes rogue... doesn't feel like a tool."
"Like putting glass to mouth for water and it gulps down throat on its own?"
"Close."
I shook my head.
"Hard to use. Versatile single spell, but worst for combos."
"Yeah. Total opposite your style."
"Yes."
Conclusion drawn.
We fell silent.
Autumn evening breeze swept through the quiet.
Whish—
"…."
"…."
Awkward
Embarrassed
Uncomfortable
Some subtle mood.
Like this since that night.
"…."
"…."
'Should I speak first?'
"…."
"…."
Hmm.
Got it.
'I'll say it.'
I said,
"Hey, Niva."
"Y-yeah? What?"
"That night—."
"Whoa!? Wah!? Uwaaak—!?"
Niva hurriedly covered my mouth. Panicked eyes beyond sunglasses. Face beet red like persimmon.
She said,
"That night! It was! Uh... I was half-asleep... like, nothing to do lately."
"…."
"Um, just suddenly hearing about you made me anxious…."
"…."
I gently took her clumsily blocking hand. Niva's eyes wavered. I spoke calmly to her.
"Yes, I understand. Whatever reason, if you don't want to conclude now, I'll wait. I'm busy too."
"…."
"But with potential there, I won't abandon or give up on you. Won't ruin this either. So relax and act normal."
"…."
Niva bowed her head. Nodded faintly.
"Y-yeah. T-take care of me."
"Yes, likewise."
"Um…."
"…."
She blurted,
"So, treat normal for real?"
"Wanted that from start."
"K-kisses when agai—."
"Do one now since it came up. Delaying these just piles up."
"You madman! First time fr—!?"
Yell aside.
Niva glanced around the bloodied clearing. Confirmed empty, then brought her face close.
"Th-this is the last!"
She tiptoed.
Smack!
Unlike that night,
a very brief kiss.
'Like feeding a baby bird.'
That her limit, Niva bolted.
"Hmph! G-going ahead! Warp!"
Poof!
"…."
'That should do.'
I nodded, cleaned the bloody clearing with earth and water magic. Soon, voices called from behind.
"Lord!"
"Looord—!"
Aslan and Sir Luciana. They approached slowly from afar, casting grand shadows from back-strapped heavy weapons.
'Daily raid training over.'
I checked Sir Luciana's abilities.
Results very encouraging.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 【Luciana (19)】 Subjugation Captain of Walled City Baran / Knight (Promoting to Holy Knight) [Special] Resilience: Increases stamina. [Special] Command: Increases leadership. [Special] Superhuman Strength: Increases strength. Training under Aslan often,
Luciana's abilities had changed.
"!"
'If aptitude, NPCs can level up abilities like climbers.'
NPCs' limits.
Experiment on special job changes proceeding smoothly. Especially fast thanks to Sir Luciana's own will.
'Place apt talents among climbers, could be big changes.'
I grinned wide welcoming them.
"Welcome. Hard journey, good work."
"Haha, no hardship. Rode carriage comfy."
"Lord! Luciana trained hard today too!"
"Good job."
Hahaha hoho
As we shared today's events under the sunset. Another voice called me. This time, staff guarding Windmill Village climber hall.
He rushed over reporting.
-Lord! Two priests from Sacred Place Gades Banea arrived!
"!"
"!"
"!"
That instant.
Glittering text floated before my eyes.
📜 NEW QUEST 📜 [Climber Settlement Confirmed]
📍 Floor: 52, 'Sacred Place Gades Banea'
⏰ Main Quest Begins
🎁 Goal: Find the traitor in Sacred Place Gades Banea