Chapter 299
Chapter 299
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 299
Chapter Title: Lingering Fragrance of the Flower
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The depths of the gloomy jungle felt almost mystical.
Towering trees and vines blocked out more than half the sky, while sunlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves only amplified the eerie atmosphere.
It was a cursed forbidden realm, a place no one should ever set foot in.
I ventured deeper alongside Kobson, channeling the true spirit of an adventurer. Come to think of it, it had been years since I'd worked one-on-one with the guy.
Still, he was reliable enough to have my back.
"Fucking huge, isn't it."
"Tell me about it."
"Feels just like your homeland, Barbarian. Weren't you barbarians from the jungle?"
What the fuck.
Korea isn't a damn jungle.
"Nomadic tribe, you dumbass. What bullshit is that?"
"Nomads or jungle folk, what's the difference? Come on, show me around. Or what the hell is that mystical tree called!"
"Cut the crap, asshole."
"Heh heh heh."
The squelching ground made movement a hassle. I shifted to a drier spot and scanned our surroundings.
Enormous vines and thickets rose high, as if shielding the jungle's interior. They seemed to grow at an alarming rate, like bamboo shoots thrusting upward.
I'd have to watch for that while finding a path.
Everything looked the same, so one wrong turn and we'd be lost for good. Getting turned around in a place like this could turn you into a tragic monster, wandering eternally in search of an exit.
There was this ominous legend from some savage tribe deep in the Amazon: kids who got lost in the jungle and died would rise again once their bodies fully rotted—four arms, six legs, covered in black fur—doomed to prowl the wilds, hunting and devouring humans to soothe their grief until the end of the world.
Scholars figured it was just a tale to scare kids away from risky terrain, but who knows the truth.
For some reason, the thought hit hard.
—Groooowl.
That beastly howl from over yonder... could it be the wail of a child turned monster?
"Kobson. You keeping track of the path?"
I asked him as he gripped his sword, stepping cautiously.
"Not in detail. But we're not going too deep, so it should be fine. Head out a bit, loop back to the start, then scout the opposite direction."
"Sounds solid. Let's do that."
"By the way... Barbarian. You smell any money?"
"Heh heh heh. Been sniffing it out for a while."
In a jungle like this, we'd score valuable herbs, mana plants, or poison mushrooms easily.
"The savage's nose never fails... heh heh heh."
Thanks to the botany lessons from Winia back in the day, I could spot profitable stuff no problem.
We kept watch for monsters while checking tree bases, rocks, and odd vines.
"Hmm, this."
Kobson crouched at something.
Up close, it was an otherworldly mushroom. Its mad design, straight out of a lunatic's nightmare, was shocking enough just to look at.
Winia called it the Miregrid Mushroom—poisonous, worth about 2 coppers each as material.
"Poison shroom. Let's bag it."
"You know it?"
"Of course."
I sliced the sturdy stem with my knife, wrapped it in a stray leaf, and tucked it carefully into my pouch.
"Lucky find." Kobson said, resuming his scan.
—Buzzzzz.
Then came an unpleasant hum.
I instantly back-to-back with Kobson, swords at the ready.
"Hey. Kobson."
"...Here they come. Jungle freaks."
—Buzzzzz.
It was a massive hornet-like monster, the size of a small dog. The sight of it buzzing around reminded me of that jar of solitude.
Never seen this one before... no way!
"Abyssal venom bugs!"
"That's the name of those creepy bastards?"
"Nah."
Giant Spiders and Giant Bats were familiar, but not these tentacled horrors with hornet vibes.
Was it even a hornet?
Wind Blood was sealed anyway, so swordplay it was.
"One each."
"Ugh, too gross. Flying abominations like that...!"
Two showed up, so we split them and charged.
—Flash!
Peak Taekwondo, Execution Fist, fused with Heavenly Demon Divine Art for hyper-efficient footwork. Enhanced leg power launched a Sergeant Jump.
—Flying Execution Sword Art.
I leaped inhumanly high, unleashing the aerial pinnacle to swat it down.
Muscles tensed.
Steel Cleave wasn't for puny bugs.
"Die!!!"
—Screeeee!
My blade sliced clean through one wing in a blur.
—Splat. Wingless, it plummeted. I slid in and stomped its foul head flat.
—Crunch!
Done. Kobson had butchered his the same way. These weren't even a warm-up.
"Hmm... definitely a first for me."
"Yeah?"
If a local like Kobson hadn't seen it, this was rare. Hornet-like, so probably hive dwellers?
"Let's harvest the corpses then."
"Hold up."
Part of me wanted to gut it for venom sacs or stingers, but... what if they were pack hunters?
No thanks to a swarm seeking revenge. They might track scents.
"My gut says since they're in pairs, more are around. Grab 'em and the whole nest smells us coming? Not fun."
"Good point. Dodged a bullet."
No sticking around for reinforcements either. Time to bail.
"Outta here. Back to start."
"Right. Smart move."
"Oh, wait. First..."
Before turning, curiosity won—I had to check what these were. Told Kobson to watch my back, then slit the belly.
Sure enough, venom glands and sacs reeking terribly. No way I'd touch that.
Head sported eight squid-like tentacles around beakish jaws.
Weird monster overall.
Jungle shift from forest spawning it?
"Let's jet!"
"Whoa!"
We ditched the bodies like hot potatoes and retraced our steps.
—Thud thud thud.
Even as the world blurred into endless jungle, we nailed the path, sprinting back. Regroup at origin, then resume.
How long did we run?
"Haa... break time."
"Hoo, yeah."
We sat on a flat rock, chugging water.
High humidity had sweat pouring. Armor saved lives, but damn, it chafed.
"Little further that way hits origin."
"That so? Past halfway, it all looks same to me."
While drinking, I chewed jerky. Other adventurers must've come too... but vast place, no run-ins.
Good—no crowds.
"Heh heh, same here."
"Fuck, we lost or what? Heh."
"Maybe."
Bantered with Kobson, scarfed snacks, then moved. Outer thickets like walls. Follow those, no problem even if lost.
"Whoa, Barbarian. What's this?"
"Beats me."
Scanning yielded exotic orchids too. We plucked and pouched as we went.
Material heaven. Soon hit near 20 coppers worth.
"Shoulda brought herb bags."
"Next time."
Anyway, origin...
Almost there...
"Whoops!"
—Tchaaaa!!
—Tcha!! Tchaaaa!!!
—Tchaaaa!!
Checking a tree base unleashed a gremlin horde. Knee-high green scum!
"The fuck, gremlins?"
"Spring, right? Breeding and starving season."
"These shits in season now?"
"Spring sprites, ain't they?"
The frenzied gremlins charged with glowing red eyes, flailing limbs.
"Kobson."
—Thwack!
Low-level trash like this? No match for veterans. I booted torsos, slashed leapers sideways.
"Heh heh, what's up?"
Kobson smirked, peeling necks like potato skins. One leaped for my head.
Too slow.
Pathetic wild swings, no martial arts. Even beasts had better form.
"Asura Dismembering Blood Fist."
Punched its face——Tchaaaa!!—blasted it away shrieking. Weapons were overkill for trash.
I'm Kim Katt of the Abuse School.
Sword sheathed, fists and feet only.
—Tcha! Brainless family watched kin shredded, still charged.
"Blood Heaven Asura Kick."
—Whoosh!
Soccer-kicked one flying. "Thunderbolt Rakshasa Palm." Grabbed the next, slammed face-first.
Then Execution Fist and Taekwondo.
—Pow pow!
—Wham wham!
Punches and kicks shredded them to rags in seconds.
"Barbarian. What're those weird kiais?"
Kobson asked, knifing the last's gut. Technique shouts were martial tradition.
"Done. Nothing worth looting."
"Fucking useless shits."
Gremlin clan wiped. Just gore and chunks left.
"Let's roll."
Shook off blades and fists, pressed on. Jungle or not, near Isvant— no heavy hitters.
Back at "origin"...
"Knew it, you fuck."
"Where the hell are we."
Lost.
"Fuck."
"Shit."
Straight back the way we came, yet... somewhere new. Overshot? Or not far enough?
No clue.
"B- Barbarian! What now! Starting to shake!"
Kobson freaked.
"Hey, chill. Thickets here, we're good."
Jungle edge walled by bushes. Hack through, escape.
"Yeah, makes sense. Any direction, cut bushes to outside. No need for exact origin."
"Better if we could. Who knows where we pop out."
No origin, but exit possible.
"Call it, head to town."
"Got it. Next time, mapping gear."
"Maps useless here."
Pros maybe, but amateur adventurers like us? Can't make or read 'em in deep jungle.
—Slash.
Hacked bushes with Kobson to escape.
Or so we thought.
Thirty minutes later, out the other side...
"Fuck..."
"What the..."
More jungle.
Lost. For real. Fuck.