Chapter 428
Chapter 428
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 428
Chapter Title: Water Spirit Undine
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After buying the house, this was the first job I was kicking off, so I reined in my inhuman mindset and started preparations from the crack of dawn.
It was a kind of commemoration, a ritual.
Lately, all I'd been doing was sorting the house, moving in, training, and screwing around. It was undeniable fact that I'd sunk into a swamp of sweetness and peace, letting my edge go dull.
Even if I'd been training, without real combat, it was just rest.
Time to snap out of it now.
—Pa-pa-pat!
A sharply honed battle sense.
—Bung-tsu-bung-tsu!
Fierce power surging from my trained body.
"—Kui-kui."
The 'Execution Fist Arts'—honed in life-or-death real battles—lashed out at the empty air with utterly combative, brutal momentum, despite the days of comfort. That fist abused the 'world,' and those legs trampled the 'rabble.'
From the natural chain of fluid techniques flowing like water, Manager Kim Katt reverted to Heavenly Demon Kim Katt. Thus, the true truth of Fusion Confucianism awakened, and an inhuman thrill welled up within me.
—I am Heavenly Demon Kim Katt.
No matter if those flying bastards were serial killers, they wouldn't survive my blade. Undine's fucking life was as good as over.
"Damn darkie, pitching a fit first thing in the morning again. Full of energy, huh."
"Hehe. Still, it's a nice sight, isn't it? Don't be too harsh. It's not like he's singing."
"Ugh, fine. As long as he's not singing. Darkie does good."
That was Winia and Claudy's reaction to seeing my Execution Fist Arts' devastating chain combo. Winia was a mage, so she didn't grasp the importance of fist and kick techniques. And Claudy? Later, when the two of them went out alone, it was infinite compass-loop punishment round one.
"No, Winia, that's too much."
"Sulking?"
"Comfort me quick."
"Hehe. Come here."
I buried my face in the cleavage of the beaming Winia. With that, I'd regained my original strength. I'd geared up fully; now we just had to head out.
By then, Karin and Lady Risha had finished washing up and come upstairs. They'd gotten up a bit early since we were heading out.
We'd woken up a tad earlier than them.
"Heading out now?"
"Have to. We'll be back soon."
"...Come back safe."
As I grabbed my pack, Lady Risha came close and kissed me. Karin, finishing some stretches, spoke up.
"Hey, hubby."
"What."
"Sis thought about it, and you should try to schedule your jobs around my days off. Starting today, three days in, is when I open the guild too, so it's fine, but if you're gone on my day off, I'll be pretty lonely."
She meant go out on days the guild's open and rest together on her off days, as much as possible. Of course, I'd do that whenever I could.
"You will, right?"
"As much as possible. Schedules are iffy, though."
"Die."
"Ah, got it. I'll do that."
"Good. Listen well, and you're cute."
Anyway, with Karin and Lady Risha seeing us off, we headed outside. On the way, Winia reminded Lady Risha about the alraune.
Preparations were set; now just hop in the carriage.
"Alright, darkie, off to the gates."
"Having a carriage on call is seriously convenient."
This is why it's better than a solo C-rank adventurer.
We made quick time to the gates. It was early morning, just past dawn, but diligent coachmen had already lined up their carriages.
Winia scanned around and spotted the one the guild assigned. We hopped on right away. The driver said we'd arrive by midday if we left now.
"Yeah, not too far. Wonder if we can head back tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow, huh. If we snag Undine right away, maybe."
If we ran into Undine the moment we arrived, like Claudy predicted, we could return tomorrow. That'd be ideal.
—Druk-druk.
The carriage soon rolled out. Weirdly, I always got sleepy in carriages. Drowsiness hit like a wave, and my body slumped.
"Darkie, don't pass out yet. Listen up."
"Ugh... yeah. Not asleep."
"Eyes are already closed. Anyway, briefing time."
Winia started the rundown.
"Undines basically seduce men and drown them."
"Heh, yeah? Total cockbait bitch."
No one could seduce me.
Listening to this, Undine sounded like a water ghost. Enjoying drowning people was some twisted hobby.
"Well... not worried about that. But watch for water-attribute magic or summoning water elementals."
"Water elementals?"
"Water summons. Monsters that drown people too."
"Fucking assholes."
Living in water, drowning was their default. If not that, they killed near water anyway.
"And on the seduction: As spirits, they're usually pretty, and they use basic hypnosis. Weak-minded guys fall for it easy."
"Pretty or not, not prettier than you."
"Hehe. Obviously."
Girls prettier than Winia were rare.
"Anyway, that's Undine traits. Individuals vary wildly in skill. Smart ones shove water cannons down throats for drowning or pneumonia—records say be careful."
"Shit, suddenly scary."
Lungs filling with water wouldn't end quick.
And the spirit thing: Undines, naiads—all not single entities. Tons of similar-looking ones scattered everywhere.
Names vary by region, but they look alike. Unknown if they share consciousness or knowledge.
Only brutal serial-killer spirit summoners could know.
They're the only ones who communicate with spirits.
"Katt, no worries. That level of spirit's no match for you."
"Right on."
With that, all three closed our eyes. Good adventurers sleep anywhere, even in carriages. When we woke—
"—Adventurers, sirs! Big trouble!"
The carriage halted, and the driver yelled like thunder. I drew my sword and leaped out. "Uwaaa!" "Hiiiing!!" Driver and horse in panic.
Nothing major.
—Kyung! Kyung!
—Kyung-kyung!
Turned out we'd run into a gnoll pack. Happens sometimes riding carriages—monsters ambush. Common stuff, but the driver freaked at the numbers.
"Driver, relax and mind the horses."
"Y-yes, sir!"
—Pa-at!
Left rear, flanks to Claudy and Winia, charged ahead. Five gnolls total. They barked like dogs, tails bristling as they roared.
—Kuheeeeng!
I swung my raised sword instantly.
—Shwae-ak!
Maybe from all the sword guild training, my blade felt faster. Surging muscle power was definite too.
"Die-yaaaaah!!!"
Since mana infused my bones and flesh, durability, strength, body limits—all crept higher. Training fixed those gains into the flesh.
—Chwa-ak!
One swing cleaved three gnolls.
—Kuheong!
—Kyung!
The blade sliced lightly through gnoll bodies, spraying blood crisply. Swiftly gutted the last one's chest too.
Butchering trash mobs like this was post-meal exercise.
"O-oh... Impressive skills."
"Basics. Let's roll."
"Got it."
After that hiccup, we reached the village.
Killing a few trash mobs was nothing. Laundry's harder.
We grabbed a villager, asked for the chief's place. Paid to take the request, so meeting the client chief was protocol.
Village requests to guild: chief rallies funds, sends for help. Chief foots the bill.
"Ooh... Back in three days."
"More victims?"
I put on a grave face, worried we'd been blamed for delay. Chief shook his head.
"No. Path to spring's blocked off... But can't use it—huge hassle."
Chief shared victim IDs, spring location, Undine sightings.
Added one youth's body still unrecovered—asked us to retrieve it too.
"Please fetch and bury that body too."
"Hmm, not in the request."
Body retrieval wasn't listed.
Just slaying the Undine occupying the village spring.
"If we find it, we'll pull it out of duty, but our job ends at Undine. Drowning recovery—who knows how long. Don't count on it. Village can handle post-Undine."
"R-right. Understood."
I refused flat-out and stood.
Body recovery could take days. No way. Winia wouldn't have taken it if listed.
Headed straight the way he indicated.
"Hilarious. What a request."
"Right? Guy's got no manners."
Winia grumbled about the chief's rudeness. You don't ask extras like that. Client or not, firm no's fine.
Straight into woods, followed directions. Spring wasn't hard to find.
Less than 30 minutes: spotted stream, traced upstream to big spring.
Center looked deep—if seduced in, dead in under five minutes, sure.
Outskirts knee-deep. Careful anyway.
"Hmm, no Undine?"
Claudy scanned around.
No Undine nearby, as she said. Stream led elsewhere—maybe off now.
"Sleeping?"
We watched ages, no luck. I had Winia chuck rocks to lure; nada.
Claudy, bored, went back to scout other streams.
Can't find today? Plan B: dawn tomorrow.
—Bubbl-bubble.
—Ppeek.
Right then, sky-blue hair bobbed up from spring center—a girl's head. Not a village kid out playing. No human pops head from that depth sudden.
Undine appeared.
"Human?"
"You the Undine?"
Winia silently pulled oil flask; I grabbed rope, slathered glue on blade, confirmed ID calling her name.
"Yeah... You know me?"
"Course. You're famous. Total idol."
Murder idol.
Whispered to Winia quick:
"Winia, fetch Claudy. I'll stall—regroup for ambush."
"...Got it."
Winia backed off carefully, vanished rear. I untied spirit-repellent powder pouch, kept talking.
"So famous, came to see your face. Wow, cute as they say."
"...Really? Hee-hee. I am cute."
Undine fully surfaced upper body.
Body looked toned, not watery like expected. Skin, huge tits—pure flesh.
Thought semi-transparent ghost; surprise.
"But you're scary-looking."
"Me, scary? Bullshit. From afar. Come close. Where's another guy as handsome?"
Hooked fingers, luring verbally to solve without fight.
Stupid spirit climbs ashore? Perfect.
"Come closer already."
Chattered idly, tied rope to sword too.
"No. You come here."
"What bullshit. Why would I."
No talking this out.
Fucking spirit scum wouldn't communicate anyway. I'm no spirit summoner.
Undine frowned, surfaced thighs too. Thought girl, but tallish, blue fuzz below—adult woman.
Pretty face, good figure as rumored; no wonder village youths fell. Big tits.
"Won't obey...? Then I'll make you my slave. Into the water."
Showing true colors.
"Gonna give me gills?"
"Yeah... Huh?"
"Fuck off, you retard bitch."
—Kak, ptui!
Hocked a loogie at the spring; Undine's face twisted primly.
"What! Daring to pollute my water with that filth! Now I wanna see that face bloat up!"
"Your mom's industrial waste, you shitstain."
I instantly splashed potion on my blade.