Chapter 430
Chapter 430
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 430
Chapter Title: Water Spirit Undine
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"Katt, did you take down the Undine all by yourself?"
"That bitch was weak as fuck. Big bro one-shot the hell out of it."
Cloudy was super interested in how I'd one-shot the Undine. It would've been better to let her watch me hunt it down properly, but nope, I just blasted it in one hit. Oh well.
"As expected, some mid-level spirit can't hold a candle to you, huh? Does that mean you'll be able to handle high-level ones soon too?"
"Heh heh heh. Obviously. Count on it. Just trust in me."
"Hee hee, Mama trusts Katt."
But low to mid-level spirits aren't that drastically different, while mid to high-level? The gap is fucking massive. And anything above high-level is straight-up broken, out of spec.
Take the Martial Arts Guild, for example.
Low-level instructors like Mariel are decently trained and can overwhelm regular folks, but to me? They're just cannon fodder. Mid-level ones too—they know their way around a fist, but still total pussy bait.
But a high-level instructor like Lizette? She's a step or two above me. And the guild master, Liztina? She's on par with Karin, a real powerhouse.
The difference between Lizette and Liztina is huge.
If I plug in me and Karin's positions, it'd be about right.
That's how the hierarchy shakes out: cannon fodder - strong guys - powerhouses - true fucking monsters.
High-level spirits are the kind that take mercenary bands or whole armies to deal with, so yeah, they're gotta be insanely tough. Point is, the gap is enormous.
Way beyond what I can solo right now.
"So, what'd you find here?"
"Oh, darkie, sorry."
At my words, Winia picked up a stone-like thing from the ground and spoke up.
"We were gonna head out as soon as we found sis, but a spirit popped up over here too. We just finished it off."
"Another spirit showed up?"
Undine wasn't the only one?
Well, I took down the Undine in a flash, so the time difference isn't much. While I was dealing with mine, Winia found Cloudy, and right then, they ran into a new spirit.
"Here."
Winia held out a sparkling green stone.
Twinkle.
Not jade... more like peridot. If this is the spirit's core, probably a wind spirit?
"It's a Sylphidra's core. It showed up out of nowhere, and sis one-shot it. That just happened."
One-shot it, huh.
At those words, Cloudy rubbed her face against my neck like she wanted praise. I took off my gauntlet and stroked the back of her neck while listening to Winia.
"Sorry for leaving you alone, darkie? We were about to come, but you beat us here."
"No need to apologize. You called for me. Anyway, I got here quick. The Undine was pussy bait from the start."
"Good, glad you're okay."
I would've come running if she'd just waited a bit anyway.
"But Sylphidra, huh?"
"Mid-level wind spirit."
Winia added a quick explanation about the Sylphidra.
Pale green skin, green hair—looks kinda like a dryad, but it flies around slinging aggressive wind magic, so definitely a nastier monster.
"Its main spell is Wind Cutter. Slice to the carotid, and you're done for, so watch out. But with your armor, darkie, no big worries."
"Armor is key, after all."
Wind Cutter.
A vicious killing spell that shoots blades of wind.
Even a graze leaves a wound like a dagger slash, enough to drop most people. Hit a vital spot, and it's either massive bleeding or you're immobilized for the follow-up.
That's why you wear armor.
Low-level adventurers dropping like flies? Can't afford armor. Plus, good gear boosts your confidence and aggression.
Wind Cutter's baseline power is like that, but a skilled mage can make it cleave straight to the bone. And high-level wind spirits spam dozens of 'em in seconds.
Fucking terrifying.
"The contract only mentioned Undine, though. The villagers hiding something?"
"No reason for that. Probably just popped up out of nowhere... but it's suspicious."
Suspicious, like Winia said.
Mid-level spirits aren't common trash you bump into everywhere. They wreck villages and prompt guild requests—yet a Sylphidra shows up that even the locals didn't know about?
"Undine's buddy, maybe?"
"Could be."
Possible they were pals visiting, or spirits are gathering nearby for some reason.
Either way, bad news for the villagers.
Might be more coming. Civilians always walking a tightrope. Tough life, but free village farmers make decent coin compared to serfs.
Hazard pay.
"You grab the Undine's core, darkie? Didn't drop it in the water, right?"
"Of course I did. You ever see me miss something like that?"
"Heh heh. True. Darkie wouldn't drop it. So quest reward 20 silver plus two cores—might net us just under 30 silver total."
"Whoa!"
Hold up—low-level spirit cores go for about 1 silver. Mid-level's gotta be pricier. Thinking about it made me grin like an idiot.
Skills pay the bills.
"Oh yeah, and this canteen."
I unscrewed the lid and showed Winia. Told her I'd collected the blue liquid... blood? From the Undine.
"Caught some blue sap it leaked. Check it out."
"Just dump it on the ground."
"Dump it?"
"You'll see."
Splash.
I pulled out the core and poured it on the dirt. Clear water flowed out—not blue. Crystal pure and transparent. Hard to believe it came from that murderous bastard squeezing out croc tears at the end.
"Undine's dead, so the mana dispersed back to plain water. Darkie got your hopes up for nothing again?"
"Fuck, wasted my excitement."
"Poor darkie, heart broken."
"Fucking crushed. Ah."
Goddamn Undine bullshit.
Monsters are useless trash. Pissed off, I kicked the wet dirt a few times to vent. Winia giggled at the sight.
"Aww, that mad? Wanna grope darkie's tits?"
"Hell yeah!"
Winia let me fondle her chest over her robe.
Bit of that, and the anger faded.
"Seriously, Katt, you love tits that much?"
"Duh. Best thing ever."
"Hee hee, ready to head back now?"
Cloudy said.
Head back, huh.
"But what if more spirits are around? Could be coincidence, but two showing up means maybe they're gathering for a reason, right?"
"Mm, darkie's got a point."
"Let's scout a bit more. Three of us is overkill anyway. Snag a few more cores, we're golden."
They nodded at the suggestion.
One more mid-level nets us nearly 5 silver—a fortune. No point rushing back to Isbrandt anyway; gates closed. Might as well investigate with the extra time.
"Cloudy, did that spirit say anything?"
Figured it might've talked.
"Hmm, no idea. Killed it the second it showed."
"Love that decisiveness. Fuckers like that don't deserve words. Spot 'em, kill 'em. They don't even speak proper anyway."
"Katt... your aggressive mindset makes Mama so happy!"
Cloudy hugged me from behind as she said it.
"Let's kill 'em all, heh heh heh."
"Perfect attitude. That bloodthirsty streak is one of your best traits, Katt."
We chatted like that while searching the woods.
Sylphidra showed up not far from the Undine's spring. Definitely feels like something else nearby.
Weird shit always has a weird cause.
Heading back tomorrow morning anyway, so we've got till night. Nice if more show, but no sweat if not. Just tying up loose ends while we're here.
We were pushing deeper into the forest when...
Flick.
Staying alert, Cloudy's ears twitched. She picked up a sound. We froze and ducked behind a tree.
"Cloudy?"
"Heard something nearby. Something's coming."
"If it's an uninvited guest, make it a dead one."
Another spirit? Or some other monster or traveler. We waited cautiously, and soon someone pushed through the brush.
Rustle.
"A person?"
It was a shady-looking guy wrapped in a poncho.
"..."
He carried a staff, but his vibe screamed serial killer more than mage. Gloomy enough you'd buy him murdering for fun.
If that was a bloody knife instead of a staff, I'd have jumped him on sight.
"..."
Suddenly appearing, he eyed us with sharp, alert eyes that didn't match his creepy face. Lips sealed tight, just rolling his gaze. Up close, he looked kinda young.
I drew my sword and stepped in front of Cloudy and Winia.
Obvious as fuck, but I'm no murderer. I don't judge by looks alone. Kim Katt's a righteous dude.
Even if he looks like a psycho, doesn't mean he is.
Sure, out in the wilds, strangers are potential threats, but you can't stab first and ask questions later. Kill on sight? That's actual serial killer shit.
No hostility, no harm from me.
Unless shit hits the fan, then yeah.
"Greetings. Mind if I ask what you're doing out here? We're adventurers. Sorry if we seem on edge popping up like this."
I pitched my voice low like Kobson, and he lifted his head mechanically to reply.
"...The presences of Undine and Sylphidra vanished."
"Un-what? What're you talking about? Presences vanished? Lost your buddies in the woods or something?"
Shockingly, those were the exact monsters we'd just killed.
This guy's an adventurer?
Maybe tracking spirit traces nearby for a hunt. I played dumb to avoid trouble.
Don't want him thinking we stole his prey and starting shit.
"I sense their auras... faint, fragile."
Suddenly he stared right at me, speaking in a distant tone like the world's bullshit anyway. Kinda drugged-out, dreamy vibe.
Sounded like fantasy nonsense.
"What kinda cloudy bullshit is that? You're creeping me out, cut it."
"Trapped in a narrow space, suffering. Voices begging to be freed."
"All I hear is barking dogs."
Bad vibes hit, senses sharpening. This ain't just some loon.
His eyes turned razor-sharp, glaring at me.
Mood swings like a theater actor.
"You killed them."
And then he says that.
"What the fuck kinda nonsense? Killed what? Listen up, you piece of shit—stop spewing crap. If you're gonna talk, make it human, you fucker."
Fuck this, can't listen anymore.
This guy's not right in the head.
"You never hear 'can't talk for shit' in your life? Why the cryptic bullshit—parents never smack you? Shut the fuck up, toss that staff over, and kneel if you don't wanna die, you worthless prick. I'll check your ID."
"Free them."
"Your dumbass mom must've dropped you. What's the point? You wanna fucking die?"
Raging, I surged my mana, senses maxed, sword aimed as I advanced slow to kill him.
That's when...
Shh.
A shadow formed behind him.
"Mid-level spirit! Darkie! That fucker's a spirit mage! Kill him!"