Chapter 556
Chapter 556
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 556
Chapter Title: The Little Match Girl
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"Mr. Katt. Hold on a sec."
It was while we were scouting around.
"I sense something."
"Oho, as expected of Hilde. Where is it?"
Having a radar like her made things ridiculously easy. I suppressed my bursting excitement and immediately ducked behind a tree with Hilde.
"No, it doesn't seem to be nearby, so you don't need to hide."
"Really?"
I clutched my pounding chest and asked her to guide me.
Was I finally going to meet this fucking Sasquatch?
I'd never seen one before, but no bullshit—it had me hyped as hell.
The bastard hadn't shown his ugly mug anywhere, but now I'd finally tracked down the son of a bitch. Things were finally progressing. Truth be told, I'd been scanning for monster traces the whole way here, but it was all useless, so my anticipation was through the roof.
I wanted to grab the fucker right now, kill him, and rip out his heart. Risha was waiting, and I hated how uneasy it made me that I hadn't gotten it for her yet.
Karin had even told me to snag his head as a souvenir.
The damn thing had all sorts of uses anyway. I could skin it and make some cash for once.
"Heh heh heh. Let's hurry up."
Just thinking about it had me grinning like an idiot.
Hilde really was my lucky bluebird.
"Mr. Katt, it's too early to celebrate. It might not be the Sasquatch or heretic you're after—it could be some other demon. I can only sense the energy, not identify who it belongs to."
"As long as it's demon-like, we're good. Doesn't matter."
If it's a demon, I can torture the info out of it. Every demon I've dealt with cracked under my methods.
"Let's go, then."
I followed Hilde as quietly as possible, minimizing my footsteps.
—Float.
Looking closely, this chick floated through the air without even flapping her wings. Must be some mana-based propulsion. Totally inexplicable.
Flying around on mana?
"Hmm, looks like it's moving. Slow speed... maybe a walking human?"
"Human would be even easier."
If it's really a heretic, jackpot.
I could beat the shit out of him, turn him into pulp, and drag him back—mission accomplished.
Come to think of it, though, parading a heretic through a city full of holy knights sounded dicey. They'd try to kill him on sight... Eh, cross that bridge when we get there.
Hilde's demon sensor had a pretty wide range, so it took a decent hike to reach the target.
"Mr. Katt. It's close by. But no more movement."
"..."
That meant it was stationary now.
I immediately crouched low, hid, and scanned the surroundings. Had it noticed our approach and gone into hiding?
If it had senses that sharp, it could be tricky.
Since Hilde had sensed demonic power, it was definitely something powerful. I cautiously drew the Human-Slaying Sword— the blade that reaps lives— and prepared for battle.
Whatever it was, as long as I had my sword, no worries.
Just stay alert and cautious.
"Hey, Hilde. Is it moving now?"
"Not sure exactly, but... still no movement."
"Direction?"
"Straight ahead."
Then we'd advance slowly.
"Keep watch around us and follow. If you see anyone, transform into human form right away. Got it?"
"Hee hee, that's a piece of cake. I'm a succubus for a reason, you know."
Whatever the hell was up ahead, if it was borrowing demonic power, it had to die.
No normal person would be out here in this freezing weather.
And if it wasn't normal and had demonic power? Case closed.
Capturing alive would be nice, but fighting with capture in mind dulls your edge. Go in to kill, and subdue if the chance arises. No need to aim for mercy from the start.
In the report, I'd just say we scouted hard today and found it.
—...
I advanced toward the direction Hilde pointed, sword at the ready, moving excruciatingly slow. She matched my pace from behind.
I scanned the surroundings with utmost focus while walking.
Mountain meant tons of trees.
Leaves were all gone, but the dense branches were blanketed in pristine white snow, giving a lush vibe. The terrain was rugged too, plenty of hiding spots.
In terrain like this, a surprise attack wouldn't be weird.
Just proceed slowly, taking in everything, ready for combat.
According to the saintess's documents, Sasquatch relied on raw strength, agility from that power, and a tough body. Slightly stronger than a troll, I'd concluded. Fight accordingly.
No need to fear even if it showed.
Heretic would be preferable, though.
—Halt.
As I walked, something like a white lump huddled ahead caught my eye. No way you could miss it unless blind.
That wasn't human.
If that was human, the world's fucked.
"...Mr. Katt."
"I see it."
—...
Covered in pure white fur, it crouched motionless. White fur... and a hefty size.
Looked like the Sasquatch.
Should I rush in and attack first?
Coat my sword in sword aura and stab it deep?
I didn't know much, but it had been here first.
Low intelligence didn't mean zero.
Might have prepped something or dug traps. No info on habits, so no rash moves.
"..."
Even a flying star grenade might not penetrate that hide... Could just make it flee.
Go for the kill.
I checked the ground, sides, and above thoroughly, then crept toward it. No other enemies in my sight or senses.
—Grrk?!
That's when it suddenly reared up and turned to me.
"Mr. Katt!"
"Gotcha, you fucker!!!"
Sasquatch.
The beast with a hellish black mug leaped up and glared at me briefly. —Very briefly.
—Kuuuwaaaaaaaa!!!!!
It bellowed, took a running start, and charged me like a maniac.
—Thud thud thud thud!
Using its long arms and short legs in a pissed-off gorilla knuckle-walk, the charge was insanely menacing—pure murderous intent!
"You bastard! Fast!"
And that fucking horn on its shithead? One hit and Kim Katt's done.
"Hilde! Get clear and stay alert!"
"Y-Yes! Got it!"
I barked orders and assumed position.
—Thud thud thud thud!
—Kuuoooooo!!!!
Arms longer than a troll's but back hunched less so, and bigger overall. Over 2.3 meters tall, thick shoulders. Sasquatch barreled in trusting its physical specs.
Those packed muscles were ironclad.
"But."
Not faster than I could handle.
I watched for sudden acceleration or agility bursts, sword aimed.
—Kuuuwaaaaa!!!!
Treading Snow Leaves No Trace.
The thing charged wildly, kicking up snow everywhere like a clueless thunderbolt idiot.
Gauging its arm reach and speed, I kicked off the ground.
—Boom!
Compressed mana exploded from my legs in hot bursts. With enhanced leg power, one step propelled me like a cannonball.
—Whoosh!!
I tore through space at ferocious speed, air resistance familiar now, and drove my honed thrust—the Thrill Thrust—straight at its chest!
"Thrill Thrust!!!"
—Kuuuoooooo!!!!
Its arms were long.
But not troll-long, and shorter than my arm plus sword length. Reach and distance rule one-on-one fights.
Remembering that, at the perfect moment, I unleashed sword aura from the blade.
—Pffft!
"Gurrk?!?!"
Body-shot speed plus ultimate thrust plus inhuman sword aura triple combo—my sword pierced deep into Sasquatch's chest. —Cough! It spewed blood.
As I went to yank the sword and decapitate,
"No, shit!!"
—Ku, kuooo!!!
It roared, retracted its arms, and grabbed for my head. Chest pierced and still moving like that? Insane willpower.
But I'd fought assuming troll+ power, so expected.
—Swish!
Sword still in its chest, I dropped the hilt, crouched, and rolled sideways to dodge. —Whoosh! Its huge palm sliced air.
"You—fucking bastard!!!"
No breather. Feet hit ground, I drew my dagger, leaped at its broad hunched back.
Simple combo.
I clung to its back like riding piggyback.
"Die!!!"
Infused dagger with aura, went berserk slashing its neck. Shoulder hid the carotid, so I stabbed wildly to sever arteries.
—Kuok?!?! Kuooooook!!!!
Writhing in agony from the neck frenzy, Sasquatch suddenly leaned back to crush me.
"Motherfucker!!!"
Chest stabbed, neck mangled, and still thrashing like this!
This was one tough monster, straight up.
As it fell backward, I bailed. Tough durability, but repeated damage slowed it.
"Ku, kuoooo! Kuuwook...! Kuehk!"
It shook me off, staggered up. Grabbed my sword in its chest, tried pulling it out, groaning in pain. No time for recovery, though.
Burst DPS time.
—Gather mana.
"Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon."
—Boom!
Kicked off again toward its face, chaining,
"Heavenly Demon Shattering Palm."
Fist wreathed in aura slammed full force into its mug.
—Crack!
Face smashed dead-on, it flopped backward like a piledriver.
"Ku, kueeeeehk!!"
I stomped its chest, yanked the deep-embedded sword, and cleaved its neck.
"Ku... kurok...! Kuhl...!"
"Truly remarkable vitality, Sasquatch."
It glared, foaming blood. Insane life force. Felt inhuman watching it, so I mangled the neck wildly.
Had to find vitals.
—...
Neck half-severed, it finally croaked.
Damn, why's this fucker so strong?
"Whew. Hey, Hilde, come out."
I sheathed my sword and called her. Way tougher physical specs than expected. Moved powerfully even with pierced chest and wrecked neck.
Demonic power making it this durable?
One hit from it and I'd be launched. Muscles were nuts.
Still no match for my extreme training, though.
Got its muscle structure, moves, power level. Next one'll be easy.
Burst it down first.
"Mr. Katt! That was so cool! Amazing moves! You're the best!"
"Hey, hey. Don't cling."
Hilde zoomed from hiding and hugged me. I shoved her off, pointed at the corpse.
"This thing really juiced on demonic power?"
"Ah, right. Yeah. One sec."
She peeled off, circled the body.
"Oh my, this guy."
"You sense something?"
"Hmm... hold on."
She poked arms and stuff, searching.
"What're you looking for?"
"Yeah. Mr. Katt, could you flip the body?"
"Easy."
Grabbed its side, heaved it over. Not heavy.
"Wow, Mr. Katt, you're so strong."
"Heh heh, obviously."
"Hee hee, so cool... Ah, found it."
Smiling Hilde pointed at its lower back.
"See?"
"This is..."
Lower back had a black brand like a hot iron burn. Missed it in combat, but hairless patch made it pop.
"Looks like it was injected with demonic power. No way this brute paid the price itself—someone intervened. Probably that heretic humans talk about?"
"Hmm..."