Chapter 321
Chapter 321
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 321
Chapter Title: Giant Hornet Uproar
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No matter how disposable adventurers' lives might be—like flies—dying like this was nothing short of an outright mockery of humanity itself.
—Buzzz!!
—Whirrr!!
The killer hornets still swarming in the air dragged freshly harvested meat from all corners into the depths of the hive. It didn't matter whether it was from the living or the dead.
They were monsters, after all.
No pity meant no mercy. Monsters simply did what they did because it was natural to them. Much like the brutal imperialists of the 19th-century Western powers.
"This reality... this is supposed to be reality?!!! I can't believe it!!!"
—Kyaargh!!
—Uwaaaagh!!
—Save meee!!
Those still trapped in the hive screamed with only their heads poking out.
I couldn't wrap my head around this being real, but at the very least, the blade gripped in my hand was undeniably solid reality.
—Then I have to carve through it.
There were dozens of hornets, judging by a rough count.
Could I do it?
Sure, taking down a dozen or so solo wouldn't be impossible, but that many? No way. But didn't I have Winia and Claudie, the ones I trusted?
In that case, Congo's independence wasn't just a pipe dream.
"Ah, fuck... Sis, my stomach's all queasy."
"It's definitely a gruesome sight. Kinda gross, too."
"What do we do? Just pull back? And hey, blackie, you okay?"
They had mental fortitude I couldn't even compare to.
Truth be told, both Winia and Claudie had been born and raised in this world, so they had higher tolerance for "human death" and "brutality" than I did.
It wasn't anything weird; they'd simply grown up in a world like that, so there were bound to be differences in their emotional perspectives. Their moral compasses and worldviews were worlds apart from my modern Earth hometown.
That's why they could look at this horrific scene so casually.
"I'm fine. I'm totally sane."
"Doesn't look like it."
"Don't worry about it."
To achieve Congo's independence, above all else, I needed cool-headed judgment.
First things first: wipe out every last imperialist. In simple terms, slaughter all the killer hornets and smash the hive.
The loot alone looked like it'd fetch dozens of silvers easy.
The hornet count seemed just over fifty, so as planned, we'd seize a defensible spot, have Winia unload her flame magic for massive damage, then cut down every one that charged in.
"Winia. Let's grab a position first and intercept the hornets. There aren't that many. We can handle this."
I kept scanning our surroundings for a good spot. Couldn't afford to lose focus if I wanted to accomplish the great task ahead.
Maximum concentration and judgment. That's how I'd win this.
"Yeah, Katt. Good call. If we can't handle that much, we don't deserve to call ourselves warriors, right?"
"Exactly. And..."
"We have to save those people too. That's what you're thinking, yeah?"
"Not really planning on saving them."
In the thick of battle, worrying about them too would be impossible. Their fates were up to the heavens.
If I could help, I'd want to in most cases, but right now? Not the situation.
There's no such thing as free happiness.
"We'll do what we can and seize the hive."
Destroying a hive that size would net us close to 30 silvers in bounty. Plus side income from the abducted adventurers' gear and venom sacs from the other hornets.
"Hmm, listening to blackie talk, you sound pretty sane. You sure you're really okay, blackie? Seems like you're kinda weak to shocks."
"No, what the hell do you take me for? I'm fine, relax."
I came from an ethical world, so yeah, my resistance to gruesome shit was low—but my mental fortitude was that of an unbreakable warrior. My grit and willpower, forged from scraping by at the bottom, were tougher than steel.
"Anyway, Congo's independence."
"Congo, what?"
I spotted a suitable spot nearby.
I immediately dropped into a low stance and took point. Winia and Claudie followed slowly behind.
—Rustle, rustle.
The hornets hadn't noticed our intrusion yet, so moving wasn't much trouble. We crept slowly, oh-so-carefully, to our destination.
It was a spot with a ceiling of vines and sturdy branches overhead.
This would block the hornets' vertical dives from above, making defense way easier. Sure, they'd eventually rip through the canopy, but I figured we could wipe them out before then.
"Nice spot. Ready to start?"
Winia aimed her staff once we'd settled in.
"Hmm, but where do I aim? Don't wanna just blast the hive with people stuck in it."
She was right—the hive's interior was packed with screaming live humans, so direct hits were out.
That'd just be indiscriminate slaughter.
Better avoid torching the hive for now.
"Can't you do that Fire Blast thing from the merfolk fight?"
Fire Blast: the spell that fired off a barrage of fireballs at once. Perfect for mass-intercepting hornets.
"I could. But it's weaker than straight-up incinerating the whole hive."
"That'll do plenty. Leave the rest to me and Claudie."
"Do it like blackie says? You cool with that, sis?"
Claudie nodded at that.
"Sure."
She'd already drawn her twin blades, fully prepped.
Honestly, Claudie and I could one-shot hornets no problem, so the real challenge wasn't huge.
—Fwoosh!
With that, Winia began chanting.
Flames manifested at blinding speed, forming a vivid crimson magic circle in an instant. Intricate geometric patterns—super stylish. Magic screams magic circles, just like aliens scream dissection.
—Fwoooosh!
Chant complete, the circle spun at high speed.
And—
"Fire Blast!"
—Pew-pew-pew-pew!
—Pew-pew-pew-pew!
—Pew-pew-pew!
Fireballs poured out like cars blasting through a tollbooth, streaking red trails as they targeted the airborne hornets.
Looked just like red sperm charging at an egg.
—Splatter!
Winia's skills were top-notch; homing effects kicked in, slamming into hornet torsos and heads.
—Squeee!
—Chiii!
The hornet bastards couldn't dodge the fireballs faster than their flight speed. They charred black on impact and plummeted to the ground.
Muscles and guts cooked instantly—no more movement.
"Ooh! Independence for Congo!"
—Plop, plop.
They still hadn't pinpointed us. Dumbass thick-skulled fucks. That's why you're just hornets.
—Fwoooosh!!
The magic circle reignited for round two.
"Winia, you're the best. Maybe I should learn magic too."
Every time I saw this, I thought magic beat swordplay. A skilled mage could threaten even a master swordsman.
"Told you, blackie, you're too dumb for it. Know how hard this is?"
"How hard?"
"Gotta calculate trajectories, chants, power, speed—all in your head. So shut up now. You're breaking my focus."
"Sorry."
Winia refocused on her spell. That's when the hornets finally clocked our position and veered our way.
All of them—even those on the hive.
Fire Blast had thinned them out good, but their numbers were still overwhelming.
"Hmm, Katt doing magic... Nah, Katt. Better stick to sword training or mana practice over magic."
"I know. Just kidding."
Magic swordsman sounds cool, but a highly skilled swordmaster? Even more. Nail down Execution Slash or Heavenly Demon Death Beam, and mages wouldn't stand a chance.
"Anyway, incoming. Claudie, watch our back."
"Got it."
—Buzzzzzz!!!
Even more hornets than Winia's barrage swarmed in. Hah, trash piling up won't beat the exterminator.
Today's me: CESCO Kim Katt.
Your attacks won't touch me.
—Whoosh!
I stepped forward past Winia, who'd paused chanting, sword raised. Locked in stance, ready to methodically slice the lead one first.
Winia fell back a step, focusing on intercepting breakthroughs and supporting me when she could, rather than mass spells. That's how we always rolled.
Our coordination was tight—no worries there.
—Buzzzzzz!!!
"You Belgian fuckers!!!"
The incoming killer hornets could pass for late-19th-century Belgians. Hell, they both turned people into meat skewers and chowed down.
Come to think of it, their faces even looked similar.
Same breed, then.
I poured strength and mana into my arms. Unreal power surged from my exquisitely trained body; mana-enhanced flesh felt light as feathers.
Thus: Execution Sword Art.
—Slash-slash!
"I'll make chocolate from your imperialist blood! That's the price for your blood! I won't forgive your wars or civilian massacres! Pay up!!"
—Whirr-whirr!
Rage-fueled clean strikes bisected killer hornets precisely, butchering them.
"Split in half and die!"
The hornets targeting me extended their feelers to take me down. Five hit from left, right, and front simultaneously. Ceiling still intact.
Rear and center covered by Winia.
Nothing to worry about.
One step forward, diagonal slash.
—Squelch!
One cleaved clean; follow-up thrust shattered the forehead of the right-flanker. Left one closed in during the gap. Drooling feeler parted to reveal sturdy jaws stained with blood.
—Swish!
I spun full circle, pommel-smashing its temple. —Keeek! Head cracked, fluids sprayed.
—Whoom!
"Fuck!"
Right then, one hornet capitalized on the others' sacrifice, lunging for my head. Perfect close range! Its gaping maw and feelers right in my face!
Human? Knee strike. But hornet—in the air. Its spit splattered my face. Those jaws looked tough enough to dice people easy.
—Clang!
I shoved my blade forward, blocking the jaws. —Kigig! Gigig! It clamped down hard, refusing to let go.
Steel doesn't break that easy, though.
"Uoooooh!!!"
Miraculous mana power surged. Burning internal mana unleashed bizarre force surpassing raw kinetics.
—Rip!
Just a zero-range shove—but mana turned it lethal.
The hornet split in two, crashing down.
—Fwoosh!!
Rear fireballs targeted others. Winia's magic; —Sizzle! Backline was infinite hornet sashimi refills. Claudie was the sashimi chef today.
"It's over."
Massacring the charging hornets didn't take long.