Chapter 118
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: The Soul's Promotion Battle
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Regardless of what you think about swordsmen, you can't just say that to someone you've just met. Isn't that common sense?"
In response to my question, Serka hesitated for a moment, glancing around before finally speaking up.
"...You're the one talking about common sense?"
"This bitch still hasn't learned her lesson. You came at me like an asshole first, so I gave it right back. That's common sense, right? If you hate me, I hate you too. Why don't you get that? Must be your mom's fault. That's why family education is the most important thing."
I hopped down from the rock.
That was enough of a break. The way people in this other world thought was something I couldn't understand—and didn't need to. If I don't like someone, I find a reason to hate them. It's the same whether it's modern Earth or this world.
The world is overflowing with incomprehensible bullshit.
As far as I'm concerned, all I can do is gawk in shock at the absurd things that happen when I try to think logically. So, I need to make my thinking a bit more flexible. Ditch the modern sensibilities and adopt a savage, brutal otherworldly mindset.
"Break time's over. Fuck, let's go find that Conpeito already."
And so, we set off again to hunt for Conpeito.
Along the way, mushroom monsters popped up here and there, and desert runners hiding in the bushes ambushed us, but we took them all out without any real trouble. Low-level trash like that just gets a one-way ticket to the afterlife if they cross paths with Kim Katt. All of them were worthless for money, which was a shame.
"Roel, when the hell are we gonna find it?"
"...I don't know."
Still, Conpeito was proving elusive. Roel kept directing Serka this way and that, but we weren't making much progress. When I asked, she said she didn't know the details either.
"You don't know?"
"Yeah. I know roughly where it might grow, but finding it..."
"Why trail off like that?"
"It's just, uh, hard. You know..."
"Hard?"
She turned pale as I glared at her while pressing for answers.
There's a limit to how much she should fear me. Whatever, no need for more talk—I just let it slide and sent her back to the front. I took up the rear again, scanning our surroundings.
The party's running smooth as hell, for real.
Time kept ticking by.
"Finding this damn Conpeito is a pain in the ass."
"K-Katt... please calm down a bit..."
"Nah, just venting. It's exhausting. No big deal, so don't worry. You think I'm the type who loses it every time I open my mouth?"
I hope they feel as uncomfortable as I do.
The overgrown bushes kept brushing against my head, messing up my hair. The air smelled different somehow—like a thick floral scent was spreading. I hacked away at the dense plants to clear a path. Marking it like this would make it easier to get back.
That's when we came upon a hill.
Something like a tree was growing on top.
"F-Found it!"
Roel shouted, staring up at the hill.
"Is that tree...?"
"Yeah. That's the tree where Conpeito ripens... Sniff, finally... we can end this... finally...!"
I positioned the overly emotional Roel behind me, and we started climbing the hill. Serka took point, crouching low like a boxer as she ascended. Custor followed, checking both sides, with me and Roel bringing up the rear.
Whoosh.
Whoosh.
But as we climbed, I got the feeling something was flying around. Faint green-glowing things were hovering near the tree.
"Speak of the devil and he shall appear—it's Moss Wisps?"
Yep, Moss Wisps by the looks of it.
Pretty sure Serka's song from earlier drew them out.
Moss Wisps are spirit-type monsters I saw last time we hunted Cockatrices. William—or someone—took one down easily with a longsword, and Kobson and I watched in awe.
From what I knew, Moss Wisps were super dangerous, but apparently not. People said I confused them with Soul Eaters. Anyway, their cores fetch a good price, so grabbing them wouldn't hurt... Eh, whatever. Just kill 'em?
"Wisps!"
Custor shouted in proper pronunciation for once, sounding alarmed.
Roel stepped forward protectively, aiming her staff ahead.
"Custor, want me to handle them?"
"Hold up, wait a sec. We don't even know how many there are."
I stopped her before she could fire off a spell.
"...Right. O-Okay."
I squinted hard, scanning around the tree.
They flitted around like fireflies—three or four, maybe. Basic hypnosis magic users, so melee's tough... Throwing rocks probably won't hit flying targets.
"Hmm, Roel. You ever seen Moss Wisps before?"
"...Caught plenty."
"Yeah? Easy prey?"
"One spell and they're done."
Then we're good.
My plan: lure them out first so they can't escape, then Roel blasts them all at once.
Grab the Conpeito and the cores, and we'll have our promotion plus some side cash.
"Serka, circle around and climb from the side. Custor, you're with me. Roel, watch for an opening and nuke them with one shot. If a fireball flies, the hit one dies but the rest scatter."
They exchanged glances, but I pressed until they stammered their agreement. Serka peeled off to climb separately, while Custor and I went up the main path.
The higher we got, the clearer the Conpeito tree became.
It had star-shaped fruit that looked magical. Tasty-looking enough to make my mouth water. Ten of those should cover promotion. Extras? Straight down the hatch.
But then.
"Huh? What's that fucker doing?"
I spotted something suspicious mid-climb and froze everyone.
A thick floral afterscent hit me. What flower was that...? Definitely not the gift-receiving kind.
Something unnatural was leaning against the tree.
No.
Wait.
'Leaning'?
"That guy's..."
Something 'person-like' was propped up beside the tree.
What? Another adventurer? No, then the Wisps... Something's wrong. Cold sweat poured down my back, my body chilling as realization dawned.
An unexpected crisis—maximum tension surged... Cloudy.
Cloudy's not here. What? The hell? What's that?
Fuck, no Elise either! Kobson, you fuck! She's gone too!
All I had were unreliable shits instead of trustworthy allies. The realization hit like a bone-deep chill. Even that May bastard would freeze solid in this cold dread.
My three years of honed adventurer danger sense blared alarms.
—Teeeeeennnng!!!!
Panicking at the signal, I grabbed Custor's robes and backed away slowly. He turned with a frozen face, matching my retreat. He sensed the weirdness too.
"Huh? Custor? What's up?"
Roel poked her head forward, wondering what was there.
For a split second, I imagined conjuring an axe and splitting her skull to shut her up. But it was too late—I'd already thought it.
"Huh...? What's that?"
Her voice spotted something.
—Then Roel screamed in horror.
"D-Dryad!!!"
Dryad! Just the name screamed doom! Humanoid things are usually bad news. My mind reeled at this unbelievable situation!
Run.
We have to run!
—...?
'It'
The Dryad rose at Roel's shout, like waking from sleep. Rising? No—an illusion. It didn't rise—it bloomed.
Like a flower blooming.
That alien sight was no human's.
"...Monster."
A woman-shaped monster blending flower and flesh.
Lime-green skin, stems and petals of verdant shade wrapping her body!
It looked human-ish, but also floral!
"Agent Yellow!"
Half-human, half-flower Dryad!
I felt transcendent terror. I had zero desire to fight an unknown enemy. Never heard of this shit, not even in nightmares! Compared to that, Black Birdman was just a friendly neighborhood dummy!
Forget Conpeito—survive first!
If I blow the promotion, Cloudy'll forgive me with hugs after I grovel. Then drag me to bed. But death? No more of that. I swore to die in Cloudy's bosom...!
—Fwoosh!
"Fire Bolt!!!!!"
Sudden chaos.
"You fucking bitch!!!!!!!"
A earth-shattering scream ripped from my throat! Roel couldn't hold back and unleashed Fire Bolt!
The fireball missed the Wisps and Dryad, slamming into the innocent Conpeito tree and exploding.
—Boom!
Your mom's boom!
"You fucking retard, can't you aim!!!?"
"D-Don't shake meee!!!"
I grabbed Roel's shoulders and shook her like a ragdoll in my frenzy.
The Dryad flinched at the blast. Silver lining: the Wisps fled for their lives. Conpeito star-fruits rained down. The dreamlike scene played in slow motion.
Run?
Can we even run?
Or am I over-fearing the unknown? No clue. I don't fight what I don't know.
—Thud!
Serka kicked off the ground.
"Y-You crazy bitch, why the fuck are you charging again!!! Custor! Stop her!"
"Se-Serka! Serka! Run, run... away! Run!"
"Haaaaah!!!" Serka's battle cry drowned our pleas. Was it a cry or a scream? Like a golden warrior, she charged the Dryad, unleashing a soul-piercing punch.
—Thwack!
"Ngh!"
Vines erupted, forming a barrier.
Serka's punch futilely blocked by the plant wall. Fantasy bullshit! She grunted, stuck—her fist trapped in the vines.
—Rustle!
My eyes met the Dryad's. It—she—looked at my face.
—Then she charged us like a bullet!
"Fuuuuck! At that speed, we can't even dodge! Battle stations!"
That speed made escape impossible.
I yelled at myself to psych up, gripping my drawn sword. In this life-or-death pinch—I decided!
These idiots dying would suck.
Me dying would suck more.
Ditch solo? No. Getting dark. Solo survival to town? Doubtful.
We're spotted. It'll kill these three then hunt me—that's realistic.
So, overwhelm with numbers.
—Alright. Game on. Might die, but I trust my skills and gear built over time.
—Rustle rustle!
The charging Dryad seemed smaller than me. She spread her palms wide. Ghastly claws gleamed, radiating primal malice against humanity's destruction of nature!
"Custor! Battle ready! Roel! Aim Fire Bolt!"
"H-Haa, haa! Y-Yes! Got it!"
"Fi-Fire...!"
"Don't shoot yet, you moron—aim! Uwaaaah! It's comingggg!!!"