Chapter 216
Chapter 216
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 216
Chapter Title: For Elise
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"Haa... haa..."
Lost in a frenzy of all-out attacks on the giant's condition, I finally smashed its head into something resembling a burst watermelon.
In the face of righteous violence, the damn thing was utterly pulverized.
It was impossible to even imagine its original form anymore. It felt like a fitting end for such an evil being.
Giant Slayer.
An overwhelming sense of satisfaction and accomplishment flooded my heart.
I had earned the title of Giant Killer.
Elise and I trampled over the corpse's back, lost in religious ecstasy as we sang praises to the justice that had rightfully descended and the ideological righteousness.
"Ha, haha! Haha! Ha ha ha ha ha!!!"
"This is our victory! The heathen giant has fallen, and true justice has been established! Ah! Long live the God of Order! Long live the Saint!"
"Kuhahat, hahaha—ha!!!!"
Having unleashed my secret ultimate technique, my body felt utterly drained of energy, but the thrill of violence and the ecstasy of victory forcibly held my crumbling form together.
Elise and I laughed for a good long while.
We laughed and laughed, rejoicing that the world felt just a little bit better.
"I, Buddha Kim Katt, and the God of Order's servant Elise have slain the heathen giant!"
"Stand in awe and repent! And let the wicked tremble at the sight of the light!"
"We are Divine Friends!"
"Warriors of God united by friendship and faith!"
An irresistible impulse burst forth!
"Let's dance, Elise."
I said in a daze, and Elise shyly replied,
"...I've never danced before."
"It's fine. Me neither."
I immediately took her hand and spun into a bizarre waltz at triple the normal tempo. Dancing in front of the giant's charred, headless corpse was utterly dreamlike, making it feel like nothing else existed in the world.
—Wat wat, waltz. Waltz. Waltz it! Wat. Wat. Waltz!
As the fiercely burning building fully collapsed into ashes, darkness fell over the world once more. But the stars, knowing our labors, shone brilliantly. A shooting star fell. Was that the giant's soul?
The starlight was utterly beautiful.
Is this how the world looks to a giant slayer?
"Now, spin."
"A spin, you mean?"
"Yeah."
The dance, which had gone on for quite a while, ended with Elise spinning. By then, the commotion had died down, and curious slum dwellers had gathered to watch.
—Rumble.
Heh.
Time to make an announcement to them.
I locked eyes with Elise and nodded.
"Hear me, you slum folk! The immortals who exploited you and nailed spikes into your hearts—the filthy heathens! Nay, the evil heretics have met their end! Behold this giant's corpse! This is your proof!"
I struck a dramatic pose and pointed at the giant's body. Was it too dark to see? I asked Elise to cast Holy Light. The orb of light she created pierced the darkness, exposing the giant's corpse to all.
—Oh, ooooooh!!!
—Kyaaaaah!!!!
—What the hell is thaaaat!!!
—A giant! It's a giant!
—An evil giant!!!
The slum dwellers recoiled in horror at the gruesome sight.
A 3-meter giant was truly shocking.
Even as a corpse, the fear it inspired was palpable.
But there was no need to fear.
It was already dead.
Time to let them know that fact.
I took a deep breath.
And solemnly shouted to the slum dwellers.
"This is the deed of Elise of the Radiant Cross Society, a faithful servant of the God of Order! Sing of this event and praise the Radiant Cross Society! Justice lives! The Lord always watches over us! It was Elise, servant of the God of Order, who saved you! Understand?!"
"Sa... Saint?"
Bathed in Elise's halo, I gave a speech like a hero.
The trembling slum dwellers bowed their lowly pride, knelt, and pressed their foreheads to the ground. Then came the wails of gratitude, and...
—Oh, ooh...! God of Order! God of Order!
—Thank you!
—Radiance! Radiant Cross Society!
Cheers of thanks erupted.
They bowed to us endlessly, sobbing without end.
This was nothing short of a miracle from God. An evil giant of mythic proportions lay dead, and the followers of the Immortals who tormented the slums had been utterly massacred. With that as BGM, I smiled faintly.
"Heh heh heh... Elise, look. Don't I speak like a total badass?"
I grabbed the shoulder of Elise, who wore a stunned expression.
"Sa, Saint, this is... I mean... This isn't my achievement. Yours is greater. We must properly inform them of that..."
I had yielded 100% of the credit, leaving her quite confused.
For such an earnest girl, it was only natural she found it hard to accept.
"Nah. No need. If you think about it, it's all because you're so amazing."
"Th-that... That's not right!"
"Heh heh heh, right..."
What had I even done, really?
It was basically all Elise. And today, I was Giant Killer Justice Kim Katt. Handing out dreams and hope to the slums in the name of religion couldn't hurt.
"Look at them, Elise."
I pointed at the bowing slum dwellers to the guilt-stricken Elise.
"Spreading the grace of the God of Order is more beneficial than touting my name. If righteousness blooms in their hearts because of that, the world takes one step closer to paradise."
"Saint...!"
Elise's face flushed red.
Clutching her chest, she stammered,
"This... this emotion! This burning passion! The irresistible impulse you spoke of is raging in my heart...! How can you be so pious, Saint...!"
Irresistible impulse!
"That's when you shout 'Deus vult!!!' at the top of your lungs!"
"D-Deus vult, you say?"
"Yeah!"
"D-Deus... vult...!"
"Heh heh heh...! Once more!"
"Deus... haa... ah."
"That's the one!"
Anyway, the campfire was over.
The giant was slain, and the heretics had met a miserable end and been buried. Could there be a happier ending? Justice was served, and vengeance for Lina's grandmother was complete.
She'd surely be pleased even in the afterlife.
I called out to Lina, who stood blankly beside the trophy we'd set down.
"Lina!"
"...Oppa."
"You did great. Really great! It was splendid revenge and the perfect trophy guardian. You gave it your all, and you got the best possible result. You're a wonderful person... So overcome your sorrow."
"..."
I said it with genuine sincerity and comfort. Lina's feat in stealing the trophy was mythic. It looked insanely expensive at a glance... Huh?
The purple glow had stopped emanating.
Had the fire gone out?
Eh, whatever.
It wasn't infinite anyway.
"I'll pay you, so come along."
Time for settlement.
No matter what, we'd gone way beyond the initial investigation mission—we'd smashed it to bits. I could expect a reward from Risha. The trophy price separate, of course.
The scent of massive rewards...!
"Elise. Let's head out."
"Please wait a moment. We need to examine this corpse."
"Oh, right. Yeah."
Elise and I rummaged through the giant's body. We tore, cut, and smashed, searching for anything worth taking. No possessions since it was naked... Anything?
"There must be a core or an evil heart or something."
"Y-yeah, probably."
For a regular monster, maybe not, but for a unique boss mob like this, there had to be. Didn't the flesh golem spit out an orb when it died? The giant should have something similar.
—Crack.
After a while of diligent dissection, Elise pulled out a pitch-black heart.
—Heart of Darkness.
The heart was still, yet it felt like it was wailing somewhere deep inside.
Screams... cries... They echoed like hallucinations.
An ominous heart.
Elise, staring at it, said,
"I sense... sorrow... and pain."
"Sorrow and pain?"
"Yes. I'm not sure, but that's what it feels like."
"Hmm..."
Could it contain the souls of the victims?
Were they sacrificed to create this giant?
With all the heretics dead, it was impossible to know now.
The truth and their purpose were buried deep under that black basement.
Not that I cared to find out.
"Saint. May I take this? I want to return to the church and free the victims' souls. At my current level... it's impossible. I'd need the church's facilities."
Elise hesitated as she spoke.
"I know it's a big ask. Still..."
Honestly, taking it to Risha would fetch a high price, but what could I do if Elise wanted it? It was for a good cause—no need to pour cold water on that.
"A noble idea, Elise. Take it. That's exactly what you should do. Free their souls."
"...Thank you so much, Saint. Truly. As expected, you're so kind and exemplary... a model of piety. It makes me feel utterly unworthy..."
"No way."
I'm just your average macho.
I just know right from wrong.
"So the trophy rightfully goes to you, Saint. Hehe, spoils of war. Looter’s rights. Please take it."
Elise smiled and urged me to take the trophy.
"Nah, I'm gonna sell it. We split the proceeds."
"If I'm taking the heart, I can't accept a share of the trophy too..."
"You're freeing bound souls. Can't be stingy on a good deed. Just think of it as pocket money. Life throws plenty of times when you need cash."
To stop her protests, I grabbed her wrist and set off.
We'd suffered together—no being petty about it.
Without Elise, it would've been impossible. Her contributions were greater, so she deserved the bigger share.
"Lina! Grab the trophy! We'll sell it and pay you!"
"...Okay."
"Kid. Shoulders back! You're a strong girl! That trophy proves it!"
"..."
Revenge was complete, but deep worry clouded Lina's face. Naturally. Revenge brings nothing. It wouldn't bring her grandmother back to life.
Just emptiness,
and pain.
But I believed she'd overcome it.
So the three of us headed to Risha's shop. Lina followed silently, clutching the trophy, while Elise and I chatted cheerfully the whole way.
"Shall we go to Jongnooo~!"
In high spirits, I sang through the night alleys.
"Or to Myeongdongoo~!"
A full-throated song.
Seolun-do-sensei's compass was perfect for this happy ending.
"How about Cheongriiiing~!"
I belted it out loudly, but Elise didn't stop me. On a joyful day like today, even God would forgive it, she insisted, urging me to sing even louder. Kicking aside slum dwellers yelling about the noise, we arrived at Risha's shop.
"Wait here a sec. I'll sell the trophy and be right back."
"Understood."
"...Okay."
Late as it was, she'd be open for business.
I knocked lightly on the door and entered.
"Witch lady, I'm here. Guess what I brought?"
The inside was lit up bright.
Looked dark from outside?
Whatever.
Risha's preference, I guess.
"You're here?"
"Oh, you were back there?"
Risha appeared.
She wore a neat monochrome gothic dress.
I showed her the trophy I'd hidden behind my back.
"...What is that?"
"Heh heh heh, no need for any more investigation."
Risha had commissioned an investigation.
But.
"I smashed it all to hell. Here, this trophy is the evil artifact those heretics had. As a witch, you'll surely recognize its value."
"Hoo... An intriguing item. And an intriguing tale... Yes, have a seat?"
Following Risha's words, I placed the trophy on the glass table and sat on the sofa.
Now, where to begin the explanation?
Above all, I was dying to know how much the trophy was worth.