Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Chainsaw Wolves and the Tavern
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『By the user's request, Nob AI temporarily takes control of the body.』
『The request will continue until the complete extermination of the Chainsaw Wolves. It can be canceled at any time during the process.』
The first one to move among the group was me.
Dalpi and Ian were waiting around the carriage for the Chainsaw Wolves to approach, preparing for any possible emergencies.
A blue light emitted from my right hand.
"Young Master Ester is using magic...?"
Ian looked shocked.
And understandably so—I had been a body incapable of using magic until now.
It was a huge leap forward compared to my powerless past.
That said, even with Erps's help allowing me to hold mana in my body,
The amount of mana I possessed was still meager compared to others.
According to Nob AI, it was only about 30% of an average person's.
『Starting learning process for the optimal attack.』
The beam I had just fired hit a Chainsaw Wolf.
The beam penetrated into the Chainsaw Wolf's body and then underwent myriad changes.
It transformed into slashes, brainwashing, fire, water, lightning, earth, and countless other forms to slay the enemy.
『Physical resistance 10%, mental resistance 100%, flame resistance 50%.......』
『.......』
『Learning complete.』
Good.
『Shall I display the Chainsaw Wolf data?』
Nope.
『Acknowledged. The most effective attack against these foolish Chainsaw Wolves is electric shock.』
I cast the spell.
A large puddle formed in the path of the menacingly charging Chainsaw Wolf ahead.
The dumb wolves simply stepped into the puddle as they approached.
The moment the greatest number of Chainsaw Wolves had their feet in the puddle,
I stretched my hand out the window and released electricity.
Pzzzzzt!!
"─────!!"
I remembered a video from my previous life.
It was one where a fisherman blew up a battery in a river, and countless fish floated belly-up on the surface.
『Five died instantly from ventricular fibrillation, four fainted from shock.』
The sight of the Chainsaw Wolves twitching belly-up in the puddle reminded me of that video.
"High-speed calculations combined with double casting......"
"Save your admiration for the young master. More are coming."
Ian nodded.
"Understood. Dalpi, stay near the young master as well."
"No. It's been a while—I need to stretch my legs too."
Ian gave Dalpi a puzzled look, but
Dalpi dashed forward in an instant.
And her speed far surpassed that of a human.
It was too fast for my dynamic vision to follow.
Dalpi began butchering the wolves with the knife she used for cutting steak.
"Not an Aura user, yet she can move at that speed...?"
Honestly, even I was surprised, just like Ian.
She deserved the nickname "Chainsaw Wolf Butcher."
What was she even doing with a steak knife, Dalpi?
"Young master, what is that maid's true identity...?"
"I have no idea."
I just shrugged.
Ian was gawking in awe like the stereotypical explainer type, but among us, Ian was the strongest.
Even with Nob AI's help,
I couldn't yet match the skill of a knight trained his entire life to kill.
Ian unleashed explosive power.
He channeled blue sword aura into his blade and slaughtered the remaining enemies.
It was a display close to true one-man army prowess.
I could see why he had served as the frail Haniele's guard knight for a decade.
"Impressive..."
Dalpi watched Ian.
She had racked up more kills than me using forks, knives, and other utensils, yet her face showed disappointment.
Was she the type obsessed with competition? An unexpected side of her.
"You should've come properly armed."
"Yeah, I should've."
And just like that, we exterminated 36 Chainsaw Wolves in a flash.
"All of you are amazing. You could stand toe-to-toe with active frontline veterans."
His mention of the frontlines reminded me of Felix.
Hmm, what was my big brother up to right now?
Probably rolling in agony while choking down rations every day.
We basked in the joy of victory for a moment and prepared to head to our destination, but
"What should we do with the Chainsaw Wolf corpses?"
We ran into a small problem.
"Let's just leave them."
When I gave the simple answer,
"Young master, you can't underestimate the value of Chainsaw Wolves. They're all money."
Dalpi approached the corpses.
She harvested them with practiced skill—not her first or second time.
"Each Chainsaw Wolf fang is worth 2,000 credits."
Even if I asked how she knew, she'd probably just say, "Maid's duty."
"Don't just stand there gawking—come help."
"Ah, right..."
"Yes..."
Somehow, the aftermath felt more grueling than the actual extermination.
Only after Dalpi forced us to finish extracting all the fangs could we finally resume toward our destination.
***
"The curse of the Insane is about to strengthen soon."
"If you're scared, why not back out this time? I'd benefit from fewer competitors."
"As a mercenary, how could I pass up a chance to make big money? Great rewards come with risks. I've gotten offers from a bunch of territories this time—wondering which to pick."
Daebo Village.
The leaders of the Johnson Mercenary Corps and Carlson Mercenary Corps were sharing drinks.
Johnson and Carlson—similar names led everyone to mistake them for brothers,
But they were complete strangers in appearance.
Still, they had rolled through the same battlefields for decades.
Their bond was tighter than the Tristy siblings', at least.
"A nearby spot sounds good, no? I heard Young Master Jeffer is trying to recruit mercenary corps."
"I'm considering Tristy myself for now."
Daebo Village belonged to the Tristy Autonomous Territory.
"The successor exam, right?"
For the territory's residents, this successor exam was a major event.
Depending on who became the next Family Head, everything from tax rates to wasteland development and demon subjugation policies would change.
It directly affected their lives, so they couldn't help but care.
Even wandering mercenary leaders were people making a living here.
"This one really smells like big money."
If a successor they were close to became Family Head, they could rake in serious profits.
"Hey, Johnson."
"Yeah?"
"Who do you think the next Family Head will be?"
Johnson crossed his arms.
"The candidates are us—wait, Kenneth, Jeffer, Haniele, Ester, right?"
"Yeah."
"I think it'll be Young Master Jeffer. He's got the most connections and runs a ton of businesses in the territory."
Carlson clicked his tongue at Johnson.
"You're the type who'd ruin a mercenary corps."
"Huh?"
"With no eye for people like that, how do you expect to survive in this harsh world?"
Carlson downed the rest of his drink.
Then slammed the glass on the table with a bang!
"The next Family Head is obviously Ester Tristy!!"
Ester Tristy.
A figure making waves not just in Tristy Autonomous Territory, but across the Justina Kingdom.
A genius among geniuses who solved the Millennium Problem at the tender age of 15.
"Look at this month's Justina Monthly."
『Monthly Justina – March Issue』
『Necronomicon Threatening Justina Finally Recovered.』
『Steel Lion Knights Admit Significant Hardships During Retrieval.』
『Blue Lion Oscar... "This was all thanks to Ester Tristy."』
『Genius Boy Who Solved Millennium Problem Strikes Again!?』
『Ester Tristy Receives Justina Royal Third-Class Medal and Junior Barony—Youngest Ever—for Recognized Merits.』
『Blue Tower Master and Red Tower Master: "Ester Tristy Will Revolutionize the Magic World."』
『Justina Magic Community... Watching the Rising Star.』
Ester Tristy.
Anyone paying attention to worldly affairs knew the name.
From February onward, the Tristy youngest young master had been constantly in the media spotlight.
"They say he's the most potential-packed magic genius in the world, and only 15. Think about what we were doing at that age—peeking up skirts on pretty girls. And look at us now, leading mercenary corps. Imagine what Lord Ester Tristy will become."
Carlson was already convinced Ester would be Family Head.
Johnson acknowledged Ester Tristy's greatness.
But his own thinking differed.
"You only know half the story. Geniuses like that usually have no greed for money or power, so they don't chase the Family Head seat."
"Hey, smart people crave money and fame more than anyone!"
"Fine, I'll bet 100,000 credits that Jeffer Tristy becomes Family Head. Let's wager and see who's right."
As the two bickered noisily, the tavern door opened.
"Welcome... H-heck."
The tavern keeper, who always wore a sleazy grin, froze stiff.
"Hm?"
The puzzled mercenaries turned toward the entrance.
They too mirrored the keeper's expression, swallowing hard.
Ester Tristy.
The young genius, accompanied by his guard knight and maid, scanned the room upon entering the tavern.
This was Daebo Village, the most dangerous spot in Tristy Autonomous Territory.
A place utterly unfit for a genius noble like Ester.
They could never have imagined meeting the boy they'd just been discussing.
The noisy tavern fell silent in an instant.
Not just Carlson and Johnson—every patron shut their mouths.
This hush would last until the boy spoke, no—until he left.
"I've come to meet Carlson and Johnson. I heard they were at this tavern."
"Pardon?"
'Why is Ester Tristy looking for us...?'
Carlson and Johnson exchanged glances.
Dumbfounded by the incomprehensible situation, they could only blink.